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Müller VI, Cieslik EC, Ficco L, Tyralla S, Sepehry AA, Aziz-Safaie T, Feng C, Eickhoff SB, Langner R. Not All Stroop-Type Tasks Are Alike: Assessing the Impact of Stimulus Material, Task Design, and Cognitive Demand via Meta-analyses Across Neuroimaging Studies. Neuropsychol Rev 2024:10.1007/s11065-024-09647-1. [PMID: 39264479 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-024-09647-1] [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: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
The Stroop effect is one of the most often studied examples of cognitive conflict processing. Over time, many variants of the classic Stroop task were used, including versions with different stimulus material, control conditions, presentation design, and combinations with additional cognitive demands. The neural and behavioral impact of this experimental variety, however, has never been systematically assessed. We used activation likelihood meta-analysis to summarize neuroimaging findings with Stroop-type tasks and to investigate whether involvement of the multiple-demand network (anterior insula, lateral frontal cortex, intraparietal sulcus, superior/inferior parietal lobules, midcingulate cortex, and pre-supplementary motor area) can be attributed to resolving some higher-order conflict that all of the tasks have in common, or if aspects that vary between task versions lead to specialization within this network. Across 133 neuroimaging experiments, incongruence processing in the color-word Stroop variant consistently recruited regions of the multiple-demand network, with modulation of spatial convergence by task variants. In addition, the neural patterns related to solving Stroop-like interference differed between versions of the task that use different stimulus material, with the only overlap between color-word, emotional picture-word, and other types of stimulus material in the posterior medial frontal cortex and right anterior insula. Follow-up analyses on behavior reported in these studies (in total 164 effect sizes) revealed only little impact of task variations on the mean effect size of reaction time. These results suggest qualitative processing differences among the family of Stroop variants, despite similar task difficulty levels, and should carefully be considered when planning or interpreting Stroop-type neuroimaging experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika I Müller
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-7, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Edna C Cieslik
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-7, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Linda Ficco
- Department of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Department of Linguistics and Cultural Evolution, International Max Planck Research School for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Sandra Tyralla
- Institute for Experimental Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Amir Ali Sepehry
- Clinical Psychology Program, Adler University (Vancouver Campus), Vancouver, Canada
| | - Taraneh Aziz-Safaie
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-7, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Chunliang Feng
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-7, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Robert Langner
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-7, Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Qi L, Wang GL, Yang YL, Yang SY, Liu LQ, Zhang JW. Positive effects of brisk walking and Tai Chi on cognitive function in older adults: An fNIRS study. Physiol Behav 2024; 273:114390. [PMID: 37890605 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Exercise has shown to have beneficial effects on cognition in older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cortical hemodynamic responses during the word-color Stroop test (WCST) prior and after acute walking and Tai Chi exercise by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twenty participants (9 males, mean age 62.8 ± 5.2), first underwent a baseline WCST test, after which they took three WCST tests in a randomized order, (a) after sitting rest (control), (b) after 6 minutes performing Tai Chi Quan, and (c) after a bout of 6 minutes brisk walking. During these four WCST tests cortical hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal area were monitored with fNIRS. Both brisk walking and Tai Chi enhanced hemodynamic activity during the Stroop incongruent tasks, leading to improved cognitive performance (quicker reaction time). Brisk walking induced a greater hemodynamic activity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) area, whereas Tai Chi induced a greater bilateral hemodynamic activity in the DLPFC and VLPFC areas. The present study provided empirical evidence of enhanced hemodynamic response in task- specific regions of the brain that can be achieved by a mere six minutes of brisk walking or Tai Chi in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Qi
- School of Artificial intelligence, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China.
| | - Guo-Liang Wang
- School of Artificial intelligence, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China
| | - Yu-Long Yang
- Faculty of Physical Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China
| | - Shu-Ye Yang
- Faculty of Physical Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China
| | - Li-Qing Liu
- Faculty of Physical Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China
| | - Jian-Wei Zhang
- School of Artificial intelligence, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China
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Forte G, Troisi G, Favieri F, De Pascalis V, Langher V, Casagrande M. Inhibition and Heart Rate Variability in Experimentally Induced Pain. J Pain Res 2023; 16:3239-3249. [PMID: 37790193 PMCID: PMC10542212 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s418238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pain is a complex experience that requires executive functions (EFs) to be processed. The autonomic outcome of the neural networks involved in the cognitive evaluation of pain is reflected by heart rate variability (HRV), an index of self-regulation abilities. Although some results suggest a relationship between HRV, EFs, and pain, studies focusing on this three-way relationship are still scarce. Objective This study aims to investigate the relationship between pain, cognitive, and autonomic mechanisms, hypothesizing an association between resting HRV and both cognitive and motor inhibition as indices of executive functioning. This relationship was investigated after an experimental-induced pain. Methods Seventy-six young adults were exposed to the Cold Pressure Arm Warp to induce experimental pain. HRV was collected, and cognitive tasks were administered to assess executive performance. Results The results showed that (1) HRV indices significantly increased during pain stimulation, (2) cognitive inhibition was positively correlated with vagal indices and with pain parameters, (3) both inhibition tasks significantly predicted pain threshold while the performance on the Stroop Task predicted pain tolerance. Conclusion Results suggest a three-way relationship. Further research would focus on the role of HRV and cognitive strategies in pain management in chronic pain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Forte
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Giovanna Troisi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Francesca Favieri
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | | | - Viviana Langher
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
| | - Maria Casagrande
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, 00185, Italy
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Fesharaki NJ, Taylor A, Mosby K, Kim JH, Ress D. Global effects of aging on the hemodynamic response function in the human brain. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3299293. [PMID: 37720046 PMCID: PMC10503846 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3299293/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
In functional magnetic resonance imaging, the hemodynamic response function (HRF) is a transient, stereotypical response to local changes in cerebral hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism due to briefly (< 4 s) evoked neural activity. Accordingly, the HRF is often used as an impulse response with the assumption of linearity in data analysis. In cognitive aging studies, it has been very common to interpret differences in brain activation as age-related changes in neural activity. Contrary to this assumption, however, evidence has accrued that normal aging may also significantly affect the vasculature, thereby affecting cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism, confounding interpretation of fMRI aging studies. In this study, use was made of a multisensory stimulus to evoke the HRF in ~ 87% of cerebral cortex in cognitively intact adults with ages ranging from 22-75 years. The stimulus evokes both positive and negative HRFs, which were characterized using model-free parameters in native-space coordinates. Results showed significant age trends in HRF parameter distributions in terms of both amplitudes (e.g., peak amplitude and CNR) and temporal dynamics (e.g., full-width-at-half-maximum). This work sets the stage for using HRF methods as a biomarker for age-related pathology.
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Schmidt N, Menéndez-Granda M, Münger R, Reber TP, Bayen UJ, Gümüsdagli FE, Hering A, Joly-Burra E, Kliegel M, Peter J. Modulating prospective memory and attentional control with high-definition transcranial current stimulation: Study protocol of a randomized, double-blind, and sham-controlled trial in healthy older adults. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289532. [PMID: 37549139 PMCID: PMC10406223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to remember future intentions (i.e., prospective memory) is influenced by attentional control. At the neuronal level, frontal and parietal brain regions have been related to attentional control and prospective memory. It is debated, however, whether more or less activity in these regions is beneficial for older adults' performance. We will test that by systematically enhancing or inhibiting activity in these regions with anodal or cathodal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults. We will include n = 105 healthy older volunteers (60-75 years of age) in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, and parallel-group design. The participants will receive either cathodal, anodal, or sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation of the left or right inferior frontal gyrus, or the right superior parietal gyrus (1mA for 20 min). During and after stimulation, the participants will complete tasks of attentional control and prospective memory. The results of this study will clarify how frontal and parietal brain regions contribute to attentional control and prospective memory in older healthy adults. In addition, we will elucidate the relationship between attentional control and prospective memory in that age group. The study has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on the 12th of May 2021 (trial identifier: NCT04882527).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Schmidt
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marta Menéndez-Granda
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ronya Münger
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas P. Reber
- Faculty of Psychology, Uni Distance Suisse, Brig, Switzerland
| | - Ute J. Bayen
- Institute for Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Fabian E. Gümüsdagli
- Institute for Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Alexandra Hering
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg School for Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Emilie Joly-Burra
- Cognitive Aging Lab (CAL), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research, LIVES Centre, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Kliegel
- Cognitive Aging Lab (CAL), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research, LIVES Centre, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Peter
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Unger N, Haeck M, Eickhoff SB, Camilleri JA, Dickscheid T, Mohlberg H, Bludau S, Caspers S, Amunts K. Cytoarchitectonic mapping of the human frontal operculum-New correlates for a variety of brain functions. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1087026. [PMID: 37448625 PMCID: PMC10336231 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1087026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The human frontal operculum (FOp) is a brain region that covers parts of the ventral frontal cortex next to the insula. Functional imaging studies showed activations in this region in tasks related to language, somatosensory, and cognitive functions. While the precise cytoarchitectonic areas that correlate to these processes have not yet been revealed, earlier receptorarchitectonic analysis resulted in a detailed parcellation of the FOp. We complemented this analysis by a cytoarchitectonic study of a sample of ten postmortem brains and mapped the posterior FOp in serial, cell-body stained histological sections using image analysis and multivariate statistics. Three new areas were identified: Op5 represents the most posterior area, followed by Op6 and the most anterior region Op7. Areas Op5-Op7 approach the insula, up to the circular sulcus. Area 44 of Broca's region, the most ventral part of premotor area 6, and parts of the parietal operculum are dorso-laterally adjacent to Op5-Op7. The areas did not show any interhemispheric or sex differences. Three-dimensional probability maps and a maximum probability map were generated in stereotaxic space, and then used, in a first proof-of-concept-study, for functional decoding and analysis of structural and functional connectivity. Functional decoding revealed different profiles of cytoarchitectonically identified Op5-Op7. While left Op6 was active in music cognition, right Op5 was involved in chewing/swallowing and sexual processing. Both areas showed activation during the exercise of isometric force in muscles. An involvement in the coordination of flexion/extension could be shown for the right Op6. Meta-analytic connectivity modeling revealed various functional connections of the FOp areas within motor and somatosensory networks, with the most evident connection with the music/language network for Op6 left. The new cytoarchitectonic maps are part of Julich-Brain, and publicly available to serve as a basis for future analyses of structural-functional relationships in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Unger
- Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | | | - Simon B. Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julia A. Camilleri
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Timo Dickscheid
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Computer Science, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hartmut Mohlberg
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bludau
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Svenja Caspers
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Katrin Amunts
- Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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Fischer F, Malherbe C, Schlemm E, Schröder J, Heinze M, Cheng B, Schulz M, Fiehler J, Larena-Avellaneda A, Gerloff C, Thomalla G. Intrinsic functional brain connectivity is resilient to chronic hypoperfusion caused by unilateral carotid artery stenosis. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 34:103014. [PMID: 35483135 PMCID: PMC9125779 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Unilateral internal carotid artery stenosis leads to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. rsfMRI functional connectivity is well-compensated in asymptomatic ICA stenosis. Functional network properties remain stable before and after revascularization.
