101
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Kutch JJ, Yani MS, Asavasopon S, Kirages DJ, Rana M, Cosand L, Labus JS, Kilpatrick LA, Ashe-McNalley C, Farmer MA, Johnson KA, Ness TJ, Deutsch G, Harris RE, Apkarian AV, Clauw DJ, Mackey SC, Mullins C, Mayer EA. Altered resting state neuromotor connectivity in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A MAPP: Research Network Neuroimaging Study. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2015; 8:493-502. [PMID: 26106574 PMCID: PMC4474411 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 04/25/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Brain network activity associated with altered motor control in individuals with chronic pain is not well understood. Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a debilitating condition in which previous studies have revealed altered resting pelvic floor muscle activity in men with CP/CPPS compared to healthy controls. We hypothesized that the brain networks controlling pelvic floor muscles would also show altered resting state function in men with CP/CPPS. Here we describe the results of the first test of this hypothesis focusing on the motor cortical regions, termed pelvic-motor, that can directly activate pelvic floor muscles. A group of men with CP/CPPS (N = 28), as well as group of age-matched healthy male controls (N = 27), had resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans as part of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network study. Brain maps of the functional connectivity of pelvic-motor were compared between groups. A significant group difference was observed in the functional connectivity between pelvic-motor and the right posterior insula. The effect size of this group difference was among the largest effect sizes in functional connectivity between all pairs of 165 anatomically-defined subregions of the brain. Interestingly, many of the atlas region pairs with large effect sizes also involved other subregions of the insular cortices. We conclude that functional connectivity between motor cortex and the posterior insula may be among the most important markers of altered brain function in men with CP/CPPS, and may represent changes in the integration of viscerosensory and motor processing. We studied men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). First resting state neuroimaging comparison CP/CPPS and healthy controls (HC) Motor cortex connectivity to insula distinguishes CP/CPPS from HC. Motor cortex connectivity to insula is among largest changes in CP/CPPS resting brain. Results provide additional evidence of motor network changes in chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J Kutch
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Moheb S Yani
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Daniel J Kirages
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Manku Rana
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Louise Cosand
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer S Labus
- Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress, Pain and Interoception Network (PAIN), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lisa A Kilpatrick
- Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress, Pain and Interoception Network (PAIN), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cody Ashe-McNalley
- Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress, Pain and Interoception Network (PAIN), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Melissa A Farmer
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kevin A Johnson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Division of Pain Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Timothy J Ness
- Departments of Radiology and Anesthesiology, Birmingham Medical Center, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Georg Deutsch
- Departments of Radiology and Anesthesiology, Birmingham Medical Center, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Richard E Harris
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - A Vania Apkarian
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Daniel J Clauw
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sean C Mackey
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Division of Pain Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chris Mullins
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Emeran A Mayer
- Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress, Pain and Interoception Network (PAIN), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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102
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Lebedev AV, Lövdén M, Rosenthal G, Feilding A, Nutt DJ, Carhart-Harris RL. Finding the self by losing the self: Neural correlates of ego-dissolution under psilocybin. Hum Brain Mapp 2015; 36:3137-53. [PMID: 26010878 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ego-disturbances have been a topic in schizophrenia research since the earliest clinical descriptions of the disorder. Manifesting as a feeling that one's "self," "ego," or "I" is disintegrating or that the border between one's self and the external world is dissolving, "ego-disintegration" or "dissolution" is also an important feature of the psychedelic experience, such as is produced by psilocybin (a compound found in "magic mushrooms"). Fifteen healthy subjects took part in this placebo-controlled study. Twelve-minute functional MRI scans were acquired on two occasions: subjects received an intravenous infusion of saline on one occasion (placebo) and 2 mg psilocybin on the other. Twenty-two visual analogue scale ratings were completed soon after scanning and the first principal component of these, dominated by items referring to "ego-dissolution", was used as a primary measure of interest in subsequent analyses. Employing methods of connectivity analysis and graph theory, an association was found between psilocybin-induced ego-dissolution and decreased functional connectivity between the medial temporal lobe and high-level cortical regions. Ego-dissolution was also associated with a "disintegration" of the salience network and reduced interhemispheric communication. Addressing baseline brain dynamics as a predictor of drug-response, individuals with lower diversity of executive network nodes were more likely to experience ego-dissolution under psilocybin. These results implicate MTL-cortical decoupling, decreased salience network integrity, and reduced inter-hemispheric communication in psilocybin-induced ego disturbance and suggest that the maintenance of "self"or "ego," as a perceptual phenomenon, may rest on the normal functioning of these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V Lebedev
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Sweden.,Centre for Age-Related Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway
| | - Martin Lövdén
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Sweden
| | - Gidon Rosenthal
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
| | | | - David J Nutt
- Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin L Carhart-Harris
- Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
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103
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Cristofori I, Harquel S, Isnard J, Mauguière F, Sirigu A. Monetary reward suppresses anterior insula activity during social pain. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2015; 10:1668-76. [PMID: 25964499 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsv054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social pain after exclusion by others activates brain regions also involved in physical pain. Here we evaluated whether monetary reward could compensate for the negative feeling of social pain in the brain. To address this question we used the unique technique of intracranial electroencephalography in subjects with drug resistant epilepsy. Specifically, we recorded theta activity from intracranial electrodes implanted in the insular cortex while subjects experienced conditions of social inclusion and exclusion associated with monetary gain and loss. Our study confirmed that theta rhythm in the insular cortex is the neural signature of social exclusion. We found that while monetary gain suppresses the effect of social pain in the anterior insula, there is no such effect in the posterior insula. These results imply that the anterior insula can use secondary reward signals to compensate for the negative feeling of social pain. Hence, here we propose that the anterior insula plays a pivotal role in integrating contingencies to update social pain feelings. Finally, the possibility to modulate the theta rhythm through the reward system might open new avenues of research for treating pathologies related to social exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Cristofori
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, UMR 5229, CNRS, Bron, France, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France, and
| | - Sylvain Harquel
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, UMR 5229, CNRS, Bron, France, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France, and
| | - Jean Isnard
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, UMR 5229, CNRS, Bron, France, Epilepsy Department, Neurological Hospital, Bron, France
| | - François Mauguière
- University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France, and Epilepsy Department, Neurological Hospital, Bron, France
