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Wang J, Liang X, Lu J, Zhang W, Chen Q, Li X, Chen J, Zhang X, Zhang B. Cortical and subcortical gray matter abnormalities in mild cognitive impairment. Neuroscience 2024; 557:81-88. [PMID: 39067683 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Gray matter changes are thought to be closely related to cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. The study aimed to explore cortical and subcortical structural alterations in MCI and their association with cognitive assessment. 24 MCI patients and 22 normal controls (NCs) were included. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM), vertex-based shape analysis and surface-based morphometry (SBM) analysis were applied to explore subcortical nuclei volume, shape and cortical morphology. Correlations between structural changes and cognition were explored using spearman correlation analysis. Support vector machine (SVM) classification evaluated MCI identification accuracy. MCI patients showed significant atrophy in the left thalamus, left hippocampus, left amygdala, right pallidum, right hippocampus, along with inward deformation in the left amygdala. SBM analysis revealed that MCI group exhibited shallower sulci depth in the left hemisphere and increased cortical gyrification index (GI) in the right frontal gyrus. Correlation analysis showed the positive correlation between right hippocampus volume and episodic memory, while negative correlation between the altered GI and memory performance in MCI group. SVM analysis demonstrated superior performance of sulci depth and GI derived from SBM in MCI identification. When combined with cortical and subcortical metrics, SVM achieved a peak accuracy of 89 % in distinguishing MCI from NC. The study reveals significant gray matter structural changes in MCI, suggesting their potential role in underlying functional differences and neural mechanisms behind memory impairment in MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxia Wang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xue Liang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Jiaming Lu
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Jiu Chen
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China; Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.
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2
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Wang Y, Tang L, Wang J, Li W, Wang M, Chen Q, Yang Z, Li Z, Wang Z, Wu G, Zhang P. Disruption of network hierarchy pattern in bulimia nervosa reveals brain information integration disorder. Appetite 2024; 203:107694. [PMID: 39341080 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 09/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
The human brain works as a hierarchical organization that is a continuous axis spanning sensorimotor cortex to transmodal cortex (referring to cortex that integrates multimodal sensory information and participates in complex cognitive functions). Previous studies have demonstrated abnormalities in several specific networks that may account for their multiple behavioral deficits in patients with bulimia nervosa (BN), but whether and how the network hierarchical organization changes in BN remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate alterations of the hierarchy organization in BN network and their clinical relevance. Connectome gradient analyses were applied to depict the network hierarchy patterns of fifty-nine patients with BN and thirty-nine healthy controls (HCs). Then, we evaluated the network- and voxel-level gradient alterations of BN by comparing gradient values in each network and each voxel between patients with BN and HCs. Finally, the association between altered gradient values and clinical variables was explored. In the principal gradient, patients with BN exhibited reduced gradient values in dorsal attention network and increased gradient values in subcortical regions compared to HCs. In the secondary gradient, patients with BN showed decreased gradient values in ventral attention network and increased gradient values in limbic network. Regionally, the areas with altered principal or secondary gradient values in BN group were mainly located in transmodal networks, i.e., the default-mode and frontoparietal network. In BN group, the principal gradient values of right inferior frontal gyrus were negatively associated with external eating behavior. This study revealed the disordered network hierarchy patterns in patients with BN, which suggested a disturbance of brain information integration from attention network and subcortical regions to transmodal networks in these patients. These findings may provide insight into the neurobiological underpinnings of BN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiling Wang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.95 Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Lirong Tang
- Beijing Anding Hospital Capital Medical University, No.5 Ankang Lane, Dewai Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100088, China; The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.5 Ankang Lane, Dewai Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100088, China
| | - Jiani Wang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.95 Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Weihua Li
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.95 Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Miao Wang
- Peking University, No.5 Summer Palace Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.95 Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Zhenghan Yang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.95 Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Zhanjiang Li
- Beijing Anding Hospital Capital Medical University, No.5 Ankang Lane, Dewai Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100088, China; The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.5 Ankang Lane, Dewai Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100088, China
| | - Zhenchang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.95 Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Guowei Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.16 Lincui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, China.
