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Obrig H, Regenbrecht F, Pino D, Krause CD. Verbal short term memory contribution to sentence comprehension decreases with increasing syntactic complexity in people with aphasia. Neuroimage 2024; 297:120730. [PMID: 39009249 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120730] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Sentence comprehension requires the integration of linguistic units presented in a temporal sequence based on a non-linear underlying syntactic structure. While it is uncontroversial that storage is mandatory for this process, there are opposing views regarding the relevance of general short-term-/working-memory capacities (STM/WM) versus language specific resources. Here we report results from 43 participants with an acquired brain lesion in the extended left hemispheric language network and resulting language deficits, who performed a sentence-to-picture matching task and an experimental task assessing phonological short-term memory. The sentence task systematically varied syntactic complexity (embedding depth and argument order) while lengths, number of propositions and plausibility were kept constant. Clinical data including digit-/ block-spans and lesion size and site were additionally used in the analyses. Correlational analyses confirm that performance on STM/WM-tasks (experimental task and digit-span) are the only two relevant predictors for correct sentence-picture-matching, while reaction times only depended on age and lesion size. Notably increasing syntactic complexity reduced the correlational strength speaking for the additional recruitment of language specific resources independent of more general verbal STM/WM capacities, when resolving complex syntactic structure. The complementary lesion-behaviour analysis yielded different lesion volumes correlating with either the sentence-task or the STM-task. Factoring out STM measures lesions in the anterior temporal lobe correlated with a larger decrease in accuracy with increasing syntactic complexity. We conclude that overall sentence comprehension depends on STM/WM capacity, while increases in syntactic complexity tax another independent cognitive resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hellmuth Obrig
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology & Department of Neurology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital & Faculty of Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Frank Regenbrecht
- Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital & Faculty of Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Danièle Pino
- Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital & Faculty of Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carina D Krause
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology & Department of Neurology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; International Max Planck Research School on Neuroscience of Communication, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103 Leipzig, Germany(#)
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Cui Y, Zhang Q. Effects of age on the time course of syntactic priming in Chinese sentence production: an ERP study. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad503. [PMID: 38282453 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Using a syntactic priming task, we investigated the time course of syntactic encoding in Chinese sentence production and compared encoding patterns between younger and older adults. Participants alternately read sentence descriptions and overtly described pictures, while event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. We manipulated the abstract prime structure (active or passive) as well as the lexical overlap of the prime and the target (verb overlap or no overlap). The syntactic choice results replicated classical abstract priming and lexical boost effects in both younger and older adults. However, when production latency was taken into account, the speed benefit from syntactic repetition differed between the two age groups. Meanwhile, preferred priming facilitated production in both age groups, whereas nonpreferred priming inhibited production in the older group. For electroencephalography, an earlier effect of syntactic repetition and a later effect of lexical overlap showed a two-stage pattern of syntactic encoding. Older adults also showed a more delayed and interactive encoding pattern than younger adults, indicating a greater reliance on lexical information. These results are illustrative of the two-stage competition and residual activation models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cui
- Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Qingfang Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Street, Beijing 100872, China
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Thams F, Li SC, Flöel A, Antonenko D. Functional Connectivity and Microstructural Network Correlates of Interindividual Variability in Distinct Executive Functions of Healthy Older Adults. Neuroscience 2023; 526:61-73. [PMID: 37321368 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Executive functions, essential for daily life, are known to be impaired in older age. Some executive functions, including working memory updating and value-based decision-making, are specifically sensitive to age-related deterioration. While their neural correlates in young adults are well-described, a comprehensive delineation of the underlying brain substrates in older populations, relevant to identify targets for modulation against cognitive decline, is missing. Here, we assessed letter updating and Markov decision-making task performance to operationalize these trainable functions in 48 older adults. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was acquired to quantify functional connectivity (FC) in task-relevant frontoparietal and default mode networks. Microstructure in white matter pathways mediating executive functions was assessed with diffusion tensor imaging and quantified by tract-based fractional anisotropy (FA). Superior letter updating performance correlated with higher FC between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left frontoparietal and hippocampal areas, while superior Markov decision-making performance correlated with decreased FC between basal ganglia and right angular gyrus. Furthermore, better working memory updating performance was related to higher FA in the cingulum bundle and the superior longitudinal fasciculus. Stepwise linear regression showed that cingulum bundle FA added significant incremental contribution to the variance explained by fronto-angular FC alone. Our findings provide a characterization of distinct functional and structural connectivity correlates associated with performance of specific executive functions. Thereby, this study contributes to the understanding of the neural correlates of updating and decision-making functions in older adults, paving the way for targeted modulation of specific networks by modulatory techniques such as behavioral interventions and non-invasive brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike Thams
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475 Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Shu-Chen Li
- Chair of Lifespan Developmental Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, TU Dresden, Zellescher Weg 17, 01062 Dresden, Germany; Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Agnes Flöel
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Standort Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Daria Antonenko
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475 Greifswald, Germany.
