Stable individual differences

in temperament and
personality reflect variation in
the structure and function of
the brain

PSYC 612
Tools for measuring the brain:
What You Can and Cant
Do With
EEG and MRI

AJ Shackman
13 October 2014

Just As People Differ, Brains Differ

Just As People Differ, Brains Differ

Individual maps from 17 subjects
These subjects are all supposed
to be "the same
Activation blobs are common, but
strength (relative to noise) varies
a lot

Neurons video (4 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIGqp6_PG6k

There are many ways

to measure the brain

Spatial Resolution

Resolving Time & Space

Temporal Resolution

Spatial Resolution

Resolving Time & Space

Temporal Resolution

Spatial Resolution

Resolving Time & Space

Temporal Resolution

hniques also differ in the amount of the brain they can survey at one ti

Whadya Mean by Spatial Resolution?

Temporal resolution is
analogous

EEG/ERP

Hans Berger 1924

EEG (0:44 to 4:21)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUAPUoV56gM

See also Jackson & Bolger Psychophysiol 2014

How do you compute ERPs?

You compute the average potential (voltage) evoked by a
particular event

gths
ap

Strengths & Weaknesses of

EEG/ERP

can be used in more places than fMRI/PET, as these techniques require bulky
mobile equipment (fMRI requires the use of a multi-ton magnet in a shielded roo

second temporal resolution

tively tolerant of subject movement, unlike most other neuroimaging techniques

nt, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli.

s not aggravate claustrophobia, unlike fMRI

s not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography

nesses
spatial resolution, particularly for deep structures

elational (not mechanistic), like all brain imaging techniques

gths
ap

Strengths & Weaknesses of

EEG/ERP

can be used in more places than fMRI/PET, as these techniques require bulky
mobile equipment (fMRI requires the use of a multi-ton magnet in a shielded roo

second temporal resolution

tively tolerant of subject movement, unlike most other neuroimaging techniques

nt, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli.

s not aggravate claustrophobia, unlike fMRI

s not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography

nesses
spatial resolution, particularly for deep structures

elational (not mechanistic), like all brain imaging techniques

gths
ap

Strengths & Weaknesses of

EEG/ERP

can be used in more places than fMRI/PET, as these techniques require bulky
mobile equipment (fMRI requires the use of a multi-ton magnet in a shielded roo

second temporal resolution

tively tolerant of subject movement, unlike most other neuroimaging techniques

nt, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli.

s not aggravate claustrophobia, unlike fMRI

s not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography

nesses
spatial resolution, particularly for deep structures

elational (not mechanistic), like all brain imaging techniques

gths
ap

Strengths & Weaknesses of

EEG/ERP

can be used in more places than fMRI/PET, as these techniques require bulky
mobile equipment (fMRI requires the use of a multi-ton magnet in a shielded roo

second temporal resolution

tively tolerant of subject movement, unlike most other neuroimaging techniques

nt, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli.

s not aggravate claustrophobia, unlike fMRI

s not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography

nesses
spatial resolution, particularly for deep structures

elational (not mechanistic), like all brain imaging techniques

gths
ap

Strengths & Weaknesses of

EEG/ERP

can be used in more places than fMRI/PET, as these techniques require bulky
mobile equipment (fMRI requires the use of a multi-ton magnet in a shielded roo

second temporal resolution

tively tolerant of subject movement, unlike most other neuroimaging techniques

nt, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli.

s not aggravate claustrophobia, unlike fMRI

s not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography

nesses
spatial resolution, particularly for deep structures

elational (not mechanistic), like all brain imaging techniques

gths
ap

Strengths & Weaknesses of

EEG/ERP

can be used in more places than fMRI/PET, as these techniques require bulky
mobile equipment (fMRI requires the use of a multi-ton magnet in a shielded roo

second temporal resolution

tively tolerant of subject movement, unlike most other neuroimaging techniques

nt, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli.

s not aggravate claustrophobia, unlike fMRI

s not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography

nesses
spatial resolution, particularly for deep structures

elational (not mechanistic), like all brain imaging techniques

gths
ap

Strengths & Weaknesses of

EEG/ERP

can be used in more places than fMRI/PET, as these techniques require bulky
mobile equipment (fMRI requires the use of a multi-ton magnet in a shielded roo

second temporal resolution

tively tolerant of subject movement, unlike most other neuroimaging techniques

nt, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli.

