Neuroimaging studies of self-reflection

This paper reviews some basic findings and methodological issues in neuroimaging studies of self-referential processing.As a general rule,making judgments about one's self,inclusive of personality trait adjectives or current mental states(person's prefer ences,norms,aesthetic values and feeling)uniformly generates medial prefrontal activations,regardless of stimulus materials(words or pictures)and modality(visual or auditory).Cingulate activations are also observed in association with most self-referential processing.Methodological issues include treating self-referential processing as either representing one's own personality traits or representing one's own current mental states.Finally,self-referential processing could Be considered as implement of "I think therefore I am" approach to neuroimaging the self.     

A potential ethnic difference in the association between 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms and the brain default mode network

The serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region （5-HTTLPR） is associated with mood disorders. This association is thought to be due to amygdala hyper- responsiveness to negative emotional stimuli as a result of reduced frontal cortical control. In Caucasians, the short form is associated with this effect, but in Han Chinese we recently found that the long form is involved. Serotonin receptors have rich expression in default mode network （DMN） regions and the recent studies have found an association between the short form of the 5-HTTLPR and DMN functional connectivity （FC） in Caucasians. The present study has investigated whether there may also be an ethnic difference in this influence of 5-HTTLPR on the DMN. We recruited 233 young Han Chinese subjects and calculated the resting-state default-network FC. Our study found that the L carriers had decreased FC in the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex, right parahippocampal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and increased FC in left precuneus （Pcu） compared to SS. The PCC-Pcu FC in L carriers was significantly negatively correlated with the depression scores. Our findings, therefore, suggest that there is also a difference between Caucasian and Han Chinese subjects in the association between the different forms of the 5-HTTLPR and DMN functional connectivity.     

Sparse representation of global features of visual images in human primary visual cortex: Evidence from fMRI

In fMRI experiments on object representation in visual cortex, we designed two types of stimuli： one is the gray face image and its line drawing, and the other is the illusion and its corresponding completed illusion. Both of them have the same global features with different minute details so that the results of fMRI experiments can be compared with each other. The first kind of visual stimuli was used in a block design fMRI experiment, and the second was used in an event-related fMRI experiment. Comparing and analyzing interesting visual cortex activity patterns and blood oxygenation level dependent （BOLD）- fMRI signal, we obtained results to show some invariance of global features of visual images. A plausible explanation about the invariant mechanism is related with the cooperation of synchronized response to the global features of the visual image with a feedback of shape perception from higher cortex to cortex V1, namely the integration of global features and embodiment of sparse representation and distributed population code.     

Resting state brain default network in patients with motor aphasia resulting from cerebral infarction

To explore the brain default mode network （DMN） in patients with motor aphasia resulting from cere- bral infarction, we used resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） to investigate the possible neural mechanism. Thirteen patients with motor aphasia resulting from cerebral infarction and ten matched controls were selected in this study. All subjects were examined using resting state fMRI. We chose the posterior cingulate cortex as the region of interest and then used functional connectivity analysis to calculate the DMN functional connectivity and analyze differences in the functional connectivity between the two groups. Compared with normal controls, aphasia patient group showed a significantly decreased functional connectivity in bilateral medial frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, precuneus and cuneus. The aphasia patient group showed increased functional connectivity mainly in bilateral medial frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, insula. The DMN in cerebral infarction motor aphasia patients showed significantly decreased functional connectivity in the resting state. The DMN most likely plays an important role in motor aphasia resulting from cerebral infarction. Furthermore, functional connectivity inthe brain regions surrounding the left and right Broca＇s areas was significantly enhanced due to compensatory mecha- nisms. This may be helpful for the recovery of language function in cerebral infarction patients with motor aphasia.     

