Articles tagged with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Researchers at Keck School of Medicine and Caltech demonstrate a new way to produce highly detailed images of the human brain using functional photoacoustic computerized tomography (fPACT). This technology has the potential to be less expensive, more portable, and accessible to patients with implants.
Research reveals people with hyperphantasia have a stronger connection between the visual network and the prefrontal cortices, linked to decision-making and attention. This contrasts with aphantasics, who have lower ability to recognize faces and perform autobiographical memory tasks
A study by University of Pennsylvania neuroscientist Joseph Kable reveals the default mode network splits into two sub-networks: one for constructing and predicting imagined events, and another for evaluating their positivity or negativity. This finding sheds light on the neural basis of imaginative abilities.
Researchers found that two brain subnetworks are responsible for constructing and evaluating imagined scenarios, with the ventral network focused on vividness and the dorsal network on valence. This discovery sheds light on the neural mechanisms underlying imagination.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have identified three brain areas, known as place-memory areas, which form a link between perception and memory systems. These areas are responsible for transforming visual information into spatial knowledge of familiar places.
Research suggests that autism develops differently in girls and boys, with distinct genetic profiles and brain mechanisms at play. Girls with ASD exhibit unique responses to social cues and have different genetic contributors to the condition.
Researchers developed a new type of minimally invasive BMI using functional ultrasound technology, which can accurately map brain activity from precise regions deep within the brain. This breakthrough allows for high-performance, less-invasive brain-machine interfaces that could benefit people with paralysis or neurological injuries.
Research using fMRI scans reveals that babies under a year old use areas of their frontal cortex to focus attention, previously thought to be immature. This discovery sheds light on the neural origins of attention in infants, potentially informing early childhood education and neurodevelopmental disorder research.
A study published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience found that highly identified fans of 'Game of Thrones' characters activate the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC) when thinking about the characters, similar to how they think about themselves. The vMPFC is a brain area involved in self-referential processing.
A meta-analysis of 17 studies found that participants could regulate neural activity in targeted regions using rtfMRI-NF, with a moderate impact during training and increased impact later without feedback. The study suggests a positive impact on brain and behavioral outcomes, but more research is needed to determine its effectiveness.
A new study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln psychologist Ingrid Haas found that humans process politically incongruent statements differently, with stronger neurological responses for inconsistent positions. Participants showed increased activity in brain regions involved in cognitive function when reading statements deviating from p...
A meta-analysis of 31 studies found that certain brain regions, including the insula and inferior frontal gyrus, are consistently activated during stress regardless of the test method used. This suggests a common neural basis for stress perception across different stimuli.
A new study by researchers in Japan has examined the brain activity of thirty programmers of diverse levels of expertise, finding that seven regions of the frontal, parietal and temporal cortices in expert programmer's brain are fine-tuned for programming. Expert programmers' brains show enhanced cortical representations of source code.
Researchers found that aging leads to increased intrinsic ignition and decreased metastability in the whole-brain functional network. This suggests a deficiency in efficient global communication in the brain, contributing to cognitive decline.
Researchers found abnormally high brain activation in individuals without diagnosed Alzheimer's but with memory concerns, suggesting a potential biomarker. Hyperactivation in certain regions increases before cognitive impairments and neuronal loss associated with the disease.
A new study published in Nature Communications found that deep learning models surpass standard machine learning approaches in analyzing brain imaging data, generating more accurate representations of the human brain. This is particularly beneficial for complex problems requiring large datasets and advanced analysis.
Study uses machine learning to map brain regions activated by music and finds distinct patterns for happy and sad music. Emotions evoked by films and music rely on different brain mechanisms, with films activating deeper emotion-regulating regions not seen in music.
Researchers at the National Eye Institute discovered a brain region, superior temporal sulcus (fSTS), crucial for processing and making decisions about visual information. This finding could provide clues to treating visual conditions from stroke.
A novel harmonization method was used to develop a generalizable brain network marker for major depressive disorder (MDD), based on resting-state fMRI data. The marker achieved approximately 70% generalization accuracy for an independent validation dataset, demonstrating its potential for clinical applications.