s not aggravate claustrophobia, unlike fMRI

s not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography

nesses
spatial resolution, particularly for deep structures

elational (not mechanistic), like all brain imaging techniques

gths
ap

Strengths & Weaknesses of

EEG/ERP

can be used in more places than fMRI/PET, as these techniques require bulky
mobile equipment (fMRI requires the use of a multi-ton magnet in a shielded roo

second temporal resolution

tively tolerant of subject movement, unlike most other neuroimaging techniques

nt, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli.

s not aggravate claustrophobia, unlike fMRI

s not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography

nesses
spatial resolution, particularly for deep structures

elational (not mechanistic), like all brain imaging techniques

gths
ap

Strengths & Weaknesses of

EEG/ERP

can be used in more places than fMRI/PET, as these techniques require bulky
mobile equipment (fMRI requires the use of a multi-ton magnet in a shielded roo

second temporal resolution

tively tolerant of subject movement, unlike most other neuroimaging techniques

nt, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli.

s not aggravate claustrophobia, unlike fMRI

s not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography

nesses
spatial resolution, particularly for deep structures

elational (not mechanistic), like all brain imaging techniques

gths
ap

Strengths & Weaknesses of

EEG/ERP

can be used in more places than fMRI/PET, as these techniques require bulky
mobile equipment (fMRI requires the use of a multi-ton magnet in a shielded roo

second temporal resolution

tively tolerant of subject movement, unlike most other neuroimaging techniques

nt, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli.

s not aggravate claustrophobia, unlike fMRI

s not involve exposure to radioligands, unlike positron emission tomography

nesses
spatial resolution, particularly for deep structures

elational (not mechanistic), like all brain imaging techniques

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Scanner

Skip video clip

MRI Intro Video (6 min; stop at 5:55)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmQR57V5TVU

How Does MRI Work?

You will not be
responsible for the details

structural MRI vs. functional MRI

structural MRI vs. functional MRI

MRI
high spatial
resolution
(1 mm)

fMRI

lower spatial
resolution
(~3 mm)

One 3D volume

series of 3D volumes (i.e., 4D data)

(e.g., every 2 sec for 5 mins)

fMRI Does NOT Measure Neuronal Activity

It Measures Blood Oxygenation
(Details Not Important)

How do we estimate fMRI activation?

Conceptually Similar to
ERPs

Events (Dog)

Events (Dog)

fMRI Signal

Events (Dog)

fMRI Signal

Average Response to Event

(in arbitrary units!)

But complex psychological phenomena (T&P) reflect the coordinated

activity of distributed neural circuits
How do we assess the connectivity of functional circuits in the brain?

Dummies Guide to
Functional Connectivity

fMRI Caveats

fMRI Caveats
Measuring blood oxygenation not neurons!
Although recent work suggests that, unlike EEG, the BOLD signal is
strongly correlated with neuronal spiking (Lima et al J Neuro 2014)

Not entirely clear whether fMRI signal reflects neuronal

activation
We also know, however, that the fMRI signal is often unable to differentiate
between function-specific processing and neuromodulation, between
bottom-up and top-down signals, and it may occasionally confuse excitation
and inhibition (Logothetis, 2008). [Logothetis Neuroimage 2012]

Not clear whether functional connectivity (cross-correlation

of time-series) reflects true coupling between regions (e.g.,
regulation or the transmission of information)

fMRI Caveats
Measuring blood oxygenation not neurons!
Although recent work suggests that, unlike EEG, the BOLD signal is
strongly correlated with neuronal spiking (Lima et al J Neuro 2014)

Not entirely clear whether fMRI signal reflects neuronal

activation
We also know, however, that the fMRI signal is often unable to differentiate
between function-specific processing and neuromodulation, between
bottom-up and top-down signals, and it may occasionally confuse excitation
and inhibition (Logothetis, 2008). [Logothetis Neuroimage 2012]

Not clear whether functional connectivity (cross-correlation

of time-series) reflects true coupling between regions (e.g.,
regulation or the transmission of information)

fMRI Caveats
Measuring blood oxygenation not neurons!
Although recent work suggests that, unlike EEG, the BOLD signal is
strongly correlated with neuronal spiking (Lima et al J Neuro 2014)

Not entirely clear whether fMRI signal reflects neuronal

activation
We also know, however, that the fMRI signal is often unable to differentiate
between function-specific processing and neuromodulation, between
bottom-up and top-down signals, and it may occasionally confuse excitation
and inhibition (Logothetis, 2008). [Logothetis Neuroimage 2012]

Not clear whether functional connectivity (cross-correlation

of time-series) reflects true coupling between regions (e.g.,
regulation or the transmission of information)

