Articles tagged with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
A new study found that methylene blue increased response in brain areas controlling short-term memory and attention, leading to improved reaction times and memory retrieval. The results suggest that methylene blue can regulate certain brain networks related to sustained attention and short-term memory after a single oral low dose.
Researchers at Linköping University found that common fMRI analysis methods produce false positives, leading to inflated false positive rates. The team's alternative method yielded more accurate results, reducing the false positive rate from 60% to 5%.
A UCL study found that the habenula, a region that responds to bad experiences, functions abnormally in people with depression. In healthy adults, this region activates when expecting aversive events, but in depressed individuals, it decreases activation. The study suggests the theory on the habenula's role in depression needs rethinking.
Researchers at MUSC discovered that blood flow does not precisely follow local neural activity, challenging the long-held assumption that vascular and neural responses are tightly coupled. This finding suggests that fMRI may only reveal a blurred representation of underlying neural activity.
A Dartmouth-Princeton study found that people can intentionally forget past experiences by altering the context of those memories. Participants who were told to forget random words showed a 'flushing out' of scene-related activity from their brains, while remembering led to increased recall.
Researchers at the Center for BrainHealth will investigate how changes in brain blood flow affect cognition in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). They will use fMRI to examine cerebral blood flow and neural metabolic rate, aiming to pinpoint the brain systems responsible for cognitive slowing in MS.
A new machine learning algorithm can identify human facial expressions based on neural activity, with a 60% success rate. The area of the brain responsible for this task is the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), which activates when looking at images of different facial expressions.
Researchers developed a model that accurately predicts individual differences in task activation based on resting-state fMRI data. This novel approach suggests that resting-state patterns provide considerable information for estimating individual differences in task activation.
Researchers at UC Davis have made a breakthrough in understanding how we read by developing a new brain-scanning technique called FIRE-fMRI. This method combines functional MRI with eye tracking to study brain activity during natural reading, providing insights into how words are represented in the brain.
A new study published in Diabetologia found that the GLP-1 analog drug liraglutide decreases activation in the brain's cortex when individuals are shown images of desirable foods, making these foods less appealing. This suggests that liraglutide may be an effective weight loss therapy for people who tend to eat as a reward.
A new study in veterans with PTSD finds that mindfulness training can enhance the ability to manage thoughts and emotions, leading to reduced symptoms. Brain scans reveal stronger connections between brain networks involved in attention and inner thoughts, suggesting a potential tool for emotional regulation and trauma processing.
Researchers at University of Oregon developed a line of transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein to visualize neural activity. The technique allows for real-time imaging of brain-wide activity across cortex, enabling studies of sensory processing, cognition, and brain development.
A video game-based cognitive rehabilitation program improved thalamic functional connectivity and boosted cognitive abilities in multiple sclerosis patients. The study found that increased connectivity reflected the brain's plasticity and promoted cognitive rehabilitation for people with neurological diseases.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new brain imaging strategy that allows people to control their motivational centers, leading to healthier and more productive lives. By using neurofeedback, participants were able to learn which strategies worked and adopt more effective ones.
Researchers have developed a new analysis method to distinguish between stroke patients with language problems, enabling more individualized treatment. The method uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and combines information about brain lesions and activity patterns.
A new tool may help predict patients' motor function recovery after stroke by analyzing changes in brain network configuration. Graph theoretical analysis revealed that a lower characteristic path length indicates better recovery, suggesting improved rehabilitation planning and therapy development.
Researchers found that offering smaller portions consistently motivates individuals to choose healthier options, regardless of hunger levels. Desirable non-food rewards also increase motivation for choosing smaller portions.
A computer-training task can alter brain wiring to regulate negative emotions by improving the ability to ignore irrelevant information. This non-emotional training was found to result in reduced brain reactions to emotional events and strengthened neural connections between brain regions involved in inhibiting emotional reactions.
The study found that brain regions associated with expectation can override objective reality, highlighting the importance of preconceptions in navigation. Researchers hope to apply this knowledge to develop new non-linguistic communication tools.
Using 20 years of fMRI data, researchers found that cognitive function and abstract thought exist as an agglomeration of many cortical sources. They developed a geometry-based method to analyze brain activity, revealing a hierarchy of abstraction related to the connectome structure of the whole human brain.
