Articles tagged with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
A new study by Rice University psychologist Denise Chen found that the brain recognizes and encodes the smell of male sexual sweat in women. The research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to directly study human sexual sweat.
High levels of amygdala activity predict hypersensitivity to anticipation, while anterior cingulate cortex activity predicts response to antidepressant medication. These findings have important implications for treating anxiety disorders and may lead to personalized treatment approaches.
New brain-imaging research from UC San Diego finds that visual areas respond more strongly to objects of value, altering neural activation in the human visual system. This altered processing affects not only high-level cognitive function but also early stages of information processing.
Researchers at UC Davis have discovered a new mechanism of attention in the human brain using modafinil. The study shows that modafinil shifts the brain into an 'exploitation mode' where subjects perform better on tasks requiring focus.
Researchers used a hand-operated robotic device and fMRI to track brain function after strokes, finding that the brain can regain function through rehabilitative exercises even six months post-stroke. The study, which tested five right-hand dominant patients, showed significant increases in cortical activation with hand training.
Researchers used fMRI to find that patients with stress-related psychiatric disorders have abnormal brain activation in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, affecting memory suppression. This can lead to poor memory and increased anxiety due to lingering traumatic memories.
Researchers found older adults' brains show increased activation in regions processing external noise during memory encoding failure. This leads to decreased performance and 'misses' in face recognition tasks.
Researchers from GU/GUMC presented numerous studies on learning, facial recognition, and social interaction in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, they explored ways to improve cognition and reduce brain lesions in stroke survivors using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) techniques.
A Caltech-led study found that voters' brain responses to politicians' appearances, particularly negative aspects, play a significant role in determining election outcomes. The research suggests that negative evaluations based on appearance may influence which candidate will lose an election, more so than positive evaluations.
The McGovern Institute's MINT program awards up to $100,000 in seed funding for innovative collaborative projects in neuroscience research. Recent awards focus on developing alternative electrode materials, manipulating intracellular signaling pathways with light, and improving computational analysis of brain imaging data.
A new imaging study reveals two distinct brain regions competing for control: one associated with risk aversion, the other with a desire for risk-taking. The prefrontal cortex plays a critical role in risk assessment.
Patients with generalized social phobia show increased blood flow in medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala when reading negative statements about themselves. This context-dependent response may guide future therapeutic formulations for the disorder.
Researchers have discovered a persistent brain signal that never switches off, suggesting its role in supporting cognitive functions and maintaining the brain's structure. This low-frequency signal is thought to be more fundamental than previously identified gamma frequency activity.
Researchers used fMRI scans to study how listeners' brains predict speaker's words before hearing the final sound. The team found that the brain considers multiple possible words with similar sounds and meanings before settling on the correct word.
Patients who recover well from head injuries often report mental fatigue and decreased performance compared to healthy individuals. A recent study found that their brains show increased activity in key regions, indicating a need for enhanced cognitive support.
A new study reveals that experienced Zen meditators can quickly clear their minds of distractions compared to novices. After being interrupted by a word-recognition task, experienced meditators' brains returned faster to their pre-interruption condition.
A new brain imaging study reveals that there are optimal times for multitasking, allowing individuals to be more efficient. The research found that certain brain regions show higher activity when people are performing well under multiple tasks.
A neuroimaging study found that chronic insomnia is associated with compromised cognitive processes, but these deficits can be reversed through non-pharmacological treatment. Sleep therapy was shown to improve verbal fluency tasks and restore altered brain function in people with insomnia.
Research at the University of Chicago shows that playing sports or watching them improves language skills for discussing their sport. The brain's motor areas are activated when listening to conversations about a sport, even if there's no intention to act.
Research shows that walking on a treadmill can significantly improve mobility and health in stroke survivors even years post-stroke. Brain scans reveal increased metabolic activity in areas associated with walking, suggesting the brain's ability to rewire and recover through exercise.
A recent brain study has identified the brain regions that interact to link knowledge of socially appropriate behavior with moral sentiments like pride and guilt. The findings suggest that social behavior not conforming to an individual's values evokes feelings of anger or guilt, which may be relevant to understanding depression.