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.95 Yongan Road, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
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Hu S, Li C, Wang Y, Wei T, Wang X, Dong T, Yang Y, Ding Y, Qiu B, Yang W. Structural lesions and transcriptomic specializations shape gradient perturbations in Wilson disease. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae329. [PMID: 39372139 PMCID: PMC11450269 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional dysregulations in multiple regions are caused by excessive copper deposition in the brain in Wilson disease (WD) patients. The genetic mechanism of WD is thought to involve the abnormal expression of ATP7B in the liver, whereas the biological and molecular processes involved in functional dysregulation within the brain remain unexplored. The objective of this study was to unravel the underpinnings of functional gradient perturbations underlying structural lesions and transcriptomic specializations in WD. In this study, we included 105 WD patients and 93 healthy controls who underwent structural and functional MRI assessments. We used the diffusion mapping embedding model to derive the functional connectome gradient and further employed gray matter volume to uncover structure-function decoupling for WD. Then, we used Neurosynth, clinical data, and whole-brain gene expression data to examine the meta-analytic cognitive function, clinical phenotypes, and transcriptomic specializations related to WD gradient alterations. Compared with controls, WD patients exhibited global topographic changes in the principal pramary-to-transmodal gradient. Meta-analytic terms and clinical characteristics were correlated with these gradient alterations in motor-related processing, higher-order cognition, neurological symptoms, and age. Spatial correlations revealed structure-function decoupling in multiple networks, especially in subcortical and visual networks. Within the cortex, the spatial association between gradient alterations and gene expression profiles has revealed transcriptomic specilizations in WD that display properties indicative of ion homeostasis, neural development, and motor control. Furthermore, for the first time, we characterized the role of the ATP7B gene in impacting subcortical function. The transcriptomic specializations of WD were also associated with other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Finally, we revealed that structural lesions and gradient perturbations may share similar transcriptomic specializations in WD. In conclusion, these findings bridged functional gradient perturbations to structural lesions and gene expression profiles in WD patients, possibly promoting our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the emergence of complex neurological and psychiatric phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Hu
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, Medical Imaging Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230094, China
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China
| | - Chuanfu Li
- Medical Imaging Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Yanming Wang
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, Medical Imaging Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Taohua Wei
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinan Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, Medical Imaging Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Ting Dong
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinan Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Yulong Yang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinan Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Yufeng Ding
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinan Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Bensheng Qiu
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, Medical Imaging Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230094, China
| | - Wenming Yang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinan Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
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Li B, Xu XM, Wu YQ, Miao XQ, Feng Y, Chen YC, Salvi R, Xu JJ, Qi JW. The relationship between changes in functional connectivity gradients and cognitive-emotional disorders in sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae317. [PMID: 39318785 PMCID: PMC11420982 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, a prevalent emergency in otolaryngology, is known to potentially precipitate cognitive and emotional disorders in affected individuals. Extensive research has documented the phenomenon of cortical functional reorganization in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss. However, the potential link between this neural functional remodelling and cognitive-emotional disorders remains unclear. To investigate this issue, 30 bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients and 30 healthy adults were recruited for this study. We collected clinical data and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the participants. Gradient mapping analysis was employed to calculate the first three gradients for each subject. Subsequently, gradient changes in sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients were compared with healthy controls at global, regional and network levels. Finally, we explored the relationship between gradient values and clinical variables. The results revealed that at the global level, sudden sensorineural hearing loss did not exhibit significant differences in the primary gradient but showed a state of compression in the second and third gradients. At the regional level, sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients exhibited a significant reduction in the primary gradient values in the temporal pole and ventral prefrontal cortex, which were closely related to neuro-scale scores. Regarding the network level, sudden sensorineural hearing loss did not show significant differences in the primary gradient but instead displayed significant changes in the control network and default mode network in the second and third gradients. This study revealed disruptions in the functional hierarchy of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and the alterations in functional connectivity gradients were closely associated with cognitive and emotional disturbances in patients. These findings provide new evidence for understanding the functional remodelling that occurs in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Xiao-Min Xu
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Yuan-Qing Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Xiu-Qian Miao
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Yuan Feng
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Yu-Chen Chen
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Richard Salvi
