• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1162-1167
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• 2018

Objective Motor, perceptual, and cognitive functions are known to affect driving competence. Subcortical ischemic changes on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reflect reduction in cognitive and motor performance. However, few studies have reported the relationship between subcortical ischemic changes and driving competence of the elderly. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the association between subcortical ischemic changes on MRI and driving abilities of the elderly. Methods Participants (n=540) were drawn from a nationwide, multicenter, hospital-based, longitudinal cohort. Each participant underwent MRI scan and interview for driving capacity categorized into 'now driving' and 'driving cessation (driven before, not driving now)'. Participants were divided into three groups (mild, n=389; moderate, n=116; and severe, n=35) depending on the degree of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on MRI at baseline. Driving status was evaluated at follow-up. Statistical analyses were conducted using ${\chi}^2$ test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), structured equation model (SEM), and generalized estimating equation (GEE). Results In SEM, greater baseline degree of WMH was directly associated with driving cessation regardless of cognitive or motor dysfunction (${\beta}=-0.110$, p<0.001). In GEE models after controlling for age, sex, education, cognitive, and motor dysfunction, more severe change in the degree of WMH was associated with faster change from 'now driving' state to 'driving cessation' state over time in the elderly (${\beta}=-0.508$, p<0.001). Conclusion In both cross-sectional and longitudinal results, the degree of subcortical ischemic change on MRI might predict driving cessation in the elderly.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between quantitative magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers, and clinical performances in chronic phase of carbon monoxide intoxication. Materials and Methods: Eighteen magnetic resonance scans and cognitive evaluations were performed, on patients with carbon monoxide intoxication in chronic phase. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ratios of affected versus unaffected centrum semiovale, and corpus callosum were obtained. Signal intensity (SI) ratios between affected centrum semiovale, and normal pons in T2-FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) images were obtained. The Mini-Mental State Exam, and clinical outcome scores were assessed. Correlation coefficients were calculated, between MRI and clinical markers. Patients were further classified into poor-outcome and good-outcome groups based on clinical performance, and imaging parameters were compared. T2-SI ratio of centrum semiovale was compared, with that of 18 sex-matched and age-matched controls. Results: T2-SI ratio of centrum semiovale was significantly higher in the poor-outcome group, than that in the good-outcome group and was strongly inversely correlated, with results from the Mini-Mental State Exam. ADC ratios of centrum semiovale were significantly lower in the poor outcome group than in the good outcome group, and were moderately correlated with the Mini-Mental State Exam score. Conclusion: A higher T2-SI and a lower ratio of ADC values in the centrum semiovale, may indicate presence of more severe white matter injury and clinical impairment. T2-SI ratio and ADC values in the centrum semiovale, are useful quantitative imaging biomarkers for correlation with clinical performance in individuals with carbon monoxide intoxication.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.109-132
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• 2012

According to recent embodied cognition approach, understanding of actions is not based on abstract symbolic process but based on mental simulation of sensory-motor information related to those actions. As supporting evidence, motor resonance effect is a facilitation/interference effect of motor response in terms of similarity between observed action and concurrent own action. In the current research, we investigated this effect in the situation to perceive a complex social action perception and how it would be modulated by perspectives of construals of the social action scene. For this purpose, we created three kinds of fighting action scenes of two people in terms of body actions of the subject(ie., hitting, stepping, biting), and described them in two perspectives; active and passive. During the experiment, subjects had to verify the congruency of the picture and the description first, and if they are congruent, they had to do two different actions in terms of color of following cues. In the first experiment, subjects' response time for stepping on a pedal and pressing a button were analyzed for measuring motor resonance effect for the foot movement. In the second experiment, voice response time with a microphone and button pressing time were analyzed for the mouth movement motor resonance effect. Results showed the facilitation of the foot movement(in Exp1), and the mouth movement(in Exp2) only when the action scene was described in active perspective. Our results indicate that the motor resonance effect can be occurred during perception of social actions in the real life situation, but it can be also modulated by the perspective of the mental construal of the action event.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.23 no.1 s.178
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• pp.209-215
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• 2006

The present study purposed to examine differences between 20s and 40s in visuospatial performance, the number of activated yokels and cerebral lateralization using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). For this study, eight college students in their twenties (21.5 years on the average) and six adults in their forties (45.7 years on the average) participated in the experiment. Functional brain images were taken from 37 MRI using the single-shot EPI method. Compared to the twenties the forties showed lower visuospatial performance and longer reaction time. In addition, compared to the twenties the forties had a smaller number of activated yokels and less cerebral lateralization. The results of this study show that people's visuospatial performance and number of activated yokels decrease with aging. In addition, they also suggest that cerebral lateralization decreases in order to supplement the lowering of visuospatial performance, which in turn symmetrizes the activation of the left and right hemisphere.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 2015

