Neuroimage technique uncover how kids make decisions under anxious and stress

Sunday, 03 de May de 2020

Brain Images techniques has been helping physicians and neuroscientist throughout the science history to better comprehend the anatomical and physiological process of the human brain. The Electroencephalogram (EEG), Functional Magnetic Resonance Image (FMRI), functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) are the mainly technology involved in the research of the human mind. Those techniques has been applied on a variety of research area that goes from neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer, multiple sclerosis, to research on brain computer interface, cognitive human neuroscience and mental disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety.

Image: Brain Image technologies (fNIRS and EEG)

A recent study made at Stanford University have used the fMRI technique to accomplished a research that investigate how anxiety and chronic stress influence and regulate the emotion circuitry and decisions making on children. The amygdala and its important role on the regulation of the fear is already a well-studied and scientifically proven subject. Usually in healthy individuals, even though the emotions led by the amygdala can influence during a decision making, even so, the prefrontal cortex still remain the domain area to analyze the information and finally make a decision based on critical thinking and rational. Therefore, in the majority of the individuals which do not suffer from mental disorder, the prefrontal cortex responsible for the decision making still controlling the impulsive signals delivered from the amygdala.

However, what these research have found is that this harmonical circuitry is deranged on children who chronically suffer from anxiety and stress disorder. The scientists have figured out that, on those kid’s brain, the signal, which comes from the amygdala while is performing a task that lead to negative emotions, generate a stronger impact over the prefrontal cortex, that end up to an impulsive action and less reasonable critical thinking. That discovery means that kids who suffer from those mental disturbance have difficult to control emotions while have to make a decision, and so that, usually, they have an impulsive response because the amygdala is more active and is taking control over the prefrontal cortex.

It is important to note that companies like Brain products have launched products in the field of neurotechnology that will contribute to the advancement of brain research. The R-NET MR, is an EEG based on saline sponges and passive Ag / AgCl electrodes. They are easy to use, optimized and mainly allow the recording of electrical brain signals in children, as they do not require the use of the gel. This technological device can be used while perform an MRI test.