KR20190050185A - Fear memory erasure method and apparatus using neuromodulation and brain imaging of user - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fear memory extinction method and a fear memory extinction device using neuromodulation and a user′s brain image. The fear memory extinction method analyzes a user′s brain image to identify a region of interest in the deep brain which is associated with a fear memory imprinted in the brain by the user′s experience, and stimulates the region of interest in the deep brain by means of an electrode, thereby extinguishing a fear memory imprinted in the brain.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for clearing fear memory using a neural control technique and a user's brain image,

The present invention relates to a neural control technique and a method of erasing a fear memory using a user's brain image. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of erasing a fear memory imprinted on a brain through a user's experience using neural control and a user's brain image And a method of erasing the fear memory.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a syndrome of mental or physical symptoms that can occur after a person experiences a shocking event. This post-traumatic stress disorder is a traumatic event that can be frequently experienced directly or indirectly in modern society. Even after experiencing a traumatic event, the traumatic event recurs repeatedly, resulting in continuous psychological distress, impaired emotional regulation and cognitive ability It is reported that patients with posttraumatic stress disorder have abnormal structures or functions of the brain regions involved in fear response and fear memory.

In addition, it is known that posttraumatic stress disorder is caused by an abnormal phenomenon in the brain tissue responsible for fear memory because the trauma event learned by the object which did not cause fear is imprinted on the user's brain.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and drug treatment have been proposed as methods for treating such post-traumatic stress disorder.

Drug therapy works by eliminating the imbalance of neurotransmitters in the body of drugs by injecting drugs to reduce the anxiety and airport of the person experiencing trauma. However, such a drug treatment takes a certain period of time before the human body adapts to the drug in the early stage of taking it, and side effects are caused by taking the drug. The longer the drug is taken for a person, the greater the frequency of dependence on the drug and the greater the dosage due to tolerance. In addition, since the drug has different components depending on the symptoms appearing in the person due to the trauma event, the medication may interfere with the daily life due to the concentration and the dysfunction due to the high dose and the large dose. Most of all, post-traumatic stress disorder is known to be a disease of the brain, whereas ordinary drug therapy has a drawback in that it is not a brain-specific treatment because it affects not only the brain but also other body organs.

Cognitive behavior therapy, also called stress inoculation training, is a method of changing beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, and techniques to behavior by positively altering the person experiencing trauma events, Prevent emotional reactions and mental disorders to trauma events. However, these cognitive behavioral treatments need to grasp the thoughts and behaviors of the traumatic events that they feel, and must themselves be aware of the effects on other people from their thought and actions. Therefore, if the problem is identified and clarification and cognition are not achieved, this treatment method may recognize the trauma event more greatly.

Recently, it has been known that it has the effect of restoring the function of patients suffering from depression or stroke by directly or indirectly activating or inhibiting specific brain regions through long-term strengthening and long-term inhibition of the cranial nervous system by using neuromodulation technique. This neuromodulation technique is different from brain deep stimulation which directly stimulates the deep part of the brain through brain surgery. In the usual way, it transmits electric or magnetic stimulus to the head in a non-invasive manner Is known as a treatment method. However, in contrast to deep brain stimulation, which stimulates the deep brain area to the present, the area of the brain that can be directly stimulated through neuromodulation is usually limited to the cortical area. Therefore, it is highly related to the onset of post- It is necessary to have a technique to indirectly stimulate the hippocampus and one side, which are the backbone of the fear circuit in the brain. In addition, the brain is different in the location and size of the brain, depending on the human being, and there is a difference in the state of the nerve connection. Thus, in administering neuroleptic treatment to a person, a more careful selection should be made about the area of the brain to be stimulated.

Therefore, in order to treat a mental disorder of a person who experienced a trauma event, the position of the brain is discretely accurately detected and stimulated abnormally by the traumatic event, and it is involved in the onset of the post-traumatic stress disorder A more accurate method of controlling the deep region of the brain is needed.

The present invention can provide a fear memory erasing method that indirectly adjusts the abnormal fear response of the brain by applying neural control to a specific part of the brain deep part in order to erase the fear memory imprinted on the brain by the user's experience .

In applying the noninvasive neuromodulation technique, the present invention combines multimodal brain magnetic resonance imaging to apply the amygdala, hippocampus, It is possible to provide a fear memory erasing method that directly or indirectly stimulates the user.

The present invention can provide a fear memory erasing method that efficiently erases the fear memory through activation and suppression of the deep brain region by directly or indirectly stimulating the amygdala and hippocampus, which control the fear memory.

 According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of erasing a fear memory, comprising: acquiring a brain image of a user to identify a region of interest of the brain stem related to fear memory imprinted on the brain by a user's experience; Determining the strength of the neuromodulation using the connectivity information about the cortex-subcortical region, which may be differently formed according to the aspect of the user's fear memory, according to the position and the connectivity information to which the patch or the electrode is attached to the user; And erasing the brain memory imprinted horror memory by stimulating a region of interest in the deep brain region via a patch or electrode attached to the determined location.

