Articles tagged with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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A new study using fMRI brain scans aims to detect memories and identify lies. Researchers have successfully decoded patterns of brain activity associated with recognition, but struggled to determine actual past experiences. The technology's limitations raise questions about its use in legal settings.
Researchers found a consistent pattern of activity across individuals in several brain structures, including those involved in movement planning, memory, and attention. The study suggests that higher-level centers direct subcortical auditory structures to respond preferentially to music.
Researchers developed a quick and simple fMRI task to localize critical brain areas governing speech and other functions. The new protocol accurately localized the anterior and posterior language areas of the brain in about 90% of subjects, including patients undergoing surgery for epilepsy or tumors.
Researchers found that a compensatory reorganization of language function to right hemispheric brain regions impeded post-stroke aphasia recovery in adults. In contrast, children who experience left-hemispheric injury or stroke may benefit from such a shift.
A new center at Northwestern University will study over 200 patients to better understand how language is processed and recovers in healthy people and those with stroke or neurological diseases. The center aims to challenge existing clinical practices and promote treatment options for individuals with chronic aphasia.
Researchers discovered that a reward linked to an image can activate the visual cortex in rhesus monkeys, indicating that rewards influence visual processing. The study used fMRI scans and found that dopamine signaling plays a key role in this process.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center found physical changes in brain fibers connecting pain and fatigue processing areas. Anomalies were detected in nerve fiber bundles, providing insight into Gulf War Illness symptoms.
Researchers at Cornell University found that brain activity patterns in the medial prefrontal cortex can accurately identify an individual's thought process about a person. This unique ability allows us to anticipate behavior and navigate social interactions with greater ease.
A new study by Columbia University researchers found that the infant brain does not control its blood flow in the same way as the adult brain. With increasing age, the immature brain gradually developed its ability to increase local blood flow and generate a large blood-flow response.
Researchers found increased activation in brain regions utilized by typically developing kids after four months of Pivotal Response Treatment. This suggests improved social engagement and processing of low-level social stimuli. The study's findings have implications for early intervention and potential long-term benefits.
A new study identified two neighboring areas of the cortex as processing different types of visual information independently. The researchers used magnetic fields to disrupt neural activity, revealing that one area plays a causal role in processing orientation, while another underpins shape recognition based on curvature differences.
A new USC study found that the brain works hard to understand those with different bodies when watching them in action. Increased visual exposure improves understanding and can alleviate stigma. Individuals with higher empathy levels showed more activity in motor regions when observing actions made by residual limbs.
The article highlights the contributions fMRI has made to understanding human thought over the past two decades, with some researchers questioning its usefulness. The special section features 12 provocative articles exploring the impact of fMRI on cognition and brain function.
Researchers used brain scans to study how children's brains develop intellectual abilities like reading and math while watching Sesame Street. The study found that children whose neural maps resembled those of adults scored higher on standardized tests, suggesting that the brain develops along predictable pathways as we mature.
Researchers mapped out how 1,705 distinct object and action categories are represented across the brain's surface, finding a continuous semantic space that organizes similar categories together. The study's results demonstrate an efficient way for the brain to represent diverse categories in a compact spatial manner.
Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor activity in brains of sleep-deprived volunteers. The study found decreased activity in specific brain regions, including the anterior cingulate cortex, linked to feelings of mental fatigue. This discovery could lead to the development of new measures for assessing...
Researchers have identified specific brain areas that interact to compute confidence in decisions, allowing individuals to assess their choices. The study used fMRI to measure activity in the brains of volunteers while they made food choice decisions.
Researchers combine EEG and fMRI data to transform brain wave patterns into free-form music, providing a platform for scientists and artists to better understand the links between music and the human brain. The study reveals an improved method to reflect the physiological processes of the scale-free brain in music.
A study found that 8-week meditation training can alter brain function even outside of meditation. Different forms of meditation may have distinct effects on the amygdala, a key structure for emotion processing.
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience identified two brain regions involved in making rapid judgments about potential partners. The paracingulate cortex and rostromedial prefrontal cortex are active when people consider physical attractiveness and individual compatibility, respectively.