Introduction Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion caused by asymptomatic high-grade stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) has been associated with impaired cognitive function. Only few studies exist on underlying changes of functional connectivity (FC). Methods 20 patients with unilateral high-grade ICA stenosis without MRI lesions and 25 aged-match controls underwent resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) and neuropsychological assessment. Patients were examined within ten days before and 6–10 weeks after surgical or interventional revascularization of carotid stenosis. We examined mean resting-state FC ipsi- and contralateral to stenosis and network topology using graph-theoretical measures. Results At baseline, intrahemispheric FC was similar for patients and healthy controls. After revascularization mean FC increased moderately without an effect on network topology. Patients performed worse in TMT B and Stroop test, while performance in global screening tests for dementia (Mini Mental Status Examination, DemTect) were comparable. Test results did not improve after revascularization. Conclusion In our study population, we find no effect of chronic hypoperfusion on FC and global cognitive function, although we observe minor impairments in processing speed and mental flexibility. The subtle increase of FC after revascularization could indicate excessive upregulation after restoration of perfusion. However, it might as well be a coincidental finding due to the limited sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Fischer
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Caroline Malherbe
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Computational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eckhard Schlemm
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julian Schröder
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marlene Heinze
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bastian Cheng
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Schulz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jens Fiehler
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Götz Thomalla
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Abnormal EEG Signal Energy in the Elderly: A Wavelet Analysis of Event-related Potentials During a Stroop Task. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 376:109608. [PMID: 35487316 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous work showed that elderly with excess in theta activity in their resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) are at higher risk of cognitive decline than those with a normal EEG. By using event-related potentials (ERP) during a counting Stroop task, our prior work showed that elderly with theta excess have a large P300 component compared with normal EEG group. This increased activity could be related to a higher EEG signal energy used during this task. NEW METHOD By wavelet analysis applied to ERP obtained during a counting Stroop task we quantified the energy in the different frequency bands of a group of elderly with altered EEG. RESULTS In theta and alpha bands, the total energy was higher in elderly subjects with theta excess, specifically in the stimulus categorization window (258-516 ms). Both groups solved the task with similar efficiency. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS The traditional ERP analysis in elderly compares voltage among conditions and groups for a given time windows, while the frequency composition is not usually examined. We complemented our previous ERP analysis using a wavelet methodology. Furthermore, we showed the advantages of wavelet analysis over Short Time Fourier Transform when exploring EEG signal during this task. CONCLUSIONS The higher EEG signal energy in ERP might reflect undergoing neurobiological mechanisms that allow the elderly with theta excess to cope with the cognitive task with similar behavioral results as the normal EEG group. This increased energy could promote a metabolic and cellular dysregulation causing a greater decline in cognitive function.
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Don HJ, Davis T, Ray KL, McMahon MC, Cornwall AC, Schnyer DM, Worthy DA. Neural regions associated with gain-loss frequency and average reward in older and younger adults. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 109:247-258. [PMID: 34818618 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Research on the biological basis of reinforcement-learning has focused on how brain regions track expected value based on average reward. However, recent work suggests that humans are more attuned to reward frequency. Furthermore, older adults are less likely to use expected values to guide choice than younger adults. This raises the question of whether brain regions assumed to be sensitive to average reward, like the medial and lateral PFC, also track reward frequency, and whether there are age-based differences. Older (60-81 years) and younger (18-30 years) adults performed the Soochow Gambling task, which separates reward frequency from average reward, while undergoing fMRI. Overall, participants preferred options that provided negative net payoffs, but frequent gains. Older adults improved less over time, were more reactive to recent negative outcomes, and showed greater frequency-related activation in several regions, including DLPFC. We also found broader recruitment of prefrontal and parietal regions associated with frequency value and reward prediction errors in older adults, which may indicate compensation. The results suggest greater reliance on average reward for younger adults than older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary J Don
- Texas A&M University, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College Station, Texas, USA.
| | - Tyler Davis
- Texas Tech University, Department of Psychological Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Kimberly L Ray
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Megan C McMahon
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Astin C Cornwall
- Texas A&M University, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - David M Schnyer
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Darrell A Worthy
- Texas A&M University, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College Station, Texas, USA
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Cognitive Control Promotes Either Honesty or Dishonesty, Depending on One's Moral Default. J Neurosci 2021; 41:8815-8825. [PMID: 34518305 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0666-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive control is crucially involved in making (dis)honest decisions. However, the precise nature of this role has been hotly debated. Is honesty an intuitive response, or is will power needed to override an intuitive inclination to cheat? A reconciliation of these conflicting views proposes that cognitive control enables dishonest participants to be honest, whereas it allows those who are generally honest to cheat. Thus, cognitive control does not promote (dis)honesty per se; it depends on one's moral default. In the present study, we tested this proposal using electroencephalograms in humans (males and females) in combination with an independent localizer (Stroop task) to mitigate the problem of reverse inference. Our analysis revealed that the neural signature evoked by cognitive control demands in the Stroop task can be used to estimate (dis)honest choices in an independent cheating task, providing converging evidence that cognitive control can indeed help honest participants to cheat, whereas it facilitates honesty for cheaters.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dishonesty causes enormous economic losses. To target dishonesty with interventions, a rigorous understanding of the underlying cognitive mechanisms is required. A recent study found that cognitive control enables honest participants to cheat, whereas it helps cheaters to be honest. However, it is evident that a single study does not suffice as support for a novel hypothesis. Therefore, we tested the replicability of this finding using a different modality (EEG instead of fMRI) together with an independent localizer task to avoid reverse inference. We find that the same neural signature evoked by cognitive control demands in the localizer task can be used to estimate (dis)honesty in an independent cheating task, establishing converging evidence that the effect of cognitive control indeed depends on a person's moral default.