The step of acquiring the user's brain image according to one embodiment includes the steps of 1) T1-weighted image reflecting the relaxation time between the deep part of the brain, 2) diffusion tensor image (DTI : Diffusion Tensor Imaging) and 3) resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) for the deep brain area.

The step of determining a position according to an exemplary embodiment may determine a position using a user's cortical area map based on a T1 weighted image.

The cortical area map according to an exemplary embodiment may be a map indicating the precise location of the cortical area having a high structural linkability and functional connectivity with the region of interest of the brain deep part and the degree of connectivity between the subcortical structure and the cortex of the deep brain part.

The structural connectivity according to an exemplary embodiment may be determined by analyzing the diffusion tensor image and analyzing the localization of the cortex having connectivity with the subcortical structure of the brain deep part and the nerve bundle connecting the sub- And intensity information, which is expressed in terms of the number and density.

The functional connectivity according to one embodiment is analyzed by analyzing the functional magnetic resonance imaging of the resting state, and localization of the cerebral cortex area correlated with the activity of the subcortical structure of the brain deep part, And intensity information indicating a correlation index of activity between cortical structures.

The step of erasing the brain memory imprinted in the brain according to an embodiment stimulates the brain cortex area based on the area information of the structural connectivity, the intensity information and the area information of the functional connectivity and the intensity information, The degree of activation can be indirectly controlled to clear fear memory.

A fear memory erasure apparatus according to an embodiment, comprising a processor, the processor being adapted to acquire the user's brain image to identify a region of interest in the brain stem associated with fear memory imprinted in the brain by the user's experience And determines the position to which the patch or electrode is attached to the user by using the connectivity information about the cortex-cortical region differently formed according to the pattern of fear memory imprinted on the user, The degree of the liquor can be quantified and the fear region imprinted on the brain can be erased by stimulating the region of interest of the brain deep region through the patch or electrode attached to the determined position.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method of erasing the fear memory is performed by applying a neuromodulation technique to a specific region of the brain cortex region to erase the brain memory imprinted by the user's experience, Which can be indirectly controlled by the abnormalities and activities of the subcortical region of the brain.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, in applying non-invasive neuromodulation, the fear memory-erasing method combines multiple brain magnetic resonance images to generate brain regions responsible for storage and erasure of fear memory, Can stimulate.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fear memory cancellation method can efficiently erase the fear memory through activation and suppression of the deep brain region by indirectly stimulating the amygdala and hippocampus, which are responsible for fear memory.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an entire configuration using a fear memory erase device to erase the fear memory imprinted on a user's brain according to an embodiment.
2 is a view for explaining an operation of determining a position to attach a patch or electrode according to an embodiment.
Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the structural and functional connectivity between the amygdala and the cortical area according to one embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an operation of stimulating a region of interest of the brain stem non-invasively according to an embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation in which the degree of activation for an area of interest of a brain stem is indirectly suppressed according to an embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a fear memory erasing method according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an entire configuration using a fear memory erase device to erase the fear memory imprinted on a user's brain according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the Foucauld memory erasure device 104 can use the neural control technique to stimulate the brain cortex area that manages the fear memory, thereby controlling the fear memory due to stimulation. Specifically, neuromodulation is a method of regulating the brain's nervous system by using dichotomous DC stimulation, transthoracic magnetic stimulation, etc. This is a long term potentiation (LTP) and long term depression (LTD) of the nervous system, To activate or inhibit a specific brain region directly or indirectly. Thus, the present invention can use the neuromodulation technique to control the function of the brain region associated with the elimination of fear memory.

Generally, the brain regions responsible for the formation and maintenance of the horror memory include the amygdala 101 and the hippocampus 102. In detail, the amygdala (101) is a brain stem that collectively manages emotional information as a collection of neuronal nuclei inside the temporal lobe, and can process information related to motivation, memory, attention, learning, and emotion.

In particular, the amygdala 101 processes emotions associated with fear, and can thus be critically involved in fear control, fear learning, and fear memory formation. And, the amygdala 101 can transmit fear-related information to other parts of the brain based on the learned fear memory, thereby causing a challenge or avoidance reaction to fear.

In addition, the hippocampus 102 is in contact with the upper side of the amygdala 101, can control long-term memory and spatial notions, emotional behavior, and fear conditioning can be established according to the horror memory stored in the hippocampus 102 for a long time . In other words, fear memory is a memory imprinted on the brain due to a situation that is not normally threatening, or fearful learning of the object, emotions due to fear memory detect danger in terms of self-defense, and actively avoiding actions Lt; / RTI >

However, fear memory imprinted on the brain for avoidance behavior for life support can be expressed as a mental symptom of the user due to sudden recognition in everyday life rather than fear. In other words, if a malfunction occurs in the amygdala 101 that controls fear memory, the user may experience anxiety, autism, discouragement, somnolence, post-traumatic stress disorder, fear, schizophrenia, and the like due to sudden external stimuli It can cause mental symptoms.

