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Di Tella S, Silveri MC, Quaranta D, Caraglia N, Siciliano L, Marra C, Leggio M, Olivito G. The emerging role of the cerebellum in the affective theory of mind in the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia. J Neurol 2024; 271:7012-7015. [PMID: 39105895 PMCID: PMC11446944 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12595-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Di Tella
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Davide Quaranta
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Naike Caraglia
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Libera Siciliano
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Dei Marsi 78, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Camillo Marra
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Dei Marsi 78, 00185, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Research Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Giusy Olivito
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Dei Marsi 78, 00185, Rome, Italy.
- Ataxia Research Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
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2
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King C, Maze T, Plakke B. Altered prefrontal and cerebellar parvalbumin neuron counts are associated with cognitive changes in male rats. Exp Brain Res 2024; 242:2295-2308. [PMID: 39085433 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-024-06902-y] [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: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to valproic acid (VPA), a common anti-seizure medication, in utero is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). People with ASD often display changes in the cerebellum, including volume changes, altered circuitry, and changes in Purkinje cell populations. ASD is also characterized by changes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), where excitatory/inhibitory balance is often altered. This study exposed rats to a high dose of VPA during gestation and assessed cognition and anxiety-like behaviors during young adulthood using a set-shifting task and the elevated plus maze. Inhibitory parvalbumin-expressing (PV +) neuron counts were assessed in the mPFC and cerebellar lobules VI and VII (Purkinje cell layers), which are known to modulate cognition. VPA males had increased PV + counts in crus I and II of lobule VII. VPA males also had decreased parvalbumin-expressing neuron counts in the mPFC. It was also found that VPA-exposed rats, regardless of sex, had increased parvalbumin-expressing Purkinje cell counts in lobule VI. In males, this was associated with impaired intra-dimensional shifting on a set-shifting task. Purkinje cell over proliferation may be contributing to the previously observed increase in volume of Lobule VI. These findings suggest that altered inhibitory signaling in cerebellar-frontal circuits may contribute to the cognitive deficits that occur within ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole King
- Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr., Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Tessa Maze
- Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr., Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Bethany Plakke
- Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University, 1114 Mid-Campus Dr., Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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3
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Lois G, Tsakas E, Yuen K, Riedl A. Tracking politically motivated reasoning in the brain: the role of mentalizing, value-encoding, and error detection networks. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2024; 19:nsae056. [PMID: 39167464 PMCID: PMC11412250 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsae056] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Susceptibility to misinformation and belief polarization often reflects people's tendency to incorporate information in a biased way. Despite the presence of competing theoretical models, the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms of motivated reasoning remain elusive as previous empirical work did not properly track the belief formation process. To address this problem, we employed a design that identifies motivated reasoning as directional deviations from a Bayesian benchmark of unbiased belief updating. We asked the members of a proimmigration or an anti-immigration group regarding the extent to which they endorse factual messages on foreign criminality, a polarizing political topic. Both groups exhibited a desirability bias by overendorsing attitude-consistent messages and underendorsing attitude-discrepant messages and an identity bias by overendorsing messages from in-group members and underendorsing messages from out-group members. In both groups, neural responses to the messages predicted subsequent expression of desirability and identity biases, suggesting a common neural basis of motivated reasoning across ideologically opposing groups. Specifically, brain regions implicated in encoding value, error detection, and mentalizing tracked the degree of desirability bias. Less extensive activation in the mentalizing network tracked the degree of identity bias. These findings illustrate the distinct neurocognitive architecture of desirability and identity biases and inform existing cognitive models of politically motivated reasoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giannis Lois
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Crete, Rethymno 74100, Greece
- Department of Microeconomics and Public Economics, School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200, The Netherlands
| | - Elias Tsakas
- Department of Microeconomics and Public Economics, School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200, The Netherlands
| | - Kenneth Yuen
- Neuroimaging Centre (NIC), Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz 55122, Germany
| | - Arno Riedl
- Department of Microeconomics and Public Economics, School of Business and Economics, Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200, The Netherlands
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Aiello EN, Contarino VE, Conte G, Solca F, Curti B, Maranzano A, Torre S, Casale S, Doretti A, Colombo E, Verde F, Silani V, Liu C, Cinnante C, Triulzi FM, Morelli C, Poletti B, Ticozzi N. QSM-detected iron accumulation in the cerebellar gray matter is selectively associated with executive dysfunction in non-demented ALS patients. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1426841. [PMID: 39364420 PMCID: PMC11448125 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1426841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to assess whether quantitative susceptibility imaging (QSM)-based measures of iron accumulation in the cerebellum predict cognitive and behavioral features in non-demented amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Methods A total of ALS patients underwent 3-T MRI and a clinical assessment using the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) and the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS). Regression models were applied to each subscale of the cognitive section of the ECAS and the ECAS-Carer Interview to examine the effect of QSM-based measures in white and gray matter (WM; GM) of the cerebellum, separately for right, left, and bilateral cerebellar regions of interest (ROIs). These effects were compared to those of cerebellar volumetrics in WM/GM, right and left hemispheres while controlling for demographics, disease status, and total intracranial volume. Results Higher QSM measures of the cerebellar GM on the left, right, and bilateral sides significantly predicted (ps ≤ 0.003) a greater number of errors on the executive functioning (EF) subscale of the ECAS (ECAS-EF). Moreover, higher GM-related, QSM measures of the cerebellum were associated with an increased probability of a below-cut-off performance on the ECAS-EF (ps ≤ 0.024). No significant effects were observed for QSM measures of the cerebellar WM or for volumetric measures on the ECAS-EF. Other ECAS measures showed no significant effects. Bilateral QSM measures of the cerebellar GM also selectively predicted performance on backward digit span and social cognition tasks. Discussion Iron accumulation within the cerebellar GM, particularly in the cerebellar cortices, may be associated with executive functioning deficits in non-demented ALS patients. Therefore, QSM-based measures could be useful for identifying the neural correlates of extra-motor cognitive deficits in ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Nicolò Aiello
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Valeria Elisa Contarino
- Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Giorgio Conte
- Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Solca
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Beatrice Curti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessio Maranzano
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Torre
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Casale
- Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Doretti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Chunlei Liu
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Claudia Cinnante
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Maria Triulzi
- Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Panico F, Luciano SM, Salzillo A, Sagliano L, Trojano L. Investigating Cerebello-Frontal Circuits Associated with Emotional Prosody: A Double-Blind tDCS and fNIRS study. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s12311-024-01741-7. [PMID: 39276299 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01741-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/16/2024]
Abstract
The emotional and cognitive cerebellum has been explored by several studies in the past years. Recent evidence suggested the possible contribution of the cerebellum in processing emotional prosody, namely the ability to comprehend the emotional content of a given vocal utterance, likely mediated by anatomical and functional cerebello-prefrontal connections. In the present study, the involvement of a functional cerebello-prefrontal network in recognising emotional prosody was assessed by combining non-invasive anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the right or the left cerebellum and functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy of the prefrontal cortex, in a double-blind within-subject experimental design on healthy participants. The results showed that right and, to a less extent, left cerebellar tDCS (as compared to sham stimulation) reduced neural activation in the prefrontal cortex while accuracy and reaction times at the vocal recognition task remained unchanged. These findings highlight functional properties of the cerebello-frontal connections and the psychophysiological effects of cerebellar brain stimulation, with possible clinical applications in psychiatric and neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Panico
- University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - Sharon Mara Luciano
- University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Alessia Salzillo
- University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Laura Sagliano
- University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Luigi Trojano
- University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Ellittico 31, 81100, Caserta, Italy
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Port AP, Paulo AJM, de Azevedo Neto RM, Lacerda SS, Radvany J, Santaella DF, Kozasa EH. Differences in brain connectivity between older adults practicing Tai Chi and Water Aerobics: a case-control study. Front Integr Neurosci 2024; 18:1420339. [PMID: 39323912 PMCID: PMC11422087 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2024.1420339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to investigate the neural mechanisms that differentiate mind-body practices from aerobic physical activities and elucidate their effects on cognition and healthy aging. We examined functional brain connectivity in older adults (age > 60) without pre-existing uncontrolled chronic diseases, comparing Tai Chi with Water Aerobics practitioners. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, case-control fMRI study involving two strictly matched groups (n = 32) based on gender, age, education, and years of practice. Seed-to-voxel analysis was performed using the Salience, and Frontoparietal Networks as seed regions in Stroop Word-Color and N-Back tasks and Resting State. Results During Resting State condition and using Salience network as a seed, Tai Chi group exhibited a stronger correlation between Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Insular Cortex areas (regions related to interoceptive awareness, cognitive control and motor organization of subjective aspects of experience). In N-Back task and using Salience network as seed, Tai Chi group showed increased correlation between Left Supramarginal Gyrus and various cerebellar regions (related to memory, attention, cognitive processing, sensorimotor control and cognitive flexibility). In Stroop task, using Salience network as seed, Tai Chi group showed enhanced correlation between Left Rostral Prefrontal Cortex and Right Occipital Pole, and Right Lateral Occipital Cortex (areas associated with sustained attention, prospective memory, mediate attention between external stimuli and internal intention). Additionally, in Stroop task, using Frontoparietal network as seed, Water Aerobics group exhibited a stronger correlation between Left Posterior Parietal Lobe (specialized in word meaning, representing motor actions, motor planning directed to objects, and general perception) and different cerebellar regions (linked to object mirroring). Conclusion Our study provides evidence of differences in functional connectivity between older adults who have received training in a mind-body practice (Tai Chi) or in an aerobic physical activity (Water Aerobics) when performing attentional and working memory tasks, as well as during resting state.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - João Radvany
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
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7
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Jensen KM, Turner JA, Calhoun VD, Iraji A. Addressing inconsistency in functional neuroimaging: A replicable data-driven multi-scale functional atlas for canonical brain networks. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.09.612129. [PMID: 39314443 PMCID: PMC11419112 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.09.612129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
The advent of various neuroimaging methodologies has greatly aided in the conceptualization of large-scale brain networks in the field of cognitive neuroscience. However, there is inconsistency across studies in both nomenclature and the functional entities being described. There is a need for a unifying framework which standardizes terminology across studies while also bringing analyses and results into the same reference space. Here we present a functional whole-brain atlas of canonical brain networks derived from more than 100k resting-state fMRI datasets. These data-driven networks are highly replicable across datasets as well as multiple spatial scales. We have organized, labeled, and described them with terms familiar to the fields of cognitive and affective neuroscience in order to optimize their utility in future neuroimaging analyses and enhance the accessibility of new findings. The benefits of this atlas are not limited to future template-based or reference-guided analyses, but also extend to other data-driven neuroimaging approaches across modalities, such as those using blind independent component analysis (ICA). Future studies utilizing this atlas will contribute to greater harmonization and standardization in functional neuroimaging research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle M. Jensen
- Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Tri-Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Vince D. Calhoun
- Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Tri-Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Armin Iraji
- Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Tri-Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Atlanta, GA, USA