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Heckner MK, Cieslik EC, Eickhoff SB, Camilleri JA, Hoffstaedter F, Langner R. The Aging Brain and Executive Functions Revisited: Implications from Meta-analytic and Functional-Connectivity Evidence. J Cogn Neurosci 2021; 33:1716-1752. [PMID: 32762523 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Healthy aging is associated with changes in cognitive performance, including executive functions (EFs) and their associated brain activation patterns. However, it has remained unclear which EF-related brain regions are affected consistently, because the results of pertinent neuroimaging studies and earlier meta-analyses vary considerably. We, therefore, conducted new rigorous meta-analyses of published age differences in EF-related brain activity. Out of a larger set of regions associated with EFs, only left inferior frontal junction and left anterior cuneus/precuneus were found to show consistent age differences. To further characterize these two age-sensitive regions, we performed seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (RS-FC) analyses using fMRI data from a large adult sample with a wide age range. We also assessed associations of the two regions' whole-brain RS-FC patterns with age and EF performance. Although our results largely point toward a domain-general role of left inferior frontal junction in EFs, the pattern of individual study contributions to the meta-analytic results suggests process-specific modulations by age. Our analyses further indicate that the left anterior cuneus/precuneus is recruited differently by older (compared with younger) adults during EF tasks, potentially reflecting inefficiencies in switching the attentional focus. Overall, our findings question earlier meta-analytic results and suggest a larger heterogeneity of age-related differences in brain activity associated with EFs. Hence, they encourage future research that pays greater attention to replicability, investigates age-related differences in deactivation, and focuses on more narrowly defined EF subprocesses, combining multiple behavioral assessments with multimodal imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa K Heckner
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich.,Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
| | - Edna C Cieslik
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich.,Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich.,Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
| | - Julia A Camilleri
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich.,Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
| | - Felix Hoffstaedter
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich.,Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
| | - Robert Langner
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain and Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich.,Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
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12
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Matsuo T, Ishii A, Ishida R, Minami T, Yoshikawa T. Neural correlates of the improvement of cognitive performance resulting from enhanced sense of competence: A magnetoencephalography study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255272. [PMID: 34297767 PMCID: PMC8301610 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The alterations in neural activity related to the improvement of cognitive performance, which would be leading to better academic performance, remain poorly understood. In the present study, we assessed neural activity related to the improvement of task performance resulting from academic rewards. Twenty healthy male volunteers participated in this study. All participants performed four sessions of a 1-back-Stroop task under both target and control conditions. An image indicating that the task performance of each participant was above average and categorized as being at almost the highest level was presented immediately after each session under the target condition, whereas a control image did not indicate task performance. Neural activity during the 1-back-Stroop task was recorded by magnetoencephalography. The correction rate of the 1-back-Stroop task in the final session relative to that in the first under the target condition was increased compared with the control condition. Correlation analysis revealed that the decreases in alpha band power in right Brodmann’s area (BA) 47 and left BA 7 were positively associated with the increased correction rate caused by the target condition. These findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the improvement of cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Matsuo
- Department of Sports Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akira Ishii
- Department of Sports Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City, Osaka, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Rika Ishida
- Department of Sports Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takayuki Minami
- Department of Sports Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Yoshikawa
- Department of Sports Medicine, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City, Osaka, Japan
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13
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Pearson AG, Miller KB, Corkery AT, Eisenmann NA, Howery AJ, Carl AE, Eldridge MW, Barnes JN. Impact of age and cyclooxygenase inhibition on the hemodynamic response to acute cognitive challenges. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 321:R208-R219. [PMID: 34161746 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00048.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Structural and functional changes in the cerebral vasculature occur with advancing age, which may lead to impaired neurovascular coupling (NVC) and cognitive decline. Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition abolishes age-related differences in cerebrovascular reactivity, but it is unclear if COX inhibition impacts NVC. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of aging on NVC before and after COX inhibition. Twenty-three young (age = 25 ± 4 yr) and 21 older (age = 64 ± 5 yr) adults completed two levels of difficulty of the Stroop and n-back tests before and after COX inhibition. Middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) was measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was measured using a finger cuff. Hemodynamic variables were measured at rest and in response to cognitive challenges. During the Stroop test, older adults demonstrated a greater increase in MCAv (young: 2.2 ± 6.8% vs. older: 5.9 ± 5.8%; P = 0.030) and MAP (young: 2.0 ± 4.9% vs. older: 4.8 ± 4.9%; P = 0.036) compared with young adults. There were no age-related differences during the n-back test. COX inhibition reduced MCAv by 30% in young and 26% in older adults (P < 0.001 for both). During COX inhibition, there were no age-related differences in the percent change in MCAv or MAP in response to the cognitive tests. Our results show that older adults require greater increases in MCAv and MAP during a test of executive function compared with young adults and that any age-related differences in NVC were abolished during COX inhibition. Collectively, this suggests that aging is associated with greater NVC necessary to accomplish a cognitive task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Pearson
- Bruno Balke Biodynamics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kathleen B Miller
- Bruno Balke Biodynamics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Adam T Corkery
- Bruno Balke Biodynamics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Nicole A Eisenmann
- Bruno Balke Biodynamics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Anna J Howery
- Bruno Balke Biodynamics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Alexandra E Carl
- Bruno Balke Biodynamics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Marlowe W Eldridge
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.,John Rankin Laboratory of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jill N Barnes
- Bruno Balke Biodynamics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.,Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
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14
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Jones SA, Noppeney U. Ageing and multisensory integration: A review of the evidence, and a computational perspective. Cortex 2021; 138:1-23. [PMID: 33676086 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The processing of multisensory signals is crucial for effective interaction with the environment, but our ability to perform this vital function changes as we age. In the first part of this review, we summarise existing research into the effects of healthy ageing on multisensory integration. We note that age differences vary substantially with the paradigms and stimuli used: older adults often receive at least as much benefit (to both accuracy and response times) as younger controls from congruent multisensory stimuli, but are also consistently more negatively impacted by the presence of intersensory conflict. In the second part, we outline a normative Bayesian framework that provides a principled and computationally informed perspective on the key ingredients involved in multisensory perception, and how these are affected by ageing. Applying this framework to the existing literature, we conclude that changes to sensory reliability, prior expectations (together with attentional control), and decisional strategies all contribute to the age differences observed. However, we find no compelling evidence of any age-related changes to the basic inference mechanisms involved in multisensory perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Jones
- The Staffordshire Centre for Psychological Research, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
| | - Uta Noppeney
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition & Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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15
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Belghali M, Statsenko Y, Laver V. Stroop switching card test: brief screening of executive functions across the lifespan. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2020; 29:14-33. [PMID: 33161873 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1844865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to: (1) propose a novel version of the Stroop switching test, namely the Stroop Switching Card Test (SSCT), to assess the overall efficiency of executive functions (EF) and its underlying cognitive processes (conflict resolution and conflict adaptation); (2) examine the utility of the SSCT in the assessment of EF in different age groups (age range 15-75 years), compare its results with standard neuropsychological tests (SNT), and (3) examine the contribution of both the processing speed and cognitive reserve on the performance of all used tests. The SSCT showed more sensitivity to detect subtle executive dysfunction in the middle age (~50 years). Going further, the SSCT revealed a progressive decline in conflict adaptation over two life periods. The first period of decline started at ~50 years and the second at~ 65 years. The processing speed and cognitive reserve had a prominent role in our results, notably in SSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maroua Belghali
- INSERM, COMETE, GIP CYCERON, Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, Caen, Research Unit: Aging, Health & Diseases, Caen, France.,College of Education, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Yauhen Statsenko
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vasyl Laver
- Department of Informative and Operating Systems and Technologies, Uzhhorod National University, Uzhhorod, Ukraine
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16
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Le TM, Chao H, Levy I, Li CSR. Age-Related Changes in the Neural Processes of Reward-Directed Action and Inhibition of Action. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1121. [PMID: 32587547 PMCID: PMC7298110 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with structural and functional brain changes which may impact the regulation of motivated behaviors, including both action and inhibition of action. As behavioral regulation is often exercised in response to reward, it remains unclear how aging may influence reward-directed action and inhibition of action differently. Here we addressed this issue with the functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 72 participants (aged 21-74) performing a reward go/no-go (GNG) task with approximately 2/3 go and 1/3 no-go trials. The go and no-go success trials were rewarded with a dollar or a nickel, and the incorrect responses were penalized. An additional block of the GNG task without reward/punishment served as the control to account for age-related slowing in processing speed. The results showed a prolonged response time (RT) in rewarded (vs. control) go trials with increasing age. Whole-brain multiple regressions of rewarded (vs. control) go trials against age and RT both revealed an age-related reduced activity of the anterior insula, middle frontal gyrus, and rostral anterior cingulate cortex. Furthermore, activity from these regions mediated the relationship between age and go performance. During rewarded (vs. control) no-go trials, age was associated with increased accuracy rate but decreased activation in the medial superior frontal and postcentral gyri. As these regions also exhibited age-related activity reduction during rewarded go, the finding suggests aging effects on common brain substrates that regulate both action and action inhibition. Taken together, age shows a broad negative modulation on neural activations but differential effects on performance during rewarded action and inhibition of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thang M. Le
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Herta Chao
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ifat Levy
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Chiang-Shan R. Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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17
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Fernandez NB, Trost WJ, Vuilleumier P. Brain networks mediating the influence of background music on selective attention. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 14:1441-1452. [PMID: 31993668 PMCID: PMC7137722 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Prevalent across societies and times, music has the ability to enhance attention, a property relevant to clinical applications, but the underlying brain mechanisms remain unknown. It is also unclear whether music produces similar or differential effects with advancing age. Here, we used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the influence of music exposure evoking four types of emotions on distinct attentional components measured with a modified attention network test, across 19 young (21 ± 2.6) and 33 old participants (72 ± 5.4). We then determined whether music-related effects differed across age groups and whether they were associated with particular acoustic features. Background music during selective attention requiring distractor conflict resolution was associated with faster response times and greater activations of fronto-parietal areas during happy and high-arousing music, whereas sad and low-valence music was associated with slower responses and greater occipital recruitment. Shifting and altering components of attention were unaffected. The influence of music on performance and brain networks was similar between age groups. These behavioral and neuroimaging results demonstrate the importance of affective music dimensions, particularly arousal, in enhancing selective attention processes. This study adds novel support to the benefits of music in the rehabilitation of attention functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia B Fernandez
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Swiss Center of Affective Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Wiebke J Trost
- Swiss Center of Affective Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patrik Vuilleumier
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Swiss Center of Affective Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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18
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Zhao J, Manza P, Wiers C, Song H, Zhuang P, Gu J, Shi Y, Wang GJ, He D. Age-Related Decreases in Interhemispheric Resting-State Functional Connectivity and Their Relationship With Executive Function. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:20. [PMID: 32161532 PMCID: PMC7054233 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related alterations of functional brain networks contribute to cognitive decline. Current theories indicate that age-related intrinsic brain functional reorganization may be a critical marker of cognitive aging. Yet, little is known about how intrinsic interhemispheric functional connectivity changes with age in adults, and how this relates to critical executive functions. To address this, we examined voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC), a metric that quantifies interhemispheric communication, in 93 healthy volunteers (age range: 19-85) with executive function assessment using the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) scales. Resting functional MRI data were analyzed to assess VMHC, and then a multiple linear regression model was employed to evaluate the relationship between age and the whole-brain VMHC. We observed age-related reductions in VMHC of ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and hippocampus in the medial temporal lobe subsystem, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and insula in salience network, and inferior parietal lobule in frontoparietal control network. Performance on the color-word inhibition task was associated with VMHC of vmPFC and insula, and VMHC of vmPFC mediated the relationship between age and CWIT inhibition reaction times. The percent ratio of correct design scores in design fluency test correlated positively with VMHC of the inferior parietal lobule. The current study suggests that brain interhemispheric functional alterations may be a promising new avenue for understanding age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jizheng Zhao
