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Hepsomali P, Costabile A, Schoemaker M, Imakulata F, Allen P. Adherence to unhealthy diets is associated with altered frontal gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate concentrations and grey matter volume: preliminary findings. Nutr Neurosci 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38794782 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2024.2355603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Common mental disorders (CMD) are associated with impaired frontal excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance and reduced grey matter volume (GMV). Larger GMV (in the areas that are implicated in CMD-pathology) and improved CMD-symptomatology have been observed in individuals who adhere to high quality diets. Moreover, preclinical studies have shown altered neurometabolites (primarily gamma-aminobutyric acid: GABA and glutamate: GLU) in relation to diet quality. However, neurochemical correlates of diet quality and how these neurobiological changes are associated with CMD and with its transdiagnostic factor, rumination, is unknown in humans. Therefore, in this study, we examined the associations between diet quality and frontal cortex neuro-chemistry and structure, as well as CMD and rumination in humans. METHODS Thirty adults were classified into high and low diet quality groups and underwent 1H-MRS to measure medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) metabolite concentrations and volumetric imaging to measure GMV. RESULTS Low (vs High) diet quality group had reduced mPFC-GABA and elevated mPFC-GLU concentrations, as well as reduced right precentral gyrus (rPCG) GMV. However, CMD and rumination were not associated with diet quality. Notably, we observed a significant negative correlation between rumination and rPCG-GMV and a marginally significant association between rumination and mPFC-GLU concentrations. There was also a marginally significant association between mPFC-GLU concentrations and rPCG-GMV. DISCUSSION Adhering to unhealthy dietary patterns may be associated with compromised E/I balance, and this could affect GMV, and subsequently, rumination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piril Hepsomali
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Adele Costabile
- School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, London, UK
| | | | | | - Paul Allen
- Department of Neuroimaging, Kings College London, Institute of Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
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2
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Warren TL, Tubbs JD, Lesh TA, Corona MB, Pakzad SS, Albuquerque MD, Singh P, Zarubin V, Morse SJ, Sham PC, Carter CS, Nord AS. Association of neurotransmitter pathway polygenic risk with specific symptom profiles in psychosis. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02457-0. [PMID: 38491343 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02457-0] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
A primary goal of psychiatry is to better understand the pathways that link genetic risk to psychiatric symptoms. Here, we tested association of diagnosis and endophenotypes with overall and neurotransmitter pathway-specific polygenic risk in patients with early-stage psychosis. Subjects included 205 demographically diverse cases with a psychotic disorder who underwent comprehensive psychiatric and neurological phenotyping and 115 matched controls. Following genotyping, we calculated polygenic scores (PGSs) for schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BP) using Psychiatric Genomics Consortium GWAS summary statistics. To test if overall genetic risk can be partitioned into affected neurotransmitter pathways, we calculated pathway PGSs (pPGSs) for SZ risk affecting each of four major neurotransmitter systems: glutamate, GABA, dopamine, and serotonin. Psychosis subjects had elevated SZ PGS versus controls; cases with SZ or BP diagnoses had stronger SZ or BP risk, respectively. There was no significant association within psychosis cases between individual symptom measures and overall PGS. However, neurotransmitter-specific pPGSs were moderately associated with specific endophenotypes; notably, glutamate was associated with SZ diagnosis and with deficits in cognitive control during task-based fMRI, while dopamine was associated with global functioning. Finally, unbiased endophenotype-driven clustering identified three diagnostically mixed case groups that separated on primary deficits of positive symptoms, negative symptoms, global functioning, and cognitive control. All clusters showed strong genome-wide risk. Cluster 2, characterized by deficits in cognitive control and negative symptoms, additionally showed specific risk concentrated in glutamatergic and GABAergic pathways. Due to the intensive characterization of our subjects, the present study was limited to a relatively small cohort. As such, results should be followed up with additional research at the population and mechanism level. Our study suggests pathway-based PGS analysis may be a powerful path forward to study genetic mechanisms driving psychiatric endophenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L Warren
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Justin D Tubbs
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tyler A Lesh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Mylena B Corona
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sarvenaz S Pakzad
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Marina D Albuquerque
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Praveena Singh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Vanessa Zarubin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Sarah J Morse
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Pak Chung Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR.
- Centre for PanorOmic Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR.