| | - Angela Sirigu
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, UMR 5229, CNRS, Bron, France, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France, and
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104
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Ibegbu A, Umana U, Hamman O, Adamu S. Von Economo neurons: A review of the anatomy and functions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.4103/1596-2393.177023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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105
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Empathy and contextual social cognition. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2014; 14:407-25. [PMID: 23955101 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-013-0205-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Empathy is a highly flexible and adaptive process that allows for the interplay of prosocial behavior in many different social contexts. Empathy appears to be a very situated cognitive process, embedded with specific contextual cues that trigger different automatic and controlled responses. In this review, we summarize relevant evidence regarding social context modulation of empathy for pain. Several contextual factors, such as stimulus reality and personal experience, affectively link with other factors, emotional cues, threat information, group membership, and attitudes toward others to influence the affective, sensorimotor, and cognitive processing of empathy. Thus, we propose that the frontoinsular-temporal network, the so-called social context network model (SCNM), is recruited during the contextual processing of empathy. This network would (1) update the contextual cues and use them to construct fast predictions (frontal regions), (2) coordinate the internal (body) and external milieus (insula), and (3) consolidate the context-target associative learning of empathic processes (temporal sites). Furthermore, we propose these context-dependent effects of empathy in the framework of the frontoinsular-temporal network and examine the behavioral and neural evidence of three neuropsychiatric conditions (Asperger syndrome, schizophrenia, and the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia), which simultaneously present with empathy and contextual integration impairments. We suggest potential advantages of a situated approach to empathy in the assessment of these neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as their relationship with the SCNM.
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106
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Abstract
The brain is constantly bombarded by stimuli, and the relative salience of these inputs determines which are more likely to capture attention. A brain system known as the 'salience network', with key nodes in the insular cortices, has a central role in the detection of behaviourally relevant stimuli and the coordination of neural resources. Emerging evidence suggests that atypical engagement of specific subdivisions of the insula within the salience network is a feature of many neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185-0751, Coral Gables, Florida 33124, USA, Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
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107
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Quattrocki E, Friston K. Autism, oxytocin and interoception. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 47:410-30. [PMID: 25277283 PMCID: PMC4726659 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Revised: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by profound social and verbal communication deficits, stereotypical motor behaviors, restricted interests, and cognitive abnormalities. Autism affects approximately 1% of children in developing countries. Given this prevalence, identifying risk factors and therapeutic interventions are pressing objectives—objectives that rest on neurobiologically grounded and psychologically informed theories about the underlying pathophysiology. In this article, we review the evidence that autism could result from a dysfunctional oxytocin system early in life. As a mediator of successful procreation, not only in the reproductive system, but also in the brain, oxytocin plays a crucial role in sculpting socio-sexual behavior. Formulated within a (Bayesian) predictive coding framework, we propose that oxytocin encodes the saliency or precision of interoceptive signals and enables the neuronal plasticity necessary for acquiring a generative model of the emotional and social 'self.' An aberrant oxytocin system in infancy could therefore help explain the marked deficits in language and social communication—as well as the sensory, autonomic, motor, behavioral, and cognitive abnormalities—seen in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Quattrocki
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, 12 Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - Karl Friston
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL, 12 Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
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108
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From conflict management to reward-based decision making: Actors and critics in primate medial frontal cortex. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 46 Pt 1:44-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Revised: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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109
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Somel M, Rohlfs R, Liu X. Transcriptomic insights into human brain evolution: acceleration, neutrality, heterochrony. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2014; 29:110-9. [PMID: 25233113 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2014.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 08/31/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Primate brain transcriptome comparisons within the last 12 years have yielded interesting but contradictory observations on how the transcriptome evolves, and its adaptive role in human cognitive evolution. Since the human-chimpanzee common ancestor, the human prefrontal cortex transcriptome seems to have evolved more than that of the chimpanzee. But at the same time, most expression differences among species, especially those observed in adults, appear as consequences of neutral evolution at cis-regulatory sites. Adaptive expression changes in the human brain may be rare events involving timing shifts, or heterochrony, in specific neurodevelopmental processes. Disentangling adaptive and neutral expression changes, and associating these with human-specific features of the brain require improved methods, comparisons across more species, and further work on comparative development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Somel
- Department of Biology, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Rori Rohlfs
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Xiling Liu
- Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Shanghai, China
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110
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Phillips KA, Bales KL, Capitanio JP, Conley A, Czoty PW, ‘t Hart BA, Hopkins WD, Hu SL, Miller LA, Nader MA, Nathanielsz PW, Rogers J, Shively CA, Voytko ML. Why primate models matter. Am J Primatol 2014; 76:801-27. [PMID: 24723482 PMCID: PMC4145602 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 391] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Revised: 03/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Research involving nonhuman primates (NHPs) has played a vital role in many of the medical and scientific advances of the past century. NHPs are used because of their similarity to humans in physiology, neuroanatomy, reproduction, development, cognition, and social complexity-yet it is these very similarities that make the use of NHPs in biomedical research a considered decision. As primate researchers, we feel an obligation and responsibility to present the facts concerning why primates are used in various areas of biomedical research. Recent decisions in the United States, including the phasing out of chimpanzees in research by the National Institutes of Health and the pending closure of the New England Primate Research Center, illustrate to us the critical importance of conveying why continued research with primates is needed. Here, we review key areas in biomedicine where primate models have been, and continue to be, essential for advancing fundamental knowledge in biomedical and biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley A. Phillips
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio TX 78212
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio TX
| | - Karen L. Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis CA 95616
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis CA 95616
| | - John P. Capitanio
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis CA 95616
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis CA 95616
| | - Alan Conley
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis CA 95616
| | - Paul W. Czoty
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157
| | - Bert A. ‘t Hart
- Department of Immunobiology, Biomedical Primate Research Center, Rijswick, The Netherlands
| | - William D. Hopkins
