51
|
Thalamic connectivity system across psychiatric disorders: Current status and clinical implications. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 2:332-340. [PMID: 36324665 PMCID: PMC9616255 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The thalamic connectivity system, with the thalamus as the central node, enables transmission of the brain’s neural computations via extensive connections to cortical, subcortical, and cerebellar regions. Emerging reports suggest deficits in this system across multiple psychiatric disorders, making it a unique network of high translational and transdiagnostic utility in mapping neural alterations that potentially contribute to symptoms and disturbances in psychiatric patients. However, despite considerable research effort, it is still debated how this system contributes to psychiatric disorders. This review characterizes current knowledge regarding thalamic connectivity system deficits in psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and autism spectrum disorder, across multiple levels of the system. We identify the presence of common and distinct patterns of deficits in the thalamic connectivity system in major psychiatric disorders and assess their nature and characteristics. Specifically, this review assembles evidence for the hypotheses of 1) thalamic microstructure, particularly in the mediodorsal nucleus, as a state marker of psychosis; 2) thalamo-prefrontal connectivity as a trait marker of psychosis; and 3) thalamo-somatosensory/parietal connectivity as a possible marker of general psychiatric illness. Furthermore, possible mechanisms contributing to thalamocortical dysconnectivity are explored. We discuss current views on the contributions of cerebellar-thalamic connectivity to the thalamic connectivity system and propose future studies to examine its effects at multiple levels, from the molecular (e.g., glutamatergic) to the behavioral (e.g., cognition), to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the disturbances observed in psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
|
52
|
Boelens Keun JT, van Heese EM, Laansma MA, Weeland CJ, de Joode NT, van den Heuvel OA, Gool JK, Kasprzak S, Bright JK, Vriend C, van der Werf YD. Structural assessment of thalamus morphology in brain disorders: A review and recommendation of thalamic nucleus segmentation and shape analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:466-478. [PMID: 34587501 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The thalamus is a central brain structure crucially involved in cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions and is often reported to be involved in the pathophysiology of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The functional subdivision of the thalamus warrants morphological investigation on the level of individual subnuclei. In addition to volumetric measures, the investigation of other morphological features may give additional insights into thalamic morphology. For instance, shape features offer a higher spatial resolution by revealing small, regional differences that are left undetected in volumetric analyses. In this review, we discuss the benefits and limitations of recent advances in neuroimaging techniques to investigate thalamic morphology in vivo, leading to our proposed methodology. This methodology consists of available pipelines for volume and shape analysis, focussing on the morphological features of volume, thickness, and surface area. We demonstrate this combined approach in a Parkinson's disease cohort to illustrate their complementarity. Considering our findings, we recommend a combined methodology as it allows for more sensitive investigation of thalamic morphology in clinical populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jikke T Boelens Keun
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eva M van Heese
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Max A Laansma
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Cees J Weeland
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Niels T de Joode
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Odile A van den Heuvel
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jari K Gool
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; SEIN, Heemstede, the Netherlands; Department of Neurology, LUMC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Selina Kasprzak
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joanna K Bright
- Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Chris Vriend
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ysbrand D van der Werf
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
53
|
The Clinical and Cognitive Spectrum of Artery of Percheron Infarction: 1-Year Follow-Up. Can J Neurol Sci 2021; 49:774-780. [PMID: 34505558 DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2021.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Survivors of patients with artery of Percheron infarction (API) often have a prolonged and disabling form of cognitive impairment that remains insufficiently characterized. We aimed to examine the clinical and cognitive features of API in the short and long term after stroke. METHODS We reviewed 6400 patients with a first-ever stroke included in the Stroke Registry between 2011 and 2021. The diagnosis of API was based on clinical diagnosis and imaging confirmation. All patients underwent neuropsychological assessment at hospital stay and 1 year after stroke. A z-score of each patients' cognitive test point was calculated, and a z-score inferior to 2 was considered as pathological. RESULTS Of the 10 patients enrolled, all had cognitive impairment, consciousness, and behavioral disorders at stroke onset. Six patients had pure bilateral thalamic involvement while four had bilateral thalamic and rostral midbrain involvement. At 12 months, 50% of patients had global mental state scores 2 SD below the population mean (z-score mean ± SD, -2.17 ± 0.4). Most of the prefrontal cortex cognitive processes including executive functions such as planning and cognitive control (z-score mean ± SD, -3.92 ± 0.3), processing speed (-4.42 ± 0.5), working memory (-3.97 ± 0.3) were severely impaired at stroke onset. Especially in patients with thalamic and rostral midbrain involvement, deficiencies in executive function (z-score mean ± SD, -2.60 ± 0.4), processing speed (-2.22 ± 0.5), working (-3.76 ± 0.4), and episodic memory (-2.23 ± 0.3) continued 12 months after stroke. CONCLUSIONS The occlusion of the artery of Percheron results in severe behavioral and cognitive disorders in the short and long term after stroke.
Collapse
|
54
|
Steuber ER, Seligowski AV, Roeckner AR, Reda M, Lebois LAM, van Rooij SJH, Murty VP, Ely TD, Bruce SE, House SL, Beaudoin FL, An X, Zeng D, Neylan TC, Clifford GD, Linnstaedt SD, Germine LT, Rauch SL, Lewandowski C, Sheikh S, Jones CW, Punches BE, Swor RA, McGrath ME, Hudak LA, Pascual JL, Chang AM, Pearson C, Peak DA, Domeier RM, O'Neil BJ, Rathlev NK, Sanchez LD, Pietrzak RH, Joormann J, Barch DM, Pizzagalli DA, Elliott JM, Kessler RC, Koenen KC, McLean SA, Ressler KJ, Jovanovic T, Harnett NG, Stevens JS. Thalamic volume and fear extinction interact to predict acute posttraumatic stress severity. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 141:325-332. [PMID: 34304036 PMCID: PMC8513112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with lower gray matter volume (GMV) in brain regions critical for extinction of learned threat. However, relationships among volume, extinction learning, and PTSD symptom development remain unclear. We investigated subcortical brain volumes in regions supporting extinction learning and fear-potentiated startle (FPS) to understand brain-behavior interactions that may impact PTSD symptom development in recently traumatized individuals. Participants (N = 99) completed magnetic resonance imaging and threat conditioning two weeks following trauma exposure as part of a multisite observational study to understand the neuropsychiatric effects of trauma (AURORA Study). Participants completed self-assessments of PTSD (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; PCL-5), dissociation, and depression symptoms two- and eight-weeks post-trauma. We completed multiple regressions to investigate relationships between FPS during late extinction, GMV, and PTSD symptom development. The interaction between thalamic GMV and FPS during late extinction at two weeks post-trauma predicted PCL-5 scores eight weeks (t (75) = 2.49, β = 0.28, p = 0.015) post-trauma. Higher FPS predicted higher PCL-5 scores in the setting of increased thalamic GMV. Meanwhile, lower FPS also predicted higher PCL-5 scores in the setting of decreased thalamic GMV. Thalamic GMV and FPS interactions also predicted posttraumatic dissociative and depressive symptoms. Amygdala and hippocampus GMV by FPS interactions were not associated with posttraumatic symptom development. Taken together, thalamic GMV and FPS during late extinction interact to contribute to adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric outcomes. Multimodal assessments soon after trauma have the potential to distinguish key phenotypes vulnerable to posttraumatic neuropsychiatric outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonia V Seligowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Alyssa R Roeckner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mariam Reda
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lauren A M Lebois
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vishnu P Murty
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Steven E Bruce
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri - St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stacey L House
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Francesca L Beaudoin
- Department of Emergency Medicine & Health Services, Policy, and Practice, The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Xinming An
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Trauma Recovery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Donglin Zeng
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- San Francisco VA Healthcare System and Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gari D Clifford
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sarah D Linnstaedt
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Trauma Recovery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Laura T Germine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; The Many Brains Project, Acton, MA, USA
| | - Scott L Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | | | - Sophia Sheikh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine -Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Christopher W Jones
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Brittany E Punches
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine & University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Robert A Swor
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester Hills, MI, USA
| | - Meghan E McGrath
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren A Hudak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jose L Pascual
- Department of Surgery and Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anna M Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Claire Pearson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - David A Peak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert M Domeier
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Brian J O'Neil
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Niels K Rathlev
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Leon D Sanchez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA & Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jutta Joormann
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Deanna M Barch
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - James M Elliott
- The Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia; Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ronald C Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel A McLean
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Trauma Recovery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nathaniel G Harnett
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
Abstract
Human social interactions depend on the ability to resolve uncertainty about the mental states of others. The context in which social interactions take place is crucial for mental state attribution as sensory inputs may be perceived differently depending on the context. In this paper, we introduce a mental state attribution task where a target-face with either an ambiguous or an unambiguous emotion is embedded in different social contexts. The social context is determined by the emotions conveyed by other faces in the scene. This task involves mental state attribution to a target-face (either happy or sad) depending on the social context. Using active inference models, we provide a proof of concept that an agent's perception of sensory stimuli may be altered by social context. We show with simulations that context congruency and facial expression coherency improve behavioural performance in terms of decision times. Furthermore, we show through simulations that the abnormal viewing strategies employed by patients with schizophrenia may be due to (i) an imbalance between the precisions of local and global features in the scene and (ii) a failure to modulate the sensory precision to contextualise emotions.