Mild Cognitive Impairment(MCI) is a prior step to Alzheimer's Disease(AD). It is different from AD which is seriously affecting daily life. Particularly, the hippocampus could be charged a crucial function for forming memory. MCI has a high risk about progress to AD. Our investigated research for a relationship between hippocampus and AD has been studied. The measurement of hippocampus volumetric is one of the most commonly used method. The three dimensional reconstructed medical images could be passible to interpret and its examination in various aspects but the cost of brain research with the medical equipment is very high. In this study, 3D visualization was performed from a series of brain Magnetic Resonance Images(MRI) and we have designed and implemented a competitive software tool based on the open libraries of Visualization ToolKit(VTK). Consequently, our visualization software tool could be useful to various medical fields and specially prognosis and diagnosis for MCI patients.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.101-112
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• 2017

We investigated the neural representation of reward probability recognition and its neural connectivity with other regions of the brain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we used a simple guessing task with different probabilities of obtaining rewards across trials to assay local and global regions processing reward probability. The results of whole brain analysis demonstrated that lateral prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal lobe, and postcentral gyrus were activated during probability-based decision making. Specifically, the higher the expected value was, the more these regions were activated. Fronto-parietal connectivity, comprising inferior parietal regions and right lateral prefrontal cortex, conjointly engaged during high reward probability recognition compared to low reward condition, regardless of whether the reward information was extrinsically presented. Finally, the result of a regression analysis identified that cortico-subcortical connectivity was strengthened during the high reward anticipation for the subjects with higher cognitive impulsivity. Our findings demonstrate that interregional functional involvement is involved in valuation based on reward probability and that personality trait such as cognitive impulsivity plays a role in modulating the connectivity among different brain regions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.527-537
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• 2022

Iron has a vital role in the human body, including the central nervous system. Increased deposition of iron in the brain has been reported in aging and important neurodegenerative diseases. Owing to the unique magnetic resonance properties of iron, MRI has great potential for in vivo assessment of iron deposition, distribution, and non-invasive quantification. In this paper, we will review the MRI methods for iron assessment and their changes in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on Alzheimer's disease. In addition, we will summarize the limitations of current approaches and introduce new areas and MRI methods for iron imaging that are expected in the future.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2010

Purpose : To separate and evaluate the low frequency spontaneous fluctuation BOLD signals from the functional magnetic resonance imaging data using sensorimotor active task. Materials and Methods : Twenty female archery players and twenty three control subjects were included in this study. Finger-tapping task consisted of three cycles of right finger tapping, with a subsequent 30 second rest. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) data were collected using $T2^*$-weighted echo planar imaging at a 3.0 T scanner. A 3-D FSPGR T1-weighted images were used for structural reference. Image processing and statistical analyses were performed using SPM5 for active finger-tapping task and GIFT program was used for statistical analyses of low frequency spontaneous fluctuation BOLD signal. Results : Both groups showed the activation in the left primary motor cortex and supplemental motor area and in the right cerebellum for right finger-tapping task. ICA analysis using GIFT revealed independent components corresponding to contralateral and ipsilateral sensorimotor network and cognitive-related neural network. Conclusion : The current study demonstrated that the low frequency spontaneous fluctuation BOLD signals can be separated from the fMRI data using finger tapping paradigm. Also, it was found that these independent components correspond to spontaneous and coherent neural activity in the primary sensorimotor network and in the motor-cognitive network.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.184-196
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• 2024

Purpose We investigated potentially promising imaging findings and their combinations in the evaluation of cognitive decline. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 138 patients with subjective cognitive impairments, who underwent brain MRI. We classified the same group of patients into Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-AD groups, based on the neuropsychiatric evaluation. We analyzed imaging findings, including white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), using the Kruskal-Wallis test for group comparison, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for assessing the diagnostic performance of imaging findings. Results CMBs in the lobar or deep locations demonstrated higher prevalence in the patients with AD compared to those in the non-AD group. The presence of lobar CMBs combined with periventricular WMH (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.702 [95% confidence interval: 0.599-0.806], p < 0.001) showed the highest performance in differentiation of AD from non-AD group. Conclusion Combinations of imaging findings can serve as useful additive diagnostic tools in the assessment of cognitive decline.

• Annual Conference on Human and Language Technology
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• 1998.10c
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• pp.186-190
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• 1998

정상 피험자에 있어서 수행 성적의 차이를 보이는 음소적 단어 생성과 의미적 단어생성에 관련한 대뇌 피질의 활동양상의 차이를 밝히기 위해 피험자에게 단어 생성의 과제를 주면서 기능적 자기공명 영상술(functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI)을 시행하였다. 모두 7명의 정상인에서 음소 단서에 의한 단어생성은 의미 범주 단어에 의한 단어생성보다 광범위한 피질 영역의 활성화를 보였는데, 특히 bilateral posteroinferior temporal cortices, left premotor cortex, right cerebellum, bilateral superior parietal lobules에서 더 높은 활성화를 보였다. 이에 반하여 의미적 단어생성은 주로 bilateral posterior cingulate gyri에서 더 높은 활성화를 보였다. 이런 결과는 음소적 생성은 가능한 자모를 조합하여 어휘를 생성한 후 작업기억에 일시 저장시켜 놓고 verbal rehearsal 과정을 사용하여 단어 여부를 판별하는 것을 시사하며, 의미적 생성은 mental imagery를 통하여 시각적 인출 단서를 찾은 후, 의미 기억으로부터 단어를 직접 인출하는 것으로 보인다.