Articles tagged with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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.
Researchers have identified a key brain region responsible for navigational skills and found that its signal strength predicts performance. The study's findings provide new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying spatial navigation, which may help explain why some individuals are better at navigating than others.
The University of Nevada, Reno has partnered with Renown Health to bring new functional MRI technology to northern Nevada. This partnership will enable researchers to study neural activity patterns in the brain, revolutionizing neuroscience and leading to new discoveries about brain function and its impact on injury or disease.
A new fMRI test can detect neural dysfunction in HIV-positive individuals before they exhibit cognitive decline, according to a Georgetown University Medical Center study. The researchers found that the neural specificity in brain regions associated with face processing is reduced in HIV-positive participants.
A new clinical trial demonstrates that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) improves motor learning and retention in hemiparetic stroke patients. The study used functional MRI to record cerebral activity, showing a significant improvement in motor performance after real tDCS stimulation.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University used fMRI scans to analyze brain activity while eight people read a chapter of Harry Potter. The result was the first integrated computational model of reading, identifying which parts of the brain are responsible for parsing sentences and determining word meaning.
Research reveals bilingual speakers' brains better filter out competing language words, enhancing inhibitory control. This constant brain exercise can have benefits in everyday life and may even offer protection against Alzheimer's and dementia.
Researchers will use brain imaging to discover the brain-behavior connections that influence decisions on goal-setting, activities, and controlling illness. They hope to develop new interventions to motivate patients to take better care of themselves.
New research from the University of Exeter found that viewing pictures of others receiving emotional support reduces the brain's response to threatening facial expressions or words. This effect was particularly pronounced in more anxious individuals, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for mental health conditions like PTSD.
The Bertarelli Program has awarded $3.6 million in grants to five research projects focused on diagnosing and treating hearing loss, as well as developing new treatments for blindness. The projects aim to combine technologies and approaches to accelerate the delivery of new treatments to the clinic.
A Massachusetts General Hospital study used fMRI to investigate the neural basis of the human-pet relationship, finding that important brain structures are activated when women view images of their children and dogs. The study revealed both similarities and differences in brain activity, with some regions showing increased response to ...
The journal tackles past, current and future concepts of sports concussion through advocacy, education, prevention, treatment and groundbreaking research. Recent studies show that persistent post-concussion symptoms may arise from structural or metabolic alterations in the brain.
A new study found that children and teens with ADHD lag behind others in forming connections within their brains, particularly between networks controlling internal and external tasks. This lag may contribute to the disorder's hallmark symptoms of distraction and difficulty focusing.
A new study from Rutgers University-Newark reveals that the ability to persist in the face of personal setbacks may depend on how the news is delivered. The study found that when individuals perceive a loss of control, activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex is necessary to promote persistence.
Researchers have successfully visualized the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on neurons in real-time using voltage-sensitive dyes. The high-resolution imaging data may lead to optimized TMS parameters and learning processes for treating neurological diseases.
Researchers used functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine brain activation during a working memory task in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls. The study found differences in brain activation patterns between the groups that were dependent on task load.
Researchers found that ADHD children use less differentiated learning patterns, leading to suboptimal decisions. The study used mathematical models and multimodal imaging to examine brain activity in participants with and without ADHD.
People with schizophrenia struggle to convert desires into actions due to brain deficits affecting the caudate region. This impairment prevents them from making choices and behaving accordingly. The study's findings suggest that schizophrenics are 'stuck in neutral', wanting a normal life but unable to take necessary steps.
A study found that acupuncture at Waiguan inhibited Brodmann area 5 on the healthy side in stroke patients, indicating a potential mechanism for improving brain function. Acupuncture also activated functional brain areas, suggesting its therapeutic effects.
A new brain imaging study identified the neural mechanisms underlying judgment of punishment for harm caused intentionally or unintentionally. The study found that graphic language influences punishment, but only when harm is intentional, while unintentional harm has no effect on punishment level.
A study found that brain activity in two regions correlates with opposing emotional reactions during win-win choices. This suggests that these circuits evolved for different reasons, one for evaluating the outcome and the other for guiding actions.
Researchers discovered a correlation between specific brain activity patterns and sensitivity to market bubbles in high earners. The study found that these individuals ignored nucleus accumbens activity, which is associated with pleasant emotional states, instead focusing on the anterior insular cortex, which is active during bodily di...
Researchers at Caltech and Virginia Tech found that wise traders receive an early warning signal from their brains before price bubbles form in experimental markets. These 'irrational exuberance' individuals buy aggressively during the bubble, while smart traders sell early, causing the bubble to burst and earning them more money.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital found that musical training improves executive functioning in both children and adults. Musically trained individuals showed enhanced performance on cognitive tests and increased activation of specific brain areas associated with executive function.