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Reilly J, Shain C, Borghesani V, Kuhnke P, Vigliocco G, Peelle JE, Mahon BZ, Buxbaum LJ, Majid A, Brysbaert M, Borghi AM, De Deyne S, Dove G, Papeo L, Pexman PM, Poeppel D, Lupyan G, Boggio P, Hickok G, Gwilliams L, Fernandino L, Mirman D, Chrysikou EG, Sandberg CW, Crutch SJ, Pylkkänen L, Yee E, Jackson RL, Rodd JM, Bedny M, Connell L, Kiefer M, Kemmerer D, de Zubicaray G, Jefferies E, Lynott D, Siew CSQ, Desai RH, McRae K, Diaz MT, Bolognesi M, Fedorenko E, Kiran S, Montefinese M, Binder JR, Yap MJ, Hartwigsen G, Cantlon J, Bi Y, Hoffman P, Garcea FE, Vinson D. What we mean when we say semantic: Toward a multidisciplinary semantic glossary. Psychon Bull Rev 2024:10.3758/s13423-024-02556-7. [PMID: 39231896 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-024-02556-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Tulving characterized semantic memory as a vast repository of meaning that underlies language and many other cognitive processes. This perspective on lexical and conceptual knowledge galvanized a new era of research undertaken by numerous fields, each with their own idiosyncratic methods and terminology. For example, "concept" has different meanings in philosophy, linguistics, and psychology. As such, many fundamental constructs used to delineate semantic theories remain underspecified and/or opaque. Weak construct specificity is among the leading causes of the replication crisis now facing psychology and related fields. Term ambiguity hinders cross-disciplinary communication, falsifiability, and incremental theory-building. Numerous cognitive subdisciplines (e.g., vision, affective neuroscience) have recently addressed these limitations via the development of consensus-based guidelines and definitions. The project to follow represents our effort to produce a multidisciplinary semantic glossary consisting of succinct definitions, background, principled dissenting views, ratings of agreement, and subjective confidence for 17 target constructs (e.g., abstractness, abstraction, concreteness, concept, embodied cognition, event semantics, lexical-semantic, modality, representation, semantic control, semantic feature, simulation, semantic distance, semantic dimension). We discuss potential benefits and pitfalls (e.g., implicit bias, prescriptiveness) of these efforts to specify a common nomenclature that other researchers might index in specifying their own theoretical perspectives (e.g., They said X, but I mean Y).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cory Shain
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Philipp Kuhnke
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Laurel J Buxbaum
- Thomas Jefferson University, Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Elkins Park, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Guy Dove
- University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Liuba Papeo
- Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University Claude-Bernard Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | | | | | - Paulo Boggio
- Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Eiling Yee
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ken McRae
- Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Melvin J Yap
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gesa Hartwigsen
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Yanchao Bi
- University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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9
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Antonioni A, Raho EM, Straudi S, Granieri E, Koch G, Fadiga L. The cerebellum and the Mirror Neuron System: A matter of inhibition? From neurophysiological evidence to neuromodulatory implications. A narrative review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 164:105830. [PMID: 39069236 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105830] [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: 06/09/2024] [Revised: 07/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Mirror neurons show activity during both the execution (AE) and observation of actions (AO). The Mirror Neuron System (MNS) could be involved during motor imagery (MI) as well. Extensive research suggests that the cerebellum is interconnected with the MNS and may be critically involved in its activities. We gathered evidence on the cerebellum's role in MNS functions, both theoretically and experimentally. Evidence shows that the cerebellum plays a major role during AO and MI and that its lesions impair MNS functions likely because, by modulating the activity of cortical inhibitory interneurons with mirror properties, the cerebellum may contribute to visuomotor matching, which is fundamental for shaping mirror properties. Indeed, the cerebellum may strengthen sensory-motor patterns that minimise the discrepancy between predicted and actual outcome, both during AE and AO. Furthermore, through its connections with the hippocampus, the cerebellum might be involved in internal simulations of motor programs during MI. Finally, as cerebellar neuromodulation might improve its impact on MNS activity, we explored its potential neurophysiological and neurorehabilitation implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annibale Antonioni
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Ferrara University Hospital, Ferrara 44124, Italy; Doctoral Program in Translational Neurosciences and Neurotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Maria Raho
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Sofia Straudi
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Ferrara University Hospital, Ferrara 44124, Italy
| | - Enrico Granieri
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - Giacomo Koch
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy; Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication (CTNSC), Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ferrara 44121 , Italy; Non Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Santa Lucia, Rome 00179, Italy
| | - Luciano Fadiga
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy; Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication (CTNSC), Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ferrara 44121 , Italy
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10
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Verpeut JL, Oostland M. The significance of cerebellar contributions in early-life through aging. Front Comput Neurosci 2024; 18:1449364. [PMID: 39258107 PMCID: PMC11384999 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2024.1449364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Verpeut
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Marlies Oostland
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Yu H, Liu Y, Xu F, Fu Y, Yang M, Ding L, Wu Y, Tang F, Qiao J, Wen L. A human fetal cerebellar map of the late second trimester reveals developmental molecular characteristics and abnormality in trisomy 21. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114586. [PMID: 39137113 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114586] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of human fetal cerebellum development during the late second trimester, a critical period for the generation of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and unipolar brush cells (UBCs), remains limited. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in human fetal cerebellum samples from gestational weeks (GWs) 18-25. We find that proliferating UBC progenitors distribute in the subventricular zone of the rhombic lip (RLSVZ) near white matter (WM), forming a layer structure. We also delineate two trajectories from astrogenic radial glia (ARGs) to Bergmann glial progenitors (BGPs) and recognize oligodendrogenic radial glia (ORGs) as one source of primitive oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (PriOPCs). Additionally, our scRNA-seq analysis of the trisomy 21 fetal cerebellum at this stage reveals abnormal upregulated genes in pathways such as the cell adhesion pathway and focal adhesion pathway, which potentially promote neuronal differentiation. Overall, our research provides valuable insights into normal and abnormal development of the human fetal cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmin Yu
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yun Liu
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing 100871, China; Changping Laboratory, Changping Laboratory, Yard 28, Science Park Road, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Fanqing Xu
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yuanyuan Fu
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ling Ding
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yixuan Wu
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Fuchou Tang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing 100871, China; Changping Laboratory, Changping Laboratory, Yard 28, Science Park Road, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jie Qiao
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Lu Wen
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing 100871, China; Changping Laboratory, Changping Laboratory, Yard 28, Science Park Road, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China.
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12
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Saiz-Masvidal C, De la Peña-Arteaga V, Bertolín S, Martínez-Zalacaín I, Juaneda-Seguí A, Chavarría-Elizondo P, Subirà M, Menchón JM, Fullana MA, Soriano-Mas C. Uncovering the correlation between neurotransmitter-specific functional connectivity and multidimensional anxiety in a non-clinical cohort. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01879-9. [PMID: 39190041 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01879-9] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Research on anxiety faces challenges due to the wide range of symptoms, making it difficult to determine if different aspects of anxiety are linked to distinct neurobiological processes. Both alterations in functional brain connectivity (FC) and monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems are implicated as potential neural bases of anxiety. We aimed to investigate whole-brain FC involving monoaminergic nuclei and its association with anxiety dimensions in 178 non-clinical participants. Nine anxiety-related scales were used, encompassing trait and state anxiety scores, along with measures of cost-probability, hypervigilance, reward-punishment sensitivity, uncertainty, and trait worry. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired, focusing on seven brainstem regions representing serotonergic, dopaminergic, and noradrenergic nuclei, with their FC patterns voxel-wise correlated with the scales. All models underwent family-wise-error correction for multiple comparisons. We observed intriguing relationships: trait and state anxiety scores exhibited opposing correlations in FC between the dorsal raphe nucleus and the paracingulate gyrus. Additionally, we identified shared neural correlates, such as a negative correlation between the locus coeruleus and the frontal pole. This connection was significantly associated with scores on measures of probability, hypervigilance, reward sensitivity, and trait worry. These findings underscore the intricate interplay between anxiety dimensions and subcortico-cortical FC patterns, shedding light on the underlying neural mechanisms governing anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Saiz-Masvidal
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona - UB, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - V De la Peña-Arteaga
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Sant Pau Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Sant Pau - Campus Salut Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Bertolín
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona - UB, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - I Martínez-Zalacaín
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Radiology Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Carrer de Feixa Llarga SN, Barcelona, 08907, Spain
| | - A Juaneda-Seguí
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona - UB, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - P Chavarría-Elizondo
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona - UB, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Subirà
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona - UB, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Mental Health Department, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Area, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Sabadell, Spain
| | - J M Menchón
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona - UB, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - M A Fullana
- CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.
- Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - C Soriano-Mas
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
- CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Social Psychology and Quantitative Psychology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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13
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Smith G, McCoy K, Di Prisco GV, Kuklish A, Grant E, Bhat M, Patel S, Mackie K, Atwood B, Kalinovsky A. Deletion of endocannabinoid synthesizing enzyme DAGLα from cerebellar Purkinje cells decreases social preference and elevates anxiety. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.08.607068. [PMID: 39211155 PMCID: PMC11361171 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.08.607068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling system is robustly expressed in the cerebellum starting from the embryonic developmental stages to adulthood. There it plays a key role in regulating cerebellar synaptic plasticity and excitability, suggesting that impaired eCB signaling will lead to deficits in cerebellar adjustments of ongoing behaviors and cerebellar learning. Indeed, human mutations in DAGLα are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. In this study, we show that selective deletion of the eCB synthesizing enzyme diacylglycerol lipase alpha (Daglα) from mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) alters motor and social behaviors, disrupts short-term synaptic plasticity in both excitatory and inhibitory synapses, and reduces Purkinje cell activity during social exploration. Our results provide the first evidence for cerebellar-specific eCB regulation of social behaviors and implicate eCB regulation of synaptic plasticity and PC activity as the neural substrates contributing to these deficits. Abstract Figure
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14
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Lawson RJ, Lipovsek NJ, Brown SP, Jena AK, Osko JJ, Ransdell JL. Selective deletion of Tsc1 from mouse cerebellar Purkinje neurons drives sex-specific behavioral impairments linked to autism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.07.607071. [PMID: 39211158 PMCID: PMC11361029 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.07.607071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
There is a striking sex bias in the prevalence and severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with 80% of diagnoses occurring in males. Because the molecular etiology of ASD is likely combinatorial, including interactions across multiple genetic and environmental factors, it is difficult to investigate the physiological mechanisms driving sex-specific differences. Loss of function mutations in TSC1 result in dysregulated mTORC1 signaling and underlie a multi-system disorder known as tuberous sclerosis (TSC). Interestingly, more than 50% of individuals diagnosed with TSC are also diagnosed with ASD, making TSC mutations one of the most prevalent monogenic causes of ASD. Mice harboring targeted deletion of Tsc1 selectively in cerebellar Purkinje neurons, referred to here as Tsc1 mut/mut , have multiple ASD-linked behavioral impairments, including deficits in social interactions, motor coordination, and vocalizations. However, these ASD-linked behavioral deficits have only been investigated using male Tsc1 mut/mut animals. Here, we used cohorts of male and female Tsc1 mut/mut animals to determine if behavioral impairments, previously identified in this model, are similar across sex. Specifically, we measured balance and motor coordination and social interaction behaviors in two age groups across sex. W e determined balance and motor coordination deficits are similar in male and female Tsc1 mut/mut mice, and that deficits in the firing of Tsc1 mut/mut Purkinje neurons located in the cerebellar vermis are also similar across sex. However, impairments in social approach behavior were found to be significantly more severe in Tsc1 mut/mut males compared to females. These results indicate the selective deletion of Tsc1 in Purkinje neurons differentially impairs cerebellar circuits based on sex.