Collapse
|
56
|
Perry BAL, Lomi E, Mitchell AS. Thalamocortical interactions in cognition and disease: the mediodorsal and anterior thalamic nuclei. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 130:162-177. [PMID: 34216651 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The mediodorsal thalamus (MD) and anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) are two adjacent brain nodes that support our ability to make decisions, learn, update information, form and retrieve memories, and find our way around. The MD and PFC work in partnerships to support cognitive processes linked to successful learning and decision-making, while the ATN and extended hippocampal system together coordinate the encoding and retrieval of memories and successful spatial navigation. Yet, while these distinctions may appear to be segregated, both the MD and ATN together support our higher cognitive functions as they regulate and are influenced by interconnected fronto-temporal neural networks and subcortical inputs. Our review focuses on recent studies in animal models and in humans. This evidence is re-shaping our understanding of the importance of MD and ATN cortico-thalamocortical pathways in influencing complex cognitive functions. Given the evidence from clinical settings and neuroscience research labs, the MD and ATN should be considered targets for effective treatments in neuropsychiatric diseases and disorders and neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brook A L Perry
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, The Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, OX1 3SR, United Kingdom
| | - Eleonora Lomi
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, The Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, OX1 3SR, United Kingdom
| | - Anna S Mitchell
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, The Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, OX1 3SR, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
57
|
Biagi L, Lenzi S, Cipriano E, Fiori S, Bosco P, Cristofani P, Astrea G, Pini A, Cioni G, Mercuri E, Tosetti M, Battini R. Neural substrates of neuropsychological profiles in dystrophynopathies: A pilot study of diffusion tractography imaging. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250420. [PMID: 33939732 PMCID: PMC8092766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cognitive difficulties and neuropsychological alterations in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD, BMD) boys are not yet sufficiently explored, although this topic could have a relevant impact, finding novel biomarkers of disease both at genetics and neuroimaging point of view. The current study aims to: 1) analyze the neuropsychological profile of a group of DMD and BMD boys without cognitive impairment with an assessment of their executive functions; 2) explore the structural connectivity in DMD, BMD, and age-matched controls focusing on cortico-subcortical tracts that connect frontal cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum via the thalamus; 3) explore possible correlations between altered structural connectivity and clinical neuropsychological measures. Materials and methods This pilot study included 15 boys (5 DMD subjects, 5 BMD subjects, and 5 age-matched typically developing, TD). They were assessed using a neuropsychological assessment protocol including cognitive and executive functioning assessment and performed a 1.5T MRI brain exam including advance Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) method for tractography. Structural connectivity measurements were extracted along three specific tracts: Cortico-Ponto-Cerebellar Tract (CPCT), Cerebellar-Thalamic Tract (CTT), and Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus (SLF). Cortical-Spinal Tract (CST) was selected for reference, as control tract. Results Regarding intellectual functioning, a major impairment in executive functions compared to the general intellectual functioning was observed both for DMD (mean score = 86.20; SD = 11.54) and for BMD children (mean score = 88; SD = 3.67). Mean FA resulted tendentially always lower in DMD compared to both BMD and TD groups for all the examined tracts. The differences in FA were statistically significant for the right CTT (DMD vs BMD, p = 0.002, and DMD vs TD, p = 0.0015) and the right CPCT (DMD vs TD, p = 0.008). Concerning DMD, significant correlations emerged between FA-R-CTT and intellectual quotients (FIQ, p = 0.044; ρs = 0.821), and executive functions (Denomination Total, p = 0.044, ρs = 0.821; Inhibition Total, p = 0.019, ρs = 0.900). BMD showed a significant correlation between FA-R-CPCT and working memory index (p = 0.007; ρs = 0.949). Discussion and conclusion In this pilot study, despite the limitation of sample size, the findings support the hypothesis of the involvement of a cerebellar-thalamo-cortical loop for the neuropsychological profile of DMD, as the CTT and the CPCT are involved in the network and the related brain structures are known to be implied in executive functions. Our results suggest that altered WM connectivity and reduced fibre organization in cerebellar tracts, probably due to the lack of dystrophin in the brain, may render less efficient some neuropsychological functions in children affected by dystrophinopathies. The wider multicentric study could help to better establish the role of cerebellar connectivity in neuropsychological profile for dystrophinopathies, identifying possible novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Biagi
- Laboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Lenzi
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Emilio Cipriano
- Laboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Simona Fiori
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Bosco
- Laboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Cristofani
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Guia Astrea
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonella Pini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eugenio Mercuri
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Catholic University and Nemo Center, Policlinico Universitario Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Tosetti
- Laboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberta Battini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Exploring communication between the thalamus and cognitive control-related functional networks in the cerebral cortex. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 21:656-677. [PMID: 33864195 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00892-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested by multiple studies (postmortem studies, invasive animal studies, and diffusion tensor imaging in the human brain) that the thalamus is important for communication among cortical regions. Many functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, including noninvasive and whole-brain studies, have reported thalamic co-activation with several cognitive control-related cortical systems. This forms a complex network that may be important for advanced cognitive control-related processes, such as working memory and attention. Nevertheless, how the thalamus communicates with the cognitive control-related network in the intact human brain is an essential question and needs further investigation. To address this question, we conducted a study using dynamic functional connectivity analysis and effective connectivity analysis based on fMRI data from young, healthy adult participants. The results showed that the middle thalamus exhibited both high in- and out-degree regarding the complex network related to cognitive control during both rest and task conditions. Furthermore, intrinsic communication via the middle thalamic regions showed dynamically co-varying patterns, and the thalamic regions showed high flexibility in dynamic community analysis. These results indicated that the mid-thalamic region is an important station for communication between nodes in cognitive control-related networks.
Collapse
|
59
|
Abstract
Biological sex differences in brain function and structure are reliably associated with several cortico-subcortical brain regions. While sexual orientation (hetero- versus homosexuality) has been similarly linked to functional differences in several phylogenetically-old brain areas, the research on morphological brain phenotypes associated with sexual orientation is far from conclusive. We examined potential cerebral structural differences linked to sexual orientation in a group of 74 participants, including 37 men (21 homosexual) and 37 women (19 homosexual) using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Gray matter volumes (GMV) were compared with respect to sexual orientation and biological sex across the entire sample using full factorial designs controlling for total intracranial volume, age, handedness, and education. We observed a significant effect of sexual orientation for the thalamus and precentral gyrus, with more GMV in heterosexual versus homosexual individuals, and for the putamen, with more GMV in homosexual + than heterosexual individuals. We found significant interactions between biological sex and sexual orientation, indicating that the significant effect for the putamen cluster was driven by homosexual women, whereas heterosexual women had increased precentral gyrus GMV. Heterosexual men exhibited more GMV in the thalamus than homosexual men. This study shows that sexual orientation is reflected in brain structure characteristics and that these differ between the sexes. The results emphasize the need to include or control for potential effects of participants' sexual orientation in neuroimaging studies. Furthermore, our findings provide important new insights into the brain morphology underlying sexual orientation and likely have important implications for understanding brain functions and behavior.