A study on neural mechanism of face processing based on fMRI

Recently, there were debates about the specificity of lateral middle fusiform in face processing. The debates focused on whether these areas were specialized in face processing or involved in processing of visual expertise and categorization at individual level. The present study aims to investigate the neural mechanism of face processing, using Chinese characters as comparison stimuli. Chinese characters are greatly similar to faces on a variety of dimensions, among which the most significant one is that both faces and Chinese characters not only are extremely familiar to literate Chinese adults but also are processed at individual level. In the present study, faces and Chinese characters activated bilateral middle fusiform with great correlation. Greater activities were observed in the right fusiform face area （FFA） for faces than for Chinese characters. These results demonstrate that FFA is specialized in face processing per se rather than the processing of visual expertise and categorization at individual level.     

Neural mechanisms of perceptual grouping in human visual cortex

The current work examined neural substrates of perceptual grouping in human visual cortex using event-related potential (ERP) recording. Stimulus arrays consisted of local elements that were either evenly spaced (uniform stimuli) or grouped into columns or rows by proximity or color similarity (grouping stimuli). High-density ERPs were recorded while subjects identified orientations of perceptual groups in stimulus arrays that were presented randomly in one of the four quadrants of the visual field.Both uniform and grouping stimulus arrays elicited an early ERP component (C1), which peaked at about 70ms after stimulus onset and changed its polarity as a function of stimulated elevations. Dipole modeling based on realistichead boundary-element models revealed generators of the C1 component in the calcarine cortex. The C1 was modulated by perceptual grouping of local elements based on proximity, and this grouping effect was stronger in the upper than in the lower visual field. The findings provide ERP evidence for the engagement of human primary visual cortex in the early stage of perceptual grouping.     

Relationship between the partitioning properties of motoneuron recruitment and the needle feeling propagation

Histological and physiological studies indicated that most skeletal muscles can be divided into a series of relatively independent sub-volumes: "neuromuscular compartments" and the partitioning property of the muscle result in the localization of muscle reflex. In the present experiment we studied the recruitment properties of medial gastracnemius (MG) muscle motoneuron pool of decerebrate cat with two kinds of local mechanical stimulation: local stretch and acupuncture-like stimuli. The results indicate that: (ⅰ) there is an obvious property of localization of recruitment activity, only the MNs which innervate the stimulated compartment were recruited by weaker and shorter stimuli; (ⅱ) recruitment activity spread to those MNs which supply the adjacent and distal compartments during the strength of stimulation or duration of the stimulation was increased; and (ⅲ) the recruitment property of muscle activity elicited by the local mechanical stimulation is thought similar to that of "needle feeling" along the meridian pathway during stimulation of acupuncture point.     

Light weight replacement and the optimization design of bumper beam based on crash safety

Bumper beam is one of the key structural parts, which plays an important role in the frontal crashes of automobile. With the global trend of light-weighted automotive parts, the light weight of bumper beam attracts extensive attention of automobile manufacturers, and hot stamping technology with significant weight advantage has become one of the main light weight measures for bumper beam. The quasi-static press, low speed crash and frontal crash simulation models of bumper beam were established according to its actual working con- ditions in the automobile crashes. The feasibility of replacing normal steel bumper beam with hot stamping bumper beam was analyzed. Meanwhile, the stiffeners in the front face of hot stamping bumper beam were optimized with topography optimization in order to further improve its performances.     

Monitor and control of neuronal activities with femtosecond pulse laser

Combined with the fluorescence labeling technique, two-photon microscopy excited with femtosecond pulse laser has become an important tool for neuroscience research. In this research, the calcium signals from neurons in rat cortex slice were monitored by a custom-built two-photon microscopy, and the spontaneous calcium signals and the pharmacological responses as well as the responses to femtosecond pulse laser stimulation were recorded. The results showed that the amplitude of the cal- cium signals increased in direct proportion to the corresponding electrical activities. Glutamate induced a calcium transient, but continuous application resulted in smaller response. Simultaneous monitoring of neuronal populations distinguished the neurons of different microcircuits. The femtosecond pulse laser induced local or global calcium signals in the pyramidal neurons. The approach of interrogation and control of neural activities using femtosecond pulse laser is non-contact, nondestructive, repeatable, and without any additional substrates, which will contribute to the development of neuroscience.     