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Abstract
The cerebellum has a well-established role in controlling motor functions, including coordination, posture, and the learning of skilled movements. The mechanisms for how it carries out motor behavior remain under intense investigation. Interestingly though, in recent years the mechanisms of cerebellar function have faced additional scrutiny since nonmotor behaviors may also be controlled by the cerebellum. With such complexity arising, there is now a pressing need to better understand how cerebellar structure, function, and behavior intersect to influence behaviors that are dynamically called upon as an animal experiences its environment. Here, we discuss recent experimental work that frames possible neural mechanisms for how the cerebellum shapes disparate behaviors and why its dysfunction is catastrophic in hereditary and acquired conditions-both motor and nonmotor. For these reasons, the cerebellum might be the ideal therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda H Kim
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA;
| | - Detlef H Heck
- Center for Cerebellar Network Structure and Function in Health and Disease, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Roy V Sillitoe
- Departments of Neuroscience and Pediatrics, Program in Developmental Biology, and Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA;
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16
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Berlijn AM, Huvermann DM, Schneider S, Bellebaum C, Timmann D, Minnerop M, Peterburs J. The Role of the Human Cerebellum for Learning from and Processing of External Feedback in Non-Motor Learning: A Systematic Review. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:1532-1551. [PMID: 38379034 PMCID: PMC11269477 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01669-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
This review aimed to systematically identify and comprehensively review the role of the cerebellum in performance monitoring, focusing on learning from and on processing of external feedback in non-motor learning. While 1078 articles were screened for eligibility, ultimately 36 studies were included in which external feedback was delivered in cognitive tasks and which referenced the cerebellum. These included studies in patient populations with cerebellar damage and studies in healthy subjects applying neuroimaging. Learning performance in patients with different cerebellar diseases was heterogeneous, with only about half of all patients showing alterations. One patient study using EEG demonstrated that damage to the cerebellum was associated with altered neural processing of external feedback. Studies assessing brain activity with task-based fMRI or PET and one resting-state functional imaging study that investigated connectivity changes following feedback-based learning in healthy participants revealed involvement particularly of lateral and posterior cerebellar regions in processing of and learning from external feedback. Cerebellar involvement was found at different stages, e.g., during feedback anticipation and following the onset of the feedback stimuli, substantiating the cerebellum's relevance for different aspects of performance monitoring such as feedback prediction. Future research will need to further elucidate precisely how, where, and when the cerebellum modulates the prediction and processing of external feedback information, which cerebellar subregions are particularly relevant, and to what extent cerebellar diseases alter these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M Berlijn
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Dana M Huvermann
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational and Behavioral Neurosciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sandra Schneider
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christian Bellebaum
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational and Behavioral Neurosciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Martina Minnerop
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Center for Movement Disorders and Neuromodulation, Medical Faculty & Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Jutta Peterburs
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Systems Medicine and Department of Human Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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17
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Nikolić M, di Plinio S, Sauter D, Keysers C, Gazzola V. The blushing brain: neural substrates of cheek temperature increase in response to self-observation. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240958. [PMID: 39013420 PMCID: PMC11251765 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0958] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Darwin proposed that blushing-the reddening of the face owing to heightened self-awareness-is 'the most human of all expressions'. Yet, relatively little is known about the underlying mechanisms of blushing. Theories diverge on whether it is a rapid, spontaneous emotional response that does not involve reflection upon the self or whether it results from higher-order socio-cognitive processes. Investigating the neural substrates of blushing can shed light on the mental processes underlying blushing and the mechanisms involved in self-awareness. To reveal neural activity associated with blushing, 16-20 year-old participants (n = 40) watched pre-recorded videos of themselves (versus other people as a control condition) singing karaoke in a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. We measured participants' cheek temperature increase-an indicator of blushing-and their brain activity. The results showed that blushing is higher when watching oneself versus others sing. Those who blushed more while watching themselves sing had, on average, higher activation in the cerebellum (lobule V) and the left paracentral lobe and exhibited more time-locked processing of the videos in early visual cortices. These findings show that blushing is associated with the activation of brain areas involved in emotional arousal, suggesting that it may occur independently of higher-order socio-cognitive processes. Our results provide new avenues for future research on self-awareness in infants and non-human animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Nikolić
- Institute for Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1018 WS, The Netherlands
| | - Simone di Plinio
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, D'Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara, Pescara66100, Italy
| | - Disa Sauter
- Psychology Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1018 WS, The Netherlands
| | - Christian Keysers
- Psychology Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1018 WS, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, KNAW, Amsterdam1105 BA, The Netherlands
| | - Valeria Gazzola
- Psychology Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam1018 WS, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, KNAW, Amsterdam1105 BA, The Netherlands
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18
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Ciricugno A, Oldrati V, Cattaneo Z, Leggio M, Urgesi C, Olivito G. Cerebellar Neurostimulation for Boosting Social and Affective Functions: Implications for the Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxia Patients. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:1651-1677. [PMID: 38270782 PMCID: PMC11269351 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01652-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Beyond motor deficits, spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) patients also suffer cognitive decline and show socio-affective difficulties, negatively impacting on their social functioning. The possibility to modulate cerebello-cerebral networks involved in social cognition through cerebellar neurostimulation has opened up potential therapeutic applications for ameliorating social and affective difficulties. The present review offers an overview of the research on cerebellar neurostimulation for the modulation of socio-affective functions in both healthy individuals and different clinical populations, published in the time period 2000-2022. A total of 25 records reporting either transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) studies were found. The investigated clinical populations comprised different pathological conditions, including but not limited to SCA syndromes. The reviewed evidence supports that cerebellar neurostimulation is effective in improving social abilities in healthy individuals and reducing social and affective symptoms in different neurological and psychiatric populations associated with cerebellar damage or with impairments in functions that involve the cerebellum. These findings encourage to further explore the rehabilitative effects of cerebellar neurostimulation on socio-affective deficits experienced by patients with cerebellar abnormalities, as SCA patients. Nevertheless, conclusions remain tentative at this stage due to the heterogeneity characterizing stimulation protocols, study methodologies and patients' samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ciricugno
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Science, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Viola Oldrati
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 23842, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Zaira Cattaneo
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Urgesi
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 23842, Bosisio Parini, Italy
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Giusy Olivito
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179, Rome, Italy
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19
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Kong Y, Roser M, Bègue I, Elandaloussi Y, Neu N, Grigis A, Duchesnay E, Leboyer M, Houenou J, Laidi C. Cerebellum and social abilities: A structural and functional connectivity study in a transdiagnostic sample. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26749. [PMID: 38989605 PMCID: PMC11237877 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26749] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum has been involved in social abilities and autism. Given that the cerebellum is connected to the cortex via the cerebello-thalamo-cortical loop, the connectivity between the cerebellum and cortical regions involved in social interactions, that is, the right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ) has been studied in individuals with autism, who suffer from prototypical deficits in social abilities. However, existing studies with small samples of categorical, case-control comparisons have yielded inconsistent results due to the inherent heterogeneity of autism, suggesting that investigating how clinical dimensions are related to cerebellar-rTPJ functional connectivity might be more relevant. Therefore, our objective was to study the functional connectivity between the cerebellum and rTPJ, focusing on its association with social abilities from a dimensional perspective in a transdiagnostic sample. We analyzed structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) scans obtained during naturalistic films watching from a large transdiagnostic dataset, the Healthy Brain Network (HBN), and examined the association between cerebellum-rTPJ functional connectivity and social abilities measured with the social responsiveness scale (SRS). We conducted univariate seed-to-voxel analysis, multivariate canonical correlation analysis (CCA), and predictive support vector regression (SVR). We included 1404 subjects in the structural analysis (age: 10.516 ± 3.034, range: 5.822-21.820, 506 females) and 414 subjects in the functional analysis (age: 11.260 ± 3.318 years, range: 6.020-21.820, 161 females). Our CCA model revealed a significant association between cerebellum-rTPJ functional connectivity, full-scale IQ (FSIQ) and SRS scores. However, this effect was primarily driven by FSIQ as suggested by SVR and univariate seed-to-voxel analysis. We also demonstrated the specificity of the rTPJ and the influence of structural anatomy in this association. Our results suggest that there is a complex relationship between cerebellum-rTPJ connectivity, social performance and IQ. This relationship is specific to the cerebellum-rTPJ connectivity, and is largely related to structural anatomy in these two regions. PRACTITIONER POINTS: We analyzed cerebellum-right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) connectivity in a pediatric transdiagnostic sample. We found a complex relationship between cerebellum and rTPJ connectivity, social performance and IQ. Cerebellum and rTPJ functional connectivity is related to structural anatomy in these two regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Kong
- INSERM U955, Institut Mondor de la Recherche Biomédicale (IMRB), Univ. Paris East Créteil, Team 15 Translational Neuropsychiatry, DMU IMPACT, Henri Mondor - AP-HP Paris University Hospitals, Créteil, France
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Paris-Saclay University, France, Saclay, France
| | - Mathilde Roser
- INSERM U955, Institut Mondor de la Recherche Biomédicale (IMRB), Univ. Paris East Créteil, Team 15 Translational Neuropsychiatry, DMU IMPACT, Henri Mondor - AP-HP Paris University Hospitals, Créteil, France
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Paris-Saclay University, France, Saclay, France
- Fondation Fondamental, Créteil, France
| | - Indrit Bègue
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical School and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Neuroimaging and Translational Psychiatry lab, Synapsy Center for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yannis Elandaloussi
- INSERM U955, Institut Mondor de la Recherche Biomédicale (IMRB), Univ. Paris East Créteil, Team 15 Translational Neuropsychiatry, DMU IMPACT, Henri Mondor - AP-HP Paris University Hospitals, Créteil, France
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Paris-Saclay University, France, Saclay, France
| | - Nathan Neu
- INSERM U955, Institut Mondor de la Recherche Biomédicale (IMRB), Univ. Paris East Créteil, Team 15 Translational Neuropsychiatry, DMU IMPACT, Henri Mondor - AP-HP Paris University Hospitals, Créteil, France
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Paris-Saclay University, France, Saclay, France
| | - Antoine Grigis
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Paris-Saclay University, France, Saclay, France
| | | | - Marion Leboyer
- INSERM U955, Institut Mondor de la Recherche Biomédicale (IMRB), Univ. Paris East Créteil, Team 15 Translational Neuropsychiatry, DMU IMPACT, Henri Mondor - AP-HP Paris University Hospitals, Créteil, France
- Fondation Fondamental, Créteil, France
| | - Josselin Houenou
- INSERM U955, Institut Mondor de la Recherche Biomédicale (IMRB), Univ. Paris East Créteil, Team 15 Translational Neuropsychiatry, DMU IMPACT, Henri Mondor - AP-HP Paris University Hospitals, Créteil, France
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Paris-Saclay University, France, Saclay, France
- Fondation Fondamental, Créteil, France
| | - Charles Laidi
- INSERM U955, Institut Mondor de la Recherche Biomédicale (IMRB), Univ. Paris East Créteil, Team 15 Translational Neuropsychiatry, DMU IMPACT, Henri Mondor - AP-HP Paris University Hospitals, Créteil, France
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Paris-Saclay University, France, Saclay, France
- Fondation Fondamental, Créteil, France
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20
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Guerra M, Medici V, La Sala G, Farini D. Unravelling the Cerebellar Involvement in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Insights into Genetic Mechanisms and Developmental Pathways. Cells 2024; 13:1176. [PMID: 39056758 PMCID: PMC11275240 DOI: 10.3390/cells13141176] [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: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complex neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, as well as repetitive behaviors. Although the etiology of ASD is multifactorial, with both genetic and environmental factors contributing to its development, a strong genetic basis is widely recognized. Recent research has identified numerous genetic mutations and genomic rearrangements associated with ASD-characterizing genes involved in brain development. Alterations in developmental programs are particularly harmful during critical periods of brain development. Notably, studies have indicated that genetic disruptions occurring during the second trimester of pregnancy affect cortical development, while disturbances in the perinatal and early postnatal period affect cerebellar development. The developmental defects must be viewed in the context of the role of the cerebellum in cognitive processes, which is now well established. The present review emphasizes the genetic complexity and neuropathological mechanisms underlying ASD and aims to provide insights into the cerebellar involvement in the disorder, focusing on recent advances in the molecular landscape governing its development in humans. Furthermore, we highlight when and in which cerebellar neurons the ASD-associated genes may play a role in the development of cortico-cerebellar circuits. Finally, we discuss improvements in protocols for generating cerebellar organoids to recapitulate the long period of development and maturation of this organ. These models, if generated from patient-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), could provide a valuable approach to elucidate the contribution of defective genes to ASD pathology and inform diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marika Guerra