The study uses functional MRI to measure brain activity and identifies a precise statistical relationship between brain structure and visual representation. This breakthrough can guide efforts to restore vision using neural prosthetics.
A compassion-based meditation program can improve a person's ability to read facial expressions, finds a study published by Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. The Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) program significantly increased neural activity in areas of the brain important for empathy.
Dr. Chiaravalloti discusses the potential of functional MRI and behavioral therapies to target cognitive deficits in MS patients. Research suggests that these approaches may be effective in improving learning, memory, and processing speed in individuals with MS.
Researchers found that nerve cells in the posterior medial cortex (PMC) are strongly activated during recall tasks but suppressed when performing mathematical calculations. This study provides new insights into the brain's introspective activities and highlights the importance of the PMC region.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic discover leukoaraiosis is a disease that alters brain function, affecting language processing and network activity. Moderate levels of the condition lead to decreased activation in key areas, while high blood pressure may also play a role.
Patients with hoarding disorder showed abnormal brain activity when deciding about possessions, with reduced activity for items not belonging to them and increased activity for items that did. The study found that these patients had difficulty discarding possessions, with fewer items discarded compared to healthy individuals.
Researchers found that vivid memory and real perceptual experience share striking similarities at the neural level, but not in every detail. The study used fMRI to analyze brain activity while participants watched video clips and then recalled them, finding a 91% match in sensory and motor areas of the cerebral cortex.
Researchers have developed a real-time brain-scanning speller that allows people with paralysis to engage in unscripted conversations. The technology uses fMRI and mental tasks to encode thoughts letter-by-letter, enabling back-and-forth communication.
A new invasive imaging technique monitors brain function in patients with diseases such as epilepsy, providing real-time analysis at a higher resolution than current technologies. The procedure uses pre-placed electrodes to image the brain, offering unprecedented insight into its function.
Researchers discovered that the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) optimizes behavioral responses by predicting task difficulty. The study used a complex task to evaluate dACC function, revealing that the structure speeds up responses when difficulty levels are constant but slows down response time when faced with changing demands.
A University of Iowa study using fMRI images shows the anterior cingulate cortex fires with equal intensity during self-control tasks, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex fires less intensely after prior exertion. This depletion can lead to impulsive decisions, making therapies that focus on implementation stages more effective.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a novel approach to probing the susceptible brain using electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging. This allows for ongoing monitoring tailored to each individual, enabling early or preventive intervention.
Researchers found a strong link between post-stroke depression and brain network impairment, specifically in the default-mode network (DMN), which is involved in emotional regulation. The study suggests that functional brain impairment may be more critical than structural lesions in predicting depression severity.
Researchers found that people with depression have impaired brain connectivity between regions associated with guilt and knowledge of socially acceptable behavior. This 'decoupling' occurs when individuals feel guilty or blame themselves, but not when they're angry or blaming others.
The University of Iowa researchers created a non-invasive method to measure pH changes in the brain using MRI-based techniques. The study found that pH changes occur with normal brain function and can be detected using this new technique.
The MetLife Foundation Awards for Medical Research in Alzheimer's Disease recognize novel approaches to understanding and treating the disease. The winners, Dr. Clifford Jack Jr., Dr. Christine Van Broeckhoven, and Dr. Randall Bateman, have made significant discoveries that clarify our understanding of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers used fMRI technology to scan the brains of alert dogs, revealing how they react to human signals. The study aims to decode canine mental processes and understand their empathy and language abilities.
The National Science Foundation has awarded five University of Houston students with Graduate Research Fellowships to pursue advanced degrees in various fields. The fellows will study at top institutions including Harvard, MIT, and the University of Michigan, and receive funding for tuition and a $30,000 annual stipend.
A brain-mapping study found that aging adults' ability to make decisions in novel situations decreases as white matter pathways decline. The research suggests that strengthening these connections through cognitive training may be effective in intervening this age-related decline.
A Dartmouth study found that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans can predict future weight gain and sexual activity in individuals. By analyzing the brain's response to appetite-driven cues and other triggers, researchers were able to identify correlations between brain activity and real-world behavior.