- Neuroscience Institute and Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta GA 30302
- Division of Cognitive and Developmental Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta GA 30030
| | - Shiu-Lok Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle WA
| | - Lisa A. Miller
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis CA 95616
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, University of California, Davis CA 95616
| | - Michael A. Nader
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157
| | - Peter W. Nathanielsz
- Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio TX 78229
| | - Jeffrey Rogers
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI
| | - Carol A. Shively
- Department of Pathology, Section on Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157
| | - Mary Lou Voytko
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157
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111
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Evrard HC, Logothetis NK, Craig ADB. Modular architectonic organization of the insula in the macaque monkey. J Comp Neurol 2014; 522:64-97. [PMID: 23900781 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2012] [Revised: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In order to provide a framework for ongoing analyses of the neuronal connections of the insular cortex of the macaque monkey using modern high-resolution methods, we examined its anatomical organization in serial coronal sections stained alternately with Nissl and Gallyas (myelin) techniques. We observed the same 15 distinct architectonic areas in 10 brains. Within the granular, dysgranular, and agranular regions described in prior studies, we identified 4, 4, and 7 distinct areas, respectively. Across brains, these areas have consistent architectonic characteristics, and in flat map reconstructions they display a consistent topological or neighborhood arrangement, despite variations in the size of individual areas between cases. The borders between areas are generally rather sharply defined. Some areas, in particular the dysgranular areas, appear to consistently contain subtle transitions that suggest possible subareas or modules within the well-delimited areas. The presence of a distinct granular area that straddles the fundus of the superior limiting sulcus over its entire posterior-to-anterior extent is consistent with the available evidence on interoceptive thalamocortical projections, and also with the tensile anchor theory of species-specific cortical gyrification. These observations are consonant with the model of homeostatic afferent processing in the primate insula, and they suggest that discrete modules within insular cortex provide the basis for its polymodal integration of all salient activity relevant to ongoing emotional behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry C Evrard
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
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112
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Paşca SP, Panagiotakos G, Dolmetsch RE. Generating Human Neurons In Vitro and Using Them to Understand Neuropsychiatric Disease. Annu Rev Neurosci 2014; 37:479-501. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-062012-170328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sergiu P. Paşca
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305;
| | - Georgia Panagiotakos
- Doctoral Program in Neurosciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305;
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113
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Ibáñez A, Kuljiš RO, Matallana D, Manes F. Bridging psychiatry and neurology through social neuroscience. World Psychiatry 2014; 13:148-9. [PMID: 24890065 PMCID: PMC4102285 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Ibáñez
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience, Institute of Cognitive Neurology, Favaloro UniversityBuenos Aires, Argentina,National Scientific and Technical Research CouncilBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rodrigo O Kuljiš
- UDP-INECO Foundation Core on Neuroscience, Diego Portales UniversitySantiago, Chile,Neurology Unit, El Carmen HospitalMaipú, Chile
| | - Diana Matallana
- Intellectus Memory and Cognition Center, Pontificia Universidad JaverianaBogotá, Colombia
| | - Facundo Manes
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience, Institute of Cognitive Neurology, Favaloro UniversityBuenos Aires, Argentina,National Scientific and Technical Research CouncilBuenos Aires, Argentina,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Macquarie UniversitySidney, NSW, Australia
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114
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Tan RH, Wong S, Kril JJ, Piguet O, Hornberger M, Hodges JR, Halliday GM. Beyond the temporal pole: limbic memory circuit in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 137:2065-76. [PMID: 24844729 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Despite accruing evidence for relative preservation of episodic memory in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (previously semantic dementia), the neural basis for this remains unclear, particularly in light of their well-established hippocampal involvement. We recently investigated the Papez network of memory structures across pathological subtypes of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and demonstrated severe degeneration of all relay nodes, with the anterior thalamus in particular emerging as crucial for intact episodic memory. The present study investigated the status of key components of Papez circuit (hippocampus, mammillary bodies, anterior thalamus, cingulate cortex) and anterior temporal cortex using volumetric and quantitative cell counting methods in pathologically-confirmed cases with semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (n = 8; 61-83 years; three males), behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia with TDP pathology (n = 9; 53-82 years; six males) and healthy controls (n = 8, 50-86 years; four males). Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia cases with TDP pathology were selected because of the association between the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia and TDP pathology. Our findings revealed that the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia and behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia show similar degrees of anterior thalamic atrophy. The mammillary bodies and hippocampal body and tail were preserved in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia but were significantly atrophic in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. Importantly, atrophy in the anterior thalamus and mild progressive atrophy in the body of the hippocampus emerged as the main memory circuit regions correlated with increasing dementia severity in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia. Quantitation of neuronal populations in the cingulate cortices confirmed the selective loss of anterior cingulate von Economo neurons in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. We also show that by end-stage these neurons selectively degenerate in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia with preservation of neurons in the posterior cingulate cortex. Overall, our findings demonstrate for the first time, severe atrophy, although not necessarily neuronal loss, across all relay nodes of Papez circuit with the exception of the mammillary bodies and hippocampal body and tail in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia. Despite the longer disease course in the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia compared with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, we suggest here that the neural preservation of crucial memory relays (hippocampal→mammillary bodies and posterior cingulate→hippocampus) likely reflects the conservation of specific episodic memory components observed in most patients with semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel H Tan
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia2 School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031, Australia
| | - Stephanie Wong
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia
| | - Jillian J Kril
- 3 Disciplines of Pathology and Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia2 School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031, Australia4 ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - Michael Hornberger
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia2 School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031, Australia4 ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - John R Hodges
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia2 School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031, Australia4 ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- 1 Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, 2031, Australia2 School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031, Australia
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115
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Cauda F, Geminiani GC, Vercelli A. Evolutionary appearance of von Economo's neurons in the mammalian cerebral cortex. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:104. [PMID: 24672457 PMCID: PMC3953677 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
