Articles tagged with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals that fair sanctions are orchestrated by the interaction between two frontal brain regions: the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. This communication is crucial for punishing norm violations at one's own expense.
A study published in Neuron found that brain regions beyond the reward centers engage when playing games, suggesting a more widespread role for reward processing in the brain. The research used multi-voxel pattern analysis to identify patterns of brain activity associated with wins and losses.
A recent MRI study published in Molecular Psychiatry found that depression frequently uncouples the brain's 'hate circuit', which includes regions involved in risk and action responses, reward and emotion processing. This disruption may lead to impaired ability to control social interactions and increased self-loathing.
UC Berkeley researchers successfully decoded and reconstructed people's dynamic visual experiences by watching Hollywood movie trailers. The breakthrough technology can eventually be used to understand what goes on in the minds of stroke victims or coma patients, as well as enable brain-machine interfaces for people with cerebral palsy.
Researchers found that visual processing also activates the same parts of the brain involved in touch sensations, allowing computers to accurately predict which object is being viewed. This connection enables a 'mind's touch,' where memories of tactile experiences are replayed when viewing corresponding visual images.
The Wellcome Trust report highlights progress in human functional brain imaging, including breakthroughs in statistical and computational modeling. The review emphasizes the need for continued funding and collaborations to translate findings into clinical applications.
Researchers at Princeton University have matched brain activity with categories of words related to abstract ideas. The study reveals how the brain processes complex thoughts and identifies 'semantic threads' connecting related concepts.
Researchers used innovative fMRI technique to pinpoint areas of the brain dedicated solely to language. Eight out of nine analyzed regions uniquely supported language tasks, while remaining regions showed no activation for non-language tasks.
Scientists identified a key brain region and system involved in predicting the near future, which may help diagnose early stage neurological diseases such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's. The study found that participants were more accurate in predicting events within an event but struggled across boundaries.
A study has found that patients with mild traumatic brain injury exhibit abnormal functional connectivity in the thalamus, a key relay station for brain information. The disruption of this connectivity may contribute to various post-traumatic symptoms, including depression and anxiety.
A team of researchers led by Ayse Pinar Saygin found that the human brain responds with a mismatch in perception when an android's appearance and motion are at odds. This phenomenon, known as the 'uncanny valley,' occurs when an artificial agent becomes too human-like, causing discomfort and unease.
Researchers found that domain expertise insulates experts from biases caused by monetary favors, using functional MRI scans. Non-experts, however, are more susceptible to such biases, which can affect their judgments in various areas, including politics and medicine.
Researchers at Columbia University used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to document language impairment in autistic children. The study found that brain activity patterns were different between autistic and control patients, suggesting a possible early diagnosis method for autism.
A new study published in Cephalalgia suggests that precision ophthalmic tints can suppress cortical activation in the brain, reducing migraine symptoms. The lenses significantly reduced discomfort when viewing stressful patterns, with a 70% reduction in distress.
A University of Toronto study found that formerly depressed patients' brain activity responses to sadness can predict future depression relapse. The research suggests that a frontal brain region's analysis and interpretation of sadness may perpetuate depression.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine developed a new fMRI technique that can distinguish between different mental states based on synchronized brain network activity. The study used a novel approach to capture brain activity in real-world, self-paced conditions, allowing for more accurate identification of brain states.
Research suggests that eating a protein-rich breakfast increases satiety and reduces hunger throughout the day. The study found that higher protein meals led to greater changes in appetite and satiety compared to normal protein meals.
A UA study using economic models backed up by fMRI scans explores the neural bases of guilt aversion and its role in sustaining human cooperation. The findings suggest that a critical neural system processes moral sentiments to sustain trust and reciprocity in complex situations.
The Cephalalgia Award has been won by A Stankewitz and colleagues for their groundbreaking paper on a new trigemino-nociceptive stimulation model for event-related fMRI. The study offers high spatial resolution and potential to advance headache science.
Research suggests that recreational Ecstasy use is associated with chronic changes in brain function, particularly increased brain activation in visual processing areas. The study's findings may have implications for the potential therapeutic benefits and risks of Ecstasy use, as well as its impact on mental health over time.
A new study found that the brain has an automatic reaction to unfairness in financial fairness games, linked to increased amygdala activity. Targeting this region can reduce aggression and increase tendency to accept unfair distributions of money.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that the human brain is wired to recognize familiar objects, including faces and animals, in their typical upright orientation. The research used fMRI scans to measure brain activity in response to camouflaged faces and animals, revealing a strong bias towards recognizing upright visuals.
A new study found that impulsive choice in alcohol dependence may be linked to functional anomalies in brain regions involved in cognitive and emotional control. Individuals with more severe AUDs showed increased activity in regions such as the insula and supplementary motor area when delaying gratification.
Researchers at UBC discovered that real-time fMRI feedback significantly enhances people's ability to control their thoughts. By monitoring the brain region responsible for higher-order thoughts, participants could effectively train their brains and improve mental focus.
Researcher Theresa Pape is developing therapies to jump-start the lives of patients with traumatic brain injury, often falling through the cracks of the medical system. Her innovative clinical trials test the effectiveness of familiar voice intervention and transcranial magnetic stimulation in awakening patients.
Researchers found that half of learned insights are consolidated in memories within a week, while others fade over time. The amygdala, associated with emotion, is activated during insight moments and predicts ability to recall degraded images.
A team of researchers found that half of all learned insights are consolidated in our memories, and the amygdala plays a crucial role in this process. The study used camouflage images to induce sudden insight, and participants' ability to identify the images was predicted by amygdala activity.
A new approach to studying the brain uses a mathematical sequence to strengthen fMRI data, revealing how nerve cells represent information. This method measures changes in brain responses and corrects an important limitation of fMRI, making it more powerful than before.
Recent study finds that adolescents at risk for obesity exhibit heightened brain activity when consuming palatable foods like chocolate milkshakes. This suggests that their brains may be more responsive to rewarding stimuli, potentially increasing the risk of overeating.
Researchers found that text messaging is at least as effective as handheld devices in measuring smoking urges and resisting cravings, with tailored interventions tailored to individuals' response-inhibition capacities. The study also identified key brain regions involved in response inhibition.
Researchers use fMRI to probe for higher-level cognitive functioning in severely brain-injured patients, finding a wide variation in response capabilities. The study suggests that no bedside exam can accurately assess cognitive function in these patients, highlighting the need for further exploration and understanding.
Researchers studied how children master speech by observing finger movements and neural processes. The study suggests that the beat could reveal underlying motor skills, shedding light on stuttering in children.
Researchers used fMRI scans to measure brain activity in response to pro-health messages, finding a positive correlation between neural reactions and successful quitting. The study suggests that brain activity can provide valuable information for behavior change, potentially leading to more effective interventions.
A Wayne State University study successfully classified over three-quarters of healthy older adults at risk for cognitive decline within 18 months. The combination of a genetic blood test and a five-minute functional MRI proved to be the most effective predictor.
Researchers have developed a more robust approach to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that can improve the detection of neural activity and allow for more precise interpretations of fMRI data. This new technique involves three stages: prediction, modeling, and inference, which can turn noisy data into discrete sequences of ...
A McGill University study reveals that listening to pleasurable music releases dopamine, a key player in emotional responses. The anticipation of enjoyable music also induces dopamine release, supporting the idea that music serves as an abstract reward.