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Jin-Jing Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Jian-Wei Qi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
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Yang D, Tan Y, Zhou Z, Ke Z, Huang L, Mo Y, Tang L, Mao C, Hu Z, Cheng Y, Shao P, Zhang B, Zhu X, Xu Y. Connectome gradient dysfunction contributes to white matter hyperintensity-related cognitive decline. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14843. [PMID: 38997814 PMCID: PMC11245402 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although white matter hyperintensity (WMH) is closely associated with cognitive decline, the precise neurobiological mechanisms underlying this relationship are not fully elucidated. Connectome studies have identified a primary-to-transmodal gradient in functional brain networks that support the spectrum from sensation to cognition. However, whether connectome gradient structure is altered as WMH progresses and how this alteration is associated with WMH-related cognitive decline remain unknown. METHODS A total of 758 WMH individuals completed cognitive assessment and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). The functional connectome gradient was reconstructed based on rs-fMRI by using a gradient decomposition framework. Interrelations among the spatial distribution of WMH, functional gradient measures, and specific cognitive domains were explored. RESULTS As the WMH volume increased, the executive function (r = -0.135, p = 0.001) and information-processing speed (r = -0.224, p = 0.001) became poorer, the gradient range (r = -0.099, p = 0.006), and variance (r = -0.121, p < 0.001) of the primary-to-transmodal gradient reduced. A narrower gradient range (r = 0.131, p = 0.001) and a smaller gradient variance (r = 0.136, p = 0.001) corresponded to a poorer executive function. In particular, the relationship between the frontal/occipital WMH and executive function was partly mediated by gradient range/variance of the primary-to-transmodal gradient. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicated that WMH volume, the primary-to-transmodal gradient, and cognition were interrelated. The detrimental effect of the frontal/occipital WMH on executive function was partly mediated by the decreased differentiation of the connectivity pattern between the primary and transmodal areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi Tan
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - ZhiXin Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhihong Ke
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lili Huang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuting Mo
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Limoran Tang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - ChengLu Mao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zheqi Hu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pengfei Shao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaolei Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Institute of Translational Medicine for Brain Critical Diseases, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Institute of Translational Medicine for Brain Critical Diseases, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Hu J, Chen G, Zeng Z, Ran H, Zhang R, Yu Q, Xie Y, He Y, Wang F, Li X, Huang K, Liu H, Zhang T. Systematically altered connectome gradient in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: Potential effect on cognitive function. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 43:103628. [PMID: 38850833 PMCID: PMC11201345 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) affects brain network hierarchy and cognitive function; however, itremainsunclearhowhierarchical changeaffectscognition in patients with BECTS. A major aim of this study was to examine changes in the macro-network function hierarchy in BECTS and its potential contribution to cognitive function. METHODS Overall, the study included 50 children with BECTS and 69 healthy controls. Connectome gradient analysis was used to determine the brain network hierarchy of each group. By comparing gradient scores at each voxel level and network between groups, we assessed changes in whole-brain voxel-level and network hierarchy. Functional connectivity was used to detect the functional reorganization of epilepsy caused by these abnormal brain regions based on these aberrant gradients. Lastly, we explored the relationships between the change gradient and functional connectivity values and clinical variables and further predicted the cognitive function associated with BECTS gradient changes. RESULTS In children with BECTS, the gradient was extended at different network and voxel levels. The gradient scores frontoparietal network was increased in the principal gradient of patients with BECTS. The left precentral gyrus (PCG) and right angular gyrus gradient scores were significantly increased in the principal gradient of children with BECTS. Moreover, in regions of the brain with abnormal principal gradients, functional connectivity was disrupted. The left PCG gradient score of children with BECTS was correlated with the verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ), and the disruption of functional connectivity in brain regions with abnormal principal gradients was closely related to cognitive function. VIQ was significantly predicted by the principal gradient map of patients. SIGNIFICANCE The results indicate connectome gradient disruption in children with BECTS and its relationship to cognitive function, thereby increasing our understanding of the functional connectome hierarchy and providing potential biomarkers for cognitive function of children with BECTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Hu
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guiqin Chen
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China; Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of TCM, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Zhen Zeng
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Haifeng Ran
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Ruoxi Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of TCM, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Qiane Yu
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Yuxin Xie
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Yulun He
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Fuqin Wang
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Xuhong Li
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Kexing Huang
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Heng Liu
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China.
| | - Tijiang Zhang
- Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Medical Imaging Center of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563000, China.
