Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030290
Authors: Sami Alzarea Amna Khan Patrick J. Ronan Kabirullah Lutfy Shafiqur Rahman
Neuroinflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) by inducing neuronal excitability via dysregulation of microglial brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Na-K-Cl cotransporter-1 (NKCC1), and K-Cl cotransporter-2 (KCC2) due to activation of BDNF-tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) signaling. Allosteric modulation of α7 nAChRs has not been investigated on BDNF, KCC2, and NKCC1 during LPS-induced depressive-like behavior. Therefore, we examined the effects of PNU120596, an α7 nAChR positive allosteric modulator, on the expression of BDNF, KCC2, and NKCC1 in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex using Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence assay, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effects of ANA12, a TrkB receptor antagonist, on LPS-induced cognitive deficit and depressive-like behaviors were determined using the Y-maze, tail suspension test (TST), and forced swim test (FST). Pharmacological interactions between PNU120596 and ANA12 were also examined. Experiments were conducted in male C57BL/6J mice. LPS administration (1 mg/kg) resulted in increased expression of BDNF and the NKCC1/KCC2 ratio and decreased expression of KCC2 in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. PNU120596 pretreatment (4 mg/kg) attenuated the LPS-induced increase in the expression of BDNF and NKCC1/KCC2 ratio and the reduction in KCC2 expression in these brain regions. In addition, ANA12 (0.25 or 0.50 mg/kg) reduced the LPS-induced cognitive deficit and depressive-like behaviors measured by a reduced spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze and increased immobility duration in TST and FST. Coadministration of PNU120596 (1 mg/kg) and ANA12 (0.25 mg/kg) prevented the LPS-induced cognitive deficit and depressive-like behaviors. Overall, PNU120596 prevented the LPS-induced depressive-like behavior by likely decreasing neuronal excitability via targeting microglial α7 nAChR in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030289
Authors: Efecan Cekic Mehmet Erkan Ustun
To evaluate the efficacy of perivascular sympathectomy in managing adventitia layer-related long-segment tubular stenosis of cervical segment (C1) internal carotid arteries (ICAs) in a cohort where conventional medical and endovascular interventions were not viable options, we retrospectively analyzed 20 patients (8 males, 12 females, aged 41–63 years) who underwent perivascular sympathectomy for long-segment (>5 cm) tubular cervical ICA stenosis (non-atherosclerotic, non-intima related, and nondolichoarteriopathic) between 2017 and 2023. The procedure aimed to alleviate symptoms such as hemiparesis, pulsatile tinnitus, and migraines associated with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Preoperative and postoperative symptoms were assessed, and patient follow-up was conducted by MR angiography and perfusion studies. Postoperatively, 10 out of 11 migraine sufferers (90.9%) reported complete cessation of symptoms, while one patient (9.09%) experienced reduction in frequency and intensity. In cases of tinnitus, six out of nine patients (66.6%) reported complete resolution, two (22.2%) had reduced symptoms, and one (11.1%) saw no change. Regarding motor function, all 12 patients (100%) with initial hemiparesis (30–40% loss of motor function) showed complete recovery postoperatively. There was no TIA attack among the patients after the procedure in the mean two-year follow-up. Perivascular sympathectomy has shown promising results in alleviating symptoms and preventing recurrent cerebrovascular events in long-segment tubular stenosis of cervical ICAs.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030288
Authors: Daniela Marín-Pardo Lydia Giménez-Llort
The Food Finding Test (FFT) olfactory paradigm without overnight food deprivation examined olfaction in aged (16-months-old) animals. Ethograms of three goal-directed behaviors towards hidden food (sniffing, finding and eating) elicited in male and female 3xTg-AD mice for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and their age-matched C57BL/6 wild-type counterparts with normal aging were meticulously analyzed with the support of video recordings. The new FFT protocol elicited longer ethograms than previously reported with the standard deprivation protocol. However, it was sensitive when identifying genotype- and sex-dependent olfactory signatures for the temporal patterns of slow sniffing, finding, and eating in AD and males, but it had a striking consistency in females. The impact of forced social isolation was studied and it was found to exert sex-dependent modifications of the ethogram, mostly in males. Still, in both sexes, a functional derangement was detected since the internal correlations among the behaviors decreased or were lost under isolated conditions. In conclusion, the new paradigm without overnight deprivation was sensitive to sex (males), genotype (AD), and social context (isolation-dependent changes) in its ethogram and functional correlation. At the translational level, it is a warning about the impact of isolation in the advanced stages of the disease, paying notable attention to the male sex.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030287
Authors: Niels Hansen Kristin Rentzsch Sina Hirschel Jens Wiltfang Björn H. Schott Berend Malchow Claudia Bartels
Affiliations: In the published publication [...]
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030286
Authors: Lara Brunasso Chiara Avallone Ada Maria Florena Giovanni Grasso
(1) Background: Gangliogliomas are rare tumors accounting for about 0.4% of all central nervous system tumors. They are usually located in the temporal lobes of children and young adults, though such tumors in the infratentorial region and adult-age patients rarely reported. (2) Methods: A systematic review on ganglioglioma with infratentorial location in the adult population was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 275 articles were found, and 23 were included. Demographic data, the location and histology of the lesion, pre-operative neurological status, the type of surgery, recurrence, radiotherapy/chemotherapy adjuvant treatments, neurological outcomes and follow-up information were collected. We also presented an illustrative case. (3) Results: A total of 27 patients were included. In 51%, the location was the cerebellum; in 40%, it was the fourth ventricle; in 11%, it was brainstem; and in 4%, it was the cerebellopontine angle. STR was performed in 44%, GTR in 26% and biopsy in 15% of the cases. Adjuvant radiotherapy was found in 22% of cases. Disease recurrence occurred in 15% of patients between 1 and 12 months after surgery with a diagnosis of high-grade ganglioglioma, while in six cases, no disease recurrence was documented. (4) Conclusions: Infratentorial glioneuronal tumors are rare findings in the adult population. Histopathological characterization does not seem to fully reflect their true behavior. Future studies are warranted for better characterizing histopathological findings and treatment.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030285
Authors: Ongart Maneemai Maira Cristina Cujilan Alvarado Lina Graciela Calderon Intriago Alicia Jeanette Donoso Triviño Joicy Anabel Franco Coffré Domenico Pratico Kristof Schwartz Tadele Tesfaye Takao Yamasaki
Sensory processing is a fundamental aspect of the nervous system that plays a pivotal role in the cognitive decline observed in older individuals with dementia. The “sensory diet”, derived from sensory integration theory, may provide a tailored approach to modulating sensory experiences and triggering neuroplastic changes in the brain in individuals with dementia. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate the current knowledge regarding the sensory diet and its potential application to dementia. This review encompassed an extensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, covering articles published from 2010 to 2023. Keywords such as “sensory integration”, “sensory modulation”, “healthy aging”, and “dementia” were utilized to identify relevant studies. The types of materials retrieved included peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, ensuring a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape. This article offers a comprehensive exploration of the effectiveness of sensory diets such as tactile stimulation, auditory therapies, and visual interventions, which have demonstrated noteworthy efficacy in addressing challenges linked to aging and dementia. Research findings consistently report positive outcomes, such as improved cognitive function, elevated emotional well-being, and enhanced overall quality of life in older individuals. Furthermore, we found that the integration of sensory diets with the metaverse, augmented reality, and virtual reality opens up personalized experiences, fostering cognitive stimulation and emotional well-being for individuals during aging. Therefore, we conclude that customized sensory diets, based on interdisciplinary cooperation and leveraging technological advancements, are effective in optimizing sensory processing and improve the overall well-being of older individuals contending with sensory modulation challenges and dementia.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030284
Authors: Vishal Chavda Dhananjay Yadav Snehal Patel Minseok Song
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition associated with high levels of blood glucose which leads to serious damage to the heart, kidney, eyes, and nerves. Elevated blood glucose levels damage brain function and cognitive abilities. They also lead to various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including chronic neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. High neuronal glucose levels can cause drastic neuronal damage due to glucose neurotoxicity. Astrocytes, a type of glial cell, play a vital role in maintaining brain glucose levels through neuron–astrocyte coupling. Hyperglycemia leads to progressive decline in neuronal networks and cognitive impairment, contributing to neuronal dysfunction and fostering a neurodegenerative environment. In this review, we summarize the various connections, functions, and impairments of glial cells due to metabolic dysfunction in the diabetic brain. We also summarize the effects of hyperglycemia on various neuronal functions in the diabetic brain.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030283
Authors: Alex Martino Cinnera Valeria Verna Matteo Marucci Aurora Tavernese Luisa Magnotti Alessandro Matano Chiara D’Acunto Stefano Paolucci Giovanni Morone Viviana Betti Marco Tramontano
About one-third of stroke survivors present unilateral spatial neglect (USN) that negatively impacts the rehabilitation outcome. We reported the study protocol and usability results of an eye-tracking (ET) biofeedback immersive virtual reality (iVR) protocol. Healthy controls and stroke patients with and without USN underwent a single session of the three iVR tasks. The system usability scale (SUS), adverse events (AEs), and ET data were collected and analyzed via parametric analysis. Twelve healthy controls (six young adults and six older adults) and seven patients with a diagnosis of single ischemic stroke (four without USN and three with confirmed diagnosis of USN) completed the usability investigation. SUS results showed good acceptability of the system for healthy controls and stroke patients without USN. ET results showed a lower performance for patients with USN concerning healthy controls and stroke patients without USN, in particular in the exploration of the left visual field. The results showed that the proposed iVR-ET biofeedback protocol is a safe and well-tolerated technique in patients with USN. The real-time feedback can induce a performance response supporting its investigation such as a treatment approach.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030282
Authors: Jinui Lee Jae-Ho Han
As games have been applied across various fields, including education and healthcare, numerous new games tailored to each field have emerged. Therefore, understanding user behavior has become crucial in securing the right players for each type of game. This study provides valuable insights for improving game development by measuring the electroencephalography (EEG) of game users and classifying the frequency of game usage. The multimodal mobile brain-body imaging (MOBI) dataset was employed for this study, and the frequency of game usage was categorized into ”often” and ”sometimes”. To achieve decent classification accuracy, a novel bimodal Transformer architecture featuring dedicated channels for the frontal (AF) and temporal (TP) lobes is introduced, wherein convolutional layers, self-attention mechanisms, and cross-attention mechanisms are integrated into a unified model. The model, designed to differentiate between AF and TP channels, exhibits functional differences between brain regions, allowing for a detailed analysis of inter-channel correlations. Evaluated through five-fold cross-validation (CV) and leave-one-subject-out cross-validation (LOSO CV), the proposed model demonstrates classification accuracies of 88.86% and 85.11%, respectively. By effectively classifying gameplay frequency, this methodology provides valuable insights for targeted game participation and contributes to strategic efforts to develop and design customized games for player acquisition.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030281
Authors: Yanfang Zeng Wenying Du Mingkai Zhang Ariel Walker Ying Han Yuchuan Ding
Objective: To explore the association between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and objectively assessed cognitive function. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 537 participants underwent a neuropsychological assessment for cognitive function and blood testing for APOE genotype. Based on cognitive test results, participants were stratified into two cohorts: Cognitively Unimpaired participants (CU) and Cognitively Impaired participants (CI). The CI group was further divided into Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Furthermore, we conducted age stratification, categorizing participants into three age groups: age 1: <65 years, age 2: 65–75 years, and age 3: >75 years. We assessed the disparities in cognitive function associated with ε4 carrier status across different age brackets. Plasma amyloid-β levels were measured in a cohort of 294 participants to investigate potential interactions involving ε4 carrier status, diagnosis, sex, or plasma markers. Results: The APOE genotypic distribution among the 537 participants was characterized as follows: ε2/ε2 (5 participants), ε2/ε3 (67), ε2/ε4 (13), ε3/ε3 (330), ε3/ε4 (113), and ε4/ε4 (9). Allele frequencies were: ε3 at 78.21%, ε4 at 13.41%, and ε2 at 8.38%. Notably, the ε4 carrier frequency was markedly elevated in the AD group at 81.8% when compared to MCI at 32.8% and CU at 21.3% (p < 0.05). Within the Cognitively Unimpaired (CU) cohort, the sole discernible contrast between ε4+ and ε4− emerged in STT-B (p < 0.05). Within the CI group, ε4 carriers showed statistically poorer scores as compared to non-ε4 carriers in several cognitive tests (p < 0.05). Age stratification result revealed that, among ε4 carriers, cognitive function scores within the age 3 group were significantly inferior to those of age 1 and age 2 groups (p < 0.05). Plasma amyloid-β detection was applied to the 294 participants. We tested plasma amyloid-β (Aβ42) and plasma amyloid-β (Aβ40) levels and calculated the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio. We found that among female ε4 carriers, both Aβ42 and the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio were notably lower than their male counterparts (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The ε3/ε3 was the most prevalent among participants, succeeded by ε3/ε4 and ε2/ε3. The least prevalent were ε2/ε4, ε4/ε4, and ε2/ε2 genotypes. The ε3 was predominant, followed by the ε4 and ε2. Individuals with the ε4 allele exhibited significant cognitive impairment, with an especially high prevalence in AD group at 81.8%. The study unveils a pronounced correlation between the ε4 allele and cognitive deficits, implying its potential role in the advancement and severity of cognitive disorders, notably Alzheimer’s disease. Cognitive function declines with age in individuals carrying the ε4, and women are more affected by ε4.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030280
Authors: Houda Bougrine Achraf Ammar Atef Salem Khaled Trabelsi Haitham Jahrami Hamdi Chtourou Nizar Souissi