Researchers are developing a noninvasive brain-scanning technology that could produce images far superior to those obtained with electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging. The technique, called acoustoelectric brain imaging (ABI), involves applying ultrasound waves externally to the brain.
Researchers used fMRI to identify brain areas linked to Christmas spirit, including the primary motor and parietal lobules. The study's findings could advance understanding of festive cultural traditions and help patients with Christmas spirit deficiencies.
A new study identified three main brain regions where abnormalities are common to all types of focal epilepsy. The findings, published in Brain Connectivity, provide valuable insights into the neural networks underlying this neurological condition.
Researchers used brain imaging to predict the outcome of an anti-smoking email campaign sent to 800,000 smokers in New York State. The study found that brain activity in just 50 smokers was able to predict which messages would be effective at getting people to quit smoking.
Researchers identified structural damage between thalamus and primary motor cortex as key barrier for covert awareness and intentional movement in patients with vegetative states. This finding holds promise for development of restorative therapies.
A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study found that The Dress activates frontal and parietal brain areas, depending on perception. Researchers identified differential brain activity in participants perceiving the dress as white-gold versus black-blue.
A new computer program analyzing functional brain MRIs of hearing-impaired children can predict effective language skills after cochlear implant surgery. The study identified two brain regions that effectively predict successful outcomes, providing potential biomarkers for clinicians.
A recent study published in Radiology found that older adults recover more slowly from concussions, exhibiting reduced neural plasticity and persistent hypoactivation. This suggests that mild traumatic brain injuries may have a more profound effect on older patients, highlighting the need for age-specific management strategies.
A new study provides the first direct window into the maturation of vision-related areas in the infant brain, showing that major motion processing areas are operational by 7 weeks. The study found similarities between infants and adults in terms of brain activity patterns, but also notable differences, particularly in the development o...
A study published in Neuron found that the rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (RLPFC) plays a crucial role in internally monitoring and guiding our behavior through sequences of tasks. By disrupting this region, researchers observed an increase in errors, highlighting its importance for cognitive control.
A novel study measures working memory deficits and cognitive recovery in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) using functional neuroimaging. Cognitive improvement is found to correspond with normalization of activation patterns on fMRI, suggesting a potential early biomarker for predicting recovery.
Researchers used fMRI to distinguish first-episode psychotic patients from healthy controls while watching the movie. They found significant differences in brain activity, particularly in the precuneus region, which is associated with memory and self-awareness.
A new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry has discovered a predictive fMRI-derived measure that significantly predicts patients' response to antipsychotic medication. This breakthrough enables the use of brain scans as a tool for guiding treatment and improving patient outcomes.
A new study by Duke University researchers suggests that self-control can weaken memory. The study found that when participants had to cancel an intended action, their ability to remember specific details was impaired. This finding may have implications for understanding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and addiction.
Researchers used fMRI to measure brain activity while watching Alfred Hitchcock episodes, finding similar responses in younger subjects but not in older adults. The study suggests that attention control declines with age, leading to a greater variety in neural patterns.
Researchers at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business used fMRI to test the association of human-like characteristics with brands. They found that brain activity could predict survey responses, validating customer insights. This study aims to close the gap between neuroscience and marketing research.
A recent study has identified a face-selective region in the temporal cortex of dogs, which responds significantly to human and dog faces. The research suggests that this ability is hard-wired through cognitive evolution and may help explain dogs' sensitivity to human social cues.
Researchers used brain scans to identify a predictor of response to treatment with SSRIs, the first-line drug treatment for PTSD. The study found that patients who showed less activation in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex prior to treatment were more likely to improve with SSRI therapy.
By analyzing blood flow patterns, researchers have identified 13 main brain networks that work together and can be used to diagnose neurological disorders like Alzheimer's. The study provides new insights into how the brain organizes itself and sets the stage for early diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers discovered that screams possess special acoustic properties, including roughness, which is a specific type of vocal expression used in stressful situations. Screams are modulated at a faster rate than normal speech, making them more attention-grabbing.