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Dorme A, Van Oudenhove B, Criel Y, Depuydt E, De Groote E, Stalpaert J, Huysman E, van Mierlo P, De Letter M. Effect of Healthy Aging and Gender on Syntactic Input Processing: A P600 Event-Related Potential Study. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2023:1-32. [PMID: 37494921 DOI: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-22-00633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effect of healthy aging and gender, as well as the interaction, thereof, on syntactic input processing during sentence comprehension. This was achieved through the recording of the P600 event-related potential. METHOD Sixty Flemish (native speakers of Dutch) participants (30 men and 30 women), equally distributed into three age groups (young, middle-aged, and older adults), were subjected to a visually presented word order violation task under simultaneous electro-encephalography recording. The task contained 60 sentences, of which half were grammatical and half contained a word order violation. P600 responses were analyzed for amplitude, latency, topographical distribution, and source localization. RESULTS Regarding the effect of healthy aging, no age-related differences were found for the amplitude, onset latency, and topographical distribution of the P600 effect (difference wave). Although aging effects on the P600 effect amplitude were absent, a reduced P600 amplitude in response to both the grammatical and ungrammatical sentences was found, next to a reduced overall degree of source activation in linguistic regions of interest. Also, a reduced behavioral accuracy in response to the word order violation was observed in the older adults group. Regarding the effect of gender, females exhibited a larger P600 effect amplitude and a reduced behavioral accuracy compared to males. No gender-related differences were found for P600 effect onset latency, topographical distribution, and source activation. CONCLUSIONS While this study demonstrates no effect of aging on the P600 effect, the lower behavioral response and absence of any activation shift argues against functional compensation. Moreover, although increased neural activation in women combined with their reduced behavioral accuracy may indicate the use of different cognitive strategies in men and women, source localization analysis could not objectify this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelien Dorme
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | | | - Yana Criel
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Emma Depuydt
- Medical Imaging and Signal Processing Group, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Belgium
| | | | - Jara Stalpaert
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Eline Huysman
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Pieter van Mierlo
- Medical Imaging and Signal Processing Group, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Miet De Letter
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
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Zhang H, Diaz MT. Resting State Network Segregation Modulates Age-Related Differences in Language Production. NEUROBIOLOGY OF LANGUAGE (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 4:382-403. [PMID: 37546689 PMCID: PMC10403275 DOI: 10.1162/nol_a_00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Older adults typically exhibit decline in language production. However, how the brain supports or fails to support these processes is unclear. Moreover, there are competing hypotheses about the nature of age-related neural changes and whether age-related increases in neural activity reflect compensation or a decline in neural efficiency. In the current study, we investigated the neural bases of language production focusing on resting state functional connectivity. We hypothesized that language production performance, functional connectivity, and their relationship would differ as a function of age. Consistent with prior work, older age was associated with worse language production performance. Functional connectivity analyses showed that network segregation within the left hemisphere language network was maintained across adulthood. However, increased age was associated with lower whole brain network segregation. Moreover, network segregation was related to language production ability. In both network analyses, there were significant interactions with age-higher network segregation was associated with better language production abilities for younger and middle-aged adults, but not for older adults. Interestingly, there was a stronger relationship between language production and the whole brain network segregation than between production and the language network. These results highlight the utility of network segregation measures as an index of brain function, with higher network segregation associated with better language production ability. Moreover, these results are consistent with stability in the left hemisphere language network across adulthood and suggest that dedifferentiation among brain networks, outside of the language network, is a hallmark of aging and may contribute to age-related language production difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyun Zhang
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Michele T. Diaz
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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Krause CD, Fengler A, Pino D, Sehm B, Friederici AD, Obrig H. The role of left temporo-parietal and inferior frontal cortex in comprehending syntactically complex sentences: A brain stimulation study. Neuropsychologia 2023; 180:108465. [PMID: 36586718 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Syntactic competence relies on a left-lateralized network converging on hubs in inferior-frontal and posterior-temporal cortices. We address the question whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) over these hubs can modulate comprehension of sentences, whose syntactic complexity systematically varied along the factors embedding depths and canonicity. Semantic content and length of the sentences were kept identical and forced choice picture matching was required after the full sentence had been presented. METHODS We used a single-blind, within-subject, sham-controlled design, applying a-tDCS targeting left posterior tempo-parietal (TP) and left inferior frontal cortex (FC). Stimulation sites were determined by individual neuro-navigation. 20 participants were included of whom 19 entered the analysis. Results were analysed using (generalized) mixed models. In a pilot-experiment in another group of 20 participants we validated the manipulation of syntactic complexity by the two factors embedding depth and argument-order. RESULTS Reaction times increased and accuracy decreased with higher embedding depth and non-canonical argument order in both experiments. Notably a-tDCS over TP enhanced sentence-to-picture matching, while FC-stimulation showed no consistent effect. Moreover, the analysis disclosed a session effect, indicating improvements of task performance especially regarding speed. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the posterior 'hub' of the neuronal network affording syntactic analysis represents a 'bottleneck', likely due to working-memory capacity and the challenges of mapping semantic to syntactic information allowing for role assignment. While this does not challenge the role of left inferior-frontal cortex for syntax processing and novel-grammar learning, the application of highly established syntactic rules during sentence comprehension may be considered optimized, thus not augmentable by a-tDCS in the uncompromised network. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) over left temporo-parietal cortex enhances comprehension of complex sentences in uncompromised young speakers. Since a-tDCS over left frontal cortex did not elicit any change, the 'bottleneck' for the understanding of complex sentences seems to be the posterior, temporo-parietal rather than the anterior inferior-frontal 'hub' of language processing. Regarding the attested role of inferior-frontal cortex in syntax processing, we suggest that its function is optimized in competent young speakers, preventing further enhancement by (facilitatory) tDCS. Results shed light on the functional anatomy of syntax processing during sentence comprehension; moreover, they open perspectives for research in the lesioned language network of people with syntactic deficits due to aphasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina D Krause
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology & Department of Neurology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital & Faculty of Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Anja Fengler
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology & Department of Neurology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Department of Special and Inclusive Education, Speech and Language Pedagogy and Pathology, 06110 Halle, Germany
| | - Danièle Pino
- Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital & Faculty of Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Bernhard Sehm
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology & Department of Neurology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Clinic for Neurology, University Medicine Halle, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Angela D Friederici
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology & Department of Neurology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hellmuth Obrig
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology & Department of Neurology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital & Faculty of Medicine, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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Zhao Y, Chang C, Zhang J, Zhang Z. Genetic underpinnings of brain structural connectome for young adults. J Am Stat Assoc 2023; 118:1473-1487. [PMID: 37982009 PMCID: PMC10655950 DOI: 10.1080/01621459.2022.2156349] [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: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
With distinct advantages in power over behavioral phenotypes, brain imaging traits have become emerging endophenotypes to dissect molecular contributions to behaviors and neuropsychiatric illnesses. Among different imaging features, brain structural connectivity (i.e., structural connectome) which summarizes the anatomical connections between different brain regions is one of the most cutting edge while under-investigated traits; and the genetic influence on the structural connectome variation remains highly elusive. Relying on a landmark imaging genetics study for young adults, we develop a biologically plausible brain network response shrinkage model to comprehensively characterize the relationship between high dimensional genetic variants and the structural connectome phenotype. Under a unified Bayesian framework, we accommodate the topology of brain network and biological architecture within the genome; and eventually establish a mechanistic mapping between genetic biomarkers and the associated brain sub-network units. An efficient expectation-maximization algorithm is developed to estimate the model and ensure computing feasibility. In the application to the Human Connectome Project Young Adult (HCP-YA) data, we establish the genetic underpinnings which are highly interpretable under functional annotation and brain tissue eQTL analysis, for the brain white matter tracts connecting the hippocampus and two cerebral hemispheres. We also show the superiority of our method in extensive simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yize Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University