von Economo’s neurons (VENs) are large, spindle-shaped projection neurons in layer V of the frontoinsular (FI) cortex, and the anterior cingulate cortex. During human ontogenesis, the VENs can first be differentiated at late stages of gestation, and increase in number during the first eight postnatal months. VENs have been identified in humans, chimpanzee, bonobos, gorillas, orangutan and, more recently, in the macaque. Their distribution in great apes seems to correlate with human-like social cognitive abilities and self-awareness. VENs are also found in whales, in a number of different cetaceans, and in the elephant. This phylogenetic distribution may suggest a correlation among the VENs, brain size and the “social brain.” VENs may be involved in the pathogenesis of specific neurological and psychiatric diseases, such as autism, callosal agenesis and schizophrenia. VENs are selectively affected in a behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia in which empathy, social awareness and self-control are seriously compromised, thus associating VENs with the social brain. However, the presence of VENs has also been related to special functions such as mirror self-recognition. Areas containing VENs have been related to motor awareness or sense-of-knowing, discrimination between self and other, and between self and the external environment. Along this line, VENs have been related to the “global Workspace” architecture: in accordance the VENs have been correlated to emotional and interoceptive signals by providing fast connections (large axons = fast communication) between salience-related insular and cingulate and other widely separated brain areas. Nevertheless, the lack of a characterization of their physiology and anatomical connectivity allowed only to infer their functional role based on their location and on the functional magnetic resonance imaging data. The recent finding of VENs in the anterior insula of the macaque opens the way to new insights and experimental investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Cauda
- CCS-fMRI Koelliker Hospital and Department of Psychology, University of Turin Turin, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Vercelli
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin Turin, Italy
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116
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Voxel-based morphometry study of the insular cortex in female patients with current and remitted depression. Neuroscience 2014; 262:190-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.12.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Revised: 12/26/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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117
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Sfera A, Osorio C, Gradini R, Price A. Neurodegeneration behind bars: from molecules to jurisprudence. Front Psychiatry 2014; 5:115. [PMID: 25221525 PMCID: PMC4145577 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adonis Sfera
- Department of Psychiatry, Patton State Hospital , Patton, CA , USA
| | | | - Roberto Gradini
- Department of Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Amy Price
- Evidence Based Health Care, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
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118
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Nguyen AD, Nguyen TA, Martens LH, Mitic LL, Farese RV. Progranulin: at the interface of neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2013; 24:597-606. [PMID: 24035620 PMCID: PMC3842380 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2013.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Revised: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Progranulin is a widely expressed, cysteine-rich, secreted glycoprotein originally discovered for its growth factor-like properties. Its subsequent identification as a causative gene for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a devastating early-onset neurodegenerative disease, has catalyzed a surge of new discoveries about progranulin function in the brain. More recently, progranulin was recognized as an adipokine involved in diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance, revealing its metabolic function. We review here progranulin biology in both neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. In particular, we highlight the growth factor-like, trophic, and anti-inflammatory properties of progranulin as potential unifying themes in these seemingly divergent conditions. We also discuss potential therapeutic options for raising progranulin levels to treat progranulin-deficient FTD, as well as the possible consequences of such treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Nguyen
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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119
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Alcauter S, Lin W, Keith Smith J, Gilmore JH, Gao W. Consistent anterior-posterior segregation of the insula during the first 2 years of life. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 25:1176-87. [PMID: 24248433 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bht312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The human insula is a complex region characterized by heterogeneous cytoarchitecture, connectivity, and function. Subregional parcellation of the insula in adults has revealed an interesting anterior-posterior subdivision pattern that is highly consistent with its functional differentiation. However, the development of the insula's subregional segregation during the first 2 years of life remains unknown. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that similar segregation of the insula exists during this critical time period based on the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study of a large cohort of infants (n = 143) with longitudinal scans. Our results confirmed a consistent anterior-posterior subdivision of the insula during the first 2 years of life with dissociable connectivity patterns associated with each cluster. Specifically, the anterior insula coupled more with frontal association areas, whereas the posterior insula integrated more with sensorimotor-related regions. More importantly, dramatic development of each subregion's functional network was observed, providing important neuronal correlates for the rapid advancement of its related functions during this time period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarael Alcauter
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Research Imaging Center
| | - Weili Lin
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Research Imaging Center
| | | | - John H Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Research Imaging Center
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120
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Seth AK. Interoceptive inference, emotion, and the embodied self. Trends Cogn Sci 2013; 17:565-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2013.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 884] [Impact Index Per Article: 80.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Revised: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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121
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Resting state functional connectivity of five neural networks in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. J Affect Disord 2013; 150:601-9. [PMID: 23489402 PMCID: PMC3749249 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.01.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 01/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia (SCZ) share clinical characteristics and genetic contributions. Functional dysconnectivity across various brain networks has been reported to contribute to the pathophysiology of both SCZ and BPD. However, research examining resting-state neural network dysfunction across multiple networks to understand the relationship between these two disorders is lacking. METHODS We conducted a resting-state functional connectivity fMRI study of 35 BPD and 25 SCZ patients, and 33 controls. Using previously defined regions-of-interest, we computed the mean connectivity within and between five neural networks: default mode (DM), fronto-parietal (FP), cingulo-opercular (CO), cerebellar (CER), and salience (SAL). Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to compare groups, adjusting false discovery rate to control for multiple comparisons. The relationship of connectivity with the SANS/SAPS, vocabulary and matrix reasoning was investigated using hierarchical linear regression analyses. RESULTS Decreased within-network connectivity was only found for the CO network in BPD. Across groups, connectivity was decreased between CO-CER (p<0.001), to a larger degree in SCZ than in BPD. In SCZ, there was also decreased connectivity in CO-SAL, FP-CO, and FP-CER, while BPD showed decreased CER-SAL connectivity. Disorganization symptoms were predicted by connectivity between CO-CER and CER-SAL. DISCUSSION Our findings indicate dysfunction in the connections between networks involved in cognitive and emotional processing in the pathophysiology of BPD and SCZ. Both similarities and differences in connectivity were observed across disorders. Further studies are required to investigate relationships of neural networks to more diverse clinical and cognitive domains underlying psychiatric disorders.
