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Yang Y, Song P, Wang Y. Assessing the impact of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on effective connectivity in autism spectrum disorder: An initial exploration using TMS-EEG analysis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31746. [PMID: 38828287 PMCID: PMC11140796 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31746] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Initial indications propose that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could mitigate clinical manifestations in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms responsible for these therapeutic and behavioral outcomes remain elusive. We examined alterations in effective connectivity induced by rTMS using concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) in children with ASD. TMS-EEG data were acquired from 12 children diagnosed with ASD both before and following rTMS treatment. The rTMS intervention regimen included delivering 5-s trains at a frequency of 15 Hz, with 10-min intervals between trains, targeting the left parietal lobe. This was conducted on each consecutive weekday over 3 weeks, totaling 15 sessions. The dynamic EEG network analysis revealed that following the rTMS intervention, long-range feedback connections within the brains of ASD patients were strengthened (e.g., frontal to parietal regions, frontal to occipital regions, and frontal to posterior temporal regions), and short-range connections were weakened (e.g., between the bilateral occipital regions, and between the occipital and posterior temporal regions). In alignment with alterations in network connectivity, there was a corresponding amelioration in fundamental ASD symptoms, as assessed through clinical scales post-treatment. According to our findings, people with ASD may have increased long-range frontal-posterior feedback connection on application of rTMS to the parietal lobe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxue Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Penghui Song
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Yuping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, 100053, China
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2
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Cohenour T, Dickinson A, Jeste S, Gulsrud A, Kasari C. Patterns of spontaneous neural activity associated with social communication abilities among infants and toddlers showing signs of autism. Eur J Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38703054 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Early disruptions to social communication development, including delays in joint attention and language, are among the earliest markers of autism spectrum disorder (autism, henceforth). Although social communication differences are a core feature of autism, there is marked heterogeneity in social communication-related development among infants and toddlers exhibiting autism symptoms. Neural markers of individual differences in joint attention and language abilities may provide important insight into heterogeneity in autism symptom expression during infancy and toddlerhood. This study examined patterns of spontaneous electroencephalography (EEG) activity associated with joint attention and language skills in 70 community-referred 12- to 23-month-olds with autism symptoms and elevated scores on an autism diagnostic instrument. Data-driven cluster-based permutation analyses revealed significant positive associations between relative alpha power (6-9 Hz) and concurrent response to joint attention skills, receptive language, and expressive language abilities. Exploratory analyses also revealed significant negative associations between relative alpha power and measures of core autism features (i.e., social communication difficulties and restricted/repetitive behaviors). These findings shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying typical and atypical social communication development in emerging autism and provide a foundation for future work examining neural predictors of social communication growth and markers of intervention response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torrey Cohenour
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Abigail Dickinson
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shafali Jeste
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Amanda Gulsrud
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Connie Kasari
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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3
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Soto-Icaza P, Soto-Fernández P, Kausel L, Márquez-Rodríguez V, Carvajal-Paredes P, Martínez-Molina MP, Figueroa-Vargas A, Billeke P. Oscillatory activity underlying cognitive performance in children and adolescents with autism: a systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1320761. [PMID: 38384334 PMCID: PMC10879575 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1320761] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that exhibits a widely heterogeneous range of social and cognitive symptoms. This feature has challenged a broad comprehension of this neurodevelopmental disorder and therapeutic efforts to address its difficulties. Current therapeutic strategies have focused primarily on treating behavioral symptoms rather than on brain psychophysiology. During the past years, the emergence of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (NIBS) has opened alternatives to the design of potential combined treatments focused on the neurophysiopathology of neuropsychiatric disorders like ASD. Such interventions require identifying the key brain mechanisms underlying the symptomatology and cognitive features. Evidence has shown alterations in oscillatory features of the neural ensembles associated with cognitive functions in ASD. In this line, we elaborated a systematic revision of the evidence of alterations in brain oscillations that underlie key cognitive processes that have been shown to be affected in ASD during childhood and adolescence, namely, social cognition, attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. This knowledge could contribute to developing therapies based on NIBS to improve these processes in populations with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Soto-Icaza
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Leonie Kausel
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología (CENHN), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Víctor Márquez-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricio Carvajal-Paredes
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Paz Martínez-Molina
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra Figueroa-Vargas
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory for Cognitive and Evolutionary Neuroscience (LaNCE), Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Billeke
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
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4