| | - Changgee Chang
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Jingwen Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Zhengwu Zhang
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Musso M, Altenmüller E, Reisert M, Hosp J, Schwarzwald R, Blank B, Horn J, Glauche V, Kaller C, Weiller C, Schumacher M. Speaking in gestures: Left dorsal and ventral frontotemporal brain systems underlie communication in conducting. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 57:324-350. [PMID: 36509461 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Conducting constitutes a well-structured system of signs anticipating information concerning the rhythm and dynamic of a musical piece. Conductors communicate the musical tempo to the orchestra, unifying the individual instrumental voices to form an expressive musical Gestalt. In a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment, 12 professional conductors and 16 instrumentalists conducted real-time novel pieces with diverse complexity in orchestration and rhythm. For control, participants either listened to the stimuli or performed beat patterns, setting the time of a metronome or complex rhythms played by a drum. Activation of the left superior temporal gyrus (STG), supplementary and premotor cortex and Broca's pars opercularis (F3op) was shared in both musician groups and separated conducting from the other conditions. Compared to instrumentalists, conductors activated Broca's pars triangularis (F3tri) and the STG, which differentiated conducting from time beating and reflected the increase in complexity during conducting. In comparison to conductors, instrumentalists activated F3op and F3tri when distinguishing complex rhythm processing from simple rhythm processing. Fibre selection from a normative human connectome database, constructed using a global tractography approach, showed that the F3op and STG are connected via the arcuate fasciculus, whereas the F3tri and STG are connected via the extreme capsule. Like language, the anatomical framework characterising conducting gestures is located in the left dorsal system centred on F3op. This system reflected the sensorimotor mapping for structuring gestures to musical tempo. The ventral system centred on F3Tri may reflect the art of conductors to set this musical tempo to the individual orchestra's voices in a global, holistic way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariacristina Musso
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eckart Altenmüller
- Institute of Music Physiology and Musician's Medicine, Hannover University of Music Drama and Media, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marco Reisert
- Department of Medical Physics, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Hosp
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Schwarzwald
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bettina Blank
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julian Horn
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Volkmar Glauche
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Kaller
- Department of Medical Physics, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Cornelius Weiller
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Schumacher
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Rafiq M, Jucla M, Guerrier L, Péran P, Pariente J, Pistono A. The functional connectivity of language network across the life span: Disentangling the effects of typical aging from Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:959405. [PMID: 36212038 PMCID: PMC9537133 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.959405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Language is usually characterized as the most preserved cognitive function during typical aging. Several neuroimaging studies have shown that healthy aging is characterized by inter-network compensation which correlates with better language performance. On the contrary, language deficits occur early in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, this study compares young participants, healthy older participants, and prodromal AD participants, to characterize functional connectivity changes in language due to healthy aging or prodromal AD. We first compared measures of integrated local correlations (ILCs) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency oscillations (fALFFs) in language areas. We showed that both groups of older adults had lower connectivity values within frontal language-related areas. In the healthy older group, higher integrated local correlation (ILC) and fALFF values in frontal areas were positively correlated with fluency and naming tasks. We then performed seed-based analyses for more precise discrimination between healthy aging and prodromal AD. Healthy older adults showed no functional alterations at a seed-based level when the seed area was not or only slightly impaired compared to the young adults [i.e., inferior frontal gyrus (IFG)], while prodromal AD participants also showed decreased connectivity at a seed-based level. On the contrary, when the seed area was similarly impaired in healthy older adults and prodromal AD participants on ILC and fALFF measures, their connectivity maps were also similar during seed-to-voxel analyses [i.e., superior frontal gyrus (SFG)]. Current results show that functional connectivity measures at a voxel level (ILC and fALFF) are already impacted in healthy aging. These findings imply that the functional compensations observed in healthy aging depend on the functional integrity of brain areas at a voxel level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Rafiq
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Toulouse University, Inserm, University Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Mélanie Jucla
- Octogone-Lordat Interdisciplinary Research Unit (EA 4156), University of Toulouse II-Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, France
| | - Laura Guerrier
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Toulouse University, Inserm, University Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Patrice Péran
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Toulouse University, Inserm, University Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Jérémie Pariente
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Toulouse University, Inserm, University Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Aurélie Pistono
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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10
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Yu M, Song Y, Liu J. The posterior middle temporal gyrus serves as a hub in syntactic comprehension: A model on the syntactic neural network. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2022; 232:105162. [PMID: 35908340 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2022.105162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies have revealed a distributed neural network involving multiple fronto-temporal regions that are active during syntactic processing. Here, we investigated how these regions work collaboratively to support syntactic comprehension by examining the behavioral relevance of the global functional integration of the syntax network (SN). We found that individuals with a stronger resting-state within-network integration in the left posterior middle temporal gyrus (lpMTG) were better at syntactic comprehension. Furthermore, the pair-wise functional connectivity between the lpMTG and the Broca's area, the middle frontal gyrus, and the angular and supramarginal gyri was positively correlated with participants' syntactic processing ability. In short, our study reveals the behavioral significance of intrinsic functional integration of the SN in syntactic comprehension, and provides empirical evidence for the hub-like role of the lpMTG. We proposed a neural model for syntactic comprehension highlighting the hub of the SN and its interactions with other regions in the network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxia Yu
- Bilingual Cognition and Development Lab, Center for Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510420, China
| | - Yiying Song
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Psychology & Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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11
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Syntax Acquisition in Healthy Adults and Post-Stroke Individuals: The Intriguing Role of Grammatical Preference, Statistical Learning, and Education. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12050616. [PMID: 35625003 PMCID: PMC9139563 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12050616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous work has provided contrasting evidence on syntax acquisition. Syntax-internal factors, i.e., instinctive knowledge of the universals of grammar (UG) for finite-state grammar (FSG) and phrase-structure grammar (PSG) but also syntax-external factors such as language competence, working memory (WM) and demographic factors may affect syntax acquisition. This study employed an artificial grammar paradigm to identify which factors predicted syntax acquisition. Thirty-seven healthy individuals and forty-nine left-hemispheric stroke patients (fourteen with aphasia) read syllable sequences adhering to or violating FSG and PSG. They performed preference classifications followed by grammatical classifications (after training). Results showed the best classification accuracy for sequences adhering to UG, with performance predicted by syntactic competence and spatial WM. Classification of ungrammatical sequences improved after training and was predicted by verbal WM. Although accuracy on FSG was better than on PSG, generalization was fully possible only for PSG. Education was the best predictor of syntax acquisition, while aphasia and lesion volume were not predictors. This study shows a clear preference for UG, which is influenced by spatial and linguistic knowledge, but not by the presence of aphasia. Verbal WM supported the identification of rule violations. Moreover, the acquisition of FSG and PSG was related to partially different mechanisms, but both depended on education.
