The Human Visual Pathways and Skilled Reading

人类视觉通路和熟练阅读

• 批准号: 1228397
• 负责人: Brian Wandell
• 金额: $ 68.09万
• 依托单位: Stanford University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1228397&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Human; Visual; Pathways; Skilled; Reading

Thought and emotion are processed in the brain in large part by cortical neurons, small cells located in a thin (3-5mm) sheet on the surface of the brain. These neurons combine signals from different parts of the brain. The inputs and outputs of these neurons, the brain's wiring, are the axons. Some axons make short-range connections between neurons. They carry signals only a few tenths of a millimeter. Other axons make long-range connections. They carry the signals several centimeters between neurons in widely separated parts of cortex. In recent years, for the first time in human history, it has become possible to measure in the living human brain the path traveled by the long-range axons. With funding from the National Science Foundation, Dr. Brian Wandell of Stanford University is developing methods for measuring and identifying, noninvasively, the path followed by axons that travel a few centimeters. The new methods are based on magnetic resonance imaging data and specialized mathematical algorithms. This project is implementing a mathematical method to test the accuracy and improve the spatial resolution of these methods. This methodological advance will make it possible to make new brain measurements to identify the axons in visual cortex that carry the signals essential for seeing and reading. Experiments are being conducted to identify all the major white matter fiber tracts in the human visual cortex and also to identify specifically the tracts from visual to reading areas of the brain.The long-range connections essential for vision are located in the posterior part of the brain. When we read, these visual signals are carried to more anterior parts of the brain. The neurons in these anterior regions interpret the shape of the letters and words, and are essential for skilled reading. The ability to resolve the reading pathways in individuals, including both the cortex and the axons, is within reach. This project is implementing new mathematical methods to identify these pathways in individual subjects. The first measurements are designed to understand the development of the long-range visual connections essential for seeing. A full wiring diagram of the relevant brain pathways and measurements of typical growth trajectories will make it possible to identify developmental abnormalities in individual children so that they can receive appropriate intervention. The methods will be applicable to many other parts of the brain, and there is a plan for wide dissemination of the analysis software.

大脑中的思想和情感在很大程度上是由皮质神经元处理的，皮质神经元是位于大脑表面薄薄的（3-5毫米）薄片上的小细胞。这些神经元将来自大脑不同部分的信号结合起来。这些神经元的输入和输出，即大脑的线路，是轴突。一些轴突在神经元之间建立短程连接。它们携带的信号只有零点几毫米。其他轴突进行远程连接。它们在大脑皮层中相隔很远的神经元之间传递几厘米的信号。近年来，人类历史上第一次有可能在活人大脑中测量远程轴突的运动路径。在美国国家科学基金会（National Science Foundation）的资助下，斯坦福大学（Stanford University）的布莱恩·万德尔（Brian Wandell）博士正在开发一种无创测量和识别轴突移动几厘米路径的方法。新的方法是基于磁共振成像数据和专门的数学算法。本项目采用数学方法来检验这些方法的精度和提高空间分辨率。这一方法上的进步将使新的大脑测量成为可能，以识别视觉皮层中携带视觉和阅读所需信号的轴突。人们正在进行实验，以确定人类视觉皮层中所有主要的白质纤维束，并特别确定从大脑的视觉区域到阅读区域的束。视觉所必需的远距离连接位于大脑的后部。当我们阅读时，这些视觉信号被传送到大脑的前部。这些前部区域的神经元负责解释字母和单词的形状，对熟练阅读至关重要。解决个人阅读路径的能力，包括皮层和轴突，是触手可及的。该项目正在实施新的数学方法来识别个别科目中的这些途径。第一次测量是为了了解视觉所必需的远距离视觉连接的发展。相关脑通路的完整接线图和典型生长轨迹的测量将使识别个别儿童的发育异常成为可能，这样他们就可以接受适当的干预。这些方法将适用于大脑的许多其他部分，并且有一个广泛传播分析软件的计划。