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Vanessa Medici
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Gina La Sala
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Italian National Research Council (CNR), 00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Italy
| | - Donatella Farini
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
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21
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Washington SD, Shattuck K, Steckel J, Peremans H, Jonckers E, Hinz R, Venneman T, Van den Berg M, Van Ruijssevelt L, Verellen T, Pritchett DL, Scholliers J, Liang S, C Wang P, Verhoye M, Esser KH, Van der Linden A, Keliris GA. Auditory cortical regions show resting-state functional connectivity with the default mode-like network in echolocating bats. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2306029121. [PMID: 38913894 PMCID: PMC11228507 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306029121] [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: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Echolocating bats are among the most social and vocal of all mammals. These animals are ideal subjects for functional MRI (fMRI) studies of auditory social communication given their relatively hypertrophic limbic and auditory neural structures and their reduced ability to hear MRI gradient noise. Yet, no resting-state networks relevant to social cognition (e.g., default mode-like networks or DMLNs) have been identified in bats since there are few, if any, fMRI studies in the chiropteran order. Here, we acquired fMRI data at 7 Tesla from nine lightly anesthetized pale spear-nosed bats (Phyllostomus discolor). We applied independent components analysis (ICA) to reveal resting-state networks and measured neural activity elicited by noise ripples (on: 10 ms; off: 10 ms) that span this species' ultrasonic hearing range (20 to 130 kHz). Resting-state networks pervaded auditory, parietal, and occipital cortices, along with the hippocampus, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and auditory brainstem. Two midline networks formed an apparent DMLN. Additionally, we found four predominantly auditory/parietal cortical networks, of which two were left-lateralized and two right-lateralized. Regions within four auditory/parietal cortical networks are known to respond to social calls. Along with the auditory brainstem, regions within these four cortical networks responded to ultrasonic noise ripples. Iterative analyses revealed consistent, significant functional connectivity between the left, but not right, auditory/parietal cortical networks and DMLN nodes, especially the anterior-most cingulate cortex. Thus, a resting-state network implicated in social cognition displays more distributed functional connectivity across left, relative to right, hemispheric cortical substrates of audition and communication in this highly social and vocal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart D Washington
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Howard University, College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20060
- Department of Anatomy, Howard University, College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20060
| | - Kyle Shattuck
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057
- Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057
| | - Jan Steckel
- Department of Electronics-Information and Communication Technology, Cosys Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2020, Belgium
- Flanders Make Strategic Research Center, Oude Diestersebaan 133, Lommel 3920, Belgium
| | - Herbert Peremans
- Department of Engineering Management, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2000, Belgium
| | - Elisabeth Jonckers
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
- µNeuro Research Centre for Excellence, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
| | - Rukun Hinz
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
| | - Tom Venneman
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
| | - Monica Van den Berg
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
- µNeuro Research Centre for Excellence, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
| | - Lisbeth Van Ruijssevelt
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
| | - Thomas Verellen
- Department of Electronics-Information and Communication Technology, Cosys Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2020, Belgium
| | - Dominique L Pritchett
- Department of Biology, Howard University, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington, DC 20059
| | - Jan Scholliers
- Department of Biology, Drie Eiken Campus, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Drie Eiken Campus, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
| | - Sayuan Liang
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
| | - Paul C Wang
- Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Howard University, College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20060
- Department of Physics, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei 24205, Taiwan
| | - Marleen Verhoye
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
- µNeuro Research Centre for Excellence, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
| | - Karl-Heinz Esser
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover 30559, Germany
| | - Annemie Van der Linden
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
- µNeuro Research Centre for Excellence, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
| | - Georgios A Keliris
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Drie Eiken Campus, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp B-2610, Belgium
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, GR 700 13, Greece; and
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, MA
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22
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Wang L, Wang S, Zheng W, Yang B, Yang Y, Chen X, Chen Q, Li X, Hu Y, Du J, Qin W, Lu J, Chen N. Altered Brain Function in Pediatric Patients With Complete Spinal Cord Injury: A Resting-State Functional MRI Study. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 60:304-313. [PMID: 37800893 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Injury to the spinal cord of children may cause potential brain reorganizations, affecting their rehabilitation. However, the specific functional alterations of children after complete spinal cord injury (CSCI) remain unclear. PURPOSE To explore the specific functional changes in local brain and the relationship with clinical characteristics in pediatric CSCI patients, clarifying the impact of CSCI on brain function in developing children. STUDY TYPE Prospective. SUBJECTS Thirty pediatric CSCI patients (7.83 ± 1.206 years) and 30 age-, gender-matched healthy children as controls (HCs) (8.77 ± 2.079 years). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 3.0 T/Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) using echo-planar-imaging (EPI) sequence. ASSESSMENT Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional ALFF (fALFF), and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were used to characterize regional neural function. STATISTICAL TESTS Two-sample t-tests were used to compare the ALFF, fALFF, ReHo values of the brain between pediatric CSCI and HCs (voxel-level FWE correction, P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analyses were performed to analyze the associations between the ALFF, fALFF, ReHo values in altered regions and the injury duration, sensory motor scores of pediatric CSCI patients (P < 0.05). Then receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to identify possible sensitive imaging indicators for clinical therapy. RESULTS Compared with HCs, pediatric CSCI showed significantly decreased ALFF in the right postcentral gyrus (S1), orbitofrontal cortex, and left superior temporal gyrus (STG), increased ALFF in bilateral caudate nucleus, thalamus, middle cingulate gyrus, and cerebellar lobules IV-VI, and increased ReHo in left cerebellum Crus II and Brodmann area 21. The ALFF value in the right S1 negatively correlated with the pinprick and light touch sensory scores of pediatric CSCI. When the left STG was used as an imaging biomarker for pediatric CSCI, it achieved the highest area under the curve of 0.989. CONCLUSIONS These findings may provide potential neural mechanisms for sensory motor and cognitive-emotional deficits in children after CSCI. EVIDENCE LEVEL 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Shengqiang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Weimin Zheng
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Beining Yang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhui Yang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejing Li
- Department of Radiology, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yongsheng Hu
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jubao Du
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Qin
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Chen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing, China
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23
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Haihambo N, Li M, Ma Q, Baeken C, Deroost N, Baetens K, Van Overwalle F. Exciting the social butterfly: Anodal cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation modulates neural activation during predictive social mentalizing. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2024; 24:100480. [PMID: 39055855 PMCID: PMC11269293 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2024.100480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing social cognition. The posterior cerebellum, which is part of the mentalizing network, has been implicated in social processes. In our combined tDCS-fMRI study, we investigated the effects of offline anodal cerebellar tDCS on activation in the cerebellum during social action prediction. Forty-one participants were randomly assigned to receive either anodal (2 mA) or sham (0 mA) stimulation over the midline of the posterior cerebellum for 20 min. Twenty minutes post stimulation, participants underwent a functional MRI scan to complete a social action prediction task, during which they had to correctly order randomly presented sentences that described either actions of social agents (based on their personality traits) or events of objects (based on their characteristics). As hypothesized, our results revealed that participants who received anodal cerebellar tDCS exhibited increased activation in the posterior cerebellar Crus 2 and lobule IX, and in key cerebral mentalizing areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex, temporo-parietal junction, and precuneus. Contrary to our hypotheses, participants who received anodal stimulation demonstrated faster responses to non-social objects compared to social agents, while sham participants showed no significant differences. We did not find a significant relationship between electric field magnitude, neural activation and behavioral outcomes. These findings suggest that tDCS targeting the posterior cerebellum selectively enhances activation in social mentalizing areas, while only facilitating behavioral performance of non-social material, perhaps because of a ceiling effect due to familiarity with social processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naem Haihambo
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
- Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Bochum, Germany
- Social Neuroscience, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Meijia Li
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
- Language Pathology and Brain Science MEG Lab, School of Communication Sciences, Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing, China
| | - Qianying Ma
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent Experimental, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1090, Belgium
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600, The Netherlands
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
| | - Natacha Deroost
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
| | - Kris Baetens
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
| | - Frank Van Overwalle
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
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24
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Nicolardi V, Accogli G, Ferrante C, Scoditti S, Massafra P, Fanizza I, Trabacca A. Social cognition in two brothers with Becker muscular dystrophy: an exploratory study revealing divergent behavioral phenotypes. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:3471-3479. [PMID: 38150129 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-07257-y] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Only few studies investigated social cognition in Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). However, brain dystrophin deficiency could be a neural substrate for cognitive, emotional, and neuropsychological features in BMD. METHODS We compared interoceptive accuracy and interpersonal comfort distance in two brothers with BMD presenting with the same genetic deletion and a healthy control. When possible, we collected neuropsychological and psychopathological assessments. RESULTS Our BMD patients were significantly different in interoceptive accuracy, with patient 1 being extremely accurate and patient 2 being significantly less accurate than his brother but more accurate than the control. Interestingly, they presented opposite patterns of interpersonal distance. Patient 1 was comfortable with very short interpersonal distance (≤50 cm from the confederate/object) vs the control and patient 2. By contrast, patient 2 preferred larger distance vs the control and patient 1. Patient 1 also presented difficulties in social and emotional skills on the psychopathological assessment. CONCLUSIONS We are aware this is a small sample; nonetheless, this is also the first description of such aspects in BMD and the first report ever of such divergent behavioral pattern. As impaired social cognition affects the quality of life and social relationship, further studies are needed for a closer understanding of involved mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Nicolardi
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults (Developmental Neurology and Neurorehabilitation) Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Ex Complesso Ospedaliero "A. Di Summa", Piazza "A. Di Summa", 72100, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Accogli
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults (Developmental Neurology and Neurorehabilitation) Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Ex Complesso Ospedaliero "A. Di Summa", Piazza "A. Di Summa", 72100, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Camilla Ferrante
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults (Developmental Neurology and Neurorehabilitation) Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Ex Complesso Ospedaliero "A. Di Summa", Piazza "A. Di Summa", 72100, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Sara Scoditti
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults (Developmental Neurology and Neurorehabilitation) Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Ex Complesso Ospedaliero "A. Di Summa", Piazza "A. Di Summa", 72100, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Patrizia Massafra
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults (Developmental Neurology and Neurorehabilitation) Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Ex Complesso Ospedaliero "A. Di Summa", Piazza "A. Di Summa", 72100, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Isabella Fanizza
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults (Developmental Neurology and Neurorehabilitation) Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Ex Complesso Ospedaliero "A. Di Summa", Piazza "A. Di Summa", 72100, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Antonio Trabacca
- Unit for Severe Disabilities in Developmental Age and Young Adults (Developmental Neurology and Neurorehabilitation) Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Ex Complesso Ospedaliero "A. Di Summa", Piazza "A. Di Summa", 72100, Brindisi, Italy.
