The Neuroaesthetics of Architecture

2021 ◽  
pp. 221-224
Author(s):  
Oshin Vartanian
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Environmental Psychology ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Neural Data ◽  
Approach Avoidance ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Aesthetic Preferences

Environmental psychology is concerned with understanding the impact of the environment—built and natural—on the mind. Neuroscience of architecture can contribute to this aim by elucidating the workings of the brain in relation to features of our physical environment. Toward that end, Vartanian et al. (2013) examined the impact of contour on aesthetic judgments and approach-avoidance decisions while viewing images of room interiors in the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner. Participants found curvilinear rooms more beautiful than rectilinear rooms, and viewing curvilinear rooms in that context activated the anterior cingulate cortex—a region involved in processing emotion. That observation, coupled with the finding that pleasantness accounted for majority of variance in beauty judgments, supports the idea that our preference for curvilinear design is driven by affect. This study represents an example of how neural data can reveal mechanisms that underlie our aesthetic preferences in the domain of architecture.

Functional Connectivity Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveals Rapid and Reversible Changes in the Brain Following Induction of Psoriasiform Dermatitis in Mice

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
Xiping Liu ◽  
Yasutomo Imai ◽  
Yan Zhou ◽  
Sebastian Yu ◽  
Rupeng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Skin Inflammation ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Mri Imaging ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Mouse Ear ◽  
The Brain

Functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI), a specific form of MRI imaging, quantitatively assesses connectivity between brain regions that share functional properties. Functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging has already provided unique insights into changes in the brain in patients with conditions such as depression and pain and symptoms that have been reported by patients with psoriasis and are known to impact quality of life. To identify the central neurological impact of psoriasiform inflammation of the skin, we applied fcMRI analysis to mice that had been topically treated with the Toll-like receptor agonist, imiquimod (IMQ) to induce psoriasiform dermatitis. Brain insula regions, due to their suggested role in stress, were chosen as seed regions for fcMRI analysis. Mouse ear and head skin developed psoriasiform epidermal thickening (up to 4-fold, P < .05) and dermal inflammation after 4 days of topical treatment with IMQ. After fcMRI analysis, IMQ-treated mice showed significantly increased insula fc with wide areas throughout the brain, including, but not limited to, the somatosensory cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and caudate putamen ( P < .005). This reflects a potential central neurological impact of IMQ-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation. These data indicate that fcMRI may be valuable tool to quantitatively assess the neurological impact of skin inflammation in patients with psoriasis.

scholarly journals Political Neuroscience: Understanding How the Brain Makes Political Decisions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid J. Haas ◽  
Clarisse Warren ◽  
Samantha J. Lauf
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Political Psychology ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Political Cognition

Recent research in political psychology and biopolitics has begun to incorporate theory and methods from cognitive neuroscience. The emerging interdisciplinary field of political neuroscience (or neuropolitics) is focused on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying political information processing and decision making. Most of the existing work in this area has utilized structural magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, or electroencephalography, and focused on understanding areas of the brain commonly implicated in social and affective neuroscience more generally. This includes brain regions involved in affective and evaluative processing, such as the amygdala, insula, anterior cingulate, and orbitofrontal cortex, as well as regions involved in social cognition (e.g., medial prefrontal cortex [PFC]), decision making (e.g., dorsolateral PFC), and reward processing (e.g., ventral striatum). Existing research in political neuroscience has largely focused on understanding candidate evaluation, political participation, and ideological differences. Early work in the field focused simply on examining neural responses to political stimuli, whereas more recent work has begun to examine more nuanced hypotheses about how the brain engages in political cognition and decision making. While the field is still relatively new, this work has begun to improve our understanding of how people engage in motivated reasoning about political candidates and elected officials and the extent to which these processes may be automatic versus relatively more controlled. Other work has focused on understanding how brain differences are related to differences in political opinion, showing both structural and functional variation between political liberals and political conservatives. Neuroscientific methods are best used as part of a larger, multimethod research program to help inform theoretical questions about mechanisms underlying political cognition. This work can then be triangulated with experimental laboratory studies, psychophysiology, and traditional survey approaches and help to constrain and ensure that theory in political psychology and political behavior is biologically plausible given what we know about underlying neural architecture. This field will continue to grow, as interest and expertise expand and new technologies become available.

Is There a Common Network for Processing Reward and Aversion in the Brain?

