Simulated Driving and Brain Imaging: Combining Behavior, Brain Activity, and Virtual Reality

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara N. Carvalho ◽  
Godfrey D. Pearlson ◽  
Robert S. Astur ◽  
Vince D. Calhoun
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Alcohol Intoxication ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Simulated Driving

ABSTRACTIntroduction:Virtual reality in the form of simulated driving is a useful tool for studying the brain. Various clinical questions can be addressed, including both the role of alcohol as a modulator of brain function and regional brain activation related to elements of driving.Objective:We reviewed a study of the neural correlates of alcohol intoxication through the use of a simulated-driving paradigm and wished to demonstrate the utility of recording continuous-driving behavior through a new study using a programmable driving simulator developed at our center.Methods:Functional magnetic resonance imaging data was collected from subjects while operating a driving simulator. Independent component analysis (ICA) was used to analyze the data. Specific brain regions modulated by alcohol, and relationships between behavior, brain function, and alcohol blood levels were examined with aggregate behavioral measures. Fifteen driving epochs taken from two subjects while also recording continuously recorded driving variables were analyzed with ICA.Results:Preliminary findings reveal that four independent components correlate with various aspects of behavior. An increase in braking while driving was found to increase activation in motor areas, while cerebellar areas showed signal increases during steering maintenance, yet signal decreases during steering changes. Additional components and significant findings are further outlined.Conclusion:In summary, continuous behavioral variables conjoined with ICA may offer new insight into the neural correlates of complex human behavior.

scholarly journals Topological Segmentation of Time-Varying Functional Connectivity Highlights the Role of Preferred Cortical Circuits

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Billings ◽  
Manish Saggar ◽  
Shella Keilholz ◽  
Giovanni Petri
Keyword(s):  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Persistent Homology ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Topological Data Analysis ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Common Time ◽  
Brain Imaging Data

Functional connectivity (FC) and its time-varying analogue (TVFC) leverage brain imaging data to interpret brain function as patterns of coordinating activity among brain regions. While many questions remain regarding the organizing principles through which brain function emerges from multi-regional interactions, advances in the mathematics of Topological Data Analysis (TDA) may provide new insights into the brain’s spontaneous self-organization. One tool from TDA, “persistent homology”, observes the occurrence and the persistence of n-dimensional holes presented in the metric space over a dataset. The occurrence of n-dimensional holes within the TVFC point cloud may denote conserved and preferred routes of information flow among brain regions. In the present study, we compare the use of persistence homology versus more traditional TVFC metrics at the task of segmenting brain states that differ across a common time-series of experimental conditions. We find that the structures identified by persistence homology more accurately segment the stimuli, more accurately segment volunteer performance during experimentally defined tasks, and generalize better across volunteers. Finally, we present empirical and theoretical observations that interpret brain function as a topological space defined by cyclic and interlinked motifs among distributed brain regions, especially, the attention networks.

scholarly journals Integrating TMS, EEG, and MRI as an Approach for Studying Brain Connectivity

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 471-486
Author(s):  
Romina Esposito ◽  
Marta Bortoletto ◽  
Carlo Miniussi
Keyword(s):  
Brain Function ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Neural Communication ◽  
Neural Interactions

The human brain is a complex network in which hundreds of brain regions are interconnected via thousands of axonal pathways. The capability of such a complex system emerges from specific interactions among smaller entities, a set of events that can be described by the activation of interconnections between brain areas. Studies that focus on brain connectivity have the aim of understanding and modeling brain function, taking into account the spatiotemporal dynamics of neural communication between brain regions. Much of the current knowledge regarding brain connectivity has been obtained from stand-alone neuroimaging methods. Nevertheless, the use of a multimodal approach seems to be a powerful way to investigate effective brain connectivity, overcoming the limitations of unimodal approaches. In this review, we will present the advantages of an integrative approach in which transcranial magnetic stimulation–electroencephalography coregistration is combined with magnetic resonance imaging methods to explore effective neural interactions. Moreover, we will describe possible implementations of the integrative approach in open- and closed-loop frameworks where real-time brain activity becomes a contributor to the study of cognitive brain networks.

scholarly journals Unifying the Notions of Modularity and Core–Periphery Structure in Functional Brain Networks during Youth

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 1087-1102
Author(s):  
Shi Gu ◽  
Cedric Huchuan Xia ◽  
Rastko Ciric ◽  
Tyler M Moore ◽  
Ruben C Gur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Brain Networks ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Modular Architecture ◽  
Functional Brain ◽  
Rich Club ◽  
Functional Brain Networks ◽  
Integrative Processing