Neural correlates underlying humans’ differential sensitivity to emotionally negative stimuli of varying valences: an ERP study

The present study aims to investigate the neural correlates underlying humans’ sensitivity to valence differences in negative stimuli. Event-related potentials (ERPs) for highly negative (HN), moderately negative (MN), and Neutral pictures were recorded while subjects perform a standard/deviant categorization task, irrespective of the emotional valence of the deviants. The results show more negative ERP deflections during HN condition than during MN condition at each 50 ms interval from 350 to 650 ms after stimulus onset (at P3 and slow negative wave (SNW) components). Moreover, emotional effect was also observed for MN stimuli at P3 component (350—450 ms interval). Dipole analyses on the HN-MN difference wave during 350—450 ms interval (P3 component) and that during 450—650 ms interval (SNW component) were both localized to the right medial temporal lobe. Thus, the present study confirmed the human sensitivity to valence variations in emotionally negative stimuli, and further showed that the right medial temporal lobe, in particular, the right hippocampus/amygdala complex, may be the critical neural substrates underlying humans’ differential sensitivity to emotionally negative stimuli of varying valences.     

Neural substrates of global perception are modulated by local element grouping

THE GLOBAL PERCEPTION OF HIERARCHICALLY ORGANIZED STIMULI CAN BE DIFFERENT FROM THE LOCAL PERCEPTION IN THAT GLOBAL RESPONSES ARE FASTER THAN LOCAL RESPONSES AND THE GLOBAL-TO-LOCAL INTERFERENCE IS STRONGER THAN THE RE-VERSE[1]. THIS GLOBAL PRECEDENCE EFF…     

Global and fine information coded by single neurons in the temporal visual cortex.

When we see a person's face, we can easily recognize their species, individual identity and emotional state. How does the brain represent such complex information? A substantial number of neurons in the macaque temporal cortex respond to faces. However, the neuronal mechanisms underlying the processing of complex information are not yet clear. Here we recorded the activity of single neurons in the temporal cortex of macaque monkeys while presenting visual stimuli consisting of geometric shapes, and monkey and human faces with various expressions. Information theory was used to investigate how well the neuronal responses could categorize the stimuli. We found that single neurons conveyed two different scales of facial information in their firing patterns, starting at different latencies. Global information, categorizing stimuli as monkey faces, human faces or shapes, was conveyed in the earliest part of the responses. Fine information about identity or expression was conveyed later, beginning on average 51 ms after global information. We speculate that global information could be used as a 'header' to prepare destination areas for receiving more detailed information.     

Effects of encoding and retrieval on the mechanism of item + context binding

To investigate the neural mechanism of semantic representation and color context binding, we used electroencephalograph time frequency and coherence analyses to reveal local and long-range functional coupling in the encoding and retrieval phases of episodic memory. Fifteen undergraduates participated in the experiment and middle-frequency double-character Chinese words were used as stimuli in two types of study-test tasks (context recall and context recognition tests). Significant differences between item+context and item in the encoding phase were observed at the electrodes in the frontal region at 600–800 ms by time frequency analysis. Further differences were observed at 800 ms by independent component analysis: the frontal component and the coherent component of the triangle phase locking structure among the prefrontal, right parietal and left parietal-occipital regions. In the retrieval phase, differences between item+context and item were found on the electrodes at the central parietal and parietal-occipital regions at 400 ms by time frequency analysis, on the parietal-occipital component at 800 ms by independent component analysis and on the coherence component of the anterior right hemisphere and parietal-occipital regions at 1400 ms. In conclusion, the different effects of encoding and retrieval processing on ‘binding’ are reflected by the differing extents that brain regions engaged in cognitive operations. In the retrieval phase in particular, activities of the parietal-occipital region were specifically associated with ‘binding’, and coherence between frontal and temporal-parietal regions is a common brain activity in episodic memory.     

Dynamic properties of neurons in cortical area MT in alert and anaesthetized macaque monkeys.

