Background: Activation of specific brain areas has been correlated with processing and storage of information. Several theories compete on how and where visual recognition of faces and objects takes place in the human brain. Prior studies have shown a general pattern of activation for faces and various objects. We explored whether specific three-dimensional patterns of brain activation during fMRI can be correlated with the functional storage and conceptual representation of specific visual stimuli. Methods: Three-dimensional representations of brain activation data were constructed from functional MRI of normal subjects viewing human faces and objects. Data were pooled across viewing individuals and compared on a test face or object basis. Results: Three-dimensional representations of visual stimuli in form and shape, which we termed Cognitive Engrams (CE), for various faces and objects appeared to be unique and not overlapping. A two-way correlation may be performed.Conclusions: CEs, as determined by fMRI, may correlate with specific concepts, and therefore, may be representative of actual memory patterns. Background Although much information has been gathered concerning the storage and processing of information in the human brain, much remains unknown. Recent advances in neuroimaging have increased our understanding of human neuroanatomy (Prabhakaran 2000). Functional neuroimaging, particularly using Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD: Bandettini et al 1992) response of MRI (functional MRI, or fMRI), PET scans, Magneto-Encephalography, and other techniques have advanced our understanding of the brain's cognitive processing of information and memory (Rugg 2002; Binder 1999; Courtney 1998). The study of cognition - the nature of various mental tasks and the processes that enable them to be performed - has made great conceptual advances. Herein is described a conceptual basis for cognitive processing, and a methodologic framework to understand how and where concepts (persons, places, objects, agendas, intents) are stored. For the purposes of this article, a Cognitive Engram (CE) refers to a representation of the three-dimensional region of the brain wherein neurophysiologic changes occur that reflect the function for storage and processing of specific memory elements / thoughts. In this paper, CEs are described, their significance is explored, and methods to monitor them are presented. Methods All research was conducted within an IRB-approved clinical protocol: “Use of Functional MR Imaging to Develop a Correlative Library of Activation Patterns Which Represent Visual Perception of Faces, H-002.”
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机译：背景：特定大脑区域的激活与信息的处理和存储相关。关于在人脑中如何识别面部和物体的视觉识别以及在何处进行视觉识别，有几种理论相互竞争。先前的研究已经表明了激活面部和各种物体的一般模式。我们探讨了功能磁共振成像期间大脑激活的特定三维模式是否可以与特定视觉刺激的功能存储和概念表示相关。方法：从正常人的功能性MRI（观察人脸和物体）构建大脑激活数据的三维表示。将数据汇总到查看的个人中，并在测试面孔或对象的基础上进行比较。结果：视觉刺激的形式和形状的三维表示，我们称为认知字母（CE），用于各种面部和物体似乎是唯一的并且不重叠。可以执行双向关联。结论：由fMRI确定的CE可能与特定概念相关，因此可以代表实际的存储模式。背景技术尽管已经收集了许多有关人脑中信息的存储和处理的信息，但仍有许多未知。神经影像学的最新进展增加了我们对人类神经解剖学的理解（Prabhakaran 2000）。功能性神经影像学，特别是使用血氧水平依赖性（BOLD：Bandettini等人，1992）的MRI（功能性MRI或fMRI）反应，PET扫描，磁脑图和其他技术，使我们对大脑对信息和信息的认知处理有了更深入的了解。记忆力（Rugg 2002; Binder 1999; Courtney 1998）。对认知的研究-各种心理任务的性质以及使它们得以执行的过程-在概念上取得了长足的进步。本文描述了认知处理的概念基础，以及了解概念（人，地方，对象，议程，意图）的存储方式和方法的方法框架。出于本文的目的，认知英语（CE）表示大脑三维区域的代表，其中发生神经生理变化，反映出特定记忆元件/思想的存储和处理功能。在本文中，描述了CE，探讨了它们的重要性，并提出了监控它们的方法。方法所有研究均在IRB批准的临床方案内进行：“使用功能性MR成像开发相关的激活模式库，该库代表面部的视觉感知，H-002。”
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