Caffeine (CAF), a prevalent psychoactive stimulant, is believed to potentially enhance cognitive ability. However, studies on the effects of various doses are limited and yield inconsistent results, particularly in female athletes. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between three different dosages of CAF intake (low, moderate, and high) and cognitive skills in female athletes with low CAF consumption. This study had a randomized, crossover, double-blind design in which each athlete performed four experimental sessions after ingesting either a placebo (PLAC), 3 mg·kg−1 of CAF (3 mg of CAF), 6 mg·kg−1 of CAF (6 mg of CAF), or 9 mg·kg−1 of CAF (9 mg of CAF) with an in-between washout period of at least 72 h. Following a 60 min window post-capsule consumption, fourteen female athletes (age: 17.4 ± 0.8 years) were assessed through various cognitive tests, namely, simple reaction time (SRT), choice reaction time (CRT), and attentional task (AT) tests, along with the mental rotation test (MRT). Additionally, they were required to complete a questionnaire about the undesirable side effects of CAF. Our results indicated that, compared to those of PLAC, the SRT, CRT, and AT performance were significantly improved following the administration of both 3 mg of CAF and 6 mg of CAF. While the greatest enhancement was observed after consuming 3 mg of CAF, no significant differences were found between the effects of 3 mg and 6 mg of CAF. Interestingly, MRT performance did not improve with any of the CAF dosages. Moreover, the ingestion of 9 mg of CAF did not enhance cognitive skills and was linked to the highest occurrence of CAF-related side effects. In conclusion, our results highlight the recommendation for a low CAF dosage of 3 mg·kg−1, in contrast to a higher dose of 6 mg·kg−1 or 9 mg·kg−1 of CAF, to enhance various aspects of cognitive performance in female athletes with low CAF consumption without adverse side effects.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030279
Authors: Shaoqing Ma Peng Ding Zhengxuan Zhou Huilong Jin Xiaoli Li Yingwei Li
Terahertz radiation falls within the spectrum of hydrogen bonding, molecular rotation, and vibration, as well as van der Waals forces, indicating that many biological macromolecules exhibit a strong absorption and resonance in this frequency band. Research has shown that the terahertz radiation of specific frequencies and energies can mediate changes in cellular morphology and function by exciting nonlinear resonance effects in proteins. However, current studies have mainly focused on the cellular level and lack systematic studies on multiple levels. Moreover, the mechanism and law of interaction between terahertz radiation and neurons are still unclear. Therefore, this paper analyzes the mechanisms by which terahertz radiation modulates the nervous system, and it analyzes and discusses the methods by which terahertz radiation modulates neurons. In addition, this paper reviews the laws of terahertz radiation’s influence on neuronal morphology and kinetic properties and discusses them in detail in terms of terahertz radiation frequency, energy, and time. In the future, the safety of the terahertz radiation system should be considered first to construct the safety criterion of terahertz modulation, and the spatial resolution of the terahertz radiation system should be improved. In addition, the systematic improvement of the laws and mechanisms of terahertz modulation of the nervous system on multiple levels is the key to applying terahertz waves to neuroscience. This paper can provide a platform for researchers to understand the mechanism of the terahertz–nervous system interaction, its current status, and future research directions.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030278
Authors: Federica Alfeo Tiziana Lanciano Chiara Abbatantuono Giorgia Gintili Maria Fara De Caro Antonietta Curci Paolo Taurisano
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional or prodromal stage of dementia in which autonomies are largely preserved (autonomies are not particularly affected). However, this condition may entail a depletion of decision-making (DM) abilities likely due to a gradual deterioration of the prefrontal cortex and subcortical brain areas underlying cognitive–emotional processing. Given the clinical implications of a decline in self-determination observed in some MCI sufferers, the present systematic review was aimed at investigating the literature addressing DM processes in patients with MCI, consistent with PRISMA guidelines. The six online databases inquired yielded 1689 research articles that were screened and then assessed based on eligibility and quality criteria. As a result, 41 studies were included and classified following the PICOS framework. Overall, patients with MCI who underwent neuropsychological assessment were found to be slightly or moderately impaired in DM abilities related to financial management, medical adherence, specific cognitive performances, risky conditions, and especially uncertain life circumstances. Comparative cross-sectional studies indicated not only mid-stage cognitive functioning in MCI but also borderline or deficit DM patterns evaluated through different tasks and procedures. Further research addressing MCI profiles suggested an association between explicit memory, executive functions, and DM performance. These findings highlight the diversity of MCI manifestations, in addition to the critical importance of DM features and correlates in patients’ daily functioning. Due to a lack of consensus on both MCI and DM, this review paper sought to shed light on assessment and intervention strategies accounting for the interplay between emotion, motivation, and learning to foster DM in cognitively impaired individuals.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030277
Authors: Alexis N. Chargo Taylor N. Takla Nora E. Fritz Ana M. Daugherty
Spatial navigation ability is essential for independent living, and it relies on complex cognitive and motor processes that are vulnerable to decline in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The role of mobility in the physical act of navigation has been well documented; however, its association with cognitive processing that supports efficient navigation and recall of the environment is unknown. This study examined the relation between clinical mobility function and spatial navigation ability in pwMS. In a clinical sample of 43 individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (MPDDS = 2; age 25–67 years), we assessed spatial navigation ability in a virtual Morris water maze that allowed for active search by controlling a joystick while seated at a computer, and subsequent free recall of environment details. Individuals with worse mobility (measured by slower forward and backward walking) traveled less efficient virtual navigation routes to the goal location and recalled fewer accurate details of the environment. A stratified analysis by disability revealed moderate–strong correlations for those with a low level of disability, and effects were attenuated in individuals with a high level of disability. Given that the virtual navigation task was performed while seated, evidence of any correlation with mobility suggests differences in navigation ability that cannot be ascribed to general walking impairment, and instead suggests a role for mobility impairment to modify cognitive processing supporting navigation in pwMS.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030276
Authors: Edward Ofori Anamaria Solis Nahid Punjani on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
This study investigates the sex-specific role of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Gonadal axis in Alzheimer’s disease progression, utilizing ADNI1 data for 493 individuals, analyzing plasma levels of gonadotropic and sex hormones, and examining neurodegeneration-related brain structures. We assessed plasma levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P4), and testosterone (T), along with volumetric measures of the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and hypothalamic subunits, to explore their correlation with Alzheimer’s disease markers across different cognitive statuses and sexes. Significant cognitive status effects were observed for all volumetric measures, with a distinct sex-by-cognitive status interaction for hypothalamic volume, indicating a decrease in males but not in females across cognitive impairment stages. Regression analyses showed specific hypothalamic subunit volume related to hormone levels, accounting for up to approximately 40% of the variance (p < 0.05). The findings highlight sex differences in neurodegeneration and hormonal regulation, suggesting potential for personalized treatments and advancing the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease etiology.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030275
Authors: Rafael Badalotti Matheus Dalmolin Osvaldo Malafaia Jurandir M. Ribas Filho Rafael Roesler Marcelo A. C. Fernandes Gustavo R. Isolan
Rapid neuronal inhibition in the brain is mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activation of GABAA receptors. The GABRA5 gene, which encodes the α5 subunit of the GABAA receptor, has been implicated in an aggressive subgroup of medulloblastoma (MB), a type of pediatric brain tumor. However, the possible role of GABAA receptor subunits in glioma remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the expression of genes encoding GABAA receptor subunits in different types of glioma, and its possible association with patient prognosis assessed by overall survival (OS). Data were obtained from the French and The Cancer Genome Atlas Brain Lower Grade Glioma (TCGA-LGG) datasets and analyzed for expression of GABAA receptor subunit genes. OS was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier estimate. We found that genes GABRA2, GABRA3, GABRB3, GABRG1, and GABRG2 showed a significant association with OS, with higher gene expression indicating better prognosis. In patients with GBM, high expression of GABRA2 was associated with shorter OS, whereas, in contrast, higher levels of GABRB3 were associated with better prognosis indicated by longer OS. In patients with lower grade gliomas, GABRA3, GABRB3, GABRG1, and GABRG2, were associated with longer OS. High GABRB3 expression was related to longer survival when low grade glioma types were analyzed separately. Our results suggest an overall association between higher expression of most genes encoding GABAA receptor subunits and better prognosis in different types of glioma. Our findings support the possibility that down-regulation of GABAA receptors in glioma contributes to promoting tumor progression by reducing negative inhibition. These findings might contribute to further evaluation of GABAA receptors as a therapeutic target in glioma.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030274
Authors: Barbara Carpita Benedetta Nardi Valeria Tognini Francesca Poli Giulia Amatori Ivan Mirko Cremone Stefano Pini Liliana Dell’Osso
Alterations in sensory processing, a key component of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), have recently attracted increasing attention as they result in peculiar responses to sensory stimuli, possibly representing a risk factor for the development of somatic symptom disorder (SSD). Contextually, other features also associated with ASD, such as alexithymia, camouflaging and altered verbal, and non-verbal communication, have been suggested to represent risk factors for the occurrence and worsening of somatic symptomatology. The aim of this work was to review the available literature about the association between SSD and the autism spectrum. The results highlighted not only a higher prevalence of autistic features in patients suffering from SSD and a higher prevalence of reported somatic symptomatology in subjects with ASD but also how ASD subjects with co-occurrent somatic symptoms exhibit more severe autism-linked symptomatology. From the paper reviewed also emerged many shared features between the two conditions, such as alexithymia, altered sensitivity to sensory stimuli, cognitive inflexibility, intolerance of uncertainty, and an increased risk of experiencing stressful life events, which may provide an explanation for the correlation reported. Even though studies on the topic are still scant, the evidence reported suggests the importance of further assessing the correlation between the two disorders.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030273
Authors: Agata Kucińska Wanda Hawuła Lena Rutkowska Urszula Wysocka Łukasz Kępczyński Małgorzata Piotrowicz Tatiana Chilarska Nina Wieczorek-Cichecka Katarzyna Połatyńska Łukasz Przysło Agnieszka Gach
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) encompass a broad group of neurodevelopmental disorders with varied clinical symptoms, all being characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behavior. Although the etiology of ASD is heterogeneous, with many genes involved, a crucial role is believed to be played by copy number variants (CNVs). The present study examines the role of copy number variation in the development of isolated ASD, or ASD with additional clinical features, among a group of 180 patients ranging in age from two years and four months to 17 years and nine months. Samples were taken and subjected to array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), the gold standard in detecting gains or losses in the genome, using a 4 × 180 CytoSure Autism Research Array, with a resolution of around 75 kb. The results indicated the presence of nine pathogenic and six likely pathogenic imbalances, and 20 variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) among the group. Relevant variants were more prevalent in patients with ASD and additional clinical features. Twelve of the detected variants, four of which were probably pathogenic, would not have been identified using the routine 8 × 60 k microarray. These results confirm the value of microarrays in ASD diagnostics and highlight the need for dedicated tools.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030272
Authors: Chiara Gallingani Chiara Carbone Manuela Tondelli Giovanna Zamboni
Neurofilaments light chain (NfLs) are currently recognized as a marker of axonal injury and degeneration. Their measurement in biological fluids has a promising role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of the therapeutic response in neurological diseases, including neurodegenerative dementias. In recent years, their relationship with clinical phenotypes and measures of disease severity has been extensively studied. Here, we reviewed studies investigating the association between NfLs and imaging measures of grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) damage in neurodegenerative dementias. We identified a large number of studies investigating this association in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and disorders of the frontotemporal dementia (FTD) spectrum. Results were heterogeneous, possibly due to different methodological approaches—both in NfL measurements and imaging analyses—and inclusion criteria. However, a positive association between NfL levels and GM atrophy, WM microstructural disruption, glucose hypometabolism, and protein accumulation emerged invariably, confirming the role of NfLs as a reliable biomarker for neurodegenerative dementias, albeit not specific.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030271
Authors: Jinhao Zhang Yanrong Hao Xin Wen Chenchen Zhang Haojie Deng Juanjuan Zhao Rui Cao
Emotion is one of the most important higher cognitive functions of the human brain and plays an important role in transaction processing and decisions. In traditional emotion recognition studies, the frequency band features in EEG signals have been shown to have a high correlation with emotion production. However, traditional emotion recognition methods cannot satisfactorily solve the problem of individual differences in subjects and data heterogeneity in EEG, and subject-independent emotion recognition based on EEG signals has attracted extensive attention from researchers. In this paper, we propose a subject-independent emotion recognition model based on adaptive extraction of layer structure based on frequency bands (BFE-Net), which is adaptive in extracting EEG map features through the multi-graphic layer construction module to obtain a frequency band-based multi-graphic layer emotion representation. To evaluate the performance of the model in subject-independent emotion recognition studies, extensive experiments are conducted on two public datasets including SEED and SEED-IV. The experimental results show that in most experimental settings, our model has a more advanced performance than the existing studies of the same type. In addition, the visualization of brain connectivity patterns reveals that some of the findings are consistent with previous neuroscientific validations, further validating the model in subject-independent emotion recognition studies.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030270
Authors: Vincenzo Di Stefano Filippo Brighina
In recent years, our knowledge rapidly increased with respect to the immunology and immunological aspects of neuromuscular disorders [...].