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25
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Zhang W, Mou Z, Zhong Q, Liu X, Yan L, Gou L, Chen Z, So KF, Zhang L. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation improves social deficits through the inhibition of IL-17a signaling in a mouse model of autism. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1393549. [PMID: 38993386 PMCID: PMC11237520 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1393549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal exposure to inflammation is one of the causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve exerts a neuroprotective effect via its anti-inflammatory action. We thus investigated whether transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) can enhance social abilities in a mouse model of ASD induced by maternal immune activation (MIA). Methods ASD mouse model were constructed by intraperitoneal injection of polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly (I:C)). TaVNS with different parameters were tested in ASD mouse model and in C57BL/6 mice, then various behavioral tests and biochemical analyses related to autism were conducted. ASD model mice were injected with an interleukin (IL)-17a antibody into the brain, followed by behavioral testing and biochemical analyses. Results TaVNS reduced anxiety, improved social function, decreased the number of microglia, and inhibited M1 polarization of microglia. Additionally, taVNS attenuated the expression of the IL-17a protein in the prefrontal cortex and blood of ASD model mice. To examine the possible involvement of IL-17a in taVNS-induced neuroprotection, we injected an IL-17a antibody into the prefrontal cortex of ASD model mice and found that neutralizing IL-17a decreased the number of microglia and inhibited M1 polarization. Furthermore, neutralizing IL-17a improved social function in autism model mice. Conclusion Our study revealed that reduced neuroinflammation is an important mechanism of taVNS-mediated social improvement and neuroprotection against autism. This effect of taVNS could be attributed to the inhibition of the IL-17a pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiwei Mou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Heyuan, China
| | - Qi Zhong
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaocao Liu
- Lab of Regenerative Medicine in Sports Science, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System (CNS) Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Institute of Central Nervous System (CNS) Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Gou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Heyuan, China
| | - Zhuoming Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System (CNS) Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Institute of Central Nervous System (CNS) Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System (CNS) Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Institute of Central Nervous System (CNS) Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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26
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Magalhães TNC, Hicks TH, Jackson TB, Ballard HK, Herrejon IA, Bernard JA. Sex-steroid hormones relate to cerebellar structure and functional connectivity across adulthood. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.24.600454. [PMID: 38979355 PMCID: PMC11230255 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.24.600454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Aging involves complex biological changes that affect disease susceptibility and aging trajectories. Although females typically live longer than males, they have a higher susceptibility to diseases like Alzheimer's, speculated to be influenced by menopause, and reduced ovarian hormone production. Understanding sex-specific differences is crucial for personalized medical interventions and gender equality in health. Our study aims to elucidate sex differences in regional cerebellar structure and connectivity during normal aging by investigating both structural and functional connectivity variations, with a focus on investigating these differences in the context of sex-steroid hormones. The study included 138 participants (mean age = 57(13.3) years, age range = 35-86 years, 54% women). The cohort was divided into three groups: 38 early middle-aged individuals (EMA) (mean age = 41(4.7) years), 48 late middle-aged individuals (LMA) (mean age = 58(4) years), and 42 older adults (OA) (mean age = 72(6.3) years). All participants underwent MRI scans, and saliva samples were collected for sex-steroid hormone quantification (17β-estradiol (E), progesterone (P), and testosterone (T)). We found less connectivity in females between Lobule I-IV and the cuneus, and greater connectivity in females between Crus I, Crus II, and the precuneus with increased age. Higher 17β-estradiol levels were linked to greater connectivity in Crus I and Crus II cerebellar subregions. Analyzing all participants together, testosterone was associated with both higher and lower connectivity in Lobule I-IV and Crus I, respectively, while higher progesterone levels were linked to lower connectivity in females. Structural differences were observed, with EMA males having larger volumes compared to LMA and OA groups, particularly in the right I-IV, right Crus I, right V, and right VI. EMA females showed higher volumes in the right lobules V and VI. These results highlight the significant role of sex hormones in modulating cerebellar connectivity and structure across adulthood, emphasizing the need to consider sex and hormonal status in neuroimaging studies to better understand age-related cognitive decline and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thamires N C Magalhães
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tracey H Hicks
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - T Bryan Jackson
- Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer's Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Hannah K Ballard
- Department of Psychological Sciences, William Marsh Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ivan A Herrejon
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jessica A Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Psychological Sciences, William Marsh Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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27
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Kóbor A, Janacsek K, Hermann P, Zavecz Z, Varga V, Csépe V, Vidnyánszky Z, Kovács G, Nemeth D. Finding Pattern in the Noise: Persistent Implicit Statistical Knowledge Impacts the Processing of Unpredictable Stimuli. J Cogn Neurosci 2024; 36:1239-1264. [PMID: 38683699 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Humans can extract statistical regularities of the environment to predict upcoming events. Previous research recognized that implicitly acquired statistical knowledge remained persistent and continued to influence behavior even when the regularities were no longer present in the environment. Here, in an fMRI experiment, we investigated how the persistence of statistical knowledge is represented in the brain. Participants (n = 32) completed a visual, four-choice, RT task consisting of statistical regularities. Two types of blocks constantly alternated with one another throughout the task: predictable statistical regularities in one block type and unpredictable ones in the other. Participants were unaware of the statistical regularities and their changing distribution across the blocks. Yet, they acquired the statistical regularities and showed significant statistical knowledge at the behavioral level not only in the predictable blocks but also in the unpredictable ones, albeit to a smaller extent. Brain activity in a range of cortical and subcortical areas, including early visual cortex, the insula, the right inferior frontal gyrus, and the right globus pallidus/putamen contributed to the acquisition of statistical regularities. The right insula, inferior frontal gyrus, and hippocampus as well as the bilateral angular gyrus seemed to play a role in maintaining this statistical knowledge. The results altogether suggest that statistical knowledge could be exploited in a relevant, predictable context as well as transmitted to and retrieved in an irrelevant context without a predictable structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Kóbor
- Brain Imaging Centre, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungary
| | - Karolina Janacsek
- Centre of Thinking and Learning, Institute for Lifecourse Development, School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, United Kingdom
- ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
| | - Petra Hermann
- Brain Imaging Centre, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungary
| | | | - Vera Varga
- Brain Imaging Centre, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungary
- University of Pannonia, Hungary
| | - Valéria Csépe
- Brain Imaging Centre, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungary
- University of Pannonia, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Vidnyánszky
- Brain Imaging Centre, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungary
| | | | - Dezso Nemeth
- INSERM, CRNL U1028 UMR5292, France
- ELTE Eötvös Loránd University & HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungary
- University of Atlántico Medio, Spain
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Van Overwalle F, Ma Q, Haihambo N, Bylemans T, Catoira B, Firouzi M, Li M, Pu M, Heleven E, Baeken C, Baetens K, Deroost N. A Functional Atlas of the Cerebellum Based on NeuroSynth Task Coordinates. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:993-1012. [PMID: 37608227 PMCID: PMC11102394 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01596-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Although the human cerebellum has a surface that is about 80% of that of the cerebral cortex and has about four times as many neurons, its functional organization is still very much uncharted. Despite recent attempts to provide resting-state and task-based parcellations of the cerebellum, these two approaches lead to large discrepancies. This article describes a comprehensive task-based functional parcellation of the human cerebellum based on a large-scale functional database, NeuroSynth, involving an unprecedented diversity of tasks, which were reliably associated with ontological key terms referring to psychological functions. Involving over 44,500 participants from this database, we present a parcellation that exhibits replicability with earlier resting-state parcellations across cerebellar and neocortical structures. The functional parcellation of the cerebellum confirms the major networks revealed in prior work, including sensorimotor, directed (dorsal) attention, divided (ventral) attention, executive control, mentalizing (default mode) networks, tiny patches of a limbic network, and also a unilateral language network (but not the visual network), and the association of these networks with underlying ontological key terms confirms their major functionality. The networks are revealed at locations that are roughly similar to prior resting-state cerebellar parcellations, although they are less symmetric and more fragmented across the two hemispheres. This functional parcellation of the human cerebellum and associated key terms can provide a useful guide in designing studies to test specific functional hypotheses and provide a reference for interpreting the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Van Overwalle
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Qianying Ma
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Naem Haihambo
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tom Bylemans
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Beatriz Catoira
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mahyar Firouzi
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Meijia Li
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Min Pu
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elien Heleven
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Baetens
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Natacha Deroost
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
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Hodgdon EA, Anderson R, Azzawi HA, Wilson TW, Calhoun VD, Wang YP, Solis I, Greve DN, Stephen JM, Ciesielski KTR. MRI morphometry of the anterior and posterior cerebellar vermis and its relationship to sensorimotor and cognitive functions in children. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2024; 67:101385. [PMID: 38713999 PMCID: PMC11096723 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101385] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The human cerebellum emerges as a posterior brain structure integrating neural networks for sensorimotor, cognitive, and emotional processing across the lifespan. Developmental studies of the cerebellar anatomy and function are scant. We examine age-dependent MRI morphometry of the anterior cerebellar vermis, lobules I-V and posterior neocortical lobules VI-VII and their relationship to sensorimotor and cognitive functions. METHODS Typically developing children (TDC; n=38; age 9-15) and healthy adults (HAC; n=31; 18-40) participated in high-resolution MRI. Rigorous anatomically informed morphometry of the vermis lobules I-V and VI-VII and total brain volume (TBV) employed manual segmentation computer-assisted FreeSurfer Image Analysis Program [http://surfer.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu]. The neuropsychological scores (WASI-II) were normalized and related to volumes of anterior, posterior vermis, and TBV. RESULTS TBVs were age independent. Volumes of I-V and VI-VII were significantly reduced in TDC. The ratio of VI-VII to I-V (∼60%) was stable across age-groups; I-V correlated with visual-spatial-motor skills; VI-VII with verbal, visual-abstract and FSIQ. CONCLUSIONS In TDC neither anterior I-V nor posterior VI-VII vermis attained adult volumes. The "inverted U" developmental trajectory of gray matter peaking in adolescence does not explain this finding. The hypothesis of protracted development of oligodendrocyte/myelination is suggested as a contributor to TDC's lower cerebellar vermis volumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Hodgdon
- Pediatric Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center, Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Ryan Anderson
- Pediatric Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center, Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Hussein Al Azzawi
- Pediatric Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center, Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute of Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE 68010, USA
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA; Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Emory, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yu-Ping Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Isabel Solis
- Pediatric Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center, Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Douglas N Greve
- MGH/MIT Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julia M Stephen
- Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
| | - Kristina T R Ciesielski
- Pediatric Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center, Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; MGH/MIT Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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30
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Deng S, Tan S, Guo C, Liu Y, Li X. Impaired effective functional connectivity in the social preference of children with autism spectrum disorder. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1391191. [PMID: 38872942 PMCID: PMC11169607 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1391191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), amygdala (Amyg), and nucleus accumbens (NAc) have been identified as critical players in the social preference of individuals with ASD. However, the specific pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this role requires further clarification. In the current study, we applied Granger Causality Analysis (GCA) to investigate the neural connectivity of these three brain regions of interest (ROIs) in patients with ASD, aiming to elucidate their associations with clinical features of the disorder. Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were acquired from the ABIDE II database, which included 37 patients with ASD and 50 typically developing (TD) controls. The mPFC, Amyg, and NAc were defined as ROIs, and the differences in fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) within the ROIs between the ASD and TD groups were computed. Subsequently, we employed GCA to investigate the bidirectional effective connectivity between the ROIs and the rest of the brain. Finally, we explored whether this effective connectivity was associated with the social responsiveness scale (SRS) scores of children with ASD. Results The fALFF values in the ROIs were reduced in children with ASD when compared to the TD group. In terms of the efferent connectivity from the ROIs to the whole brain, the ASD group exhibited increased connectivity in the right cingulate gyrus and decreased connectivity in the right superior temporal gyrus. Regarding the afferent connectivity from the whole brain to the ROIs, the ASD group displayed increased connectivity in the right globus pallidus and decreased connectivity in the right cerebellar Crus 1 area and left cingulate gyrus. Additionally, we demonstrated a positive correlation between effective connectivity derived from GCA and SRS scores. Conclusion Impairments in social preference ASD children is linked to impaired effective connectivity in brain regions associated with social cognition, emotional responses, social rewards, and social decision-making. This finding further reveals the potential neuropathological mechanisms underlying ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simin Deng
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Child Preventive Care, Dongguan Children’s Hospital, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Si Tan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cuihua Guo
- Department of Child Preventive Care, Dongguan Children’s Hospital, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanxiong Liu
- Department of Child Preventive Care, Dongguan Children’s Hospital, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiuhong Li
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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31
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van der Heijden ME. Converging and Diverging Cerebellar Pathways for Motor and Social Behaviors in Mice. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s12311-024-01706-w. [PMID: 38780757 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01706-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Evidence from clinical and preclinical studies has shown that the cerebellum contributes to cognitive functions, including social behaviors. Now that the cerebellum's role in a wider range of behaviors has been confirmed, the question arises whether the cerebellum contributes to social behaviors via the same mechanisms with which it modulates movements. This review seeks to answer whether the cerebellum guides motor and social behaviors through identical pathways. It focuses on studies in which cerebellar cells, synapses, or genes are manipulated in a cell-type specific manner followed by testing of the effects on social and motor behaviors. These studies show that both anatomically restricted and cerebellar cortex-wide manipulations can lead to social impairments without abnormal motor control, and vice versa. These studies suggest that the cerebellum employs different cellular, synaptic, and molecular pathways for social and motor behaviors. Future studies warrant a focus on the diverging mechanisms by which the cerebellum contributes to a wide range of neural functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike E van der Heijden
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA.
