Reverse engineering brain networks for scene and object processing with non-invasive neuromodulation

通过非侵入性神经调节对大脑网络进行逆向工程，用于场景和对象处理

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-05745
• 负责人: Steeves, Jennifer
• 金额: $ 2.84万
• 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: 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=711782
• 关键词: Reverse; engineering; brain; networks; scene

OBJECTIVE: Mounting evidence from behavioural measures, neuroimaging and clinical data has shown that objects and scenes are processed independently and that, counterintuitively, a scene can be categorized without the need to recognize any of its constituent objects. The goal of this research program is to examine the relationship between object and scene processing and, in particular, the contribution of object-selective cortical areas to scene processing and their corollary. My laboratory has demonstrated that non-invasive neuromodulation of object-selective cortex with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has remote effects across the brain in scene processing regions and behaviourally, it alters our ability to perceive scenes. This observation suggests for the first time that object and scene processing may not be as independent as previously thought but might instead involve mutual connections. In the proposed research program I will assess the functional connectivity of object-preferential cortex on scene perception and scene-preferential cortex on object perception at both the behavioural and neural level. SCIENTIFIC APPROACH: I will use several complementary methods, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), functionally-guided TMS, and behavioural measures. I propose three main experiments to address the following questions: 1. What level of semantic coding is performed in object-preferential and scene-preferential cortices? When does it occur? I will perform offline TMS to object-preferential and scene-preferential cortices to determine the contribution of these regions to levels of semantic coding of objects and scenes. Subsequently, online TMS will be performed to determine the temporal coding in the neuromodulated target object and scene regions. 2. What is the functional connectivity between object and scene processing cortical areas? I will use a consecutive TMS-fMRI design to measure scene- and object-induced BOLD signal in the object and scene-preferential cortical networks following offline low frequency repetitive TMS to object and scene-preferential cortex. In a similar paradigm, I will apply TMS online during fMRI scanning using an MR-compatible coil to observe real-time neuromodulatory effects in remote regions to the stimulation site. 3. What is the anatomical connectivity between the lateral occipital (LO) object-selective area and scene-selective cortex? I will use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to determine white matter connectivity between these areas. NOVELTY AND SIGNIFICANCE: This novelty and significance of this research is that it will further refine our understanding of how visual image processing networks in the cortex interact.

目的：来自行为测量、神经成像和临床数据的越来越多的证据表明，物体和场景是独立处理的，而且与直觉相反，场景可以被分类，而不需要识别其任何组成物体。本研究的目的是探讨对象和场景加工之间的关系，特别是对象选择性皮层区域对场景加工的贡献及其推论。我的实验室已经证明，通过经颅磁刺激（TMS）对对象选择性皮层进行非侵入性神经调节，在场景处理区域和行为上对整个大脑产生远程影响，它改变了我们感知场景的能力。这一观察首次表明，对象和场景处理可能不像以前认为的那样独立，而是可能涉及相互联系。在拟议的研究计划中，我将在行为和神经水平上评估场景感知中的对象优先皮质和对象感知中的场景优先皮质的功能连接性。 科学方法：我将使用几种互补的方法，包括功能性磁共振成像（fMRI），功能引导的TMS和行为测量。我提出三个主要实验来解决以下问题： 1.在物体优先和场景优先的皮层中进行什么级别的语义编码？什么时候发生？我将对物体优先和场景优先皮层进行离线TMS，以确定这些区域对物体和场景语义编码水平的贡献。随后，将执行在线TMS以确定神经调制目标对象和场景区域中的时间编码。 2.物体和场景处理皮层区域之间的功能连接是什么？我将使用一个连续的TMS-fMRI设计来测量场景和对象诱导的BOLD信号的对象和场景优先的皮层网络后，离线低频重复TMS对象和场景优先的皮层。在类似的范例中，我将在功能磁共振成像扫描期间使用MR兼容线圈在线应用TMS，以观察刺激部位远端区域的实时神经调节效应。 3.枕外侧（LO）目标选择区和场景选择皮层之间的解剖学连接是什么？我将使用扩散张量成像（DTI）来确定这些区域之间的白色物质连通性。 新奇和重要性：这项研究的新奇和重要性在于，它将进一步完善我们对大脑皮层中视觉图像处理网络如何相互作用的理解。