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030269
Authors: Qianqian Kong Xinxin Xie Ziyue Wang Yi Zhang Xirui Zhou Lingshan Wu Zhiyuan Yu Hao Huang Xiang Luo
Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), which is a group of pathological processes affecting cerebral microvessels, leads to functional loss in the elderly population and mostly presents as cognitive impairment and gait decline. CSVD is diagnosed based on brain imaging biomarkers, but blood biomarkers are of great significance for the early diagnosis and progression prediction of CSVD and have become a research focus because of their noninvasiveness and easy accessibility. Notably, many blood biomarkers have been reported to be associated with CSVD in a relatively large population, particularly serum neurofilament light chain (NfL), which has been regarded as a promising biomarker to track the variation trend in WMH and to predict the further status of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and lacunar infarcts. And neuro-glio-vascular unit structure and blood–brain barrier function have been proposed as underlying mechanisms of CSVD. The article starts from the neuroimaging markers of CSVD, including recent small subcortical infarcts (RSSI), white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMB), enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS), cerebral atrophy, and the combined small vessel disease score, and attempts to systematically review and summarize the research progress regarding the blood biomarkers of CSVD that form the changes in the neuro-glio-vascular unit structure and blood–brain barrier function.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030268
Authors: Xiuzhen Yao Tianwen Li Peng Ding Fan Wang Lei Zhao Anmin Gong Wenya Nan Yunfa Fu
Objectives: The temporal and spatial information of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals is crucial for recognizing features in emotion classification models, but it excessively relies on manual feature extraction. The transformer model has the capability of performing automatic feature extraction; however, its potential has not been fully explored in the classification of emotion-related EEG signals. To address these challenges, the present study proposes a novel model based on transformer and convolutional neural networks (TCNN) for EEG spatial–temporal (EEG ST) feature learning to automatic emotion classification. Methods: The proposed EEG ST-TCNN model utilizes position encoding (PE) and multi-head attention to perceive channel positions and timing information in EEG signals. Two parallel transformer encoders in the model are used to extract spatial and temporal features from emotion-related EEG signals, and a CNN is used to aggregate the EEG’s spatial and temporal features, which are subsequently classified using Softmax. Results: The proposed EEG ST-TCNN model achieved an accuracy of 96.67% on the SEED dataset and accuracies of 95.73%, 96.95%, and 96.34% for the arousal–valence, arousal, and valence dimensions, respectively, for the DEAP dataset. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed ST-TCNN model, with superior performance in emotion classification compared to recent relevant studies. Significance: The proposed EEG ST-TCNN model has the potential to be used for EEG-based automatic emotion recognition.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030267
Authors: Betty Wutzl Kenji Leibnitz Masayuki Murata
We focus on finding a correlation between the asymmetries of electroencephalography (EEG) signals and subjective well-being (SWB) when changed on short time scales via environmental conditions. Most research in this field focuses on frontal alpha asymmetry. We systematically examine different sensor locations and filter the sensor data into the delta band, the theta band, the alpha band, the beta band, and the gamma band, or leave the EEG signal unfiltered. We confirm that frontal alpha asymmetry is correlated to SWB. However, asymmetries between other sensors and/or filtering the data to other bands also shows a linear correlation to SWB values. Asymmetries of anterior brain regions show statistically significant results not only in the alpha band but also in the delta band and theta band, or when the data is not filtered into a specific band. Asymmetries of posterior regions show a trend to be correlated to SWB when EEG activity is higher on the opposite hemisphere and filtered into different frequency bands. Thus, our results let us conclude that focusing just on frontal sensors and the alpha band might not reveal the whole picture of brain regions and frequency bands involved in SWB.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030266
Authors: Enrico Cipriani Sergio Frumento Simone Grassini Angelo Gemignani Danilo Menicucci
One significant obstacle to gaining a widespread awareness of the ongoing climate change is the nature of its manifestations in relation to our perception: climate change effects are gradual, distributed, and sometimes seemingly contradictory. These features result in a lag in collective climate action and sometimes foster climate skepticism and climate denial. While the literature on climate change perception and belief has thoroughly explored its sociocultural and sociopolitical aspects, research on the potential contribution of psychophysiological factors remains scarce. In this perspective paper, we outline evidence and arguments for the involvement of psychophysiological systems such as thermoception, hygroreception, and interoception in modulating climate change awareness. We discuss psychophysiological mechanisms of climate change awareness in animals and humans, as well as possible sources of individual variance in climate change perception. We conclude by suggesting novel research questions which would be worthwhile to pursue in future studies.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030265
Authors: Robert Goldsmith Amal Aburahma Jon E. Sprague
Structural modifications to synthetic psychoactive cathinones (SPCs), a class of drugs that contain a β-keto modification of the phenethylamine pharmacophore of amphetamine, induce differences in dopamine transporter (DAT) activity. Here, in vivo retrodialysis was utilized to deliver the SPCs 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV, a DAT inhibitor) or methylone (a DAT substrate) into the caudate putamen of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Dialysate samples were collected prior to and post drug administration, and temporal changes in dopamine concentration were quantified using HPLC-EC methods. Methylone elicited a 200% increase and MDPV a 470% increase in dopamine levels at the 10 min time point. The findings demonstrate that in vivo retrodialysis can be used to evaluate the effects of SPCs on neurotransmission in the brain.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030264
Authors: Xiaoming Jiang Xiquan Ma Ryan Sanford Xun Li
Despite most studies on the neurobiology of language demonstrating the central part of the perisylvian network involved in language and speech function, this review attempts to complement this view by focusing on the role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). This region is primarily involved in goal-directed adaptive behavior. Recently, there has been increasing evidence that the OFC is involved in language and speech tasks. This review demonstrates that not only the linguistic tasks that involve the processing of socially, pragmatically and emotionally relevant information engage OFC and its neurobiological mechanisms, but also specific receptive and expressive language performances rely on specific neurophysiological properties of this region (e.g., the gray matter volume and the functional activation of OFC and the uncinate fasciculus that connects OFC), which in many cases, demand executive functions. These findings highlight: (1) The OFC plays a relevant role in the adaptive neurobiological function of language; (2) the neurobiological mechanisms beyond linguistic and speech processes complement and interplay with the language-unique processes to achieve successful comprehension and production in the changing communicative contexts.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030263
Authors: Evelyne Wiskerke Jan Kool Roger Hilfiker Martin Sattelmayer Geert Verheyden
Background: Virtual reality (VR) therapy is increasingly used and has shown encouraging effects. Yet, it is unknown which patients respond best to VR-based balance therapy as part of neurorehabilitation. Methods: Data from 30 persons with stroke and 51 persons with multiple sclerosis who performed three to four weeks of VR-based balance therapy during in-patient rehabilitation were analysed. Participants were divided into responders and nonresponders based on achievement of the minimal clinically important difference in functional balance post intervention. Measures of balance, trunk function, mobility, gait, motivation, and exergame parameters were compared between groups. Results: Post intervention, all clinical measurements significantly improved (p < 0.05; effect size: 0.45–0.59). Participants that achieved the minimal clinically important difference in functional balance (n = 49; 60%) had significantly lower preintervention functional and dynamic balance (median(IQR): 39(27–46) versus 45(37–50); p = 0.02 and 11(6–15) versus 16(11–18); p = 0.03). They spent less time on higher difficulty exercises (11(8–17) versus 14.5(10–12); p = 0.03) and demonstrated increased motivation over time compared with nonresponders (1(−1–5) versus −2(−7–3); p = 0.03). Conclusion: Lower baseline balance ability, spending more time on adequately challenging exercises, and increased motivation potentially influence response to therapy. These factors can support the personalisation of VR-based balance therapy.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030262
Authors: Melina Vladisauskas Gabriel O. Paz Verónica Nin Jesús A. Guillén Laouen Belloli Hernán Delgado Martín A. Miguel Daniela Macario Cabral Diego E. Shalom Anna Forés Alejandra Carboni Diego Fernández-Slezak Andrea P. Goldin
Mate Marote is an open-access cognitive training software aimed at children between 4 and 8 years old. It consists of a set of computerized games specifically tailored to train and evaluate Executive Functions (EF), a class of processes critical for purposeful, goal-directed behavior, including working memory, planning, flexibility, and inhibitory control. Since 2008, several studies were performed with this software at children’s own schools in interventions supervised in-person by cognitive scientists. After 2015, we incorporated naturalistic, yet controlled, interventions with children’s own teachers’ help. The platform includes a battery of standardized tests, disguised as games, to assess children’s EF. The main question that emerges is whether the results, obtained with these traditional tasks but conducted without the presence of researchers, are comparable to those widely reported in the literature, that were obtained in more supervised settings. In this study, we were able to replicate the expected difficulty and age effects in at least one of the analyzed dependent variables of each employed test. We also report important discrepancies between the expected and the observed response time patterns, specifically for time-constrained tasks. We hereby discuss the benefits and setbacks of a new possible strategy for this type of assessment in naturalistic settings. We conclude that this battery of established EF tasks adapted for its remote usage is appropriate to measure the expected mental processes in naturalistic settings, enriching opportunities to upscale cognitive training interventions at schools. These types of tools can constitute a concerted strategy to bring together educational neuroscience research and real-life practice.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030261
Authors: Hamid Mostafavi Abdolmaleky Shabnam Nohesara Sam Thiagalingam
Brain-hemisphere asymmetry/laterality is a well-conserved biological feature of normal brain development. Several lines of evidence, confirmed by the meta-analysis of different studies, support the disruption of brain laterality in mental illnesses such as schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and autism. Furthermore, as abnormal brain lateralization in the planum temporale (a critical structure in auditory language processing) has been reported in patients with SCZ, it has been considered a major cause for the onset of auditory verbal hallucinations. Interestingly, the peripheral counterparts of abnormal brain laterality in mental illness, particularly in SCZ, have also been shown in several structures of the human body. For instance, the fingerprints of patients with SCZ exhibit aberrant asymmetry, and while their hair whorl rotation is random, 95% of the general population exhibit a clockwise rotation. In this work, we present a comprehensive literature review of brain laterality disturbances in mental illnesses such as SCZ, BD, ADHD, and OCD, followed by a systematic review of the epigenetic factors that may be involved in the disruption of brain lateralization in mental health disorders. We will conclude with a discussion on whether existing non-pharmacological therapies such as rTMS and ECT may be used to influence the altered functional asymmetry of the right and left hemispheres of the brain, along with their epigenetic and corresponding gene-expression patterns.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030260
Authors: Charlotte von Gall Leon Holub Amira A. H. Ali Simon Eickhoff
Sleep timing is controlled by intrinsic homeostatic and circadian components. The circadian component controls the chronotype, which is defined by the propensity to sleep at a particular clock time. However, sleep timing can be significantly affected by external factors such as the morning alarm clock. In this study, we analysed the timing of deep and REM sleep as well as the composition of REM sleep using Fitbit sleep staging in young healthy adults (n = 59) under real-life conditions. Sleep stage percentiles were correlated with the timing of total sleep in time after sleep onset for the homeostatic component and in clock time for the circadian component. Regarding the circadian component, the phase of total sleep is most strongly associated with the phases of early deep sleep and REM sleep. Furthermore, a stronger phase relationship between deep and REM sleep with total sleep is associated with greater consolidation of REM sleep. Chronotype-dependent sleep loss correlates negatively with the strength of the phase relationship between deep sleep and total sleep. In conclusion, the interaction of the circadian component of sleep timing with the timing of sleep stages is associated with REM sleep quality. In particular, the interaction of the circadian component of sleep timing with deep sleep seems to be more vulnerable to external factors.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030259
Authors: Georg Kerkhoff Antje Kraft
Reading disorders are frequent in homonymous hemianopia and are termed hemianopic dyslexia (HD). The existing treatment methods have shown improvements in reading speed, accuracy, and eye movements during reading. Yet, little is known about the transfer effects of such treatments on functional, reading-related tasks of daily life, e.g., reading phone numbers, finding typing errors or text memory. In addition, little is known about the effects on symptom load and return to work. Here, we examined a new reading therapy entailing three different methods—floating text, rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) of single words, and the moving window technique—and evaluated their efficacy. Twenty-seven chronic HD patients were treated in a baseline design with treatment-free intervals before and after a treatment period of several months. HD was assessed with a battery of reading tests and a questionnaire about subjective symptom load at four time-points. Patients received all three reading therapies over several weeks. The results show significant and stable improvements during treatment within all measures. Approximately 63% of treated patients returned to work after the therapy. We concluded that our novel HD treatment led to widespread and lasting improvements in reading performance, generalized to functional reading tasks and reduced symptom load, and the majority of patients were able to return to work.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030258
Authors: Robert W. Seaman Kariann Lamon Nicholas Whitton Brian Latimer Agnieszka Sulima Kenner C. Rice Kevin S. Murnane Gregory T. Collins
Recent data suggest that 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) has neurotoxic effects; however, the cognitive and neurochemical consequences of MDPV self-administration remain largely unexplored. Furthermore, despite the fact that drug preparations that contain MDPV often also contain caffeine, little is known regarding the toxic effects produced by the co-use of these two stimulants. The current study investigated the degree to which self-administered MDPV or a mixture of MDPV+caffeine can produce deficits in recognition memory and alter neurochemistry relative to prototypical stimulants. Male Sprague Dawley rats were provided 90 min or 12 h access to MDPV, MDPV+caffeine, methamphetamine, cocaine, or saline for 6 weeks. Novel object recognition (NOR) memory was evaluated prior to any drug self-administration history and 3 weeks after the final self-administration session. Rats that had 12 h access to methamphetamine and those that had 90 min or 12 h access to MDPV+caffeine exhibited significant deficits in NOR, whereas no significant deficits were observed in rats that self-administered cocaine or MDPV. Striatal monoamine levels were not systematically affected. These data demonstrate synergism between MDPV and caffeine with regard to producing recognition memory deficits, highlighting the importance of recapitulating the manner in which drugs are used (e.g., in mixtures containing multiple stimulants, binge-like patterns of intake).
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030257
Authors: Xinqi Su Ruilin Fu Huiling Li Nan Jiang Aqian Li Jingyu Yang Leilei Mei
Adaptation aftereffects—in which prolonged prior experience (adaptation) can bias the subsequent judgment of ambiguous stimuli—are a ubiquitous phenomenon. Numerous studies have found behaviorally stable adaptation aftereffects in a variety of areas. However, it is unclear which brain regions are responsible for this function, particularly in the case of high-level emotional adaptation aftereffects. To address this question, the present study used fMRI technology to investigate the neural mechanism of emotional adaptation aftereffects. Consistent with previous studies, we observed typical emotional adaptation effects in behavior. Specifically, for the same morphed facial images, participants perceived increased sadness after adapting to a happy facial image and increased happiness after adapting to a sad facial image. More crucially, by contrasting neural responses to ambiguous morphed facial images (i.e., facial images of intermediate morph levels) following adaptation to happy and sad expressions, we demonstrated a neural mechanism of emotional aftereffects supported by the left amygdala/insula, right angular gyrus, and right inferior frontal gyrus. These results suggest that the aftereffects of emotional adaptation are supported not only by brain regions subserving emotional processing but also by those subserving cognitive control.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030256
Authors: Aleksandra Arciszewska-Leszczuk Andrzej Cechnicki Dorota Frydecka Dawid Kruk Łukasz Gawęda
The aim of this study was to investigate whether Trail Making Test (TMT) performance is associated with the severity of psychopathological symptoms related to psychosis among young adults with elevated level of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), and whether this relationship is mediated by cognitive biases and socio-occupational functioning. A total of 187 subjects from a larger population of 6722 young adults participated in this 1-year follow-up study. The inclusion criteria were an elevated level of PLEs (the highest score of the Prodromal Questionnaire) and a lack of schizophrenia diagnosis. Eventually, 134 subjects (71.6%) completed the TMT, as well as the DACOBS scale (cognitive biases), at baseline and were examined twice using the CAARMS (psychopathology) and SOFAS (socio-occupational functioning) scales. In the first (I) and second (II) measurements, the calculated effects indicate indirect-only mediations, which explained 35 and 38% of the variance of the CAARMS. The TMT B execution time was positively associated with the DACOBS scale (β = 0.19, p = 0.028), which was negatively related to the SOFAS I (β = −0.37, p < 0.001) and SOFAS II (β = −0.20, p = 0.016) measurements. A lower score on the SOFAS I predicted a higher score on the CAARMS I (β = −0.50, p < 0.001), and a lower SOFAS II predicted a higher score on the CAARMS II (β = −0.61, p < 0.001). Subtle EF dysfunctions may, over time, translate into a greater severity of symptoms related to psychosis in people with elevated PLEs, and this is mediated by a deterioration of their metacognition and socio-occupational functioning.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030255
Authors: Anna Jopowicz Agnieszka Piechal Elżbieta Bronisz Iwona Kurkowska-Jastrzębska
The primary problem in the treatment of epilepsy is poor seizure control. Several studies have shown that non-adherence to doctors’ recommendations regarding drug dosage, time of drug administration as well as lifestyle modifications are the most frequent causes of the persistence or reoccurrence of seizures, other than cases of misdiagnosis and poor drug selection. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of non-compliance with medical recommendations, both in relation to medicine dosage, regularity of administration and lifestyle, and also to determine the factors affecting patients with diagnosed epilepsy. This study was carried out on a total of 169 patients diagnosed with epilepsy who were under the care of an outpatient neurology clinic. The assessment of compliance was performed using the Patient Rating of Compliance Scale (PRCS), Clinician Rating Scale (CRS) and authors’ scale. Depending on the scale used, varying degrees of non-compliance were noted. They were as follows—65.3% on the authors’ scale, 10% on the PRCS and 9% on the CRS. The following factors influenced compliance with doctors’ recommendations: type of epilepsy, consumption of alcoholic beverages, frequency of follow-up visits to the neurology clinic, type of pharmacotherapy and number of medicines taken.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030253
Authors: Christian Schranz Na Jin Seo
