NEURAL SUBSTRATES OF MENTAL FUNCTIONS: ANATOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BY RESEARCH WITH FUNCTIONAL NEURO-IMAGE

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges in neuroscience is to find the neural substrate of mental functions. The process started in the 17th century although only in the 20th century science, based on the development of techniques called functional neuroimages, really tried to relate brain area and function. Research on the subject is on the increase in several areas of science. Current study identifies publications on neuroimage research in the Brazilian journal Scientific American - Mente & Cérebro published between 2008 and 2011. A relevant difficulty was the location of some anatomical structures quoted by authors, due to precise anatomic terminology. In spite of these issues, the different functional descriptions for some areas should be underscored. Interoreceptive perception, self-referential thought, attention control, forecasting capacity related to concern, pleasure in undertaken a good action (such as giving a donation) and a sense of justice are attributed to the insula. The satisfaction of primary needs such as sex is attributed to the posterior orbital cortex, whereas secondary desires such as social acknowledgement, irritability, impulsiveness and pleasure are attributed to the anterior orbital cortex. However, care must be taken in the analysis of these results since research shows that a certain mental function may activate simultaneously different areas.