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Human Brain Mapping 2016 Annual Meeting, June 26-30, 2016, Geneva, Switzerland
Posted On: August 16, 2016
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Alex Barnett, PhD Candidate
Supervisor: Dr. Mary Pat McAndrews, Krembil
Abstract Title: Network Integration of the Anterior and Posterior Hippocampus
Conference Highlight: Neuroimaging is a powerful tool for understanding the functional neuroanatomy of the brain. We must be wary of statistical assumptions and characterize cognition more thoroughly.
Conference Article: Non-invasive and invasive brain stimulation for the treatment of psychiatric disorders may target the same pathological “networks” to alter maladaptive activity. These networks can be detected using neuroimaging methods such as fMRI. By characterizing these networks in individual patients with fMRI for stimulation targeting, efficacy can be increased for non-invasive stimulation treatment. Researchers speculate that multisite brain stimulation may also increase the efficacy of treatment for psychiatric disorders. This may be achieved with transcranial-direct current stimulation. A panel discussion also noted that the basic science behind brain stimulation treatment is currently insufficient. The field needs to work towards understanding the mechanisms by which brain stimulation treats psychiatric disorders. These insights may lead to an improved ability to treat these disorders, as well as an understanding of the pathological mechanism underpinning them.
A central aim of cognitive neuroscience is to understand how brain systems support cognitive functions; however, this is greatly influenced by how we classify ‘cognitive function’. Inconsistent terminology has been used in the literature to describe cognitive domains and networks. Furthermore, researchers use distinct tasks which may rely on multiple cognitive processes to assess the neural architecture within a single cognitive domain. In light of his research findings, Dr. Russ Poldrack (Stanford University) cautioned neuroimaging users to think more carefully about the cognition they want to describe when interrogating functional brain networks. By using a large database of neuroimaging data, Dr. Poldrack and his research team examined whether a mathematical algorithm could predict cognition from brain activation maps. They found that certain simple tasks could be predicted, while other more complex tasks such as ‘cognitive control’ could not; they postulated that this may be because the definition of these complex tasks actually involves a host of processes. The researchers recommended working towards a cognitive ontology so that research can better generalize across tasks and domains.
Conference Highlight: Neuroimaging is a powerful tool for understanding the functional neuroanatomy of the brain. We must be wary of statistical assumptions and characterize cognition more thoroughly.
Conference Article: Non-invasive and invasive brain stimulation for the treatment of psychiatric disorders may target the same pathological “networks” to alter maladaptive activity. These networks can be detected using neuroimaging methods such as fMRI. By characterizing these networks in individual patients with fMRI for stimulation targeting, efficacy can be increased for non-invasive stimulation treatment. Researchers speculate that multisite brain stimulation may also increase the efficacy of treatment for psychiatric disorders. This may be achieved with transcranial-direct current stimulation. A panel discussion also noted that the basic science behind brain stimulation treatment is currently insufficient. The field needs to work towards understanding the mechanisms by which brain stimulation treats psychiatric disorders. These insights may lead to an improved ability to treat these disorders, as well as an understanding of the pathological mechanism underpinning them.
A central aim of cognitive neuroscience is to understand how brain systems support cognitive functions; however, this is greatly influenced by how we classify ‘cognitive function’. Inconsistent terminology has been used in the literature to describe cognitive domains and networks. Furthermore, researchers use distinct tasks which may rely on multiple cognitive processes to assess the neural architecture within a single cognitive domain. In light of his research findings, Dr. Russ Poldrack (Stanford University) cautioned neuroimaging users to think more carefully about the cognition they want to describe when interrogating functional brain networks. By using a large database of neuroimaging data, Dr. Poldrack and his research team examined whether a mathematical algorithm could predict cognition from brain activation maps. They found that certain simple tasks could be predicted, while other more complex tasks such as ‘cognitive control’ could not; they postulated that this may be because the definition of these complex tasks actually involves a host of processes. The researchers recommended working towards a cognitive ontology so that research can better generalize across tasks and domains.