Background: Stroke is a major cause of disability worldwide. Upper limb impairment is prevalent after stroke. One of the post-stroke manifestations is impaired grip force directional control contributing to diminished abilities to grip and manipulate objects necessary for activities of daily living. The objective of this study was to investigate the neural origin of the impaired grip force direction control following stroke. Due to the importance of online adjustment of motor output based on sensory feedback, it was hypothesized that grip force direction control would be associated with cortical sensorimotor integration in stroke survivors. Methods: Ten chronic stroke survivors participated in this study. Cortical sensorimotor integration was quantified by short latency afferent inhibition (SAI), which represents the responsiveness of the primary motor cortex to somatosensory input. Grip force direction control was assessed during paretic grip. Results: Grip force direction control was significantly associated with SAI. This relationship was independent of sensory impairment level. Conclusions: Cortical sensorimotor integration may play a significant role in the grip force direction control important for gripping and manipulating objects with the affected hand following stroke. This knowledge may be used to inform personalized rehabilitation treatment. For example, for patients with impaired grip force direction control, behavioral therapy focusing on feedback motor control, augmented by use of brain stimulation to reinforce cortical sensorimotor integration such as paired associative stimulation, may be applied.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030254
Authors: Gervith Reyes-Soto Alfonso Corona De la Torre Kaori Guadalupe Honda Partida Renat Nurmukhametov Manuel De Jesus Encarnacion Ramirez Nicola Montemurro
Craniocervical tumors lead to cervical pain, instability, and neurological symptoms, reducing the quality of life. Effective surgical intervention at the craniocervical junction (CCJ) is critical and complex, involving comprehensive approaches and advanced reconstructive techniques. This study, conducted at Mexico City’s National Institute of Cancerology, focused on three surgical cases that occurred in 2023 involving tumors at the CCJ: two chordomas and one prostate adenocarcinoma. We utilized a specialized technique: clivus-cervical stabilization reinforced with a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-filled cervical mesh. Postoperatively, patients showed marked neurological recovery and reduced cervical pain, with enhanced Karnofsky and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores indicating improved life quality. The surgical technique provided excellent exposure and effective tumor resection, utilizing PMMA-filled cervical mesh for stability. Tumoral lesions at the CCJ causing instability can be surgically treated through a transoral approach. This type of approach should be performed with precise indications to avoid complications associated with the procedure.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030252
Authors: Eric Siéroff Yael Slama Jordane Manouvrier Agathe Laurent
Word reading requires a range of spatial attention processes, such as orienting to a specific word and selecting it while ignoring other words. This study investigated whether deficits of these spatial attention processes can show dissociations after hemispheric lesions. Thirty-nine patients with left or right focal epilepsy and 66 healthy participants had to read aloud four-letter words presented in the left and right visual hemifields. There were three successive blocks of presentation: in the unilateral block, a single word was presented in one of the visual hemifields; in the bilateral block, two words were presented simultaneously, one in each visual hemifield; in the cued block, two words were also presented, but only the cued word had to be reported. Twenty-one patients, twelve with a left and nine with a right hemisphere lesion, showed a word reading deficit. Four had specific difficulties in the cued block, suggesting an attentional selection reading deficit. Twelve patients had an asymmetric reading deficit, suggesting an attention orientation or a visual field deficit. Five patients had more complex deficits. The visual field presentation procedure may help to reveal different types of reading disorders in patients with epilepsy and to dissociate orienting and selecting deficits.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030251
Authors: Anna Karavia Anastasia Papaioannou Ioannis Michopoulos Panos C. Papageorgiou George Papaioannou Fragiskos Gonidakis Charalabos C. Papageorgiou
Anorexia nervosa is associated with impaired cognitive flexibility and central coherence, i.e., the ability to provide an overview of complex information. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate EEG features elicited from patients with anorexia nervosa and healthy controls during mental tasks (valid and invalid Aristotelian syllogisms and paradoxes). Particularly, we examined the combination of the most significant syllogisms with selected features (relative power of the time–frequency domain and wavelet-estimated EEG-specific waves, Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD), and information-oriented approximate entropy (AppEn)). We found that alpha, beta, gamma, theta waves, and AppEn are the most suitable measures, which, when combined with specific syllogisms, form a powerful tool for efficiently classifying healthy subjects and patients with AN. We assessed the performance of triadic combinations of “feature–classifier–syllogism” via machine learning techniques in correctly classifying new subjects in these two groups. The following triads attain the best classifications: (a) “AppEn-invalid-ensemble BT classifier” (accuracy 83.3%), (b) “Higuchi FD-valid-linear discriminant” (accuracy 75%), (c) “alpha amplitude-valid-SVM” (accuracy 83.3%), (d) “alpha RP-paradox-ensemble BT” (accuracy 85%), (e) “beta RP-valid-ensemble” (accuracy 85%), (f) “gamma RP-valid-SVM” (accuracy 85%), and (g) “theta RP-valid-KNN” (accuracy 80%). Our findings suggest that anorexia nervosa has a specific information-processing style across reasoning tasks in the brain as measured via EEG activity. Our findings also contribute to further supporting the view that entropy-oriented, i.e., information-based features (the AppEn measure used in this study) are promising diagnostic tools (biomarkers) in clinical applications related to medical classification problems. Furthermore, the main EEG-specific frequency waves are extremely enhanced and become powerful classification tools when combined with Aristotle’s syllogisms.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030250
Authors: Licong Chen Lulu Zhang Yidan Li Quanquan Zhang Qi Fang Xiang Tang
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an inflammatory marker, plays an important role in the inflammatory mechanisms of the pathophysiology and progression of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The aim of this study was to identify the potential factors associated with functional prognosis in AIS. A total of 303 AIS patients were enrolled in this study; baseline information of each participant, including demographic characteristics, medical history, laboratory data, and 90-day functional outcome, was collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that NLR, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score were found to be independent factors for poor functional outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to estimate the predictive value of the NLR for 90-day functional outcome, with the best predictive cutoff value being 3.06. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, three models were constructed: Model 1, adjusted for age, sex, SBP, and TOAST classification (AUC = 0.694); Model 2, further adjusted for the NIHSS score at admission (AUC = 0.826); and Model 3, additionally adjusted for the NLR (AUC = 0.829). The NLR at admission was an independent predictor of 90-day prognosis in patients with AIS. The risk factors related to poor 90-day functional outcomes were higher SBP, higher NLR, and a greater NIHSS score.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030249
Authors: Giuseppe De Benedittis
Hypnosis, a time-honored therapeutic approach, has gained widespread recognition for its effectiveness in addressing a range of psychological and somatic disorders. While its primary effects are mediated by central top–down mechanisms, hypnosis also exerts peripheral influence by modulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Psychophysiological measures, such as heart rate (HR) and its variability (HRV), electrodermal activity (EDA), respiratory rate (RR), and the analgesia nociceptive index (ANI), serve as reliable indicators of ANS activity. Studies have consistently demonstrated hypnosis’ ability to significantly impact ANS functions, lowering sympathetic activity and enhancing parasympathetic tone. This effect is particularly pronounced during relaxation procedures and is influenced by mediating factors like hypnotizability and task conditions. Despite methodological limitations, this review highlights the potential of enhanced ANS modulation through hypnosis, including its connections to the central nervous system (CNS), to optimize therapeutic outcomes in patients with psychosomatic disorders associated with ANS dysfunction.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030248
Authors: Mario Renato Velit-Salazar Paulo R. Shiroma Eloise Cherian
Objective: This study aims to provide an overview of pharmacological trials that examine the neurocognitive effects of psychedelics among healthy individuals and patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) was used as a guide to structure and report the findings for this review. A literature search included the MEDLINE database up until December 2022. We included randomized or open-label human studies of MDMA, psilocybin, mescaline, LSD, DMT, or cannabis reporting non-emotionally charged neurocognitive outcomes (“cold cognition”) measured through validated neuropsychological tests. Results: A total of 43 full-text papers on MDMA (15), cannabis (12), LSD (6), psilocybin (9), DMT/ayahuasca (1), and mescaline (0) were included, mostly on healthy subjects. A single article on MDMA’s effects on cognition in subjects with PTSD was included; there were no studies on psychedelics and neurocognition in MDD. Most of the studies on healthy subjects reported detrimental or neutral effects on cognition during the peak effect of psychedelics with a few exceptions (e.g., MDMA improved psychomotor function). Performance on the type of neurocognitive dimension (e.g., attention, memory, executive function, psychomotor) varies by type of psychedelic, dosage, and cognitive testing. Conclusions: Small samples and a lack of uniformed methods across studies preclude unequivocal conclusions on whether psychedelics enhance, decrease, or have no significant effect on cognitive performance. It is foreseen that psychedelics will soon become an available treatment for various psychiatric disorders. The acute and long-term effects on cognition caused by psychedelics should be assessed in future studies.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030247
Authors: Madison M. Fagan Kelly M. Scheulin Sydney E. Sneed Wenwu Sun Christina B. Welch Savannah R. Cheek Erin E. Kaiser Qun Zhao Kylee J. Duberstein Franklin D. West
Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) often induces significant disability in patients, including long-term motor deficits. Early detection of injury severity is key in determining a prognosis and creating appropriate intervention and rehabilitation plans. However, conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, such as T2 Weighted (T2W) sequences, do not reliably assess the extent of microstructural white matter injury. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography enables three-dimensional reconstruction of specific white matter tracts throughout the brain in order to detect white matter injury based on anisotropic diffusion. The objective of this study was to employ DTI tractography to detect acute changes to white matter integrity within the intersecting fibers of key motor-related brain regions following TBI. Piglets were assigned to either the sham craniectomy group (sham; n = 6) or the controlled cortical impact TBI group (TBI; n = 6). Gait and MRI were collected at seven days post-surgery (DPS). T2W sequences confirmed a localized injury predominately in the ipsilateral hemisphere in TBI animals. TBI animals, relative to sham animals, showed an increased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in fiber bundles associated with key brain regions involved in motor function. TBI animals exhibited gait deficits, including stride and step length, compared to sham animals. Together these data demonstrate acute reductions in the white matter integrity, measured by DTI tractography, of fibers intersecting key brain regions that strongly corresponded with acute motor deficits in a pediatric piglet TBI model. These results provide the foundation for the further development of DTI-based biomarkers to evaluate motor outcomes following TBI.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030246
Authors: Sonja Elsaid Ruoyu Wang Stefan Kloiber Rebecca Haines-Saah Ahmed N. Hassan Bernard Le Foll
Previous research has indicated that anticipating positive effects from cannabis use may be linked with increased frequency of cannabis consumption, yet these expectancies remain poorly understood in adults with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Thus, our study aimed to investigate the expectancies of the effects of cannabis use in 26 frequently using adults with SAD (age: 27.9 ± 7.3 years; 54% female) and 26 (age: 27.4 ± 6.7 years; 50% female) without. While no between-group differences were observed, both groups reported expecting tension reduction and relaxation (F = 0.001; p = 0.974), cravings, and physical effects (F = 1.10; p = 0.300), but denied global negative effects (F = 0.11; p = 0.744). The trajectory of cannabis use perceptions (further investigated in 12/26 participants/group) also showed no between-group differences. Before the initial use, positive perceptions may have led to initial and continuous cannabis consumption, while the symptoms of cannabis use disorder may have contributed to repeated use. Our data indicate that, regardless of psychiatric history, frequent cannabis-using adults are more likely to report positive expectancies, which are often associated with increased patterns of cannabis consumption. Psychoeducational programs and openly discussing the risks of cannabis may be beneficial in preventing and/or reducing cannabis use in people with SAD.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030245
Authors: Jiaqi Fang Gang Li Wanxiu Xu Wei Liu Guibin Chen Yixia Zhu Youdong Luo Xiaodong Luo Bin Zhou
Depressive disorder (DD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), two prominent mental health conditions, are commonly diagnosed using subjective methods such as scales and interviews. Previous research indicated that machine learning (ML) can enhance our understanding of their underlying mechanisms. This study seeks to investigate the mechanisms of DD, GAD, and healthy controls (HC) while constructing a diagnostic framework for triple classifications. Specifically, the experiment involved collecting electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from 42 DD patients, 45 GAD patients, and 38 HC adults. The Phase Lag Index (PLI) was employed to quantify brain functional connectivity and analyze differences in functional connectivity among three groups. This study also explored the impact of time window feature computations on classification performance, including the XGBoost, CatBoost, LightGBM, and ensemble models. In order to enhance classification performance, a feature optimization algorithm based on Autogluon-Tabular was proposed. The results indicate that a 12 s time window provides optimal classification performance for the three groups, achieving the highest accuracy of 97.33% with the ensemble model. The analysis further reveals a significant reorganization of the brain, with the most pronounced changes observed in the frontal lobe and beta rhythm. These findings support the hypothesis of abnormal brain functional connectivity in DD and GAD, contributing valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying DD and GAD.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030244
Authors: Kengo Moriyama Asako Horino Kuniko Kohyama Yasumasa Nishito Tomohiro Morio Hiroshi Sakuma
Hypoxic–ischemic brain injury induces metabolic dysfunction that ultimately leads to neuronal cell death. Astrocytes, a type of glial cell, play a key role in brain metabolism; however, their response to hypoxic–ischemic brain injury is not fully understood. Microglia were removed from murine primary mixed glial cultures to enrich astrocytes. Next, we explored genes whose expression is altered following oxygen–glucose deprivation using a microarray. Microarray analysis revealed that the expression of Nr4a1 and Nr4a3 is markedly increased in astrocyte-enriched cultures after 15 h of oxygen–glucose deprivation. The expression of both Nr4a1 and Nr4a3 was regulated by HIF-1α. At the protein level, NR4A1 was translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm following oxygen–glucose deprivation and co-localized with mitochondria in apoptotic cells; however, its localization was restored to the nucleus after reoxygenation. Oxygen–glucose deprivation causes an increase in NR4A1 mRNA in astrocytes as well as its nuclear to cytoplasmic transfer. Furthermore, reoxygenation enhances NR4A1 transcription and promotes its nuclear translocation.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030243
Authors: Vitalie Vacaras Andreea-Cristina Paraschiv Silvina Iluț Cristiana Vacaras Cristina Nistor Gheorghe-Eduard Marin Andra Maria Schiopu Dorian-Traian Nistor Ștefan Cristian Vesa Dafin Fior Mureșanu
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating central nervous system disease that leads to neurological disability. Brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNFs) are neurotrophins involved in neurodegenerative disorders. This study analysed the relationship between serum BDNF, neurological disability and different MS treatments. We included 63 people with MS (PwMS), with relapsing-remitting MS or clinically isolated syndrome, and 16 healthy controls (HCs). We analysed the serum levels of BDNF and MS specific disability tests (Expanded Disability Status Scale, timed 25-foot walk test, nine-hole peg test), at baseline (V0) and after one year of interferon beta1a or teriflunomide treatment (V1). Baseline BDNF values were not different between the PwMS and HCs (p = 0.85). The BDNF levels were higher in PwMS vs. HCs after treatment (p = 0.003). BDNF was not related to last-year relapses or by the disease duration (all p > 0.05). The overall values for the PwMS decreased after one year (p < 0.001). Both treatments implied a similar reduction. BDNF was not related to neurological disability (p > 0.05). BDNF values were not influenced by the lesion burden, active lesions, or new lesions on MRI (p > 0.05). In our cohort, the PwMS had higher BDNF levels compared to the HCs after one year of treatment. BDNF was not related to clinical or paraclinical disease severity signs.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030242
Authors: Maksymilian Rejek Błażej Misiak
Background: The intricate correlation between environmental exposures and mental health outcomes is increasingly acknowledged in psychiatric research. This study investigated the relationship between cumulative environmental risk factors, as represented by the exposome score (ES), and various domains of psychopathology within a non-clinical sample using a network analysis. Methods: We recruited 1100 participants (aged 18–35 years, 51.4% females) via a computer-assisted web interview, assessing psychopathological symptoms using standardized questionnaires. Environmental exposures, including season of birth, obstetric complications, advanced paternal age, childhood trauma, cannabis use, and urban upbringing, were self-reported to calculate the ES. Results: A network analysis revealed significant associations of the ES with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) (weight = 0.113), manic (weight = 0.072), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms (weight = 0.062). These connections did not differ significantly with respect to their weights. Depressive symptoms had the highest centrality and predictability. The mean predictability across all nodes included in the network was 0.344. Conclusions: These findings underscore the transdiagnostic nature of environmental exposures, aligning with previous research indicating broad associations between the ES and various facets of psychopathology. Our results suggest that the ES may not specifically correlate with PLEs but may indicate the risk of a broader psychopathology.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030241
Authors: Aleksandra Bala Agnieszka Olejnik Michał Kułak Andrzej Rysz Tomasz Dziedzic Arkadiusz Nowak Andrzej Marchel Przemysław Kunert
Drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with a reduction in the quality of life of patients. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life before and after the surgical treatment of epilepsy and to assess factors that may affect the well-being of patients after surgery. The study involved 168 patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. All of them were examined twice: once before and again one year after surgery. Two questionnaires were used in the study: the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-Patient-Weighted and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and one that collected data on selected demographic and clinical variables. The results showed that patients scored significantly higher in quality of life and lower in depression and anxiety after surgery; however, this only applied to patients with a good outcome of treatment (Engel Class I and Class II). Patients with an unfavorable outcome of surgical treatment (Engel Class III and Class IV) achieved significantly worse results in all examined variables. Correlational analysis showed a relationship between select aspects of quality of life and the level of depression and anxiety, as well as the frequency of seizures and age at epilepsy onset. There was no significant relationship with age, sex, education, or number of prescribed antiepileptic drugs. The study confirms the significant relationship between the quality of life and the effectiveness of surgical treatment, indicating the relationship between patients’ well-being and selected clinical indicators.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030240
Authors: Dong Cui Han Li Hongyuan Shao Guanghua Gu Xiaonan Guo Xiaoli Li
Background: Mathematical modeling and computer simulation are important methods for understanding complex neural systems. The whole-brain network model can help people understand the neurophysiological mechanisms of brain cognition and functional diseases of the brain. Methods: In this study, we constructed a resting-state whole-brain network model (WBNM) by using the Wendling neural mass model as the node and a real structural connectivity matrix as the edge of the network. By analyzing the correlation between the simulated functional connectivity matrix in the resting state and the empirical functional connectivity matrix, an optimal global coupling coefficient was obtained. Then, the waveforms and spectra of simulated EEG signals and four commonly used measures from graph theory and small-world network properties of simulated brain networks under different thresholds were analyzed. Results: The results showed that the correlation coefficient of the functional connectivity matrix of the simulated WBNM and empirical brain networks could reach a maximum value of 0.676 when the global coupling coefficient was set to 20.3. The simulated EEG signals showed rich waveform and frequency-band characteristics. The commonly used graph-theoretical measures and small-world properties of the constructed WBNM were similar to those of empirical brain networks. When the threshold was set to 0.22, the maximum correlation between the simulated WBNM and empirical brain networks was 0.709. Conclusions: The constructed resting-state WBNM is similar to a real brain network to a certain extent and can be used to study the neurophysiological mechanisms of complex brain networks.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030239
