Britta Hahn Talk
Date & Time
Jun 08, 2007
from
10:45 AM to
11:45 AM
Location
CMB Large Conference Room
Description
“Attention, nicotine, and the default network of resting brain function”
Dr. Britta Hahn
NIH/NIDA
Friday, June 8th, 2007
Center for Mind and Brain
Large Conference Room
10:45am - 11:45am
Abstract: In this talk, I will present the results of several fMRI studies designed to dissociate different processes of visuospatial attention and to characterize the effects of nicotine thereon. Employing parametric manipulation of bottom-up and top-down processes of attentional resource allocation, distinct networks of brain regions were identified as being engaged by these functions. Nicotine improved attentional performance and induced or enhanced deactivation in neuroanatomical structures that are part of the so-called “default” network of resting brain function. These regions typically deactivate with the onset of external task demands and are thought to be continuously active in the absence of specific goal-directed activity, maintaining task-independent thought processes. Greater default deactivations were associated with greater performance effects of nicotine. Nicotine may facilitate the shift from task-independent thought to externally oriented signal processing. Controls for possible direct neurovascular effects of nicotine were performed.
For questions or additional assistance please contact Noelle Blalock at (530)297-4452 or nsblalock@ucdavis.edu
Free parking availible.