Collapse
|
60
|
Worden R, Bennett MS, Neacsu V. The Thalamus as a Blackboard for Perception and Planning. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:633872. [PMID: 33732119 PMCID: PMC7956969 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.633872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that the thalamus acts as a blackboard, on which the computations of different cortical modules are composed, coordinated, and integrated. This article asks what blackboard role the thalamus might play, and whether that role is consistent with the neuroanatomy of the thalamus. It does so in a context of Bayesian belief updating, expressed as a Free Energy Principle. We suggest that the thalamus-as-a-blackboard offers important questions for research in spatial cognition. Several prominent features of the thalamus-including its lack of olfactory relay function, its lack of internal excitatory connections, its regular and conserved shape, its inhibitory interneurons, triadic synapses, and diffuse cortical connectivity-are consistent with a blackboard role.Different thalamic nuclei may play different blackboard roles: (1) the Pulvinar, through its reciprocal connections to posterior cortical regions, coordinates perceptual inference about "what is where" from multi-sense-data. (2) The Mediodorsal (MD) nucleus, through its connections to the prefrontal cortex, and the other thalamic nuclei linked to the motor cortex, uses the same generative model for planning and learning novel spatial movements. (3) The paraventricular nucleus may compute risk-reward trade-offs. We also propose that as any new movement is practiced a few times, cortico-thalamocortical (CTC) links entrain the corresponding cortico-cortical links, through a process akin to supervised learning. Subsequently, the movement becomes a fast unconscious habit, not requiring the MD nucleus or other thalamic nuclei, and bypassing the thalamic bottleneck.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Worden
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Max S. Bennett
- Independent Researcher, New York, NY, United States
- Bluecore, New York, NY, United States
| | - Victorita Neacsu
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
61
|
Abstract
Brain organoids closely recapitulate many features and characteristics of in vivo brain tissue. This technology in turn allows unprecedented possibilities to investigate brain development and function in the dish. Several brain organoid protocols have been established, and the studies have focused on validating the architecture, cellular composition, and function of the organoids. In future, the improved and advanced organoid models will enable us to understand cellular and molecular features of the developing brain. However, several obstacles, such as the quality of the organoids, 3D structural analysis, and measurement of the neural connectivity need to be improved. In this perspective, we will provide an overview of the current state of the art of the brain organoid field, with a focus on protocols and organoid characterization. Additionally, we will address the current limitations of this evolving field and provide an understanding of the current brain organoid landscape and insight toward the next steps.
Collapse
|
62
|
Vigen TR, Brudek T, Pakkenberg B, Olesen MV. Quantitative Cellular Changes in the Thalamus of Patients with Multiple System Atrophy. Neuroscience 2021; 459:142-152. [PMID: 33577952 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The thalamus is a brain region consisting of anatomical and functional connections between various spinal, subcortical, and cortical regions, which has a putative role in the clinical manifestation of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Previous stereological studies have reported significant anatomical alterations in diverse brain regions of MSA patients, including the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and white matter, but no quantitative studies have examined the thalamus. To establish the extent of thalamic involvement, we applied stereological methods to estimate the total number of neurons and glial cells (oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglia) as well as the volume in two thalamic sub-regions, the mediodorsal nucleus (MDT) and the anterior principal nucleus (APn), in brains from ten MSA patients and 11 healthy control subjects. Compared to healthy controls, MSA patients had significantly fewer neurons (26%) in the MDT, but not the APn. We also found significantly more astrocytes (32%) and microglia (54%) in the MDT, with no such changes in the APn. Finally, we saw no group differences in the total number of oligodendrocytes. Our findings show a region-specific loss of thalamic neurons that occurs without loss of oligodendrocytes, whereas thalamic microgliosis seems to occur alongside astrogliosis. These pathological changes in the thalamus may contribute to the cognitive impairment seen in most patients with MSA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanya R Vigen
- Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark
| | - Tomasz Brudek
- Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark
| | - Bente Pakkenberg
- Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Mikkel V Olesen
- Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
63
|
Tak K, Lee S, Choi E, Suh SW, Oh DJ, Moon W, Kim HS, Byun S, Bae JB, Han JW, Kim JH, Kim KW. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Texture of Medial Pulvinar in Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2021; 49:8-15. [PMID: 32259816 DOI: 10.1159/000506798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Executive dysfunction is common in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The pulvinar nucleus plays a role in executive control and synchronizes with cortical regions in the salience network that are vulnerable to Lewy pathology. OBJECTIVE We investigated the pulvinar subregions in patients with mild DLB and their associations with executive function. METHODS The sample consisted of 38 DLB patients and 38 age- and sex-matched normal controls. We evaluated cognitive function using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet. We obtained four pulvinar nuclei using preprocessed T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. We compared volumes and textures of the DLB patients and the normal controls for each nucleus. We used a linear regression to determine the association of textures and neuropsychological test scores. RESULTS The DLB patients showed comparable volumes to the normal controls in all pulvinar nuclei. However, the DLB patients showed different texture of the left medial pulvinar (PuM) from the normal controls. The entropy, contrast, and cluster shade were lower but autocorrelation of left PuM was higher in the DLB patients compared to the normal controls. These texture features of the left PuM were associated with the set-shifting performance measured by the Trail Making Test. CONCLUSIONS In DLB, the left PuM may be altered from early stage, which may contribute to the development of executive dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kayeong Tak
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Subin Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Euna Choi
- National Institute of Dementia, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Wan Suh
- Department of Psychiatry, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Jong Oh
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Woori Moon
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Sung Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Seonjeong Byun
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Bin Bae
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Won Han
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hyoung Kim
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Woong Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea, .,Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea, .,Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,
| |
Collapse
|
64
|
Anastasiades PG, Collins DP, Carter AG. Mediodorsal and Ventromedial Thalamus Engage Distinct L1 Circuits in the Prefrontal Cortex. Neuron 2021; 109:314-330.e4. [PMID: 33188733 PMCID: PMC7855187 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between the thalamus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) play a critical role in cognitive function and arousal. Here, we use anatomical tracing, electrophysiology, optogenetics, and 2-photon Ca2+ imaging to determine how ventromedial (VM) and mediodorsal (MD) thalamus target specific cell types and subcellular compartments in layer 1 (L1) of mouse PFC. We find thalamic inputs make distinct connections in L1, where VM engages neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (NDNF+) cells in L1a and MD drives vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP+) cells in L1b. These separate populations of L1 interneurons participate in different inhibitory networks in superficial layers by targeting either parvalbumin (PV+) or somatostatin (SOM+) interneurons. NDNF+ cells also inhibit the apical dendrites of L5 pyramidal tract (PT) cells to suppress action potential (AP)-evoked Ca2+ signals. Lastly, NDNF+ cells mediate a unique form of thalamus-evoked inhibition at PT cells, selectively blocking VM-evoked dendritic Ca2+ spikes. Together, our findings reveal how two thalamic nuclei differentially communicate with the PFC through distinct L1 micro-circuits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Anastasiades
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - David P Collins
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Adam G Carter
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
65
|
Chen VCH, Chou YS, Tsai YH, Huang YC, McIntyre RS, Weng JC. Resting-State Functional Connectivity and Brain Network Abnormalities in Depressive Patients with Suicidal Ideation. Brain Topogr 2021; 34:234-244. [PMID: 33420533 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-020-00817-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Our study aimed to investigate whether changes in brain function measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be detected among individuals with depressive disorders and suicidal ideation. The association between depression severity and brain images is also discussed. Our study recruited 111 participants in three groups: 35 depressive patients with suicidal ideation (SI), 32 depressive patients without suicidal ideation (NS), and 44 healthy controls (HCs). All participants were scanned using 3T MRI to obtain resting-state functional images, and functional connectivity (FC), amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and graph theoretical analysis (GTA) were performed. We found functional activity differences, such as the hippocampus and thalamus, in the SI group compared with the NS group. We also concluded lower activity in the thalamus and cuneus regions were related to suicidal ideation. We also found several functional connectivity of the brain areas, such as hippocampus, cuneus, and frontal regions, in the SI group correlated with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A graph theoretical analysis (GTA) and network-based statistical (NBS) analysis revealed different topological organization and slightly better local segregation of the brain network in healthy participants compared with those in depressive patients with suicidal ideation. We suggest that brain functional connectivity may be affected in depressive patients with suicidal ideation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Chin-Hung Chen
- School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Syuan Chou
- Department of Radiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Hsiung Tsai
- School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Yin-Cheng Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Roger S McIntyre
- Mood Disorder Psychopharmacology Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jun-Cheng Weng
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan. .,Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, and Bachelor Program in Artificial Intelligence, Chang Gung University, No. 259, Wenhua 1st Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan. .,Medical Imaging Research Center, Institute for Radiological Research, Chang Gung University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
66
|
The contribution of mamillary body damage to Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's syndrome. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 180:455-475. [PMID: 34225949 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-820107-7.00029-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Histopathological alterations of the mamillary bodies are the most conspicuous and the most consistent neuropathological features of several disorders that occur after severe thiamine deficiency, such as Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's syndrome. Moreover, they are among the few abnormalities that are visible to the naked eye in these disorders. With a lifetime prevalence of approximately 1.3%, Wernicke's encephalopathy is by far the most frequent cause of damage to the mamillary bodies in humans. Still, there is a persisting uncertainty with regard to the development and the clinical consequences of this damage, because it is virtually impossible to study in isolation. As a rule, it always occurs alongside neuropathology in other subcortical gray matter structures, notably the medial thalamus. Converging evidence from other pathologies and animal experiments is needed to assess the clinical impact of mamillary body damage and to determine which functions can be attributed to these structures in healthy subjects. In this chapter, we describe the history and the current state of knowledge with regard to thiamine deficiency disorders and the contribution of mamillary body damage to their clinical presentations.