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He R, Al-Tamimi J, Sánchez-Benavides G, Montaña-Valverde G, Domingo Gispert J, Grau-Rivera O, Suárez-Calvet M, Minguillon C, Fauria K, Navarro A, Hinzen W. Atypical cortical hierarchy in Aβ-positive older adults and its reflection in spontaneous speech. Brain Res 2024; 1830:148806. [PMID: 38365129 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal deposition of Aβ amyloid is an early neuropathological marker of Alzheimer's disease (AD), arising long ahead of clinical symptoms. Non-invasive measures of associated early neurofunctional changes, together with easily accessible behavioral readouts of these changes, could be of great clinical benefit. We pursued this aim by investigating large-scale cortical gradients of functional connectivity with functional MRI, which capture the hierarchical integration of cortical functions, together with acoustic-prosodic features from spontaneous speech, in cognitively unimpaired older adults with and without Aβ positivity (total N = 188). We predicted distortions of the cortical hierarchy associated with prosodic changes in the Aβ + group. Results confirmed substantially altered cortical hierarchies and less variability in these in the Aβ + group, together with an increase in quantitative prosodic measures, which correlated with gradient variability as well as digit span test scores. Overall, these findings confirm that long before the clinical stage and objective cognitive impairment, increased risk of cognitive decline as indexed by Aβ accumulation is marked by neurofunctional changes in the cortical hierarchy, which are related to automatically extractable speech patterns and alterations in working memory functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui He
- Department of Translation & Language Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08018 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jalal Al-Tamimi
- Université Paris Cité, Laboratoire de Linguistique Formelle (LLF), CNRS, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Gonzalo Sánchez-Benavides
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, 08005 Barcelona, Spain; Neurosciences Department, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan Domingo Gispert
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, 08005 Barcelona, Spain; Neurosciences Department, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBERBBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Oriol Grau-Rivera
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, 08005 Barcelona, Spain; Neurosciences Department, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Servei de Neurologia, Hospital del Mar, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Suárez-Calvet
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, 08005 Barcelona, Spain; Neurosciences Department, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Servei de Neurologia, Hospital del Mar, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carolina Minguillon
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, 08005 Barcelona, Spain; Neurosciences Department, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Karine Fauria
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, 08005 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Arcadi Navarro
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, 08005 Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wolfram Hinzen
- Department of Translation & Language Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08018 Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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Hinzen W, Palaniyappan L. The 'L-factor': Language as a transdiagnostic dimension in psychopathology. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 131:110952. [PMID: 38280712 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Thoughts and moods constituting our mental life incessantly change. When the steady flow of this dynamics diverges in clinical directions, the possible pathways involved are captured through discrete diagnostic labels. Yet a single vulnerable neurocognitive system may be causally involved in psychopathological deviations transdiagnostically. We argue that language viewed as integrating cortical functions is the best current candidate, whose forms of breakdown along its different dimensions are then manifest as symptoms - from prosodic abnormalities and rumination in depression to distortions of speech perception in verbal hallucinations, distortions of meaning and content in delusions, or disorganized speech in formal thought disorder. Spontaneous connected speech provides continuous objective readouts generating a highly accessible bio-behavioral marker with the potential of revolutionizing neuropsychological measurement. This argument turns language into a transdiagnostic 'L-factor' providing an analytical and mechanistic substrate for previously proposed latent general factors of psychopathology ('p-factor') and cognitive functioning ('c-factor'). Together with immense practical opportunities afforded by rapidly advancing natural language processing (NLP) technologies and abundantly available data, this suggests a new era of translational clinical psychiatry, in which both psychopathology and language may be rethought together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfram Hinzen
- Department of Translation & Language Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Institut Català de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Lena Palaniyappan
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal H4H1R3, Quebec, Canada; Robarts Research Institute & Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
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9
