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New Brain Technique Method Unveils Hidden Connections Behind Higher Order Functions
https://scitechdaily.com/new-brain-technique-method-unveils-hidden-connections-behind-higher-order-functionsA novel brain mapping method reveals complex neural interactions, enabling task identification, unique brain “fingerprints,” and behavioral insights. It holds promise for advancing neuroscience and understanding neurodegenerative diseases.
A groundbreaking approach to mapping brain activity and connections has provided new insights into the organization of higher-order functions such as language, thought, and attention.
Conventional models of brain activity typically focus on interactions between two regions at a time. This limitation arises from the constraints of existing modeling techniques, which have not yet advanced enough to capture the complexity of interactions involving multiple brain regions simultaneously.
A new approach, developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham is capable of taking signals measured through neuroimaging, and creating accurate models from these to show how different brain regions are contributing to specific functions and behaviors. The results are published in Nature Communications.
A groundbreaking approach to mapping brain activity and connections has provided new insights into the organization of higher-order functions such as language, thought, and attention.
Conventional models of brain activity typically focus on interactions between two regions at a time. This limitation arises from the constraints of existing modeling techniques, which have not yet advanced enough to capture the complexity of interactions involving multiple brain regions simultaneously.
A new approach, developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham is capable of taking signals measured through neuroimaging, and creating accurate models from these to show how different brain regions are contributing to specific functions and behaviors. The results are published in Nature Communications.
Applications of the New Method
In the first, they were able to show it was possible to identify what task the individual might have been doing while in the fMRI scanner. In the second area of research, the team showed it was possible to identify a specific individual from their brain signals – using the signals as a sort of unique brain fingerprint for the individual.
And in the third area, the researchers demonstrated how higher order brain signals of an individual could be separated out from the lower order signals, and how they can be associated with the behavioural features of each individual.
Dr Andrea Santoro, of the CENTAI Institute in Italy, is the first author of the paper. He said: “Our approach, validated using data from healthy individuals, demonstrates the substantial advantages that this method can offer to neuroscience research. In the future, this method could also be used to help model interactions in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, where they could give valuable insights into how brain function is changing over time, or even to identify pre-clinical symptoms of these conditions.”
In the first, they were able to show it was possible to identify what task the individual might have been doing while in the fMRI scanner. In the second area of research, the team showed it was possible to identify a specific individual from their brain signals – using the signals as a sort of unique brain fingerprint for the individual.
And in the third area, the researchers demonstrated how higher order brain signals of an individual could be separated out from the lower order signals, and how they can be associated with the behavioural features of each individual.
Dr Andrea Santoro, of the CENTAI Institute in Italy, is the first author of the paper. He said: “Our approach, validated using data from healthy individuals, demonstrates the substantial advantages that this method can offer to neuroscience research. In the future, this method could also be used to help model interactions in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, where they could give valuable insights into how brain function is changing over time, or even to identify pre-clinical symptoms of these conditions.”