{"id":181491,"date":"2023-08-08T08:51:15","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T18:51:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=181491"},"modified":"2023-08-08T08:51:15","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T18:51:15","slug":"brain-and-behavior-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/08\/08\/brain-and-behavior-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"How does our brain work? <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> lab performing cutting-edge brain, behavior research"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_45718\"  width=\"676\" height=\"676\"  data-origwidth=\"676\" data-origheight=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PEtxOZO415c?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"How does our brain work? 糖心Vlog官方 lab performing cutting-edge brain, behavior research\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p>From aiding in recovery for patients with neurologic damage to analyzing the long-term brain effects of COVID-19, the University of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brainandbehaviorlab.com\/\">Brain and Behavior Lab<\/a> is at the forefront of deepening our understanding of the brain and how it impacts our behaviors.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_181493\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-181493\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-brain-lab-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"person wearing a device with red lights sitting in front of a computer\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-181493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-brain-lab-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-brain-lab-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-brain-lab.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-181493\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Inside the lab&#8217;s electroencephalograph<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The lab features state-of-the-art equipment, including an 72-channel electroencephalograph that measures electrical activity in the brain; functional magnetic resonance imaging that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygenation; and transcranial direct current stimulation\u2014low, direct current delivered via electrodes on the head to help patients with brain injuries or neuropsychiatric conditions.<\/p>\n<p>The <abbr title=\"University of Hawaii\">糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> lab is also one of the first in the country to use new technology called optically pumped magnetometry, which gives researchers a sharper image of brain activity, which is critical when we want to understand the brain.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Understanding how the mind works and finding better tools to measure how our minds and our brains are not performing is critical to be able to understand them and to be able to do something about it,&rdquo; said Jonas Vibell, lab director and assistant professor in the <a href=\"https:\/\/psychology.manoa.hawaii.edu\/\">Department of Psychology<\/a> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/socialsciences.manoa.hawaii.edu\/\">College of Social Sciences<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Investigating COVID-19 brain fog<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_181495\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-181495\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-kyra-gauthierdickey-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"person smiling holding up a brain model\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-181495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-kyra-gauthierdickey-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-kyra-gauthierdickey-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-kyra-gauthierdickey.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-181495\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kyra GauthierDickey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Vibell\u2019s team of approximately 10 students (undergraduate and graduate) are currently working on several projects, including one that is investigating the effects of COVID-19 on the brain. According to Vibell, many people who have contracted COVID-19 have reported experiencing brain fog. Through a nearly $40,000 grant from the <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <a href=\"https:\/\/ssri.manoa.hawaii.edu\/\">Social Science Research Institute<\/a>, Vibell\u2019s team will investigate the brain\u2019s neuronal latencies to figure out why those who have contracted COVID-19 have reported experiencing brain fog. The researchers are currently recruiting volunteers to be part of the study. Anyone interested can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brainandbehaviorlab.com\/contact\">email the lab through its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It\u2019s really exciting and it really feels like we\u2019re on the forefront of science,&rdquo; said Kyra GauthierDickey, a Brain and Behavior Lab member and <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa psychology <abbr title=\"Doctor of Philosophy\">PhD<\/abbr> student. &ldquo;Had I not been in this lab, I would have no idea that these kinds of fascinating projects are being created. To be able to work on something that has a local impact, it feels good.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2>Cutting-edge research<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_181497\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-181497\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-jonas-vibell-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"person with a blue shirt\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-181497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-jonas-vibell-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-jonas-vibell-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/manoa-social-sciences-jonas-vibell.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-181497\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jonas Vibell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Vibell also noted that studies of the brain have greatly influenced artificial intelligence (<abbr>AI<\/abbr>), where <abbr>AI<\/abbr> programming tries to mimic brain scans of how neurons are connected in the visual cortex (primary region of the brain that receives, integrates and processes visual information relayed from the retinas).<\/p>\n<p>Aside from the COVID-19 study, GauthierDickey is focused on advancing classic brain experiments, such as the Posner Task that measures attention, into virtual reality. The 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo alumna said that traditional lab experiments previously used <abbr>2D<\/abbr> stimuli. She is interested in analyzing the results of 3D stimuli on human subjects to see how the added dimension is expressed in the brain.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Even though we\u2019re a small lab on <span aria-label=\"Oahu\">O&#699;ahu<\/span>, we do have a global impact and influence,&rdquo; GauthierDickey said. &ldquo;I think that <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> can continue to grow as a scientific hub that\u2019s internationally connected. I want to encourage everyone, especially our <span aria-label=\"kamaaina\">kama&#699;\u0101ina<\/span>, to explore their curiosity and interest in science.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2>Community involvement<\/h2>\n<p>The Brain and Behavior Lab, which is located in both the <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Biomedical Sciences building and Sakamaki Hall, partners with the <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <a href=\"https:\/\/jabsom.hawaii.edu\/\">John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> and the Queen\u2019s Medical Center on research projects. Vibell\u2019s team also regularly visits local high schools to get students involved in <abbr>STEM<\/abbr> research. And, as research projects require participants, Vibell encourages anyone from the general public to email the lab if they are interested in becoming part of a study.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Just like computers get better every 10 years, so do brain cameras,&rdquo; Vibell said. &ldquo;We can see things much, much clearer than we used to and this enables us to answer some of the questions, even some of the questions that have been asked for thousands of years. Based on these new abilities to see things I think we stand before quite a revolution, and the impact that this will have in the next five to 10 years will be dramatic in many fields.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;By <em>Marc Arakaki<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jonas Vibell\u2019s team of approximately 10 students are currently working on several projects, including one that is investigating the effects of COVID-19 on the brain. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,12],"tags":[301,1411,31,1363,637,1026,916,9,56],"class_list":["post-181491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","category-video","tag-college-of-social-sciences","tag-covid-19","tag-john-a-burns-school-of-medicine","tag-manoa-research","tag-psychology","tag-social-science","tag-social-science-research-institute","tag-uh-manoa","tag-video-2","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181491","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=181491"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181491\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":181503,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181491\/revisions\/181503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=181491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=181491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=181491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}