A study by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center discovered that people's brain activity and organization differ when reimagining common scenarios, leading to distinct neurological signatures. These signatures can help understand and study disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
A machine-learning algorithm detects early stages of Alzheimer's disease using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The algorithm uses a convolutional neural network (CNN) to analyze fMRI data and classify patients as healthy, mild cognitive impairment, or Alzheimer's disease.
New research reveals that our brains favor experiences that end well, weighing the final moments more heavily than the rest of the experience. This 'happy ending effect' can lead to bad decisions when choosing whether to repeat an experience.
Justin Zhan, a data science professor at the University of Arkansas, has received a $1.25 million grant to develop novel algorithms for enhancing computational speed and efficiency in applications requiring massive amounts of streaming data. His research aims to improve operational robustness, computational speed, and efficiency in too...
Scientists have developed a new imaging technology to study the brain's deep structures at high resolution. The technology, called adaptive optics two-photon endomicroscopy, enables in vivo imaging of deep brain structures and sheds light on brain functions.
Researchers have developed an experimental setup allowing them to conduct fMRI studies on awake pigeons, investigating cognitive processes for the first time. The results show that even simple tasks elicit widespread brain activity, paving the way for more complex investigations into avian intelligence.
A study from Dartmouth College found that passive monitoring of phone usage can mirror activity in the brain linked to traits such as anxiety, with predictions matching fMRI scans at 80% accuracy. Phone data analysis also supported long-term emotional traits and helped eliminate subjectivity in other information-gathering techniques.
Scientists have used tailored fMRI protocols to observe the human spinal cord in action for the first time, revealing a richly organized network of signals even at rest. This discovery has significant implications for understanding human motor control and developing targeted therapies for spinal cord injuries.
Researchers identified areas of the brain that regulate efforts to deal with fatigue, which could lead to new strategies for healthy individuals and therapies for those with depression, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. The study used MRI scans and computer modeling to analyze brain activity and behavior in participants.
Research suggests autistic men have greater excitability in the medial prefrontal cortex, affecting social cognition and self-reflection. Women with autism exhibit a more intact response, associated with better camouflaging of social difficulties.
Researchers identified reduced functional connectivity between the cerebellum and extrastriate cortex in FMR1 premutation carriers, which may serve as an early emerging indicator of FXTAS. This biomarker could help predict who among FMR1 carriers will develop characteristic symptoms before they appear.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure the complex interactions between different brain areas using both electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This approach reveals linked dynamics between EEG- and fMRI-derived connectomes, providing insights into neural communication. The findings s...
A Massachusetts General Hospital team used functional MRI to assess a severely unresponsive COVID-19 patient, discovering robust brain connectivity despite structural damage. The patient later recovered ability to follow commands and demonstrated improved cognitive function.
The study identified fluctuations in brain network connectivity during cravings, particularly between reward-related regions such as the central executive network and the nucleus accumbens. These dynamic patterns are associated with cannabis use disorder severity and can be used as biomarkers for treatment strategies.
Scientists identified specific brain regions linked to humans' sense of agency, finding that brain activity involved in planning and motor monitoring is crucial. By altering this network with transcranial magnetic stimulation, researchers were able to reduce participants' sense of control over their actions.
Researchers at UMBC develop independent vector analysis (IVA) for common subspace extraction (CS) to analyze fMRI data, identifying subgroups of schizophrenia patients with significant clinical significance. The method preserves nuances in data while rendering statistically significant groupings.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that psilocybin reduces neural activity in the claustrum by 15% to 30%, associated with stronger subjective effects. The study also showed changes in how the claustrum communicates with other brain regions involved in hearing, attention, and memory.
Researchers found that functional MRI measurements are highly suspect for predicting individual brain patterns, leading them to shift focus to brain structure measures instead. The study's findings have significant implications for the field of fMRI research, highlighting the need for more reliable methods.
A new computer model developed by scientists can accurately predict brain age using different types of brain scan data, including MRI scans and magnetoencephalography tests. This model has the potential to be used clinically to combine various tests and predict patient outcomes such as cognitive decline or depression.
Research reveals that people struggle to differentiate between outgroup faces due to visual processing quirks. The brain's fusiform facial area responds similarly to same and new black faces, impairing ability to tell them apart
A recent study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found sex-related differences in the effects of cannabis use on brain activity and subjective response. Neural activity primarily underlies response to cannabis cues, with no differences between male and female users, while female users exhibit more intense subjective craving.