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Blanco B, Lloyd-Fox S, Begum-Ali J, Pirazzoli L, Goodwin A, Mason L, Pasco G, Charman T, Jones EJH, Johnson MH. Cortical responses to social stimuli in infants at elevated likelihood of ASD and/or ADHD: A prospective cross-condition fNIRS study. Cortex 2023; 169:18-34. [PMID: 37847979 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.07.010] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are highly prevalent neurodevelopmental conditions that often co-occur and present both common and distinct neurodevelopmental profiles. Studying the developmental pathways leading to the emergence of ASD and/or ADHD symptomatology is crucial in understanding neurodiversity and discovering the mechanisms that underpin it. This study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate differences in cortical specialization to social stimuli between 4- to 6-month-old infants at typical and elevated likelihood of ASD and/or ADHD. Results showed that infants at both elevated likelihood of ASD and ADHD had reduced selectivity to vocal sounds in left middle and superior temporal gyrus. Furthermore, infants at elevated likelihood of ASD showed attenuated responses to visual social stimuli in several cortical regions compared to infants at typical likelihood. Individual brain responses to visual social stimuli were associated with later autism traits, but not ADHD traits. These outcomes support our previous observations showing atypical social brain responses in infants at elevated likelihood of ASD and align with later atypical brain responses to social stimuli observed in children and adults with ASD. These findings highlight the importance of characterizing antecedent biomarkers of atypicalities in processing socially relevant information that might contribute to both phenotypic overlap and divergence across ASD and ADHD conditions and their association with the later emergence of behavioural symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borja Blanco
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK.
| | | | - Jannath Begum-Ali
- Centre for Brain & Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, UK
| | - Laura Pirazzoli
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amy Goodwin
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, UK
| | - Luke Mason
- Centre for Brain & Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, UK; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, UK
| | - Greg Pasco
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, UK
| | - Tony Charman
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, UK
| | - Emily J H Jones
- Centre for Brain & Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, UK
| | - Mark H Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK; Centre for Brain & Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, UK
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5
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Zanus C, Miladinović A, De Dea F, Skabar A, Stecca M, Ajčević M, Accardo A, Carrozzi M. Sleep Spindle-Related EEG Connectivity in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: An Exploratory Study. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:1244. [PMID: 37761543 PMCID: PMC10530036 DOI: 10.3390/e25091244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder with known brain abnormalities but no biomarkers to support clinical diagnosis. Recently, EEG analysis methods such as functional connectivity have rekindled interest in using EEG for ADHD diagnosis. Most studies have focused on resting-state EEG, while connectivity during sleep and spindle activity has been underexplored. Here we present the results of a preliminary study exploring spindle-related connectivity as a possible biomarker for ADHD. We compared sensor-space connectivity parameters in eight children with ADHD and nine age/sex-matched healthy controls during sleep, before, during, and after spindle activity in various frequency bands. All connectivity parameters were significantly different between the two groups in the delta and gamma bands, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in the gamma band distinguished ADHD from healthy subjects. Cluster coefficient and path length values in the sigma band were also significantly different between epochs, indicating different spindle-related brain activity in ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Zanus
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.Z.); (M.C.)
| | - Aleksandar Miladinović
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.Z.); (M.C.)
| | - Federica De Dea
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy (M.A.); (A.A.)
- Department of Life Science, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Aldo Skabar
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.Z.); (M.C.)
| | - Matteo Stecca
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.Z.); (M.C.)
| | - Miloš Ajčević
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy (M.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Agostino Accardo
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy (M.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Marco Carrozzi
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo”, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.Z.); (M.C.)
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Cremone-Caira A, Braverman Y, MacNaughton GA, Nikolaeva JI, Faja S. Reduced Visual Evoked Potential Amplitude in Autistic Children with Co-Occurring Features of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06005-7. [PMID: 37249694 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06005-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Provided the significant overlap in features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there is a critical need to identify transdiagnostic markers that could meaningfully stratify subgroups. The objective of this study was to compare the visual evoked potential (VEP) between 30 autistic children, 17 autistic children with co-occurring ADHD presentation (ASD + ADHD), and 21 neurotypical children (NTC). Electroencephalography was recorded while children passively viewed a pattern-reversal stimulus. Mean amplitude of the P1 event-related potential was extracted from a midline occipital channel and compared between groups. P1 mean amplitude was reduced in the ASD + ADHD group compared to the ASD and NTC groups, indicating a distinct pattern of brain activity in autistic children with co-occurring ADHD features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Cremone-Caira
- Department of Psychology, Assumption University, Worcester, USA
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 2 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA, 02445, USA
| | - Yael Braverman
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 2 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA, 02445, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | | | - Julia I Nikolaeva
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
| | - Susan Faja
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 2 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA, 02445, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA.
