A basic but impossible brain system can distinguish between reality and imagination. New research has found that the fusform may have a “dial” that can affect whether we explain some sensory as real or imagination. Research published in journal NeuronLike it also gives new understanding of situations Mental disorderWhere the perception and idea is not properly distinguished, researchers lead to concluding that this threshold system is important for normal feeling and sensory decision making.
Brain distinguishes reality from imagination using the signal limit in the visual processing field
As Report In live science, from researchers University College London Used functional MRI to investigate Brain activity In 26 volunteers, as he saw or imagined diagonal lines on a noise screen. Half time, lines were real; The rest of the time, the participants were asked to imagine the lines, either in matching or different from visual signals. When conceived scenes were aligned with expected inputs, participants were more likely to report “seen”, even when nothing was displayed, brain sensitivity is being cheated by strong internal signs.
The scan showed that both real and imagination stimuli activated the fusform gyrus, but only when the activity exceeded a specific intensity, the brain classified the input as “real”. This discovery suggests that a limit in this brain region helps determine the perception of reality. In particular, the anterior insula-one area that is associated with decision making-and is also active in the leading, possibly serves as the “reader” of the signal strength of the fusiform.
Lead writer Nadin Discastra said that while imagination stimulates the same area, this sign is usually very weak to explain the brain of the external input. This technique is basic that it can help us understand more Sad dream And other mental health issues that change our way of viewing.
Experts say that the study paves the way for further complex visual and further research with multimodal integration of the real world. The group wants to investigate how people see face, animals and things. They are also curious if applying brain stimulation may be the way to enhance imagined perception. Thomas Paes, a neuroscientist who was not associated with research, said that the conclusion was a big step towards finding out how the reality monitoring works and how it cannot work in cases like schizophrenia.