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12
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Markiewicz R, Segaert K, Mazaheri A. How the healthy ageing brain supports semantic binding during language comprehension. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:7899-7917. [PMID: 34779069 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Semantic binding refers to constructing complex meaning based on elementary building blocks. Using electroencephalography (EEG), we investigated the age-related changes in modulations of oscillatory brain activity supporting lexical retrieval and semantic binding. Young and older adult participants were visually presented two-word phrases, which for the first word revealed a lexical retrieval signature (e.g., swift vs. swrfeq) and for the second word revealed a semantic binding signature (e.g., horse in a semantic binding "swift horse" vs. no binding "swrfeq horse" context). The oscillatory brain activity associated with lexical retrieval as well as semantic binding significantly differed between healthy older and young adults. Specifically for lexical retrieval, we found that different age groups exhibited opposite patterns of theta and alpha modulation, which as a combined picture suggest that lexical retrieval is associated with different and delayed signatures in older compared with young adults. For semantic binding, in young adults, we found a signature in the low-beta range centred around the target word onset (i.e., a smaller low-beta increase for binding relative to no binding), whereas in healthy older adults, we found an opposite binding signature about ~500 ms later in the low- and high-beta range (i.e., a smaller low- and high-beta decrease for binding relative to no binding). The novel finding of a different and delayed oscillatory signature for semantic binding in healthy older adults reflects that the integration of word meaning into the semantic context takes longer and relies on different mechanisms in healthy older compared with young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roksana Markiewicz
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Katrien Segaert
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre for Developmental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Ali Mazaheri
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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13
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Gallo F, Bermudez-Margaretto B, Shtyrov Y, Abutalebi J, Kreiner H, Chitaya T, Petrova A, Myachykov A. First Language Attrition: What It Is, What It Isn't, and What It Can Be. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:686388. [PMID: 34557079 PMCID: PMC8452950 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.686388] [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: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This review aims at clarifying the concept of first language attrition by tracing its limits, identifying its phenomenological and contextual constraints, discussing controversies associated with its definition, and suggesting potential directions for future research. We start by reviewing different definitions of attrition as well as associated inconsistencies. We then discuss the underlying mechanisms of first language attrition and review available evidence supporting different background hypotheses. Finally, we attempt to provide the groundwork to build a unified theoretical framework allowing for generalizable results. To this end, we suggest the deployment of a rigorous neuroscientific approach, in search of neural markers of first language attrition in different linguistic domains, putting forward hypothetical experimental ways to identify attrition's neural traces and formulating predictions for each of the proposed experimental paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Gallo
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Centre for Neurolinguistics and Psycholinguistics (CNPL), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Beatriz Bermudez-Margaretto
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yury Shtyrov
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jubin Abutalebi
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Centre for Neurolinguistics and Psycholinguistics (CNPL), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Hamutal Kreiner
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, Linguistic Cognition Laboratory, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel
| | - Tamara Chitaya
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna Petrova
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andriy Myachykov
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, HSE University, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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14
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German Language Adaptation of the NAVS (NAVS-G) and of the NAT (NAT-G): Testing Grammar in Aphasia. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040474. [PMID: 33918022 PMCID: PMC8069474 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Grammar provides the framework for understanding and producing language. In aphasia, an acquired language disorder, grammatical deficits are diversified and widespread. However, the few assessments for testing grammar in the German language do not consider current linguistic, psycholinguistic, and functional imaging data, which have been shown to be crucial for effective treatment. This study developed German language versions of the Northwestern Assessment of Verbs and Sentences (NAVS-G) and the Northwestern Anagram Test (NAT-G) to examine comprehension and production of verbs, controlling for the number and optionality of verb arguments, and sentences with increasing syntactic complexity. The NAVS-G and NAT-G were tested in 27 healthy participants, 15 right hemispheric stroke patients without aphasia, and 15 stroke patients with mild to residual aphasia. Participants without aphasia showed near-perfect performance, with the exception of (object) relative sentences, where accuracy was associated with educational level. In each patient with aphasia, deficits in more than one subtest were observed. The within and between population-groups logistic mixed regression analyses identified significant impairments in processing syntactic complexity at the verb and sentence levels. These findings indicate that the NAVS-G and NAT-G have potential for testing grammatical competence in (German) stroke patients.
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15
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Ferré P, Jarret J, Brambati S, Bellec P, Joanette Y. Functional Connectivity of Successful Picture-Naming: Age-Specific Organization and the Effect of Engaging in Stimulating Activities. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:535770. [PMID: 33250759 PMCID: PMC7674930 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.535770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a lifelong process that starts at birth. Throughout the course of their life, individuals are exposed to various levels of stimulating activities. A higher level of engagement in such activities is suspected to protect against the normal course of cognitive aging or the cognitive manifestations of age-related brain diseases. However, the exact mechanism underlying such protective action remains unclear. The concept of the neurocognitive reserve was introduced to refer to the hypothesis that engagement in stimulating activities shapes brain structure and function, thus indirectly allowing for better preserved cognitive abilities. Although it is known that word production is among the best-preserved cognitive abilities in aging, the underlying neurofunctional mechanisms that allow this relative preservation are still unknown, and it is still unclear how engagement in stimulating activities affects these processes. The objective of this study is to describe the brain functional connectivity patterns associated with picture-naming abilities in younger and older adults with varying levels of engagement in stimulating activities, as a proxy for neurocognitive reserve. A mediation analysis was applied to determine whether the association between reserve proxies and naming accuracy is dependent on task FC. Results show that naming accuracy depends on the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) functional decoupling in both younger and older adults but through different pathways. While high-performing older adults rely on the asynchronization of this area from motor speech regions’ activity, the best-performing younger adults rely on the functional decoupling with language-related regions. Mediation analysis reveals that the PCC decoupling mediates the relationship between the level of engagement in stimulating activities and naming accuracy in younger adults, but not in older adults. These findings suggest that reserve-related mechanisms may be more critical for naming in early adult life, while older adults’ neurofunctional organization may benefit more from a lifetime of acquired knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perrine Ferré
- Centre de Recherche de l’institut de Gériatrie de l’Université de Montréal (CRIUGM), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Perrine Ferré
| | - Julien Jarret
- Centre de Recherche de l’institut de Gériatrie de l’Université de Montréal (CRIUGM), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Simona Brambati
- Centre de Recherche de l’institut de Gériatrie de l’Université de Montréal (CRIUGM), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Bellec
- Centre de Recherche de l’institut de Gériatrie de l’Université de Montréal (CRIUGM), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Yves Joanette
