Scan shows how future brain sketches

Certain brain regions work positively when we think about the future. Brain scans have given American scientists a clue about how we create a mental image of our own future.

The University of Washington team says specific brain regions become flexible when thinking about upcoming events. The National Institute of Science research record can help doctors trying to find out about the damage caused by stroke, injury or disease.

(Photo: BBC) Findings that match the damage seen in the brains of patients who have lost their ability to ' think ahead '.

The brain is still a part of the least known body but the use of endoscopic cases using MRI (using strong magnetic fields) to test their form of activity has become popular in the years. recently.

When patients and volunteers are put into MRI scanners and asked to think or move in a specific way, what specific areas " light up " on the endoscopic image, corresponding to electrical activity are increase in those areas.

This technique has grown to the point where scientists can almost know what patients are thinking simply by looking at the brain areas they are using.

The latest work examines one of the most unique characteristics in humans - the ability to create a mental picture of events that have yet to take place.

The researchers brought 21 volunteers into the MRI scanner, then compared the endoscopic results when they were asked to vividly imagine future events and when asked to recall them. past memories.

The brain has been activated

(Photo: BBC)

The captured images show clear differences between a birthday that has gone through and a birthday yet to come.

In particular, when looking forward, three specific brain areas are activated - the cortex of the motor nerve to the left, the left quadrilateral lobe, the right cerebellum.

These brain areas are known to be involved in visualizing body movements, suggesting that when the human brain thinks about the future, it also envisions aspects of movement and action. specifically that will take place at that time.

Tests from other studies include the activity of the brain involved in swinging the arms when volunteers are asked to think about playing baseball.

The results are closely related to other studies of patients with brain damage in nearly identical areas and are unable to imagine future events.

Researchers write: 'Perhaps one of the most adaptive capabilities of the human mind is the ability to create activities when anticipating future results. Many of our everyday thoughts depend on our ability to imagine that we are participating in future events. '

However, they made it clear that more research is needed to know exactly how the brain works when thinking about the future.

Thien Kim