Dear Users

This Thursday (starting 4 pm in B020, Department of Psychology) Dr. Mark Woolrich from the Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity will give a talk on "Fast transient networks in spontaneous brain activity".

Abstract: In recent years interest has grown in the study of networks of functionally specific brain regions, principally through the use of functional MRI on the resting brain. Resting state brain networks have also been independently identified in magentoencephalography (MEG) data by looking at correlations in the power of oscillations in specific frequency bands [Brookes et al., PNAS, 2011]. However, the mechanisms and dynamics underlying resting-state brain activity remain under debate. In this talk I will present a two-pronged approach to investigating spontaneous brain activity using MEG. First, the use of a novel hidden Markov model approach to identify resting state brain networks that switch on the order of 100ms, much faster than has previously been reported. Second, the use of computational network models, based on anatomical white matter connectivity, that can simulate functional connectivity characteristics similar to those seen in real MEG data.

Everyone is welcome to attend and refreshments will be served in the C block reception afterwards.

We will be taking Mark out for dinner after his talk. Please let me know if you would like to join us.

Best wishes Rebecca