Researchers at the Indiana University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences are creating what they call "brain selfies."
These so-called selfies are captured at IU's Imaging Research Facilities. IRF Director Sharlene Newman says people are usually amazed to see how their brain looks like.
"We collect 160 slices through the brain from ear to ear. When you get a brain selfie, you end up with a CD with these images on it and you can scroll through," Newman says.
The images are being made as part of a psychology study that seeks to better understand the functions of the cerebellum, the region at the base of the brain that controls muscle movement and balance.
The cerebellum is long thought to be solely the brain's coordinator of body movement.
William Hetrick, a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and the leader of the study, says the role of the cerebellum has been under-studied.
"Most people study the cerebrum and don't even image the cerebellum because they think human is all about the frontal lobe," Hetrick says.
But researchers' preliminary findings suggest that is not the case. Although the cerebellum only occupies one-eighth of the brain space, it accounts for up to 80 percent of the brain's neurons and connects to many different areas of the brain.
Hetrick says scientists are beginning to think the cerebellum is associated with more than just motor skill and coordination. It could also be active during a variety of cognitive activities, such as reasoned behavior.
But more data needs to be collected and analyzed to fully understand the issue.
"This particular study will take into consideration, not just the cerebellum, but we will be imaging the whole brain, and studying the interaction of the cerebellum in real time with other regions of the brain." Hetrick says.
The result of the study could yield new insights into symptoms of mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, by helping people understand where deficits lie.
Researchers are seeking more volunteers to participate in the study, which is expected to take about two years to complete.
