Spatiotemporal mapping of auditory attention using multimodal imaging

描述（由申请人提供）：本文提出的研究旨在开发和利用多模态成像方法来检查涉及听觉注意的潜在脑机制。所提出的方法是使用功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）和磁/脑电图（M/EEG）进行相同的实验。这种强大的组合利用功能磁共振成像的空间精度与M/EEG的高时间分辨率来映射与听觉注意和场景分析相关的皮层网络的时空动态。然而，目前，与功能磁共振成像相关的声学噪声提出了一个技术障碍，所有的听觉研究。表征与不同fMRI脉冲序列相关的声学噪声的初步步骤正在进行中。在指导阶段，候选人将利用他的信号处理专业知识来开发一个噪声掩蔽协议，该协议将在fMRI扫描期间对听觉环境进行心理声学控制，同时减轻与拟议的神经友好型fMRI脉冲序列相关的MR图像重建中的技术挑战。在后面的阶段中，将进行两个实验，研究当受试者被引导去注意听觉刺激的不同线索时，前额叶皮层是如何不同地参与的。我们将确定可以从与听者的注意力状态相关联的M/EEG信号中提取什么“生物标志物”。该项目符合候选人的长期职业目标，即建立一个高质量的独立研究计划，以协同的方式结合工程和神经科学方法，以表征与听觉场景分析相关的“生物标志物”。这在临床上是相关的，因为助听器用户目前在声学拥挤的环境中不能容易地理解语音。注意力作为“生物标志物”，有一天可能会被用于与处理器集成，该处理器选择性地实时放大感兴趣的信号，积极地帮助听众进行听觉信号分离。这项工作将促进候选人成为多模态成像专家的直接目标，同时将他在言语和听力科学方面的知识，特别是他的定量心理物理学培训带到该领域。指导阶段将在MGH-Harvard-MIT Martinos生物医学成像中心进行。候选人将利用该中心的尖端MRI设施和专业知识，以及其合作机构的世界级教育机会。他的职业发展计划包括MR数据采集培训;与该领域专家的咨询; MRI和神经工程图像重建课程;参加研讨会和科学会议。作为启动自己的独立研究计划的一部分，候选人将指导一名研究生，该研究生将有望为该项目做出贡献。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 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 ail 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 for the 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 is clinically relevant because hearing aid users currently cannot understand speech easily in an acoustically crowded environment. Attention as "biomarkers" may one day be used to integrate with a processor that selectively amplify signal of Interest In real-time, actively aiding the listeners with auditory signal segregation. 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 mentored phase will be performed at the MGH-Harvard-MIT Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. The candidate will take advantage of the cutting-edge MRI facilities and expertise at the Center, as well as the world-class educational opportunities at its collaborating institutions. His career development plan includes training in MR data acquisition; consultations with experts of the field; coursework in image reconstruction in MRI and neuroengineering; participation in seminars and scientific meetings. As part of launching his own independent research program, the candidate will mentor a graduate student who will be expected to contribute to this project.