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7
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Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with action-observation-execution on social interaction and communication in autism spectrum disorder: Feasibility study. Brain Res 2023; 1804:148258. [PMID: 36702183 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148258] [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: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the feasibility of a combined high-frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS) with action observation and execution (AOE) on social interaction and communication in children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen children underwent 10 sessions of 5-Hz HF-rTMS on the right inferior frontal gyrus combined with AOE. An experimental group received the real HF-rTMS while the control group received the sham one. For the AOE protocol, they were instructed to watch and imitate a video showing the procedure, including reaching and grasping tasks, gustatory tasks, and facial expressions. Their behavioural outcomes were evaluated using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale (VABS) and electroencephalograms (EEGs) recorded at three time points: baseline, immediately after each treatment, and at the 1-week follow-up after the 10th treatment. RESULTS There were increased VABS subitem scores in the experimental group, including the receptive, expressive, domestic, and community scores but no such increase was observed in the control group. For the EEG, the beta rhythm at C3 and C4 increased in the experimental group. Additionally, positive correlations were observed between changes in the scores for the expressive subitem and changes in the beta rhythm on the C4 electrode at baseline and immediately after treatment in the experimental group. The control group showed no significant differences in any items for both observation and imitation times. CONCLUSION Ten sessions of HF-rTMS combined with AOE could improve both the subitems of communication and daily living skills domain in children aged 7-12 years with ASD. Although it is still inconclusive, this behavioural improvement may be partly attributable to increased cortical activity, as evidenced by beta rhythms.
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Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation modulates long-range functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 160:187-194. [PMID: 36841084 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.02.021] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is growingly applied in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to its potential therapeutic value, however, its effects on functional network configuration and the mechanism underlying clinical improvement are still unclear. In this study, we examined the alternations of functional connectivity induced by rTMS using resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) in children with ASD. Resting-state EEG was obtained from 24 children with ASD before and after rTMS intervention and from 24 age- and gender-matched typically developing (TD) children. The rTMS intervention course consisted of five 5-s trains at 15 Hz, with 10-min inter-train intervals, on the left parietal lobe each consecutive weekday for 3 weeks (15 sessions in total). Children with ASD showed significantly hypo-connected networks and sub-optimal network properties at both global and local levels, compared with TD peers. After rTMS intervention, long-range intra- and inter-hemispheric connections were significantly promoted, especially those within the alpha band. Meanwhile, network properties at both local and global levels were greatly promoted in the delta, theta, and alpha bands. Consistent with the changes in the network connectivities and properties, the core symptoms in ASD were also relieved measured by clinical scales after treatment. The findings of this study demonstrate that high-frequency rTMS over the parietal lobe is potentially an effective strategy to improve core symptoms by enhancing long-range connectivity reorganization in ASD.
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Lian J, Xu L, Song T, Peng Z, Gong X, Chen J, Zhong X, An X, Chen S, Shao Y. Decreased Functional Connectivity of Brain Networks in the Alpha Band after Sleep Deprivation Is Associated with Decreased Inhibitory Control in Young Male Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4663. [PMID: 36901673 PMCID: PMC10002203 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sleep deprivation leads to reduced inhibitory control in individuals. However, the underlying neural mechanisms are poorly understood. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the effects of total sleep deprivation (TSD) on inhibitory control and their neuroelectrophysiological mechanisms from the perspective of the time course of cognitive processing and brain network connectivity, using event-related potential (ERP) and resting-state functional connectivity techniques. Twenty-five healthy male participants underwent 36 h of TSD (36-h TSD), completing Go/NoGo tasks and resting-state data acquisition before and after TSD; their behavioral and electroencephalogram data were recorded. Compared to baseline, participants' false alarms for NoGo stimuli increased significantly (t = -4.187, p < 0.001) after 36-h TSD. ERP results indicated that NoGo-N2 negative amplitude increased and latency was prolonged (t = 4.850, p < 0.001; t = -3.178, p < 0.01), and NoGo-P3 amplitude significantly decreased and latency was prolonged (t = 5.104, p < 0.001; t = -2.382, p < 0.05) after 36-h TSD. Functional connectivity analysis showed that the connectivity of the default mode and visual networks in the high alpha band was significantly reduced after TSD (t = 2.500, p = 0.030). Overall, the results suggest that the negative amplitude increase in N2 after 36-h TSD may reveal that more attention and cognitive resources are invested after TSD; the significant decrease in P3 amplitude may indicate the impairment of advanced cognitive processing. Further functional connectivity analysis indicated impairment of the brain's default mode network and visual information processing after TSD.