Strengths & Weaknesses

of fMRI

Strengths

Very good spatial resolution

Non-invasive (no radiation)
Common at most universities and larger hospitals

Weaknesses
Poor temporal resolution (seconds)
Noisy, unnatural
Expensive ($600/hour @ UMCP)
Requires participants to remain completely still!
Neuronal source of signal is not entirely clear (but
correlated with spiking)
Correlational, not causal

Strengths & Weaknesses

of fMRI

Strengths

Very good spatial resolution

Non-invasive (no radiation)
Common at most universities and larger hospitals

Weaknesses
Poor temporal resolution (seconds)
Noisy, unnatural
Expensive ($600/hour @ UMCP)
Requires participants to remain completely still!
Neuronal source of signal is not entirely clear (but
correlated with spiking)
Correlational, not causal

Strengths & Weaknesses

of fMRI

Strengths

Very good spatial resolution

Non-invasive (no radiation)
Common at most universities and larger hospitals

Weaknesses
Poor temporal resolution (seconds)
Noisy, unnatural
Expensive ($600/hour @ UMCP)
Requires participants to remain completely still!
Neuronal source of signal is not entirely clear (but
correlated with spiking)
Correlational, not causal

Some Things Are Just Plain

Hard to Do with fMRI
Anything requiring subject to speak or move
One word or sound can be OK
Requires censoring out data during subject speech jaw
motion is bad for images

Anything that uses subtle sounds (music,

language)
Scanner is very loud
Workaround: silent period between scans

Very long duration tasks (learning; drug infusion)

Hard to tell long activation changes from MRI signal drifting
up or down (e.g., head drift)
Not impossible, but requires special analysis or pulse
sequence (ASL)

Some Things Are Just Plain

Hard to Do with fMRI
Anything requiring subject to speak or move
One word or sound can be OK
Requires censoring out data during subject speech jaw
motion is bad for images

Anything that uses subtle sounds (music,

language)
Scanner is very loud
Workaround: silent period between scans

Very long duration tasks (learning; drug infusion)

Hard to tell long activation changes from MRI signal drifting
up or down (e.g., head drift)
Not impossible, but requires special analysis or pulse
sequence (ASL)

Some Things Are Just Plain

Hard to Do with fMRI
Anything requiring subject to speak or move
One word or sound can be OK
Requires censoring out data during subject speech jaw
motion is bad for images

Anything that uses subtle sounds (music,

language)
Scanner is very loud
Workaround: silent period between scans

Very long duration tasks (learning; drug infusion)

Hard to tell long activation changes from MRI signal drifting
up or down (e.g., head drift)
Not impossible, but requires special analysis or pulse
sequence (ASL)

Some Things Are Just Plain

Hard to Do with fMRI
Anything requiring subject to speak or move
One word or sound can be OK
Requires censoring out data during subject speech jaw
motion is bad for images

Anything that uses subtle sounds (music,

language)
Scanner is very loud
Workaround: silent period between scans

Very long duration tasks (learning; drug infusion)

Hard to tell long activation changes from MRI signal drifting
up or down (e.g., head drift)
Not impossible, but requires special analysis or pulse
sequence (ASL)

Reality Check: Whats Lurking in a

Voxel

Reality Check: Whats Lurking in a

Voxel

A complex mesh of vessels, different kinds of n

and glia; all contributing to the fMRI signal
A single voxel contains
*
*
*
*

5.5 million neurons

22 km of dendrites
220 km of axons
4 x 1010 (40B) synapses

Reality Check: Whats Lurking in a

Voxel

A complex mesh of vessels, different kinds of n

and glia; all contributing to the fMRI signal
A single voxel contains
*
*
*
*

5.5 million neurons

22 km of dendrites
220 km of axons
4 x 1010 (40B) synapses

40B synapses is a lot

x4

This aint just theoretical

e.g., Amygdala contains complex

microcircuits
that gate and modulate
the expression of fear and anxiety

These microcircuits can not be resolved using fMRI

TAILS ARE NOT IMPORTANT!

Pare & Duvarci Curr Opin Neurobiol 201

Critical Thinking
Questions

Please pick 2 of 3

Critical Thinking
Questions
1. Watch Joe LeDouxs BigThink interviews:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8hpf4dC8H0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ3_-Z3Jycw
-OR2. Watch June Grubers interview of Tor Wager:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-8XCK9P430
Briefly describe the 2 most important or interesting
things that you learned and 2 key challenges for future
research.

Critical Thinking
Questions
3. The brains structural connectome.
Briefly describe:
A) What is diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and how can
it be used to map the brains wiring?
For some tips, see these handy references
- Overview @ http://www.diffusion-imaging.com/2009/05/lectures-on-dti-basics-and-analysis.html

- Wiki @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_MRI

- Film clip @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6ZqP04RhNI

- Film clip @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjbkepJRrZc

B) How can DTI be used to understand a facet of T&P?

