Multisensory signals used for learning

用于学习的多感官信号

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-05647
• 负责人: Desouza, Joseph
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: York University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=680934
• 关键词: Multisensory; signals; used; learning

My research focuses on the integration of multisensory signals in the brain and how they are used to drive movement. To do this, I utilize fMRI, EEG, MEG and eye-tracking techniques to study dancers and healthy controls. Dance is ideal because it incorporates vision, audition, touch, and somatosensation to plan, execute, and correct movement. My studies examine expert dancers, amateurs, and people dancing for therapy. Learning how multisensory signals may be used to train the brain could have far-reaching applications in helping to fine-tune the way we all learn to move, or learning to circumvent damaged motor circuits.******I have observed specific neural changes resulting from dance training. Through studying professional dancers at the National Ballet of Canada (NBoC), I have shown that fMRI activity in the supplemental motor area (SMA) follows a pattern of increase and subsequent decline as expert dancers learn a dance sequence over 8 months. I observed a similar pattern in amateur dancers learning a short piece. This hints at a rewiring of motor circuits with music and learning. Our specific aims are to achieve a deeper understanding of this neural rewiring which may uncover a yet unknown neural mechanisms of motor learning. What is unknown is why initial EEG results from a novice dancers have shown a second neural dynamic change following dancing: a fascinating increase in power oscillation at the alpha wave frequency. Cecere et al (2015) suggests this may be indicative of the brain's increased integration of multisensory input like audition with vision. I would like to determine the significance of this increased alpha power with further study. Our lab would like to determine: ***-where in the brain this occurs (Project 1 - fMRI)***-how brain dynamics are changing (Project 2 -EEG/MEG)***-behaviour and computation modelling (Projects 3 & 4)******To complement my work, I plan to utilize The Virtual Brain software from Rotman Institute at Baycrest Hospital in Toronto. The Virtual Brain is a powerful new tool to examine individual brains using the connectome of structural and functional dynamics to make model predictions. As suggested by the changes in auditory and SMA with alpha wave activity I have observed, multisensory training is capable of changing the brain's connectivity and output. With The Virtual Brain, it will be possible to observe the expected outcomes that changes in motor learning connections are likely to produce. When combined with my research, this will help develop and customize multisensory training to best teach an individual, whether they are an athlete or an amateur, young or old.

我的研究重点是大脑中多感官信号的整合以及它们如何用于驱动运动。为了做到这一点，我利用功能磁共振成像，脑电图，脑磁图和眼动跟踪技术来研究舞者和健康对照。舞蹈是理想的，因为它结合了视觉，听觉，触觉和体感来计划，执行和纠正运动。我的研究调查了专业舞者、业余舞者和为治疗而跳舞的人。了解如何使用多感官信号来训练大脑可能会在帮助微调我们所有人学习移动的方式或学习规避受损的运动回路方面产生深远的应用。*我观察到舞蹈训练引起的特殊神经变化。通过研究加拿大国家芭蕾舞团（NBoC）的专业舞蹈演员，我发现，随着专业舞蹈演员在8个月内学习舞蹈序列，补充运动区（SMA）的fMRI活动遵循一种增加和随后下降的模式。我在业余舞者学习一个短片时观察到了类似的模式。这暗示了音乐和学习对运动回路的重新布线。我们的具体目标是更深入地了解这种神经重新布线，这可能会发现一个未知的运动学习的神经机制。目前尚不清楚的是，为什么初学舞蹈者的脑电图结果显示出舞蹈后的第二个神经动态变化：在α波频率下的功率振荡增加。Cecere等人（2015）认为，这可能表明大脑对多感官输入（例如听觉与视觉）的整合增强。我想通过进一步的研究来确定这种α功率增加的意义。我们的实验室想确定：*-在大脑中发生这种情况（项目1 -功能磁共振成像）*-大脑动力学如何改变（项目2 -脑电图/脑磁图）*-行为和计算建模（项目3和4）* 为了补充我的工作，我计划利用来自多伦多湾顶医院罗特曼研究所的虚拟大脑软件。虚拟大脑是一种强大的新工具，可以使用结构和功能动力学的连接体来检查个体大脑，从而进行模型预测。正如我观察到的听觉和SMA与α波活动的变化所表明的那样，多感觉训练能够改变大脑的连接和输出。有了虚拟大脑，就有可能观察到运动学习连接的变化可能产生的预期结果。当与我的研究相结合时，这将有助于开发和定制多感官训练，以最好地教授个人，无论他们是运动员还是业余爱好者，年轻人还是老年人。