In detail, the formation and maintenance of fear memory plays a major role in the subcortex brain region including the amygdala and hippocampus, and the cortex region including the prefrontal and parietal lobes forms and sustains fear memory in the cortical brain region And the like.

Thus, the stage and intensity of fear memory can be determined by how effectively the cortical area can control the action of the sub-cortical area. Thus, the cortical areas including the amygdala and the hippocampus and the cortical areas with strong structural-functional connectivity may be different depending on the timing and intensity of fear memory, and individual differences.

For example, in individuals whose fear memory formation is effectively inhibited, the connectivity of the cerebral cortex area around the cortex and the prefrontal cortex including the amygdala may be strong. Conversely, in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder who experience repetitive and automatic fear of inhibition of fear memory formation, the connectivity of cortical areas including the amygdala and cortex areas around the prefrontal cortex may be very weak. Here, the brain cortex area having connectivity with the cortical-brain area may be slightly different depending on the individual.

The present invention extracts a brain cortex region having connectivity to the cortical brain region including the amygdala and the hippocampus and adjusts the intensity of the non-stimulation neural control depending on the degree of connectivity, Can be provided.

Thus, the cerebral cortex, including the prefrontal lobe, may play a role in inhibiting or regulating the formation and maintenance of panic memory in the subcortical brain region including the hippocampus and the amygdala. Therefore, when the function of the cortical area is activated, it can restrain or normalize the abnormal activation of the hippocampus and the amygdala through the structural and functional connectivity between the hippocampus and the amygdala. At this time, there are individual differences in the structural connectivity and functional connectivity between the cerebral cortex area, hippocampus and amygdala, and the functions of the brain cortex area also vary from person to person.

In order to alleviate mental symptoms caused by such fear memory, a neuromodulation technique for targeting an accurate brain cortical area having structural connectivity and functional connectivity between hippocampus and amygdala as described above is applied using the fear memory erasure device 102 . In other words, the phantom memory cancellation device 102 can stimulate the amygdala closely related to mental symptoms due to fear memory through neuromodulation. At this time, neural control is a noninvasive neuromodulation method, and it can not directly stimulate the amygdala located in the deep part of the brain. Accordingly, the fear memory erasing apparatus 104 proposed in the present invention stimulates a brain cortical region having direct connection with an amygdala located at the deep part of the brain, and as a result, the activity of the amygdala can be controlled. To this end, Multiple brain magnetic resonance imaging can be used.

Here, the multimodal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be a brain image obtained by photographing a deep part of the brain for intensively examining a specific region for eliminating the fear memory, that is, the amygdala and the hippocampus. The multiple brain magnetic resonance imaging may include T1-weighted images, DTI (Diffusion Tensor Imaging), and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI).

The T1-weighted image may be a reflection of the relaxation time between the deep part of the brain, the diffusion tensor image may be a visualized image of the nerve root of the brain, and the functional magnetic resonance image of the resting state may indicate the resting functional connection state It may be a displayed image.

The fear memory erasure device 104 may analyze the user's brain image (multi-brain magnetic resonance image) to determine the location 103 to which the user will attach the patch or electrode to the head surface. In other words, the fear memory erasing device 104 acquires and analyzes the brain image to confirm the connectivity between the brain area and the cortical area of the brain deep part related to the fear memory imprinted on the brain by the user's experience, Based on this information, the optimal location of the brain cortex that can be activated or inhibited can be selected and the location 103 about the precise cortical area to which the patch or electrode is attached to the user can be determined. The area of interest in the deep brain tissue may correspond to the amygdala 101 or the hippocampus 102, which is located in the deep brain region and controls fear memory. The details will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, the pole position determination through the fear cancellation device 104 has the following steps. It is possible to acquire multiple brain magnetic resonance imaging data of each individual to which the stimulation apparatus is to be applied considering the differences among individuals. At this time, the present invention can select the cerebral cortex area having the highest connectivity with the amygdala and hippocampus of the deep part of the brain in the order of high correlation index through structural connectivity and functional connectivity analysis based on brain image data. In other words, the present invention can prioritize the brain cortical areas that are simultaneously established in structural connectivity and functional connectivity.

Here, T1-weighted images with good spatial resolution are required to accurately determine the location of the cortical area having characteristics for each user. In other words, the present invention can register a deep brain tissue stimulated cortical area map specific to each user by registering with a T1 weighted image having a high spatial resolution (or a good spatial resolution). That is, the fear memory erasure device 104 optimizes the connectivity information in the diffusion tensor image, the resting state functional magnetic resonance image, and the information analysis of the T1 weighted image, A cortical area map optimized for the user can be generated. The cortical area map generated through this process includes a stimulus position, a brain map showing the state of the neural connection and the reaction state such as the tissue position and size of the different brain according to the user, and a map capable of grasping the user's brain activity Can be utilized. In addition, the cortical area map can indicate the precise location of the structural link or functional link with the region of interest in the deep brain region. Details will be described with reference to FIG.