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De Rosa AP, d'Ambrosio A, Bisecco A, Altieri M, Cirillo M, Gallo A, Esposito F. Functional gradients reveal cortical hierarchy changes in multiple sclerosis. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26678. [PMID: 38647001 PMCID: PMC11033924 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional gradient (FG) analysis represents an increasingly popular methodological perspective for investigating brain hierarchical organization but whether and how network hierarchy changes concomitant with functional connectivity alterations in multiple sclerosis (MS) has remained elusive. Here, we analyzed FG components to uncover possible alterations in cortical hierarchy using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data acquired in 122 MS patients and 97 healthy control (HC) subjects. Cortical hierarchy was assessed by deriving regional FG scores from rs-fMRI connectivity matrices using a functional parcellation of the cerebral cortex. The FG analysis identified a primary (visual-to-sensorimotor) and a secondary (sensory-to-transmodal) component. Results showed a significant alteration in cortical hierarchy as indexed by regional changes in FG scores in MS patients within the sensorimotor network and a compression (i.e., a reduced standard deviation across all cortical parcels) of the sensory-transmodal gradient axis, suggesting disrupted segregation between sensory and cognitive processing. Moreover, FG scores within limbic and default mode networks were significantly correlated (ρ = 0.30 $$ \rho =0.30 $$ , p < .005 after Bonferroni correction for both) with the symbol digit modality test (SDMT) score, a measure of information processing speed commonly used in MS neuropsychological assessments. Finally, leveraging supervised machine learning, we tested the predictive value of network-level FG features, highlighting the prominent role of the FG scores within the default mode network in the accurate prediction of SDMT scores in MS patients (average mean absolute error of 1.22 ± 0.07 points on a hold-out set of 24 patients). Our work provides a comprehensive evaluation of FG alterations in MS, shedding light on the hierarchical organization of the MS brain and suggesting that FG connectivity analysis can be regarded as a valuable approach in rs-fMRI studies across different MS populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Pasquale De Rosa
- Advanced MRI Neuroimaging Centre, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical SciencesUniversity of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | - Alessandro d'Ambrosio
- Advanced MRI Neuroimaging Centre, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical SciencesUniversity of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | - Alvino Bisecco
- Advanced MRI Neuroimaging Centre, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical SciencesUniversity of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | - Manuela Altieri
- Advanced MRI Neuroimaging Centre, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical SciencesUniversity of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | - Mario Cirillo
- Advanced MRI Neuroimaging Centre, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical SciencesUniversity of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | - Antonio Gallo
- Advanced MRI Neuroimaging Centre, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical SciencesUniversity of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | - Fabrizio Esposito
- Advanced MRI Neuroimaging Centre, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical SciencesUniversity of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
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Yin X, Yang J, Xiang Q, Peng L, Song J, Liang S, Wu J. Brain network hierarchy reorganization in subthreshold depression. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 42:103594. [PMID: 38518552 PMCID: PMC10973537 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hierarchy is the organizing principle of human brain network. How network hierarchy changes in subthreshold depression (StD) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the altered brain network hierarchy and its clinical significance in patients with StD. METHODS A total of 43 patients with StD and 43 healthy controls matched for age, gender and years of education participated in this study. Alterations in the hierarchy of StD brain networks were depicted by connectome gradient analysis. We assessed changes in network hierarchy by comparing gradient scores in each network in patients with StD and healthy controls. The study compared different brain subdivisions if there was a different network. Finally, we analysed the relationship between the altered gradient scores and clinical characteristics. RESULTS Patients with StD had contracted network hierarchy and suppressed cortical range gradients. In the principal gradient, the gradient scores of default mode network were significantly reduced in patients with StD compared to controls. In the default network, the subdivisions of reduced gradient scores were mainly located in the precuneus, superior temporal gyrus, and anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus. Reduced gradient scores in the default mode network, the anterior and posterior cingulate gyrus were correlated with severity of depression. CONCLUSIONS The network hierarchy of the StD changed and was significantly correlated with depressive symptoms and severity. These results provided new insights into further understanding of the neural mechanisms of StD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Yin
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Rehabilitation Medicine Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; Rehabilitation Industry Institute, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Junchao Yang
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Qing Xiang
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Rehabilitation Medicine Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; Rehabilitation Industry Institute, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Lixin Peng
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Jian Song
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Shengxiang Liang
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Rehabilitation Medicine Technology, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; Rehabilitation Industry Institute, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; Traditional Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation Research Center of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
| | - Jingsong Wu
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China.