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiameng Xu
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Aversive Stimuli ◽  
Midcingulate Cortex ◽  
The Brain

How do our brains process and attach positive and negative value to the objects around us, the sensations we feel, and the experiences that we have? One method of examining these questions is to detect, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which areas of the human brain are activated when subjects are exposed to rewarding and aversive stimuli. Although many fMRI studies have concentrated on identifying a network of areas that become active in processing either reward or aversion, there is evidence of significant overlap between the “reward” and “aversion” networks, suggesting that the brain might process rewarding and aversive stimuli in a similar manner regardless of valence. Thus, a meta-analysis of fMRI studies involving rewarding and aversive stimuli was undertaken to determine the areas of the brain that are commonly and differentially activated by reward and aversion. The preliminary results indicate that regions of the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, and basal ganglia were commonly activated by rewarding and aversive stimuli, while areas including the insula, midcingulate cortex, and parts of the hippocampus were differentially activated. Locating such commonalities and differences might help in our understanding of how the brain ascribes value to our environment.  

scholarly journals The Impact of Undiagnosed Synaesthesia on the Interpretation of Structural and Functional MRI Images Connectivity Maps and Resulting Diagnoses

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 7227-7234
Author(s):  
Nourhan Zayed
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Structural Connectivity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Functional Connections ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Synathesia is a condition in which stimulation of a sensory modality triggers another sensation in the alike or an unalike sensory modality. Currently, synaesthesia is deemed a neurological condition that engages unwanted transfer of signals between brain regions from one sense to another “crosstalk activation”. The probability that undiagnosed synaesthesia may impact the results of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Diffusion Tensor imaging (DTI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and resting state connectivity studies is high, given the multiple anatomical and functional connections within the brain. In this paper, the currently available literature to mark which sensations adjured by synaesthesia and how could this impact MRI different modalities. Our study found that synaesthesia can have an opaque impact on fMRI studies of sensory, memory and cognitive functions, and there is testimony to suggest structural connections in the brain are also mutated DTI measurements especially, it shows enhanced structural connectivity for synesthetes between brain regions, higher Fractional anisotropy (FA), as well as increased in the white matter integrity between some regions.. Given the low dispersal of synaesthesia, the likelihood of synaesthesia being a perplexing factor in DTI, fMRI studies of patient groups is small; however, determining the existence of synaesthesia is paramount for investigating individual patients especially Shizoherenia, and autistic patients.

scholarly journals Political neuroscience: Understanding how the brain makes political decisions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Johnsen Haas ◽  
Clarisse Warren ◽  
Samantha J. Lauf
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Political Psychology ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Political Cognition

Recent research in political psychology and biopolitics has begun to incorporate theory and methods from cognitive neuroscience. The emerging interdisciplinary field of political neuroscience (or neuropolitics) is focused on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying political information processing and decision making. Most of the existing work in this area has utilized structural magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, or electroencephalography, and focused on understanding areas of the brain commonly implicated in social and affective neuroscience more generally. This includes brain regions involved in affective and evaluative processing, such as the amygdala, insula, anterior cingulate, and orbitofrontal cortex, as well as regions involved in social cognition (e.g., medial prefrontal cortex), decision making (e.g., dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), and reward processing (e.g., ventral striatum). Existing research in political neuroscience has largely focused on understanding candidate evaluation, political participation, and ideological differences. Early work in the field focused simply on examining neural responses to political stimuli, whereas more recent work has begun to examine more nuanced hypotheses about how the brain engages in political cognition and decision making. While the field is still relatively new, this work has begun to improve our understanding of how people engage in motivated reasoning about political candidates and elected officials and the extent to which these processes may be automatic versus relatively more controlled. Other work has focused on understanding how brain differences are related to differences in political opinion, showing both structural and functional variation between political liberals and political conservatives. Neuroscientific methods are best used as part of a larger, multimethod research program to help inform theoretical questions about mechanisms underlying political cognition. This work can then be triangulated with experimental laboratory studies, psychophysiology, and traditional survey approaches and help to constrain and ensure that theory in political psychology and political behavior is biologically plausible given what we know about underlying neural architecture. This field will continue to grow, as interest and expertise expand and new technologies become available.

scholarly journals The impact of reporting magnetic resonance imaging incidental findings in the Canadian alliance for healthy hearts and minds cohort