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR.
| | - Cameron S Carter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | - Alex S Nord
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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3
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Warren TL, Tubbs JD, Lesh TA, Corona MB, Pakzad S, Albuquerque M, Singh P, Zarubin V, Morse S, Sham PC, Carter CS, Nord AS. Association of neurotransmitter pathway polygenic risk with specific symptom profiles in psychosis. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.05.24.23290465. [PMID: 37292649 PMCID: PMC10246134 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.24.23290465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A primary goal of psychiatry is to better understand the pathways that link genetic risk to psychiatric symptoms. Here, we tested association of diagnosis and endophenotypes with overall and neurotransmitter pathway-specific polygenic risk in patients with early-stage psychosis. Subjects included 206 demographically diverse cases with a psychotic disorder who underwent comprehensive psychiatric and neurological phenotyping and 115 matched controls. Following genotyping, we calculated polygenic scores (PGSs) for schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BP) using Psychiatric Genomics Consortium GWAS summary statistics. To test if overall genetic risk can be partitioned into affected neurotransmitter pathways, we calculated pathway PGSs (pPGSs) for SZ risk affecting each of four major neurotransmitter systems: glutamate, GABA, dopamine, and serotonin. Psychosis subjects had elevated SZ PGS versus controls; cases with SZ or BP diagnoses had stronger SZ or BP risk, respectively. There was no significant association within psychosis cases between individual symptom measures and overall PGS. However, neurotransmitter-specific pPGSs were moderately associated with specific endophenotypes; notably, glutamate was associated with SZ diagnosis and with deficits in cognitive control during task-based fMRI, while dopamine was associated with global functioning. Finally, unbiased endophenotype-driven clustering identified three diagnostically mixed case groups that separated on primary deficits of positive symptoms, negative symptoms, global functioning, and cognitive control. All clusters showed strong genome-wide risk. Cluster 2, characterized by deficits in cognitive control and negative symptoms, additionally showed specific risk concentrated in glutamatergic and GABAergic pathways. Due to the intensive characterization of our subjects, the present study was limited to a relatively small cohort. As such, results should be followed up with additional research at the population and mechanism level. Our study suggests pathway-based PGS analysis may be a powerful path forward to study genetic mechanisms driving psychiatric endophenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Justin D. Tubbs
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Pak Chung Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong
- Centre for PanorOmic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
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Han S, Gao J, Hu J, Ye Y, Huang H, Liu J, Liu M, Ai H, Qiu J, Luo Y, Xu P. Disruptions of salience network during uncertain anticipation of conflict control in anxiety. Asian J Psychiatr 2023; 88:103721. [PMID: 37562270 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety has been characterized by disrupted processing of conflict control, while little is known about anticipatory processing of conflicts in anxiety. Anticipation is the key factor in both anxiety and cognitive control, especially under uncertain conditions. The current study therefore examined neurocomputational mechanisms of uncertain anticipation of conflict control in anxiety. METHODS Twenty-six participants with high-trait anxiety and twenty-nine low-trait anxiety participants completed a cue-flanker task with functional magnetic resonance imaging. The hierarchical drift diffusion model (HDDM) was used to measure the cognitive computations during the task. To identify the neurocomputational mechanism of anticipatory control in anxiety, mediation analysis and dynamic causal modelling (DCM) analysis were conducted to examine the relationship between functional connectivity of brain networks and the parameters of HDDM. RESULTS We found influences of regulatory signals from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to dorsal anterior cingulate cortex on decision threshold in low-trait anxiety (LTA), but not in high-trait anxiety (HTA), especially for the condition with uncertain cues. The results indicate deficient top-down anticipatory control of upcoming conflicts in anxious individuals. DCM and HDDM analyses revealed that lower decision threshold was associated with higher intrinsic connectivity of salience network (SN) in anxious individuals, suggesting that dysfunctional SN disrupts anticipation of conflict control under uncertainty in anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest hyperfunction of the SN underlies the deficient information accumulation during uncertain anticipation of upcoming conflicts in anxiety. Our findings shed new light on the mechanisms of anticipation processing and the psychopathology of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangfeng Han
- Department of Psychology and Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Neuroscience, Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie Gao
- School of Psychology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Hu
- School of Psychology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanghua Ye
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Neuroscience, Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huiya Huang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Neuroscience, Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing Liu
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingfang Liu
- Community Health Service Center of Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Hui Ai
- Institute of Applied Psychology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China; Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianyin Qiu
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuejia Luo
- School of Psychology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China; Institute for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, China.
| | - Pengfei Xu
- The State Key Lab of Cognitive and Learning, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (BNU), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Center for Emotion and Brain, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China.
