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Date of Award
Spring 2013
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Major
Neuroscience
First Advisor
Dan Lloyd
Second Advisor
Sarah Raskin
Third Advisor
N/A
Abstract
Investigations into functional brain architecture using resting-state data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are becoming increasingly common. To date, a series of ten resting-state networks (RSNs) have been elucidated from fMRI resting-state data that are consistent in form and function across the set of examined subjects, however generally subject samples have been small and relatively homogenous. Cognitive neuroscience often operates on the assumption that neural substrates for perception and cognition will show relatively small inter-subject variation. However, a long history of cultural psychology and the emerging field of intercultural neuroscience suggest that there may be significant linguistically and culturally dependent variation in the functional architecture of the brain. To my knowledge, this study is the first cross-cultural examination of RSN form and function. The data used was acquired from American adolescents at the New York University Child Study Center, and Chinese adolescents at Peking University, and has been made publically available through the Neuroinformatics Tools and Resource Clearinghouse (nitrc.org). The data show significant differences in RSN time-courses in the auditory RSN and the default mode RSN. This suggests there may be a linguistically or culturally related difference in low-level auditory processing and perception between the American and Chinese cohorts. Further research is needed to determine the extent and significance of these differences in the auditory RSN and default mode.
Recommended Citation
Zimmerman, Jared P., "An Investigation into Cultural and Linguistic Effects on Resting-State Brain Architecture". Senior Theses, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 2013.
Trinity College Digital Repository, https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/theses/321
Comments
Senior thesis completed at Trinity College for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. Access to full-text is limited to the campus only.