In other words, each area of the brain cortex is involved in the entire human cognitive domain, such as subjective cognition and memory. In addition, depending on the location of each region, the connectivity of the deep brain region with other areas of the brain is different, and the specific psychological function or physical function can be controlled through this difference. Ultimately, the precise location of the brain cortex and the connectivity between the brain regions may vary depending on the individual user, and this should be considered particularly important to select non-invasive brain stimulation locations.

Accordingly, the present invention can determine a position 103 that can stimulate a region of interest (anisotropy) of the deep brain of the brain using a cortical area map showing the features of the brain deep part that varies depending on the user.

The fear memory erasing device 104 can indirectly stimulate the region of interest of the deep brain region through a patch or electrode attached to the determined location to erase the brain memory imprinted fear memory. The fear memory-erasing device 104 can effectively erase the horror memory by activating and suppressing the deep brain area, such as an amygdala, via a patch or electrode.

Here, the degree of the stimulus transmitted through the electrodes of the attached patches can be determined according to the degree of structural connectivity and functional connectivity. To this end, the present invention constitutes a standard group for each age, sex, and race, and standardizes the structural connectivity and functional connectivity of the amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex areas and then ranks them as a percentage, The strength information of each connectivity can be determined.

The present invention can be used as an additional factor in determining the degree of stimulation for neural control by indexing the determined strength of each of the structural connectivity and functional connectivity. In one embodiment, the present invention measures the structural connectivity and functional connectivity of the amygdala, hippocampus and cortical area of a subject in their twenties, female, and Asian, and converts each measured intensity to a percentage value in a standard population have. Thereafter, the present invention is applied to the upper 80th percentile based on the converted percentage value, and if the connectivity is weaker than that of the normal, the intensity of the neural control technique, i.e., the stimulus level, can be increased by 8% within the permitted range.

2 is a view for explaining an operation of determining a position to attach a patch or electrode according to an embodiment.

The fear memory erasing device proposed in the present invention analyzes a brain image of a user and can determine a position to attach a patch or an electrode to a user.

2 (a) shows the accurate location of the region of interest in the deep brain of the brain related to the fear memory imprinted on the brain by the user's experience through the analysis of the functional magnetic resonance image of the diffusion tensor image and the resting state , Which corresponds to the T1-weighted image of the acquired brain image. T1-weighted images can be images in which the radio-frequency radiation emitted to the body resonates the hydrogen nuclei in the body region and images the difference in signals from each resonant tissue. T1-weighted images are the images reflecting the relaxation time between the deep brain areas, showing the highest signal in adipose tissue, and low signal intensity in the order of white matter, gray matter, cerebrospinal fluid, and skull.

Although T1-weighted images do not provide direct information on functional connectivity and structural connectivity, they provide a high spatial resolution (less than 1 mm) for the region of interest in the brain cortex extracted through diffusion-tensor imaging and functional magnetic resonance imaging . In addition, it is possible to select the location of non-invasive neural stimulation precisely.

Based on the T1 - weighted image, the FELM can determine the precise location of the electrode or patch outside the skull using a map of the cortical area that shows connectivity between the deep brain structure of the user and the brain cortex. The cortical area map may be a map showing the degree of connectivity of the subcortical structure and cortex of the deep brain area with the location of the cortical area with high structural connectivity and functional connectivity with the area of interest in the deep brain area. And, the fear memory erase device can determine the exact position of the electrode or patch based on the cortical area map.

Referring to FIG. 2 (b), the fear memory erasure device has a function of erasing the fear memory to minimize the psychological or physical pain caused by the repeatedly recurring event after experiencing the event, Can be determined. In detail, the user's brain can detect a 'danger signal', and transmit an 'alert signal' to the brain, the nervous system, or the entire body of the danger. These alert signals are managed in the amygdala of the brain, and the behavior of the user can be expressed to an emotional and instinctive level depending on whether the amygdala is activated or not.

In other words, if the user is afraid of fear memories imprinted on the brain, the amygdala inhibits all activities of the brain and activates only the instinctive, impulsive areas of fear memory, so that the user may experience panic, anxiety, The same behavior can occur. At this time, the amygdala can maximize the excitement state of the user by suppressing activation of the upper level brain stem such as the frontal lobe coordinating thought and emotion.