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Cobos I, Seeley WW. Human von Economo neurons express transcription factors associated with Layer V subcerebral projection neurons. Cereb Cortex 2013; 25:213-20. [PMID: 23960210 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bht219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The von Economo neurons (VENs) are large bipolar Layer V projection neurons found chiefly in the anterior cingulate and frontoinsular cortices. Although VENs have been linked to prevalent illnesses such as frontotemporal dementia, autism, and schizophrenia, little is known about VEN identity, including their major projection targets. Here, we undertook a developmental transcription factor expression study, focusing on markers associated with specific classes of Layer V projection neurons. Using mRNA in situ hybridization, we found that VENs prominently express FEZF2 and CTIP2, transcription factors that regulate the fate and differentiation of subcerebral projection neurons, in humans aged 3 months to 65 years. In contrast, few VENs expressed markers associated with callosal or corticothalamic projections. These findings suggest that VENs may represent a specialized Layer V projection neuron for linking cortical autonomic control sites to brainstem or spinal cord regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inma Cobos
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA Current address: Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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123
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Cauda F, Costa T, Palermo S, D'Agata F, Diano M, Bianco F, Duca S, Keller R. Concordance of white matter and gray matter abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders: a voxel-based meta-analysis study. Hum Brain Mapp 2013; 35:2073-98. [PMID: 23894001 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Revised: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
There are at least two fundamental unanswered questions in the literature on autism spectrum disorders (ASD): Are abnormalities in white (WM) and gray matter (GM) consistent with one another? Are WM morphometric alterations consistent with alterations in the GM of regions connected by these abnormal WM bundles and vice versa? The aim of this work is to bridge this gap. After selecting voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging studies comparing autistic and normally developing groups of subjects, we conducted an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis to estimate consistent brain alterations in ASD. Multidimensional scaling was used to test the similarity of the results. The ALE results were then analyzed to identify the regions of concordance between GM and WM areas. We found statistically significant topological relationships between GM and WM abnormalities in ASD. The most numerous were negative concordances, found bilaterally but with a higher prevalence in the right hemisphere. Positive concordances were found in the left hemisphere. Discordances reflected the spatial distribution of negative concordances. Thus, a different hemispheric contribution emerged, possibly related to pathogenetic factors affecting the right hemisphere during early developmental stages. Besides, WM fiber tracts linking the brain structures involved in social cognition showed abnormalities, and most of them had a negative concordance with the connected GM regions. We interpreted the results in terms of altered brain networks and their role in the pervasive symptoms dramatically impairing communication and social skills in ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Cauda
- CCS fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy; Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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124
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Agnati LF, Guidolin D, Battistin L, Pagnoni G, Fuxe K. The neurobiology of imagination: possible role of interaction-dominant dynamics and default mode network. Front Psychol 2013; 4:296. [PMID: 23745117 PMCID: PMC3662866 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This work aims at presenting some hypotheses about the potential neurobiological substrate of imagery and imagination. For the present purposes, we will define imagery as the production of mental images associated with previous percepts, and imagination as the faculty of forming mental images of a novel character relating to something that has never been actually experienced by the subject but at a great extent emerges from his inner world. The two processes appear intimately related and imagery can arguably be considered as one of the main components of imagination. In this proposal, we argue that exaptation and redeployment, two basic concepts capturing important aspects of the evolution of biological structures and functions (Anderson, 2007), could also be useful in explaining imagery and imagination. As far as imagery is concerned it is proposed that neural structures originally implicated in performing certain functions, e.g., motor actions, can be reused for the imagery of the virtual execution of that function. As far as imagination is concerned we speculate that it can be the result of a “tinkering” that combines and modifies stored perceptual information and concepts leading to the creation of novel “mental objects” that are shaped by the subject peculiar inner world. Hence it is related to his self-awareness. The neurobiological substrate of the tinkering process could be found in a hierarchical model of the brain characterized by a multiplicity of functional modules (FMs) that can be assembled according to different spatial and temporal scales. Thus, it is surmised that a possible mechanism for the emergence of imagination could be represented by modulatory mechanisms controlling the perviousness of “modifiers” along the communication channels within and between FMs leading to their dynamically reassembling into novel configurations.
