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Köster M, Brzozowska A, Bánki A, Tünte M, Ward EK, Hoehl S. Rhythmic visual stimulation as a window into early brain development: A systematic review. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 64:101315. [PMID: 37948945 PMCID: PMC10663747 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhythmic visual stimulation (RVS), the periodic presentation of visual stimuli to elicit a rhythmic brain response, is increasingly applied to reveal insights into early neurocognitive development. Our systematic review identified 69 studies applying RVS in 0- to 6-year-olds. RVS has long been used to study the development of the visual system and applications have more recently been expanded to uncover higher cognitive functions in the developing brain, including overt and covert attention, face and object perception, numeral cognition, and predictive processing. These insights are owed to the unique benefits of RVS, such as the targeted frequency and stimulus-specific neural responses, as well as a remarkable signal-to-noise ratio. Yet, neural mechanisms underlying the RVS response are still poorly understood. We discuss critical challenges and avenues for future research, and the unique potentials the method holds. With this review, we provide a resource for researchers interested in the breadth of developmental RVS research and hope to inspire the future use of this cutting-edge method in developmental cognitive neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Köster
- University of Regensburg, Institute of Psychology, Germany.
| | | | - Anna Bánki
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Psychology, Austria
| | - Markus Tünte
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Psychology, Austria
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Ahtola E, Leikos S, Tuiskula A, Haataja L, Smeds E, Piitulainen H, Jousmäki V, Tokariev A, Vanhatalo S. Cortical networks show characteristic recruitment patterns after somatosensory stimulation by pneumatically evoked repetitive hand movements in newborn infants. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:4699-4713. [PMID: 36368888 PMCID: PMC10110426 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Controlled assessment of functional cortical networks is an unmet need in the clinical research of noncooperative subjects, such as infants. We developed an automated, pneumatic stimulation method to actuate naturalistic movements of an infant’s hand, as well as an analysis pipeline for assessing the elicited electroencephalography (EEG) responses and related cortical networks. Twenty newborn infants with perinatal asphyxia were recruited, including 7 with mild-to-moderate hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Statistically significant corticokinematic coherence (CKC) was observed between repetitive hand movements and EEG in all infants, peaking near the contralateral sensorimotor cortex. CKC was robust to common sources of recording artifacts and to changes in vigilance state. A wide recruitment of cortical networks was observed with directed phase transfer entropy, also including areas ipsilateral to the stimulation. The extent of such recruited cortical networks was quantified using a novel metric, Spreading Index, which showed a decrease in 4 (57%) of the infants with HIE. CKC measurement is noninvasive and easy to perform, even in noncooperative subjects. The stimulation and analysis pipeline can be fully automated, including the statistical evaluation of the cortical responses. Therefore, the CKC paradigm holds great promise as a scientific and clinical tool for controlled assessment of functional cortical networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eero Ahtola
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital and HUS Diagnostics, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
- Aalto University School of Science Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, , Espoo, 00076 AALTO , Finland
| | - Susanna Leikos
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital and HUS Diagnostics, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
| | - Anna Tuiskula
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital and HUS Diagnostics, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children’s Hospital, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
| | - Leena Haataja
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children’s Hospital, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
| | - Eero Smeds
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Research Center, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
| | - Harri Piitulainen
- Aalto University School of Science Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, , Espoo, 00076 AALTO , Finland
- University of Jyväskylä Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, , Jyväskylä, 40014 , Finland
| | - Veikko Jousmäki
- Aalto University Aalto NeuroImaging, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, , Espoo, 00076 AALTO , Finland
| | - Anton Tokariev
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital and HUS Diagnostics, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital and HUS Diagnostics, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
- University of Helsinki Department of Physiology, , Helsinki, 00014 , Finland
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Luhmann HJ, Kanold PO, Molnár Z, Vanhatalo S. Early brain activity: Translations between bedside and laboratory. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 213:102268. [PMID: 35364141 PMCID: PMC9923767 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Neural activity is both a driver of brain development and a readout of developmental processes. Changes in neuronal activity are therefore both the cause and consequence of neurodevelopmental compromises. Here, we review the assessment of neuronal activities in both preclinical models and clinical situations. We focus on issues that require urgent translational research, the challenges and bottlenecks preventing translation of biomedical research into new clinical diagnostics or treatments, and possibilities to overcome these barriers. The key questions are (i) what can be measured in clinical settings versus animal experiments, (ii) how do measurements relate to particular stages of development, and (iii) how can we balance practical and ethical realities with methodological compromises in measurements and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko J. Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, Mainz, Germany.,Correspondence:, , ,
| | - Patrick O. Kanold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue / Miller 379, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Correspondence:, , ,
| | - Zoltán Molnár
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- BABA Center, Departments of Physiology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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