When the frontal lobe is activated in the user's excited state, the activation frequency of the amygdala becomes low and the excited state of the user can be reduced. This can minimize the emotional / instinctual behavior and induce the user's rational / conscious behavior as the frontal lobe controls the user's thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

Finally, to control the emotions and impulses of the user, and to make rational thoughts and behaviors, smooth control must be established between the amygdala and the brain cortex, including the frontal lobe. Thus, when the instinctive region such as the limbic system of the brain is activated by the amygdala, the fear memory cancellation apparatus can cancel the user's fear memory by controlling the abnormal activity through the action of the frontal lobe and other cortical regions. However, the position and intensity of the cortical area including these amygdala and frontal lobes are different for each user. Due to these differences, the degree of expression of fear memory may vary from person to person.

Therefore, each time the fear memory anxiety occurs due to fear memory, the fear memory erasure device activates the brain cortex area including the frontal lobe in consideration of the specificity of the connectivity between the different regions of the brain cortex and the brain central region The user can determine where to attach the patch or electrode.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the structural and functional connectivity between the amygdala and the cortical area according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the FEL memory analyzer analyzes a user's brain image to determine a location where a patch or an electrode is to be attached to a user in a neuromodulation technique. Brain imaging may include emphasized imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and functional magnetic resonance imaging in the resting state.

Selection of the location to which the patch or electrode is to be attached, i.e., the area of interest of the brain to which the stimulus is applied, can be selected based on structural connectivity and functional connectivity information with the brain stem such as amygdala / hippocampus. The following methods can be used to select brain stimulation areas based on structural connectivity.

(1) How to use the number of nerve bundles

The present invention calculates the number of neural tracts between each cortical area for the amygdala / hippocampus through analysis of the diffusion tensor image obtained from each user, Can be sequentially selected.

(2) How to use the degree of connection of nerve bundles

The present invention is a method for acquiring structural connectivity information, which calculates the fractional anisotropy reflecting the degree of connection of the nerve bundle between the amygdala / hippocampus and each cortical region, thereby obtaining the brain cortex area having the highest nerve bundle fractional anisotropy Can be selected sequentially.

The present invention is based on the information of the brain cortex area selected through the two methods described above, by adding an indicator of ease of brain stimulation to the information of the brain cortex area (an index according to the degree to which a stimulation patch can be easily attached) , And brain stimulation regions based on structural connectivity. That is, the present invention can confirm the structural connectivity including 'area information' and 'intensity information' described below by analyzing the diffusion tensor image. At this time, the area information forming the structural connectivity is defined as the area of the cortex having connectivity with the subcortical structure of the brain, and the intensity information includes the number and density of the nerve bundles connecting the subcortical structure of the deep brain and each cortical area . ≪ / RTI >

The intensity information of structural connectivity can be determined differently depending on the number and density of nerve bundles. That is, the high number and density of nerve bundles connecting the brain cortical region may mean that stimulation to the region of interest in the deep brain region is easy even with low stimulation. Conversely, a low number and density of nerve bundles connecting the cerebral cortex can mean that stimulation to the area of interest in the deep brain area is not easy even with low stimuli. Accordingly, the present invention can set the intensity according to the connectivity of the nerve bundle between the region of interest and the brain cortex, that is, the degree of stimulation.

In addition, a method for selecting a brain stimulation region based on functional connectivity may be as follows. In detail, the selection of the brain stimulation region according to the functional connectivity can be selected through the functional magnetic resonance imaging analysis in the resting state. The present invention can measure the resting activity of the amygdala / hippocampus and measure the resting activity of each cortical area.

Theoretically, it is defined that the higher the correlation of the resting activity of each cortical region, the more functionally the two regions are connected. Based on this, the present invention can sequentially select a brain cortex area having an activity that appears as the highest correlation index with the resting activity of the amygdala / hippocampus. Further, the present invention is based on the information of the selected brain cortex area, thereby adding a convenience index of the brain stimulation to the brain cortex area (an index according to the degree to which a stimulation patch can be easily attached) Area can be selected.

That is, the present invention can confirm the functional connectivity including 'area information' and 'intensity information' described below by analyzing the functional magnetic resonance image in the resting state. Functional connectivity domain information can be defined as the area of the brain cortex with high activity correlated with the activity of subcortical structures in the deep brain. That is, when the activity of the cortical structure is increased to a similar degree to that of the cortical structures including the prefrontal cortex, parietal lobe and temporal lobe, that is, when the correlation index between the activities is high, the two structures (cortical structures and cortex Structure) can be judged to be high. Conversely, the activity of the cortical structures is high. If the activity of the cortical structures is low, the functional connectivity of the two structures is low. The strength information of the functional connectivity can be defined as the correlation index between the activities of the two structures by repeatedly measuring the activity of the two structures.

As a result, the brain memory area can be selected as the final brain cortex stimulus area at the same time as the brain memory area selected by the structural connectivity and the functional connectivity criterion.