A new study has discovered a specific brain association in people with borderline personality disorder, linked to difficulties in understanding others' actions. The findings suggest a potential diagnostic tool and treatment approach using functional MRI technology.
A Carnegie Mellon University brain imaging study found that intensive remedial instruction can permanently rewire the brain to overcome reading deficits in dyslexic students. The study showed increased brain activity in cortical regions associated with reading and neural gains solidified over time.
A study found that healthy children of Alzheimer's patients who carry the APOE-4 gene demonstrate reduced functional brain connectivity between key structures. This reduction is detectable long before clinical symptoms appear, with non-carriers showing significantly better connectivity.
Researchers at University of Cambridge discovered under-active brain regions associated with genetic risk for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity in patients with OCD and their family members, showing impaired function in areas controlling flexible behavior.
A study by Dartmouth researchers found that people can acquire motor skills through observation as well as practice. The Action Observation Network in the brain was activated equally when participants observed practiced and unpracticed sequences.
Researchers used fMRI scans to study children's responses to pain and found that their brains showed similar activation patterns to adults. The study also discovered additional brain regions activated when children saw someone intentionally hurt by another individual.
Researchers investigate how humans perceive humanoid robots and attribute mental qualities, finding increased brain activity in the medial prefrontal cortex. Participants enjoyed interactions more when robots displayed human-like features, suggesting a link between human-robot interaction and mentalizing.
Researchers created a complete map of millions of neural fibers in the human cerebral cortex, identifying a single network core that may be key to understanding higher level thinking. The study provides a comprehensive map of brain connections and describes a non-invasive technique for mapping neural connections at greater resolution.
Researchers at Harvard University have identified a key mechanism by which neural activity increases blood flow to the brain. Astrocytes play a crucial role in this process, releasing neurotransmitters that bind to and elevate intracellular calcium levels, leading to blood vessel dilation.
The study creates a computational model predicting brain activation patterns for thousands of concrete nouns, with accuracies significantly greater than chance. The model uses text corpus data to identify basic building blocks the brain uses to represent meaning.
A study published in Biological Psychiatry used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to match treatments for patients with generalized anxiety disorder. The researchers found that approximately two-thirds of patients experienced relief from their anxiety symptoms after treatment.
Researchers at NIMH found that brain activity responds to social hierarchy, influencing motivation and health. The ventral striatum activates equally for monetary rewards and changes in rank.
Researchers found that perceiving a good reputation activates the brain's reward system in a similar manner to monetary rewards. The study used fMRI experiments on 19 people and found robust activation of reward-related brain areas, particularly the striatum.
Researchers found that erotic images stimulated a positive emotional response, increasing activation in the nucleus accumbens and leading to bigger financial risks. The study's findings have implications for effective emotional appeals in various fields, including finance and marketing.
A study by Birte Forstmann and colleagues found that two areas in the medial frontal cortex contribute to decision-making: the rostral cingulate zone (RCZ) for choosing among options, and Brodmann area 10 when making completely our own choice. The study suggests context and agency play a crucial role in decision-making.
A study found that compassion meditation changes the brain's structure, making individuals more empathetic to others' mental states. The research suggests that long-term meditators show increased activity in areas linked to emotion detection and sharing, supporting the development of skills promoting happiness and compassion.
A new study using fMRI found that people with depression show increased activation in the anterior cingulate region when anticipating reward, indicating a conflict between processing rewards and punishments. This finding suggests that depression may not be solely the absence of pleasure, but rather an experience of emotional pain or fr...
Researchers used fMRI to study two emotion regulation techniques: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Cognitive reappraisal reduced negative emotions by reinterpretating the meaning of disgusting images, while expressive suppression increased neural activity in the amygdala and insula.
Researchers warn that brain imaging technology, such as fMRI, may promote abuse of detainees due to its limitations and open interpretation. The technology's reliance on detecting tiny changes in blood oxygen levels raises concerns about accuracy and potential misuse.