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, USA.
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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Sefik E, Duan K, Li Y, Sholar B, Evans L, Pincus J, Ammar Z, Murphy MM, Klaiman C, Saulnier CA, Pulver SL, Goldman-Yassen AE, Guo Y, Walker EF, Li L, Mulle JG, Shultz S. Structural deviations of the posterior fossa and the cerebellum and their cognitive links in a neurodevelopmental deletion syndrome. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02584-8. [PMID: 38744992 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02584-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
High-impact genetic variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders provide biologically-defined entry points for mechanistic investigation. The 3q29 deletion (3q29Del) is one such variant, conferring a 40-100-fold increased risk for schizophrenia, as well as high risk for autism and intellectual disability. However, the mechanisms leading to neurodevelopmental disability remain largely unknown. Here, we report the first in vivo quantitative neuroimaging study in individuals with 3q29Del (N = 24) and neurotypical controls (N = 1608) using structural MRI. Given prior radiology reports of posterior fossa abnormalities in 3q29Del, we focused our investigation on the cerebellum and its tissue-types and lobules. Additionally, we compared the prevalence of cystic/cyst-like malformations of the posterior fossa between 3q29Del and controls and examined the association between neuroanatomical findings and quantitative traits to probe gene-brain-behavior relationships. 3q29Del participants had smaller cerebellar cortex volumes than controls, before and after correction for intracranial volume (ICV). An anterior-posterior gradient emerged in finer grained lobule-based and voxel-wise analyses. 3q29Del participants also had larger cerebellar white matter volumes than controls following ICV-correction and displayed elevated rates of posterior fossa arachnoid cysts and mega cisterna magna findings independent of cerebellar volume. Cerebellar white matter and subregional gray matter volumes were associated with visual-perception and visual-motor integration skills as well as IQ, while cystic/cyst-like malformations yielded no behavioral link. In summary, we find that abnormal development of cerebellar structures may represent neuroimaging-based biomarkers of cognitive and sensorimotor function in 3q29Del, adding to the growing evidence identifying cerebellar pathology as an intersection point between syndromic and idiopathic forms of neurodevelopmental disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra Sefik
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kuaikuai Duan
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yiheng Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brittney Sholar
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lindsey Evans
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jordan Pincus
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Zeena Ammar
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Melissa M Murphy
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cheryl Klaiman
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Celine A Saulnier
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stormi L Pulver
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adam E Goldman-Yassen
- Department of Radiology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ying Guo
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Elaine F Walker
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Longchuan Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer G Mulle
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - Sarah Shultz
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Robinson K, Delhaye M, Craig AM. Mapping proteomic composition of excitatory postsynaptic sites in the cerebellar cortex. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1381534. [PMID: 38783902 PMCID: PMC11111907 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1381534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Functions of the cerebellar cortex, from motor learning to emotion and cognition, depend on the appropriate molecular composition at diverse synapse types. Glutamate receptor distributions have been partially mapped using immunogold electron microscopy. However, information is lacking on the distribution of many other components, such as Shank2, a postsynaptic scaffolding protein whose cerebellar dysfunction is associated with autism spectrum disorders. Here, we used an adapted Magnified Analysis of the Proteome, an expansion microscopy approach, to map multiple glutamate receptors, scaffolding and signaling proteins at single synapse resolution in the cerebellar cortex. Multiple distinct synapse-selective distribution patterns were observed. For example, AMPA receptors were most concentrated at synapses on molecular layer interneurons and at climbing fiber synapses, Shank1 was most concentrated at parallel fiber synapses on Purkinje cells, and Shank2 at both climbing fiber and parallel fiber synapses on Purkinje cells but little on molecular layer interneurons. Our results are consistent with gene expression data but also reveal input-selective targeting within Purkinje cells. In specialized glomerular structures of the granule cell layer, AMPA receptors as well as most other synaptic components preferentially targeted to synapses. However, NMDA receptors and the synaptic GTPase activating protein SynGAP preferentially targeted to extrasynaptic sites. Thus, glomeruli may be considered integrative signaling units through which mossy fibers differentially activate synaptic AMPA and extrasynaptic NMDA receptor complexes. Furthermore, we observed NMDA receptors and SynGAP at adherens junctions, suggesting a role in structural plasticity of glomeruli. Altogether, these data contribute to mapping the cerebellar 'synaptome'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ann Marie Craig
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Prati JM, Pontes-Silva A, Gianlorenço ACL. The cerebellum and its connections to other brain structures involved in motor and non-motor functions: A comprehensive review. Behav Brain Res 2024; 465:114933. [PMID: 38458437 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114933] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The cerebellum has a large network of neurons that communicate with several brain structures and participate in different functions. Recent studies have demonstrated that the cerebellum is not only associated with motor functions but also participates in several non-motor functions. It is suggested that the cerebellum can modulate behavior through many connections with different nervous system structures in motor, sensory, cognitive, autonomic, and emotional processes. Recently, a growing number of clinical and experimental studies support this theory and provide further evidence. In light of recent findings, a comprehensive review is needed to summarize the knowledge on the influence of the cerebellum on the processing of different functions. Therefore, the aim of this review was to describe the neuroanatomical aspects of the activation of the cerebellum and its connections with other structures of the central nervous system in different behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Mário Prati
- Postgraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
| | - André Pontes-Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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35
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Turrini S, Avenanti A. Cerebellum function: The chronometry of social perception. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R340-R343. [PMID: 38714159 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
The posterior cerebellum is emerging as a key structure for social cognition. A new study causally demonstrates its early involvement during emotion perception and functional connectivity with the posterior superior temporal sulcus, a cortical hub of the social brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Turrini
- Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia 'Renzo Canestrari', Campus di Cesena, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Alessio Avenanti
- Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia 'Renzo Canestrari', Campus di Cesena, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy; Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurosciencias Cognitivas, Universidad Católica Del Maule, 3460000 Talca, Chile.
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36
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Ciricugno A, Ferrari C, Battelli L, Cattaneo Z. A chronometric study of the posterior cerebellum's function in emotional processing. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1844-1852.e3. [PMID: 38565141 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.013] [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: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The posterior cerebellum is a recently discovered hub of the affective and social brain, with different subsectors contributing to different social functions. However, very little is known about when the posterior cerebellum plays a critical role in social processing. Due to its location and anatomy, it has been difficult to use traditional approaches to directly study the chronometry of the cerebellum. To address this gap in cerebellar knowledge, here we investigated the causal contribution of the posterior cerebellum to social processing using a chronometric transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) approach. We show that the posterior cerebellum is recruited at an early stage of emotional processing (starting from 100 ms after stimulus onset), simultaneously with the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), a key node of the social brain. Moreover, using a condition-and-perturb TMS approach, we found that the recruitment of the pSTS in emotional processing is dependent on cerebellar activation. Our results are the first to shed light on chronometric aspects of cerebellar function and its causal functional connectivity with other nodes of the social brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ciricugno
- IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino, Pavia 27100, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 21, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Chiara Ferrari
- IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino, Pavia 27100, Italy; Department of Humanities, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Lorella Battelli
- Department of Neurology, Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Kirstein Building KS 158, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems@UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Bettini 31, Rovereto 38068, Italy
| | - Zaira Cattaneo
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Piazzale S. Agostino 2, Bergamo 24129, Italy.
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Maw KJ, Beattie G, Burns EJ. Cognitive strengths in neurodevelopmental disorders, conditions and differences: A critical review. Neuropsychologia 2024; 197:108850. [PMID: 38467371 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108850] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are traditionally characterised by a range of associated cognitive impairments in, for example, sensory processing, facial recognition, visual imagery, attention, and coordination. In this critical review, we propose a major reframing, highlighting the variety of unique cognitive strengths that people with neurodevelopmental differences can exhibit. These include enhanced visual perception, strong spatial, auditory, and semantic memory, superior empathy and theory of mind, along with higher levels of divergent thinking. Whilst we acknowledge the heterogeneity of cognitive profiles in neurodevelopmental conditions, we present a more encouraging and affirmative perspective of these groups, contrasting with the predominant, deficit-based position prevalent throughout both cognitive and neuropsychological research. In addition, we provide a theoretical basis and rationale for these cognitive strengths, arguing for the critical role of hereditability, behavioural adaptation, neuronal-recycling, and we draw on psychopharmacological and social explanations. We present a table of potential strengths across conditions and invite researchers to systematically investigate these in their future work. This should help reduce the stigma around neurodiversity, instead promoting greater social inclusion and significant societal benefits.
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Peña-Casanova J, Sánchez-Benavides G, Sigg-Alonso J. Updating functional brain units: Insights far beyond Luria. Cortex 2024; 174:19-69. [PMID: 38492440 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2024.02.004] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
This paper reviews Luria's model of the three functional units of the brain. To meet this objective, several issues were reviewed: the theory of functional systems and the contributions of phylogenesis and embryogenesis to the brain's functional organization. This review revealed several facts. In the first place, the relationship/integration of basic homeostatic needs with complex forms of behavior. Secondly, the multi-scale hierarchical and distributed organization of the brain and interactions between cells and systems. Thirdly, the phylogenetic role of exaptation, especially in basal ganglia and cerebellum expansion. Finally, the tripartite embryogenetic organization of the brain: rhinic, limbic/paralimbic, and supralimbic zones. Obviously, these principles of brain organization are in contradiction with attempts to establish separate functional brain units. The proposed new model is made up of two large integrated complexes: a primordial-limbic complex (Luria's Unit I) and a telencephalic-cortical complex (Luria's Units II and III). As a result, five functional units were delineated: Unit I. Primordial or preferential (brainstem), for life-support, behavioral modulation, and waking regulation; Unit II. Limbic and paralimbic systems, for emotions and hedonic evaluation (danger and relevance detection and contribution to reward/motivational processing) and the creation of cognitive maps (contextual memory, navigation, and generativity [imagination]); Unit III. Telencephalic-cortical, for sensorimotor and cognitive processing (gnosis, praxis, language, calculation, etc.), semantic and episodic (contextual) memory processing, and multimodal conscious agency; Unit IV. Basal ganglia systems, for behavior selection and reinforcement (reward-oriented behavior); Unit V. Cerebellar systems, for the prediction/anticipation (orthometric supervision) of the outcome of an action. The proposed brain units are nothing more than abstractions within the brain's simultaneous and distributed physiological processes. As function transcends anatomy, the model necessarily involves transition and overlap between structures. Beyond the classic approaches, this review includes information on recent systemic perspectives on functional brain organization. The limitations of this review are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Peña-Casanova
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Neuroscience Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Test Barcelona Services, Teià, Barcelona, Spain.