In order to elaborate the precise location of the selected brain cortex area, the phoresis memory erasure device can construct a personalized cortical area map using a T1 weighted image represented by a high spatial resolution. Finally, the cortical area map shows the connectivity between the deep brain area and the brain cortex area, and can show structural and functional connectivity between the brain's area of interest and the brain cortex area.

Specifically, FIG. 3 (a) can be a diffusion tensor image of acquired brain images to identify a region of interest in the brain. Diffusion tensor imaging can be a visualization of the neural pathways of the deep brain. In other words, the diffusion tensor image is a measure of the structural connectivity of the cranial nerve by measuring the connection direction of the nerve bundle by applying a magnetic stimulus to the human body, which may be not only the degree of compression of the median nerve but also the image of the nerve damage information.

The FEM can analyze the diffusion tensor image to confirm the structural connectivity between the brain region of interest and the brain cortex region. Here, the structural connectivity may be the neural arrangement of the brain, such as the number, density, etc. of nerve bundles connecting the amygdala and each cortical area. For example, diffusion-tensor imaging is a water-based imaging technique that traces the fiber pathway that connects different regions of the brain to form the whole brain structural connexion or network foundation foundation.

The present invention can connect the areas related to cognitive skills through the diffusion tensor image to enable individual identification of the brain cortical region with high structural connectivity to the neural arrangement of the entire brain.

The figure of (b) of FIG. 3 may be a functional magnetic resonance image of a resting state among brain images acquired to identify a region of interest of the brain. In other words, the functional magnetic resonance imaging in the resting state can be an image showing the activation pattern of the deep brain part of the resting period.

The FEM can analyze the functional magnetic resonance imaging in the resting state to confirm the functional connectivity between the brain area of interest and the brain cortex area. Here, the functional connectivity can be represented as a cortical area activated at the same time when the amygdala is activated, or a cortical area deactivated simultaneously when the amygdala is activated.

Fear memory erasing device can indicate activation or inactivation of the brain cortex area depending on activation of the region of interest in the deep brain region as a function between the region of interest and the region of the brain cortex in accordance with functional magnetic resonance imaging in the resting state. That is, according to the present invention, the functional cognitive image of the cognitive state can be used to identify individual brain cortical regions with high functional connectivity to the region of interest.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an operation of stimulating a region of interest of the brain stem non-invasively according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4 (a), the fear memory erasing device is a multi-brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system including a structural connectivity (DTI) and a functional connectivity (rsfMRI) through a stress image, a diffusion tensor image and a functional magnetic resonance imaging The image can be photographed.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the fear memory erasing device analyzes a user's brain image to determine a position to attach a patch or an electrode to a user. At this time, based on the T1 weighted image, the fear memory cancellation device can determine the precise location where the stimulus is to be applied by using the cortical area map showing the connectivity between the deep brain part and the brain cortex area of the user. For example, the FER can identify the cortical area of interest 402 of the brain stem 401, which can best stimulate a pair of amygdas located respectively on the left and right sides of the brain. The fear memory erasing device can determine a position for stimulating the area of interest 402 of the brain stem 401 through neural control based on the deep part of the brain where the pair of amygdala is located.

4 (c), the fear memory erasing device suppresses the cortical area having high structural and functional connectivity with the area of interest 402 of the deep brain part 401 through noninvasive neural control, The region of interest 402 of interest.

In other words, Since noninvasive neuromodulation is limited to direct stimulation of structures in the deep brain, stimulation of the amygdala as a region of interest related to fear memory, the structure of the brain deep, requires a cortical area with a high structural and functional connectivity The overactivity of the amyloid can be controlled mainly.

The fear memory erasing device proposed in the present invention can also be used for controlling a neural network in accordance with the direction of functional connectivity with the region of interest 402 of the brain stem 401 in order to control overactivity of the region of interest 402 of the brain stem 401 Adjustments can be applied differently. For example, the present invention can be used to inhibit the cortical area, which is also activated when the area of interest 402 of the brain stem 401 is activated, Can be indirectly inhibited by overactivity of the cortical area 401 of the brain stem 401 by simultaneously activating the cortical area that is inactivated at the same time.

Referring to FIG. 4 (d), the fear memory erasing device can accurately determine the patch or electrode attachment position using the area information of the structural connectivity and the functional connectivity. In addition, the present invention can control the degree of non-invasive neural control applied to the cerebral cortex area using the intensity information measured in each of the structural connectivity and the functional connectivity.

Accordingly, the present invention can precisely stimulate a brain cortex region having high structural connectivity and functional connectivity corresponding to a region of interest in the deep brain region, and indirectly adjust the degree of activation of a region of interest in the deep brain region to cancel fear memory have.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation in which the degree of activation for an area of interest of a brain stem is indirectly suppressed according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the fear memory erasing device can activate the amygdala 501 as the fear memory imprinted in the brain by the user is expressed by the user. At this time, the activated amygdala 501 can inhibit high-level cognitive activity of the brain and activate an instinctive, impulsive response to fear memory.