Collapse
|
67
|
Mantanona CP, Božič T, Chudasama Y, Robbins TW, Dalley JW, Alsiö J, Pienaar IS. Dissociable contributions of mediodorsal and anterior thalamic nuclei in visual attentional performance: A comparison using nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonists. J Psychopharmacol 2020; 34:1371-1381. [PMID: 33103560 PMCID: PMC7708668 DOI: 10.1177/0269881120965880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thalamic subregions mediate various cognitive functions, including attention, inhibitory response control and decision making. Such neuronal activity is modulated by cholinergic thalamic afferents and deterioration of such modulatory signaling has been theorised to contribute to cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disorders. However, the thalamic subnuclei and cholinergic receptors involved in cognitive functioning remain largely unknown. AIMS We investigated whether muscarinic or nicotinic receptors in the mediodorsal thalamus and anterior thalamus contribute to rats' performance in the five-choice serial reaction time task, which measures sustained visual attention and impulsive action. METHODS Male Long-Evans rats were trained in the five-choice serial reaction time task then surgically implanted with guide cannulae targeting either the mediodorsal thalamus or anterior thalamus. Reversible inactivation of either the mediodorsal thalamus or anterior thalamus were achieved with infusions of the γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic agonists muscimol and baclofen prior to behavioural assessment. To investigate cholinergic mechanisms, we also assessed the behavioural effects of locally administered nicotinic (mecamylamine) and muscarinic (scopolamine) receptor antagonists. RESULTS Reversible inactivation of the mediodorsal thalamus severely impaired discriminative accuracy and response speed and increased omissions. Inactivation of the anterior thalamus produced less profound effects, with impaired accuracy at the highest dose. In contrast, blocking cholinergic transmission in these regions did not significantly affect five-choice serial reaction time task performance. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATIONS These findings show the mediodorsal thalamus plays a key role in visuospatial attentional performance that is independent of local cholinergic neurotransmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Craig P Mantanona
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Tadej Božič
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yogita Chudasama
- Section on Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jeffrey W Dalley
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,Department of Psychiatry, Hershel Smith Building for Brain and Mind Sciences, Forvie Site, Cambridge, UK
| | - Johan Alsiö
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ilse S Pienaar
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK,Ilse S Pienaar, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, John Maynard Smith building, Brighton, Falmer BN1 9PH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
68
|
Steullet P. Thalamus-related anomalies as candidate mechanism-based biomarkers for psychosis. Schizophr Res 2020; 226:147-157. [PMID: 31147286 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Identification of reliable biomarkers of prognosis in subjects with high risk to psychosis is an essential step to improve care and treatment of this population of help-seekers. Longitudinal studies highlight some clinical criteria, cognitive deficits, patterns of gray matter alterations and profiles of blood metabolites that provide some levels of prediction regarding the conversion to psychosis. Further effort is warranted to validate these results and implement these types of approaches in clinical settings. Such biomarkers may however fall short in entangling the biological mechanisms underlying the disease progression, an essential step in the development of novel therapies. Circuit-based approaches, which map on well-identified cerebral functions, could meet these needs. Converging evidence indicates that thalamus abnormalities are central to schizophrenia pathophysiology, contributing to clinical symptoms, cognitive and sensory deficits. This review highlights the various thalamus-related anomalies reported in individuals with genetic risks and in the different phases of the disorder, from prodromal to chronic stages. Several anomalies are potent endophenotypes, while others exist in clinical high-risk subjects and worsen in those who convert to full psychosis. Aberrant functional coupling between thalamus and cortex, low glutamate content and readouts from resting EEG carry predictive values for transition to psychosis or functional outcome. In this context, thalamus-related anomalies represent a valuable entry point to tackle circuit-based alterations associated with the emergence of psychosis. This review also proposes that longitudinal surveys of neuroimaging, EEG readouts associated with circuits encompassing the mediodorsal, pulvinar in high-risk individuals could unveil biological mechanisms contributing to this psychiatric disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Steullet
- Center of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Site de Cery, 1008 Prilly-Lausanne, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
69
|
Huang AS, Rogers BP, Sheffield JM, Jalbrzikowski ME, Anticevic A, Blackford JU, Heckers S, Woodward ND. Thalamic Nuclei Volumes in Psychotic Disorders and in Youths With Psychosis Spectrum Symptoms. Am J Psychiatry 2020; 177:1159-1167. [PMID: 32911995 PMCID: PMC7708443 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19101099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Thalamus models of psychosis implicate association nuclei in the pathogenesis of psychosis and mechanisms of cognitive impairment. Studies to date have provided conflicting findings for structural deficits specific to these nuclei. The authors sought to characterize thalamic structural abnormalities in psychosis and a neurodevelopmental cohort, and to determine whether nuclear volumes were associated with cognitive function. METHODS Thalamic nuclei volumes were tested in a cross-sectional sample of 472 adults (293 with psychosis) and the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC), consisting of 1,393 youths (398 with psychosis spectrum symptoms and 609 with other psychopathologies), using a recently developed, validated method for segmenting thalamic nuclei and complementary voxel-based morphometry. Cognitive function was measured with the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry in the psychosis cohort and the Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery in the PNC. RESULTS The psychosis group had smaller pulvinar, mediodorsal, and, to a lesser extent, ventrolateral nuclei volumes compared with the healthy control group. Youths with psychosis spectrum symptoms also had smaller pulvinar volumes, compared with both typically developing youths and youths with other psychopathologies. Pulvinar volumes were positively correlated with general cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS The study findings demonstrate that smaller thalamic association nuclei represent a neurodevelopmental abnormality associated with psychosis, risk for psychosis in youths, and cognitive impairment. Identifying specific thalamic nuclei abnormalities in psychosis has implications for early detection of psychosis risk and treatment of cognitive impairment in psychosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna S. Huang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | | | - Julia M. Sheffield
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | | | - Alan Anticevic
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine
| | - Jennifer Urbano Blackford
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Research Health Scientist, Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Stephan Heckers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Neil D. Woodward
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| |
Collapse
|
70
|
Verrall CE, Yang JYM, Chen J, Schembri A, d'Udekem Y, Zannino D, Kasparian NA, du Plessis K, Grieve SM, Welton T, Barton B, Gentles TL, Celermajer DS, Attard C, Rice K, Ayer J, Mandelstam S, Winlaw DS, Mackay MT, Cordina R. Neurocognitive Dysfunction and Smaller Brain Volumes in Adolescents and Adults With a Fontan Circulation. Circulation 2020; 143:878-891. [PMID: 33231097 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.120.048202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurocognitive outcomes beyond childhood in people with a Fontan circulation are not well defined. This study aimed to investigate neurocognitive functioning in adolescents and adults with a Fontan circulation and associations with structural brain injury, brain volumetry, and postnatal clinical factors. METHODS In a binational study, participants with a Fontan circulation without a preexisting major neurological disability were prospectively recruited from the Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry. Neurocognitive function was assessed by using Cogstate software in 107 participants with a Fontan circulation and compared with control groups with transposition of the great arteries (n=50) and a normal circulation (n=41). Brain MRI with volumetric analysis was performed in the participants with a Fontan circulation and compared with healthy control data from the ABIDE I and II (Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange) and PING (Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics) data repositories. Clinical data were retrospectively collected. RESULTS Of the participants with a Fontan circulation who had a neurocognitive assessment, 55% were male and the mean age was 22.6 years (SD 7.8). Participants with a Fontan circulation performed worse in several areas of neurocognitive function compared with those with transposition of the great arteries and healthy controls (P<0.05). Clinical factors associated with worse neurocognitive outcomes included more inpatient days during childhood, younger age at Fontan surgery, and longer time since Fontan procedure (P<0.05). Adults with a Fontan circulation had more marked neurocognitive dysfunction than adolescents with a Fontan circulation in 2 domains (psychomotor function, P=0.01 and working memory, P=0.02). Structural brain injury was present in the entire Fontan cohort; the presence of white matter injury was associated with worse paired associate learning (P<0.001), but neither the presence nor severity of infarct, subcortical gray matter injury, and microhemorrhage was associated with neurocognitive outcomes. Compared with healthy controls, people with a Fontan circulation had smaller global brain volumes (P<0.001 in all regions) and smaller regional brain volumes in most cerebral cortical regions (P<0.05). Smaller global brain volumes were associated with worse neurocognitive functioning in several domains (P<0.05). A significant positive association was also identified between global brain volumes and resting oxygen saturations (P≤0.04). CONCLUSIONS Neurocognitive impairment is common in adolescents and adults with a Fontan circulation and is associated with smaller gray and white matter brain volume. Understanding modifiable factors that contribute to brain injury to optimize neurocognitive function is paramount.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E Verrall
