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Biological correlates of mental activity studied with PET
1Medical Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|April 1, 1991
Summary
New brain imaging techniques reveal the human brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Advancements in neuroimaging allow direct investigation of human brain function.
- These techniques are reshaping our understanding of the mind-brain relationship.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate the interactive organization of the brain using positron emission tomography (PET) findings.
- To propose a more accurate model for the relationship between brain activity and mental phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Utilized findings from positron emission tomography (PET) studies.
- Analyzed data to demonstrate brain area participation in cognitive operations.
Main Results:
- Brain operations involve the participation of multiple, interconnected brain areas.
- PET imaging highlights the distributed nature of cognitive functions.
Conclusions:
- The brain exhibits a highly interactive organization.
- A model associating clusters of physical brain processes with mental phenomena better reflects the mind-brain relation than a one-to-one mapping.