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11
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Zhou Y, Dai A, Feng S, Zhu T, Liu M, Shi J, Wang D. Immediate neural effects of acupuncture manipulation time for stroke with motor dysfunction: a fMRI pilot study. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1297149. [PMID: 38249582 PMCID: PMC10796520 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1297149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Acupuncture is widely utilized as a beneficial intervention for the treatment of motor dysfunction after stroke, and its effectiveness depends on the stimulation dose. Manipulation time is an important factor affecting the dose. This trial aimed use fMRI to explore the immediate neural effects in stroke patients with motor dysfunction by different acupuncture manipulation times, to reveal the neural mechanism of acupuncture manipulation. Methods Thirty participants were divided into three groups according to different acupuncture times. Each group received the same acupoint prescription, although the continuous manipulation time of each acupoint in three groups was 1-min, 2-min, and 3-min, respectively. The NIHSS, FMA and fMRI-BOLD in each participant we obtained before and after acupuncture manipulation. Then, we used the regional homogeneity (ReHo) algorithm to analyze the changes of brain function and to compare the neural effects at different acupuncture manipulation times. Results There were no significant differences in NIHSS and FMA scores between and within groups. Longitudinal analysis of ReHo values indicated that the right inferior frontal gyrus was activated in the 1-min group, the right insula in the 2-min group, and the right inferior temporal gyrus in the 3-min group. Compared with the 1-min group, the 2-min group showed the ReHo values of the right precentral gyrus was decreased, and the 3-min group showed the left cerebellum posterior lobe was increased, the right posterior cingulate gyrus and the right anterior cingulate gyrus were decreased. Compared with the 2-min group, the 3-min group showed the ReHo values of the right cerebellum anterior lobe was increased. Conclusion Our findings suggest that acupuncture at different manipulation times caused different changes of the neural effects in stroke patients, and the volume of activated voxel clusters is positively correlated with the manipulation time. Longer acupuncture manipulation could drive SMN and DMN in stroke patients, which may be the potential neurological mechanism of acupuncture manipulation affecting the recovery of motor dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihao Zhou
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Anhong Dai
- Yan’an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Sifeng Feng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Tao Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Meifang Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Jing Shi
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Dongyan Wang
- Second Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
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12
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Zhou ZX, Zuo XN. Editorial: Lifespan Connectome Gradients for a Road to Mental Health. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 63:25-28. [PMID: 37657499 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
The connectome, generally defined as a comprehensive map of the structural and/or functional connections of a complete set of neural elements, has been recognized to condense the mechanistic architecture of the brain and capture meaningful individual differences. Increasing efforts are being invested in exploring the associations between connectomes and behavior/symptoms to piece together guidelines from a systems/cognitive neuroscience perspective for reforming mental health care. This editorial sketches a road to mental health with lifespan connectome gradients (LCG), highlighting unique perspectives, prospects, and priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Xuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Developmental Population Neuroscience Research Center, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xi-Nian Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Developmental Population Neuroscience Research Center, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; National Basic Science Data Center, Beijing, China.
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13
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Holmes A, Levi PT, Chen YC, Chopra S, Aquino KM, Pang JC, Fornito A. Disruptions of Hierarchical Cortical Organization in Early Psychosis and Schizophrenia. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2023; 8:1240-1250. [PMID: 37683727 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cerebral cortex is organized hierarchically along an axis that spans unimodal sensorimotor to transmodal association areas. This hierarchy is often characterized using low-dimensional embeddings, termed gradients, of interregional functional coupling estimates measured with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Such analyses may offer insights into the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, which has been frequently linked to dysfunctional interactions between association and sensorimotor areas. METHODS To examine disruptions of hierarchical cortical function across distinct stages of psychosis, we applied diffusion map embedding to 2 independent functional magnetic resonance imaging datasets: one comprising 114 patients with early psychosis and 48 control participants, and the other comprising 50 patients with established schizophrenia and 121 control participants. Then, we analyzed the primary sensorimotor-to-association and secondary visual-to-sensorimotor gradients of each participant in both datasets. RESULTS There were no significant differences in regional gradient scores between patients with early psychosis and control participants. Patients with established schizophrenia showed significant differences in the secondary, but not primary, gradient compared with control participants. Gradient differences in schizophrenia were characterized by lower within-network dispersion in the dorsal attention (false discovery rate [FDR]-corrected p [pFDR] < .001), visual (pFDR = .003), frontoparietal (pFDR = .018), and limbic (pFDR = .020) networks and lower between-network dispersion between the visual network and other networks (pFDR < .001). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that differences in cortical hierarchical function occur along the secondary visual-to-sensorimotor axis rather than the primary sensorimotor-to-association axis as previously thought. The absence of differences in early psychosis suggests that visual-sensorimotor abnormalities may emerge as the illness progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Holmes
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Priscila T Levi
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yu-Chi Chen
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sidhant Chopra
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kevin M Aquino
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - James C Pang
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alex Fornito
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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14