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5
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Crawford LS, Mills EP, Peek A, Macefield VG, Keay KA, Henderson LA. Function and biochemistry of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during placebo analgesia: how the certainty of prior experiences shapes endogenous pain relief. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:9822-9834. [PMID: 37415068 PMCID: PMC10472490 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad247] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prior experiences, conditioning cues, and expectations of improvement are essential for placebo analgesia expression. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is considered a key region for converting these factors into placebo responses. Since dorsolateral prefrontal cortex neuromodulation can attenuate or amplify placebo, we sought to investigate dorsolateral prefrontal cortex biochemistry and function in 38 healthy individuals during placebo analgesia. After conditioning participants to expect pain relief from a placebo "lidocaine" cream, we collected baseline magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) at 7 Tesla over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Following this, functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were collected during which identical noxious heat stimuli were delivered to the control and placebo-treated forearm sites. There was no significant difference in the concentration of gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, Myo-inositol, or N-acetylaspartate at the level of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex between placebo responders and nonresponders. However, we identified a significant inverse relationship between the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and pain rating variability during conditioning. Moreover, we found placebo-related activation within the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and altered functional magnetic resonance imaging coupling between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the midbrain periaqueductal gray, which also correlated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex glutamate. These data suggest that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex formulates stimulus-response relationships during conditioning, which are then translated to altered cortico-brainstem functional relationships and placebo analgesia expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis S Crawford
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Emily P Mills
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - A Peek
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | | | - Kevin A Keay
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Luke A Henderson
- School of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
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6
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Singh D, Preetam Ambati A, Aich P. Sex and Time: Important Variables for Understanding the Impact of Constant Darkness on Behavior, Brain, and Physiology. Neuroscience 2023; 519:73-89. [PMID: 36966879 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The circadian clock can coordinate, regulate and predict physiology and behavior in response to the standard light-dark (LD: 12 h light and 12 h dark) cycle. If we alter the LD cycle by exposing mice to constant darkness (DD: 00 h light and 24 h dark), it can perturb behavior, the brain, and associated physiological parameters. The length of DD exposure and the sex of experimental animals are crucial variables that could alter the impact of DD on the brain, behavior, and physiology, which have not yet been explored. We exposed mice to DD for three and five weeks and studied their impact on (1) behavior, (2) hormones, (3) the prefrontal cortex, and (4) metabolites in male and female mice. We also studied the effect of three weeks of standard light-dark cycle restoration after five weeks of DD on the parameters mentioned above. We found that DD exposure was associated with anxiety-like behavior, increased corticosterone and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β), downregulated neurotrophins (BDNF and NGF), and altered metabolites profile in a duration of DD exposure and sex-dependent manner. Females showed a more robust adaptation than males under DD exposure. Three weeks of restoration was adequate to establish homeostasis in both sexes. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to look at how DD exposure impacts physiology and behavior as a function of sex- and time. These findings would have translational value and may help in establishing sex-specific interventions for addressing DD-related psychological issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhyanendra Singh
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), HBNI, PO - Bhimpur-Padanpur, Jatni - 752050, Dist. -Khurda, Odisha, India; Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (CIS), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), HBNI, PO - Bhimpur-Padanpur, Jatni - 752050, Dist. -Khurda, Odisha, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Abhilash Preetam Ambati
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), HBNI, PO - Bhimpur-Padanpur, Jatni - 752050, Dist. -Khurda, Odisha, India; Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (CIS), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), HBNI, PO - Bhimpur-Padanpur, Jatni - 752050, Dist. -Khurda, Odisha, India
| | - Palok Aich
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), HBNI, PO - Bhimpur-Padanpur, Jatni - 752050, Dist. -Khurda, Odisha, India; Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (CIS), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), HBNI, PO - Bhimpur-Padanpur, Jatni - 752050, Dist. -Khurda, Odisha, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India.
