IT'S POSIBLE
01/09/2021
Is it possible to distinguish the brain of left-handed people from that of right-handed people by observing their brain activity in response to stimuli or when performing tasks? This question is important, not only from the perspective of basic neurology but also from the perspective of various practical applications, such as brain-computer interfaces, robotics for the rehabilitation of injured people, and augmented reality systems. For several years now, the team consisting of, among others, Jinung An and Sang Hyeon Jin, both from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) in South Korea, has been actively conducting fundamental research to answer these questions about right-handed and left-handed. The initial goal of these scientists was to find a method to objectively evaluate haptic devices, which provide tactile feedback by simulating textures and surfaces, based on the brain-level responses of users, both right-handed and left-handed. In the sensory field, haptic technology is related to the sense of touch, just as optical technology is related to the sense of sight. In a previous study, researchers had found that right-handed brains responded differently than left-handers when performing complicated manipulation tasks. Explained in a simplified way: when a right-hander uses his right hand, specific areas within the left cerebral hemisphere are activated; conversely, when you use your left hand, you use a much larger area that encompasses both hemispheres of the brain. Surprisingly, this asymmetry turned out to be much more pronounced in right-handed than left-handed. In the new research, An and his colleagues found that this right-handed asymmetry was also evident during passive tactile stimulation of the fingers. They used a technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy to non-invasively monitor changes in the oxygenation of red blood cells in the brain, reflecting their local activation patterns. The results indicate that it is feasible to distinguish between the left-handed brain and the right-handed brain with no help other than brain observation and passive touch. The technique used reveals functional differences in the cerebral cortex. These results are also important in the development of cognitive enhancement treatments for autism and in artificial intelligence techniques that are based on mimicking the brain. Furthermore, this approach could mark a before and after in the advancement of various haptic technologies. (Source: NCYT from Amazings)
