Release Name: VDB1.4

Notes:
We have improved the procedure "TaskDesign" in the software package VDB 1.4. The VDB 1.4 is more convenient for constructing auditory and visual task signals (i.e. designing fMRI experimental paradigms). VDB1.4 is a 3D visualization tool of human brain, which is used to construct the virtual digital brain and research neural activities of brain regions evoked by the virtual stimulating signal (or the stimulating signal of task). The virtual digital brain is a human brain model (i.e. a causal connectivity network). Every node of the human brain model denotes a Brodmann's area (or AAL area) of human brain. We can exert the stimulating signal of task to some brain areas of the virtual digital brain and observe activation of brain regions. In addition, this tool VDB1.4 can also be used to obtain the stimulating signal of task, design task (i.e. design fMRI experimental paradigm), and study interregional causal connectivity and the shortest causal connectivity path (i.e. the strongest causal interactive path) from one brain area to another in the virtual digital brain.
The individualized virtual digital brain can be constructed by using VDB1.4 based on resting-state fMRI data of every participant. The virtual digital brain technique is similar to virtual reality. To investigate activation of brain regions, the stimulating signal of task is firstly processed, and then translated into an input signal of brain regions. Finally, the input signal is directly exerted to some brain regions of the individualized virtual digital brain instead of exerting to real human brain of every participant. Researchers can exert the stimulating signal of task to any brain area of the virtual digital brain and observe activation of brain regions.