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Godoy PBG, Shephard E, Argeu A, Silveira LR, Salomone E, Aldred C, Green J, Polanczyk GV, Matijasevich A. Social communication therapy for children at risk for neurodevelopmental difficulties: Protocol for a clinical trial. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2022; 1514:104-115. [PMID: 35506888 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14784] [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] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to adverse environments are risk factors for neurodevelopmental problems in childhood. Children exposed to such environments may benefit from interventions that target social communication abilities, since these are protective factors for healthy neurodevelopment. This randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy of Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) in improving social communication development in young children at risk for neurodevelopmental difficulties living in poverty in Brazil. Participants will be 160 children aged 2-4 years with lower-than-average social communication abilities and their primary caregivers. Child-caregiver dyads will be recruited from public childhood education centers in impoverished urban regions of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Lower-than-average social communication abilities will be defined by standard scores (≤84) on the socialization and/or communication domains of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Child-caregiver dyads will be randomized to receive 12 sessions of the PACT intervention (n = 80) or 5 months of community support as usual plus psychoeducation (n = 80). The primary outcome (parent-child interaction) and secondary outcomes (parent-reported social communication abilities and neurophysiological activity during a live social interaction) will be measured pre- and postintervention. This study may lead to new interventions for vulnerable young children in Brazil and better understanding of the neural mechanisms of PACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla B G Godoy
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Shephard
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Adriana Argeu
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leticia R Silveira
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Erica Salomone
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Catherine Aldred
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jonathan Green
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Guilherme V Polanczyk
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alicia Matijasevich
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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11
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Cañigueral R, Palmer J, Ashwood KL, Azadi B, Asherson P, Bolton PF, McLoughlin G, Tye C. Alpha oscillatory activity during attentional control in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and ASD+ADHD. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 63:745-761. [PMID: 34477232 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) share impairments in top-down and bottom-up modulation of attention. However, it is not yet well understood if co-occurrence of ASD and ADHD reflects a distinct or additive profile of attention deficits. We aimed to characterise alpha oscillatory activity (stimulus-locked alpha desynchronisation and prestimulus alpha) as an index of integration of top-down and bottom-up attentional processes in ASD and ADHD. METHODS Children with ASD, ADHD, comorbid ASD+ADHD, and typically-developing children completed a fixed-choice reaction-time task ('Fast task') while neurophysiological activity was recorded. Outcome measures were derived from source-decomposed neurophysiological data. Main measures of interest were prestimulus alpha power and alpha desynchronisation (difference between poststimulus and prestimulus alpha). Poststimulus activity linked to attention allocation (P1, P3), attentional control (N2), and cognitive control (theta synchronisation, 100-600 ms) was also examined. ANOVA was used to test differences across diagnostics groups on these measures. Spearman's correlations were used to investigate the relationship between attentional control processes (alpha oscillations), central executive functions (theta synchronisation), early visual processing (P1), and behavioural performance. RESULTS Children with ADHD (ADHD and ASD+ADHD) showed attenuated alpha desynchronisation, indicating poor integration of top-down and bottom-up attentional processes. Children with ADHD showed reduced N2 and P3 amplitudes, while children with ASD (ASD and ASD+ADHD) showed greater N2 amplitude, indicating atypical attentional control and attention allocation across ASD and ADHD. In the ASD group, prestimulus alpha and theta synchronisation were negatively correlated, and alpha desynchronisation and theta synchronisation were positively correlated, suggesting an atypical association between attentional control processes and executive functions. CONCLUSIONS ASD and ADHD are associated with disorder-specific impairments, while children with ASD+ADHD overall presented an additive profile with attentional deficits of both disorders. Importantly, these findings may inform the improvement of transdiagnostic procedures and optimisation of personalised intervention approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roser Cañigueral
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jason Palmer
- Department of Neurological Diagnosis and Restoration, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, CoMIT, Suita, Japan.,Institute for Neural Computation, Univeristy of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Karen L Ashwood
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Bahar Azadi
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Philip Asherson
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Patrick F Bolton