Authors: Rita Formisano Mariagrazia D’Ippolito Marco Giustini Sheila Catani Stefania Mondello Iliana Piccolino Filomena Iannuzzi Kevin K. Wang Ronald L. Hayes
Introduction: Serum biomarkers, such as Neurofilament Light (NF-L), Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase (UCH-L1), and Total-tau (T-Tau) have been proposed for outcome prediction in the acute phase of severe traumatic brain injury, but they have been less investigated in patients with prolonged DoC (p-DoC). Methods: We enrolled 25 p-DoC patients according to the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R). We identified different time points: injury onset (t0), first blood sampling at admission in Neurorehabilitation (t1), and second blood sampling at discharge (t2). Patients were split into improved (improved level of consciousness from t1 to t2) and not-improved (unchanged or worsened level of consciousness from t1 to t2). Results: All biomarker levels decreased over time, even though each biomarker reveals typical features. Serum GFAP showed a weak correlation between t1 and t2 (p = 0.001), while no correlation was observed for serum NF-L (p = 0.955), UCH-L1 (p = 0.693), and T-Tau (p = 0.535) between t1 and t2. Improved patients showed a significant decrease in the level of NF-L (p = 0.0001), UCH-L1 (p = 0.001), and T-Tau (p = 0.002), but not for serum GFAP (p = 0.283). No significant statistical differences were observed in the not-improved group. Conclusions: A significant correlation was found between the level of consciousness improvement and decreased NF-L, UCH-L1, and T-Tau levels. Future studies on the association of serum biomarkers with neurophysiological and neuroimaging prognostic indicators are recommended.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030238
Authors: Chen-Meng Qiao Wen-Yan Huang Yu Zhou Wei Quan Gu-Yu Niu Ting Li Mei-Xuan Zhang Jian Wu Li-Ping Zhao Wei-Jiang Zhao Chun Cui Yan-Qin Shen
Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may represent potential strategies for Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment. Our previous research revealed a decreased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) in PD mice; however, whether Akk is beneficial to PD is unknown. To answer this question, the mice received MPTP intraperitoneally to construct a subacute model of PD and were then supplemented with Akk orally for 21 consecutive days. Motor function, dopaminergic neurons, neuroinflammation, and neurogenesis were examined. In addition, intestinal inflammation, and serum and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analyses, were assessed. We found that Akk treatment effectively inhibited the reduction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and partially improved the motor function in PD mice. Additionally, Akk markedly alleviated neuroinflammation in the striatum and hippocampus and promoted hippocampal neurogenesis. It also decreased the level of colon inflammation. Furthermore, these aforementioned changes are mainly accompanied by alterations in serum and fecal isovaleric acid levels, and lower intestinal permeability. Our research strongly suggests that Akk is a potential neuroprotective agent for PD therapy.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030237
Authors: Panagiotis Grigoriadis Christos Bakirtzis Elli Nteli Marina-Kleopatra Boziki Maria Kotoumpa Paschalis Theotokis Evangelia Kesidou Stavroula Stavrakaki
While cognitive abilities in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) have been studied in detail, little is known about linguistic abilities in PwMS and their relation to cognitive impairment. In this cross-sectional explorative study, we aim to investigate the morphosyntactic abilities of PwMS alongside their cognitive performance. Furthermore, we explore the effect of clinical factors, namely, the disease duration and MS type, on the linguistic and cognitive performance of PwMS. By so doing, we aim to shed light on neurocognitive and clinical correlates of linguistic performance in PwMS. We included 78 patients and 78 age-, sex- and education-matched healthy individuals. All participants were additionally administered the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) battery, a verbal short-term memory task (non-word repetition) and questionnaires about mood, fatigue and quality of life. In addition, they underwent examinations with morphology and syntax tasks. PwMS were found to be impaired in morphology (past tense) and selectively impaired in syntax alongside cognitive impairments. Disease duration had the main impact on cognitive abilities. The MS type selectively impacted linguistic abilities, as shown by the remarkably deficient performance of the MS individuals with the progressive disease subtype. Linguistic impairments were predicted by only one measure of the BICAM test, namely, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), a measure of cognitive processing speed. Overall, this study contributes to the better understanding of the linguistic profile of PwMS by reporting selective deficits in their morphological and syntactical abilities. Furthermore, it provides insights into the clinical and cognitive correlates of linguistic performance. By so doing, it suggests clinical implications for the development of intervention programs for PwMS.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030236
Authors: Alba Gabarda-Blasco Aina Elias Mariona Mendo-Cullell Laura Arenas-Pijoan Carles Forné David Fernandez-Oñate Laura Bossa Aurora Torrent Xavier Gallart-Palau Iolanda Batalla
Adventure Therapy (AT) is a therapeutic intervention utilizing the natural environment and adventure activities as tools for psychotherapeutic interventions. It has been demonstrated to be appropriate for the intervention of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study aims to evaluate the response to AT treatment compared with the response to treatment as usual (TAU), based on cognitive behavioural therapy, in the short and long term, assessing clinical, psychosocial, and functional outcomes; quality of life; and physical health levels. This study extends the sample of and is a follow-up to a pilot study published in 2021, with a sample of 30 patients in the AT group and 10 in the control group. It does not allow us to affirm that AT provides better outcomes than TAU, as the positive effects observed immediately after therapy seem to be attenuated in the long term. Therefore, the effectiveness of long-term psychotherapy did not show differences between AT and TAU therapies in the treatment of BPD patients. However, the effects of intangibles observed during therapy by professionals and patients were not reflected in the measurements collected. Therefore, we believe it is necessary to increase the programme duration, complement treatment with a specific physical health programme, assess results with more specific instruments, and/or move towards a qualitative methodology to measure perceived changes in clinical improvement. New studies are needed to evaluate the results of the proposed changes.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030235
Authors: Maria De Luca Fabrizio Zeri Alessandro Matano Concetta Di Lorenzo Maria Paola Ciurli Martina Mulas Virginia Pollarini Stefano Paolucci Davide Nardo
A timely detection of visual hemifield deficits (VHFDs; hemianopias or quadrantanopias) is critical for both the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients. The present study determined the sensitivity and specificity of four qualitative visual field tests, including face description, confrontation tests (finger wiggle), and kinetic boundary perimetry, to screen large and dense VHFDs in right-brain-damaged (RBD) stroke patients. Previously, the accuracy of qualitative visual field tests was examined in unselected samples of patients with heterogeneous aetiology, in which stroke patients represented a very small fraction. Building upon existing tests, we introduced some procedural ameliorations (incl. a novel procedure for kinetic boundary perimetry) and provided a scoresheet to facilitate the grading. The qualitative visual field tests’ outcome of 67 consecutive RBD stroke patients was compared with the standard automated perimetry (SAP; i.e., reference standard) outcome to calculate sensitivity and specificity, as well as positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), both for each individual test and their combinations. The face description test scored the lowest sensitivity and NPV, while the kinetic boundary perimetry scored the highest. No test returned false positives. Combining the monocular static finger wiggle test (by quadrants) and the kinetic boundary perimetry returned the highest sensitivity and specificity, in line with previous studies, but with higher accuracy (100% sensitivity and specificity). These findings indicate that the combination of these two tests is a valid approach with RBD stroke patients, prompting referral for a formal visual field examination, and representing a quick, easy-to-perform, and inexpensive tool for improving their care and prognosis.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030234
Authors: Mei Kuang Zongyi Zhan Shaobing Gao
Reconstructing natural stimulus images using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the most challenging problems in brain decoding and is also the crucial component of a brain–computer interface. Previous methods cannot fully exploit the information about interactions among brain regions. In this paper, we propose a natural image reconstruction method based on node–edge interaction and a multi–scale constraint. Inspired by the extensive information interactions in the brain, a novel graph neural network block with node–edge interaction (NEI–GNN block) is presented, which can adequately model the information exchange between brain areas via alternatively updating the nodes and edges. Additionally, to enhance the quality of reconstructed images in terms of both global structure and local detail, we employ a multi–stage reconstruction network that restricts the reconstructed images in a coarse–to–fine manner across multiple scales. Qualitative experiments on the generic object decoding (GOD) dataset demonstrate that the reconstructed images contain accurate structural information and rich texture details. Furthermore, the proposed method surpasses the existing state–of–the–art methods in terms of accuracy in the commonly used n–way evaluation. Our approach achieves 82.00%, 59.40%, 45.20% in n–way mean squared error (MSE) evaluation and 83.50%, 61.80%, 46.00% in n–way structural similarity index measure (SSIM) evaluation, respectively. Our experiments reveal the importance of information interaction among brain areas and also demonstrate the potential for developing visual–decoding brain–computer interfaces.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030233
Authors: Lidia Babiec Anna Wilkaniec Marta Matuszewska Ewelina Pałasz Magdalena Cieślik Agata Adamczyk
In the original publication [...]
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030232
Authors: Alice Dallemagne Marco Anderloni Mathias Havaux Olivier Duranteau Fabio Silvio Taccone
Background: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of sevoflurane on the neurologic pupil index (NPi), obtained by means of automated pupillometry, between intensive care unit (ICU) and surgical patients. Methods: This was a prospective single-center study conducted between December 2021 and February 2023. The eligible population comprised all patients undergoing general anesthesia (GA) for visceral surgery (VS) or neurosurgery (NS) and ICU patients receiving inhaled sevoflurane, according to the decision of the treating physician. The NPi measurements were conducted before GA (T0), after induction (T1), after the initiation of sevoflurane (T2), and at the point of discontinuation of sevoflurane (T3). Results: A total of 41 VS, 16 NS, and 22 ICU patients (out of which, 12 had a brain injury) were included. In the VS and NS groups, there was a significant decrease in the NPi over time, which remained within normal ranges. The NPi values decreased over time in the ICU group after sevoflurane administration. At T2, the NPi values were lower in the ICU group compared to the other groups. Lower NPi values were observed in the ICU patients with a brain injury compared to other patients. Conclusions: The administration of inhaled sevoflurane was associated with a significant reduction in the NPi values of the ICU patients with a concomitant brain injury.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030231
Authors: Wei Zhang Juan Huang Jingshan Shi
Previous studies have shown that Dendrobium nobile Lindl. alkaloids (DNLAs) have neuroprotective effects in several Alzheimer’s disease (AD) models. Dendrobine (DDB) is one of the monomer components with the highest content in DNLAs. However, the effects of DDB on cognitive impairments in AD remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of DDB in 3 × Tg-AD mice to determine whether DDB was a key component of the anti-AD effect of DNLAs. Five-month mice were intragastrically administrated with DDB (10 and 20 mg/kg/d) or DNLAs (20 mg/kg/d) for seven consecutive months, and the effects of DDB and DNLAs were evaluated at twelve months. The results revealed that 3 × Tg-AD mice treated with DDB showed enhanced nesting ability. DDB also effectively rescued spatial learning and memory deficits in 3 × Tg-AD mice. Meanwhile, DDB treatment prevented the loss of dendritic spine density, with increased expression levels of synaptophysin, PSD95, and NCAM in the hippocampus. Finally, DDB ameliorated the increase in APP, sAPPβ, CTF-β, and β-amyloid peptides, accompanied by the promotion of GSK phosphorylation at the Ser9 site, thereby reducing hyperphosphorylated tau levels. As the active component of DNLA, DDB can preserve cognitive function, alleviate neuronal and synaptic defects, and improve APP/tau pathology in 3 × Tg-AD mice.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030229
Authors: J. Marc Simard Bradley Wilhelmy Natalya Tsymbalyuk Bosung Shim Jesse A. Stokum Madison Evans Anandita Gaur Cigdem Tosun Kaspar Keledjian Prajwal Ciryam Riccardo Serra Volodymyr Gerzanich
In human stroke, brain swelling is an important predictor of neurological outcome and mortality, yet treatments to reduce or prevent brain swelling are extremely limited, due in part to an inadequate understanding of mechanisms. In preclinical studies on cerebroprotection in animal models of stroke, historically, the focus has been on reducing infarct size, and in most studies, a reduction in infarct size has been associated with a corresponding reduction in brain swelling. Unfortunately, such findings on brain swelling have little translational value for treating brain swelling in patients with stroke. This is because, in humans, brain swelling usually becomes evident, either symptomatically or radiologically, days after the infarct size has stabilized, requiring that the prevention or treatment of brain swelling target mechanism(s) that are independent of a reduction in infarct size. In this problematizing review, we highlight the often-neglected concept that brain edema and brain swelling are not simply secondary, correlative phenomena of stroke but distinct pathological entities with unique molecular and cellular mechanisms that are worthy of direct targeting. We outline the advances in approaches for the study of brain swelling that are independent of a reduction in infarct size. Although straightforward, the approaches reviewed in this study have important translational relevance for identifying novel treatment targets for post-ischemic brain swelling.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030230
Authors: Sara Pegoraro Alessio Facchin Francesca Luchesa Elena Rolandi Antonio Guaita Lisa S. Arduino Roberta Daini
Aging, even when healthy, involves changes in cognitive functioning that can gradually affect the everyday activities and well-being of older people. Reading, which requires the integrity of several functions and their integration, is important to maintaining high cognitive and emotional stimulation over time. Our study aimed to investigate whether reading ability declines with aging. To explore also why reading would decline, we explored the changes in the performance of visual and attention tasks. A group of 58 neurologically healthy older people aged from 65 to 75 underwent neuropsychological assessment to investigate their global cognitive functioning, reading skills, crowding, and attention components. We found a decline in reading abilities as a function of aging (β = 0.34, p < 0.05). We did not find an increase in crowding or difficulties in visual acuity. Furthermore, we found no decline with age in tasks of simple reaction times, visuospatial attention, and other single components of attention. Interestingly, we instead found a worsening with age in the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (β = −0.26, p < 0.05), involving attention, working memory, and processing speed, which explains part of the reading decline. Our results suggest that task complexity is a fundamental aspect to account for aging changes.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030228
Authors: Smit P. Shah John D. Heiss
Neurology is a quickly evolving specialty that requires clinicians to make precise and prompt diagnoses and clinical decisions based on the latest evidence-based medicine practices. In all Neurology subspecialties—Stroke and Epilepsy in particular—clinical decisions affecting patient outcomes depend on neurologists accurately assessing patient disability. Artificial intelligence [AI] can predict the expected neurological impairment from an AIS [Acute Ischemic Stroke], the possibility of ICH [IntraCranial Hemorrhage] expansion, and the clinical outcomes of comatose patients. This review article informs readers of artificial intelligence principles and methods. The article introduces the basic terminology of artificial intelligence before reviewing current and developing AI applications in neurology practice. AI holds promise as a tool to ease a neurologist’s daily workflow and supply unique diagnostic insights by analyzing data simultaneously from several sources, including neurological history and examination, blood and CSF laboratory testing, CNS electrophysiologic evaluations, and CNS imaging studies. AI-based methods are poised to complement the other tools neurologists use to make prompt and precise decisions that lead to favorable patient outcomes.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030227
Authors: Mohammad Ghafouri Sabrina Correa da Costa Ali Zare Dehnavi Mark S. Gold Teresa A. Rummans
Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is a growing public health concern, with rising prevalence and significant impact on individuals across age groups. This systematic review examines 24 studies investigating pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for CUD among adolescents (up to 17), young adults (18–24), and older adults (25–65). Database searches were conducted for randomized controlled trials of CUD interventions reporting outcomes such as cannabis use, abstinence, withdrawal symptoms, and treatment retention. For adolescents, interventions such as contingent rewards and family engagement have shown promise, while young adults benefit from technology-based platforms and peer support. In older adults, pharmacological adjuncts combined with counseling have shown promise in enhancing treatment outcomes. However, optimal treatment combinations remain uncertain, highlighting the need for further research. Addressing CUD requires tailored interventions that acknowledge developmental stages and challenges across the lifespan. Although promising interventions exist, further comparative effectiveness research is needed to delineate the most efficacious approaches.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030226
Authors: Chandan Saha Chase R. Figley Brian Lithgow Paul B. Fitzgerald Lisa Koski Behzad Mansouri Neda Anssari Xikui Wang Zahra Moussavi
This study is a post-hoc examination of baseline MRI data from a clinical trial investigating the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for patients with mild–moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Herein, we investigated whether the analysis of baseline MRI data could predict the response of patients to rTMS treatment. Whole-brain T1-weighted MRI scans of 75 participants collected at baseline were analyzed. The analyses were run on the gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) of the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), as that was the rTMS application site. The primary outcome measure was the Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale—cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog). The response to treatment was determined based on ADAS-Cog scores and secondary outcome measures. The analysis of covariance showed that responders to active treatment had a significantly lower baseline GM volume in the right DLPFC and a higher GM asymmetry index in the DLPFC region compared to those in non-responders. Logistic regression with a repeated five-fold cross-validated analysis using the MRI-driven features of the initial 75 participants provided a mean accuracy of 0.69 and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.74 for separating responders and non-responders. The results suggest that GM volume or asymmetry in the target area of active rTMS treatment (DLPFC region in this study) may be a weak predictor of rTMS treatment efficacy. These results need more data to draw more robust conclusions.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030225
Authors: Andrea Fiorillo Gaia Sampogna Umberto Albert Emi Bondi Serafino De Giorgi Andrea Fagiolini Maurizio Pompili Gianluca Serafini Umberto Volpe Antonio Vita
Background: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by positive, negative, affective, and cognitive symptoms. Affective symptoms in patients with schizophrenia have traditionally been overlooked or even neglected because they are not considered as fundamental as positive and negative symptoms in the choice of medication. Methods: This paper aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of lurasidone in the treatment of depressive symptoms of schizophrenia. Results: Lurasidone appears to be particularly effective on the depressive symptomatology of schizophrenia while also alleviating the positive and negative symptoms associated with the illness. Conclusions: The efficacy of lurasidone in treating patients with first-episode psychosis who present with predominant depressive symptoms suggests that this medication may be a valuable treatment option not only for established cases of schizophrenia but also for individuals in the early stages of the illness. The good tolerability of lurasidone is an important factor that may positively influence treatment decisions.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030224
Authors: Alberto Delaidelli Alessandro Moiraghi
Brain tumors represent some of the most aggressive malignancies [...]