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He Y, Li Q, Fu Z, Zeng D, Han Y, Li S. Functional gradients reveal altered functional segregation in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:10836-10847. [PMID: 37718155 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment are associated with disrupted functional organization in brain networks, involved with alteration of functional segregation. Connectome gradients are a new tool representing brain functional topological organization to smoothly capture the human macroscale hierarchy. Here, we examined altered topological organization in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease by connectome gradient mapping. We further quantified functional segregation by gradient dispersion. Then, we systematically compared the alterations observed in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease patients with those in normal controls in a two-dimensional functional gradient space from both the whole-brain level and module level. Compared with normal controls, the first gradient, which described the neocortical hierarchy from unimodal to transmodal regions, showed a more distributed and significant suppression in Alzheimer's disease than amnestic mild cognitive impairment patients. Furthermore, gradient dispersion showed significant decreases in Alzheimer's disease at both the global level and module level, whereas this alteration was limited only to limbic areas in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Notably, we demonstrated that suppressed gradient dispersion in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease was associated with cognitive scores. These findings provide new evidence for altered brain hierarchy in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, which strengthens our understanding of the progressive mechanism of cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Qiongling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zhenrong Fu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Debin Zeng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ying Han
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Biomedical Engineering Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100050, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Shuyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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15
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Pham TQ, Matsui T, Chikazoe J. Evaluation of the Hierarchical Correspondence between the Human Brain and Artificial Neural Networks: A Review. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1330. [PMID: 37887040 PMCID: PMC10604784 DOI: 10.3390/biology12101330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Artificial neural networks (ANNs) that are heavily inspired by the human brain now achieve human-level performance across multiple task domains. ANNs have thus drawn attention in neuroscience, raising the possibility of providing a framework for understanding the information encoded in the human brain. However, the correspondence between ANNs and the brain cannot be measured directly. They differ in outputs and substrates, neurons vastly outnumber their ANN analogs (i.e., nodes), and the key algorithm responsible for most of modern ANN training (i.e., backpropagation) is likely absent from the brain. Neuroscientists have thus taken a variety of approaches to examine the similarity between the brain and ANNs at multiple levels of their information hierarchy. This review provides an overview of the currently available approaches and their limitations for evaluating brain-ANN correspondence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Teppei Matsui
- Graduate School of Brain Science, Doshisha University, Kyoto 610-0321, Japan
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16
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Ruan X, Huang X, Li Y, Kuang Z, Li M, Wei X. Dysfunction of human brain network hierarchy in Parkinson's disease patients with freezing of gait. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2023; 112:105446. [PMID: 37245278 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2023.105446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hierarchy has been identified as a principle underlying the organization of human brain networks. In Parkinson's disease with freezing of gait (PD-FOG), it remains unclear whether and how the network hierarchy is disrupted. Additionally, the associations between changes in the brain network hierarchy of PD patients with FOG and clinical scales remain unclear. The aim of this study was to explore alterations in the network hierarchy of PD-FOG and their clinical relevance. METHODS In this study, the brain network hierarchy of each group was described through a connectome gradient analysis among 31 PD-FOG, 50 PD patients without FOG (PD-NFOG), and 38 healthy controls (HC). Changes in the network hierarchy were assessed by comparing different gradient values of each network between the PD-FOG, PD-NFOG and HC groups. We further examined the relationship between dynamically changing network gradient values and clinical scales. RESULTS For the second gradient, Salience/ventral attention network-A (SalVentAttnA) network gradient of PD-FOG group was significantly lower than that of PD-NFOG, while both PD subgroups had a Default mode network-C gradient that was significantly lower than that of the HC group. In the third gradient, somatomotor network-A gradient of PD-FOG patients was significantly lower than the PD-NFOG group. Moreover, reduced SalVentAttnA network gradient values were associated with more severe gaits, fall risk, and frozen gait in PD-FOG patients. CONCLUSIONS The brain network hierarchy in PD-FOG is disturbed, this dysfunction is related to the severity of frozen gait. This study provides novel evidence for the neural mechanisms of FOG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuhang Ruan
- Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaofei Huang
- Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuting Li
- Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhanyu Kuang
- Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mengyan Li
- Department of Neurology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Xinhua Wei
- Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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17
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Brain network architecture constrains age-related cortical thinning. Neuroimage 2022; 264:119721. [PMID: 36341953 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related cortical atrophy, approximated by cortical thickness measurements from magnetic resonance imaging, follows a characteristic pattern over the lifespan. Although its determinants remain unknown, mounting evidence demonstrates correspondence between the connectivity profiles of structural and functional brain networks and cortical atrophy in health and neurological disease. Here, we performed a cross-sectional multimodal neuroimaging analysis of 2633 individuals from a large population-based cohort to characterize the association between age-related differences in cortical thickness and functional as well as structural brain network topology. We identified a widespread pattern of age-related cortical thickness differences including "hotspots" of pronounced age effects in sensorimotor areas. Regional age-related differences were strongly correlated within the structurally defined node neighborhood. The overall pattern of thickness differences was found to be anchored in the functional network hierarchy as encoded by macroscale functional connectivity gradients. Lastly, the identified difference pattern covaried significantly with cognitive and motor performance. Our findings indicate that connectivity profiles of functional and structural brain networks act as organizing principles behind age-related cortical thinning as an imaging surrogate of cortical atrophy.