Aesthetic experience activates brain regions associated with inward contemplation and self-assessment, according to NYU researchers. The study's findings suggest that artistic appeal may be universally experienced, despite individual differences.
Researchers found that the insular cortex, linked to social preferences and altruism, plays a key role in egalitarian behavior. The study provides neural support for Adam Smith's 'theory of moral sentiments' and suggests a broader view of morality as connected to environmental relationships.
Researchers from Tuebingen identified two brain areas, V3A and V6, that compare eye movements with visual signals on the retina to correctly perceive objects in motion. These areas enable us to distinguish between self-induced and external movements, allowing us to navigate our environment effectively.
A Wayne State University study found that children of parents with schizophrenia exhibit reduced brain network communication and disordered responses to emotional faces. These findings suggest a potential predictor for the onset of emotional problems in later life.
Research reveals how brain processes deceptive ads, finding increased activity in areas associated with attention and theory-of-mind reasoning. Moderately deceptive ads stimulate more brain activity, potentially making consumers more susceptible.
A study published in Radiology found that computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation improved attention and information processing skills in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The rehabilitation program showed modifications in brain activity correlated with cognitive improvement, without structural changes in the brain.
A study by NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell researchers has identified simple methods to detect consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries. Despite being unable to communicate, some patients can generate reliable patterns of brain activity in response to instructed commands.
Researchers found that visual working memory follows a more general pattern of brain activity than previously thought, activating a wider area in the front of the brain for all types of visual stimuli. This study provides support for current models of memory as being located in distributed networks rather than specific brain modules.
A study by Purdue University researchers found that football players who received more hits to the head over time showed brain changes, even if they didn't have concussion symptoms. The findings suggest that a concussion is likely caused by many hits over time, not just one blow.
Researchers assigned distinct aspects of visual information processing to each side of the brain, revealing a division of labor between left and right hemispheres. The left hemisphere processes external physical input, resolving into a 'grey scale', while the right hemisphere makes final decisions on face recognition.
Researchers used decoded fMRI neurofeedback to induce brain activity patterns, improving visual performance and learning in a novel approach. The method worked even when test subjects were not aware of what they were learning.
Researchers found decreased connectivity between emotional behavior regions and an increase in connection between the caudate and prefrontal cortex in depressed brains. This disruption may lead to sustained negative thoughts and difficulty updating working memory.
A study found that playing violent video games for one week reduced activation in certain brain regions associated with emotional control and aggressive behavior in young adult men. After two weeks without game play, the changes were diminished.
Recent studies suggest that a 'pitch center' in human auditory cortex may not exist, contradicting decades-old research. The review article discusses the findings, highlighting the need for further investigation to confirm or deny the existence of such an area.
Researchers have identified abnormalities in brain function of children with ADHD using fMRI, revealing disruptions in visual attention processing and impaired communication among brain regions. This finding contributes to understanding the pathology of inattention in ADHD.
Research shows that pianists can accurately assess temporal synchrony between piano movements and sounds, while non-musicians struggle. The study suggests that music training refines brain circuitries responsible for integrating multiple sensory stimuli.
A new brain-imaging study by UCLA life scientists reveals that providing support to a loved one offers health benefits to the giver. The study found that women who gave support to their boyfriends in pain showed increased activity in reward-related regions of the brain, including the ventral striatum and septal area.
A new study published in The Lancet reveals that electroencephalography (EEG) can detect awareness in people previously thought to be in a permanently vegetative state. Three out of 16 patients showed repetitive and reliable EEG responses to commands, indicating covert awareness despite being behaviorally unresponsive.
Researchers found a strong connection between math success and activity in brain areas involved in controlling attention and regulating negative emotional reactions. Students who could focus their attention were able to complete difficult math problems more successfully.
Research shows that optimistic individuals tend to filter out negative information, updating their estimates only when the new data is better than expected. This faulty frontal lobe function can lead to unrealistic predictions and a lack of caution, with potential downsides for mental health and decision-making.