Researchers have developed a novel MRI compatible graphene fiber DBS electrode, enabling full activation pattern mapping by simultaneous deep brain stimulation and fMRI. This breakthrough showed a close relationship between fMRI activation and DBS therapeutic improvement in Parkinsonian rat models.
Dopamine released deep within the brain influences both nearby and distant brain regions, with significant effects found in the motor cortex and insular cortex. High dopamine concentrations promote longer periods of neuronal activity, suggesting a key function in learning and reward processing.
Research finds that the dorsal attention network (DAT) and default-mode network (DMN) are anti-correlated, with suppressed activity during unconscious states. The study uses fMRI data to uncover temporal circuits of brain activity supporting human consciousness.
Researchers analyzed 30 infants' brain networks and found domain-specific organization in facial recognition (by 6 days) and scene recognition (by 27 days). These findings indicate that innate connectivity plays a crucial role in shaping the developing cortex.
Researchers have discovered that newborns' brains show a strong connection between face and place processing networks just six days after birth. The findings suggest that babies are born with a specialized visual cortex, with patterns of brain activity similar to those of adults.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that global brain fluctuations decrease as the day progresses, affecting cognitive function and connectivity. The researchers analyzed fMRI data from over 900 subjects and observed a cumulative decrease in global signal fluctuation and functional connectivity with time of day.
Scientists at Virginia Tech explore a novel approach to treat alcohol use disorder by using behavioral analysis and neuroimaging to understand decision-making processes. By pre-experiencing future events, individuals can mentally construct how they will feel, reducing the value they place on alcohol.
Researchers have developed a system to conduct fMRI scans on conscious mice, allowing for the study of brain network dysfunction and neural responses to social cues in autism-model mice. Administration of D-cycloserine was shown to improve social behaviors, highlighting potential therapeutic applications.
Focusing on neutral details of a scene can weaken later memories of a disturbing event, according to a new study. The findings could lead to the development of methods to increase psychological resilience in people who experience traumatic events.
A study by IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca found that a specific region of the right temporo-parietal junction can represent various affective states. The researchers used fMRI data and found smooth transitions in this region, which allows the brain to map emotions in a single patch of cortex.
A study analyzing 190 fMRI studies found that food and erotic images activate the left hemisphere, while money activates both hemispheres. The basal ganglia play a key role in reward processing, with different regions activated depending on the type of reward.
A study by Kobe University found that group apologies perceived as more genuine when costly to the organization, similar to individual apologies. The research used fMRI brain scans and participant ratings to determine that costly apologies activated key brain regions associated with cognitive empathy and intention processing.
A study found that dogs process basic numerical quantities in the parietotemporal cortex, similar to humans. This suggests a shared neural mechanism for numerosity that may have evolved at least 80 million years ago.
A Dartmouth study finds that conscious visual perception of location occurs in the frontal lobes, contradicting previous assumptions about its location. The research used fMRI data and multivariate pattern analysis to investigate where conscious perception emerges and how the brain codes this.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center used fMRI to categorize Gulf War illness patients into two distinct groups based on brain activity changes after exercise. The study suggests that different brain regions are associated with two subtypes of GWI, leading to potential new diagnosis and treatment strategies.
A new study using fMRI found significant differences in brain connectivity between infants exposed to opioids prenatally and those not exposed. The research suggests that prenatal opioid exposure may have lasting consequences on brain development and behavior.
Researchers analyzed 80,000 chords in 745 classic U.S. Billboard pop songs to find the right combination of uncertainty and surprise that makes music pleasing. The study suggests that musical pleasure depends on the dynamic interplay between prospective and retrospective states of expectation.
Researchers at the University of Missouri found that when a person loses a hand, both 'hand areas' of the brain become dedicated to the remaining healthy hand. Functional MRI scans revealed that the brain reorganizes its neural map and reroutes functions to the remaining hand after deprivation of input from a lost hand.
A recent brain imaging study found that more intelligent individuals have temporally more stable interactions in neural networks. The results suggest that processes of controlled attention may play an important role for general intelligence.
A multi-institutional study found that neurofeedback training can alter guilt-related brain connections in patients with Major Depression Disorder, increasing self-esteem. After a single session, participants showed strengthened connectivity between specific brain areas and reported improved self-esteem.