Dr. Martin Pyka Section of BrainImaging Department of Psychiatry Philipps-University Marburg Rudolf-Bultmann-Str. 8 35039 Marburg Phone: 06421-58 65076 Email: martin.pyka@med.uni-marburg.de → Website

PhD in 2010

Functional Properties of the Default Mode Network

In recent years, the study of the brain at rest has gained increased attention in functional neuroimaging, as this state usually serves as baseline for event-related designs and differential contrasts in block-design experiments. Previous studies have shown that the medial parietal cortex, the bilateral inferior parietal cortex, the medial frontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral frontal regions represent a highly correlated network in the low-frequency range (0.01-0.1 Hz) of the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal. This network is more activated during rest and during passive sensory and visual processing than during the performance of goal-directed and cognitively demanding tasks. Activation of this so-called default-mode network (DMN) has been associated with processing intrinsically generated signals representing self-referential thoughts, mind-wandering, internal monitoring, visuo-spatial imagery and episodic memory retrieval. Functional properties of the DMN are affect by age and several neuro-psychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. In his PhD thesis, Martin Pyka investigated the functional impact of cognitive processes on subsequent resting periods and the development of new methods for a time-resolved analysis of the network.

Prof. Dr. Volker Arolt
Prof. Dr. Norbert Sachser
Prof. Dr. Markus Lappe

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