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Imaging Posture Veils Neural Signals

Whereas modern brain imaging often demands holding body positions incongruent with everyday life, posture governs both neural activity and cognitive performance. Humans commonly perform while upright; yet, many neuroimaging methodologies require participants to remain motionless and adhere to non-ec...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Thibault, Robert T., Raz, Amir
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2016
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5073137/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27818629
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00520
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author Thibault, Robert T.
Raz, Amir
author_facet Thibault, Robert T.
Raz, Amir
author_sort Thibault, Robert T.
collection PubMed
description Whereas modern brain imaging often demands holding body positions incongruent with everyday life, posture governs both neural activity and cognitive performance. Humans commonly perform while upright; yet, many neuroimaging methodologies require participants to remain motionless and adhere to non-ecological comportments within a confined space. This inconsistency between ecological postures and imaging constraints undermines the transferability and generalizability of many a neuroimaging assay. Here we highlight the influence of posture on brain function and behavior. Specifically, we challenge the tacit assumption that brain processes and cognitive performance are comparable across a spectrum of positions. We provide an integrative synthesis regarding the increasingly prominent influence of imaging postures on autonomic function, mental capacity, sensory thresholds, and neural activity. Arguing that neuroimagers and cognitive scientists could benefit from considering the influence posture wields on both general functioning and brain activity, we examine existing imaging technologies and the potential of portable and versatile imaging devices (e.g., functional near infrared spectroscopy). Finally, we discuss ways that accounting for posture may help unveil the complex brain processes of everyday cognition.
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spelling pubmed-50731372016-11-04 Imaging Posture Veils Neural Signals Thibault, Robert T. Raz, Amir Front Hum Neurosci Neuroscience Whereas modern brain imaging often demands holding body positions incongruent with everyday life, posture governs both neural activity and cognitive performance. Humans commonly perform while upright; yet, many neuroimaging methodologies require participants to remain motionless and adhere to non-ecological comportments within a confined space. This inconsistency between ecological postures and imaging constraints undermines the transferability and generalizability of many a neuroimaging assay. Here we highlight the influence of posture on brain function and behavior. Specifically, we challenge the tacit assumption that brain processes and cognitive performance are comparable across a spectrum of positions. We provide an integrative synthesis regarding the increasingly prominent influence of imaging postures on autonomic function, mental capacity, sensory thresholds, and neural activity. Arguing that neuroimagers and cognitive scientists could benefit from considering the influence posture wields on both general functioning and brain activity, we examine existing imaging technologies and the potential of portable and versatile imaging devices (e.g., functional near infrared spectroscopy). Finally, we discuss ways that accounting for posture may help unveil the complex brain processes of everyday cognition. Frontiers Media S.A. 2016-10-21 /pmc/articles/PMC5073137/ /pubmed/27818629 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00520 Text en Copyright © 2016 Thibault and Raz. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Neuroscience
Thibault, Robert T.
Raz, Amir
Imaging Posture Veils Neural Signals
title Imaging Posture Veils Neural Signals
title_full Imaging Posture Veils Neural Signals
title_fullStr Imaging Posture Veils Neural Signals
title_full_unstemmed Imaging Posture Veils Neural Signals
title_short Imaging Posture Veils Neural Signals
title_sort imaging posture veils neural signals
topic Neuroscience
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5073137/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27818629
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00520
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