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125
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Long-range functional interactions of anterior insula and medial frontal cortex are differently modulated by visuospatial and inductive reasoning tasks. Neuroimage 2013; 78:426-38. [PMID: 23624492 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.04.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2013] [Revised: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain is organized into functionally specific networks as characterized by intrinsic functional relationships within discrete sets of brain regions. However, it is poorly understood whether such functional networks are dynamically organized according to specific task-states. The anterior insular cortex (aIC)-dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC)/medial frontal cortex (mFC) network has been proposed to play a central role in human cognitive abilities. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study aimed at testing whether functional interactions of the aIC-dACC/mFC network in terms of temporally correlated patterns of neural activity across brain regions are dynamically modulated by transitory, ongoing task demands. For this purpose, functional interactions of the aIC-dACC/mFC network are compared during two distinguishable fluid reasoning tasks, Visualization and Induction. The results show an increased functional coupling of bilateral aIC with visual cortices in the occipital lobe during the Visualization task, whereas coupling of mFC with right anterior frontal cortex was enhanced during the Induction task. These task-specific modulations of functional interactions likely reflect ability related neural processing. Furthermore, functional connectivity strength between right aIC and right dACC/mFC reliably predicts general task performance. The findings suggest that the analysis of long-range functional interactions may provide complementary information about brain-behavior relationships. On the basis of our results, it is proposed that the aIC-dACC/mFC network contributes to the integration of task-common and task-specific information based on its within-network as well as its between-network dynamic functional interactions.
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126
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Ebner NC, Johnson MR, Rieckmann A, Durbin KA, Johnson MK, Fischer H. Processing own-age vs. other-age faces: neuro-behavioral correlates and effects of emotion. Neuroimage 2013; 78:363-71. [PMID: 23602923 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2012] [Revised: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Age constitutes a salient feature of a face and signals group membership. There is evidence of greater attention to and better memory for own-age than other-age faces. However, little is known about the neural and behavioral mechanisms underlying processing differences for own-age vs. other-age faces. Even less is known about the impact of emotion expressed in faces on such own-age effects. Using fMRI, the present study examined brain activity while young and older adult participants identified expressions of neutral, happy, and angry young and older faces. Across facial expressions, medial prefrontal cortex, insula, and (for older participants) amygdala showed greater activity to own-age than other-age faces. These own-age effects in ventral medial prefrontal cortex and insula held for neutral and happy faces, but not for angry faces. This novel and intriguing finding suggests that processing of negative facial emotions under some conditions overrides age-of-face effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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127
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Morel A, Gallay MN, Baechler A, Wyss M, Gallay DS. The human insula: Architectonic organization and postmortem MRI registration. Neuroscience 2013; 236:117-35. [PMID: 23340245 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.12.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2012] [Revised: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The human insula has been the focus of great attention in the last decade due to substantial progress in neuroimaging methodology and applications. Anatomical support for functional localization and interpretations, however, is still fragmented. The aim of the present study was to re-examine the microanatomical organization of the insula and relate cytoarchitectonic maps to major sulcal/gyral patterns by registration to high-resolution MR images of the same brains. The insula was divided into seven architectonic subdivisions (G, Ig, Id1-3, Ia1-2) that were charted on unfolded maps of the insula following a method used previously in monkeys. The results reveal overall similar patterns of Nissl, and to some extent also, myelin and parvalbumin (PV), as in monkeys, with a postero-dorsal to antero-ventral gradient of hypergranular to granular, dysgranular and agranular fields. Reversals occur ventrally along the inferior peri-insular sulcus (IPS), at the margin with the temporal operculum, and anteriorly at the limit with orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). A large portion of agranular cortex is characterized by a dense accumulation of the spindle-shaped von Economo neurons (VENs) in layer V. The distribution of VENs is not restricted to agranular insula but also extends into the anterior part of dysgranular fields. The patterns of intracortical myelin and of PV neuropil in the middle layers follow decreasing gradients from postero-dorsal granular to antero-ventral agranular insula, with particularly strong staining in posterior and dorsal insula. A separate PV enhanced area in the middle-dorsal insula corresponds in location to the presumed human gustatory area. Projections of the cytoarchitectonic maps onto high-resolution stereotactic MRI reveal a near concentric organization around the limen insula, with each cytoarchitectonic subdivision encompassing several major insular gyri/sulci. The dysgranular domain is the largest, taking up about half of the insula. The present study of the human insula provides a new anatomical basis for MR imaging and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Morel
- Center for Clinical Research, University Hospital Zürich, Sternwartstrasse 6, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
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128
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Premi E, Garibotto V, Alberici A, Paghera B, Giubbini R, Padovani A, Borroni B. Nature versus nurture in frontotemporal lobar degeneration: the interaction of genetic background and education on brain damage. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2013; 33:372-8. [PMID: 22797130 DOI: 10.1159/000339366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a strong genetic background. It has been reported that modifiable factors, i.e. education (E), might act as proxies for reserve capacity. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of genetic background (positive family history, FH) on reserve mechanisms, by measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) correlates in FTLD patients. METHODS 145 FTLD patients were recruited and underwent clinical, neuropsychological, behavioral assessment, and SPECT study. The main effect of E and FH on rCBF was evaluated. To test the potential interaction between the E and rCBF in FTLD patients with or without positive FH, a difference of slope analysis in the two groups was calculated. All the analyses were controlled for disease severity (Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, FTD-CDR). RESULTS A main effect of education (E+ < E-) in frontal regions was reported, and high genetic loading (FH+ < FH-) was associated with a greater bilateral temporoparietal hypoperfusion. Evaluating the relationship between E and rCBF, a greater hypoperfusion of cingulate region in FH+ as compared to FH- was observed. DISCUSSION Reserve mechanisms are available also in presence of an unfavorable genetic status. However, these compensatory mechanisms are modulated by the interaction with genetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Premi
- Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Italy
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129
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Micheli F, Heidbreder C. Dopamine D3 receptor antagonists: a patent review (2007 - 2012). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2013; 23:363-81. [PMID: 23282131 DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2013.757593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The synthesis and characterization of new highly potent and selective dopamine (DA) D3 receptor antagonists has permitted to characterize the role of the DA D3 receptor in the control of drug-seeking behavior and in the pathophysiology of impulse control disorders and schizophrenia. AREAS COVERED In the present review, the authors will first describe most recent classes of DA D3 receptor antagonists by reviewing about 43 patent applications during the 2007 - 2012 period; they will then outline the biological rationale in support of the use of selective DA D3 receptor antagonists in the treatment of drug addiction, impulse control disorders and schizophrenia. EXPERT OPINION The strongest clinical application and potential for selective DA D3 receptor antagonists lies in the reduction of drug-induced incentive motivation, the attenuation of drug's rewarding efficacy and the reduction in reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior triggered either by re-exposure to the drug itself, re-exposure to environmental cues that had been previously associated with drug-taking behavior or stress. The selectivity of these antagonists together with reduced lipophilicity (minimizing unspecific binding), increased brain penetration and improved physico-chemical profile are all key factors for clinical efficacy and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Micheli
- Drug Design & Discovery, Aptuit Verona srl, Via A Fleming 4, 37135 Verona, Italy.