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gráinne McLoughlin
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Tye
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London, London, UK
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12
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Arpaia P, Covino A, Cristaldi L, Frosolone M, Gargiulo L, Mancino F, Mantile F, Moccaldi N. A Systematic Review on Feature Extraction in Electroencephalography-Based Diagnostics and Therapy in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22134934. [PMID: 35808424 PMCID: PMC9269717 DOI: 10.3390/s22134934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
A systematic review on electroencephalographic (EEG)-based feature extraction strategies to diagnosis and therapy of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children is presented. The analysis is realized at an executive function level to improve the research of neurocorrelates of heterogeneous disorders such as ADHD. The Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies (QATQS) and field-weighted citation impact metric (Scopus) were used to assess the methodological rigor of the studies and their impact on the scientific community, respectively. One hundred and one articles, concerning the diagnostics and therapy of ADHD children aged from 8 to 14, were collected. Event-related potential components were mainly exploited for executive functions related to the cluster inhibition, whereas band power spectral density is the most considered EEG feature for executive functions related to the cluster working memory. This review identifies the most used (also by rigorous and relevant articles) EEG signal processing strategies for executive function assessment in ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Arpaia
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies (DIETI), University of Naples “Federico II”, 80121 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (L.G.); (F.M.); (N.M.)
- Interdepartmental Research Center on Management and Innovation in Healthcare (CIRMIS), University of Naples “Federico II”, 80121 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Attilio Covino
- Villa delle Ginestre, Rehabilitation Center, 80040 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Loredana Cristaldi
- Department of Electronics, Information e Bioengineering, Milan Polytechnic, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Mirco Frosolone
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies (DIETI), University of Naples “Federico II”, 80121 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (L.G.); (F.M.); (N.M.)
| | - Ludovica Gargiulo
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies (DIETI), University of Naples “Federico II”, 80121 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (L.G.); (F.M.); (N.M.)
| | - Francesca Mancino
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies (DIETI), University of Naples “Federico II”, 80121 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (L.G.); (F.M.); (N.M.)
| | - Federico Mantile
- Villa delle Ginestre, Rehabilitation Center, 80040 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (F.M.)
| | - Nicola Moccaldi
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies (DIETI), University of Naples “Federico II”, 80121 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (L.G.); (F.M.); (N.M.)
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13
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Gu H, Shan X, He H, Zhao J, Li X. EEG Evidence of Altered Functional Connectivity and Microstate in Children Orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:898716. [PMID: 35845439 PMCID: PMC9277056 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.898716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS ("AIDS orphans") suffer numerous early-life adverse events which have a long-lasting effect on brain function. Although previous studies found altered electroencephalography (EEG) oscillation during resting state in children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, data are limited regarding the alterations in connectivity and microstate. The current study aimed to investigate the functional connectivity (FC) and microstate in children orphaned by HIV/AIDS with resting-state EEG data. Data were recorded from 63 children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and 65 non-orphan controls during a close-eyes resting state. The differences in phase-locking value (PLV) of global average FC and temporal dynamics of microstate were compared between groups. For functional connectivity, children orphaned by HIV/AIDS showed decreased connectivity in alpha, beta, theta, and delta band compared with non-orphan controls. For microstate, EEG results demonstrated that children orphaned by HIV/AIDS show increased duration and coverage of microstate C, decreased occurrence and coverage of microstate B, and decreased occurrence of microstate D than non-orphan controls. These findings suggest that the microstate and functional connectivity has altered in children orphaned by HIV/AIDS compared with non-orphan controls and provide additional evidence that early life stress (ELS) would alter the structure and function of the brain and increase the risk of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huang Gu
- Institute of Behavior and Psychology, School of Psychology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Xueke Shan
- Institute of Behavior and Psychology, School of Psychology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Hui He
- Institute of Behavior and Psychology, School of Psychology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Junfeng Zhao
- Institute of Behavior and Psychology, School of Psychology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Xiaoming Li
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