AbstractAt rest, human brain functional networks display striking modular architecture in which coherent clusters of brain regions are activated. The modular account of brain function is pervasive, reliable, and reproducible. Yet, a complementary perspective posits a core–periphery or rich-club account of brain function, where hubs are densely interconnected with one another, allowing for integrative processing. Unifying these two perspectives has remained difficult due to the fact that the methodological tools to identify modules are entirely distinct from the methodological tools to identify core–periphery structure. Here, we leverage a recently-developed model-based approach—the weighted stochastic block model—that simultaneously uncovers modular and core–periphery structure, and we apply it to functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired at rest in 872 youth of the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort. We demonstrate that functional brain networks display rich mesoscale organization beyond that sought by modularity maximization techniques. Moreover, we show that this mesoscale organization changes appreciably over the course of neurodevelopment, and that individual differences in this organization predict individual differences in cognition more accurately than module organization alone. Broadly, our study provides a unified assessment of modular and core–periphery structure in functional brain networks, offering novel insights into their development and implications for behavior.

Using fMRI to Study the Neural Correlates of Virtual Reality Analgesia

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunter G. Hoffman ◽  
Todd L. Richards ◽  
Aric R. Bills ◽  
Trevor Van Oostrom ◽  
Jeff Magula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Medical Problem ◽  
Control Technique ◽  
Medical Procedures ◽  
Burn Wound ◽  
Pain Ratings ◽  
Subjective Pain

ABSTRACTExcessive pain during medical procedures, such as burn wound dressing changes, is a widespread medical problem and is especially challenging for children. This article describes the rationale behind virtual reality (VR) pain distraction, a new non-pharmacologic adjunctive analgesia, and gives a brief summary of empirical studies exploring whether VR reduces clinical procedural pain. Results indicate that patients using VR during painful medical procedures report large reductions in subjective pain. A neuroimaging study measuring the neural correlates of VR analgesia is described in detail. This functional magnetic resonance imaging pain study in healthy volunteers shows that the large drops in subjective pain ratings during VR are accompanied by large drops in pain-related brain activity. Together the clinical and laboratory studies provide converging evidence that VR distraction is a promising new non-pharmacologic pain control technique.

Auditory verbal hallucinations: neuroimaging and treatment

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Bohlken ◽  
K. Hugdahl ◽  
I. E. C. Sommer
Keyword(s):  
Functional Neuroimaging ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Auditory Verbal Hallucinations ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Control Functions

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are a frequently occurring phenomenon in the general population and are considered a psychotic symptom when presented in the context of a psychiatric disorder. Neuroimaging literature has shown that AVH are subserved by a variety of alterations in brain structure and function, which primarily concentrate around brain regions associated with the processing of auditory verbal stimuli and with executive control functions. However, the direction of association between AVH and brain function remains equivocal in certain research areas and needs to be carefully reviewed and interpreted. When AVH have significant impact on daily functioning, several efficacious treatments can be attempted such as antipsychotic medication, brain stimulation and cognitive–behavioural therapy. Interestingly, the neural correlates of these treatments largely overlap with brain regions involved in AVH. This suggests that the efficacy of treatment corresponds to a normalization of AVH-related brain activity. In this selected review, we give a compact yet comprehensive overview of the structural and functional neuroimaging literature on AVH, with a special focus on the neural correlates of efficacious treatment.

scholarly journals Activity flow underlying abnormalities in brain activations and cognition in schizophrenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (29) ◽  
pp. eabf2513
Author(s):  
Luke J. Hearne ◽  
Ravi D. Mill ◽  
Brian P. Keane ◽  
Grega Repovš ◽  
Alan Anticevic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Clinical Intervention ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Flow Mapping ◽  
Flow Models ◽  
Evoked Activity

Cognitive dysfunction is a core feature of many brain disorders, including schizophrenia (SZ), and has been linked to aberrant brain activations. However, it is unclear how these activation abnormalities emerge. We propose that aberrant flow of brain activity across functional connectivity (FC) pathways leads to altered activations that produce cognitive dysfunction in SZ. We tested this hypothesis using activity flow mapping, an approach that models the movement of task-related activity between brain regions as a function of FC. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging data from SZ individuals and healthy controls during a working memory task, we found that activity flow models accurately predict aberrant cognitive activations across multiple brain networks. Within the same framework, we simulated a connectivity-based clinical intervention, predicting specific treatments that normalized brain activations and behavior in patients. Our results suggest that dysfunctional task-evoked activity flow is a large-scale network mechanism contributing to cognitive dysfunction in SZ.

scholarly journals The relationship between spatial configuration and functional connectivity of brain regions

