Spatiotemporal mapping of auditory attention using multimodal imaging

本文提出的研究旨在开发和利用多模式成像方法来检查 与听觉注意有关的潜在大脑机制。建议的方法是进行 使用功能磁共振成像(FMRI)和磁/脑电图进行相同的实验 (M/EEG)。这种强大的结合利用了fmri的精细空间精度和高时间 M/EEG的分辨率以映射与听觉相关的皮质网络的时空动力学 注意和现场分析。然而，目前与功能磁共振相关的声学噪声呈现出一种 所有听觉研究的技术障碍。描述与之相关的声学噪声的初始步骤 不同的fMRI脉冲序列正在进行中。在指导阶段，候选人将利用他的 信号处理专业知识，以开发噪声掩蔽协议，将心理声学控制 FMRI扫描期间的听觉环境，同时减轻MR图像中的技术挑战 与所提出的听觉友好功能磁共振脉冲序列相关的重建。在后来的阶段，有两个 实验将检验受试者前额叶皮质是如何不同地参与的。 被引导去注意听觉刺激的不同提示。我们将确定什么是“生物标记物” 从与听者的注意状态相关联的M/EEG信号中提取。这个项目很适合 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， 以一种协同的方式结合工程学和神经科学的方法来表征 与听觉场景分析相关的“生物标志物”。这项工作将有助于应聘者 近期目标是成为多模式成像专家，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。的独立阶段 美国国立卫生研究院独立职业发展之路奖将在华盛顿大学举行 候选人将于2011年1月1日在西雅图华盛顿开始他的助理教授职业生涯。

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.