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030223
Authors: Pegah Haghighi Mandee K. Schaub Adam H. Shebindu Gayathri Vijayakumar Armaan Sood Rafael Granja-Vazquez Sourav S. Patnaik Caroline N. Jones Gregory O. Dussor Joseph J. Pancrazio
PIEZO1 is a mechanosensitive ion channel expressed in various organs, including but not limited to the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, bone, and skin. PIEZO1 has been implicated in astrocyte, microglia, capillary, and oligodendrocyte signaling in the mammalian cortex. Using murine embryonic frontal cortex tissue, we examined the protein expression and functionality of PIEZO1 channels in cultured networks leveraging substrate-integrated microelectrode arrays (MEAs) with additional quantitative results from calcium imaging and whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. MEA data show that the PIEZO1 agonist Yoda1 transiently enhances the mean firing rate (MFR) of single units, while the PIEZO1 antagonist GsMTx4 inhibits both spontaneous activity and Yoda1-induced increase in MFR in cortical networks. Furthermore, calcium imaging experiments revealed that Yoda1 significantly increased the frequency of calcium transients in cortical cells. Additionally, in voltage clamp experiments, Yoda1 exposure shifted the cellular reversal potential towards depolarized potentials consistent with the behavior of PIEZO1 as a non-specific cation-permeable channel. Our work demonstrates that murine frontal cortical neurons express functional PIEZO1 channels and quantifies the electrophysiological effects of channel activation in vitro. By quantifying the electrophysiological effects of PIEZO1 activation in vitro, our study establishes a foundation for future investigations into the role of PIEZO1 in neurological processes and potential therapeutic applications targeting mechanosensitive channels in various physiological contexts.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030222
Authors: Jilong Shi Fatima A. Nasrallah Xuechen Mao Qin Huang Jun Pan Anmin Li
Background: Table tennis athletes have been extensively studied for their cognitive processing advantages and brain plasticity. However, limited research has focused on the resting-state function of their brains. This study aims to investigate the network characteristics of the resting-state electroencephalogram in table tennis athletes and identify specific brain network biomarkers. Methods: A total of 48 healthy right-handed college students participated in this study, including 24 table tennis athletes and 24 controls with no exercise experience. Electroencephalogram data were collected using a 64-conductive active electrode system during eyes-closed resting conditions. The analysis involved examining the average power spectral density and constructing brain functional networks using the weighted phase-lag index. Network topological characteristics were then calculated. Results: The results revealed that table tennis athletes exhibited significantly higher average power spectral density in the α band compared to the control group. Moreover, athletes not only demonstrated stronger functional connections, but they also exhibited enhanced transmission efficiency in the brain network, particularly at the local level. Additionally, a lateralization effect was observed, with more potent interconnected hubs identified in the left hemisphere of the athletes’ brain. Conclusions: Our findings imply that the α band may be uniquely associated with table tennis athletes and their motor skills. The brain network characteristics of athletes during the resting state are worth further attention to gain a better understanding of adaptability of and changes in their brains during training and competition.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030221
Authors: Ying Ling Jinfeng Han Yicen Cui Wei Li Hong Chen
Background: Unhealthy food compensation following exercise contributes to the failure of exercise for weight loss. Autonomous exercise motivation is a protective factor against exercise-induced unhealthy foods licensing (EUFL). However, the neural mechanism of exercise-specific autonomous motivation and how these neural correlates link to EUFL remain uncertain. Methods: This study explored the resting-state brain activity (i.e., amplitude or fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF/fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo)) and seed-based functional connectivity (rsFC) of autonomous exercise motivation among 223 (72.3% female) healthy young adults. Autonomous exercise motivation and EUFL were measured by self-report measurements. Results: Results across resting-state indices and rsFC analysis show that autonomous exercise motivation was robustly associated with activity and connectivity within the cerebellum posterior lobe (PCB), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and middle occipital gyrus (MOG). Specifically, the PCB acted as a hub, connecting the frontal and occipital lobes. Moreover, higher autonomous exercise motivation indirectly predicts reduced EUFL through enhanced activity in the MFG and connectivity of PCB–MOG. Conclusions: Neural substrate for enhanced conflict awareness and motor control may explain the protective effect of autonomous exercise motivation on post-exercise unhealthy eating. Enhancement of these functions could help regulate post-exercise eating and improve the effectiveness of exercise for weight loss.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030220
Authors: Valentina Alfonsi Serena Scarpelli Maurizio Gorgoni
Since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a plethora of studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of this extraordinary phenomenon on sleep and mental health [...]
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030219
Authors: Connor J. Phipps David Whitney James Shou Diego Torres-Russotto David E. Warren
Orthostatic tremor is a rare movement disorder characterized by a sensation of unsteadiness and leg tremor while standing. It has been hypothesized that the disorder is attributable to dysregulation of a central oscillatory network in the brain. This putative network includes primary motor cortex, supplementary motor area, cerebellum, thalamus, and pontine tegmentum. We studied this brain network by recording resting-state functional MRI data from individuals with orthostatic tremor. For each participant, we measured resting-state functional connectivity using a seed-based approach. Regions of interest included were components of the putative central oscillatory network and a primary motor thumb region (identified via transcranial magnetic stimulation). A non-central oscillatory network region of interest—posterior cingulate cortex—was included for comparative analysis of a well-characterized intrinsic network, the default mode network. Demographic information, medical history, and tremor characteristics were collected to test associations with functional connectivity. For normative context, data from the 1000 Functional Connectomes Project were analyzed using an identical approach. We observed that tremor and demographic variables were correlated with functional connectivity of central oscillatory network components. Furthermore, relative to healthy comparison participants, patients with orthostatic tremor exhibited qualitatively different patterns of cerebellar resting state functional connectivity. Our study enhances the current understanding of brain network differences related to orthostatic tremor and is consistent with a hypothesized selective decoupling of cerebellum. Additionally, associations observed between functional connectivity and factors including medical history and tremor features may suggest targets for treatment of orthostatic tremor.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030218
Authors: Paul VanGilder Justin Tanner Kevin R. Krull Ranganatha Sitaram
Cancer survivors are at a high risk for treatment-related late effects, particularly neurocognitive impairment in the attention and executive function domains. These can be compounded in pediatric populations still undergoing neural development, which has increased interest in survivorship studies and neurorehabilitation approaches to mitigate these effects. Cognitive training regimens have shown promise as a therapeutic intervention for improving cognitive function. Therapist-guided and computerized training programs with adaptive paradigms have been successfully implemented in pediatric populations, with positive outcomes on attention and working memory. Another interventional approach is neuromodulation to alter plasticity. Transcranial electrical stimulation can modulate cortical surface activity, and cranial nerve stimulation alters autonomic activity in afferent brainstem pathways. However, they are more systemic in nature and have diffuse spatial targeting. Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) modulation overcomes these limitations with high spatial specificity and the ability to target deeper brain regions. In this review, we discuss the efficacy of tFUS for modulating specific brain regions and its potential utility to augment cognitive training programs as a complementary intervention.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030217
Authors: Aratrik Guha Hanieh Agharazi Palak Gupta Aasef G. Shaikh
Objective: Dystonias, characterized by excessive muscle contractions resulting in involuntary postures and movements, impact 3 million people globally, making them the third most common movement disorder. Often accompanied by tremors, dystonias have epidemiological links and non-motor features shared with isolated tremor, such as essential tremor. Both dystonia and tremor present with balance dysfunction and abnormal involuntary movements, potentially linked to abnormal cerebellar function. This study explores the perception of one’s own linear movement, heading, particularly discrimination of heading direction, in isolated cervical dystonia, isolated tremor, and their combination. We compare such perception behavior in visual and vestibular domains, predicting that visual heading perception would be superior to vestibular heading perception. Methods: Following the focus on the perception of heading direction, we used psychophysics techniques, such as two-alternative-forced-choice task, to examine perception of direction of one’s own movements as they see isolated visual star-cloud movement (visual heading perception) and en bloc body movement (vestibular heading perception). We fitted a sigmoidal psychometric function curve to determine the threshold for visual or vestibular heading perception in our participants. Results: Nineteen participants underwent a two-alternative forced-choice task in the vestibular and visual domains. Results reveal elevated vestibular heading perception thresholds in cervical dystonia with or without tremor, and isolated tremor compared to healthy controls. Vestibular heading perception threshold was comparable in cervical dystonia with tremor and isolated tremor, but it was even worse in isolated cervical dystonia. Visual heading perception, however, remained less affected all three conditions—isolated cervical dystonia, isolated tremor, and their combination. Conclusion: These findings indicate shared deficits and distinctions in the perception of linear translational heading across movement disorders, such as isolated cervical dystonia, tremor, or their combination, offering insights into their pathophysiology, particularly the involvement of cerebellum regions responsible for vestibular processing.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030216
Authors: Xiaohu Gu Leqi Jiang Hao Chen Ming Li Chang Liu
In recent years, the integration of brain–computer interface technology and neural networks in the field of music generation has garnered widespread attention. These studies aimed to extract individual-specific emotional and state information from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to generate unique musical compositions. While existing research has focused primarily on brain regions associated with emotions, this study extends this research to brain regions related to musical composition. To this end, a novel neural network model incorporating attention mechanisms and steady-state activation mapping (SSAM) was proposed. In this model, the self-attention module enhances task-related information in the current state matrix, while the extended attention module captures the importance of state matrices over different time frames. Additionally, a convolutional neural network layer is used to capture spatial information. Finally, the ECA module integrates the frequency information learned by the model in each of the four frequency bands, mapping these by learning their complementary frequency information into the final attention representation. Evaluations conducted on a dataset specifically constructed for this study revealed that the model surpassed representative models in the emotion recognition field, with recognition rate improvements of 1.47% and 3.83% for two different music states. Analysis of the attention matrix indicates that the left frontal lobe and occipital lobe are the most critical brain regions in distinguishing between ‘recall and creation’ states, while FP1, FPZ, O1, OZ, and O2 are the electrodes most related to this state. In our study of the correlations and significances between these areas and other electrodes, we found that individuals with musical training exhibit more extensive functional connectivity across multiple brain regions. This discovery not only deepens our understanding of how musical training can enhance the brain’s ability to work in coordination but also provides crucial guidance for the advancement of brain–computer music generation technologies, particularly in the selection of key brain areas and electrode configurations. We hope our research can guide the work of EEG-based music generation to create better and more personalized music.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030215
Authors: Jin-Whan Ryu In-Su Hwang Sol Jin Soo-A Kim Min-Su Kim
Toe grip strength has recently been suggested to play an essential role in maintaining balance and postural stability for ambulatory function in older populations. This study aimed to investigate its association with improving gait function three months after onset in patients with subacute stroke. This longitudinal cohort study included 98 first-ever stroke patients (67 ± 9 years, 56% female) within one month from the onset who could not ambulate independently. Functional outcome indicators, including toe grip strength, hand grip strength, knee extensor strength, Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity (FMA_LE), and the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS), were assessed before and three months after the intervention. We analyzed the correlation between participants’ gait function using a 10-meter walk test time and various functional indicators. Then, multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate whether toe grip strength was related to the improvement of gait function. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the 10MWT time and toe grip strength ratio (affected/unaffected side), with a moderate effect size (r = −0.61, p <0.001). Multiple regression analysis with covariates showed a significant relationship between 10MWT time and toe grip strength ratio (β = −0.113, p < 0.001), FMA_LE (β = −1.315, p = 0.004), PASS (β = −3.275, p <0.001), and age (β = −0.159, p = 0.004). In conclusion, toe grip strength was an essential factor associated with ambulatory function improvement in subacute stroke patients three months after onset. Additional toe grip muscle strengthening rehabilitation treatment can be expected to help improve the ambulatory function of subacute stroke patients in the future.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030213
Authors: Markus Fahlström Sadia Mirza Åsa Alberius Munkhammar Maria Zetterling Francesco Latini
Background: Grade 2–3 diffuse gliomas (DGs) show extensive infiltration through white matter (WM) tracts. Along-tract analysis of WM tracts based on diffusion tensor tractography (DTI) can been performed to assess the microstructural integrity of WM tracts. The clinical implication of these DTI-related findings is still under debate, especially in tumor patients. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare diffusion-based parameters along WM tracts and variables specific to WM -tumor interactions in DGs and correlate them with preoperative neuropsychological assessment. Methods: Fourteen patients with IDH-mutated grade 2–3 DGs were included. Tumor volumes were manually segmented on 3D-FLAIR images after spatial normalisation to MNI space. DTI was acquired using a single-shot echo-planar sequence on a 3T with 48 sampling directions. DTI data were reconstructed within the MNI space using q-space diffeomorphic reconstruction (QSDR) in DSI studio. Five bilateral sets of WM tracts were reconstructed based on the HCP-1065 template. All WM tracts were stretched to the same length of 100 indices, and for each index diffusion-based parameters fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (RD), axial diffusivity (AD), mean diffusivity (MD) and quantitative anisotropy (QA) were sampled. Tumor-related parameters (TRP); tumor volume (Tv), maximum tumor presence (MTP) and the number of sequential indices in which a tumor is present (Te) were derived based on the along-tract analysis. Normal data were constructed by calculating the average and standard deviations of contralateral and not-affected WM tracts for each diffusion-based parameter, respectively. Affected WM tracts were individually compared to normal data using a z-test. Preoperative neuropsychological assessment was performed in all subjects and correlated to results from the along-tract analysis using correlation and logistic regression models. Results: Abnormalities in diffusion-based parameters were detected in WM tracts. Topographical and quantitative information were presented within the same graph. AD and MD displayed the highest linear correlation with the TRPs. Abnormal QA showed a linear correlation with Tv per WM tract. Neuropsychological impairment was correlated with all the TRPs and with abnormal FA (p < 0.05) and abnormal QA (p < 0.01). Abnormal QA was the only independent variable able to predict the presence of neuropsychological impairment in the patients based on the linear regression analysis. Conclusions: Graphical presentation of the along-tract analysis presented in this study shows that it may be a sensitive and robust method to acquire and display topographical and qualitative information regarding WM tracts in close proximity to DGs. Further studies and refinements to the methods presented herein may advance current clinical methods for evaluating displacement and infiltrations and further aid the efforts of pre-planning surgical interventions with the goal to maximise EOR and tailor oncological treatment.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030214