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Sadeghi-Yarandi M, Torabi-Gudarzi S, Asadi N, Golmohammadpour H, Ahmadi-Moshiran V, Taheri M, Ghasemi-Koozekonan A, Soltanzadeh A, Alimohammadi B. Development of a novel Electrical Industry Safety Risk Index (EISRI) in the electricity power distribution industry based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP). Heliyon 2023; 9:e13155. [PMID: 36755615 PMCID: PMC9900264 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Many workers are exposed to electrical energy during the fulfillment of their tasks. It is necessary to identify the potential risk factors for electrical damages. The present study aimed to develop a novel Electrical Industry Safety Risk Index (EISRI) in the electricity power distribution industry based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP). In this study several different safety risk assessment methods were analyzed. Then, common activities in the electricity distribution industry were classified into ten occupational groups. To identify the general structure of risk assessment and determine three main components, including personal, environmental, and organizational a three-stage Delphi study was conducted with the participation of 30 experts. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process approach was used to weight the components and parameters in each job group. Finally, the results of the EISRI were compared with the failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) method. The most effective component in determining the risk level was the personal component (PC), with a 0.537 weighted average. Cronbach's alpha values for each of the personal, environmental, and organizational components and the entire model were 0.90, 0.85, 0.82, and 0.86, respectively, and model reliability was confirmed. The results obtained from the EISRI method were compared with the FMEA method, the results of both methods were very close to each other (p < 0.05). The results of this study revealed that the highest weighted average was related to the personal component due to the high impact of the human factors in carrying out activities in various occupations. The EISRI can be applied as a substitute for general risk assessment methods due to the suitability of this method with the nature of activities in this industry. The present technique can be a practical step toward developing suitable risk management algorithm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Sadeghi-Yarandi
- Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Salman Torabi-Gudarzi
- Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Corresponding author.
| | - Nasrin Asadi
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran
| | - Hamedeh Golmohammadpour
- The State University of New York, University of Buffalo, Department of Industrial Engineering, New York, USA
| | - Vahid Ahmadi-Moshiran
- Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mostafa Taheri
- Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Department of Art and Architectural Engineering, Iran
| | - Aysa Ghasemi-Koozekonan
- Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Soltanzadeh
- Department of Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
| | - Bahare Alimohammadi
- Department of Ergonomics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Zacharopoulos G, Sella F, Cohen Kadosh K, Emir U, Cohen Kadosh R. The effect of parietal glutamate/GABA balance on test anxiety levels in early childhood in a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:3243-3253. [PMID: 34963130 PMCID: PMC9340388 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The increased prevalence of test anxiety in our competitive society makes it a health issue of public concern. However, its neurobiological basis, especially during the years of formal education, is currently scant. Previous research has highlighted the association between neural excitation/inhibition balance and psychopathology and disease. We examined whether the glutamate/GABA profile tracks test anxiety levels in development, using a cross-sectional and longitudinal design in a cohort spanning from early childhood to early adulthood (N = 289), reassessed approximately 21 months later (N = 194). We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to noninvasively quantify glutamate and gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and the middle frontal gyrus. We show that the glutamate/GABA balance within the IPS relates to current individual variation in test anxiety levels and predict future test anxiety approximately 21 months later. Critically, this relationship was observed during early childhood but not during the later developmental stages. Our results extend the use of the excitation/inhibition balance framework to characterize the psychopathology mechanisms of test anxiety, an underexplored yet widespread and debilitating condition that can impact early child development. Our findings provide a better understanding of the neurotransmitter basis underlying the emergence of anxiety disorders during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Zacharopoulos
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Francesco Sella
- Centre for Mathematical Cognition, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Kathrin Cohen Kadosh
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Uzay Emir
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2051, USA
| | - Roi Cohen Kadosh
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK
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9
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van Rensburg D, Lindeque Z, Harvey BH, Steyn SF. Reviewing the mitochondrial dysfunction paradigm in rodent models as platforms for neuropsychiatric disease research. Mitochondrion 2022; 64:82-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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10
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Kong F, Wen W, Liu G, Xiong R, Yang X. Autonomic nervous pattern analysis of trait anxiety. Biomed Signal Process Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2021.103129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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11
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Frontal neural metabolite changes in schizophrenia and their association with cognitive control: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:224-247. [PMID: 34864431 PMCID: PMC8830497 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
GABA levels are decreased in medial frontal brain areas of schizophrenia patients. Glutamate levels are lower in medial and lateral frontal areas in chronic patients. Working memory performance is associated with frontal GABA and Glu. Prediction errors are associated Glu and medial frontal GABA. Processing speed correlates with medial frontal GABA levels.
