Neuroimaging of controlled and automatic processes in human motor control

这项研究将使用一种名为磁脑图（MEG）的新成像技术，在人类长时间执行简单重复的运动任务（例如，当他们看到屏幕上出现数字时按下按钮，除非它是数字“3”）。 这项研究的目的是研究随着时间的推移，我们注意力的自然消长如何影响我们执行这些任务的能力，以及涉及哪些大脑区域。 特别是，我们希望识别出大脑中检测我们何时犯错误（例如不小心按下数字3的按钮）的区域。 这将增加我们的知识，哪些大脑结构在防止或检测由于“走神”或注意力不集中在真实的世界的情况下，如驾驶汽车或涉及重复性任务的工作相关活动的错误是重要的。 这将对理解运动控制以及在这些任务中表现不佳的个体中的注意力缺陷具有重要的应用，例如，轻度头部受伤的患者或注意力障碍的儿童。

This research will use a new imaging technique called MagnetoEncephaloGraphy (MEG) to measure brain activity non-invasively in humans while they perform a simple and repetitive motor task over long periods of time (e.g., pressing a button when they see a number appear on a screen, unless it is the number "3"). The goal of this research is to study how the natural waxing and waning of our attention over time affects our ability to perform these tasks and what brain areas are involved. In particular, we wish to identify those areas of the brain that detect when we make an error (such as accidentally pressing the button for the number 3). This will increase our knowledge of which brain structures are important in preventing or detecting errors due to "mind wandering" or inattention in real world situations, such as driving an automobile or work-related activity involving repetitive tasks. This will have important applications to the understanding of motor control, as well as attentional deficits in individuals reflected by poor performance in such tasks, for example, in patients with mild head injuries, or children with attentional disorders.