Biological Psychology and Neuroergonomics, Technical University Berlin, Germany; Center for Advanced Neurological Engineering, University of California, San Diego, USA.
Human Neuromechanics Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Int J Psychophysiol. 2014 Jan;91(1):22-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2013.09.003. Epub 2013 Sep 26.
The primary function of the human brain is arguably to optimize the results of our motor actions in an ever-changing environment. Our cognitive processes and supporting brain dynamics are inherently coupled both to our environment and to our physical structure and actions. To investigate human cognition in its most natural forms demands imaging of brain activity while participants perform naturally motivated actions and interactions within a full three-dimensional environment. Transient, distributed brain activity patterns supporting spontaneous motor actions, performed in pursuit of naturally motivated goals, may involve any or all parts of cortex and must be precisely timed at a speed faster than the speed of thought and action. Hemodynamic imaging methods give information about brain dynamics on a much slower scale, and established techniques for imaging brain dynamics in all modalities forbid participants from making natural extensive movements so as to avoid intractable movement-related artifacts. To overcome these limitations, we are developing mobile brain/body imaging (MoBI) approaches to study natural human cognition. By synchronizing lightweight, high-density electroencephalographic (EEG) recording with recordings of participant sensory experience, body and eye movements, and other physiological measures, we can apply advanced data analysis techniques to the recorded signal ensemble. This MoBI approach enables the study of human brain dynamics accompanying active human cognition in its most natural forms. Results from our studies have provided new insights into the brain dynamics supporting natural cognition and can extend theories of human cognition and its evolutionary function - to optimize the results of our behavior to meet ever-changing goals, challenges, and opportunities.
人类大脑的主要功能可以说是在不断变化的环境中优化我们运动动作的结果。我们的认知过程和支持的大脑动态本质上与我们的环境以及我们的身体结构和动作相关联。为了在最自然的形式下研究人类认知，需要在参与者在全三维环境中执行自然动机的动作和交互时，对大脑活动进行成像。支持自发运动动作的瞬态、分布式大脑活动模式，这些动作是为了追求自然动机的目标而执行的，可能涉及皮层的任何或所有部分，并且必须以比思维和行动速度更快的速度进行精确计时。血液动力学成像方法提供了关于大脑动力学的慢得多的信息，而所有模态中用于成像大脑动力学的既定技术都禁止参与者进行自然的广泛运动，以免产生难以解决的运动相关伪影。为了克服这些限制，我们正在开发移动大脑/身体成像（MoBI）方法来研究自然人类认知。通过将轻便、高密度的脑电图（EEG）记录与参与者感觉体验、身体和眼球运动以及其他生理测量的记录同步，我们可以将高级数据分析技术应用于记录的信号总体。这种 MoBI 方法能够研究在最自然的形式下伴随主动人类认知的大脑动力学。我们的研究结果提供了对支持自然认知的大脑动力学的新见解，并可以扩展人类认知及其进化功能的理论——优化我们的行为结果以适应不断变化的目标、挑战和机会。