- Heart Centre for Children (C.E.V., J.A., D.S.W.), The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health (C.E.V., D.S.C., J.A., D.S.W., R.C.), University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joseph Y M Yang
- Neuroscience Advanced Clinical Imaging Suite (NACIS), Department of Neurosurgery (J.Y.M.Y.), The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Developmental Imaging (J.Y.M.Y., J.C.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jian Chen
- Developmental Imaging (J.Y.M.Y., J.C.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stuart M Grieve
- Sydney Translational Imaging Laboratory, Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health (S.M.G., T.W.), University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas Welton
- Sydney Translational Imaging Laboratory, Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health (S.M.G., T.W.), University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Belinda Barton
- Children's Hospital Education Research Institute and Kids Neuroscience Centre (B.B.), The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - David S Celermajer
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health (C.E.V., D.S.C., J.A., D.S.W., R.C.), University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | - Julian Ayer
- Heart Centre for Children (C.E.V., J.A., D.S.W.), The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health (C.E.V., D.S.C., J.A., D.S.W., R.C.), University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Simone Mandelstam
- Department of Cardiac Surgery (Y.d'U.), Medical Imaging (S.M.), The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David S Winlaw
- Heart Centre for Children (C.E.V., J.A., D.S.W.), The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health (C.E.V., D.S.C., J.A., D.S.W., R.C.), University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark T Mackay
- Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rachael Cordina
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health (C.E.V., D.S.C., J.A., D.S.W., R.C.), University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
71
|
Brockway DF, Crowley NA. Turning the 'Tides on Neuropsychiatric Diseases: The Role of Peptides in the Prefrontal Cortex. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:588400. [PMID: 33192369 PMCID: PMC7606924 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.588400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in technology have enabled researchers to probe the brain with the greater region, cell, and receptor specificity. These developments have allowed for a more thorough understanding of how regulation of the neurophysiology within a region is essential for maintaining healthy brain function. Stress has been shown to alter the prefrontal cortex (PFC) functioning, and evidence links functional impairments in PFC brain activity with neuropsychiatric disorders. Moreover, a growing body of literature highlights the importance of neuropeptides in the PFC to modulate neural signaling and to influence behavior. The converging evidence outlined in this review indicates that neuropeptides in the PFC are specifically impacted by stress, and are found to be dysregulated in numerous stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders including substance use disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), posttraumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia. This review explores how neuropeptides in the PFC function to regulate the neural activity, and how genetic and environmental factors, such as stress, lead to dysregulation in neuropeptide systems, which may ultimately contribute to the pathology of neuropsychiatric diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dakota F Brockway
- Neuroscience Curriculum, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Nicole A Crowley
- Neuroscience Curriculum, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States.,The Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
72
|
Chen M, Li H, Wang J, Yuan W, Altaye M, Parikh NA, He L. Early Prediction of Cognitive Deficit in Very Preterm Infants Using Brain Structural Connectome With Transfer Learning Enhanced Deep Convolutional Neural Networks. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:858. [PMID: 33041749 PMCID: PMC7530168 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to 40% of very preterm infants (≤32 weeks’ gestational age) were identified with a cognitive deficit at 2 years of age. Yet, accurate clinical diagnosis of cognitive deficit cannot be made until early childhood around 3–5 years of age. Recently, brain structural connectome that was constructed by advanced diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technique has been playing an important role in understanding human cognitive functions. However, available annotated neuroimaging datasets with clinical and outcome information are usually limited and expensive to enlarge in the very preterm infants’ studies. These challenges hinder the development of neonatal prognostic tools for early prediction of cognitive deficit in very preterm infants. In this study, we considered the brain structural connectome as a 2D image and applied established deep convolutional neural networks to learn the spatial and topological information of the brain connectome. Furthermore, the transfer learning technique was utilized to mitigate the issue of insufficient training data. As such, we developed a transfer learning enhanced convolutional neural network (TL-CNN) model for early prediction of cognitive assessment at 2 years of age in very preterm infants using brain structural connectome. A total of 110 very preterm infants were enrolled in this work. Brain structural connectome was constructed using DTI images scanned at term-equivalent age. Bayley III cognitive assessments were conducted at 2 years of corrected age. We applied the proposed model to both cognitive deficit classification and continuous cognitive score prediction tasks. The results demonstrated that TL-CNN achieved improved performance compared to multiple peer models. Finally, we identified the brain regions most discriminative to the cognitive deficit. The results suggest that deep learning models may facilitate early prediction of later neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants at term-equivalent age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming Chen
- The Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Department of Electronic Engineering and Computing Systems, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Hailong Li
- The Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Jinghua Wang
- Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Weihong Yuan
- Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Mekbib Altaye
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Nehal A Parikh
- The Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Lili He
- The Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
73
|
Georgescu IA, Popa D, Zagrean L. The Anatomical and Functional Heterogeneity of the Mediodorsal Thalamus. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10090624. [PMID: 32916866 PMCID: PMC7563683 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10090624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mediodorsal nucleus (MD) represents just one piece of a complex relay structure situated within the brain, called the thalamus. MD is characterized by its robust interconnections with other brain areas, especially with limbic-related structures. Given the close anatomo-functional relationship between the MD and the limbic system, this particular thalamic nucleus can directly influence various affective behaviors and participate in cognition. In this work, we review data collected from multiple anatomical studies conducted in rodent, human, and non-human primates, highlighting the complexity of this structure and of the neural networks in which it takes part. We provide proof that the MD is involved in the unification of several anatomical structures, being able to process the information and influence the activity in numerous cortical and subcortical neural circuits. Moreover, we uncover intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that offer MD the possibility to execute and control specific high functions of the nervous system. The collected data indicate the great importance of the MD in the limbic system and offer relevant insight into the organization of thalamic circuits that support MD functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Antoaneta Georgescu
- Division of Physiology and Neuroscience, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eroii Sanitari, nr 8, Sector 5, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Daniela Popa
- Division of Physiology and Neuroscience, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eroii Sanitari, nr 8, Sector 5, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
- Institut de biologie de l’Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (D.P.); (L.Z.)