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Shephard E, McEwen FS, Earnest T, Friedrich N, Mörtl I, Liang H, Woodhouse E, Tye C, Bolton PF. Oscillatory neural network alterations in young people with tuberous sclerosis complex and associations with co-occurring symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Cortex 2021; 146:50-65. [PMID: 34839218 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations on the TSC1/TSC2 genes, which result in alterations in molecular signalling pathways involved in neurogenesis and hamartomas in the brain and other organs. TSC carries a high risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), although the reasons for this are unclear. One proposal is that TSC-related alterations in molecular signalling during neurogenesis lead to atypical development of neural networks, which are involved in the occurrence of ASD and ADHD in TSC. We investigated this proposal in young people with TSC who have been studied longitudinally since their diagnosis in childhood. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to examine oscillatory connectivity in functional neural networks and local and global network organisation during three tasks (resting-state, attentional and inhibitory control Go/Nogo task, upright and inverted face processing task) in participants with TSC (n = 48) compared to an age- and sex-matched group of typically developing Controls (n = 20). Compared to Controls, the TSC group showed hypoconnected neural networks in the alpha frequency during the resting-state and in the theta and alpha frequencies during the Go/Nogo task (P ≤ .008), as well as reduced local network organisation in the theta and alpha frequencies during the Go/Nogo task (F = 3.95, P = .010). There were no significant group differences in network metrics during the face processing task. Increased connectivity in the hypoconnected alpha-range resting-state network was associated with greater ASD and inattentive ADHD symptoms (rho≥.40, P ≤ .036). Reduced local network organisation in the theta-range during the Go/Nogo task was significantly associated with higher hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms (rho = -.43, P = .041). These findings suggest that TSC is associated with widespread hypoconnectivity in neural networks and support the proposal that altered network function may be involved in the co-occurrence of ASD and ADHD in TSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Shephard
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Fiona S McEwen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; Department of Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - Thomas Earnest
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK
| | - Nina Friedrich
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK
| | - Isabelle Mörtl
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK
| | - Holan Liang
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Emma Woodhouse
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK
| | | | - Charlotte Tye
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK
| | - Patrick F Bolton
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; The Maudsley NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Mental Health, King's College London and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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15
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Bellato A, Norman L, Idrees I, Ogawa CY, Waitt A, Zuccolo PF, Tye C, Radua J, Groom MJ, Shephard E. A systematic review and meta-analysis of altered electrophysiological markers of performance monitoring in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Autism. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:964-987. [PMID: 34687698 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Altered performance monitoring is implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of electrophysiological correlates of performance monitoring (error-related negativity, ERN; error positivity, Pe; feedback-related negativity, FRN; feedback-P3) in individuals with OCD, GTS, ADHD or autism compared to control participants, or associations between correlates and symptoms/traits of these conditions. Meta-analyses on 97 studies (5890 participants) showed increased ERN in OCD (Hedge's g = 0.54[CIs:0.44,0.65]) and GTS (g = 0.99[CIs:0.05,1.93]). OCD also showed increased Pe (g = 0.51[CIs:0.21,0.81]) and FRN (g = 0.50[CIs:0.26,0.73]). ADHD and autism showed reduced ERN (ADHD: g=-0.47[CIs:-0.67,-0.26]; autism: g=-0.61[CIs:-1.10,-0.13]). ADHD also showed reduced Pe (g=-0.50[CIs:-0.69,-0.32]). These findings suggest overlap in electrophysiological markers of performance monitoring alterations in four common neurodevelopmental conditions, with increased amplitudes of the markers in OCD and GTS and decreased amplitudes in ADHD and autism. Implications of these findings in terms of shared and distinct performance monitoring alterations across these neurodevelopmental conditions are discussed. PROSPERO pre-registration code: CRD42019134612.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Bellato
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK; Academic Unit of Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Luke Norman
- Section on Neurobehavioral and Clinical Research, Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Iman Idrees
- Academic Unit of Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Carolina Y Ogawa
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alice Waitt
- Academic Unit of Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Pedro F Zuccolo
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Charlotte Tye
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Joaquim Radua
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK; Imaging of Mood- and Anxiety-Related Disorders (IMARD) Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatric Research and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Madeleine J Groom
- Academic Unit of Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Elizabeth Shephard