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130
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Butti C, Santos M, Uppal N, Hof PR. Von Economo neurons: Clinical and evolutionary perspectives. Cortex 2013; 49:312-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2011.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2011] [Revised: 08/03/2011] [Accepted: 10/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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131
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Functional parcellation of the operculo-insular cortex in perceptual decision making: An fMRI study. Neuropsychologia 2012; 50:3693-701. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2012.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2012] [Revised: 05/11/2012] [Accepted: 06/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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132
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Spocter MA, Hopkins WD, Barks SK, Bianchi S, Hehmeyer AE, Anderson SM, Stimpson CD, Fobbs AJ, Hof PR, Sherwood CC. Neuropil distribution in the cerebral cortex differs between humans and chimpanzees. J Comp Neurol 2012; 520:2917-29. [PMID: 22350926 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Increased connectivity of high-order association regions in the neocortex has been proposed as a defining feature of human brain evolution. At present, however, there are limited comparative data to examine this claim fully. We tested the hypothesis that the distribution of neuropil across areas of the neocortex of humans differs from that of one of our closest living relatives, the common chimpanzee. The neuropil provides a proxy measure of total connectivity within a local region because it is composed mostly of dendrites, axons, and synapses. Using image analysis techniques, we quantified the neuropil fraction from both hemispheres in six cytoarchitectonically defined regions including frontopolar cortex (area 10), Broca's area (area 45), frontoinsular cortex (area FI), primary motor cortex (area 4), primary auditory cortex (area 41/42), and the planum temporale (area 22). Our results demonstrate that humans exhibit a unique distribution of neuropil in the neocortex compared to chimpanzees. In particular, the human frontopolar cortex and the frontoinsular cortex had a significantly higher neuropil fraction than the other areas. In chimpanzees these prefrontal regions did not display significantly more neuropil, but the primary auditory cortex had a lower neuropil fraction than other areas. Our results support the conclusion that enhanced connectivity in the prefrontal cortex accompanied the evolution of the human brain. These species differences in neuropil distribution may offer insight into the neural basis of human cognition, reflecting enhancement of the integrative capacity of the prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad A Spocter
- Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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133
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Social Cognition and Emotional Assessment (SEA) is a marker of medial and orbital frontal functions: a voxel-based morphometry study in behavioral variant of frontotemporal degeneration. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2012; 18:972-85. [PMID: 23158228 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617712001300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the cerebral correlates of functional deficits that occur in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). A specific neuropsychological battery, the Social cognition & Emotional Assessment (SEA; Funkiewiez et al., 2012), was used to assess impaired social and emotional functions in 20 bvFTD patients who also underwent structural MRI scanning. The SEA subscores of theory of mind, reversal-learning tests, facial emotion identification, and apathy evaluation were entered as covariates in a voxel-based morphometry analysis. The results revealed that the gray matter volume in the rostral part of the medial prefrontal cortex [mPFC, Brodmann area (BA) 10] was associated with scores on the theory of mind subtest, while gray matter volume within the orbitofrontal (OFC) and ventral mPFC (BA 11 and 47) was related to the scores observed in the reversal-learning subtest. Gray matter volume within BA 9 in the mPFC was correlated with scores on the emotion recognition subtest, and the severity of apathetic symptoms in the Apathy scale covaried with gray matter volume in the lateral PFC (BA 44/45). Among these regions, the mPFC and OFC cortices have been shown to be atrophied in the early stages of bvFTD. In addition, SEA and its abbreviated version (mini-SEA) have been demonstrated to be sensitive to early impairments in bvFTD (Bertoux et al., 2012). Taken together, these results suggest a differential involvement of orbital and medial prefrontal subregions in SEA subscores and support the use of the SEA to evaluate the integrity of these regions in the early stages of bvFTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris C. Bernhardt
- Department of Social Neuroscience, Max-Planck Institute of Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04309 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Tania Singer
- Department of Social Neuroscience, Max-Planck Institute of Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04309 Leipzig, Germany;
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Sherwood CC, Bauernfeind AL, Bianchi S, Raghanti MA, Hof PR. Human brain evolution writ large and small. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2012; 195:237-54. [PMID: 22230630 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-53860-4.00011-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Human evolution was marked by an extraordinary increase in total brain size relative to body size. While it is certain that increased encephalization is an important factor contributing to the origin of our species-specific cognitive abilities, it is difficult to disentangle which aspects of human neural structure and function are correlated by-products of brain size expansion from those that are specifically related to particular psychological specializations, such as language and enhanced "mentalizing" abilities. In this chapter, we review evidence from allometric scaling studies demonstrating that much of human neocortical organization can be understood as a product of brain enlargement. Defining extra-allometric specializations in humans is often hampered by a severe lack of comparative data from the same neuroanatomical variables across a broad range of primates. When possible, we highlight evidence for features of human neocortical architecture and function that cannot be easily explained as correlates of brain size and, hence, might be more directly associated with the evolution of uniquely human cognitive capacities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chet C Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