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Internet of Things, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural Information Perception and Intelligent Service, Yangling, China
| | - Peter Manza
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Corinde Wiers
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Huaibo Song
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Internet of Things, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural Information Perception and Intelligent Service, Yangling, China
| | - Puning Zhuang
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Internet of Things, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural Information Perception and Intelligent Service, Yangling, China
| | - Jun Gu
- Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Yinggang Shi
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Gene-Jack Wang
- Laboratory of Neuroimaging, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Dongjian He
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Internet of Things, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Agricultural Information Perception and Intelligent Service, Yangling, China
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19
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Himmelmeier RM, Nouchi R, Saito T, Burin D, Wiltfang J, Kawashima R. Study Protocol: Does an Acute Intervention of High-Intensity Physical Exercise Followed by a Brain Training Video Game Have Immediate Effects on Brain Activity of Older People During Stroop Task in fMRI?-A Randomized Controlled Trial With Crossover Design. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:260. [PMID: 31619984 PMCID: PMC6759467 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Elderly people are affected by processes leading to decline in various aspects of daily living that impair their quality of life. Regarding neurological aspects, executive functions have been shown to be valuable for daily life and to slow decline during aging. Most intervention studies intended to improve cognitive functions during aging specifically address long-term destructive processes and countermeasures. However, to an increasing degree, studies also investigate the acute benefits that prove to be useful for daily life, such as physical exercise or video games in the form of exercise video gaming (“exergaming”). Because little is known about the change in cognitive ability following acute intervention of a combination of physical exercise and video gaming, especially for older people, this work is designed as an attempt to address this matter. Methods: This study is a randomized crossover controlled trial to test the response to an acute bout of high-intensity physical exercise followed by a short session with a brain training (Brain Age) video game in physically active and cognitively healthy older adults (60–70 years). The response is measured using Stroop task performance (cognitive task for executive function) and related brain activity assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The control conditions are low-intensity physical exercise and Tetris for video gaming. Discussion: This study is intended to provide insight into the alteration of executive function and its related brain activity from an acute intervention with a combination of physical exercise and video gaming in older people. The protocol might not be implementable in daily life to improve cognitive abilities. However, the results can support future studies that investigate cognition and the combination of physical exercise and video gaming. Moreover, it can provide real-life implications. Trial registration: This trial was registered in The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000033054). Registered 19 July 2018, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000037687.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Maximilian Himmelmeier
- Department of Functional Brain Image, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Department of Functional Brain Image, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart Aging Research Center (SARC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Toshiki Saito
- Department of Functional Brain Image, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Dalila Burin
- Department of Functional Brain Image, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart Aging Research Center (SARC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Göttingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany.,iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Department of Functional Brain Image, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart Aging Research Center (SARC), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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20
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Jacobsen HB, Stubhaug A, Schirmer H, Inge Landrø N, Wilsgaard T, Mathiesen EB, Nielsen CS. Neuropsychological functions of verbal recall and psychomotor speed significantly affect pain tolerance. Eur J Pain 2019; 23:1608-1618. [PMID: 31355498 PMCID: PMC6790685 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Background Effects from cognitive performance on pain tolerance have been documented, however, sample sizes are small and confounders often overlooked. We aimed to establish that performance on neuropsychological tests was associated with pain tolerance, controlling for salient confounders. Methods This was a cross‐sectional study nested within the Tromsø‐6 survey. Neuropsychological test performance and the cold pressor test were investigated in 4,623 participants. Due to significant interaction with age, participants were divided into three age groups (<60, ≥60 to <70 and ≥70 years). Cox proportional hazard models assessed the relationship between neuropsychological tests and cold pressure pain tolerance, using hand‐withdrawal as event. The fully adjusted models controlled for sex, education, BMI, smoking status, exercise, systolic blood pressure, sleep problems and mental distress. Results In the adjusted models, participants aged ≥70 years showed a decreased hazard of hand withdrawal of 18% (HR 0.82, 95% CI (0.73, 0.92) per standard deviation on immediate verbal recall, and a decreased hazard of 23% (HR 0.77, 95% CI (0.65, 0.08) per standard deviation on psychomotor speed. Participants aged ≥60 to <70 years had a significant decreased hazard of 11% (HR 0.89, 95% CI (0.80, 0.98) per standard deviation on immediate word recall. In participants aged <60 years, there was a decreased hazard of 14% (HR 0.86 95% CI: 0.76, 0.98), per standard deviation on psychomotor speed. Conclusion Better performance on neuropsychological tests increased pain tolerance on the cold pressor test. These exposure effects were present in all age groups. Significance This paper describes substantial associations between cognitive functioning and cold pressor tolerance in 4,623 participants. Reduced psychomotor speed and poor verbal recall gave greater odds for hand‐withdrawal on the cold pressor task. The associations were stronger in older participants, indicating an interaction with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Børsting Jacobsen
- Department of Pain Management and Research, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Neuropathic Pain, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Audun Stubhaug
- Department of Pain Management and Research, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Neuropathic Pain, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Henrik Schirmer
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Cardiology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.,Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Nils Inge Landrø
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,National Competence Centre for Complex Symptom Disorders, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tom Wilsgaard
- Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ellisiv Bøgeberg Mathiesen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Christopher Sivert Nielsen
- Department of Pain Management and Research, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Neuropathic Pain, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Division of Ageing and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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21
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MacPherson MK. Cognitive Load Affects Speech Motor Performance Differently in Older and Younger Adults. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2019; 62:1258-1277. [PMID: 31051090 DOI: 10.1044/2018_jslhr-s-17-0222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the impact of cognitive load imposed by a speech production task on the speech motor performance of healthy older and younger adults. Response inhibition, selective attention, and working memory were the primary cognitive processes of interest. Method Twelve healthy older and 12 healthy younger adults produced multiple repetitions of 4 sentences containing an embedded Stroop task in 2 cognitive load conditions: congruent and incongruent. The incongruent condition, which required participants to suppress orthographic information to say the font colors in which color words were written, represented an increase in cognitive load relative to the congruent condition in which word text and font color matched. Kinematic measures of articulatory coordination variability and movement duration as well as a behavioral measure of sentence production accuracy were compared between groups and conditions and across 3 sentence segments (pre-, during-, and post-Stroop). Results Increased cognitive load in the incongruent condition was associated with increased articulatory coordination variability and movement duration, compared to the congruent Stroop condition, for both age groups. Overall, the effect of increased cognitive load was greater for older adults than younger adults and was greatest in the portion of the sentence in which cognitive load was manipulated (during-Stroop), followed by the pre-Stroop segment. Sentence production accuracy was reduced for older adults in the incongruent condition. Conclusions Increased cognitive load involving response inhibition, selective attention, and working memory processes within a speech production task disrupted both the stability and timing with which speech was produced by both age groups. Older adults' speech motor performance may have been more affected due to age-related changes in cognitive and motoric functions that result in altered motor cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan K MacPherson
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant
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22
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Debatin T. A Revised Mental Energy Hypothesis of the g Factor in Light of Recent Neuroscience. REVIEW OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/1089268019832846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The article proposes a revised mental energy hypothesis for the emergence of the g factor. Charles E. Spearman interpreted the g factor as a kind of domain-general mental energy. Nowadays, it is known that the energy currency of organisms is the chemical energy transporter adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is produced by complex metabolic processes (mainly by glucose oxidation), and most of it in the human brain is used for neural signaling. There are substantial individual differences in the metabolic properties of the brain, which lead to different levels of energy production. It is thereby proposed to place more emphasis on individual differences of metabolic functions in intelligence research. Neuroscientific findings suggest that increased brain metabolism and, therefore, higher energy-production levels facilitate better performance on different cognitive tasks. These findings are not in conflict with the refined neural efficiency hypothesis. In addition, building on Dennis Garlick’s proposal that neural plasticity is the core process underlying the development of the g factor, it is illustrated why ATP is crucial for neural plasticity. Taken together, the direct effects of level of energy production on cognitive performance and the relations with neural plasticity suggest an important role in the emergence of the g factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Debatin
- Friedrich–Alexander University Erlangen–Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany
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23
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Fernandez NB, Hars M, Trombetti A, Vuilleumier P. Age-related changes in attention control and their relationship with gait performance in older adults with high risk of falls. Neuroimage 2019; 189:551-559. [PMID: 30660655 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the elderly worldwide. Both gait impairment and cognitive decline have been shown to constitute major fall risk factors. However, further investigations are required to establish a more precise link between the influence of age on brain systems mediating executive cognitive functions and their relationship with gait disturbances, and thus help define novel markers and better guide remediation strategies to prevent falls. METHODS Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to evaluate age-related effects on the recruitment of executive control brain network in selective attention task, as measured with a flanker paradigm. Brain activation patterns were compared between twenty young (21 years ± 2.5) and thirty-four old participants (72 years ± 5.3) with high fall risks. We then determined to what extend age-related differences in activation patterns were associated with alterations in several gait parameters, measured with electronic devices providing a precise quantitative evaluation of gait, as well as with alterations in several aspects of cognitive and physical abilities. RESULTS We found that both young and old participants recruited a distributed fronto-parietal-occipital network during interference by incongruent distractors in the flanker task. However, additional activations were observed in posterior parieto-occipital areas in the older relative to the younger participants. Furthermore, a differential recruitment of both the left dorsal parieto-occipital sulcus and precuneus was significantly correlated with higher gait variability. Besides, decreased activation in the right cerebellum was found in the older with poorer cognitive processing speed scores. CONCLUSIONS Overall results converge to indicate greater sensitivity to attention interference and heightened recruitment of cortical executive control systems in the elderly with fall risks. Critically, this change was associated with selective increases in gait variability indices, linking attentional control with gait performance in elderly with high risks of falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia B Fernandez
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Dept. of Neurosciences, University Medical Center, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Mélany Hars
- Division of Bone Diseases, Dept. of Internal Medicine Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Trombetti
- Division of Bone Diseases, Dept. of Internal Medicine Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Switzerland
| | - Patrik Vuilleumier
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neurology and Imaging of Cognition, Dept. of Neurosciences, University Medical Center, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland
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Abstract
Healthy aging is associated with numerous deficits in cognitive function, which have been attributed to changes within the prefrontal cortex (PFC). This chapter summarizes some of the most prominent cognitive changes associated with age-related alterations in the anatomy and physiology of the PFC. Specifically, aging of the PFC results in deficient aspects of cognitive control, including sustained attention, selective attention, inhibitory control, working memory, and multitasking abilities. Yet, not all cognitive functions associated with the PFC exhibit age-related declines, such as arithmetic, comprehension, emotion perception, and emotional control. Moreover, not all older adults exhibit declines in cognition. Multiple life-course and lifestyle factors, as well as genetics, play a role in the trajectory of cognitive performance across the life span. Thus many adults retain cognitive function well into advanced age. Moreover, the brain remains plastic throughout life and there is increasing evidence that most age-related declines in cognition can be remediated by various methods such as physical exercise, cognitive training, or noninvasive brain stimulation. Overall, because cognitive aging is associated with numerous life-course and lifestyle factors, successful aging likely begins in early life, while maintaining cognition or remediating declines is a life-long process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.
