Most neuroscience experiments utilize tightly controlled stimulus in order to provide and generate results that are easily interpretable and follow simple rules of biology. At the same time, we hoped that these results could be extrapolated and reflect the neural functions of the brain in a real-world context. But to what extent do our models actually generalize outside the laboratory? What proportion of neural or behavioral variability do our models predict in real-life context? The brain encounters many issues outside a controlled laboratory setting. Evolution has nurtured brains to function in a multidimensional world where it cannot be fully characterized by simple and easily interpreted signals. Accordinignly, the knowledge about a brain derived from well-controlled stimuli is limited. All these issues have prompted the research community to shift towards the use of complex naturalistic stimuli to probe brain functions. As we use audiovisually rich materials to stimulate the brain, how do we correlate between neuronal responses and the stimuli and make comparisons to test hypotheses?
“Processing of an audiobook in the human brain is shaped by cultural family background“, Maria Hakonen, Arsi Ikäheimonen, Annika Hultén, Janne Kauttonen, Miika Koskinen, Fa-Hsuan Lin, Anastasia Lowe, Mikko Sams, Iiro P. Jääskeläinen, Brain Sciences (2022), Vol.12 (5), 649. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12050649.
“Multivariate identification of functional neural networks underpinning humorous movies viewing“, Fa-Hsuan Lin, Hsin-Ju Lee, Wen-Jui Kuo* and Iiro P Jääskeläinen, Frontiers in Psychology-Cognitive Science, (2021), 11:547353. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.547353
“Differential brain mechanisms during reading human vs. machine translated fiction and news texts“, Fa-Hsuan Lin, Yun-Fei Liu, Hsin-Ju Lee, Claire H. C. Chang, Iiro P. Jaaskelainen, Jyh-Neng Yeh, Wen-Jui Kuo, Scientific Reports, (9), Article number: 13251, doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49632-w
“Reduced synchronized brain activity in schizophrenia during viewing of comedy movies“, Pei-Chi Tu, Tung-Ping Su, Wei-Chen Lin, Wan-Chen Chang, Ya-Mei Bai, Cheng-Ta Li, Fa-Hsuan Lin, Scientific Reports, S__cientific Reports, (8), Article number: 13287, doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48957-w
“Brain hemodynamic activity during viewing and re-viewing of comedy movies explained by experienced humor“, Iiro P. Jääskeläinen, Juha Pajula, Jussi Tohka, Hsin-Ju Lee, Wen-Jui Kuo, Fa-Hsuan Lin, Scientific Reports, (6), Article number: 27741, doi:10.1038/srep27741
“Perspective Taking in the Human Brain: Complementary Evidence from Neuroimaging Studies with Media-Based Naturalistic Stimuli and Artificial Controlled Paradigms.” Jääskeläinen, Iiro P., and Vladimir Kosonogov. 2023. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 17 (February): 1051934.
“Movies and Narratives as Naturalistic Stimuli in Neuroimaging.” Jääskeläinen, Iiro P., Mikko Sams, Enrico Glerean, and Jyrki Ahveninen. 2021. NeuroImage 224 (117445): 117445.