Spatiotemporal mapping of auditory attention using multimodal imaging

本文提出的研究旨在开发和利用多模态成像方法来检查 听觉注意力的潜在大脑机制建议的方法是进行 使用功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）和磁/脑电图进行相同的实验 （M/EEG）。这种强大的组合利用了fMRI的精细空间精度和高时间分辨率。 分辨率的M/EEG映射与听觉相关的皮层网络的时空动态 注意力和现场分析。然而，目前，与fMRI相关的声学噪声呈现出一种 所有听觉研究的技术障碍表征与以下设备相关的声学噪声的初始步骤： 不同的功能磁共振成像脉冲序列正在进行中。在辅导阶段，候选人将利用他的 信号处理的专业知识，以制定一个噪音掩蔽协议，将心理声学控制为 在减轻磁共振成像技术挑战的同时， 重建与拟议的神经友好的功能磁共振成像脉冲序列。在后期阶段，两个 实验将进行检查如何前额叶皮层差异参与时，受试者 被引导去注意听觉刺激的不同线索。我们将确定哪些“生物标志物”可以是 从与收听者的注意力状态相关联的M/EEG信号中提取。该项目符合 候选人的长期职业目标是建立一个高质量的独立研究计划， 以协同的方式结合了工程和神经科学方法， 与听觉场景分析相关的“生物标志物”。这项工作将有助于候选人的 成为多模态成像专家的直接目标，同时将他的知识带到该领域， 言语和听力科学，特别是他的定量心理物理学训练。独立阶段 美国国立卫生研究院独立职业发展之路奖将在密歇根大学进行， 华盛顿，西雅图，候选人将于2011年1月1日在那里开始他的助理教授生涯。

The research proposed herein aims at developing and utilizing a multimodal imaging approach to examine the underlying brain mechanism involved in auditory attention. The proposed approach is to conduct the same experiment using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magneto/electroencephalography (M/EEG). This powerful combination utilizes the fine spatial precision of fMRI with the high temporal resolution of M/EEG to map the spatiotemporal dynamics of the cortical networks associated with auditory attention and scene analysis. Currently, however, the acoustical noise associated with fMRI presents a technical hurdle to all auditory studies. Initial steps to characterize the acoustical noise associated with different fMRI pulse sequences are underway. During the mentored phase, the candidate will draw on his signal processing expertise to develop a noise masking protocol that will psychoacoustically control forthe auditory environment during fMRI scanning while mitigating the technical challenges in MR image reconstruction associated with the proposed auditory-amicable fMRI pulse sequence. In later stages, two experiments will be carried out examining how the prefrontal cortex is differentially involved when subjects are directed to attend different cues of the auditory stimulus. We will determine what "biomarkers" can be extracted from the M/EEG signals that are associated with the listener's attentional states. The project fits the candidate's long-term career goal of establishing a high-quality independent research program that combines engineering and neuroscience approaches in a synergistic manner to characterize the "biomarkers" that are associated with auditory scene analysis. This work will facilitate the candidate's immediate goals of becoming an expert in multimodal imaging while bringing to the field his knowledge in speech and hearing sciences, particularly his quantitative psychophysics training. The independent phase of the NIH Pathway to Independence Career Development award will be carried out at the LIniversity of Washington, Seattle, where the candidate will begin his career as assistant professor on January 1, 2011.