| | | | - Jorge Sigg-Alonso
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurobiology, Institute of Neurobiology, National Autonomous University of México (UNAM), Queretaro, Mexico
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Lai R, Rummey C, Amlang CJ, Lin CR, Chen TX, Perlman S, Wilmot G, Gomez CM, Schmahmann JD, Paulson H, Ying SH, Onyike CU, Zesiewicz TA, Bushara KO, Geschwind MD, Figueroa KP, Pulst SM, Subramony SH, Burns MR, Opal P, Duquette A, Ashizawa T, Hamedani AG, Davis MY, Srinivasan SR, Moore LR, Shakkottai VG, Rosenthal LS, Kuo S. Fatigue Impacts Quality of Life in People with Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2024; 11:496-503. [PMID: 38419568 PMCID: PMC11078491 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.14006] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fatigue is a prevalent and debilitating symptom in neurological disorders, including spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). However, the risk factors of fatigue in the SCAs as well as its impact have not been well investigated. OBJECTIVES To study the prevalence of fatigue in SCAs, the factors contributing to fatigue, and the influence of fatigue on quality of life. METHODS Fatigue was assessed in 418 participants with SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, and SCA6 from the Clinical Research Consortium for the Study of Cerebellar Ataxia using the Fatigue Severity Scale. We conducted multi-variable linear regression models to examine the factors contributing to fatigue as well as the association between fatigue and quality of life. RESULTS Fatigue was most prevalent in SCA3 (52.6%), followed by SCA1 (36.7%), SCA6 (35.7%), and SCA2 (35.6%). SCA cases with fatigue had more severe ataxia and worse depressive symptoms. In SCA3, those with fatigue had a longer disease duration and longer pathological CAG repeat numbers. In multi-variable models, depressive symptoms, but not ataxia severity, were associated with more severe fatigue. Fatigue, independent of ataxia and depression, contributed to worse quality of life in SCA3 and SCA6 at baseline, and fatigue continued affecting quality of life throughout the disease course in all types of SCA. CONCLUSIONS Fatigue is a common symptom in SCAs and is closely related to depression. Fatigue significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Therefore, screening for fatigue should be considered a part of standard clinical care for SCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo‐Yah Lai
- Department of NeurologyColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Initiative of Columbia Ataxia and TremorColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Christian J. Amlang
- Department of NeurologyColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Initiative of Columbia Ataxia and TremorColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of NeurologySUNY Downstate Health Sciences UniversityBrooklyn, New YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Chi‐Ying R. Lin
- Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease Centers, Department of NeurologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Tiffany X. Chen
- Department of NeurologyColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Initiative of Columbia Ataxia and TremorColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Whiting School of EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Susan Perlman
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - George Wilmot
- Department of NeurologyEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | | | - Jeremy D. Schmahmann
- Ataxia Center, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Henry Paulson
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Sarah H. Ying
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Chiadi U. Onyike
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | | | - Khalaf O. Bushara
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Michael D. Geschwind
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Stefan M. Pulst
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUtahUSA
| | - Sub H. Subramony
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Matthew R. Burns
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Puneet Opal
- Department of NeurologyNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Antoine Duquette
- Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de MontréalUniversity of MontrealMontrealQuebecCanada
| | | | - Ali G. Hamedani
- Departments of Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Epidemiology, Perelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Marie Y. Davis
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
- Neurology DivisionVA Puget Sound Health Care SystemSeattleWAUnited States
| | | | | | - Vikram G. Shakkottai
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTexasUSA
| | | | - Sheng‐Han Kuo
- Department of NeurologyColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Initiative of Columbia Ataxia and TremorColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
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40
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Kim JH, Kapse K, Limperopoulos C, De Asis-Cruz J. Cerebellar volume and functional connectivity in neonates predicts social and emotional development in toddlers. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1294527. [PMID: 38756409 PMCID: PMC11097671 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1294527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, a growing body of research in adults has emphasized the role of the cerebellum in social and emotional cognition. This has been further supported by findings of delayed social and emotional development in toddlers with cerebellar injury during the fetal and newborn periods. However, the contributions of the cerebellum to social-emotional development in typically developing newborns are unclear. To bridge this gap in knowledge, we used multimodal MRI to investigate associations between cerebellar structure and function in 88 healthy neonates (mean ± sd of postmenstrual age, = 42.00 ± 1.91 weeks) and social-emotional development at 18-months assessed using the Infant-Toddler Social-Emotional Assessment (ITSEA) (mean age on ITSEA: 18.32 ± 1.19 months old). We found that cerebellar volume was not associated with ITSEA domain scores at 18 months. We further demonstrated cerebellar functional gradient (FGR) defined using principal component analysis (PCA) was associated with Externalizing domain (linear regression model, false-discovery-rate-adjusted p = 0.013). This cluster (FGR7) included the left dentate, right VI, left Vermis VIIIb, and right V lobules. Finally, we demonstrated that either structural or functional features of the cerebellum reliably predicted scores on the Externalizing and Internalizing domains (correlation between actual and predicted scores: for structural, Fisher's z = 0.48 ± 0.01 for Internalizing, p = 0.01; for functional, Fisher's z = 0.45 ± 0.01 for Externalizing, p = 0.02; with permutation test). Collectively, our findings suggest that the cerebellum plays an important role in social-emotional development during the critical early stages of life.
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41
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Vandervert L, Manto M, Adamaszek M, Ferrari C, Ciricugno A, Cattaneo Z. The Evolution of the Optimization of Cognitive and Social Functions in the Cerebellum and Thereby the Rise of Homo sapiens Through Cumulative Culture. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s12311-024-01692-z. [PMID: 38676835 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01692-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The evolution of the prominent role of the cerebellum in the development of composite tools, and cumulative culture, leading to the rise of Homo sapiens is examined. Following Stout and Hecht's (2017) detailed description of stone-tool making, eight key repetitive involvements of the cerebellum are highlighted. These key cerebellar learning involvements include the following: (1) optimization of cognitive-social control, (2) prediction (3) focus of attention, (4) automaticity of smoothness, appropriateness, and speed of movement and cognition, (5) refined movement and social cognition, (6) learns models of extended practice, (7) learns models of Theory of Mind (ToM) of teachers, (8) is predominant in acquisition of novel behavior and cognition that accrues from the blending of cerebellar models sent to conscious working memory in the cerebral cortex. Within this context, the evolution of generalization and blending of cerebellar internal models toward optimization of social-cognitive learning is described. It is concluded that (1) repetition of movement and social cognition involving the optimization of internal models in the cerebellum during stone-tool making was the key selection factor toward social-cognitive and technological advancement, (2) observational learning during stone-tool making was the basis for both technological and social-cognitive evolution and, through an optimizing positive feedback loop between the cerebellum and cerebral cortex, the development of cumulative culture occurred, and (3) the generalization and blending of cerebellar internal models related to the unconscious forward control of the optimization of imagined future states in working memory was the most important brain adaptation leading to intertwined advances in stone-tool technology, cognitive-social processes behind cumulative culture (including the emergence of language and art) and, thereby, with the rise of Homo sapiens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mario Manto
- Cerebellar Ataxias Unit, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, 6000, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Michael Adamaszek
- Department of Clinical and Cognitive Neurorehabilitation, Bavaria Hospital, Kreischa, Germany
| | - Chiara Ferrari
- Department of Humanities, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciricugno
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Zaira Cattaneo
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Milan, Italy
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42
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Li M, Pu M, Ma Q, Heleven E, Baeken C, Baetens K, Deroost N, Van Overwalle F. One step too far: social cerebellum in norm-violating navigation. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2024; 19:nsae027. [PMID: 38536051 PMCID: PMC11037276 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsae027] [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: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Social norms are pivotal in guiding social interactions. The current study investigated the potential contribution of the posterior cerebellum, a critical region involved in perceiving and comprehending the sequential dynamics of social actions, in detecting actions that either conform to or deviate from social norms. Participants engaged in a goal-directed task in which they observed others navigating towards a goal. The trajectories demonstrated either norm-violating (trespassing forbidden zones) or norm-following behaviors (avoiding forbidden zones). Results revealed that observing social norm-violating behaviors engaged the bilateral posterior cerebellar Crus 2 and the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ) from the mentalizing network, and the parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) to a greater extent than observing norm-following behaviors. These mentalizing regions were also activated when comparing social sequences against non-social and non-sequential control conditions. Reproducing norm-violating social trajectories observed earlier, activated the left cerebellar Crus 2 and the right PHG compared to reproducing norm-following trajectories. These findings illuminate the neural mechanisms in the cerebellum associated with detecting norm transgressions during social navigation, emphasizing the role of the posterior cerebellum in detecting and signaling deviations from anticipated sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijia Li
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Min Pu
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal 14558, Germany
| | - Qianying Ma
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Language Pathology and Brain Science MEG Lab, School of Communication Sciences, Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Elien Heleven
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) lab, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZBrussel), Brussels 1090, Belgium
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600, Netherlands
| | - Kris Baetens
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Natacha Deroost
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Frank Van Overwalle
- Faculty of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
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Bodensohn L, Maurer A, Daamen M, Upadhyay N, Werkhausen J, Lohaus M, Manunzio U, Manunzio C, Radbruch A, Attenberger U, Boecker H. Inverted U-shape-like functional connectivity alterations in cognitive resting-state networks depending on exercise intensity: An fMRI study. Brain Cogn 2024; 177:106156. [PMID: 38613926 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106156] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Acute physical activity influences cognitive performance. However, the relationship between exercise intensity, neural network activity, and cognitive performance remains poorly understood. This study examined the effects of different exercise intensities on resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and cognitive performance. Twenty male athletes (27.3 ± 3.6 years) underwent cycling exercises of different intensities (high, low, rest/control) on different days in randomized order. Before and after, subjects performed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and a behavioral Attention Network Test (ANT). Independent component analysis and Linear mixed effects models examined rsFC changes within ten resting-state networks. No significant changes were identified in ANT performance. Resting-state analyses revealed a significant interaction in the Left Frontoparietal Network, driven by a non-significant rsFC increase after low-intensity and a significant rsFC decrease after high-intensity exercise, suggestive of an inverted U-shape relationship between exercise intensity and rsFC. Similar but trend-level rsFC interactions were observed in the Dorsal Attention Network (DAN) and the Cerebellar Basal Ganglia Network. Explorative correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between rsFC increases in the right superior parietal lobule (part of DAN) and better ANT orienting in the low-intensity condition. Results indicate exercise intensity-dependent subacute rsFC changes in cognition-related networks, but their cognitive-behavioral relevance needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Bodensohn
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Angelika Maurer
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Marcel Daamen
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Neeraj Upadhyay
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Judith Werkhausen
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Marvin Lohaus
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ursula Manunzio
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 82, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Manunzio
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 82, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexander Radbruch
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 81, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ulrike Attenberger
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 74, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Henning Boecker
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 07, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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Bortolini T, Laport MC, Latgé-Tovar S, Fischer R, Zahn R, de Oliveira-Souza R, Moll J. The extended neural architecture of human attachment: An fMRI coordinate-based meta-analysis of affiliative studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105584. [PMID: 38367888 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105584] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Functional imaging studies and clinical evidence indicate that cortical areas relevant to social cognition are closely integrated with evolutionarily conserved basal forebrain structures and neighboring regions, enabling human attachment and affiliative emotions. The neural circuitry of human affiliation is continually being unraveled as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) becomes increasingly prevalent, with studies examining human brain responses to various attachment figures. However, previous fMRI meta-analyses on affiliative stimuli have encountered challenges, such as low statistical power and the absence of robustness measures. To address these issues, we conducted an exhaustive coordinate-based meta-analysis of 79 fMRI studies, focusing on personalized affiliative stimuli, including one's infants, family, romantic partners, and friends. We employed complementary coordinate-based analyses (Activation Likelihood Estimation and Signed Differential Mapping) and conducted a robustness analysis of the results. Findings revealed cluster convergence in cortical and subcortical structures related to reward and motivation, salience detection, social bonding, and cognition. Our study thoroughly explores the neural correlates underpinning affiliative responses, effectively overcoming the limitations noted in previous meta-analyses. It provides an extensive view of the neural substrates associated with affiliative stimuli, illuminating the intricate interaction between cortical and subcortical regions. Our findings significantly contribute to understanding the neurobiology of human affiliation, expanding the known human attachment circuitry beyond the traditional basal forebrain regions observed in other mammals to include uniquely human isocortical structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Bortolini