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25
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Chiti A, Cecchi P, Pesaresi I, Orlandi G, Giannini N, Gialdini G, Terni E, Tognoni G, Volpi L, Pagni C, Ghicopulos I, Siciliano G, Dotti MT, Federico A, Poggesi A, Salvadori E, Pantoni L, Inzitari D, Cosottini M, Bonuccelli U. Functional magnetic resonance imaging with encoding task in patients with mild cognitive impairment and different severity of leukoaraiosis. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2018; 282:126-131. [PMID: 30539733 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2018.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Leukoaraiosis is one of the main contributors to mild cognitive impairment due to vascular damage (vascular MCI, VMCI), whose pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated yet. We aimed to shed light on such issue using functional MRI (fMRI). Sixteen patients with VMCI were enrolled and compared with twenty-five patients with MCI but without significant vascular damage (non-vascular MCI, NVMCI) and with fifteen healthy controls (HC). They all underwent fMRI with incidental verbal learning paradigm, using a 3T scanner. Differently from cases with NVMCI (versus HC), VMCI patients presented a higher BOLD activation in the right parieto-occipital cortex and a lower activation in the left superior and middle frontal gyri, anterior cingulum and in left fronto-opercular area when compared to HC. Cortical activation evaluated by fMRI may reflect specific patterns of damage and attempt of compensation in patients with MCI and different severity of leukoaraiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Chiti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy; Unit of Neurology, Ospedale Apuane, Via Mattei 21, Massa 54100, Italy.
| | - Paolo Cecchi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Risorgimento 36, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pesaresi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Risorgimento 36, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Giovanni Orlandi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy; Unit of Neurology, Ospedale Apuane, Via Mattei 21, Massa 54100, Italy
| | - Nicola Giannini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Gino Gialdini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Eva Terni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Gloria Tognoni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Leda Volpi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Cristina Pagni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Irene Ghicopulos
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Gabriele Siciliano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Dotti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 16, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Antonio Federico
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 16, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Anna Poggesi
- NEUROFARBA Department, Neuroscience Section, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Emilia Salvadori
- NEUROFARBA Department, Neuroscience Section, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Leonardo Pantoni
- "L. Sacco" Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B Grassi, 74, Milan 20157, Italy
| | - Domenico Inzitari
- NEUROFARBA Department, Neuroscience Section, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Mirco Cosottini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Risorgimento 36, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Ubaldo Bonuccelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa 56126, Italy
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26
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Hamasaki A, Akazawa N, Yoshikawa T, Myoenzono K, Tagawa K, Sawano Y, Nishimura M, Maeda S. Central artery stiffness is related to cerebral oxygenation hemodynamics during executive function tasks in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Exp Gerontol 2018; 114:93-98. [PMID: 30399407 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Age-related decreases in cognitive function, cerebral perfusion, and vascular function increase the risk of dementia. However, the effects of central artery stiffness on cerebral oxygenation hemodynamics during executive function tasks and executive function remain unclear. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationships among central artery stiffness, cerebral oxygenation hemodynamics during executive function tasks, and executive function in middle-aged and older adults. Sixty-two middle-aged and older adults (age range: 51-79 years) were recruited for this study. For each participant, we measured the carotid artery β-stiffness, oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) signal change in the prefrontal cortex during the Stroop task, and Stroop interference time. Correlation analyses revealed that the carotid artery β-stiffness was significantly correlated with the Stroop interference time (r = 0.43, P < 0.001) and with the oxy-Hb signal change in the left (r = -0.38, P = 0.002), but not the right, prefrontal cortex. In addition, the Stroop interference time was significantly correlated with the oxy-Hb signal change in the left (r = -0.42, P = 0.001), but not the right, prefrontal cortex. The participants were divided into the low and high arterial stiffness groups according to the median value. We found that the Stroop interference time was significantly shorter (P = 0.006) and the oxy-Hb signal change in the left prefrontal cortex was significantly larger in the low arterial stiffness group than in the high arterial stiffness group (P = 0.011). In the low, but not the high, arterial stiffness group, the oxy-Hb signal change of the left prefrontal cortex during executive function tasks was significantly larger than the oxy-Hb signal change of the right prefrontal cortex (P = 0.014). These results suggest that increases in central artery stiffness are associated with decreases in oxygenation hemodynamics in the left prefrontal cortex during executive function tasks and reductions in executive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Hamasaki
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Akazawa
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; Department of Sport Science, Japan Institute of Sport Sciences, 3-15-1 Nishigaoka, Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toru Yoshikawa
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, Ryutsu Keizai University, 120 Ryugasaki-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kanae Myoenzono
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kaname Tagawa
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yuriko Sawano
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Makoto Nishimura
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Seiji Maeda
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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27
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Endo K, Liang N, Idesako M, Ishii K, Matsukawa K. Incremental rate of prefrontal oxygenation determines performance speed during cognitive Stroop test: the effect of ageing. J Physiol Sci 2018; 68:807-824. [PMID: 29460037 PMCID: PMC10717520 DOI: 10.1007/s12576-018-0599-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive function declines with age. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the deterioration of cognitive performance, however, remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that an incremental rate of prefrontal oxygenation during a cognitive Stroop test decreases in progress of ageing, resulting in a slowdown of cognitive performance. To test this hypothesis, we identified, using multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy, the characteristics of the oxygenated-hemoglobin concentration (Oxy-Hb) responses of the prefrontal cortex to both incongruent Stroop and congruent word-reading test. Spatial distributions of the significant changes in the three components (initial slope, peak amplitude, and area under the curve) of the Oxy-Hb response were compared between young and elderly subjects. The Stroop interference time (as a difference in total periods for executing Stroop and word-reading test, respectively) approximately doubled in elderly as compared to young subjects. The Oxy-Hb in the rostrolateral, but not caudal, prefrontal cortex increased during the Stroop test in both age groups. The initial slope of the Oxy-Hb response, rather than the peak and area under the curve, had a strong correlation with cognitive performance speed. Taken together, it is likely that the incremental rate of prefrontal oxygenation may decrease in progress of ageing, resulting in a decline in cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kana Endo
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Nan Liang
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
| | - Mitsuhiro Idesako
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Kei Ishii
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Kanji Matsukawa
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
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28
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Zinchenko A, Kanske P, Obermeier C, Schröger E, Villringer A, Kotz SA. Modulation of Cognitive and Emotional Control in Age-Related Mild-to-Moderate Hearing Loss. Front Neurol 2018; 9:783. [PMID: 30283398 PMCID: PMC6156531 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Progressive hearing loss is a common phenomenon in healthy aging and may affect the perception of emotions expressed in speech. Elderly with mild to moderate hearing loss often rate emotional expressions as less emotional and display reduced activity in emotion-sensitive brain areas (e.g., amygdala). However, it is not clear how hearing loss affects cognitive and emotional control mechanisms engaged in multimodal speech processing. In previous work we showed that negative, task-relevant and -irrelevant emotion modulates the two types of control in younger and older adults without hearing loss. To further explore how reduced hearing capacity affects emotional and cognitive control, we tested whether moderate hearing loss (>30 dB) at frequencies relevant for speech impacts cognitive and emotional control. We tested two groups of older adults with hearing loss (HL; N = 21; mean age = 70.5) and without hearing loss (NH; N = 21; mean age = 68.4). In two EEG experiments participants observed multimodal video clips and either categorized pronounced vowels (cognitive conflict) or their emotions (emotional conflict). Importantly, the facial expressions were either matched or mismatched with the corresponding vocalizations. In both conflict tasks, we found that negative stimuli modulated behavioral conflict processing in the NH but not the HL group, while the HL group performed at chance level in the emotional conflict task. Further, we found that the amplitude difference between congruent and incongruent stimuli was larger in negative relative to neutral N100 responses across tasks and groups. Lastly, in the emotional conflict task, neutral stimuli elicited a smaller N200 response than emotional stimuli primarily in the HL group. Consequently, age-related hearing loss not only affects the processing of emotional acoustic cues but also alters the behavioral benefits of emotional stimuli on cognitive and emotional control, despite preserved early neural responses. The resulting difficulties in the multimodal integration of incongruent emotional stimuli may lead to problems in processing complex social information (irony, sarcasm) and impact emotion processing in the limbic network. This could be related to social isolation and depression observed in the elderly with age-related hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artyom Zinchenko
- International Max Planck Research School on Neuroscience of Communication (IMPRS NeuroCom), Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Department Psychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp Kanske
- Chair of Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Obermeier
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Erich Schröger
- Institute of Psychology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sonja A Kotz
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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29
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Hung Y, Gaillard SL, Yarmak P, Arsalidou M. Dissociations of cognitive inhibition, response inhibition, and emotional interference: Voxelwise ALE meta-analyses of fMRI studies. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:4065-4082. [PMID: 29923271 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitory control is the stopping of a mental process with or without intention, conceptualized as mental suppression of competing information because of limited cognitive capacity. Inhibitory control dysfunction is a core characteristic of many major psychiatric disorders. Inhibition is generally thought to involve the prefrontal cortex; however, a single inhibitory mechanism is insufficient for interpreting the heterogeneous nature of human cognition. It remains unclear whether different dimensions of inhibitory processes-specifically cognitive inhibition, response inhibition, and emotional interference-rely on dissociated neural systems. We conducted systematic meta-analyses of fMRI studies in the BrainMap database supplemented by PubMed using whole-brain activation likelihood estimation. A total of 66 study experiments including 1,447 participants and 987 foci revealed that while the left anterior insula was concordant in all inhibitory dimensions, cognitive inhibition reliably activated specific dorsal frontal inhibitory system, engaging dorsal anterior cingulate, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and parietal areas, whereas emotional interference reliably implicated a ventral inhibitory system, involving the ventral surface of the inferior frontal gyrus and the amygdala. Response inhibition showed concordant clusters in the fronto-striatal system, including the dorsal anterior cingulate region and extended supplementary motor areas, the dorsal and ventral lateral prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, midbrain regions, and parietal regions. We provide an empirically derived dimensional model of inhibition characterizing neural systems underlying different aspects of inhibitory mechanisms. This study offers a fundamental framework to advance current understanding of inhibition and provides new insights for future clinical research into disorders with different types of inhibition-related dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwen Hung
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Schuyler L Gaillard
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Pavel Yarmak
- Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marie Arsalidou
- Department of Psychology, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation.,Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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30
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Sánchez-Moguel SM, Alatorre-Cruz GC, Silva-Pereyra J, González-Salinas S, Sanchez-Lopez J, Otero-Ojeda GA, Fernández T. Two Different Populations within the Healthy Elderly: Lack of Conflict Detection in Those at Risk of Cognitive Decline. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 11:658. [PMID: 29375352 PMCID: PMC5768990 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
