Articles tagged with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
A recent study published at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting found that brain activity related to face processing is similar in individuals with and without autism. The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain function in people with autism as they processed social cues, including faces.
Researchers found that older adults increase activation in control-related brain regions and additional frontal brain areas when faced with difficult tasks. In contrast, young adults tend to deactivate certain brain regions. These findings suggest that older adults can adapt to challenging situations, although their brains may respond ...
Researchers identified areas of the brain where neuronal activity decreases when objects are made invisible, suggesting a relationship between conscious experience and visual perception. The findings may advance understanding of the brain's interaction with the eye and its importance in medicine, neurology, and psychology.
Researchers found that older individuals with less white matter in the frontal lobes struggle to focus on tasks. The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain structure and activation in individuals aged 19-87.
A short course of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) increases finger sensitivity by 15% immediately after treatment, with effects lasting up to two hours. The brain map representing the index finger also enlarges in response to rTMS, corresponding to increased sensory perception.
By combining functional MRI and PET scanning, researchers can gain a more comprehensive view of the brain's functions and explore different aspects of its activity. This new technique allows physicians to better diagnose and treat patients with brain disorders such as stroke, seizure disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.
A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study found a causal link between playing violent video games and brain-activity patterns characteristic of aggressive cognitions. The research used a novel frame-by-frame method to analyze game content and measured brain activity, physiological measures, and audio data from the game.
A study found that expectations about pain can significantly affect its intensity. Participants who expected lower levels of pain reported a 28% decrease in pain ratings compared to those who expected higher levels. This suggests that the brain plays a crucial role in shaping the perception of pain.
The study found that two brain regions, nucleus accumbens and anterior insula, are activated before making risk-seeking versus risk-aversion investment mistakes. This discovery may help improve the design of economic institutions to facilitate optimal investor behavior.
The study reveals that a decrease in medial temporal lobe activity tracks the level of perceived memory strength for faces. Graded reductions in cortical responses support graded perceptions of item familiarity, allowing organisms to discriminate between novel and familiar items.
Researchers found that specific brain regions are linked to inflammation and lung function in asthmatic patients. The anterior cingulate cortex and insula were found to be hyper-responsive to emotional and physiological signals, influencing symptom severity.
Researchers accurately predicted fMRI signals in patients while watching a movie, validating its use in human neuroscience research. The findings also highlight the importance of further study to understand the correlation between fMRI and single neuronal activity.
A study evaluated the effect of fMRI results on diagnostic work-up and treatment planning for 60 consecutive seizure disorder patients. The findings helped five patients avoid additional surgery, altering the extent of surgery in four others. This non-invasive test improved surgical decision making for epilepsy patients.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that brain regions involved in information integration shift depending on cognitive task. Dynamic Causal Modeling revealed that specific regions, like the lateral temporal cortex and intraparietal sulcus, act as convergence zones integrating information from other parts of the brain.
A recent study using fMRI found limited reorganization in the primary visual cortex of adult monkeys after retina injury, contradicting previous thinking on brain plasticity. The results suggest that adult brains may not be as capable of compensating for injuries as previously believed.
A new study using hyperscanning technology measures the brain's response to trust decisions, revealing a shift in timing as interactions progress. The technique may provide valuable insights into conditions such as autism and schizophrenia.
The study found that synesthetes' colors help them distinguish shapes, but are less effective than real colors. The research suggests that synesthetic colors lead to improved behavioral performance similar to real colors.
Researchers found that grapheme-color synesthetes see reported colors and experience activation in color-selective brain regions. Stronger color perception was linked to better behavioral performance.
Researchers Marcel Just and Tom Mitchell use computer models to interpret fMRI brain scans, developing a computational theory of brain activity during language processing. They also demonstrate how reading different words and sentences influences brain activity and identify specific brain regions involved in language comprehension.
Researchers used fMRI to study brain activity under hypnosis for pain suppression, finding reduced activity in pain network areas and increased activity in other regions. This suggests that hypnosis blocks the pain signal from reaching the brain's perception centers.
Researchers found that people mentally fill in gaps in familiar music with auditory imagery, and lyrics impact different auditory brain regions when reconstructing musical memories. The study extends previous work on auditory imagery and visual imagery, revealing a kind of auditory imagery typical of everyday experience.
