Neuroimaging Phenomenology of the Central Self-Regulation Mechanisms

Mark B Shtark,Mariya Rezakova,Olga Jafarova,Kseniya Mazhirina,Mikhail Pokrovskiy,Andrey Savelov

doi:10.4236/jbbs.2014.41008

Mark B Shtark, Mariya Rezakova + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/jbbs.2014.41008

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Abstract

Functional MRI was used to map the brains of subjects on-line during the process of media training for the acquisition and improvement of self-regulation mechanisms. The temporal and spatial dynamics of the new neural network formation were studied in real and simulated (false) biofeedback game, and their qualitative characteristics were discussed. It has been shown that immersion into a virtual competitive game, controlled by physiological responses, causes a wide involvement of the cortices, characterized by a high volume of activation in the mid-temporal, occipital and frontal areas, the cuneus and the precuneus. In both forms of media training, high values of activation volume were identified in the cerebellar structures.

Highlights

The results of investigations of the mechanisms of real brain activity are known to be based mainly on several sources of knowledge
The technology of functional magnetic resonance imaging is known to be fundamentally different from all the indirect ways of studying the brain that are mentioned above: it is a non-invasive in vivo dynamic study of the central structures during their activity, based on the difference in magnetic properties between the oxygen carrier oxyhemoglobin (Hb) and deoxyhemoglobin, which is produced in the brain parenchyma; their ratio is reflected by the BOLD phenomenon, a marker of neural activity
In each case F-statistics was obtained for all nonzero levels of brain structures activation, for example in first game block of real game biofeedback there were 60 variables to be included into analysis

Summary

Introduction

The results of investigations of the mechanisms of real brain activity are known to be based mainly on several sources of knowledge. Stereotypical or, on the contrary, heuristic actions, including cognitive mnemonic actions that have to do with solving creative tasks, as well as motor-sensory, visualauditory and verbal operations, are accompanied by the formation of new neural ensembles (NE) in the brain and/or de-repression of pre-existing ones.

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