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Ueda R, Takeichi H, Kaga Y, Oguri M, Saito Y, Nakagawa E, Maegaki Y, Inagaki M. Atypical gamma functional connectivity pattern during light sleep in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Brain Dev 2020; 42:129-139. [PMID: 31761311 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2019.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We examined functional connectivity analyses in electroencephalograms (EEGs) of patients with attention deficit hyperactivitydisorder (ADHD) and in those of typically developing children (TDC) to uncover neurobiological abnormalities. METHODOLOGY We enrolled 31 children with ADHD (mean age 11.1 years; 23 boys) and 17 sex-, age-, and intelligence-matched TDC to undergo 19-channel EEGs during light sleep. We estimated functional connectivity using the phase lag index (PLI) and coherence measurements that capture the synchronization of EEG signals and graphed metrics with GRETNA. We also performed continuous performance tests (CPTs) on the children and obtained answered questionnaires on ADHD and autism spectrum disorder. RESULTS The central-to-posterior gamma PLI was lower in children with ADHD than that in TDC. The other PLI frequency bands and all coherence frequency bands were not statistically different between both groups. Individuals with high hyperactivity scores on questionnaires and low reaction times (SDs) on CPT had low motor and occipital pairs of gamma PLIs. Graph metrics showed no differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS The difference in averaged gamma PLI (especially with motor and occipital pairs) between groups was more suitable for diagnosis than the averaged coherence. Lower averaged gamma PLIs reflected more severe ADHD symptoms. A prospective study with more controlled conditions is warranted to determine if gamma-band PLI can be used as an auxiliary tool for ADHD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riyo Ueda
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Frontier Medicine and Pharmacy, Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Hiroshige Takeichi
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshimi Kaga
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Oguri
- Department of Pathobiological Science and Technology, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Saito
- Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eiji Nakagawa
- Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Maegaki
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Masumi Inagaki
- Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Frontier Medicine and Pharmacy, Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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17
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Xie W, Jensen SKG, Wade M, Kumar S, Westerlund A, Kakon SH, Haque R, Petri WA, Nelson CA. Growth faltering is associated with altered brain functional connectivity and cognitive outcomes in urban Bangladeshi children exposed to early adversity. BMC Med 2019; 17:199. [PMID: 31760950 PMCID: PMC6876085 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-019-1431-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stunting affects more than 161 million children worldwide and can compromise cognitive development beginning early in childhood. There is a paucity of research using neuroimaging tools in conjunction with sensitive behavioral assays in low-income settings, which has hindered researchers' ability to explain how stunting impacts brain and behavioral development. We employed high-density EEG to examine associations among children's physical growth, brain functional connectivity (FC), and cognitive development. METHODS We recruited participants from an urban impoverished neighborhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh. One infant cohort consisted of 92 infants whose height (length) was measured at 3, 4.5, and 6 months; EEG data were collected at 6 months; and cognitive outcomes were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning at 27 months. A second, older cohort consisted of 118 children whose height was measured at 24, 30, and 36 months; EEG data were collected at 36 months; and Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores were assessed at 48 months. Height-for-age (HAZ) z-scores were calculated based on the World Health Organization standard. EEG FC in different frequency bands was calculated in the cortical source space. Linear regression and longitudinal path analysis were conducted to test the associations between variables, as well as the indirect effect of child growth on cognitive outcomes via brain FC. RESULTS In the older cohort, we found that HAZ was negatively related to brain FC in the theta and beta frequency bands, which in turn was negatively related to children's IQ score at 48 months. Longitudinal path analysis showed an indirect effect of HAZ on children's IQ via brain FC in both the theta and beta bands. There were no associations between HAZ and brain FC or cognitive outcomes in the infant cohort. CONCLUSIONS The association observed between child growth and brain FC may reflect a broad deleterious effect of malnutrition on children's brain development. The mediation effect of FC on the relation between child growth and later IQ provides the first evidence suggesting that brain FC may serve as a neural pathway by which biological adversity impacts cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanze Xie
- Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA. .,Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| | - Sarah K G Jensen
- Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Mark Wade
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, USA
| | - Swapna Kumar
- Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - Alissa Westerlund
- Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | | | | | - William A Petri
- Infectious Diseases & International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA. .,Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. .,Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, USA.
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