A new study published in Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation found that traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients who underwent cognitive rehabilitation showed significant changes in cerebral activation. The modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT), a 10-session memory retraining protocol, demonstrated consistent results with prior researc...
Researchers at University College London have discovered that when we try to remember a single aspect of an event, our brain reconstructs the entire episode, including details we weren't consciously aware of. This process is made possible by the hippocampus, which associates different aspects of the event and enables pattern completion.
Researchers from Université de Genève found that activated neurons swell due to massive entry of water, providing a new insight into brain functioning. This discovery enables the detection of cellular mechanisms behind brain activity, allowing for more accurate localization and pathologies diagnosis.
An innovative imaging study shows that the spinal cord learns complex motor tasks on its own, independent of the brain. This discovery may offer new opportunities for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury.
Researchers at Temple University Health System used fMRI imaging to study brain activity in chronic itch patients and healthy subjects. The study found that areas of the brain involved in motor control and reward processing were overactivated in chronic itch patients, explaining their addictive scratching behavior.
Researchers identified 136 genes whose expression is correlated across regions within each network, suggesting a molecular basis for synchronized physiological interactions. These genes encode proteins essential for nerve cell activity and maintenance of voltage differences.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have made a breakthrough in understanding how the brain represents familiar concepts, such as houses and bananas. By teaching people new concepts and monitoring neural activity, they found that these representations occur in the same brain areas for everyone, using a shared 'filing system'.
Researchers found that subjects could obscure real memories or create false ones on brain scans by focusing on novel features or associating new faces with existing memories. The study highlights the need for more research before applying fMRI technology to high-stakes situations.
Researchers have identified a specific part of the brain, the superior temporal sulcus (STS), that is exclusively dedicated to processing speech. The study found activity in this region only when subjects were presented with speech sounds, suggesting a specialized role in detecting spoken words.
Researchers focus on olfactory and cognitive optimization to improve canines' scent recognition and memory. The goal is to expand their recognition of odors within diverse elements and in what ratios, as well as determine how long they retain scent memory.
A recent study found that women are at a higher risk of persistent memory impairment after a concussion, with brain scans revealing reduced activation in working memory circuits. The study's findings suggest that female gender may be a risk factor for working memory impairment after mild traumatic brain injury.
Cognitive scientists identified three middle-aged adults with SDAM, who lack personal recollection of past events but can learn and recall information normally. Brain imaging revealed reduced vividness and activation in midline brain regions, as well as a subtle volume reduction in the hippocampus.
Researchers found that combining mental practice with physical therapy significantly improves sensation and motor function scores in stroke survivors. The treatment helps regain motor behaviors by recruiting new neurons and compensating for damaged brain cells.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a high-speed imaging method that enables the visualization of blood flow, blood oxygenation, and oxygen metabolism in living mouse brains. The new technique, called photoacoustic microscopy, achieves high-resolution images with capillary-level resolution at a rate of 100 ...
A new method called Brain-Wide Association Analysis (BWAS) has isolated the functional differences between autistic and non-autistic brains, identifying regions that may contribute to autism symptoms. The study used a large dataset of MRI scans to compare brain connectivity in individuals with autism and those without.
Researchers challenge current theories of ageing by finding that brain activity in older adults is not reduced as previously thought. A new study using resting state fMRI measurements suggests that age-related differences in brain signal amplitude are due to vascular health, rather than brain function.
A brain imaging study has found evidence of complex processing in the initial stages of the visual system, contradicting long-held assumptions about how the brain perceives visual stimuli. The researchers used high-resolution fMRI to discover that the human lateral geniculate nucleus plays a key role in processing line orientations.
Researchers found that self-affirmation increases activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, leading to a steeper decline in sedentary behaviors. The study showed that people who were affirmed before receiving health advice demonstrated higher brain activity and improved behavior change.
Researchers at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have developed a brain-imaging technique that can detect autism spectrum disorder in children. The test, which involves measuring perspective-tracking responses, has shown promising diagnostic potential and may revolutionize the way autism is diagnosed.
A recent study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers found that pain processing in the brain involves two separate pathways: one for physical pain and another for cognitive regulation. The latter pathway is involved in emotion and motivation, but also plays a key role in long-term pain and disability.