local brain activity
Research Papers
Towards a Coherent View of Brain Connectivity
Background. The electroencephalogram provides a myriad of opportunities to detect and assess brain function and brain connectivity. Method. This article describes the relationship between local and non-local brain activation and synchrony, and discusses the use of appropriate connectivity measures to study and train functional brain connectivity. Specific connectivity measures are described including coherence, phase, synchrony, correlation, and comodulation. The measures are contrasted and compared in terms of their ability to detect particular aspects of connectivity and their usefulness for neurofeedback training. Results. Connectivity metrics for example EEG data are calculated and shown graphically, to illustrate relevant principles. Conclusion. It is possible to assess brain connectivity and integrated function for both assessment and training, through the use of appropriate metrics and display methods.
View Full Paper →Self-regulation of local brain activity using real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal related to neuronal activity. So far, this technique has been limited by time-consuming data analysis impeding on-line analysis. In particular, no brain-computer interface (BCI) was available which provided on-line feedback to learn physiological self-regulation of the BOLD signal. Recently, studies have shown that fMRI feedback is feasible and facilitates voluntary control of brain activity. Here we review these studies to make the fMRI feedback methodology accessible to a broader scientific community such as researchers concerned with functional brain imaging and the neurobiology of learning. Methodological and conceptual limitations were substantially reduced by artefact control, sensitivity improvements, real-time algorithms, and adapted experimental designs. Physiological self-regulation of the local BOLD response is a new paradigm for cognitive neuroscience to study brain plasticity and the functional relevance of regulated brain areas by modification of behaviour. Voluntary control of abnormal activity in circumscribed brain areas may even be applied as psychophysiological treatment.
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