| | - Leon Zagrean
- Division of Physiology and Neuroscience, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eroii Sanitari, nr 8, Sector 5, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
- Correspondence: (D.P.); (L.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
74
|
Separate and overlapping functional roles for efference copies in the human thalamus. Neuropsychologia 2020; 147:107558. [PMID: 32771475 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
How the perception of space is generated from the multiple maps in the brain is still an unsolved mystery in neuroscience. A neural pathway ascending from the superior colliculus through the medio-dorsal (MD) nucleus of thalamus to the frontal eye field has been identified in monkeys that conveys efference copy information about the metrics of upcoming eye movements. Information sent through this pathway stabilizes vision across saccades. We investigated whether this motor plan information might also shape spatial perception even when no saccades are performed. We studied patients with medial or lateral thalamic lesions (likely involving either the MD or the ventrolateral (VL) nuclei). Patients performed a double-step task testing motor updating, a trans-saccadic localization task testing visual updating, and a localization task during fixation testing a general role of motor signals for visual space in the absence of eye movements. Single patients with medial or lateral thalamic lesions showed deficits in the double-step task, reflecting insufficient transfer of efference copy. However, only a patient with a medial lesion showed impaired performance in the trans-saccadic localization task, suggesting that different types of efference copies contribute to motor and visual updating. During fixation, the MD patient localized stationary stimuli more accurately than healthy controls, suggesting that patients compensate the deficit in visual prediction of saccades - induced by the thalamic lesion - by relying on stationary visual references. We conclude that partially separable efference copy signals contribute to motor and visual stability in company of purely visual signals that are equally effective in supporting trans-saccadic perception.
Collapse
|
75
|
Tseng CEJ, Gilbert TM, Catanese MC, Hightower BG, Peters AT, Parmar AJ, Kim M, Wang C, Roffman JL, Brown HE, Perlis RH, Zürcher NR, Hooker JM. In vivo human brain expression of histone deacetylases in bipolar disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:224. [PMID: 32641695 PMCID: PMC7343804 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-00911-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The etiology of bipolar disorder (BD) is unknown and the neurobiological underpinnings are not fully understood. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the risk of BD, which may be linked through epigenetic mechanisms, including those regulated by histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes. This study measures in vivo HDAC expression in individuals with BD for the first time using the HDAC-specific radiotracer [11C]Martinostat. Eleven participants with BD and 11 age- and sex-matched control participants (CON) completed a simultaneous magnetic resonance - positron emission tomography (MR-PET) scan with [11C]Martinostat. Lower [11C]Martinostat uptake was found in the right amygdala of BD compared to CON. We assessed uptake in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) to compare previous findings of lower uptake in the DLPFC in schizophrenia and found no group differences in BD. Exploratory whole-brain voxelwise analysis showed lower [11C]Martinostat uptake in the bilateral thalamus, orbitofrontal cortex, right hippocampus, and right amygdala in BD compared to CON. Furthermore, regional [11C]Martinostat uptake was associated with emotion regulation in BD in fronto-limbic areas, which aligns with findings from previous structural, functional, and molecular neuroimaging studies in BD. Regional [11C]Martinostat uptake was associated with attention in BD in fronto-parietal and temporal regions. These findings indicate a potential role of HDACs in BD pathophysiology. In particular, HDAC expression levels may modulate attention and emotion regulation, which represent two core clinical features of BD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-En J. Tseng
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Tonya M. Gilbert
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Mary C. Catanese
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Baileigh G. Hightower
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Amy T. Peters
- grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Anjali J. Parmar
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Minhae Kim
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Changning Wang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Joshua L. Roffman
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA ,grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Hannah E. Brown
- grid.475010.70000 0004 0367 5222Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Roy H. Perlis
- grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA ,grid.32224.350000 0004 0386 9924Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Nicole R. Zürcher
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Jacob M. Hooker
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| |
Collapse
|
76
|
Morè L, Lauterborn JC, Papaleo F, Brambilla R. Enhancing cognition through pharmacological and environmental interventions: Examples from preclinical models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 110:28-45. [PMID: 30981451 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In this review we discuss the role of environmental and pharmacological treatments to enhance cognition with special regards to neurodevelopmental related disorders and aging. How the environment influences brain structure and function, and the interactions between rearing conditions and gene expression, are fundamental questions that are still poorly understood. We propose a model that can explain some of the discrepancies in findings for effects of environmental enrichment on outcome measures. Evidence of a direct causal correlation of nootropics and treatments that enhanced cognition also will be presented, and possible molecular mechanisms that include neurotrophin signaling and downstream pathways underlying these processes are discussed. Finally we review recent findings achieved with a wide set of behavioral and cognitive tasks that have translational validity to humans, and should be useful for future work on devising appropriate therapies. As will be discussed, the collective findings suggest that a combinational therapeutic approach of environmental enrichment and nootropics could be particularly successful for improving learning and memory in both developmental disorders and normal aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Morè
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, PR1 2XT, Preston, UK.
| | - Julie C Lauterborn
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA.