Smokers who struggle to quit may have weaker response to rewards in their brains, making it harder to overcome nicotine addiction. Researchers used fMRI to study the striatal response to monetary reward in smokers expecting to smoke and those not planning to do so.
UO researchers used EEG electrodes to capture synchronized neural activity while subjects held a simple object in short-term memory. The team was able to decode the precise angle of the object and predict which individuals could store memories with high quality, shedding light on the role of alpha rhythms in memory processes.
Researchers demonstrated the ability to train brain patterns associated with empathic feelings using functional brain imaging. Volunteers who received neurofeedback showed improved brain network function related to tenderness and affection, key components of empathy. This finding may lead to new opportunities for investigating neurofee...
The new diffuse optical tomography (DOT) technology tracks brain processes in multiple regions and networks, providing a non-radiation alternative to fMRI. DOT has the potential to be helpful in many medical scenarios as a surrogate for functional MRI.
Researchers will compare connectivity changes between Lumosity training and active control groups, using fMRI sessions and cognitive assessments. The goal is to identify functional changes in the healthy adult brain that result from cognitive training and relate to improved cognitive performance.
The study found that brain activity in reward areas predicts food cravings, while prefrontal regions predict resistance to temptation. Participants with high prefrontal activity were more successful at controlling their desires.
Acupuncture at Waiguan inhibited Brodmann area 5 on the healthy side of stroke patients, indicating a possible association with a central mechanism for improved outcomes. This study suggests that acupuncture at specific points can have therapeutic effects on brain function in patients with ischemic stroke.
A new study published in The Lancet found that functional brain imaging techniques, such as PET and fMRI, can reliably predict which vegetative patients have the potential to recover consciousness. The research suggests that these techniques can complement standard behavioral assessments to identify patients with a higher chance of lon...
Adolescent girls are more sensitive to untrustworthy faces due to a weaker limbic system connection with the rest of the brain. This leads to heightened responses and a greater disconnection from brain regions involved in regulating responses.
A recent study using brain imaging found that dogs have a stronger response to the scents of familiar humans than other humans or even familiar dogs. The research suggests that dogs' brains have mental representations of their human companions that persist even when they're not present.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have shed light on compensatory mechanisms used by amputees who lose their dominant hand, suggesting new rehabilitation techniques to improve quality of life. Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed that brain areas formerly devoted to motor and sensory functions of the amputated...
A new brain imaging study reveals that nicotine withdrawal weakens the connection between two key brain networks: default mode and executive control. This reduced connectivity may lead to increased difficulty in quitting smoking, with up to 80% of people relapsing after trying to quit.
Researchers found that discarding data from subjects with multiple sclerosis who exhibit significant head movement during fMRI may bias sampling away from those with lower cognitive ability. This could lead to skewed results if not addressed by correcting for motion or recruiting a diverse range of participants.
A new Indiana University study found stark differences in brain network activation among alcohol-dependent women, suggesting the anterior insular region may be a key target for treatment. The research indicates that these women have trouble switching between brain networks, affecting their decision-making about drinking.
Researchers have noninvasively mapped human brain activity with unique accuracy, identifying both location and timing of brain processes. The study used a novel brain-scanning technique combining fMRI and MEG data to pinpoint when the brain recognizes objects and categorizes them.
Researchers found that subjects' trust in human agents was strongly linked to their accuracy, whereas the value placed on computer algorithms depended on whether or not their predictions matched. The study's findings highlight the brain mechanisms underlying these kinds of evaluations and have implications for decision-making.
Researchers found that reading a novel can cause changes in the brain's resting-state connectivity that persist for days after reading. The study, published in Brain Connectivity, used fMRI to examine the neural effects of reading a narrative.
Researchers used high-resolution fMRI to identify where Alzheimer's disease starts, spreads from the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) to other areas of the cerebral cortex. LEC dysfunction occurs when changes in tau and amyloid precursor protein (APP) co-exist, damaging neurons that then spread to adjoining regions.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University used fMRI to show that patients in a vegetative state can react emotionally to photographs of family and friends, suggesting they may be aware of their loved ones' presence. The study's findings provide hope for improved care and treatment for these patients.
Researchers at Emory University have confirmed their methods and results by replicating a previous study involving 13 dogs. The experiment showed that most dogs exhibited a positive response in the caudate region when given a hand signal indicating a treat, suggesting similarities with human brain function.