- Centre de Recherche de l’institut de Gériatrie de l’Université de Montréal (CRIUGM), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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16
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Fitzhugh MC, Schaefer SY, Baxter LC, Rogalsky C. Cognitive and neural predictors of speech comprehension in noisy backgrounds in older adults. LANGUAGE, COGNITION AND NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 36:269-287. [PMID: 34250179 PMCID: PMC8261331 DOI: 10.1080/23273798.2020.1828946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Older adults often experience difficulties comprehending speech in noisy backgrounds, which hearing loss does not fully explain. It remains unknown how cognitive abilities, brain networks, and age-related hearing loss may uniquely contribute to speech in noise comprehension at the sentence level. In 31 older adults, using cognitive measures and resting-state fMRI, we investigated the cognitive and neural predictors of speech comprehension with energetic (broadband noise) and informational masking (multi-speakers) effects. Better hearing thresholds and greater working memory abilities were associated with better speech comprehension with energetic masking. Conversely, faster processing speed and stronger functional connectivity between frontoparietal and language networks were associated with better speech comprehension with informational masking. Our findings highlight the importance of the frontoparietal network in older adults' ability to comprehend speech in multi-speaker backgrounds, and that hearing loss and working memory in older adults contributes to speech comprehension abilities related to energetic, but not informational masking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan C. Fitzhugh
- Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
| | - Sydney Y. Schaefer
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
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17
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Pistono A, Guerrier L, Péran P, Rafiq M, Giméno M, Bézy C, Pariente J, Jucla M. Increased functional connectivity supports language performance in healthy aging despite gray matter loss. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 98:52-62. [PMID: 33246137 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Although language is quite preserved from aging, it remains unclear whether age-related differences lead to a deterioration or reorganization in language functional networks, or to different dynamics with other domains (e.g., the multiple-demand system). The present study is aimed at examining language networks, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in typical aging in relation to language performance. Twenty-three (23) younger adults and 24 healthy older adults were recruited. Volumetric gray matter differences between the 2 groups were assessed using voxel-based morphometry. Then, seed-based analyses, integrated local correlations in core regions of the language network, and within- and between-network connectivity were performed. We expected less extended connectivity maps, local coherence diminution, and higher connectivity with the multiple-demand system in older adults. On the contrary, analyses showed language network differences in healthy aging (i.e., increased connectivity with areas inside and outside language network), but no deterioration, despite widespread atrophy in older adults. Integrated local correlation revealed alterations that were unnoticeable with other analyses. Although gray matter loss was not correlated with language performance, connectivity differences were positively correlated with fluency performance in the older group. These results differ from the literature concerning other cognitive networks in aging in that they show extra internetwork connections without a decrease in intranetwork language connections. This reorganization could explain older adults' good language performance and could be interpreted in accordance with the scaffolding theory of aging and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Pistono
- Octogone-Lordat Interdisciplinary Research Unit (EA 4156), University of Toulouse II-Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, France; Ghent University, Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Laura Guerrier
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Toulouse University, Inserm, UPS, France
| | - Patrice Péran
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Toulouse University, Inserm, UPS, France
| | - Marie Rafiq
- Neurology Department, Neuroscience Centre, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Mélanie Giméno
- Octogone-Lordat Interdisciplinary Research Unit (EA 4156), University of Toulouse II-Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, France
| | - Catherine Bézy
- Neurology Department, Neuroscience Centre, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Jérémie Pariente
- Ghent University, Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent, Belgium; Neurology Department, Neuroscience Centre, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Mélanie Jucla
- Octogone-Lordat Interdisciplinary Research Unit (EA 4156), University of Toulouse II-Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, France
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18
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López-Higes R, Rubio-Valdehita S, Sánchez-Beato A, Galindo M, Mecha PR, García Cid S, Llorente C. Propiedades psicométricas y datos normativos de la prueba ECCO_Senior: un instrumento para evaluar la comprensión gramatical en adultos mayores. REVISTA DE INVESTIGACIÓN EN LOGOPEDIA 2020. [DOI: 10.5209/rlog.66147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
El test ECCO_Senior se diseñó para evaluar la comprensión de oraciones en adultos mayores. Es una prueba corta y de fácil aplicación, que se ha empleado en distintos estudios previos. En el estudio participaron 670 personas, de 50 a 85 años de edad, que cumplían criterios de inclusión relativos al estatus cognitivo general, el estado de ánimo y porcentaje mínimo de aciertos en el test. Además de los test de cribado (MEC y GDS-15) y un cuestionario socio-demográfico, se aplicó a todos los participantes el test ECCO_Senior con el que se pueden obtener distintos índices (generales y específicos). Además de comprobar si existen diferencias entre los grupos según la edad y el nivel educativo, se evaluaron las propiedades psicométricas del test, incluyendo evidencias de validez en las que se probó la bondad de ajuste de tres modelos estructurales que sirven para identificar los índices que explican un mayor porcentaje de la varianza del constructo (comprensión de oraciones). Se ofrecen normas interpretativas del test por edad y nivel de estudios en los Apéndices. Los resultados indican que el test permite evaluar la comprensión de oraciones con una fiabilidad adecuada y es sensible a las dificultades que puede experimentar un adulto al realizar esta tarea. Los tres modelos muestran un buen ajuste y permiten concluir que las oraciones no ajustadas al orden sintáctico canónico y los distractores léxicos (si se considera el tipo de ítem) serían los mejores indicadores en términos del porcentaje de la varianza del constructo que explican.
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19
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Poulisse C, Wheeldon L, Limachya R, Mazaheri A, Segaert K. The oscillatory mechanisms associated with syntactic binding in healthy ageing. Neuropsychologia 2020; 146:107523. [PMID: 32553723 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Older adults frequently display differential patterns of brain activity compared to young adults in the same task, alongside widespread neuroanatomical changes. Differing functional activity patterns in older adults are commonly interpreted as being compensatory (e.g., Cabeza et al., 2002). We examined the oscillatory activity in the EEG during syntactic binding in young and older adults, as well as the relationship between oscillatory activity and behavioural performance on a syntactic judgement task within the older adults. 19 young and 41 older adults listened to two-word sentences that differentially load onto morpho-syntactic binding: correct syntactic binding (morpho-syntactically correct, e.g., "I dotch"); incorrect syntactic binding (morpho-syntactic agreement violation, e.g., "they dotches") and no syntactic binding (minimizing morpho-syntactic binding, e.g., "dotches spuff"). Behavioural performance, assessed in a syntactic judgement task, was characterized by inter-individual variability especially in older adults, with accuracy ranging from 76 to 100% in young adults and 58-100% in older adults. Compared to young adults, older adults were slower, but not less accurate. Functional neural signatures for syntactic binding were assessed as the difference in oscillatory power between the correct and no syntactic binding condition. In older adults, syntactic binding was associated with a smaller increase in theta (4-7 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (15-20 Hz) power in a time window surrounding the second word. There was a significant difference between the older and young adults: in the alpha range, the condition difference seemed to be in the opposite direction for older versus young adults. Our findings thus suggest that the neural signature associated with syntactic binding in older adults is different from young adults. However, we found no evidence of a significant association between behavioural performance and the neural signatures of syntactic binding for older adults, which does not readily support the predictions of compensatory models of language and ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Poulisse
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SA, United Kingdom.