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18
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Yang H, Li X, Guo XL, Zhou J, Shen ZF, Liu LY, Wei W, Yang L, Yu Z, Chen J, Liang FR, Yu SY, Yang J. Moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study exploring the alteration of functional connectivity strength and functional connectivity. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:969064. [PMID: 36110091 PMCID: PMC9469737 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.969064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
IntroductionPrimary dysmenorrhea (PDM) is a common gynecological disease and chronic pain disorder. Moxibustion, a form of traditional Chinese medicine therapy, has proven to be effective for PDM. However, the central mechanisms of PDM and moxibustion for PDM are still unclear. This study aims to explore the potential central mechanism of PDM and clarify the possible mechanism of moxibustion for relieving pain.Materials and methodsA total of 23 PDM patients and 23 matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. For PDM patients, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were collected pre- and post-moxibustion treatment of 3 consecutive menstrual cycles, respectively. For HCs, rs-fMRI data were collected in the baseline. The resting-state functional connectivity strength (rs-FCS) analysis and the resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) analysis based on the region of interest (ROI) were combined to be conducted.ResultsCompared to HCs, PDM patients showed weaker rs-FCS in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). After the moxibustion treatment, rs-FCS in the left IFG was increased with clinical improvement. Then, the left IFG was chosen as ROI, and the rs-FC analysis was conducted. It showed that the left IFG rs-FC in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)/middle cingulate cortex (MCC), the left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus (PCU), and the left parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) decreased after moxibustion treatment, most of which belong to the default mode network (DMN).ConclusionOur results highlight the role of the left IFG and the DMN in PDM. Specifically, the central mechanism of moxibustion for analgesia may be related to modulating the disorders of the reappraisal and processing of pain stimuli through influencing the cognition of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Yang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao-li Guo
- Chengdu Xi’nan Gynecological Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun Zhou
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhi-fu Shen
- Department of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Li-ying Liu
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Chengdu Xi’nan Gynecological Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zheng Yu
- College of Medical Information and Engineering, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiao Chen
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fan-rong Liang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Si-yi Yu
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Acupuncture & Brain Research Center, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Jie Yang,
| | - Jie Yang
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Chengdu Xi’nan Gynecological Hospital, Chengdu, China
- Si-yi Yu,
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Combining fMRI and DISC1 gene haplotypes to understand working memory-related brain activity in schizophrenia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7351. [PMID: 35513527 PMCID: PMC9072540 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10660-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The DISC1 gene is one of the most relevant susceptibility genes for psychosis. However, the complex genetic landscape of this locus, which includes protective and risk variants in interaction, may have hindered consistent conclusions on how DISC1 contributes to schizophrenia (SZ) liability. Analysis from haplotype approaches and brain-based phenotypes can contribute to understanding DISC1 role in the neurobiology of this disorder. We assessed the brain correlates of DISC1 haplotypes associated with SZ through a functional neuroimaging genetics approach. First, we tested the association of two DISC1 haplotypes, the HEP1 (rs6675281-1000731-rs999710) and the HEP3 (rs151229-rs3738401), with the risk for SZ in a sample of 138 healthy subjects (HS) and 238 patients. This approach allowed the identification of three haplotypes associated with SZ (HEP1-CTG, HEP3-GA and HEP3-AA). Second, we explored whether these haplotypes exerted differential effects on n-back associated brain activity in a subsample of 70 HS compared to 70 patients (diagnosis × haplotype interaction effect). These analyses evidenced that HEP3-GA and HEP3-AA modulated working memory functional response conditional to the health/disease status in the cuneus, precuneus, middle cingulate cortex and the ventrolateral and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices. Our results are the first to show a diagnosis-based effect of DISC1 haplotypes on working memory-related brain activity, emphasising its role in SZ.
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