What happens in your brain when you make a simple choice? Scientists at Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are unveiling the intricate neural ballet behind our everyday decisions, using cutting-edge technology to observe brain chemistry in action.
Published in Nature Human Behavior | Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
The Hidden Symphony of Thought
P. Read Montague Jr., a computational neuroscientist and director of the Center for Human Neuroscience Research, poses a deceptively simple question: “When you’re deciding whether to turn left or right, or to eat the chocolate cake or the carrots, what’s happening in your brain?”
Behind this straightforward query lies a complex web of neural activity that his team is working to decode. Using an arsenal of sophisticated tools, from functional MRI to innovative wearable brain sensors, researchers are capturing the previously invisible dance of neurotransmitters that orchestrate our thoughts and decisions.
Breaking Through Barriers
In a landmark study published in Neuron, Montague’s team achieved something unprecedented: tracking dopamine and serotonin activity in real-time as humans made decisions. This breakthrough came through collaboration with surgeons at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where patients undergoing brain electrode implantation for conditions like Parkinson’s disease participated in specially designed computer games.
A Quantum Leap Forward
The latest advancement in this quest is the Human Magnetometry Laboratory at Virginia Tech – a unique facility shielded from Earth’s magnetic field. Inside this specialized chamber, which resembles a submarine vault, researchers use Optically Pumped Magnetometry (OPM) technology to detect the whisper-quiet magnetic signals of neural activity.
These wearable OPM devices represent a paradigm shift in brain imaging, comparable to the leap from desktop computers to smartphones. They allow researchers to study brain activity during natural movement and social interactions, opening new frontiers in understanding human behavior and neurological conditions.
Glossary
- Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers in the brain that influence decision-making, mood, and behavior, including dopamine and serotonin.
- Optically Pumped Magnetometry (OPM): A non-invasive brain imaging technique using quantum sensors to detect the magnetic fields produced by brain activity.
- Hyperscanning: A technique for recording brain activity from multiple people simultaneously as they interact.
Test Your Knowledge
What simple question does Dr. Montague use to frame his research?
He asks what happens in your brain when deciding whether to turn left or right, or to eat chocolate cake or carrots.
Why is the Human Magnetometry Laboratory’s shielding important?
It blocks Earth’s magnetic field and other interference, allowing detection of the billion times weaker magnetic signals from brain activity.
How does OPM technology compare to traditional MRI machines?
OPM devices are wearable and allow natural movement, similar to how smartphones made computing portable compared to desktop computers.
What did Montague’s team achieve in their landmark Neuron study?
They tracked dopamine and serotonin activity in real-time during human decision-making for the first time, using patients undergoing brain electrode implantation.
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