Magnetoencephalography and developmental cognitive neuroscience

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin S. Dalmaijer ◽  
Alexander L. Anwyl-Irvine ◽  
Giacomo Bignardi ◽  
Olaf Hauk ◽  
Duncan E. Astle
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
Field Potential ◽  
Setup Time ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Neuronal Populations ◽  
Reasonable Degree ◽  
Study Child ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Brain ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is an exceptionally useful tool to study child development. It measures brain waves: fluctuations in the magnetic field around the head caused by changes in the local field potential of neuronal populations that fire in synchrony. MEG has a high-temporal resolution, and a reasonable degree of spatial precision. It offers insights into how the brain responds to events, how brain rhythms affect perception and performance, and how different areas talk to each other. In addition to its scientific benefits, MEG is safe, silent, and requires relatively little setup time. In this chapter, the authors outline the origins of the MEG signal, provide practical tips specific to testing children, and describe a wide variety of analysis methods.

scholarly journals Brain Modularity Mediates the Relation between Task Complexity and Performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1532-1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuhai Yue ◽  
Randi C. Martin ◽  
Simon Fischer-Baum ◽  
Aurora I. Ramos-Nuñez ◽  
Fengdan Ye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
Task Complexity ◽  
Resting State Fmri ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Composite Measure ◽  
Brain Organization ◽  
Complex Tasks ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Brain

Recent work in cognitive neuroscience has focused on analyzing the brain as a network, rather than as a collection of independent regions. Prior studies taking this approach have found that individual differences in the degree of modularity of the brain network relate to performance on cognitive tasks. However, inconsistent results concerning the direction of this relationship have been obtained, with some tasks showing better performance as modularity increases and other tasks showing worse performance. A recent theoretical model [Chen, M., & Deem, M. W. 2015. Development of modularity in the neural activity of children's brains. Physical Biology, 12, 016009] suggests that these inconsistencies may be explained on the grounds that high-modularity networks favor performance on simple tasks whereas low-modularity networks favor performance on more complex tasks. The current study tests these predictions by relating modularity from resting-state fMRI to performance on a set of simple and complex behavioral tasks. Complex and simple tasks were defined on the basis of whether they did or did not draw on executive attention. Consistent with predictions, we found a negative correlation between individuals' modularity and their performance on a composite measure combining scores from the complex tasks but a positive correlation with performance on a composite measure combining scores from the simple tasks. These results and theory presented here provide a framework for linking measures of whole-brain organization from network neuroscience to cognitive processing.

scholarly journals Brain Modularity Mediates the Relation between Task Complexity and Performance

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuhai Yue ◽  
Randi Martin ◽  
Simon Fischer-Baum ◽  
Aurora I. Ramos-Nuñez ◽  
Fengdan Ye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
Task Complexity ◽  
Resting State Fmri ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Composite Measure ◽  
Brain Organization ◽  
Complex Tasks ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Brain

AbstractRecent work in cognitive neuroscience has focused on analyzing the brain as a network, rather than as a collection of independent regions. Prior studies taking this approach have found that individual differences in the degree of modularity of the brain network relate to performance on cognitive tasks. However, inconsistent results concerning the direction of this relationship have been obtained, with some tasks showing better performance as modularity increases and other tasks showing worse performance. A recent theoretical model (Chen & Deem, 2015) suggests that these inconsistencies may be explained on the grounds that high-modularity networks favor performance on simple tasks whereas low-modularity networks favor performance on more complex tasks. The current study tests these predictions by relating modularity from resting-state fMRI to performance on a set of simple and complex behavioral tasks. Complex and simple tasks were defined on the basis of whether they did or did not draw on executive attention. Consistent with predictions, we found a negative correlation between individuals’ modularity and their performance on a composite measure combining scores from the complex tasks but a positive correlation with performance on a composite measure combining scores from the simple tasks. These results and theory presented here provide a framework for linking measures of whole brain organization from network neuroscience to cognitive processing.

scholarly journals Integral Equations for Problems on Wave Propagation in Near-Earth Plasma

Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1395
Author(s):  
Danila Kostarev ◽  
Dmitri Klimushkin ◽  
Pavel Mager
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Integral Equations ◽  
Field Potential ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Fredholm Equation ◽  
Compression Waves ◽  
Parallel Component ◽  
Electric Field Potential ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Low Frequency Waves

We consider the solutions of two integrodifferential equations in this work. These equations describe the ultra-low frequency waves in the dipol-like model of the magnetosphere in the gyrokinetic framework. The first one is reduced to the homogeneous, second kind Fredholm equation. This equation describes the structure of the parallel component of the magnetic field of drift-compression waves along the Earth’s magnetic field. The second equation is reduced to the inhomogeneous, second kind Fredholm equation. This equation describes the field-aligned structure of the parallel electric field potential of Alfvén waves. Both integral equations are solved numerically.