A study by UCLA neuroscientists found that pre motor mirror neuron areas of the brain can ascribe intentions to actions when presented within a context. This expansion of knowledge supports imitation-based treatments for autism and similar disorders, which may improve social interaction skills.
Researchers used mirror neurons to study human behavior and found that these cells can predict the intentions behind actions. This suggests a deeper level of understanding and prediction in human social interactions.
A new study suggests that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) functions as an early warning system to help recognize and avoid high-risk situations. The ACC learns to warn us of potential mistakes before difficult decisions must be made, allowing for more careful behavior.
Researchers at Princeton University found that automatic vigilance happens mainly when people categorize others, but this reaction can be controlled. The study used fMRI to measure activity in the amygdala and showed that participants only exhibited activation when they categorized faces by age, not racial characteristics.
A study using fMRI reveals separate brain regions for making choices and dealing with conflicts, shedding light on why people with damaged medial frontal cortex struggle with actions and difficult decisions. The findings have implications for understanding human decision-making processes.
Researchers used MRI to study brain activity and found that tens of thousands of discrete brain regions form a network with the same features as other complex networks, such as the Internet. The brain network shares two fundamental properties: small world connectivity and in-homogeneity, allowing for efficient information transmission.
Researchers warn of growing ethical challenges in neuroscience as brain imaging technologies become more accessible. Breakthroughs in functional neuroimaging enable the study of cognitive processes, but also raise concerns about corporate profits and personal data privacy.
A study employing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirms long-held suspicions about the complexity of language processing in the brain. Researchers identified a new language area, dubbed Geschwind's territory, which connects to classical language areas via a separate route, shedding light on the evolutionary origins of language.
Researchers found that unconscious subcortical bias can be squelched by the frontal cortex, and that early perceptual processing may result in an automatic emotional response. Consistently, participants with less racial bias displayed less amygdala activity to black faces.
Researchers Galit Yovel and Nancy Kanwisher found that the FFA extracts configural information about faces, not spatial information on face parts. Their studies also indicated that the FFA is exclusively involved in face recognition.
Research using fMRI scans reveals that individuals with high-functioning autism exhibit different brain activation patterns when recalling alphabet letters, with more activity in right hemisphere and less in left.
A study using fMRI and polygraph exams found that brain activity can distinguish truthful responses from deceptive ones. The researchers created a relevant situation for normal volunteers, who showed activation in specific brain areas during deception.
Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) show that individuals with brain deficits can relearn matching visual input with sensory input. This study used fMRI and a cyber glove to demonstrate the effectiveness of remapping motor commands, a crucial step in stroke recovery.
A study found that brain regions activated by food craving are also involved in drug craving, suggesting a common neural basis for both. The hippocampus, insula, and caudate were identified as key areas of activation during food cravings.
Researchers found that adults with dyslexia who received phonics-based instruction showed significant improvements in reading ability, including gains of 6-23% in text reading and phonetic awareness. The study also revealed changes in brain activity associated with phonetic processing.
University of Oregon researchers Paul Dassonville and Jagdeep Kaur Bala found that the distinction between perception and action streams is oversimplified. Their study revealed that slight manipulations of an illusion led to a new realization, where the 'right' physical movements were made despite inaccurate visual perceptions.
A recent study found that Coke preference is influenced by brand knowledge and activates specific brain regions, including the hippocampus. This discovery highlights the role of cultural messages in shaping taste perception and has important implications for understanding obesity and other health issues related to sugared colas.
A USC study found that the brain processes rhythmic and discrete movements differently, with distinct activity patterns in different brain areas. The research has implications for movement control and rehabilitation, as well as our understanding of music's effect on human movement.
A genetic disorder, Williams syndrome, has been studied using brain imaging techniques to understand its impact on genes and cognition. The research found that the disorder affects the dorsal pathway of the visual cortex, leading to difficulties in visuospatial construction.
Researchers found abnormalities in brain activity among people with normal IQs who have autism, indicating a deficiency in coordination among brain areas. The study proposes the underconnectivity theory, which suggests that autism is a distributed system-wide disorder limiting integration among brain areas.