A large proportion of patients with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in cognitive control functions including working memory, processing speed and inhibitory control, which have been associated with frontal brain areas. In this systematic review, we investigated differences between chronic schizophrenia patients, first-episode (FEP) patients and healthy control groups in the neurometabolite levels of GABA, glutamate, glutamine and Glx in frontal brain areas. Additionally, we reviewed correlations between cognitive control functions or negative symptoms and these neurometabolite levels. Several studies reported decreased GABA or glutamate concentrations in frontal lobe areas, particularly in chronic schizophrenia patients, while the results were mixed for FEP patients. Working memory performance and prediction errors have been associated with frontal GABA and glutamate levels, and processing speed with frontomedial GABA levels in chronic patients. The relationship between metabolites and negative symptom severity was somewhat inconsistent. Future studies should take the participants' age, medication status or responsivity, disease stage and precise anatomical location of the voxel into account when comparing neurometabolite levels between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.
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12
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Williamson JB, Jaffee MS, Jorge RE. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Anxiety-Related Conditions. Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2021; 27:1738-1763. [PMID: 34881734 DOI: 10.1212/con.0000000000001054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article provides a synopsis of current assessment and treatment considerations for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related anxiety disorder characteristics. Epidemiologic and neurobiological data are reviewed as well as common associated symptoms, including sleep disruption, and treatment approaches to these conditions. RECENT FINDINGS PTSD is no longer considered an anxiety-related disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition classification and instead is associated with trauma/stressor-related disorders. PTSD symptoms are clustered into four domains including intrusive experiences, avoidance, mood, and arousal symptoms. Despite this reclassification, similarities exist in consideration of diagnosis, treatment, and comorbidities with anxiety disorders. PTSD and anxiety-related disorders are heterogeneous, which is reflected by the neural circuits involved in the genesis of symptoms that may vary across symptom domains. Treatment is likely to benefit from consideration of this heterogeneity.Research in animal models of fear and anxiety, as well as in humans, suggests that patients with PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder have difficulty accurately determining safety from danger and struggle to suppress fear in the presence of safety cues.Empirically supported psychotherapies commonly involved exposure (fear extinction learning) and are recommended for PTSD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective in other anxiety-related disorders. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are commonly used in the treatment of PTSD and anxiety disorders in which pharmacologic intervention is supported. Treating sleep disruption including sleep apnea (continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP]), nightmares, and insomnia (preferably via psychotherapy) may improve symptoms of PTSD, as well as improve mood in anxiety disorders. SUMMARY PTSD has a lifetime prevalence that is close to 10% and shares neurobiological features with anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are the most common class of mental conditions and are highly comorbid with other disorders; treatment considerations typically include cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacologic intervention. Developing technologies show some promise as treatment alternatives in the future.
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Faulkner P, Paioni SL, Kozhuharova P, Orlov N, Lythgoe DJ, Daniju Y, Morgenroth E, Barker H, Allen P. Relationship between depression, prefrontal creatine and grey matter volume. J Psychopharmacol 2021; 35:1464-1472. [PMID: 34697970 PMCID: PMC8652356 DOI: 10.1177/02698811211050550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression and low mood are leading contributors to disability worldwide. Research indicates that clinical depression may be associated with low creatine concentrations in the brain and low prefrontal grey matter volume. Because subclinical depression also contributes to difficulties in day-to-day life, understanding the neural mechanisms of depressive symptoms in all individuals, even at a subclinical level, may aid public health. METHODS Eighty-four young adult participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) to quantify severity of depression, anxiety and stress, and underwent 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the medial prefrontal cortex and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine whole-brain grey matter volume. RESULTS/OUTCOMES DASS depression scores were negatively associated (a) with concentrations of creatine (but not other metabolites) in the prefrontal cortex and (b) with grey matter volume in the right superior medial frontal gyrus. Medial prefrontal creatine concentrations and right superior medial frontal grey matter volume were positively correlated. DASS anxiety and DASS stress scores were not related to prefrontal metabolite concentrations or whole-brain grey matter volume. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATIONS This study provides preliminary evidence from a representative group of individuals who exhibit a range of depression levels that prefrontal creatine and grey matter volume are negatively associated with depression. While future research is needed to fully understand this relationship, these results provide support for previous findings, which indicate that increasing creatine concentrations in the prefrontal cortex may improve mood and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Faulkner
- Department of Psychology, Whitelands College, University of Roehampton, London, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, UK
- Combined Universities Brain Imaging Centre, London, UK
| | | | | | - Natasza Orlov
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - David J Lythgoe
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Yusuf Daniju
- Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, UK
| | - Elenor Morgenroth
- Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, UK
- Combined Universities Brain Imaging Centre, London, UK
- Institute of Bioengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Holly Barker
- Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, UK
- Combined Universities Brain Imaging Centre, London, UK
| | - Paul Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London, UK
- Combined Universities Brain Imaging Centre, London, UK
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
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Garrison JR, Saviola F, Morgenroth E, Barker H, Lührs M, Simons JS, Fernyhough C, Allen P. Modulating medial prefrontal cortex activity using real-time fMRI neurofeedback: Effects on reality monitoring performance and associated functional connectivity. Neuroimage 2021; 245:118640. [PMID: 34648961 PMCID: PMC8752965 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies have found ‘reality monitoring’, our ability to distinguish internally generated experiences from those derived from the external world, to be associated with activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the brain. Here we probe the functional underpinning of this ability using real-time fMRI neurofeedback to investigate the involvement of mPFC in recollection of the source of self-generated information. Thirty-nine healthy individuals underwent neurofeedback training in a between groups study receiving either Active feedback derived from the paracingulate region of the mPFC (21 subjects) or Sham feedback based on a similar level of randomised signal (18 subjects). Compared to those in the Sham group, participants receiving Active signal showed increased mPFC activity over the course of three real-time neurofeedback training runs undertaken in a single scanning session. Analysis of resting state functional connectivity associated with changes in reality monitoring accuracy following Active neurofeedback revealed increased connectivity between dorsolateral frontal regions of the fronto-parietal network (FPN) and the mPFC region of the default mode network (DMN), together with reduced connectivity within ventral regions of the FPN itself. However, only a trend effect was observed in the interaction of the recollection of the source of Imagined information compared with recognition memory between participants receiving Active and Sham neurofeedback, pre- and post- scanning. As such, these findings demonstrate that neurofeedback can be used to modulate mPFC activity and increase cooperation between the FPN and DMN, but the effects on reality monitoring performance are less clear.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Garrison
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom; Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom.
| | - F Saviola
- School of Psychology, University of Roehampton, Whitelands College, Holybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, United Kingdom; CIMeC, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto, Trento 38068, Italy
| | - E Morgenroth
- School of Psychology, University of Roehampton, Whitelands College, Holybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, United Kingdom; Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Route Cantonale, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland; Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - H Barker
- School of Psychology, University of Roehampton, Whitelands College, Holybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, United Kingdom
| | - M Lührs
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200 MD, The Netherlands; Research Department, Brain Innovation B.V., Oxfordlaan 55, Maastricht 6229 EV, The Netherlands
| | - J S Simons
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom; Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - C Fernyhough
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Upper Mountjoy, South Rd, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - P Allen
- School of Psychology, University of Roehampton, Whitelands College, Holybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, United Kingdom; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn Medical Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1230, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Johnstone N, Milesi C, Burn O, van den Bogert B, Nauta A, Hart K, Sowden P, Burnet PWJ, Cohen Kadosh K. Anxiolytic effects of a galacto-oligosaccharides prebiotic in healthy females (18-25 years) with corresponding changes in gut bacterial composition. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8302. [PMID: 33859330 PMCID: PMC8050281 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87865-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Current research implicates pre- and probiotic supplementation as a potential tool for improving symptomology in physical and mental ailments, which makes it an attractive concept for clinicians and consumers alike. Here we focus on the transitional period of late adolescence and early adulthood during which effective interventions, such as nutritional supplementation to influence the gut microbiota, have the potential to offset health-related costs in later life. We examined multiple indices of mood and well-being in 64 healthy females in a 4-week double blind, placebo controlled galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) prebiotic supplement intervention and obtained stool samples at baseline and follow-up for gut microbiota sequencing and analyses. We report effects of the GOS intervention on self-reported high trait anxiety, attentional bias, and bacterial abundance, suggesting that dietary supplementation with a GOS prebiotic may improve indices of pre-clinical anxiety. Gut microbiota research has captured the imagination of the scientific and lay community alike, yet we are now at a stage where this early enthusiasm will need to be met with rigorous research in humans. Our work makes an important contribution to this effort by combining a psychobiotic intervention in a human sample with comprehensive behavioural and gut microbiota measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Johnstone
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
| | - Chiara Milesi
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Olivia Burn
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK
| | | | - Arjen Nauta
- FrieslandCampina, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
| | - Kathryn Hart
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Paul Sowden
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Winchester, Winchester, UK
| | - Philip W J Burnet
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Kathrin Cohen Kadosh