Researchers found that people with schizophrenia use different areas of their brain than healthy individuals for working memory. While healthy subjects relied on a specialized network, schizophrenic patients used a wider network to achieve the same goal.
A new book by Steven Small and colleagues examines how the brain functions when people participate in sports as athletes, coaches, and fans. The study reveals that professional athletes activate only critical regions of the brain, while novices have to engage multiple regions due to emotional involvement.
A recent Carnegie Mellon University study found that listening to cell phones while driving can cause significant impairments, including a 37% decrease in brain activity associated with driving. Drivers who listened to their cell phones committed more lane maintenance errors and had reduced spatial sense and navigation.
Children and adolescents at high risk for substance-use disorder show deficits in executive cognitive function, including reduced frontal brain activation. Researchers used fMRI to assess eye movements and found a link between brain functioning and SUD risk.
Resilient children of alcoholics have greater control over emotional responses due to enhanced activity in the orbitofrontal cortex and insula, while vulnerable COAs struggle with processing negative emotions. This may lead to differences in behavior and risk of developing alcohol-use disorders.
Jazz musicians' brains shut off areas linked to self-censoring, turning on those that let self-expression flow. The brain regions responsible for self-expression and novel ideas are activated during improvisation.
Researchers found that, when jazz musicians improvise, a large portion of the brain's prefrontal region 'takes 5' to let creativity flow. This shutdown allows for novel ideas and impulses to emerge. The study suggests this brain pattern is key to highly creative thought.
Researchers used fMRI scans to analyze how subjects' brains responded to TV ads, while also collecting their reported impressions. They found specific locations in the brain associated with familiar emotions like pleasure and excitement. The study aims to gauge human emotions directly through brain-scanning technology.
Researchers found that early brain activity is shaped by language experience and plays a crucial role in speech perception. The study reveals that melody of speech engages multiple brain areas, including both hemispheres, and interacts with general sensory-motor processes.
Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute found that concussed athletes with depression showed reduced brain activity in regions known to be implicated in depression. The study provides important clinical implications for treating individuals who have suffered a cerebral concussion and highlights the importance of early interv...
Researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center used advanced brain-scanning technologies to detect brain areas associated with poor impulse control and negative emotion in patients with borderline personality disorder. The study found that discrete parts of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex were relatively l...
The study uses fMRI to show that different regions of the brain are activated when people believe, disbelieve or are uncertain about statements. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is involved in belief processing, while the limbic system's cingulate areas are engaged in disbelief.
Studies show that watching violent programs can cause parts of the brain to become less active, leading to reduced ability to control aggressive behavior. This effect is seen after repeated viewings of violence and is not observed with non-violent movies.
Researchers found that former anorexics showed distinct brain pattern differences, particularly in emotional response regions. Their brains were more focused on consequences and planning, suggesting a persistent risk of obsessive thinking. This study may lead to better understanding and treatment development for anorexia nervosa.
Researchers at MIT used fMRI to monitor brain development in rats, correcting for changes that occur during early life. The study found a key player in the changing relationship between neural activity and blood response: carbonic anhydrase.
Duke University neuroscientists discovered that the brain region processing global gist of an event is more active in individuals with false memories. This finding could lead to tools for early Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and a better understanding of memory changes during aging.
Researchers used fMRI to investigate a woman's guilt in a poisoning case. The study found that when she agreed with her accusers' account, her brain activated extensive regions, indicating potential deception.
Duke researchers identified a new brain marker that may help predict future Alzheimer's disease by tracking deactivation of the posteromedial cortex. A third of individuals with mild cognitive impairment converted to Alzheimer's in three years, with fMRI scans predicting this progression.
A brain-imaging study found that sound training can correct the sound processing problem in dyslexic children, leading to improved reading. The study suggests new ways of treating dyslexia, such as musical training, and may help clinicians diagnose dyslexia even before reading begins.
MIT scientists propose that blood modulates how neurons process information and regulate brain activity. Blood flow affects the activity of nearby neurons, changing how they transmit signals and hence regulating information flow throughout the brain.