During healthy aging, inhibitory processing is affected at the sensorial, perceptual, and cognitive levels. The assessment of event-related potentials (ERPs) during the Stroop task has been used to study age-related decline in the efficiency of inhibitory processes. Studies using ERPs have found that the P300 amplitude increases and the N500 amplitude is attenuated in healthy elderly adults compared to those in young adults. On the other hand, it has been reported that theta excess in resting EEG with eyes closed is a good predictor of cognitive decline during aging 7 years later, while a normal EEG increases the probability of not developing cognitive decline. The behavioral and ERP responses during a Counting-Stroop task were compared between 22 healthy elderly subjects with normal EEG (Normal-EEG group) and 22 healthy elderly subjects with an excess of EEG theta activity (Theta-EEG group). Behaviorally, the Normal-EEG group showed a higher behavioral interference effect than the Theta-EEG group. ERP patterns were different between the groups, and two facts are highlighted: (a) the P300 amplitude was higher in the Theta-EEG group, with both groups showing a P300 effect in almost all electrodes, and (b) the Theta-EEG group did not show an N500 effect. These results suggest that the diminishment in inhibitory control observed in the Theta-EEG group may be compensated by different processes in earlier stages, which would allow them to perform the task with similar efficiency to that of participants with a normal EEG. This study is the first to show that healthy elderly subjects with an excess of theta EEG activity not only are at risk of developing cognitive decline but already have a cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio M Sánchez-Moguel
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico.,Escuela Superior de Atotonilco de Tula, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Atotonilco de Tula, Mexico
| | - Graciela C Alatorre-Cruz
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Mexico
| | - Juan Silva-Pereyra
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Mexico
| | - Sofía González-Salinas
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico.,Escuela Superior de Tepeji del Río, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Tepeji del Río, Mexico
| | - Javier Sanchez-Lopez
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico.,Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Thalía Fernández
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico
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31
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Hamasaki A, Akazawa N, Yoshikawa T, Myoenzono K, Tagawa K, Maeda S. Age-Related Declines in Executive Function and Cerebral Oxygenation Hemodynamics. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2018; 245:245-250. [DOI: 10.1620/tjem.245.245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ai Hamasaki
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba
| | - Nobuhiko Akazawa
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba
- Department of Sport Research, Japan Institute of Sports Sciences
| | - Toru Yoshikawa
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, Ryutsu Keizai University
| | - Kanae Myoenzono
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba
| | - Kaname Tagawa
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba
| | - Seiji Maeda
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba
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32
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Zinchenko A, Obermeier C, Kanske P, Schröger E, Villringer A, Kotz SA. The Influence of Negative Emotion on Cognitive and Emotional Control Remains Intact in Aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:349. [PMID: 29163132 PMCID: PMC5671981 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthy aging is characterized by a gradual decline in cognitive control and inhibition of interferences, while emotional control is either preserved or facilitated. Emotional control regulates the processing of emotional conflicts such as in irony in speech, and cognitive control resolves conflict between non-affective tendencies. While negative emotion can trigger control processes and speed up resolution of both cognitive and emotional conflicts, we know little about how aging affects the interaction of emotion and control. In two EEG experiments, we compared the influence of negative emotion on cognitive and emotional conflict processing in groups of younger adults (mean age = 25.2 years) and older adults (69.4 years). Participants viewed short video clips and either categorized spoken vowels (cognitive conflict) or their emotional valence (emotional conflict), while the visual facial information was congruent or incongruent. Results show that negative emotion modulates both cognitive and emotional conflict processing in younger and older adults as indicated in reduced response times and/or enhanced event-related potentials (ERPs). In emotional conflict processing, we observed a valence-specific N100 ERP component in both age groups. In cognitive conflict processing, we observed an interaction of emotion by congruence in the N100 responses in both age groups, and a main effect of congruence in the P200 and N200. Thus, the influence of emotion on conflict processing remains intact in aging, despite a marked decline in cognitive control. Older adults may prioritize emotional wellbeing and preserve the role of emotion in cognitive and emotional control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artyom Zinchenko
- International Max Planck Research School on Neuroscience of Communication, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Department Psychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Obermeier
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Philipp Kanske
- Department of Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Erich Schröger
- Institute of Psychology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sonja A Kotz
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Huppert TJ, Karim H, Lin CC, Alqahtani BA, Greenspan SL, Sparto PJ. Functional imaging of cognition in an old-old population: A case for portable functional near-infrared spectroscopy. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184918. [PMID: 29023452 PMCID: PMC5638236 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to record brain activation during cognitive testing in older individuals (88±6yo; N = 19) living in residential care communities. This population, which is often associated with loss of personal independence due to physical or cognitive decline associated with aging, is also often under-represented in neuroscience research because of a limited means to participate in studies which often take place in large urban or university centers. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility and initial results using a portable 8-source by 4-detector fNIRS system to measure brain activity from participants within residential care community centers. Using fNIRS, brain signals were recorded during a series of computerized cognitive tests, including a Symbol Digit Coding test (SDC), Stroop Test (ST), and Shifting Attention Test (SAT). The SDC and SAT elicited greater activity in the left middle frontal region of interest. Three components of the ST produced increases in the right middle frontal and superior frontal, and left superior frontal regions. An association between advanced age and increased activation in the right middle frontal region was observed during the incongruent ST. Although none of the participants had clinical dementia based on the short portable mental status questionnaire, the group performance was slightly below age-normed values on these cognitive tests. These results demonstrate the capability for obtaining functional neuroimaging measures in residential settings, which ultimately may aid in prognosis and care related to dementia in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore J. Huppert
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Helmet Karim
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Chia-Cheng Lin
- Department of Physical Therapy, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Bader A. Alqahtani
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Susan L. Greenspan
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Patrick J. Sparto
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Andryszak P, Wiłkość M, Żurawski B, Izdebski P. Verbal memory in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2017; 27. [PMID: 28850754 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.12749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Memory is one of the crucial human cognitive functions, and deficits in memory processes may lead to difficulties in everyday functioning. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) used in breast cancer treatment on verbal memory and learning. We also evaluated the relationship between verbal memory and psychological, somatic and socio-demographic factors. The study was carried out on a group of 31 women with early breast cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and 30 healthy controls. The patients underwent neuropsychological assessment using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test at three time points: before chemotherapy, mid-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy. The examination in the controls was conducted at the same time intervals. We found an association between AC-schema chemotherapy and deficits in delayed memory. A deterioration in performance after treatment was observed in 19% of patients. The results showed no deterioration of immediate memory or the verbal learning process. Moreover, a positive relationship was shown between the level of education, physical fitness and the functioning of verbal memory. The results of the study also indicate that age and hormonal status are factors that may increase the possibility of deficits in verbal memory after AC-schema chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Andryszak
- Institute of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - M Wiłkość
- Institute of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland.,Department of Psychiatry, Collegium Medicum w Bydgoszczy, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - B Żurawski
- The Franciszek Lukaszczyk Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - P Izdebski
- Institute of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
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35
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Methqal I, Provost JS, Wilson MA, Monchi O, Amiri M, Pinsard B, Ansado J, Joanette Y. Age-Related Shift in Neuro-Activation during a Word-Matching Task. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:265. [PMID: 28848422 PMCID: PMC5554371 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence from the neuroscience of aging suggests that executive function plays a pivotal role in maintaining semantic processing performance. However, the presumed age-related activation changes that sustain executive semantic processing remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the executive aspects of semantic processing during a word-matching task with regard to age-related neuro-functional reorganization, as well as to identify factors that influence executive control profiles. Twenty younger and 20 older participants underwent fMRI scanning. The experimental task was based on word-matching, wherein visual feedback was used to instruct participants to either maintain or switch a semantic-matching rule. Response time and correct responses were assessed for each group. A battery of cognitive tests was administrated to all participants and the older group was divided into two subgroups based on their cognitive control profiles. Even though the percentage of correct responses was equivalent in the task performance between both groups and within the older groups, neuro-functional activation differed in frontoparietal regions with regards to age and cognitive control profiles. A correlation between behavioral measures (correct responses and response times) and brain signal changes was found in the left inferior parietal region in older participants. Results indicate that the shift in age-related activation from frontal to parietal regions can be viewed as another form of neuro-functional reorganization. The greater reliance on inferior parietal regions in the older compared to the younger group suggests that the executive control system is still efficient and sustains semantic processing in the healthy aging brain. Additionally, cognitive control profiles underlie executive ability differences in healthy aging appear to be associated with specific neuro-functional reorganization throughout frontal and parietal regions. These findings demonstrate that changes in neural support for executive semantic processing during a word-matching task are not only influenced by age, but also by cognitive control profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikram Methqal
- Laboratory of Communication and Aging, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, MontrealQC, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, MontrealQC, Canada
| | - Jean-Sebastien Provost
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, BerkeleyCA, United States
| | - Maximiliano A Wilson
- Centre de Recherche CERVO - CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale et Département de Réadaptation, Université Laval, Québec CityQC, Canada
| | - Oury Monchi
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, CalgaryAB, Canada
| | - Mahnoush Amiri
- Laboratory of Communication and Aging, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, MontrealQC, Canada
| | - Basile Pinsard
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, MontrealQC, Canada
| | - Jennyfer Ansado
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, GatineauQC, Canada
| | - Yves Joanette
- Laboratory of Communication and Aging, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, MontrealQC, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, MontrealQC, Canada
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White Matter Hyperintensity Load Modulates Brain Morphometry and Brain Connectivity in Healthy Adults: A Neuroplastic Mechanism? Neural Plast 2017; 2017:4050536. [PMID: 28845309 PMCID: PMC5560090 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4050536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are acquired lesions that accumulate and disrupt neuron-to-neuron connectivity. We tested the associations between WMH load and (1) regional grey matter volumes and (2) functional connectivity of resting-state networks, in a sample of 51 healthy adults. Specifically, we focused on the positive associations (more damage, more volume/connectivity) to investigate a potential route of adaptive plasticity. WMHs were quantified with an automated procedure. Voxel-based morphometry was carried out to model grey matter. An independent component analysis was run to extract the anterior and posterior default-mode network, the salience network, the left and right frontoparietal networks, and the visual network. Each model was corrected for age, global levels of atrophy, and indices of brain and cognitive reserve. Positive associations were found with morphometry and functional connectivity of the anterior default-mode network and salience network. Within the anterior default-mode network, an association was found in the left mediotemporal-limbic complex. Within the salience network, an association was found in the right parietal cortex. The findings support the suggestion that, even in the absence of overt disease, the brain actuates a compensatory (neuroplastic) response to the accumulation of WMH, leading to increases in regional grey matter and modified functional connectivity.