Accordingly, the fear memory erasing device can indirectly stimulate an amygdala 501 having an activated state through a patch or an electrode attached to the brain to control the amygdala 501, which is a region of interest of the brain, using neural control. In one example, the patch or electrode is attached to the scalp surface where the user's frontal lobe is located, and the fear memory erasing device deactivates the amygdala 502 by stimulating or activating the user's frontal lobe via a patch or electrode attached to the scalp surface .

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a fear memory erasing method according to an embodiment.

In step 601, the fear memory erase device can acquire the brain image of the user. Here, the fear memory erasing device can acquire the user's brain image to identify the region of interest of the brain deep part related to the fear memory imprinted on the brain by the user's experience. At this time, the brain image is an image that can detect the activation of the deep brain due to the cognitive activity of the user and may be a multiple brain image. For example, the brain image may be a multi-brain magnetic resonance image, including a highlighted image, a diffusion tensor image, and a functional magnetic resonance image in a resting state.

In step 602, the fog memory erasure device uses the connectivity information on the cortex-subcortical region that is differently formed according to the pattern of fear memory imprinted on the user's brain, The intensity of neuromodulation can be determined. In more detail, the Fourier memory cancellation apparatus can determine a location based on a highlight image using a cortical area map indicating connectivity between the brain deep part and the brain cortex area of the user. Here, the emphasized image may be a T1-weighted image reflecting the relaxation time between the deep portions of the brain.

The cortical area map may be a map showing the degree of connectivity of the subcortical structure and cortex of the deep brain area with the location of the cortical area with high structural connectivity and functional connectivity with the area of interest in the deep brain area. In detail, structural connectivity,

The diffusion tensor image was analyzed to determine the localization of the cortex having connectivity with the subcortical structure of the brain and the intensity information represented by the number and density of the nerve bundles connecting the subcutaneous structures of the deep brain and each brain cortex intensity).

In addition, the functional connectivity is analyzed by the functional magnetic resonance imaging of the resting state. The localization of the cerebral cortex, which correlates with the activity of the subcortical structure of the brain, and the activity between the subcortical and cortical structures And intensity information indicating the correlation index.

Fear memory erasure device uses a cortical area map based on structural connectivity and functional connectivity between the deep brain region and the brain cortex to locate a patch or electrode that can stimulate a region of interest in the deep brain of the user, You can decide. That is, the present invention can determine the position for stimulating the amygdala through a non-invasive method, rather than an invasive method that directly stimulates the amygdala to manage the user's fear memory.

In particular, in stimulating an amygdala through a non-invasive method, the present invention utilizes the actual brain image of the user, thereby accurately grasping the position of the deep brain part expected to cause individual mental disorder.

In step 603, the Foucault erasure apparatus can erase the fear memory imprinted on the brain by stimulating a region of interest of the deep brain region through a patch or electrode attached to the determined position. In other words, the fear memory erasing device can non-invasively stimulate the region of interest of the brain deep region through the attached patch or electrode, and indirectly suppress the degree of activation of the region of interest of the brain deep region to erase the fear memory . That is, by stimulating the brain cortex area based on the area information of the structural connectivity, the intensity information, and the area information and the strength information of the functional connectivity, the activation degree of the deep region of the brain is indirectly suppressed to erase the fear memory .

At this time, the fear memory erase device can apply the neural control differently according to the state of the user. In other words, the FER can stimulate areas of interest in the deep brain tissue such that the brain cortical area is activated or deactivated depending on the direction of functional connectivity between the cortical area of interest and the cortical area. Accordingly, the fear memory erasing device can selectively transmit the stimulus in response to a mental disorder generated by the user.

Implementations of the various techniques described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof. Implementations may be implemented in a computer program product, such as an information carrier, e.g., a machine readable storage device, such as a computer readable storage medium, for example, for processing by a data processing apparatus, May be embodied as a computer program recorded on a device (computer readable medium). A computer program, such as the computer program (s) described above, may be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and may be stored as a stand-alone program or in a module, component, subroutine, As other units suitable for use in the present invention. A computer program may be deployed to be processed on one computer or multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communications network.

Processors suitable for processing a computer program include, by way of example, both general purpose and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The elements of a computer may include at least one processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer may include one or more mass storage devices for storing data, such as magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks, or may receive data from them, transmit data to them, . ≪ / RTI > Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include, for example, semiconductor memory devices, for example, magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape, compact disk read only memory A magneto-optical medium such as a floppy disk, an optical disk such as a DVD (Digital Video Disk), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM , Random Access Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), and the like. The processor and memory may be supplemented or included by special purpose logic circuitry.

In addition, the computer-readable medium can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer, and can include both computer storage media and transmission media.