Authors: Chang Niu Zhuang Yan Kuiying Yin Shenghua Zhou
The error-related potential (ErrP) is a weak explicit representation of the human brain for individual wrong behaviors. Previously, ErrP-related research usually focused on the design of automatic correction and the error correction mechanisms of high-risk pipeline-type judgment systems. Mounting evidence suggests that the cerebellum plays an important role in various cognitive processes. Thus, this study introduced cerebellar information to enhance the online classification effect of error-related potentials. We introduced cerebellar regional characteristics and improved discriminative canonical pattern matching (DCPM) in terms of data training and model building. In addition, this study focused on the application value and significance of cerebellar error-related potential characterization in the selection of excellent ErrP-BCI subjects (brain–computer interface). Here, we studied a specific ErrP, the so-called feedback ErrP. Thirty participants participated in this study. The comparative experiments showed that the improved DCPM classification algorithm proposed in this paper improved the balance accuracy by approximately 5–10% compared with the original algorithm. In addition, a correlation analysis was conducted between the error-related potential indicators of each brain region and the classification effect of feedback ErrP-BCI data, and the Fisher coefficient of the cerebellar region was determined as the quantitative screening index of the subjects. The screened subjects were superior to other subjects in the performance of the classification algorithm, and the performance of the classification algorithm was improved by up to 10%.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030212
Authors: Anish Vinay Sathe Mahdi Alizadeh Emily Johannan Christian Raimondo Michael Sperling Ashwini Sharan Michael Kogan
Background: Positive correlations between low- and high-frequency spectra from stereotactic electroencephalogram (SEEG) recordings have been implicated in pathological brain activity interictally and have been used for ictal detection in both focal and network models. Objective: We evaluated SEEG signals in patients who ultimately underwent temporal lobectomy to evaluate their utility in seizure localization and prediction of seizure freedom post-resection. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed cross-frequency correlations between beta and high gamma (HG) interictal SEEG signals from 22 patients. We compared signals based on temporal versus extra-temporal locations, seizure-free (SF) versus non-seizure-free (NSF) outcomes, and mesial (M) versus mesial temporal-plus (M+) onset. Results: Positive cross-correlations were increased in temporal areas. NSF patients showed a higher proportion of positive electrodes in temporal areas. SF patients had a greater proportion of significant channels in mesial versus lateral temporal areas. HG/Beta correlations in mesial versus lateral temporal areas predicted seizure freedom better than ictal SEEG seizure onset localization to M or M+ locations. Conclusions: We present preliminary data that local HG/Beta correlations may predict epilepsy focus and surgical outcome and may have utility as adjunct methods to conventional SEEG analysis. Further studies are needed to determine strategies for prospective studies and clinical use.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030211
Authors: Benjamin S. Runde Ajit Alapati Nicolas G. Bazan
The development of noninvasive and cost-effective methods of detecting Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is essential for its early prevention and mitigation. We optimize the detection of AD using natural language processing (NLP) of spontaneous speech through the use of audio enhancement techniques and novel transcription methodologies. Specifically, we utilized Boll Spectral Subtraction to improve audio fidelity and created transcriptions using state-of-the-art AI services—locally-based Wav2Vec and Whisper, alongside cloud-based IBM Cloud and Rev AI—evaluating their performance against traditional manual transcription methods. Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers were then trained and tested using GPT-based embeddings of transcriptions. Our findings revealed that AI-based transcriptions largely outperformed traditional manual ones, with Wav2Vec (enhanced audio) achieving the best accuracy and F-1 score (0.99 for both metrics) for locally-based systems and Rev AI (standard audio) performing the best for cloud-based systems (0.96 for both metrics). Furthermore, this study revealed the detrimental effects of interviewer speech on model performance in addition to the minimal effect of audio enhancement. Based on our findings, current AI transcription and NLP technologies are highly effective at accurately detecting AD with available data but struggle to classify probable AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodromal stage of AD, due to a lack of training data, laying the groundwork for the future implementation of an automatic AD detection system.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030210
Authors: Daniele Saccenti Leandro Lodi Andrea Stefano Moro Simona Scaini Barbara Forresi Jacopo Lamanna Mattia Ferro
First-line treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) encompass a wide range of pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies. However, many patients fail to respond to such interventions, highlighting the need for novel approaches. Due to its ability to modulate cortical activity, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) could represent a valuable therapeutic tool. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to summarize and discuss the existing evidence on the ameliorative effects of NIBS on PTSD and comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms. Our goal is also to debate the effectiveness of an integrated approach characterized by the combination of NIBS and psychotherapy. This search was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PSYINDEX, MEDLINE, and ERIC databases. Overall, 31 studies met the eligibility criteria, yielding a total of 26 clinical trials employing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and 5 making use of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS). From these studies, it emerged that NIBS consistently reduced overall PTSD symptoms’ severity as well as comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms. Moreover, we speculate that combining NIBS with prolonged exposure or cognitive processing therapy might represent a promising therapeutic approach for consistently ameliorating subjects’ clinical conditions.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030209
Authors: Tal Sigawi Omer Hamtzany Josef Daniel Shakargy Yaron Ilan
There is still controversy surrounding the definition and mechanisms of consciousness. The constrained disorder principle (CDP) defines complex systems by their dynamic borders, limiting their inherent disorder. In line with the CDP, the brain exhibits a disorder bounded by dynamic borders essential for proper function, efficient energy use, and life support under continuous perturbations. The brain’s inherent variability contributes to its adaptability and flexibility. Neuronal signal variability challenges the association of brain structures with consciousness and methods for assessing consciousness. The present paper discusses some theories about consciousness, emphasizing their failure to explain the brain’s variability. This paper describes how the CDP accounts for consciousness’s variability, complexity, entropy, and uncertainty. Using newly developed second-generation artificial intelligence systems, we describe how CDP-based platforms may improve disorders of consciousness (DoC) by accounting for consciousness variability, complexity, entropy, and uncertainty. This platform could be used to improve response to current interventions and develop new therapeutic regimens for patients with DoC in future studies.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030208
Authors: Yeong Jin Kim Bo-Ram Mun Kyu Yeong Choi Won-Seok Choi
The gut–brain axis (GBA) plays a significant role in various neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and the gut microbiome (GM) can bidirectionally communicate with the brain through the GBA. Thus, recent evidence indicates that the GM may affect the pathological features and the progression of AD in humans. The aim of our study was to elucidate the impact of probiotics on the pathological features of AD in a 5xFAD model. Probiotics (Bifidobacterium lactis, Levilactobacillus brevis, and Limosilactobacillus fermentum) were orally administered in 5xFAD mice to modify the GM composition. Additionally, freeze-dried food containing phosphatidylserine was used as the positive control. Behavioral pathogenesis was assessed through the cross maze and Morris water maze tests. Our findings revealed that probiotic administration resulted in significant improvements in spatial and recognition memories. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects of probiotics were substantiated by a reduction in amyloid-β accumulation in critical brain regions. Microglial activation in 5xFAD mice was also attenuated by probiotics in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Moreover, elevated tau phosphorylation in 5xFAD mice was ameliorated in the probiotics-treated group. The results highlight the potential use of probiotics as a neuroprotective intervention in AD.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030207
Authors: A. Karim Ahmed Nicholas R. Rowan Debraj Mukherjee
Advances in technology, instrumentation, and reconstruction have paved the way for extended endoscopic approaches to skull base tumors. In the sagittal plane, the endonasal approach may safely access pathologies from the frontal sinus to the craniocervical junction in the sagittal plane, the petrous apex in the coronal plane, and extend posteriorly to the clivus and posterior cranial fossa. This review article describes these modular extended endoscopic approaches, along with crucial anatomic considerations, illustrative cases, and practical operative pearls.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030206
Authors: Keita Nishi Takefumi Moriuchi Ryohei Okamura Takashi Hasegawa Xiaoqian Chang Shinichi Matsumoto Hironobu Koseki Toshio Higashi
Approaches to preserve corticomotor excitability (CE) are attracting interest as a treatment for pain-induced changes in neural plasticity. We determined the effects of mirror therapy (MT) on skeletal muscle pain. Fifteen healthy adults who received hypertonic saline injections (5.8% NaCl, 0.2 mL) into the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle of the right hand to induce experimental skeletal muscle pain were assigned to either the “MT and injection” or “injection only” group. Post-injection, the “MT and injection” group observed their left index finger abducting and adducting for 4 min, creating the illusion that the right index finger was moving. The “injection only” group remained at rest. CE and pain were assessed by measuring motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) of the right FDI triggered by transcranial magnetic stimulation and the numerical rating scale (NRS), respectively. MEP amplitudes were significantly higher in the “MT and injection” group, a trend that persisted post-MT intervention (MT intervention; p < 0.01, post-1; p < 0.05). The time for the NRS score to reach 0 was notably shorter in the “MT and injection” group (p < 0.05). Our preliminary results suggested that MT decreases CE and pain in skeletal muscles, potentially preventing neural plasticity changes associated with skeletal muscle pain and providing early pain relief.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030205
Authors: Monika Rybicka Jerzy Gąsowski Anna Przeklasa-Muszyńska Jan Dobrogowski Jagoda Wierzbicka Ka-Kit Hui Sara Ptasnik Magdalena Kocot-Kępska
Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association)-standardized ear acupuncture protocol in comparison to medical acupuncture (MA) in the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) in older adults. Methods: This was a prospective, clinical, single center, open label, comparative study. A total of 60 older patients with chronic nonspecific LBP were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into two groups. The MA group received treatment with medical acupuncture (MA), while the NADA group received NADA ear acupuncture once a day for 20 min, for a total of 10 sessions. The co-primary outcome measures were the reduction in pain intensity evaluated by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) compared to baseline and improvement in patients’ quality of life (QOL) assessed in the SF-36 questionnaire before and after treatment; this was compared between the two groups. Results: After two weeks of treatment, a significant reduction compared to baseline was observed in the NRS scores following treatment with medical acupuncture as well as after the utilization of NADA ear acupuncture protocol: NRS score for average pain experienced by the patients over the previous week (NRSa) MA: p = 0.002; NADA: p < 0.001, maximum NRS score in the past week (NRSm) MA: p < 0.001; NADA: p < 0.001, and NRS score at the time of examination (NRSe) MA: p = 0.001; NADA: p < 0.001. Reduction of the NRSa score compared to baseline was significantly greater in the NADA group (p = 0.034). Significant improvements in the QOL of patients according to the SF-36 questionnaire compared to baseline were observed in the MA group in the following domains: PF (p = 0.003), RP (p = 0.002), SF (p = 0.041), RE (p = 0.005), MH (p = 0.043), HT (p = 0.013), PCS (p = 0.004), and MCS (p = 0.025); and in the NADA group, in the following domains: PF (p = 0.004), RP (p = 0.048), BP (p = 0.001), VT (p = 0.035), RE (p = 0.006), MH (p < 0.001), HT (p = 0.003), PCS (p < 0.001), and MCS (p < 0.001). There were minor complications observed in 35% of patients (total of 20 participants); 31% (9 patients) in the MA group and 39% (11 patients) in the NADA group. These were minor and quickly resolved, including insertion point pain, minor bleeding after needle removal, and one instance of fainting. No patients in either group reported worsening of LBP. These complications occurred in 4.14% of MA sessions (12 times/290 sessions) and in 6.07% of NADA acupuncture sessions (16 times/280 sessions). Conclusion: The outcomes of this study suggest that both MA and NADA ear acupuncture could be a valuable and personalized component of a comprehensive approach to managing chronic nonspecific LBP in older patients. Incorporation of MA and NADA ear acupuncture into the clinical management of chronic nonspecific LBP in elderly patients has the potential to reduce pain intensity and improve the overall quality of life of affected individuals. However, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030204
Authors: Manuela Tondelli Miriana Manigrasso Giovanna Zamboni
Little is known about the brain correlates of anosognosia or unawareness of disease in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Huntington’s Disease (HD). The presence of unawareness or impaired self-awareness (ISA) of illness has profound implications for patients and their caregivers; therefore, studying awareness and its brain correlates should be considered a key step towards developing effective recognition and management of this symptom as it offers a window into the mechanism of self-awareness and consciousness as critical components of the human cognition. We reviewed research studies adopting MRI or other in vivo neuroimaging technique to assess brain structural and/or functional correlates of unawareness in PD and HD across different cognitive and motor domains. Studies adopting task or resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, and/or 18-F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography brain imaging and/or magnetic resonance imaging structural measures were considered. Only six studies investigating neuroimaging features of unawareness in PD and two in HD were identified; there was great heterogeneity in the clinical characteristics of the study participants, domain of unawareness investigated, method of unawareness assessment, and neuroimaging technique used. Nevertheless, some data converge in identifying regions of the salience and frontoparietal networks to be associated with unawareness in PD patients. In HD, the few data are affected by the variability in the severity of motor symptoms. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms and brain correlates of unawareness in PD and HD; in addition, the use of dopaminergic medications should be carefully considered.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030203
Authors: Madalina-Andreea Robea Georgiana Oprea Gabriel Plavan Mircea Nicusor Nicoara Ioannis Mavroudis Vasile Burlui Alin Ciobica
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become one of the most well-known disorders encountered since early childhood among people. Nowadays, the main concerns are its high prevalence and the lack of proper therapeutic interventions. In this way, the necessity of using animal models that can mimic some of the spectrum symptoms, besides deepening the mechanisms of occurrence, is undeniable. Oxytocin (OT) is often mentioned and linked to producing social domain improvements. The goal of the present study was to determine if different time exposures to OT can trigger distinct behavioral responses in zebrafish, potentially offering insights into autism therapy. To accomplish this goal, zebrafish were exposed to the same dose of OT (33.2 ng/mL OT) for one week but with different time frames, such as: continuous exposure for seven days, fifteen minutes per day for seven days, and every two days for the same amount of time. The behavior of the fish was recorded using the EthoVision XT 11.5 software, and each trial lasted four minutes. Specific parameters for locomotor activity and aggressive behavior were measured. Overall, zebrafish exposure to OT generated several improvements in locomotor activity and aggressive behavior. Moreover, the differences in the exposure period indicated that time is an important factor, showing that continuous exposure to OT was linked with better performance than exposure to the hormone every two days. At the same time, the most variable results were observed in the case of fish exposed every day to OT. Exposure to OT could lead to certain improvements in zebrafish behavior that can be time-sensitive. Nevertheless, further work is needed in order to investigate the mechanisms of action of OT in an ASD context.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030202