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Sak J, Grzybowski A. Brain and aviation: on the 80th anniversary of Constantin von Economo's (1876-1931) death. Neurol Sci 2012; 34:387-91. [PMID: 22569570 PMCID: PMC3586395 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-012-1111-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2011] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
2011 marks the 80th anniversary of the death of Constantin Alexander von Economo who conducted advanced research on the cytoarchitectonics of the brain. This Austrian neurologist and the pioneer of aviation described encephalitis lethargica, discovered the spindle neurons, and postulated the existence of the sleep and wakefulness centre in the brain. What is more he realized two of the biggest dreams of humankind: conquering space and getting to know the secrets of the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarosław Sak
- Department of Ethics and Human Philosophy, Medical University of Lublin, Szkolna 18, 20-124 Lublin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Grzybowski
- Department of Ophthalmology, Poznań City Hospital, ul.Szwajcarska 3, 61-285 Poznan, Poland
- Medical Faculty, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
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Dissociable large-scale networks anchored in the right anterior insula subserve affective experience and attention. Neuroimage 2012; 60:1947-58. [PMID: 22361166 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2011] [Revised: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 02/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Meta-analytic summaries of neuroimaging studies point to at least two major functional-anatomic subdivisions within the anterior insula that contribute to the detection and processing of salient information: a dorsal region that is routinely active during attention tasks and a ventral region that is routinely active during affective experience. In two independent samples of cognitively normal human adults, we used intrinsic functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate that the right dorsal and right ventral anterior insula are nodes in separable large-scale functional networks. Furthermore, stronger intrinsic connectivity within the right dorsal anterior insula network was associated with better performance on a task involving attention and processing speed whereas stronger connectivity within the right ventral anterior insula network was associated with more intense affective experience. These results support the hypothesis that the identification and manipulation of salient information is subserved by at least two brain networks anchored in the right anterior insula that exhibit distinct large-scale topography and dissociable behavioral correlates.
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139
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Abstract
The human insular cortex forms a distinct, but entirely hidden lobe, situated in the depth of the Sylvian fissure. Here, we first review the recent literature on the connectivity and the functions of this structure. It appears that this small lobe, taking up less than 2% of the total cortical surface area, receives afferents from some sensory thalamic nuclei, is (mostly reciprocally) connected with the amygdala and with many limbic and association cortical areas, and is implicated in an astonishingly large number of widely different functions, ranging from pain perception and speech production to the processing of social emotions. Next, we embark on a long, adventurous journey through the voluminous literature on the structural organization of the insular cortex. This journey yielded the following take-home messages: (1) The meticulous, but mostly neglected publications of Rose (1928) and Brockhaus (1940) are still invaluable for our understanding of the architecture of the mammalian insular cortex. (2) The relation of the insular cortex to the adjacent claustrum is neither ontogenetical nor functional, but purely topographical. (3) The insular cortex has passed through a spectacular progressive differentiation during hominoid evolution, but the assumption of Craig (2009) that the human anterior insula has no homologue in the rhesus monkey is untenable. (4) The concept of Mesulam and Mufson (1985), that the primate insula is essentially composed of three concentrically arranged zones, agranular, dysgranular, and granular, is presumably correct, but there is at present much confusion concerning the more detailed architecture of the anterior insular cortex. (5) The large spindle-shaped cells in the fifth layer of the insular cortex, currently known as von Economo neurons (VENs), are not only confined to large-brained mammals, such as whales, elephants, apes, and humans, but also occur in monkeys and prosimians, as well as in the pygmy hippopotamus, the Atlantic walrus, and Florida manatee. Finally, we point out that the human insula presents a unique opportunity for performing an in-depth comparative analysis of the relations between structure and function in a typical sensory and a typical cognitive cortical domain.
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Butti C, Raghanti MA, Sherwood CC, Hof PR. The neocortex of cetaceans: cytoarchitecture and comparison with other aquatic and terrestrial species. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2011; 1225:47-58. [PMID: 21534992 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.05980.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary process of readaptation to the aquatic environment was accompanied by extreme anatomical and physiological changes in the brain. This review discusses cortical specializations in the three major lineages of marine mammals in comparison to related terrestrial and semiaquatic species. Different groups of marine mammals adopted a wide range of strategies to cope with the challenges of aquatic living. Cetaceans and hippopotamids possess a completely agranular neocortex in contrast to phocids and sirenians; vertical modules are observed in deep layers V and VI in manatees, cetaceans, phocids, and hippopotamids, but in different cortical areas; and clustering in layer II appears in the insular cortex of hippopotamids, phocids, and cetaceans. Finally, von Economo neurons are present in cetaceans, hippopotamids, sirenians, and some phocids, with specific, yet different, cortical distributions. The interpretation of the evolutionary and functional significance of such specializations, and their relationships with the degrees of adaptation to the aquatic environment and phylogeny, remain difficult to trace, at least until comprehensive data, including representative species from all of the major mammalian families, become available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Butti
- Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
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