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, The D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; IDOR - Pioneer Science Initiative, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Maria Clara Laport
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, The D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sofia Latgé-Tovar
- Institute of Psychiatry, Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ronald Fischer
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, The D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; IDOR - Pioneer Science Initiative, São Paulo, Brazil; School of Psychology, PO Box 600, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
| | - Roland Zahn
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Ricardo de Oliveira-Souza
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, The D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; The Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jorge Moll
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, The D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; IDOR - Pioneer Science Initiative, São Paulo, Brazil
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45
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Butti N, Oldrati V, Ferrari E, Romaniello R, Gagliardi C, Borgatti R, Urgesi C. New Insights into the Neuropsychological Profile and Intellectual Quotient Variability in Joubert Syndrome Compared to Other Congenital Cerebellar Malformations. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:579-588. [PMID: 37351729 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01580-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
The neuropsychological characteristics of the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS) in congenital, non-progressive malformations of the cerebellum have been scarcely investigated, and even less is known for Joubert syndrome (JS), an inherited, non-progressive cerebellar ataxia characterized by the so-called molar tooth sign. The few studies on this topic reported inconsistent results about intellectual functioning and specific neuropsychological impairments. The aim of this research is to examine the neuropsychological profile of JS compared to other congenital cerebellar malformations (CM), considering individual variability of intellectual quotient (IQ) in the two groups. Fourteen patients with JS and 15 patients with CM aged 6-25 years were tested through a comprehensive, standardized neuropsychological battery. Their scores in the neuropsychological domains were inspected through descriptive analysis and compared by mean of MANOVA and ANOVA models, then replicated inserting IQ as covariate. The two groups showed a largely overlapping neuropsychological profile, consistent with CCAS. However, the JS group showed worse performance in visual-spatial memory compared to CM patients, although this difference was mitigated when considering IQ. These findings highlight a divergence between JS and other CM in visual-spatial memory, which might suggest a critical role of the cerebellum in recalling task-relevant memories and might inform rehabilitative interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Butti
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
- PhD Program in Neural and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Viola Oldrati
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ferrari
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | | | | | - Renato Borgatti
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Cosimo Urgesi
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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46
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Petrosini L, Picerni E, Termine A, Fabrizio C, Laricchiuta D, Cutuli D. The Cerebellum as an Embodying Machine. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:229-246. [PMID: 36052895 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221120187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Whereas emotion theorists often keep their distance from the embodied approach, theorists of embodiment tend to treat emotion as a mainly physiologic process. However, intimate links between emotions and the body suggest that emotions are privileged phenomena to attempt to reintegrate mind and body and that the body helps the mind in shaping emotional responses. To date, research has favored the cerebrum over other parts of the brain as a substrate of embodied emotions. However, given the widely demonstrated contribution of the cerebellum to emotional processing, research in affective neuroscience should consider embodiment theory as a useful approach for evaluating the cerebellar role in emotion and affect. The aim of this review is to insert the cerebellum among the structures needed to embody emotions, providing illustrative examples of cerebellar involvement in embodied emotions (as occurring in empathic abilities) and in impaired identification and expression of embodied emotions (as occurring in alexithymia).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Debora Cutuli
- Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy
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47
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Arleo A, Bareš M, Bernard JA, Bogoian HR, Bruchhage MMK, Bryant P, Carlson ES, Chan CCH, Chen LK, Chung CP, Dotson VM, Filip P, Guell X, Habas C, Jacobs HIL, Kakei S, Lee TMC, Leggio M, Misiura M, Mitoma H, Olivito G, Ramanoël S, Rezaee Z, Samstag CL, Schmahmann JD, Sekiyama K, Wong CHY, Yamashita M, Manto M. Consensus Paper: Cerebellum and Ageing. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:802-832. [PMID: 37428408 PMCID: PMC10776824 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Given the key roles of the cerebellum in motor, cognitive, and affective operations and given the decline of brain functions with aging, cerebellar circuitry is attracting the attention of the scientific community. The cerebellum plays a key role in timing aspects of both motor and cognitive operations, including for complex tasks such as spatial navigation. Anatomically, the cerebellum is connected with the basal ganglia via disynaptic loops, and it receives inputs from nearly every region in the cerebral cortex. The current leading hypothesis is that the cerebellum builds internal models and facilitates automatic behaviors through multiple interactions with the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and spinal cord. The cerebellum undergoes structural and functional changes with aging, being involved in mobility frailty and related cognitive impairment as observed in the physio-cognitive decline syndrome (PCDS) affecting older, functionally-preserved adults who show slowness and/or weakness. Reductions in cerebellar volume accompany aging and are at least correlated with cognitive decline. There is a strongly negative correlation between cerebellar volume and age in cross-sectional studies, often mirrored by a reduced performance in motor tasks. Still, predictive motor timing scores remain stable over various age groups despite marked cerebellar atrophy. The cerebello-frontal network could play a significant role in processing speed and impaired cerebellar function due to aging might be compensated by increasing frontal activity to optimize processing speed in the elderly. For cognitive operations, decreased functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) is correlated with lower performances. Neuroimaging studies highlight that the cerebellum might be involved in the cognitive decline occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD), independently of contributions of the cerebral cortex. Grey matter volume loss in AD is distinct from that seen in normal aging, occurring initially in cerebellar posterior lobe regions, and is associated with neuronal, synaptic and beta-amyloid neuropathology. Regarding depression, structural imaging studies have identified a relationship between depressive symptoms and cerebellar gray matter volume. In particular, major depressive disorder (MDD) and higher depressive symptom burden are associated with smaller gray matter volumes in the total cerebellum as well as the posterior cerebellum, vermis, and posterior Crus I. From the genetic/epigenetic standpoint, prominent DNA methylation changes in the cerebellum with aging are both in the form of hypo- and hyper-methylation, and the presumably increased/decreased expression of certain genes might impact on motor coordination. Training influences motor skills and lifelong practice might contribute to structural maintenance of the cerebellum in old age, reducing loss of grey matter volume and therefore contributing to the maintenance of cerebellar reserve. Non-invasive cerebellar stimulation techniques are increasingly being applied to enhance cerebellar functions related to motor, cognitive, and affective operations. They might enhance cerebellar reserve in the elderly. In conclusion, macroscopic and microscopic changes occur in the cerebellum during the lifespan, with changes in structural and functional connectivity with both the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. With the aging of the population and the impact of aging on quality of life, the panel of experts considers that there is a huge need to clarify how the effects of aging on the cerebellar circuitry modify specific motor, cognitive, and affective operations both in normal subjects and in brain disorders such as AD or MDD, with the goal of preventing symptoms or improving the motor, cognitive, and affective symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Arleo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Martin Bareš
- First Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and St. Anne's Teaching Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Jessica A Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Hannah R Bogoian
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Muriel M K Bruchhage
- Department of Psychology, Stavanger University, Institute of Social Sciences, Kjell Arholms Gate 41, 4021, Stavanger, Norway
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Box 89, De Crespigny Park, London, PO, SE5 8AF, UK
- Rhode Island Hospital, Department for Diagnostic Imaging, 1 Hoppin St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Patrick Bryant
- Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik, Arnimallee 12, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Erik S Carlson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chetwyn C H Chan
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - Liang-Kung Chen
- Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Center for Geriatric and Gerontology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital (managed by Taipei Veterans General Hospital), Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ping Chung
- Center for Healthy Longevity and Aging Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Vonetta M Dotson
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Pavel Filip
- Department of Neurology, Charles University, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Xavier Guell
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christophe Habas
- CHNO Des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, 28 rue de Charenton, 75012, Paris, France
- Université Versailles St Quentin en Yvelines, Paris, France
| | - Heidi I L Jacobs
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, PO BOX 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO BOX 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Tatia M C Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Misiura
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Giusy Olivito
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Stephen Ramanoël
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, 17 rue Moreau, F-75012, Paris, France
- Université Côte d'Azur, LAMHESS, Nice, France
| | - Zeynab Rezaee
- Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Experimental Therapeutics & Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Colby L Samstag
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ataxia Center, Cognitive Behavioural neurology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaoru Sekiyama
- Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Clive H Y Wong
- Department of Psychology, The Education University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - Masatoshi Yamashita
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mario Manto
- Service de Neurologie, Médiathèque Jean Jacquy, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium.
- Service des Neurosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium.
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48
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Malatesta G, D'Anselmo A, Prete G, Lucafò C, Faieta L, Tommasi L. The Predictive Role of the Posterior Cerebellum in the Processing of Dynamic Emotions. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:545-553. [PMID: 37285048 PMCID: PMC10951036 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01574-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have bolstered the important role of the cerebellum in high-level socio-affective functions. In particular, neuroscientific evidence shows that the posterior cerebellum is involved in social cognition and emotion processing, presumably through its involvement in temporal processing and in predicting the outcomes of social sequences. We used cerebellar transcranial random noise stimulation (ctRNS) targeting the posterior cerebellum to affect the performance of 32 healthy participants during an emotion discrimination task, including both static and dynamic facial expressions (i.e., transitioning from a static neutral image to a happy/sad emotion). ctRNS, compared to the sham condition, significantly reduced the participants' accuracy to discriminate static sad facial expressions, but it increased participants' accuracy to discriminate dynamic sad facial expressions. No effects emerged with happy faces. These findings may suggest the existence of two different circuits in the posterior cerebellum for the processing of negative emotional stimuli: a first-time-independent mechanism which can be selectively disrupted by ctRNS, and a second time-dependent mechanism of predictive "sequence detection" which can be selectively enhanced by ctRNS. This latter mechanism might be included among the cerebellar operational models constantly engaged in the rapid adjustment of social predictions based on dynamic behavioral information inherent to others' actions. We speculate that it might be one of the basic principles underlying the understanding of other individuals' social and emotional behaviors during interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Malatesta
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences - University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
| | - Anita D'Anselmo
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences - University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giulia Prete
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences - University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Chiara Lucafò
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences - University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Letizia Faieta
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences - University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Luca Tommasi
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences - University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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49
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Terburg D, van Honk J, Schutter DJLG. Doubling down on dual systems: A cerebellum-amygdala route towards action- and outcome-based social and affective behavior. Cortex 2024; 173:175-186. [PMID: 38417390 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2024.02.002] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
The amygdala and cerebellum are both evolutionary preserved brain structures containing cortical as well as subcortical properties. For decades, the amygdala has been considered the fear-center of the brain, but recent advances have shown that the amygdala acts as a critical hub between cortical and subcortical systems and shapes social and affective behaviors beyond fear. Likewise, the cerebellum is a dedicated control unit that fine-tunes motor behavior to fit contextual requirements. There is however increasing evidence that the cerebellum strongly influences subcortical as well as cortical processes beyond the motor domain. These insights broadened the view on the cerebellum's functions to also include social and affective behavior. Here we explore how the amygdala and cerebellum might interact in shaping social and affective behaviors based on their roles in threat reactivity and reinforcement learning. A novel mechanistic neural framework of cerebellum-amygdala interactions will be presented which provides testable hypotheses for future social and affective neuroscientific research in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Terburg
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Jack van Honk
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, South Africa
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50
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Pallarès-Sastre M, García M, Rouco-Axpe I, Amayra I. A systematic review of social cognition in hereditary ataxia patients: Evidence from neuroimaging studies. Brain Res 2024; 1827:148765. [PMID: 38219813 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Mercè Pallarès-Sastre
- Neuro-e-Motion Research Team, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Maitane García
- Neuro-e-Motion Research Team, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Idoia Rouco-Axpe
- Neurology Service. Cruces University Hospital. BioCruces Health Research Institute, Barakaldo-Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Imanol Amayra
- Neuro-e-Motion Research Team, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
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