Mesencephalic GABA neuronal development: no more on the other side of oblivion

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 371-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suyan Li ◽  
Sampada Joshee ◽  
Anju Vasudevan
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Developmental Regulation ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Psychiatric Illnesses ◽  
Neuronal Populations ◽  
Gaba Neurons ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain

AbstractMidbrain GABA neurons, endowed with multiple morphological, physiological and molecular characteristics as well as projection patterns are key players interacting with diverse regions of the brain and capable of modulating several aspects of behavior. The diversity of these GABA neuronal populations based on their location and function in the dorsal, medial or ventral midbrain has challenged efforts to rapidly uncover their developmental regulation. Here we review recent developments that are beginning to illuminate transcriptional control of GABA neurons in the embryonic midbrain (mesencephalon) and discuss its implications for understanding and treatment of neurological and psychiatric illnesses.

Musical training improves memory for instrumental music, but not vocal music or words

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-159
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. P. Wilbiks ◽  
Sean Hutchins
Keyword(s):  
Instrumental Music ◽  
Musical Training ◽  
Vocal Music ◽  
Verbal Material ◽  
The Other ◽  
Musical Experience ◽  
Facilitative Effect ◽  
Musical Excerpts ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Brain

In previous research, there exists some debate about the effects of musical training on memory for verbal material. The current research examines this relationship, while also considering musical training effects on memory for musical excerpts. Twenty individuals with musical training were tested and their results were compared to 20 age-matched individuals with no musical experience. Musically trained individuals demonstrated a higher level of memory for classical musical excerpts, with no significant differences for popular musical excerpts or for words. These findings are in support of previous research showing that while music and words overlap in terms of their processing in the brain, there is not necessarily a facilitative effect between training in one domain and performance in the other.

Preserving Integrity in the Face of Performance Threat

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 1455-1460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Legault ◽  
Timour Al-Khindi ◽  
Michael Inzlicht
Keyword(s):  
Error Detection ◽  
Error Monitoring ◽  
Error Related Negativity ◽  
Threatening Information ◽  
Electrophysiological Responses ◽  
The Face ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

Self-affirmation produces large effects: Even a simple reminder of one’s core values reduces defensiveness against threatening information. But how, exactly, does self-affirmation work? We explored this question by examining the impact of self-affirmation on neurophysiological responses to threatening events. We hypothesized that because self-affirmation increases openness to threat and enhances approachability of unfavorable feedback, it should augment attention and emotional receptivity to performance errors. We further hypothesized that this augmentation could be assessed directly, at the level of the brain. We measured self-affirmed and nonaffirmed participants’ electrophysiological responses to making errors on a task. As we anticipated, self-affirmation elicited greater error responsiveness than did nonaffirmation, as indexed by the error-related negativity, a neural signal of error monitoring. Self-affirmed participants also performed better on the task than did nonaffirmed participants. We offer novel brain evidence that self-affirmation increases openness to threat and discuss the role of error detection in the link between self-affirmation and performance.

Lateralisation of magnetic compass orientation in silvereyes, Zosterops lateralis

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Wiltschko ◽  
Ursula Munro ◽  
Hugh Ford ◽  
Roswitha Wiltschko
Keyword(s):  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Compass ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Directional Information ◽  
Zosterops Lateralis ◽  
Magnetic Compass Orientation ◽  
Directional Preference ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Brain ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The ability of migratory silvereyes to orient was tested in the geomagnetic field with one eye covered. Silvereyes using only their right eye were able to orient in migratory direction just as well as birds using both eyes. Using only their left eye, however, the birds did not show a significant directional preference. These data indicate that directional information from the magnetic field is mediated almost exclusively by the right eye and processed by the left hemisphere of the brain. Together with corresponding findings from European robins and indications for a similar phenomenon in homing pigeons, they suggest that a strong lateralisation of the magnetic compass is widespread among birds.

scholarly journals Simultaneous EEG and fMRI: towards the characterization of structure and dynamics of brain networks

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-386 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Brain Networks ◽  
Indirect Measurement ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Neural Mass ◽  
The Brain

Progress in the understanding of normal and disturbed brain function is critically dependent on the methodological approach that is applied. Both electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are extremely efficient methods for the assessment of human brain function. The specific appeal of the combination is related to the fact that both methods are complementary in terms of basic aspects: EEG is a direct measurement of neural mass activity and provides high temporal resolution. FMRI is an indirect measurement of neural activity and based on hemodynamic changes, and offers high spatial resolution. Both methods are very sensitive to changes of synaptic activity, suggesting that with simultaneous EEG and fMRI the same neural events can be characterized with both high temporal and spatial resolution. Since neural oscillations that can be assessed with EEG are a key mechanism for multi-site communication in the brain, EEG-fMRI can offer new insights into the connectivity mechanisms of brain networks.

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