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Liu X, Gerraty RT, Grinband J, Parker D, Razlighi QR. Brain atrophy can introduce age-related differences in BOLD response. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 38:3402-3414. [PMID: 28397386 PMCID: PMC6866909 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in studies of aging is often hampered by uncertainty about age-related differences in the amplitude and timing of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) response (i.e., hemodynamic impulse response function (HRF)). Such uncertainty introduces a significant challenge in the interpretation of the fMRI results. Even though this issue has been extensively investigated in the field of neuroimaging, there is currently no consensus about the existence and potential sources of age-related hemodynamic alterations. Using an event-related fMRI experiment with two robust and well-studied stimuli (visual and auditory), we detected a significant age-related difference in the amplitude of response to auditory stimulus. Accounting for brain atrophy by circumventing spatial normalization and processing the data in subjects' native space eliminated these observed differences. In addition, we simulated fMRI data using age differences in brain morphology while controlling HRF shape. Analyzing these simulated fMRI data using standard image processing resulted in differences in HRF amplitude, which were eliminated when the data were analyzed in subjects' native space. Our results indicate that age-related atrophy introduces inaccuracy in co-registration to standard space, which subsequently appears as attenuation in BOLD response amplitude. Our finding could explain some of the existing contradictory reports regarding age-related differences in the fMRI BOLD responses. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3402-3414, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqing Liu
- Biomedical Engineering DepartmentColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUnited States
| | - Raphael T. Gerraty
- Department of PsychologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUnited States
| | - Jack Grinband
- Department of RadiologyColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUnited States
| | - David Parker
- Biomedical Engineering DepartmentColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUnited States
| | - Qolamreza R. Razlighi
- Biomedical Engineering DepartmentColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUnited States
- Department of NeurologyColumbia University Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUnited States
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38
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Sánchez-Castañeda C, de Pasquale F, Caravasso CF, Marano M, Maffi S, Migliore S, Sabatini U, Squitieri F. Resting-state connectivity and modulated somatomotor and default-mode networks in Huntington disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2017; 23:488-497. [PMID: 28464463 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS To analyze brain functional connectivity in the somatomotor and default-mode networks (DMNs) of patients with Huntington disease (HD), its relationship with gray matter (GM) volume loss, and functional changes after pridopidine treatment. METHODS Ten patients and ten untreated controls underwent T1-weighted imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); four patients were also assessed after 3 months of pridopidine treatment (90 mg/d). The seed-based functional connectivity patterns from the posterior cingulate cortex and the supplementary motor area (SMA), considered cortical hubs of the DMN and somatomotor networks, respectively, were computed. FMRIB Software Library voxel-based morphometry measured GM volume. RESULTS Patients had GM volume decrease in all cortical and subcortical areas of the somatomotor network with preservation of the SMA, and increased somatomotor and DMN connectivity. In DMN structures, functional connectivity impairment preceded volume loss. Pridopidine reduced the intensity of these aberrant connections. CONCLUSION The abnormal connectivity of the somatomotor and DMN observed in HD patients may represent an early dysfunction marker, as it preceded volume loss in DMN. Pridopidine reduced connectivity of these networks in all four treated patients, suggesting that connectivity is sensitive to treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sánchez-Castañeda
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, IDIBAPS, Neuroscience Institute, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Radiology Department, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco de Pasquale
- Radiology Department, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Marano
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, IRCSS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Sabrina Maffi
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, IRCSS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Simone Migliore
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, IRCSS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.,LIRH Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Umberto Sabatini
- Radiology Department, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Neuroradiology Department, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Squitieri
- Huntington and Rare Diseases Unit, IRCSS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
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39
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Fjell AM, Sneve MH, Grydeland H, Storsve AB, Walhovd KB. The Disconnected Brain and Executive Function Decline in Aging. Cereb Cortex 2017; 27:2303-2317. [PMID: 27073220 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher order speeded cognitive abilities depend on efficient coordination of activity across the brain, rendering them vulnerable to age reductions in structural and functional brain connectivity. The concept of "disconnected aging" has been invoked, suggesting that degeneration of connections between distant brain regions cause cognitive reductions. However, it has not been shown that changes in cognitive functions over time can be explained by simultaneous changes in brain connectivity. We followed 119 young and middle-aged (23-52 years) and older (63-86 years) adults for 3.3 years with repeated assessments of structural and functional brain connectivity and executive functions. We found unique age-related longitudinal reductions in executive function over and above changes in more basic cognitive processes. Intriguingly, 82.5% of the age-related decline in executive function could be explained by changes in connectivity over time. While both structural and functional connectivity changes were related to longitudinal reductions in executive function, only structural connectivity change could explain the age-specific decline. This suggests that the major part of the age-related reductions in executive function can be attributed to micro- and macrostructural alterations in brain connectivity. Although correlational in nature, we believe the present results constitute evidence for a "disconnected brain" view on cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders M Fjell
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Unit of Neuropsychology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Markus H Sneve
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Håkon Grydeland
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Andreas B Storsve
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Kristine B Walhovd
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Unit of Neuropsychology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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40
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Discrepant findings of age-related effects between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies on executive function (EF) have been described across different studies. The aim of the present study was to examine longitudinal age effects on inhibition and switching, two key subfunctions of EF, calculated from results on the Color Word Interference Test (CWIT). METHODS One hundred twenty-three healthy aging individuals (average age 61.4 years; 67% women) performed the CWIT up to three times, over a period of more than 6 years. Measures of inhibition, switching, and combined inhibition and switching were analyzed. A longitudinal linear mixed effects models analysis was run including basic CWIT conditions, and measures of processing speed, retest effect, gender, education, and age as predictors. RESULTS After taking all predictors into account, age added significantly to the predictive value of the longitudinal models of (i) inhibition, (ii) switching, and (iii) combined inhibition and switching. The basic CWIT conditions and the processing speed measure added to the predictive value of the models, while retest effect, gender, and education did not. CONCLUSIONS The present study on middle-aged to older individuals showed age-related decline in inhibition and switching abilities. This decline was retained even when basic CWIT conditions, processing speed, attrition, gender, and education were controlled. (JINS, 2017, 23, 90-97).
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41
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Two distinct patterns of interference in between-attribute Stroop matching tasks. Atten Percept Psychophys 2016; 79:563-581. [DOI: 10.3758/s13414-016-1253-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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42
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Amer T, Anderson JA, Campbell KL, Hasher L, Grady CL. Age differences in the neural correlates of distraction regulation: A network interaction approach. Neuroimage 2016; 139:231-239. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/18/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Tam A, Luedke AC, Walsh JJ, Fernandez-Ruiz J, Garcia A. Effects of reaction time variability and age on brain activity during Stroop task performance. Brain Imaging Behav 2016; 9:609-18. [PMID: 25280971 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-014-9323-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Variability in reaction time during task performance may reflect fluctuations in attention and cause reduced performance in goal-directed tasks, yet it is unclear whether the mechanisms behind this phenomenon change with age. Using fMRI, we tested young and cognitively healthy older adults with the Stroop task to determine whether aging affects the neural mechanisms underlying intra-individual reaction time variability. We found significant between-group differences in BOLD activity modulated by reaction time. In older adults, longer reaction times were associated with greater activity in frontoparietal attentional areas, while in younger adults longer reaction times were associated with greater activity in default mode network areas. Our results suggest that the neural correlates of reaction time variability change with healthy aging, reinforcing the concept of functional plasticity to maintain high cognitive function throughout the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Tam
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Botterell Hall, 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Angela C Luedke
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Botterell Hall, 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Jeremy J Walsh
- School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Juan Fernandez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Distrito Federal, C.P., 04510, Mexico.
| | - Angeles Garcia
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Botterell Hall, 18 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
- Department of Medicine (Geriatrics), Queen's University, St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital, 340 Union Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 5A2, Canada.