Authors: Akira Nakashima Ryohei Okamura Takefumi Moriuchi Kengo Fujiwara Toshio Higashi Kounosuke Tomori
In this scoping review, we aimed to comprehensively clarify the methodology of Mental practice (MP) by systematically mapping studies documenting the application of MP to post-stroke paralytic upper-extremity function. Specifically, when is an MP intervention most commonly applied after stroke onset? What is the corresponding MP load (intervention time, number of intervention days, and intervention period)? What are the most common methods of Motor Imagery (MI) recall and MI tasks used during the application of MP? Is MP often used in conjunction with individual rehabilitation? What are the paralyzed side’s upper-limb and cognitive function levels at the start of an MP intervention? The research questions were identified according to PRISMA-ScR. The PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases were used to screen articles published until 19 July 2022. In total, 694 English-language articles were identified, of which 61 were finally included. Most of the studies were conducted in the chronic phase after stroke onset, with limited interventions in the acute or subacute phase. The most common intervention time was ≤30 min and intervention frequency was 5 times/week in MP. An audio guide was most commonly used to recall MI during MP, and 50 studies examined the effects of MP in combination with individual rehabilitation. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment mean for the 38 studies, determined using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, was 30.3 ± 11.5. Additional research with the aim of unifying the widely varying MP methodologies identified herein is warranted.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030201
Authors: Alessia Sarica Assunta Pelagi Federica Aracri Fulvia Arcuri Aldo Quattrone Andrea Quattrone for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) exhibits sex-linked variations, with women having a higher prevalence, and little is known about the sexual dimorphism in progressing from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to AD. The main aim of our study was to shed light on the sex-specific conversion-to-AD risk factors using Random Survival Forests (RSF), a Machine Learning survival approach, and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) on dementia biomarkers in stable (sMCI) and progressive (pMCI) patients. With this purpose, we built two separate models for male (M-RSF) and female (F-RSF) cohorts to assess whether global explanations differ between the sexes. Similarly, SHAP local explanations were obtained to investigate changes across sexes in feature contributions to individual risk predictions. The M-RSF achieved higher performance on the test set (0.87) than the F-RSF (0.79), and global explanations of male and female models had limited similarity (<71.1%). Common influential variables across the sexes included brain glucose metabolism and CSF biomarkers. Conversely, the M-RSF had a notable contribution from hippocampus, which had a lower impact on the F-RSF, while verbal memory and executive function were key contributors only in F-RSF. Our findings confirmed that females had a higher risk of progressing to dementia; moreover, we highlighted distinct sex-driven patterns of variable importance, uncovering different feature contribution risks across sexes that decrease/increase the conversion-to-AD risk.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030200
Authors: Kevin Wu Yu Tung Lo Jonathon Cavaleri Matthew Bergosh Jennifer Ipe Robert G. Briggs Kay B. Jann Stuart B. Murray Xenos L. Mason Charles Y. Liu Darrin J. Lee
Eating disorders are a group of psychiatric conditions that involve pathological relationships between patients and food. The most prolific of these disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. The current standard of care involves psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and the management of comorbid conditions, with nutritional rehabilitation reserved for severe cases of anorexia nervosa. Unfortunately, many patients often fail to respond, leaving a concerning treatment gap between the current and requisite treatments for eating disorders. To better understand the neurobiology underlying these eating disorders, investigations have been undertaken to characterize the activity of various neural networks, primarily those activated during tasks of executive inhibition, reward processing, and self-reference. Various neuromodulatory techniques have been proposed to stimulate these networks with the goal of improving patients’ BMI and mental health. The aim of this review is to compile a comprehensive summarization of the current literature regarding the underlying neural connectivity of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder as well as the numerous neuromodulatory modalities that have been investigated. Importantly, we aimed to summarize the most significant clinical trials to date as well as to provide an updated assessment of the role of deep brain stimulation, summarizing numerous recently published clinical studies that have greatly contributed to the literature. In this review, we found therapeutic evidence for transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation in treating individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. We also found significant evidence for the role of deep brain stimulation, particularly as an escalatory therapy option for the those who failed standard therapy. Finally, we hope to provide promising directions for future clinical investigations.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030199
Authors: Takahiro Matsutake Hiroki Nakata Genta Matsuo Takayuki Natsuhara Kisho Zippo Kouki Watanabe Takayuki Sugo
Quick decision making is a vital factor for a successful pass in soccer games. Many previous studies of decision making in soccer focused on motor execution, but inhibitory processing has remained unclear. This study aimed to clarify the differences in motor execution and inhibitory among Japanese collegiate soccer players with different skill levels. We evaluated the behavioral data and event-related potentials in the high-skilled, low-skilled, and novice groups during the Go/No-go and pass choice reaction tasks. The reaction time (RT) was significantly shorter in the high group than in the novice group, and RT variability was small in the high group. The amplitude of the N2 component was significantly larger in the high group than in the low and novice groups, and the latency of the P3 component was significantly shorter in the high and low groups than in the novice group during the pass choice reaction task. The subtracted No-go N2 amplitude was also significantly larger in the high and low groups than in the novice group, and correlations existed between the RT, RT variability, and the subtracted No-go N2 amplitude during these tasks. These data indicate that soccer players’ behavioral responses and inhibition processing decision-making activities are associated with skill levels.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030198
Authors: Soraya Sanhueza Mabel Urrutia Hipólito Marrero
This study aimed to compare procedural learning skills between Spanish-speaking preschool children (ages 4 years to 4 years, 11 months) with developmental language disorder (DLD) and their chronologically matched typically developing (TD) peers. Using the serial reaction time (SRT) task, participants (30 children with DLD and 30 TD children) responded to visual stimuli in a sequenced manner over four blocks, followed by a random order block. The task assessed reaction time (RT) and accuracy. The results showed a significant interaction between group and block for RT and accuracy, with children with DLD exhibiting longer RTs and accuracy deficits across blocks. In contrast, the TD group showed higher RT efficiency and accuracy in the sequential blocks and, as expected, decreased performance in the random block according to the experimental manipulation. Overall, the results of this investigation suggest that there was no implicit learning in the DLD group, as indicated by the SRT task paradigms of procedural memory. These findings align with some aspects of the procedural deficit hypothesis (PDH), which suggests that linguistic deficits in the DLD population may derive from a deficit in sequential learning from the procedural memory system domain in the Spanish context.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030197
Authors: Ikuo Kimura Atsushi Senoo Masahiro Abo
In recent years, neurorehabilitation has been actively used to treat motor paralysis after stroke. However, the impacts of rehabilitation on neural networks in the brain remain largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated changes in structural neural networks after rehabilitation therapy in patients who received a combination of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) and intensive occupational therapy (intensive-OT) as neurorehabilitation. Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) for upper extremity (FMA-UE) and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), both of which reflected upper limb motor function, were conducted before and after rehabilitation therapy. At the same time, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging (3D T1WI) were performed. After analyzing the structural connectome based on DTI data, measures related to connectivity in neural networks were calculated using graph theory. Rehabilitation therapy prompted a significant increase in connectivity with the isthmus of the cingulate gyrus in the ipsilesional hemisphere (p < 0.05) in patients with left-sided paralysis, as well as a significant decrease in connectivity with the ipsilesional postcentral gyrus (p < 0.05). These results indicate that LF-rTMS combined with intensive-OT may facilitate motor function recovery by enhancing the functional roles of networks in motor-related areas of the ipsilesional cerebral hemisphere.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030196
Authors: Shizhe Wu Kinkini Bhadra Anne-Lise Giraud Silvia Marchesotti
Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) aim to establish a pathway between the brain and an external device without the involvement of the motor system, relying exclusively on neural signals. Such systems have the potential to provide a means of communication for patients who have lost the ability to speak due to a neurological disorder. Traditional methodologies for decoding imagined speech directly from brain signals often deploy static classifiers, that is, decoders that are computed once at the beginning of the experiment and remain unchanged throughout the BCI use. However, this approach might be inadequate to effectively handle the non-stationary nature of electroencephalography (EEG) signals and the learning that accompanies BCI use, as parameters are expected to change, and all the more in a real-time setting. To address this limitation, we developed an adaptive classifier that updates its parameters based on the incoming data in real time. We first identified optimal parameters (the update coefficient, UC) to be used in an adaptive Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) classifier, using a previously recorded EEG dataset, acquired while healthy participants controlled a binary BCI based on imagined syllable decoding. We subsequently tested the effectiveness of this optimization in a real-time BCI control setting. Twenty healthy participants performed two BCI control sessions based on the imagery of two syllables, using a static LDA and an adaptive LDA classifier, in randomized order. As hypothesized, the adaptive classifier led to better performances than the static one in this real-time BCI control task. Furthermore, the optimal parameters for the adaptive classifier were closely aligned in both datasets, acquired using the same syllable imagery task. These findings highlight the effectiveness and reliability of adaptive LDA classifiers for real-time imagined speech decoding. Such an improvement can shorten the training time and favor the development of multi-class BCIs, representing a clear interest for non-invasive systems notably characterized by low decoding accuracies.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030195
Authors: Margie Hernandez Mejia Kelly E. Courtney Natasha E. Wade Alexander Wallace Rachel E. Baca Qian Shen Joseph Patrick Happer Joanna Jacobus
Early life substance use, including cannabis and nicotine, may result in deleterious effects on the maturation of brain tissue and gray matter cortical development. The current study employed linear regression models to investigate the main and interactive effects of past-year nicotine and cannabis use on gray matter cortical thickness estimates in 11 bilateral independent frontal cortical regions in 223 16–22-year-olds. As the frontal cortex develops throughout late adolescence and young adulthood, this period becomes crucial for studying the impact of substance use on brain structure. The distinct effects of nicotine and cannabis use status on cortical thickness were found bilaterally, as cannabis and nicotine users both had thinner cortices than non-users. Interactions between nicotine and cannabis were also observed, in which cannabis use was associated with thicker cortices for those with a history of nicotine and tobacco product (NTP) use in three left frontal regions. This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between substance use and brain structure, suggesting a potential modulation of cannabis’ impact on cortical thickness by nicotine exposure, and emphasizing the need for further longitudinal research to characterize these interactions and their implications for brain health and development.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030194
Authors: Daan G. M. Kaagman Erwin E. H. van Wegen Natalie Cignetti Emily Rothermel Tim Vanbellingen Mark A. Hirsch
Introduction: Exercise therapy may increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and improve clinical outcomes in people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This systematic review was performed to investigate the effect of exercise therapy on BDNF levels and clinical outcomes in human PD and to discuss mechanisms proposed by authors. Method: A search on the literature was performed on PubMed up to December 2023 using the following key words: Parkinson’s disease AND exercise, exercise therapy, neurological rehabilitation AND brain-derived neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor/blood, brain-derived neurotrophic factor/cerebrospinal fluid AND randomized clinical trial, intervention study. Only randomized clinical trials comparing an exercise intervention to treatment as usual, usual care (UC), sham intervention, or no intervention were included. Results: A meta-analysis of BDNF outcomes with pooled data from five trials (N = 216 participants) resulted in a significant standardized mean difference (SMD) of 1.20 [95% CI 0.53 to 1.87; Z = 3.52, p = 0.0004, I2 = 77%], favoring exercise using motorized treadmill, Speedflex machine, rowing machine, and non-specified exercise. Significant improvements were found in Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), UPDRS-III, 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Methodological quality of trials was categorized as “good” in three trials, “fair” in one trial, and “poor” in one trial. Conclusion: Key results of this systematic review are that exercise therapy is effective in raising serum BDNF levels and seems effective in alleviating PD motor symptoms. Exercise therapy confers neuroplastic effects on Parkinson brain, mediated, in part, by BDNF.
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030193
Authors: Vincenzo Ronca Francois Brambati Linda Napoletano Cyril Marx Sandra Trösterer Alessia Vozzi Pietro Aricò Andrea Giorgi Rossella Capotorto Gianluca Borghini Fabio Babiloni Gianluca Di Flumeri
The drivers’ distraction plays a crucial role in road safety as it is one of the main impacting causes of road accidents. The phenomenon of distraction encompasses both psychological and environmental factors and, therefore, addressing the complex interplay contributing to human distraction in automotive is crucial for developing technologies and interventions for improving road safety. In scientific literature, different works were proposed for the distraction characterization in automotive, but there is still the lack of a univocal measure to assess the degree of distraction, nor a gold-standard tool that allows to “detect” eventual events, road traffic, and additional driving tasks that might contribute to the drivers’ distraction. Therefore, the present study aimed at developing an EEG-based “Distraction index” obtained by the combination of the driver’s mental workload and attention neurometrics and investigating and validating its reliability by analyzing together subjective and behavioral measures. A total of 25 licensed drivers were involved in this study, where they had to drive in two different scenarios, i.e., City and Highway, while different secondary tasks were alternatively proposed in addition to the main one to modulate the driver’s attentional demand. The statistical analysis demonstrated the reliability of the proposed EEG-based distraction index in identifying the drivers’ distraction when driving along different roads and traffic conditions (all p < 0.001). More importantly, the proposed index was demonstrated to be reliable in identifying which are the most impacting additional driving tasks on the drivers’ distraction (all p < 0.01).
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030192
Authors: Laura Piccardi Massimiliano Palmiero Raffaella Nori
It is widely agreed upon that both natural and man-made sounds, including music, profoundly impact our emotions and cognitive abilities, such as our attention, memory, problem-solving, decision-making, and creativity [...]
]]>Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030191
Authors: Mina Gurevitz Gerry Leisman
There was an error in the original publication [...]
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