在日常生活中，有效的控制當下的認知活動與行為，經常與我們的生存及安全息息相關。 已有許多研究發現，衝動控制的功能與注意力不足及過動症、物質成癮與濫用、衝動暴力行 為等諸多臨床疾病具有相當大的關聯。雖然研究已經顯示與衝動控制有關的腦區與網絡，但 目前針對衝動控制網絡中腦區之間的交互影響，以及導致成功或較差的衝動控制的因素的探 討比較缺乏。 本計畫擬深入研究不同大腦區域如何形成複雜的網絡結構以管控衝動控制。我們規劃使 用動態因果模型（Dynamic Causal Modeling）、希爾伯特黃轉換（Hilbert-Huang Transform）等 不同的腦電波訊號分析方式，並配合新穎之重複性（陣發型）跨顱磁刺激（theta burst TMS） 與配對脈衝式跨顱磁刺激（paired-pulse TMS）等神經刺激的相關實驗程序，並配合具高空間 解析度的功能性磁振造影（fMRI），以全面性地探討衝動控制能力背後的神經網絡與動態連 結。 這些研究成果將有助揭示不同大腦區域在不同共振頻率與特定認知活動中，如何成功且 連貫地建構出衝動控制的神經機制。我們同時將執行腦電波與跨顱磁刺激的整合性實驗，精 細地從腦電波資料中辨識與衝動控制相關的神經標記，進而尋求是否可利用神經調節技術， 以釐清衝動控制的神經運作歷程並促進衝動控制的效率。 我們的核心目標在於釐清大腦神經網絡於衝動控制的神經機制，建立出一套更客觀及有 效解讀腦電波訊號的方法，設計出嚴謹可靠的跨顱磁刺激應用程序，藉此找出增進大腦神經 可塑性的刺激參數，從而更深入地了解大腦神經網絡，並尋求改善人類因衝動控制障礙而衍 生之疾病與相關社會問題的方法。 ;inhibitory control of an ongoing or planned action in a given situation is critical for human’s survival. Deficits in inhibitory control have been associated with a range of clinical disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as impulsive violent behaviors including substance abuse and addiction. Although previous studies have implicated a network of regions that are involved in inhibitory control, what is lacking in the current literature is a close examination of the dynamic interaction among these different brain regions and the factors that lead to successful or poor inhibitory control. In this proposal, we aim to take a more holistic approach to study the neural dynamics behind inhibitory control by probing the interactions between different brain regions within the inhibitory network. Specifically, this can be achieved via the use of various novel EEG analysis methods such as Dynamic Causal Modeling and Hilbert-Huang Transform, several transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) based protocols including theta burst TMS and paired-pulse TMS among others, and spatially reliable techniques including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The five series of studies we propose may reveal how different brain areas operate at different frequencies as well as in an event specific manner to facilitate successful inhibitory control as one coherent network. We also plan to combine EEG and several variants of TMS methods to identify additional EEG components or neural markers of successful inhibitory control, and see if such signature process in the brain can be maximized via neuro-modulatory techniques in adults. Our aim is to clarify the human brain neural network and the underlying mechanism during inhibitory control, in hope to provide objective measurements and understanding of the EEG signal, and to develop reliable TMS protocols to facilitate neuroplasticity in human.