| | - Linda Wheeldon
- Department of Foreign Languages and Translation, University of Agder, Varemottak Universitetsveien 25 D, 4630, Kristiansand, Norway.
| | - Rupali Limachya
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SA, United Kingdom.
| | - Ali Mazaheri
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SA, United Kingdom; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2SA, United Kingdom.
| | - Katrien Segaert
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SA, United Kingdom; Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2SA, United Kingdom.
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20
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Human brain networks: a graph theoretical analysis of cortical connectivity normative database from EEG data in healthy elderly subjects. GeroScience 2020; 42:575-584. [PMID: 32170641 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-020-00176-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Moving from the hypothesis that aging processes modulate brain connectivity networks, 170 healthy elderly volunteers were submitted to EEG recordings in order to define age-related normative limits. Graph theory functions were applied to exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography on cortical sources in order to evaluate the small-world parameter as a representative model of network architecture. The analyses were carried out in the whole brain-as well as for the left and the right hemispheres separately-and in three specific resting state subnetworks defined as follows: attentional network (AN), frontal network (FN), and default mode network (DMN) in the EEG frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, beta 2, gamma). To evaluate the stability of the investigated parameters, a subgroup of 32 subjects underwent three separate EEG recording sessions in identical environmental conditions after a few days interval. Results showed that the whole right/left hemispheric evaluation did not present side differences, but when individual subnetworks were considered, AN and DMN presented in general higher SW in low (delta and/or theta) and high (gamma) frequency bands in the left hemisphere, while for FN, the alpha 1 band was lower in the left with respect to the right hemisphere. It was also evident the test-retest reliability and reproducibility of the present methodology when carried out in clinically stable subjects.Evidences from the present study suggest that graph theory represents a reliable method to address brain connectivity patterns from EEG data and is particularly suitable to study the physiological impact of aging on brain functional connectivity networks.
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21
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Cocquyt EM, Lanckmans E, van Mierlo P, Duyck W, Szmalec A, Santens P, De Letter M. The white matter architecture underlying semantic processing: A systematic review. Neuropsychologia 2019; 136:107182. [PMID: 31568774 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.107182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
From a holistic point of view, semantic processes are subserved by large-scale subcortico-cortical networks. The dynamic routing of information between grey matter structures depends on the integrity of subcortical white matter pathways. Nonetheless, controversy remains on which of these pathways support semantic processing. Therefore, a systematic review of the literature was performed with a focus on anatomo-functional correlations obtained from direct electrostimulation during awake tumor surgery, and conducted between diffusion tensor imaging metrics and behavioral semantic performance in healthy and aphasic individuals. The 43 included studies suggest that the left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus contributes to the essential connectivity that allows semantic processing. However, it remains uncertain whether its contributive role is limited to the organization of semantic knowledge or extends to the level of semantic control. Moreover, the functionality of the left uncinate fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus and the posterior segment of the indirect arcuate fasciculus in semantic processing has to be confirmed by future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- E-M Cocquyt
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Research Group BrainComm, Ghent University, Belgium.
| | - E Lanckmans
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Research Group BrainComm, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - P van Mierlo
- Research Group BrainComm, Ghent University, Belgium; Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Medical Image and Signal Processing Group, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - W Duyck
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - A Szmalec
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium; Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - P Santens
- Research Group BrainComm, Ghent University, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
| | - M De Letter
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Research Group BrainComm, Ghent University, Belgium
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22
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Kato Y, Kagitani-Shimono K, Matsuzaki J, Hanaie R, Yamamoto T, Tominaga K, Watanabe Y, Mohri I, Taniike M. White Matter Tract-Cognitive Relationships in Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychiatry Investig 2019; 16:220-233. [PMID: 30934190 PMCID: PMC6444094 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2019.01.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship between white matter tracts and cognitive symptoms in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS We examined the cognitive functions of 17 children with high-functioning ASD and 18 typically developing (TD) controls and performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography. We compared the results between the groups and investigated the correlations between the cognitive scores and DTI parameters within each group. RESULTS The Comprehension scores in the ASD group exhibited a positive correlation with mean diffusivity (MD) in the forceps minor (F minor). In the TD group, the Comprehension scores were positively correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO) and left anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), and negatively correlated with MD in the left ATR, radial diffusivity (RD) in the right IFO, and RD in the left ATR. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the Matching Numbers scores and MD in the left uncinate fasciculus and F minor, and RD in the F minor. Furthermore, the Sentence Questions scores exhibited a positive correlation with RD in the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Relative to TD controls, the specific tract showing a strong correlation with the cognitive scores was reduced in the ASD group. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that white matter tracts connecting specific brain areas may exhibit a weaker relationship with cognitive functions in children with ASD, resulting in less efficient cognitive pathways than those observed in TD children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Kato
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kuriko Kagitani-Shimono
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Junko Matsuzaki
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryuzo Hanaie
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomoka Yamamoto
- Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koji Tominaga
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Watanabe
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ikuko Mohri
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masako Taniike
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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23
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De Leon J, Mandelli ML, Nolan A, Miller ZA, Mead C, Watson C, Welch AE, Henry ML, Bourakova V, La Joie R, Bajorek LP, Grinberg L, Rabinovici G, Miller BL, Gorno-Tempini ML. Atypical clinical features associated with mixed pathology in a case of non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia. Neurocase 2019; 25:39-47. [PMID: 31033382 PMCID: PMC6759324 DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2019.1609522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A 66-year-old woman presented with agrammatism and apraxia of speech, meeting criteria for non-fluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA). However, three years later, she developed frontal/executive, short-term phonological memory, visuospatial, and visual memory deficits suggesting involvement of multiple brain networks. Multimodal neuroimaging showed damage of both fronto-striatal and posterior brain regions. She was found to have multiple pathological processes: corticobasal degeneration (CBD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP)-43 type A. We hypothesize that cognitive and neuroimaging findings consistent with damage to multiple brain networks, each associated with vulnerability to certain molecular disease subtypes, could indicate mixed pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica De Leon
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Maria Luisa Mandelli
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Amber Nolan
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Zachary A Miller
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Christie Mead
- b PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium , Palo Alto University , Palo Alto , CA , USA
| | - Christa Watson
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Ariane E Welch
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Maya L Henry
- c Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders , University of Texas at Austin , Austin, TX , USA
| | - Viktoriya Bourakova
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Renaud La Joie
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Lynn P Bajorek
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Lea Grinberg
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Gil Rabinovici
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini
- a Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