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine D. Bijsterbosch ◽  
Mark W. Woolrich ◽  
Matthew F. Glasser ◽  
Emma C. Robinson ◽  
Christian F. Beckmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Spatial Configuration ◽  
Brain Connectivity ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Functional Regions ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractBrain connectivity is often considered in terms of the communication between functionally distinct brain regions. Many studies have investigated the extent to which patterns of coupling strength between multiple neural populations relates to behavior. For example, studies have used "functional connectivity fingerprints" to characterise individuals' brain activity. Here, we investigate the extent to which the exact spatial arrangement of cortical regions interacts with measures of brain connectivity. We find that the shape and exact location of brain regions interact strongly with the modelling of brain connectivity, and present evidence that the spatial arrangement of functional regions is strongly predictive of non-imaging measures of behaviour and lifestyle. We believe that, in many cases, cross-subject variations in the spatial configuration of functional brain regions are being interpreted as changes in functional connectivity. Therefore, a better understanding of these effects is important when interpreting the relationship between functional imaging data and cognitive traits.

scholarly journals Differences in Brain Activity during a Verbal Associative Memory Encoding Task in High- and Low-fit Adolescents

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 595-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan M. Herting ◽  
Bonnie J. Nagel
Keyword(s):  
Aerobic Fitness ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Neural Circuitry ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Posterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Memory Encoding ◽  
Medial Pfc

Aerobic fitness is associated with better memory performance as well as larger volumes in memory-related brain regions in children, adolescents, and elderly. It is unclear if aerobic exercise also influences learning and memory functional neural circuitry. Here, we examine brain activity in 17 high-fit (HF) and 17 low-fit (LF) adolescents during a subsequent memory encoding paradigm using fMRI. Despite similar memory performance, HF and LF youth displayed a number of differences in memory-related and default mode (DMN) brain regions during encoding later remembered versus forgotten word pairs. Specifically, HF youth displayed robust deactivation in DMN areas, including the ventral medial PFC and posterior cingulate cortex, whereas LF youth did not show this pattern. Furthermore, LF youth showed greater bilateral hippocampal and right superior frontal gyrus activation during encoding of later remembered versus forgotten word pairs. Follow-up task-dependent functional correlational analyses showed differences in hippocampus and DMN activity coupling during successful encoding between the groups, suggesting aerobic fitness during adolescents may impact functional connectivity of the hippocampus and DMN during memory encoding. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the influence of aerobic fitness on hippocampal function and memory-related neural circuitry using fMRI. Taken together with previous research, these findings suggest aerobic fitness can influence not only memory-related brain structure, but also brain function.

scholarly journals P119 Brain function and fatigue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S195-S196
Author(s):  
A Thomann ◽  
M Schmitgen ◽  
D Kmuche ◽  
M Griebe ◽  
M Ebert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resting State ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Peak Level ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Fmri Data ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel

Abstract Background Fatigue is common in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). It occurs in up to 80% of patients with active disease, but also a considerable proportion of patients in remission, and significantly affects quality of life. The underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood, and it is still unclear which patients will suffer from fatigue even in luminally quiescent disease. Task-based brain functional studies have examined neural correlates of fatigueability and found changes in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), among other regions. To the best our knowledge, the relationship between brain function and fatigue in IBD has not been investigated. This study aimed to examine the association between fatigue and resting-state brain function in remitted IBD patients. Methods We obtained resting-state-functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data from 45 IBD patients in stable remission without current steroid or biological therapy and 17 healthy controls (HCs). Fatigue was assessed with Würzburger Erschöpfungsinventar Multiple Sklerose (WEIMuS). Preprocessing of rs-fMRI-data and calculation of amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) was performed using the Data Processing Assistant for rs-fMRI. The resulting individual maps were analysed via second-level SPM multiple regression models in patients and HC to test for correlations between ALFF data and WEIMuS scores. Age, gender and mean framewise displacement were included as covariates of no interest and results were displayed at p < 0.001 (peak level) with a threshold of spatial extent (k) according to the expected voxels per cluster estimated by SPM. Results Fatigue scores did not differ significantly between patients and controls (mean WEIMuS-scores 17.9 (SD 13.9) vs. 12.3 (SD 16.5), p = .17). Proportions of participants with fatigue scores above the cutoff (>32P.) were nearly identical in patients and HC (8/45 vs. 3/17). In patients, fatigue scores correlated positively with ALFF in the right central operculum and negatively with ALFF in the left OFC and left cerebellum (all p < .001, Figure 1). Fatigue and ALFF in the left cerebellum were also found to correlate in HC. Conclusion This study shows fatigue-associated changes in brain activity in several brain regions. The negative association between fatigue and ALFF in the left OFC of IBD patients was not seen in HC, indicating that reduced ALFF in the OFC may represent a neural correlate of IBD-related fatigue. The OFC is thought to be involved in decision-making, which is described to be impaired in many fatigued IBD patients. If the association between fatigue and brain function detected in our study is confirmed in longitudinal IBD studies, these regions could serve as biomarkers when targeting fatigue in IBD.

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