Functional MRI News and Research

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Study finds that cues can have different effects on neural representations

Many everyday tasks require people to represent and combine information from multiple sources. For example, when a person checks the rearview mirror while driving it is important that they maintain information about how far they are from the car in front of them.

7 Sep 2018

New study finds clusters of abnormal connectivity in cerebellum of adults with HF-ASD

A new study using an unbiased, whole-brain data-driven approach to assess the resting-state functional connectome in young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder found two clusters of abnormal connectivity in the cerebellum.

6 Sep 2018

Giving targeted social support activates brain regions involved in parental care

Providing "targeted" social support to other people in need activates regions of the brain involved in parental care- which may help researchers understand the positive health effects of social ties, reports a study in Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine, the official journal of the American Psychosomatic Society. The journal is published in the Lippincott Portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

30 Aug 2018

Study uncovers link between gut bacteria and 'hedonic eating'

A study of 63 healthy people showed that those with elevated microbiome levels of the metabolite indole - produced when gut bacteria break down the amino acid tryptophan - had stronger function and connectivity in specific areas of the brain's reward network.

24 Aug 2018

Study identifies brain-based dimensions of mental health disorders using machine learning

A new study using machine learning has identified brain-based dimensions of mental health disorders, an advance towards much-needed biomarkers to more accurately diagnose and treat patients.

2 Aug 2018

Research: Task-based fMRI experiments with typical sample sizes are only modestly replicable

Small sample sizes in studies using functional MRI to investigate brain connectivity and function are common in neuroscience, despite years of warnings that such studies likely lack sufficient statistical power.

7 Jun 2018

CAMH study reveals novel insights into brain networks in people with autism

A CAMH study analyzing more than 1,000 brain scans reveals surprising new insights into brain networks in people with autism, after applying a new personalized approach to brain mapping.

14 May 2018

New study reveals potential for better diagnosis and treatment of TBI patients

Patients who've suffered from traumatic brain injuries have changes in tiny blood vessels in their brains that researchers believe are linked to a range of cognitive symptoms, according to new findings presented at the 2018 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.

30 Apr 2018

Personalized music activates brain network spared from ravages of dementia

Ever get chills listening to a particularly moving piece of music? You can thank the salience network of the brain for that emotional joint. Surprisingly, this region also remains an island of remembrance that is spared from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease.

27 Apr 2018

Functional connectivity MRI could help detect brain disorders and diseases

There are no laboratory tests to diagnose migraines, depression, bipolar disorder and many other ailments of the brain. Doctors typically gauge such illnesses based on self-reported symptoms and behavior.

18 Apr 2018

Monkeys' brain synchrony influenced by proximity and social status, research suggests

Though their purpose and function are still largely unknown, mirror neurons in the brain are believed by some neuroscientists to be central to how humans relate to each other. Deficiencies in mirror neurons might also play a role in autism and other disorders affecting social skills.

30 Mar 2018

Suppressing emotions appears to reduce negative memories

By peering at the brains of study subjects prompted to suppress negative emotions, scientists have gained new insights into how emotional regulation influences negative feelings and memories. The researchers hope the findings will lead to new methods to combat depression.

13 Mar 2018

Premature birth has selective effect on functional networks of a child's brain

Researchers at the University of Helsinki and the Helsinki University Hospital have proven that premature birth has a significant and, at the same time, a very selective effect on the functional networks of a child's brain. The effects can primarily be seen in the frontal lobe, which is significant for cognitive functions.

26 Feb 2018

MRI and machine learning could predict whether OCD patients will benefit from treatment

Washing hands needlessly dozens of times of day. Spending so much time perfecting schoolwork that it never gets turned in.

15 Feb 2018

High-tech brain scans can provide new way to define intelligence

High-tech scans of the resting human brain can provide a new way to define and interpret the brain's actual mental capacity, new research suggests.

14 Feb 2018

Study finds brain network weakening in many older adults after knee replacement surgery

A new University of Florida study finds that 23 percent of adults age 60 and older who underwent a total knee replacement experienced a decline in activity in at least one region of the brain responsible for specific cognitive functions.

6 Feb 2018

Fight for Sight awards new grants for 13 vital eye research projects

Fight for Sight, the leading eye research charity, has awarded grants totaling over £180,000 for thirteen vital research projects in partnership with nine different organizations.

2 Feb 2018

Study finds greater attention to surprise in veterans with PTSD

Fireworks on nights other than the fourth of July or New Year's Eve might be nothing more than inconsiderate neighbors, but for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the shock of noise and light may trigger a deeply learned expectation of danger.

9 Jan 2018

Wake Forest Baptist receives NIH grant for alcohol addiction research center

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center a grant worth an estimated $8 million over five years for the establishment of a new center for research into alcohol addiction.

3 Jan 2018

Combining virtual reality and treadmill training improves neuroplasticity in Parkinson's patients

A new Tel Aviv University study suggests that a therapy that combines Virtual Reality and treadmill exercise dramatically lowers the incidence of falling among Parkinson's patients by changing the brain's behavior and promoting beneficial brain plasticity, even in patients with neurodegenerative disease.

28 Nov 2017