Factors modulating neural processing time measured using fMRI

• Grant number: 12/50722-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2012
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Radiology
• Agreement: King's College London
• Principal Investigator: Edson Amaro Junior
• Grantee: Edson Amaro Junior
• Principal researcher abroad: Thomas White
• Institution abroad: King's College London, England
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/53443-1 - Neuroimmunology, functional genomics and neuroimaging: an integrated approach for studying physiopathology and treatment in refractory epilepsy , AP.TEM

Abstract

Morphometric features of the hemodynamic response function (HRF) potentially provide a window on to alternative characteristics of neuronal activity using fMRI. Recently, neural processing time (NPT) - the period for which event-related neuonal activity occurs - was proposed as a measurable feature of the biophysical model of HRF. However, systematic investigation of the factors modulating NPT has not yet been conducted but could potentially mark a significant improvement of our understanding of the neural conditions characteristic of efficient information processing. Accordingly, we propose a collaborative study which will adapt NPT inference, developed at USP, to test four principal hypotheses on N-back data previously collected at KCL: (i) that NPT in decision-making regions will be modulated by working memory load, being shorter in low memory-load conditions; (ii) that individuals with psychosis will exhibit aberrant NPT on account of diminished cortical efficiency, with psychosis-related differences moderated by symptom profile; (iii) that this aberrance will be mirrored by healthy individuals following amphetamine sensitisation; and (iv) that simultaneously acquired electroencephalography (EEG)-fMRI data collected during working memory performance will provide a means of further validating NPT by permitting the assessment of the relationship between neuroelectric components (from EEG) and fMRI NPT measures. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

HOEXTER, MARCELO Q.; BIAZOLI, JR., CLAUDINEI E.; ALVARENGA, PEDRO G.; BATISTUZZO, MARCELO C.; SALUM, GIOVANNI A.; GADELHA, ARY; PAN, PEDRO M.; ANES, MAURICIO; MANCINI-MARTINS, LETICIA; MOURA, LUCIANA M.; et al. Low frequency fluctuation of brain spontaneous activity and obsessive compulsive symptoms in a large school-age sample. JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, v. 96, p. 224-230, JAN 2018. (13/08531-5, 08/57896-8, 13/00506-1, 16/05865-8, 16/02246-5, 12/50722-0, 13/10498-6)