While the specification contains a number of specific implementation details, it should be understood that they are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of any invention or claim, but rather on the description of features that may be specific to a particular embodiment of a particular invention Should be understood. Certain features described herein in the context of separate embodiments may be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments, either individually or in any suitable subcombination. Further, although the features may operate in a particular combination and may be initially described as so claimed, one or more features from the claimed combination may in some cases be excluded from the combination, Or a variant of a subcombination.

Likewise, although the operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, it should be understood that such operations must be performed in that particular order or sequential order shown to achieve the desired result, or that all illustrated operations should be performed. In certain cases, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Also, the separation of the various device components of the above-described embodiments should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and the described program components and devices will generally be integrated together into a single software product or packaged into multiple software products It should be understood.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention disclosed in the present specification and drawings are only illustrative of specific examples for the purpose of understanding and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications based on the technical idea of the present invention are possible in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

101: Amygdala
102: Seahorse
103: patch or electrode
104: Fear memory erasure device

Claims (14)

Acquiring a brain image of the user to identify a region of interest in the brain stem associated with fear memory imprinted on the brain by the user's experience;
Using the connectivity information about the cortex-cortical region differently formed according to the pattern of fear memory imprinted on the brain of the user, the strength of the neuromodulation technique according to the position and the connectivity information to the user is determined ; And
And erasing the fear memory imprinted on the brain by stimulating a region of interest of the brain deep region through a patch or electrode attached to the determined location
/ RTI > The method according to claim 1,
Wherein acquiring the brain image of the user comprises:
1) T1-weighted image reflecting the relaxation time between the deep brain regions, 2) Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) visualizing the spinal cord nerve of the deep brain region, and 3) (RsfMRI) of the brain of a subject is acquired. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the determining the position comprises:
And determining the position using the cortex area map of the user based on the emphasis image. The method of claim 3,
The cortical area map includes:
The method of claim 11, wherein the location of the cerebral cortex area having a high degree of structural connectivity and functional connectivity with the area of interest of the brain deep part, and the degree of connectivity of the subcortical structure and the cortex of the deep brain area. 5. The method of claim 4,
The structural connectivity may include,
The diffusion tensor image was analyzed to determine the localization of the cortex having connectivity with the subcortical structure of the brain and the intensity information represented by the number and density of the nerve bundles connecting the subcutaneous structures of the deep brain and each brain cortex intensity < / RTI > 5. The method of claim 4,
Preferably,
The functional magnetic resonance image of the resting state was analyzed and the correlation between the localization in the cerebral cortex area correlated with the activity of the subcortical structure in the deep brain and the correlation between the subcortical structure and the cortical structure in the deep brain Wherein the intensity information is indicative of an intensity of the intensity. The method according to claim 1,
The step of erasing the brain memory imprinted on the brain comprises:
A fear memory which scatters the brain cortex area based on the domain information of the structural connectivity and the intensity information of the intensity information and the functional connectivity and the intensity information to indirectly suppress the degree of activation of the deep region of the brain, Erase method. In a fear memory erasing device,
The processor comprising:
Acquiring the brain image of the user to identify a region of interest in the brain stem associated with fear memory imprinted on the brain by the user's experience,
Determining the location of the patch or electrode to be attached to the user and the intensity of the neural control using the connectivity information on the cortex-subcortical region differently formed according to the pattern of fear memory imprinted on the brain of the user,
And stimulates an area of interest of the brain deep part through a patch or electrode attached to the determined location to erase the fear memory imprinted on the brain. 9. The method of claim 8,
The processor comprising:
2) a diffusion tensor image obtained by visualizing the spinal nerve pathway of the deep brain, and 3) a brain image including a functional magnetic resonance image in the resting state for the deep brain part. Fear memory erase device. 10. The method of claim 9,
The processor comprising:
And determines the position using the cortex area map of the user based on the emphasis image. 11. The method of claim 10,
The cortical area map includes:
Wherein the position of the brain cortex region having a high degree of structural connectivity and functional connectivity with the region of interest of the deep brain region, and the degree of connectivity between the subcortical structure and the cortex of the deep brain region. 12. The method of claim 11,
The structural connectivity may include,
The diffusion tensor image is analyzed to obtain information on the area of the cortex that is connected to the subcortical structure of the brain and the frequency information including the intensity information expressed by the number and density of the nerve bundles connecting the subcutaneous structures of the brain deep part and each brain cortex area Memory erase device. 12. The method of claim 11,
Preferably,
The functional magnetic resonance image of the resting state was analyzed and it was found that the area information in the cerebral cortex area correlated with the activity of the subcortical structure in the brain deep part and the intensity represented by the correlation index between the subcortical structure and the cortical structure activity in the deep brain part A fear memory erase device containing information. 9. The method of claim 8,
The processor comprising:
A fear memory which scatters the brain cortex area based on the domain information of the structural connectivity and the intensity information of the intensity information and the functional connectivity and the intensity information to indirectly suppress the degree of activation of the deep region of the brain, Erase device.

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