| | - Francesco Papaleo
- Genetics of Cognition Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163, Genova, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Brambilla
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI), Division of Neuroscience, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, Cardiff, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
77
|
Timbie C, García-Cabezas MÁ, Zikopoulos B, Barbas H. Organization of primate amygdalar-thalamic pathways for emotions. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000639. [PMID: 32106269 PMCID: PMC7064256 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on the thalamus have mostly focused on sensory relay nuclei, but the organization of pathways associated with emotions is not well understood. We addressed this issue by testing the hypothesis that the primate amygdala acts, in part, like a sensory structure for the affective import of stimuli and conveys this information to the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus, magnocellular part (MDmc). We found that primate sensory cortices innervate amygdalar sites that project to the MDmc, which projects to the orbitofrontal cortex. As in sensory thalamic systems, large amygdalar terminals innervated excitatory relay and inhibitory neurons in the MDmc that facilitate faithful transmission to the cortex. The amygdala, however, uniquely innervated a few MDmc neurons by surrounding and isolating large segments of their proximal dendrites, as revealed by three-dimensional high-resolution reconstruction. Physiologic studies have shown that large axon terminals are found in pathways issued from motor systems that innervate other brain centers to help distinguish self-initiated from other movements. By analogy, the amygdalar pathway to the MDmc may convey signals forwarded to the orbitofrontal cortex to monitor and update the status of the environment in processes deranged in schizophrenia, resulting in attribution of thoughts and actions to external sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clare Timbie
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Neural Systems Lab, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Miguel Á. García-Cabezas
- Neural Systems Lab, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Basilis Zikopoulos
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Human Systems Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Helen Barbas
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Neural Systems Lab, Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
78
|
Lecciso F, Colombo B. Beyond the Cortico-Centric Models of Cognition: The Role of Subcortical Functioning in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Psychol 2020; 10:2809. [PMID: 31920851 PMCID: PMC6927277 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Lecciso
- Lab of Applied Psychology and Intervention, Department of History, Society and Human Studies, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Barbara Colombo
- Neuroscience Lab, Champlain College, Burlington, VT, United States
| |
Collapse
|
79
|
SAKADE Y, YAMANAKA K, SOUMIYA H, FURUKAWA S, FUKUMITSU H. Exposure to valproic acid during middle to late-stage corticogenesis induces learning and social behavioral abnormalities with attention deficit/hyperactivity in adult mice. Biomed Res 2019; 40:179-188. [DOI: 10.2220/biomedres.40.179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki SAKADE
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biofunctional Analysis, Gifu Pharmaceutical University
| | - Kumiko YAMANAKA
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biofunctional Analysis, Gifu Pharmaceutical University
| | - Hitomi SOUMIYA
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biofunctional Analysis, Gifu Pharmaceutical University
| | - Shoei FURUKAWA
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biofunctional Analysis, Gifu Pharmaceutical University
| | - Hidefumi FUKUMITSU
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biofunctional Analysis, Gifu Pharmaceutical University
| |
Collapse
|
80
|
Seeding of protein aggregation causes cognitive impairment in rat model of cortical synucleinopathy. Mov Disord 2019; 34:1699-1710. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.27810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
|
81
|
Staffaroni AM, Cobigo Y, Elahi FM, Casaletto KB, Walters SM, Wolf A, Lindbergh CA, Rosen HJ, Kramer JH. A longitudinal characterization of perfusion in the aging brain and associations with cognition and neural structure. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:3522-3533. [PMID: 31062904 PMCID: PMC6693488 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral perfusion declines across the lifespan and is altered in the early stages of several age-related neuropathologies. Little is known, however, about the longitudinal evolution of perfusion in healthy older adults, particularly when perfusion is quantified using magnetic resonance imaging with arterial spin labeling (ASL). The objective was to characterize longitudinal perfusion in typically aging adults and elucidate associations with cognition and brain structure. Adults who were functionally intact at baseline (n = 161, ages 47-89) underwent ASL imaging to quantify whole-brain gray matter perfusion; a subset (n = 136) had repeated imaging (average follow-up: 2.3 years). Neuropsychological testing at each visit was summarized into executive function, memory, and processing speed composites. Global gray matter volume, white matter microstructure (mean diffusivity), and white matter hyperintensities were also quantified. We assessed baseline associations among perfusion, cognition, and brain structure using linear regression, and longitudinal relationships using linear mixed effects models. Greater baseline perfusion, particularly in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right thalamus, was associated with better executive functions. Greater whole-brain perfusion loss was associated with worsening brain structure and declining processing speed. This study helps validate noninvasive MRI-based perfusion imaging and underscores the importance of cerebral blood flow in cognitive aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam M. Staffaroni
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging CenterUniversity of California at San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Yann Cobigo
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging CenterUniversity of California at San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Fanny M. Elahi
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging CenterUniversity of California at San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Kaitlin B. Casaletto
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging CenterUniversity of California at San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Samantha M. Walters
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging CenterUniversity of California at San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Amy Wolf
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging CenterUniversity of California at San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Cutter A. Lindbergh
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging CenterUniversity of California at San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Howard J. Rosen
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging CenterUniversity of California at San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| | - Joel H. Kramer
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging CenterUniversity of California at San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCalifornia
| |
Collapse
|
82
|
Huang AS, Rogers BP, Woodward ND. Disrupted modulation of thalamus activation and thalamocortical connectivity during dual task performance in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2019; 210:270-277. [PMID: 30630706 PMCID: PMC6612476 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2018.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite considerable evidence showing thalamus anatomy and connectivity abnormalities in schizophrenia, how these abnormalities are reflected in thalamus function during cognition is relatively understudied. Modulation of thalamic connectivity with the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is required for higher-order cognitive processes, which are often impaired in schizophrenia. To address this gap, we investigated how thalamus function and thalamus-PFC connectivity under different levels of cognitive demand may be disrupted in schizophrenia. Participants underwent fMRI scanning while performing an event-related two-alternative forced choice task under Single and Dual task conditions. In the Single task condition, participants responded either to a visual cue with a well-learned motor response, or an audio cue with a well-learned vocal response. In the Dual task condition, participants performed both tasks. Thalamic connectivity with task relevant regions of the PFC for each condition was measured using beta-series correlation. Individuals with schizophrenia demonstrated less modulation of both mediodorsal thalamus activation and thalamus-PFC connectivity with increased cognitive demand. In contrast, their ability to modulate PFC function during task performance was maintained. These results suggest that the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia is associated with thalamus-PFC circuitry and suggests that the thalamus, along with the PFC, should be a focus of investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna S. Huang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | | | - Neil D. Woodward
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| |
Collapse
|
83
|
Subramanian D, Alers A, Sommer MA. Corollary Discharge for Action and Cognition. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2019; 4:782-790. [PMID: 31351985 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In motor systems, a copy of the movement command known as corollary discharge is broadcast to other regions of the brain to warn them of the impending movement. The premise of this review is that the concept of corollary discharge may generalize in revealing ways to the brain's cognitive systems. An oculomotor pathway from the brain stem to frontal cortex provides a well-established example of how corollary discharge is instantiated for sensorimotor processing. Building on causal evidence from inactivation of the pathway, we motivate forward models as a tool for understanding the contributions of corollary discharge to perception and movement. Finally, we extend the definition of corollary discharge to account for signals that may be used for cognitive forward models of decision making. This framework may provide new insights into signals and circuits that contribute to sequential decision processes, the breakdown of which may account for some symptoms of psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Divya Subramanian
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Anthony Alers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Marc A Sommer
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
| |
Collapse
|
84
|
Wolff M, Vann SD. The Cognitive Thalamus as a Gateway to Mental Representations. J Neurosci 2019; 39:3-14. [PMID: 30389839 PMCID: PMC6325267 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0479-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Historically, the thalamus has been viewed as little more than a relay, simply transferring information to key players of the cast, the cortex and hippocampus, without providing any unique functional contribution. In recent years, evidence from multiple laboratories researching different thalamic nuclei has contradicted this idea of the thalamus as a passive structure. Dated models of thalamic functions are being pushed aside, revealing a greater and far more complex contribution of the thalamus for cognition. In this Viewpoints article, we show how recent data support novel views of thalamic functions that emphasize integrative roles in cognition, ranging from learning and memory to flexible adaption. We propose that these apparently separate cognitive functions may indeed be supported by a more general role in shaping mental representations. Several features of thalamocortical circuits are consistent with this suggested role, and we highlight how divergent and convergent thalamocortical and corticothalamic pathways may complement each other to support these functions. Furthermore, the role of the thalamus for subcortical integration is highlighted as a key mechanism for maintaining and updating representations. Finally, we discuss future areas of research and stress the importance of incorporating new experimental findings into existing knowledge to continue developing thalamic models. The presence of thalamic pathology in a number of neurological conditions reinforces the need to better understand the role of this region in cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Wolff