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
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Wang X, Meng ZX, Chen YZ, Li YP, Zhou HY, Yang M, Zhao TT, Gong YL, Wu Y, Liu T. Enriched environment enhances histone acetylation of NMDA receptor in the hippocampus and improves cognitive dysfunction in aged mice. Neural Regen Res 2020; 15:2327-2334. [PMID: 32594057 PMCID: PMC7749489 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.285005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms of age-associated memory impairment may be associated with glutamate receptor function and chromatin modification. To observe the effect of an enriched environment on the cognitive function of mice with age-associated memory impairment, 3-month-old C57BL/6 male mice ("young" mice) were raised in a standard environment, while 24-month-old C57BL/6 male mice with memory impairment ("age-associated memory impairment" mice) were raised in either a standard environment or an enriched environment. The enriched environment included a variety of stimuli involving movement and sensation. A water maze test was then used to measure cognitive function in the mice. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays were used to detect right hippocampal GluN2B mRNA as well as protein expression of GluN2B and CREB binding protein in all mice. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to measure the extent of histone acetylation of the hippocampal GluN2B gene promoters. Compared with the young mice, the water maze performance of age-associated memory impairment mice in the standard environment was significantly decreased. In addition, there were significantly lower levels of total histone acetylation and expression of CREB binding protein in the hippocampus of age-associated memory impairment mice in the standard environment compared with the young mice. There were also significantly lower levels of histone acetylation, protein expression, and mRNA expression of GluN2B in the hippocampus of these mice. In contrast, in the age-associated memory impairment mice with the enriched environment intervention, the water maze performance and molecular biological indexes were significantly improved. These data confirm that an enriched environment can improve cognitive dysfunction in age-associated memory impairment mice, and suggest that the mechanisms may be related to the increased expression of CREB binding protein and the increased degree of total histone acetylation in the hippocampus of age-associated memory impairment mice, which may cause the increase of histone acetylation of GluN2B gene promoter and the enhancement of GluN2B mRNA transcription and protein expression in hippocampus. The animal experiment was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Yangzhou University, China (approval No. 20170312001) in March 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhao-Xiang Meng
- Department of Rehabilitation, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ying-Zhu Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yu-Ping Li
- Department of Rehabilitation, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hong-Yu Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Man Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Ting-Ting Zhao
- Department of Rehabilitation, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yu-Lai Gong
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yi Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Liu
- South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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Polli FS, Scharff MB, Ipsen TH, Aznar S, Kohlmeier KA, Andreasen JT. Prenatal nicotine exposure in mice induces sex-dependent anxiety-like behavior, cognitive deficits, hyperactivity, and changes in the expression of glutamate receptor associated-genes in the prefrontal cortex. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2020; 195:172951. [PMID: 32439454 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2020.172951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In rodents, prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) has been associated with increased risk for development of cognitive and emotional disturbances, but the findings are somewhat conflicting. Lack of behavioral alterations following PNE could be due to the variety of methods available for nicotine delivery, exposure time and species used, with inbred strains being mostly employed. Such differences suggest the need to investigate the behavioral phenotype in each PNE model available if we are to find models with enhanced translational value. In this study, we assessed sex-dependent effects of PNE on ADHD-related behaviors and on the levels of mRNA coding for glutamate receptor subunits within the prefrontal cortex in the outbred NMRI mice exposed to nicotine via maternal drinking water during gestation. Cotinine levels were assessed in newborn pups. Behaviors related to anxiety, compulsivity, working memory, and locomotion were evaluated in both sexes of young adult offspring using the elevated zero maze, marble burying, spontaneous alternation behavior, and locomotor activity tests. Expression of mRNA coding for different glutamate receptors subunits within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) was measured using RT-qPCR. Cotinine levels in the serum of newborns confirmed fetal nicotine exposure. Both male and female offspring showed ADHD-like behaviors, such as deficit in the SAB test and hyperactivity. In addition, PNE male mice displayed anxiety- and compulsive-like behaviors, effects that were absent in female offspring. Finally, PNE reduced the mRNA expression of GluN1-, GluN2B-, and mGluR2-related genes within the PFC of male offspring, whereas it reduced the expression of mRNA coding for GluA2 subunit in female mice. PNE in NMRI mice induced sex-dependent behavioral changes, which parallels clinical findings following maternal cigarette smoke exposure. Alterations detected in PFC mRNA glutamate receptor proteins could contribute to the abnormal behavioral responses observed, but other signaling pathways or brain regions are likely involved in the behavioral susceptibility of PNE individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip S Polli
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Malthe B Scharff
- Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen 2400, Denmark
| | - Theis H Ipsen
- Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen 2400, Denmark
| | - Susana Aznar
- Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen 2400, Denmark
| | - Kristi A Kohlmeier
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Jesper T Andreasen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark.