- For some tips, see
- http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032210-104507

The End (No Review

Questions)

Material to Consider
Incorporating as a Critical Thinking Q in the
Future

Extra Slides

EEG Intro Video, Version #1

(1:12 to end)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGuayTwqieM

Summary
EEG

fMRI

Strengths

excellent
temporal

excellent
spatial

Weaknesses

poor
spatial

poor
temporal

Measuring?

electrical
currents

oxygen in
blood

Upper wave in each pair = signal; lower = residual noise est

DTI Video (60 sec)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6ZqP04RhNI
And this one is 30 sec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjbkepJRrZc

fMRI Experiment Stages: Anatomicals

4) Take anatomical (T1) images

high-resolution images (e.g., 0.75 x 0.75 x 3.0 mm)

3D data: 3 spatial dimensions, sampled at one point in time

64 anatomical slices takes ~4 minutes
64 slices
x 3 mm

-79-

Some FMRI Data

Left = decent looking single subject activation map

From 300 s of data (150 time points)

Right = data time series that gives activation map

This is good data [strong activation, little head movement]

Hemodynamic Response Function

(HRF)
Time course of fMRI is ~6 seconds
seconds
(blood flow is4-6slow!)
Increase in oxyHb because
new oxyHb has
overcompensated

Back to baseline
because neurons
extract oxygen so
oxyHb becomes
deoxyHb
Dip because
neurons begin
to extract
oxygen before
oxyHb arrives

10 seconds

FMRI Experiment
Faces

Scrambled
Faces
F
S

F
S

F
S

F
S

fMRI Analysis
Voxel

Condition I
Condition S
(If
significant)

I = Intact face
S = Scrambled face

fMRI relies on subtraction

method

fMRI Experiment Stages: Functionals

5) Take functional (T2*) images

images are indirectly related to neural activity

usually low resolution images (3 x 3 x 6 mm)

all slices at one time = a volume (sometimes also called an image)
sample many volumes (time points) (e.g., 1 volume every 2 seconds for 136
volumes = 272 sec = 4:32)
4D data: 3 spatial, 1 temporal

Reverse Engineering
Marion Barry

-86-

Confusions & Distinctions

Brain vs. Mind
Neuroscience vs. Cognitive science

Mass level vs. Micro-circuitry

Connecting blobs to cell-level actions?

Excitation & Inhibition both consume energy

What does active mean?

Active vs. Necessary (e.g., lesion studies)

Modulated here? Or there?
MVPA vs. Specificity
Resting State: Function vs. Physiology

BART Procedure

Computer simulated sequence of balloons

$0.05 per balloon pump (in temporary bank)
Must hit collect $$$ button to earn money
Balloon explosion = temporary money lost
Explosion point for balloons (1 128)
Earnings after session in gift certificates

Earnings ($)

12

MIN32

E x p e c t e d E a r n in g s O v e r 3 0 T r
3

0
4
8

0
16
32

48

MAX

16

0
0

Pumps
64

128

Not Just Psychiatry

Other syndromes with complex etiology and overlapping
symptoms
E.g., Diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension
Clinical presentation: Patient complains of fatigue; whats
the Dx?
Differential Diagnosis: challenges (stress test) and
assays to determine a primary etiology and Dx
E.g., glucose tolerance test, serum cholesterol, BP
Similar symptoms, different endophenotypes,
different genetic underpinnings

Gottesman & Gould Amer J Psychiatry 20

The Promise

Promises to enhance:

Etiology (cause)
What is the proximal biological cause(s) of the disorder/T&P?
Nosology (Dx)
Unlike many physical diseases, psychiatric disorders/T&P are defined by
symptoms not pathophysiology; understanding the etiology would lead to
a restructuring of nosology (or the Big 3 or 5 Factors)

Challenging to know how disorders/factors should be clumped together

what if symptoms reflect similar vs. different causes?
E.g., growing biological evidence that SZ and BPD are related

Prognosis
If we understood the etiology, we could better predict the likely outcome
(cf. Moffitt)
Treatment (Personalized or Precision Medicine)
Most disorders resist treatment; extant treatments work for a subset of
patients
If we understood the etiology, we could target treatments, enhancing
cost/benefit

MRI vs. fMRI

fMRI Simplified
~2s

ROI Time Course

fMRI
Signal
Intensity
Condition

Time

Co
nd
it
Time

ion

1
Co
nd
itio
n2

...

~ 5 min

fMRI Setup