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, INCIA, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5287, Bordeaux, France,
- University of Bordeaux, INCIA, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5287, Bordeaux, France, and
| | - Seralynne D Vann
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
85
|
Iidaka T, Kogata T, Mano Y, Komeda H. Thalamocortical Hyperconnectivity and Amygdala-Cortical Hypoconnectivity in Male Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:252. [PMID: 31057443 PMCID: PMC6482335 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Analyses of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) have been performed to investigate pathophysiological changes in the brains of patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) relative to typically developing controls (CTLs). However, the results of these previous studies, which have reported mixed patterns of hypo- and hyperconnectivity, are controversial, likely due to the small sample sizes and limited age range of included participants. Methods: To overcome this issue, we analyzed multisite neuroimaging data from a large sample (n = 626) of male participants aged between 5 and 29 years (mean age = 13 years). The rs-fMRI data were preprocessed using SPM12 and DPARSF software, and signal changes in 90 brain regions were extracted. Multiple linear regression was used to exclude the effect of site differences in connectivity data. Subcortical-cortical connectivity was computed using connectivities in the hippocampus, amygdala, caudate nucleus, putamen, pallidum, and thalamus. Eighty-eight connectivities in each structure were compared between patients with ASD and CTLs using multiple linear regression with group, age, and age × group interactions, head movement parameters, and overall connectivity as variables. Results: After correcting for multiple comparisons, patients in the ASD group exhibited significant increases in connectivity between the thalamus and 19 cortical regions distributed throughout the fronto-parietal lobes, including the temporo-parietal junction and posterior cingulate cortices. In addition, there were significant decreases in connectivity between the amygdala and six cortical regions. The mean effect size of hyperconnectivity (0.25) was greater than that for hypoconnectivity (0.08). No other subcortical structures showed significant group differences. A group-by-age interaction was observed for connectivity between the thalamus and motor-somatosensory areas. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that pathophysiological changes associated with ASD are more likely related to thalamocortical hyperconnectivity than to amygdala-cortical hypoconnectivity. Future studies should examine full sets of clinical and behavioral symptoms in combination with functional connectivity to explore possible biomarkers for ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Iidaka
- Brain & Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kogata
- Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoko Mano
- Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hidetsugu Komeda
- Department of Education, Psychology, and Human Studies, Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
86
|
Li EK, Lee S, Patel SS, Sereno AB. Age-Dependent Performance on Pro-point and Anti-point Tasks. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2519. [PMID: 30618945 PMCID: PMC6304380 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in prefrontal cortex are thought to be responsible for many of the characteristic behavioral changes that are seen during adolescence and late adulthood. Disruption of prefrontal cortex is an early sign for many developmental, neurological, and psychiatric disorders. Goal directed eye movements, such as Anti-saccades, have been shown to have high sensitivity as a gross assessment of prefrontal lobe function. Previous studies on the developmental changes of saccades across age have shown that stimulus-driven and goal-directed eye movements follow a U-shaped trend with peaks in performance occuring during adolescence. Using novel tablet-based pointing tasks, modeled on eye movement tests, this study aims to provide a preliminary understanding of how age affects manual pointing performance, in order to more easily track behavioral changes of the prefrontal cortex. In this study, 82 participants between the ages of 10 and 63 were recruited to participate. Results show that similarly to saccades, manual pointing responses are age dependent with fastest response times found during late adolescence to early adulthood (U-shaped curves). Importantly, we also demonstrated significant differences in the effect of age in stimulus-driven (Pro-point) and goal-directed (Anti-point) pointing tasks. The effect of age on response time (RT) is greater on Anti-point compared to Pro-point task (with a 79 ms greater mean decrease during early development and a 148 ms greater mean increase during later aging). Further, for Pro-point task, the U-shaped curve flattens at about 45 years whereas for Anti-point task the U-shaped curve continues up to the maximum age tested (about 60 years). This dissociation between age-related changes in sensorimotor and cognitive performance suggests independent development of associated brain circuity. Thus, changes of performance in disease that are specific for age and task may be able to help identify brain circuitry involved. Finally, given that these tablet-based pointing tasks show similar age-related patterns reported previously with eye-tracking technology, our findings suggest that such tablet-based tasks may provide an inexpensive, quick, and more practical way of detecting neurological deficits or tracking cognitive changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elijah K Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Shannon Lee
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States.,School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Saumil S Patel
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Anne B Sereno
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
87
|
Pergola G, Danet L, Pitel AL, Carlesimo GA, Segobin S, Pariente J, Suchan B, Mitchell AS, Barbeau EJ. The Regulatory Role of the Human Mediodorsal Thalamus. Trends Cogn Sci 2018; 22:1011-1025. [PMID: 30236489 PMCID: PMC6198112 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The function of the human mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD) has so far eluded a clear definition in terms of specific cognitive processes and tasks. Although it was at first proposed to play a role in long-term memory, a set of recent studies in animals and humans has revealed a more complex, and broader, role in several cognitive functions. The MD seems to play a multifaceted role in higher cognitive functions together with the prefrontal cortex and other cortical and subcortical brain areas. Specifically, we propose that the MD is involved in the regulation of cortical networks especially when the maintenance and temporal extension of persistent activity patterns in the frontal lobe areas are required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Pergola
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari 70124, Italy.
| | - Lola Danet
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS 31024, France; CHU Toulouse Purpan, Neurology Department, Toulouse 31059, France
| | - Anne-Lise Pitel
- Normandie University, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Giovanni A Carlesimo
- Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University and S. Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Shailendra Segobin
- Normandie University, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Jérémie Pariente
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS 31024, France; CHU Toulouse Purpan, Neurology Department, Toulouse 31059, France
| | - Boris Suchan
- Clinical Neuropsychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Anna S Mitchell
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, The Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK; Equivalent contribution as last authors.
| | - Emmanuel J Barbeau
- Centre de recherche Cerveau et Cognition, UMR5549, Université de Toulouse - CNRS, Toulouse 31000, France; Equivalent contribution as last authors
| |
Collapse
|
88
|
Chakraborty S, Ouhaz Z, Mason S, Mitchell AS. Macaque parvocellular mediodorsal thalamus: dissociable contributions to learning and adaptive decision-making. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 49:1041-1054. [PMID: 30022540 PMCID: PMC6519510 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Distributed brain networks govern adaptive decision‐making, new learning and rapid updating of information. However, the functional contribution of the rhesus macaque monkey parvocellular nucleus of the mediodorsal thalamus (MDpc) in these key higher cognitive processes remains unknown. This study investigated the impact of MDpc damage in cognition. Preoperatively, animals were trained on an object‐in‐place scene discrimination task that assesses rapid learning of novel information within each session. Bilateral neurotoxic (NMDA and ibotenic acid) MDpc lesions did not impair new learning unless the monkey had also sustained damage to the magnocellular division of the MD (MDmc). Contralateral unilateral MDpc and MDmc damage also impaired new learning, while selective unilateral MDmc damage produced new learning deficits that eventually resolved with repeated testing. In contrast, during food reward (satiety) devaluation, monkeys with either bilateral MDpc damage or combined MDpc and MDmc damage showed attenuated food reward preferences compared to unoperated control monkeys; the selective unilateral MDmc damage left performance intact. Our preliminary results demonstrate selective dissociable roles for the two adjacent nuclei of the primate MD, namely, MDpc, as part of a frontal cortical network, and the MDmc, as part of a frontal‐temporal cortical network, in learning, memory and the cognitive control of behavioural choices after changes in reward value. Moreover, the functional cognitive deficits produced after differing MD damage show that the different subdivisions of the MD thalamus support distributed neural networks to rapidly and fluidly incorporate task‐relevant information, in order to optimise the animals’ ability to receive rewards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Subhojit Chakraborty
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, The Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SR, UK
| | - Zakaria Ouhaz
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, The Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SR, UK
| | - Stuart Mason
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, The Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SR, UK
| | - Anna S Mitchell
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, The Tinsley Building, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SR, UK
| |
Collapse
|
89
|
Bueno-Junior LS, Leite JP. Input Convergence, Synaptic Plasticity and Functional Coupling Across Hippocampal-Prefrontal-Thalamic Circuits. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:40. [PMID: 29875637 PMCID: PMC5975431 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Executive functions and working memory are long known to involve the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and two PFC-projecting areas: midline/paramidline thalamus (MLT) and cornus ammonis 1 (CA1)/subiculum of the hippocampal formation (HF). An increasing number of rodent electrophysiology studies are examining these substrates together, thus providing circuit-level perspectives on input convergence, synaptic plasticity and functional coupling, as well as insights into cognition mechanisms and brain disorders. Our review article puts this literature into a method-oriented narrative. As revisited throughout the text, limbic thalamic and hippocampal afferents to the PFC gate one another’s inputs, which in turn are modulated by PFC interneurons and ascending monoaminergic projections. In addition, long-term synaptic plasticity, paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), and event-related potentials (ERP) dynamically vary across PFC-related circuits during learning paradigms and drug effects. Finally, thalamic-prefrontal loops, which have been shown to amplify both cognitive processes and limbic seizures, are also being implicated as relays in the prefrontal-hippocampal feedback, contributing to spatial navigation and decision making. Based on these issues, we conclude the review with a critical synthesis and some research directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lezio S Bueno-Junior
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Joao P Leite
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|