Fetal imaging technologies like DTI and fMRI enable early diagnosis and treatment of brain abnormalities, improving outcomes for patients with epilepsy, autism, and Alzheimer's. Researchers presented advancements in detecting seizure origins and understanding autistic brain function through innovative imaging techniques.
Researchers used fMRI to study brain activity in response to rewards, finding that reward centers were activated when participants actively received the reward. Active participation was found to be more salient and arousing than passive receipt, highlighting its importance for brain function.
The Dartmouth College fMRI Data Center has archived over 70 complete studies with data from 1,000 individuals. Researchers can access the repository at no charge, fulfilling over 1,200 requests. The collection contributes to understanding human cognition.
Researchers found that language capacity 'evens out' with age, with older adults using more of both hemispheres relative to language skills. The study suggests improvements in linguistic skills and maturation of the central nervous system contribute to increased hemisphere dominance in childhood.
An imaging study found that teaching matters and good instruction can change the brain's functioning in children, improving reading ability. The study showed significant gains in reading skills among children who received intensive phonemic awareness and phonics-based instruction.
Researchers have discovered that a brain electrical signal can predict an individual's visual working memory capacity, which varies from 1.5 to 5 objects. The study found that the signal levels off when the number of objects exceeds the subject's capacity, while those with higher capacity show large increases in brain activity.
A new study provides support for the ancient origin of the MT visual center in primates, suggesting it evolved early in primate evolution. The researchers used optical imaging to analyze the brain structure of a small nocturnal primate called the galago and found similarities with monkey brains.
Studies using fMRI and EEG reveal a distinct neural activity pattern in the right hemisphere's anterior Superior Temporal Gyrus (aSTG) associated with insightful problem-solving. This finding suggests that insight involves integration of distantly related information, providing new insights into cognitive processes.
A new study published in Neuron reveals that the brain processes continuous dimensions such as size and luminance in distributed regions of the cortex. The researchers observed that there is considerable overlap between local brain regions and no single region uniquely selective for one particular stimulus.
Researchers at Duke University found that the brain can switch to automatic mode when learning new skills, reducing cognitive effort. By analyzing fMRI data, they discovered that the cortex rapidly recovers prior responses, allowing for efficient decision-making and reduced neural activity.
The new centre will combine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) to study brain processes involved in everyday mental tasks. Research at the centre may lead to improved treatments for conditions like strokes, multiple sclerosis, and schizophrenia.
Researchers used fMRI to map changes in brain activity after volunteers received a placebo, showing the prefrontal cortex is activated in response to pain relief. The study provides new insights into the brain's pain pathways and may lead to new therapies for chronic or acute pain.
A new study suggests that individuals with autism can develop face recognition skills through specialized training. The research found that the fusiform gyrus, a brain region responsible for face processing, is activated in adults with autism, but requires training to function properly.
Researchers used fMRI to study male monkeys' brain activity in response to attractive female scents, finding high levels of neural activity in areas associated with decision-making and memory. The study suggests that males don't just act on primal urges, but exhibit complex neural processes when evaluating potential mates.
Research using fMRI scans found left-hemisphere activation in infant brains during speech stimulation, suggesting early language lateralization. The study challenges the long-held assumption that language dominance is progressive until puberty.
Researchers used fMRI to study infants with documented brain injury and found early evidence of left-hemisphere-dominant activation patterns during speech processing. This challenges the long-held assumption that language lateralization is progressive until puberty, instead suggesting a more complex process.
Researchers used fMRI to study brain activity in people with dyslexia, finding increased visual pathway activation during auditory tasks, linked to poorer performance. The findings suggest abnormal cross-modal sensory processing may be a fundamental deficit in dyslexia.
Researchers at Washington University developed a non-invasive fMRI technique to better evaluate brain surgery risks and guide operations to avoid sensitive language areas. This breakthrough holds promise for safer surgeries for nearly 200,000 Americans diagnosed with brain tumors annually.
Researchers used fMRI to compare brain activity in children, adolescents and adults while reading simple words aloud, revealing differences in brain function across the lifespan. The study suggests that brain function during language tasks changes with development, potentially shedding light on language disorders.