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Hartwigsen G. Flexible Redistribution in Cognitive Networks. Trends Cogn Sci 2018; 22:687-698. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Venneri A, Jahn-Carta C, de Marco M, Quaranta D, Marra C. Diagnostic and prognostic role of semantic processing in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Biomark Med 2018; 12:637-651. [PMID: 29896968 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2017-0324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Relatively spared during most of the timeline of normal aging, semantic memory shows a subtle yet measurable decline even during the pre-clinical stage of Alzheimer's disease. This decline is thought to reflect early neurofibrillary changes and impairment is detectable using tests of language relying on lexical-semantic abilities. A promising approach is the characterization of semantic parameters such as typicality and age of acquisition of words, and propositional density from verbal output. Seminal research like the Nun Study or the analysis of the linguistic decline of famous writers and politicians later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease supports the early diagnostic value of semantic processing and semantic memory. Moreover, measures of these skills may play an important role for the prognosis of patients with mild cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalena Venneri
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Matteo de Marco
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Davide Quaranta
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario 'A Gemelli', Rome, Italy
| | - Camillo Marra
- Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome; Memory Clinic, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario 'A Gemelli', Rome, Italy
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Fleck JI, Kuti J, Mercurio J, Mullen S, Austin K, Pereira O. The Impact of Age and Cognitive Reserve on Resting-State Brain Connectivity. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:392. [PMID: 29249962 PMCID: PMC5716980 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive reserve (CR) is a protective mechanism that supports sustained cognitive function following damage to the physical brain associated with age, injury, or disease. The goal of the research was to identify relationships between age, CR, and brain connectivity. A sample of 90 cognitively normal adults, ages 45–64 years, had their resting-state brain activity recorded with electroencephalography (EEG) and completed a series of memory and executive function assessments. CR was estimated using years of education and verbal IQ scores. Participants were divided into younger and older age groups and low- and high-CR groups. We observed greater left- than right-hemisphere coherence in younger participants, and greater right- than left-hemisphere coherence in older participants. In addition, greater coherence was observed under eyes-closed than eyes-open recording conditions for both low-CR and high-CR participants, with a more substantial difference between recording conditions in individuals high in CR regardless of age. Finally, younger participants low in CR exhibited greater mean coherence than younger participants high in CR, whereas the opposite pattern was observed in older participants, with greater coherence in older participants high in CR. Together, these findings suggest the possibility of a shift in the relationship between CR and brain connectivity during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica I Fleck
- School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Stockton University, Galloway Township, NJ, United States
| | - Julia Kuti
- School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Stockton University, Galloway Township, NJ, United States
| | - Jeffrey Mercurio
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Spencer Mullen
- School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Stockton University, Galloway Township, NJ, United States
| | - Katherine Austin
- School of Graduate Studies, Stockton University, Galloway Township, NJ, United States
| | - Olivia Pereira
- Department of Biomedical Research, Nemours Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
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Połczyńska M, Japardi K, Curtiss S, Moody T, Benjamin C, Cho A, Vigil C, Kuhn T, Jones M, Bookheimer S. Improving language mapping in clinical fMRI through assessment of grammar. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2017; 15:415-427. [PMID: 28616382 PMCID: PMC5458087 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Brain surgery in the language dominant hemisphere remains challenging due to unintended post-surgical language deficits, despite using pre-surgical functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) and intraoperative cortical stimulation. Moreover, patients are often recommended not to undergo surgery if the accompanying risk to language appears to be too high. While standard fMRI language mapping protocols may have relatively good predictive value at the group level, they remain sub-optimal on an individual level. The standard tests used typically assess lexico-semantic aspects of language, and they do not accurately reflect the complexity of language either in comprehension or production at the sentence level. Among patients who had left hemisphere language dominance we assessed which tests are best at activating language areas in the brain. Method We compared grammar tests (items testing word order in actives and passives, wh-subject and object questions, relativized subject and object clauses and past tense marking) with standard tests (object naming, auditory and visual responsive naming), using pre-operative fMRI. Twenty-five surgical candidates (13 females) participated in this study. Sixteen patients presented with a brain tumor, and nine with epilepsy. All participants underwent two pre-operative fMRI protocols: one including CYCLE-N grammar tests (items testing word order in actives and passives, wh-subject and object questions, relativized subject and object clauses and past tense marking); and a second one with standard fMRI tests (object naming, auditory and visual responsive naming). fMRI activations during performance in both protocols were compared at the group level, as well as in individual candidates. Results The grammar tests generated more volume of activation in the left hemisphere (left/right angular gyrus, right anterior/posterior superior temporal gyrus) and identified additional language regions not shown by the standard tests (e.g., left anterior/posterior supramarginal gyrus). The standard tests produced more activation in left BA 47. Ten participants had more robust activations in the left hemisphere in the grammar tests and two in the standard tests. The grammar tests also elicited substantial activations in the right hemisphere and thus turned out to be superior at identifying both right and left hemisphere contribution to language processing. Conclusion The grammar tests may be an important addition to the standard pre-operative fMRI testing. We added comprehensive grammar tests to standard presurgical fMRI of language. The grammar tests generated more volume of activation bilaterally. The tests identified additional language regions not shown by the standard tests. The grammar tests may be an important addition to standard pre-operative fMRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Połczyńska
- UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Faculty of English, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Kevin Japardi
- UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | | | - Teena Moody
- UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | | | - Andrew Cho
- UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Celia Vigil
- UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Taylor Kuhn
- UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Michael Jones
- UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Susan Bookheimer
- UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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tDCS-Induced Modulation of GABA Levels and Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Older Adults. J Neurosci 2017; 37:4065-4073. [PMID: 28314813 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0079-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates human behavior, neuronal patterns, and metabolite concentrations, with exciting potential for neurorehabilitation. However, the understanding of tDCS-induced alterations on the neuronal level is incomplete, and conclusions from young adults, in whom the majority of studies have been conducted, cannot be easily transferred to older populations. Here, we investigated tDCS-induced effects in older adults (N = 48; age range, 50-79 years) using magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify GABA levels as well as resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess sensorimotor network strength and interhemispheric connectivity. In a randomized, counterbalanced, crossover design, we applied anodal tDCS (atDCS), cathodal tDCS (ctDCS), and sham tDCS (stDCS) over the left sensorimotor region. We observed a significant reduction of GABA levels after atDCS compared with stDCS, reflecting the preserved neuromodulatory effect of atDCS in older adults. Moreover, resting-state functional coupling was decreased during atDCS compared with stDCS, most likely indicating augmented efficiency in brain network functioning. Increased levels of interhemispheric connectivity with age were diminished by atDCS, suggesting stimulation-induced functional decoupling. Further, the magnitude of atDCS-induced local plasticity was related to baseline functional network strength. Our findings provide novel insight into the neuronal correlates underlying tDCS-induced neuronal plasticity in older adults and thus might help to develop tDCS interventions tailored to the aging brain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates human behavior, neuronal patterns, and metabolite concentrations, with exciting potential for neurorehabilitation. However, the understanding of tDCS-induced alterations on the neuronal level is incomplete, and conclusions from young adults cannot be easily transferred to older populations. We used a systematic multimodal imaging approach to investigate the neurophysiological effects of tDCS in older adults and found stimulation-induced effects on GABA levels, reflecting augmented local plasticity and functional connectivity, suggesting modulation of network efficiency. Our findings may help to reconcile some of the recent reports on the variability of tDCS-induced effects, not only implicating age as a crucial modulating factor, but detailing its specific impact on the functionality of neural networks.