In order to see the world with high spatial acuity, an animal must sample the visual image with many detectors that restrict their analyses to extremely small regions of space. The visual cortex must then integrate the information from these localized receptive fields to obtain a more global picture of the surrounding environment. We studied this process in single neurons within the middle temporal visual area (MT) of macaques using stimuli that produced conflicting local and global information about stimulus motion. Neuronal responses in alert animals initially reflected predominantly the ambiguous local motion features, but gradually converged to an unambiguous global representation. When the same animals were anaesthetized, the integration of local motion signals was markedly impaired even though neuronal responses remained vigorous and directional tuning characteristics were intact. Our results suggest that anaesthesia preferentially affects the visual processing responsible for integrating local signals into a global visual representation.     

基于局部形状约束网络的人脸对齐

基于级联回归的人脸对齐方法已经取得了很大的成就,但是由于复杂的级联回归器设计、人为设计特征等局限性的影响使得人脸对齐没有找到一个性能更好的解决方案,尤其对于大姿态、大表情等条件下的人脸对齐任务.因此,为解决该问题,提出了一种新颖的人脸对齐方法——基于人脸局部形状约束.首先利用卷积神经网络初始化人脸整体形状;然后利用人脸局部区域的同质性,将人脸区域进行划分,对每一个区域定义局部形状约束;最后再由整体形状估计做为全局约束,组合各个面部局部形状约束,对整体面部特征点进行回归.实验结果表明,该方法提高了人脸对齐的精确度且速度上达到了实时.     

自适应宽带稳健波束形成及神经网络算法

针对被动跟踪系统中阵处理的要求，建立了适应宽带稳健波束形成设计方法，用神经网络算法实现了自适应宽带波束形成，从理论上解决了自适应阵观察方向上的稳健设计问题，抛弃了自适应阵的时延补偿器，将正则网络应用于自适应宽带波束形成，解决了阵处理中求二次约束解的非线性规划问题，并能在毫微秒时间内收敛，不仅保持了二次约束自适应波束形成的干扰抵消能力，而且克服了软约束带来的阵指向性两端上的现象，所建立的阵处理器能抵消干扰达40dB以上，工作带宽达到2个倍频程。     

静息态脑区的活动特征研究

静息态脑区的活动处于一种相对稳定的状态。但是,静息态机能性磁共振成像(functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,fMRI)实验中,被试者可能会受到各种噪声的影响,因此,统计分析所得到的静息态脑区的活动强度和体素数都可能受此影响。为了更进一步研究静息态脑区的活动特点,分别对16名被试采集了8′14″的静息态fMRI数据,将这些数据按照时间等分为5个部分,对每个部分分别采用低频振幅方法进行分析。实验结果显示:楔前叶和后扣带皮层包含活动体素的个数随时间变化较小,处于一种相对稳定的状态;额内侧皮层和顶下小叶中活动体素个数随时间变化差异较大,处于不是很稳定的状态。实验结果表明,静息态脑区中,楔前叶和后扣带皮层对于外界噪声的干扰不敏感,额内侧皮层和顶下小叶对于外界噪声比较敏感。     

工作记忆编码腹侧海马和内侧前额叶皮层局部场电位信号的相位同步分析

研究比较大鼠在静息状态下和工作记忆编码阶段腹侧海马和内侧前额叶皮层局部场电位相位同步的变化,分析相位在工作记忆任务相关信息处理中的作用机制。研究数据为6只SD大鼠静息状态和执行Y迷宫空间工作记忆任务时采集的腹侧海马和内侧前额叶皮层的局部场电位信号,计算两个脑区局部场电位信号之间的加权相位滞后指数值。研究结果表明,与静息状态相比,在工作记忆编码阶段,腹侧海马和内侧前额叶皮层之间的相位同步性在theta频段选择性地并且显著性地增加。腹侧海马和内侧前额叶皮层theta频段的相位同步是工作记忆编码阶段任务信息处理的一个作用机制。