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy M. Luu ◽  
Anand K. Sergeant ◽  
Sonia S. Anand ◽  
Dipika Desai ◽  
Karleen Schulze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Incidental Findings ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Structural Abnormalities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hearts And Minds ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Background In the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds (CAHHM) cohort, participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, heart, and abdomen, that generated incidental findings (IFs). The approach to managing these unexpected results remain a complex issue. Our objectives were to describe the CAHHM policy for the management of IFs, to understand the impact of disclosing IFs to healthy research participants, and to reflect on the ethical obligations of researchers in future MRI studies. Methods Between 2013 and 2019, 8252 participants (mean age 58 ± 9 years, 54% women) were recruited with a follow-up questionnaire administered to 909 participants (40% response rate) at 1-year. The CAHHM policy followed a restricted approach, whereby routine feedback on IFs was not provided. Only IFs of severe structural abnormalities were reported. Results Severe structural abnormalities occurred in 8.3% (95% confidence interval 7.7–8.9%) of participants, with the highest proportions found in the brain (4.2%) and abdomen (3.1%). The majority of participants (97%) informed of an IF reported no change in quality of life, with 3% of participants reporting that the knowledge of an IF negatively impacted their quality of life. Furthermore, 50% reported increased stress in learning about an IF, and in 95%, the discovery of an IF did not adversely impact his/her life insurance policy. Most participants (90%) would enrol in the study again and perceived the MRI scan to be beneficial, regardless of whether they were informed of IFs. While the implications of a restricted approach to IF management was perceived to be mostly positive, a degree of diagnostic misconception was present amongst participants, indicating the importance of a more thorough consent process to support participant autonomy. Conclusion The management of IFs from research MRI scans remain a challenging issue, as participants may experience stress and a reduced quality of life when IFs are disclosed. The restricted approach to IF management in CAHHM demonstrated a fair fulfillment of the overarching ethical principles of respect for autonomy, concern for wellbeing, and justice. The approach outlined in the CAHHM policy may serve as a framework for future research studies. Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02220582.

Mind and Image

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-François Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Positron Emission Tomography ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Emission Tomography ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Contemporary Culture ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Brain

The spectacular improvements in Positron Emission Tomography and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging over the last three decades have led researchers to a reconsideration of the brain and the mind. A form of neurophilia has made its way into contemporary culture. The brain is no longer envisaged as an organ a subject possesses, but as an entity with which he identifies, with which he is at one.

Сauses of Dizziness in Patients with Suspected Stroke

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-221
Author(s):  
E. V. Shevchenko ◽  
G. R. Ramazanov ◽  
S. S. Petrikov
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Demyelinating Disease ◽  
Heart Rhythm ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Deficiency Anemia ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Peripheral Vestibulopathy ◽  
Suspected Stroke ◽  
The Brain

Background Acute dizziness may be the only symptom of stroke. Prevalence of this disease among patients with isolated dizziness differs significantly and depends on study design, inclusion criteria and diagnostic methods. In available investigations, we did not find any prospective studies where magnetic resonance imaging, positional maneuvers, and Halmagyi-Curthoys test had been used to clarify a pattern of diseases with isolated acute dizziness and suspected stroke.Aim of study To clarify the pattern of the causes of dizziness in patients with suspected acute stroke.Material and methods We examined 160 patients admitted to N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine with suspected stroke and single or underlying complaint of dizziness. All patients were examined with assessment of neurological status, Dix-Hollpike and Pagnini-McClure maneuvers, HalmagyiCurthoys test, triplex scans of brachiocephalic arteries, transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with magnetic field strength 1.5 T. MRI of the brain was performed in patients without evidence of stroke by CT and in patients with stroke of undetermined etiology according to the TOAST classification.Results In 16 patients (10%), the cause of dizziness was a disease of the brain: ischemic stroke (n=14 (88%)), hemorrhage (n=1 (6%)), transient ischemic attack (TIA) of posterior circulation (n=1 (6%)). In 70.6% patients (n=113), the dizziness was associated with peripheral vestibulopathy: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (n=85 (75%)), vestibular neuritis (n=19 (17%)), Meniere’s disease (n=7 (6%)), labyrinthitis (n=2 (1,3%)). In 6.9% patients (n=11), the cause of dizziness was hypertensive encephalopathy, 1.9% of patients (n=3) had heart rhythm disturbance, 9.4% of patients (n=15) had psychogenic dizziness, 0.6% of patients (n=1) had demyelinating disease, and 0.6% of patients (n=1) had hemic hypoxia associated with iron deficiency anemia.Conclusion In 70.6% patients with acute dizziness, admitted to hospital with a suspected stroke, peripheral vestibulopathy was revealed. Only 10% of patients had a stroke as a cause of dizziness.

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