Multimodal Imaging of the Brain's Dynamic Functional Connections

大脑动态功能连接的多模态成像

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-04070
• 负责人: Goodyear, Bradley
• 金额: $ 1.97万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=708985
• 关键词: Multimodal; Imaging; Brain; Dynamic; Functional

Understanding and modeling brain networks constitutes a major research area in brain imaging and neuroscience. In our previous NSERC supported research program, we developed new functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and analysis methods to create more accurate images of the brain's functional networks. FMRI, however, only tells us about brain activity by measuring blood flow. Electrical activity and tissue oxygen also change with brain activity, and they can be measured independently using electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), respectively. However, the interrelationship between these measures is complicated by the fact that communication between brain regions is not static, but fluctuates on a time scale of seconds to minutes. Recording blood flow, electrical activity and tissue oxygen at the same time will allow us to better determine the organization of brain networks. We are seeking funding to extend our research program to bring these technologies together for the purposes of more accurate brain network imaging. The long-term objective of my research program is to develop imaging technologies to better understand the organization and function of the human brain. My overall hypothesis is that simultaneous recording of blood flow, electrical activity and tissue oxygen, and data analysis techniques that account for the dynamic nature of brain region communication, will more accurately determine brain functional networks. My specific objectives focus on the development of imaging technologies to record and analyze brain activity signals collected using multiple techniques (fMRI, EEG, fNIRS) in order to generate accurate images of the brain's functional networks: 1. We will develop new fMRI methods as well as new analysis methods that incorporate the dynamic nature of functional connections, to more accurately determine brain networks. 2. We will develop new ways to determine brain networks using fNIRS and EEG data simultaneously recorded with fMRI, and we will develop ways to compute brain networks by combining the data from each imaging technique. 3. We will validate our new approaches using simulations and data collected from human subjects. The development of new imaging techniques will provide the future ability to investigate fundamental neuroimaging and neuroscience questions of brain systems, with the potential to determine how the brain performs complex cognitive processing. Our research program will provide an excellent environment in which to train students and other research personnel in imaging technology development, an area of accelerating growth in Canadian research and industry.

理解和建模脑网络构成了脑成像和神经科学的主要研究领域。在我们之前的NSERC支持的研究计划中，我们开发了新的功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）和分析方法，以创建更准确的大脑功能网络图像。然而，功能磁共振成像只能通过测量血流来告诉我们大脑的活动。电活动和组织氧也随着大脑活动而变化，它们可以分别使用脑电图（EEG）和功能近红外光谱（fNIRS）独立测量。然而，这些措施之间的相互关系是复杂的事实，大脑区域之间的通信不是静态的，但波动的时间尺度秒到分钟。同时记录血流量、电活动和组织氧含量将使我们能够更好地确定大脑网络的组织。我们正在寻求资金来扩展我们的研究计划，将这些技术结合在一起，以实现更准确的大脑网络成像。 我的研究计划的长期目标是开发成像技术，以更好地了解人类大脑的组织和功能。我的总体假设是，同时记录血流、电活动和组织氧，以及解释脑区通信动态本质的数据分析技术，将更准确地确定大脑功能网络。我的具体目标集中在成像技术的发展，以记录和分析使用多种技术（fMRI，EEG，fNIRS）收集的大脑活动信号，以生成大脑功能网络的准确图像： 1.我们将开发新的功能磁共振成像方法，以及新的分析方法，结合功能连接的动态性质，以更准确地确定大脑网络。 2.我们将开发新的方法来确定大脑网络使用fNIRS和EEG数据同时记录与功能磁共振成像，我们将开发方法来计算大脑网络结合数据从每种成像技术。 3.我们将使用模拟和从人类受试者收集的数据来验证我们的新方法。 新成像技术的发展将为未来研究大脑系统的基本神经成像和神经科学问题提供能力，并有可能确定大脑如何执行复杂的认知处理。我们的研究计划将提供一个良好的环境，培养学生和其他研究人员在成像技术的发展，在加拿大的研究和工业加速增长的领域。