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44
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Connolly J, McNulty JP, Boran L, Roche RA, Delany D, Bokde AL. Identification of Resting State Networks Involved in Executive Function. Brain Connect 2016; 6:365-74. [DOI: 10.1089/brain.2015.0399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Connolly
- Cognitive Systems Group, Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Lorraine Boran
- School of Nursing and Human Science, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Richard A.P. Roche
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - David Delany
- School of Humanities, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
| | - Arun L.W. Bokde
- Cognitive Systems Group, Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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45
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Loosli SV, Rahm B, Unterrainer JM, Mader I, Weiller C, Kaller CP. Age differences in behavioral and neural correlates of proactive interference: Disentangling the role of overall working memory performance. Neuroimage 2016; 127:376-386. [PMID: 26707888 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Reliable performance in working memory (WM) critically depends on the ability to resist proactive interference (PI) from previously relevant WM contents. Both WM performance and PI susceptibility are subject to cognitive decline at older adult age. However, the behavioral and neural processes underlying these co-evolving developmental changes and their potential interdependencies are not yet understood. Here, we investigated PI using a recent-probes WM paradigm and functional MRI in a cross-sectional sample of younger (n=18, 10 female, 23.4 ± 2.7 years) and older adults (n=18, 10 female, 70.2 ± 2.7 years). As expected, older adults showed lower WM performance and higher PI susceptibility than younger adults. Resolution of PI activated a mainly bilateral frontal network across all participants. Significant interactions with age indicated reduced neural activation in older adults for PI resolution. A second analysis in a selection of younger and older adults (n=12 each) with matched WM performance also revealed significant differences in PI between both age groups and - on a descriptive level - again a hypo-activation of the older adults' PI network. But the differential effect of age on the neural PI effects did not reach significance in this smaller sample most likely to the reduced statistical power. However, given the highly similar patterns in both the overall and the WM-matched samples, we propose that the hypo-activation of the PI network in the older adults may not be attributable to age-related differences in overall WM performance, hence suggesting that higher PI susceptibility in older adult age does not directly depend on their lower WM performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra V Loosli
- Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Biological and Personality Psychology, Dept. of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Benjamin Rahm
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Josef M Unterrainer
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Irina Mader
- Dept. of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Cornelius Weiller
- Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; BrainLinks-BrainTools Cluster of Excellence, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph P Kaller
- Dept. of Neurology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; BrainLinks-BrainTools Cluster of Excellence, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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46
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Malinowski P, Moore AW, Mead BR, Gruber T. Mindful Aging: The Effects of Regular Brief Mindfulness Practice on Electrophysiological Markers of Cognitive and Affective Processing in Older Adults. Mindfulness (N Y) 2015; 8:78-94. [PMID: 28163795 PMCID: PMC5241348 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-015-0482-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
There is growing interest in the potential benefits of mindfulness meditation practices in terms of counteracting some of the cognitive effects associated with aging. Pursuing this question, the aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of mindfulness training on executive control and emotion regulation in older adults, by means of studying behavioral and electrophysiological changes. Participants, 55 to 75 years of age, were randomly allocated to an 8-week mindful breath awareness training group or an active control group engaging in brain training exercises. Before and after the training period, participants completed an emotional-counting Stroop task, designed to measure attentional control and emotion regulation processes. Concurrently, their brain activity was measured by means of 64-channel electroencephalography. The results show that engaging in just over 10 min of mindfulness practice five times per week resulted in significant improvements in behavioral (response latency) and electrophysiological (N2 event-related potential) measures related to general task performance. Analyses of the underlying cortical sources (Variable Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography, VARETA) indicate that this N2-related effect is primarily associated with changes in the right angular gyrus and other areas of the dorsal attention network. However, the study did not find the expected specific improvements in executive control and emotion regulation, which may be due to the training instructions or the relative brevity of the intervention. Overall, the results indicate that engaging in mindfulness meditation training improves the maintenance of goal-directed visuospatial attention and may be a useful strategy for counteracting cognitive decline associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Malinowski
- Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF UK
| | - Adam W. Moore
- Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF UK
| | - Bethan R. Mead
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Thomas Gruber
- Institute for Psychology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
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47
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Brugnolo A, De Carli F, Accardo J, Amore M, Bosia LE, Bruzzaniti C, Cappa SF, Cocito L, Colazzo G, Ferrara M, Ghio L, Magi E, Mancardi GL, Nobili F, Pardini M, Rissotto R, Serrati C, Girtler N. An updated Italian normative dataset for the Stroop color word test (SCWT). Neurol Sci 2015; 37:365-72. [PMID: 26621362 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-015-2428-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Stroop color and word test (SCWT) is widely used to evaluate attention, information processing speed, selective attention, and cognitive flexibility. Normative values for the Italian population are available only for selected age groups, or for the short version of the test. The aim of this study was to provide updated normal values for the full version, balancing groups across gender, age decades, and education. Two kinds of indexes were derived from the performance of 192 normal subjects, divided by decade (from 20 to 90) and level of education (4 levels: 3-5; 6-8; 9-13; >13 years). They were (i) the correct answers achieved for each table in the first 30 s (word items, WI; color items, CI; color word items, CWI) and (ii) the total time required for reading the three tables (word time, WT; color time, CT; color word time, CWT). For each index, the regression model was evaluated using age, education, and gender as independent variables. The normative data were then computed following the equivalent scores method. In the regression model, age and education significantly influenced the performance in each of the 6 indexes, whereas gender had no significant effect. This study confirms the effect of age and education on the main indexes of the Stroop test and provides updated normative data for an Italian healthy population, well balanced across age, education, and gender. It will be useful to Italian researchers studying attentional functions in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Brugnolo
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
| | - F De Carli
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Genoa, Italy
| | - J Accardo
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - M Amore
- Clinical Psychiatry, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - L E Bosia
- Clinical Neurology, IRCCS San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - C Bruzzaniti
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - S F Cappa
- Division of Neuroscience, IUSS Pavia, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - L Cocito
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - G Colazzo
- C.H. La Palmosa, Accueil de Jour Alzheimer, Centre Hospitalier La Palmosa, Menton Division of Neuroscience, Menton, France
| | - M Ferrara
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - L Ghio
- Clinical Psychiatry, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - E Magi
- Clinical Psychiatry, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - G L Mancardi
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - F Nobili
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - M Pardini
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - R Rissotto
- Clinical Neurology, IRCCS San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - C Serrati
- Clinical Neurology, IRCCS San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - N Girtler
- Clinical Neurology, DINOGMI University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, IRCCS San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
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48
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The association between aerobic fitness and cognitive function in older men mediated by frontal lateralization. Neuroimage 2015; 125:291-300. [PMID: 26439424 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.09.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Revised: 09/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that higher aerobic fitness is related to higher cognitive function and higher task-related prefrontal activation in older adults. However, a holistic picture of these factors has yet to be presented. As a typical age-related change of brain activation, less lateralized activity in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive tasks has been observed in various neuroimaging studies. Thus, this study aimed to reveal the relationship between aerobic fitness, cognitive function, and frontal lateralization. Sixty male older adults each performed a submaximal incremental exercise test to determine their oxygen intake (V·O2) at ventilatory threshold (VT) in order to index their aerobic fitness. They performed a color-word Stroop task while prefrontal activation was monitored using functional near infrared spectroscopy. As an index of cognitive function, Stroop interference time was analyzed. Partial correlation analyses revealed significant correlations among higher VT, shorter Stroop interference time and greater left-lateralized dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activation when adjusting for education. Moreover, mediation analyses showed that left-lateralized DLPFC activation significantly mediated the association between VT and Stroop interference time. These results suggest that higher aerobic fitness is associated with cognitive function via lateralized frontal activation in older adults.
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49
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50
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Deepeshwar S, Vinchurkar SA, Visweswaraiah NK, Nagendra HR. Hemodynamic responses on prefrontal cortex related to meditation and attentional task. Front Syst Neurosci 2015; 8:252. [PMID: 25741245 PMCID: PMC4330717 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent neuroimaging studies state that meditation increases regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The present study employed functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to evaluate the relative hemodynamic changes in PFC during a cognitive task. Twenty-two healthy male volunteers with ages between 18 and 30 years (group mean age ± SD; 22.9 ± 4.6 years) performed a color-word stroop task before and after 20 min of meditation and random thinking. Repeated measures ANOVA was performed followed by a post hoc analysis with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons between the mean values of “During” and “Post” with “Pre” state. During meditation there was an increased in oxy-hemoglobin (ΔHbO) and total hemoglobin (ΔTHC) concentration with reduced deoxy-hemoglobin (ΔHbR) concentration over the right prefrontal cortex (rPFC), whereas in random thinking there was increased ΔHbR with reduced total hemoglobin concentration on the rPFC. The mean reaction time (RT) was shorter during stroop color word task with concomitant reduction in ΔTHC after meditation, suggestive of improved performance and efficiency in task related to attention. Our findings demonstrated that meditation increased cerebral oxygenation and enhanced performance, which was associated with activation of the PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Singh Deepeshwar
- ANVESANA Research Laboratory, Department of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Suhas Ashok Vinchurkar
- ANVESANA Research Laboratory, Department of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Naveen Kalkuni Visweswaraiah
- ANVESANA Research Laboratory, Department of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Hongasandra RamaRao Nagendra
- ANVESANA Research Laboratory, Department of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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