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Kolodny T, Schallmo MP, Gerdts J, Edden RAE, Bernier RA, Murray SO. Concentrations of Cortical GABA and Glutamate in Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2020; 13:1111-1129. [PMID: 32297709 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The balance of excitation and inhibition in neural circuits is hypothesized to be increased in autism spectrum disorder, possibly mediated by altered signaling of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), yet empirical evidence in humans is inconsistent. We used edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to quantify signals associated with both GABA and the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate in multiple regions of the sensory and sensorimotor cortex, including primary visual, auditory, and motor areas in adult individuals with autism and in neurotypical controls. Despite the strong a priori hypothesis of reduced GABA in autism spectrum disorder, we found no group differences in neurometabolite concentrations in any of the examined regions and no correlations of MRS measure with psychophysical visual sensitivity or autism symptomatology. We demonstrate high data quality that is comparable across groups, with a relatively large sample of well-characterized participants, and use Bayesian statistics to corroborate the lack of any group differences. We conclude that levels of GABA and Glx (glutamate, glutamine, and glutathione) in the sensory and sensorimotor cortex, as measured with MRS at 3T, are comparable in adults with autism and neurotypical individuals. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1111-1129. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate are the main inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in the human brain, respectively, and their balanced interaction is necessary for neural function. Previous research suggests that the GABA and glutamate systems might be altered in autism. In this study, we used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure concentrations of these neurotransmitters in the sensory areas in the brains of young adults with autism. In contradiction to the common hypothesis of reduced GABA in autism, we demonstrate that concentrations of both GABA and glutamate, in all the brain regions examined, are comparable in individuals with autism and in neurotypical adults. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Kolodny
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Michael-Paul Schallmo
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jennifer Gerdts
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Scott O Murray
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Morgenroth E, Saviola F, Gilleen J, Allen B, Lührs M, W Eysenck M, Allen P. Using connectivity-based real-time fMRI neurofeedback to modulate attentional and resting state networks in people with high trait anxiety. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 25:102191. [PMID: 32044712 PMCID: PMC7013190 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Controlled experiment on functional connectivity-based real-time fMRI neurofeedback. Reduced anxiety levels in the experimental group after neurofeedback training. Altered activity and connectivity in neurofeedback ROIs in the experimental group. Increased resting state functional connectivity in the PCC in the experimental group.
High levels of trait anxiety are associated with impaired attentional control, changes in brain activity during attentional control tasks and altered network resting state functional connectivity (RSFC). Specifically, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to anterior cingulate cortex (DLPFC – ACC) functional connectivity, thought to be crucial for effective and efficient attentional control, is reduced in high trait anxious individuals. The current study examined the potential of connectivity-based real-time functional magnetic imaging neurofeedback (rt-fMRI-nf) for enhancing DLPFC – ACC functional connectivity in trait anxious individuals. We specifically tested if changes in DLPFC - ACC connectivity were associated with reduced anxiety levels and improved attentional control. Thirty-two high trait anxious participants were assigned to either an experimental group (EG), undergoing veridical rt-fMRI-nf, or a control group (CG) that received sham (yoked) feedback. RSFC (using resting state fMRI), anxiety levels and Stroop task performance were assessed pre- and post-rt-fMRI-nf training. Post-rt-fMRI-nf training, relative to the CG, the EG showed reduced anxiety levels and increased DLPFC-ACC functional connectivity as well as increased RSFC in the posterior default mode network. Moreover, in the EG, changes in DLPFC – ACC functional connectivity during rt-fMRI-nf training were associated with reduced anxiety levels. However, there were no group differences in Stroop task performance. We conclude that rt-fMRI-nf targeting DLPFC – ACC functional connectivity can alter network connectivity and interactions and is a feasible method for reducing trait anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elenor Morgenroth
- Ecole Polytechnique Federale, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, Whitelands College, Hollybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, UK.
| | - Francesca Saviola
- CIMeC, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Rovereto (Trento), Italy
| | - James Gilleen
- Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, Whitelands College, Hollybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, UK
| | - Beth Allen
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London, London, UK
| | - Michael Lührs
- Research Department, Brain Innovation B.V., Maastricht, Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Michael W Eysenck
- Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, Whitelands College, Hollybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, UK; Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London, London, UK
| | - Paul Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, Whitelands College, Hollybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, UK; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Combined Universities Brain Imaging Centre, London, UK; Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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