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Changes in Cortical Activation Patterns in Language Areas following an Aerobic Exercise Intervention in Older Adults. Neural Plast 2017; 2017:6340302. [PMID: 28367334 PMCID: PMC5358467 DOI: 10.1155/2017/6340302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous work has shown that older adults who evidence increased right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) activity during language tasks show decreased sematic verbal fluency performance. The current study sought to evaluate if an aerobic exercise intervention can alter patterns of brain activity during a semantic verbal fluency task assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Thirty-two community-dwelling, sedentary older adults were enrolled to a 12-week aerobic "Spin" exercise group or a 12-week nonaerobic exercise control condition (Balance). Thirty participants completed their assigned intervention (16 Spin; 14 Balance) with pre- and postintervention assessments of a semantic verbal fluency task during fMRI and estimated VO2max testing. There was a significant increase in the change scores for estimated VO2max of the Spin group when compared to the Balance group. Semantic verbal fluency output within the scanner was also improved in the Spin group as compared to controls at postassessment. Group fMRI comparisons of IFG activity showed lower activity in the right IFG following the intervention in the aerobic Spin group when compared to the Balance group. Regression analysis of imaging data with change in both estimated VO2max and semantic verbal fluency was negatively correlated with activity in right IFG. The current work is registered as clinical trial with NCT01787292 and NCT02787655.
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30
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Fiori V, Nitsche M, Iasevoli L, Cucuzza G, Caltagirone C, Marangolo P. Differential effects of bihemispheric and unihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation in young and elderly adults in verbal learning. Behav Brain Res 2017; 321:170-175. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.12.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Xiao Y, Brauer J, Lauckner M, Zhai H, Jia F, Margulies DS, Friederici AD. Development of the Intrinsic Language Network in Preschool Children from Ages 3 to 5 Years. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165802. [PMID: 27812160 PMCID: PMC5094780 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Resting state studies of spontaneous fluctuations in the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood oxygen level dependent signal have shown great potential in mapping the intrinsic functional connectivity of the human brain underlying cognitive functions. The aim of the present study was to explore the developmental changes in functional networks of the developing human brain exemplified with the language network in typically developing preschool children. To this end, resting-sate fMRI data were obtained from native Chinese children at ages of 3 and 5 years, 15 in each age group. Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) was analyzed for four regions of interest; these are the left and right anterior superior temporal gyrus (aSTG), left posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG), and left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). The comparison of these RSFC maps between 3- and 5-year-olds revealed that RSFC decreases in the right aSTG and increases in the left hemisphere between aSTG seed and IFG, between pSTG seed and IFG, as well as between IFG seed and posterior superior temporal sulcus. In a subsequent analysis, functional asymmetry of the language network seeding in aSTG, pSTG and IFG was further investigated. The results showed an increase of left lateralization in both RSFC of pSTG and of IFG from ages 3 to 5 years. The IFG showed a leftward lateralized trend in 3-year-olds, while pSTG demonstrated rightward asymmetry in 5-year-olds. These findings suggest clear developmental trajectories of the language network between 3- and 5-year-olds revealed as a function of age, characterized by increasing long-range connections and dynamic hemispheric lateralization with age. Our study provides new insights into the developmental changes of a well-established functional network in young children and also offers a basis for future cross-culture and cross-age studies of the resting-state language network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqiong Xiao
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology, Leipzig, Germany
- * E-mail: (YQX); (HCZ)
| | - Jens Brauer
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mark Lauckner
- Max Planck Research Group for Neuroanatomy & Connectivity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hongchang Zhai
- College of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, R.P. China
- * E-mail: (YQX); (HCZ)
| | - Fucang Jia
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, R.P. China
| | - Daniel S. Margulies
- Max Planck Research Group for Neuroanatomy & Connectivity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Angela D. Friederici
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology, Leipzig, Germany
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Perceval G, Flöel A, Meinzer M. Can transcranial direct current stimulation counteract age-associated functional impairment? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 65:157-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Moscoso Del Prado Martín F. Vocabulary, Grammar, Sex, and Aging. Cogn Sci 2016; 41:950-975. [PMID: 28523653 DOI: 10.1111/cogs.12367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the changes in our language abilities along the lifespan is a crucial step for understanding the aging process both in normal and in abnormal circumstances. Besides controlled experimental tasks, it is equally crucial to investigate language in unconstrained conversation. I present an information-theoretical analysis of a corpus of dyadic conversations investigating how the richness of the vocabulary, the word-internal structure (inflectional morphology), and the syntax of the utterances evolves as a function of the speaker's age and sex. Although vocabulary diversity increases throughout the lifetime, grammatical diversities follow a different pattern, which also differs between women and men. Women use increasingly diverse syntactic structures at least up to their late fifties, and they do not deteriorate in terms of fluency through their lifespan. However, from age 45 onward, men exhibit a decrease in the diversity of the syntactic structures they use, coupled with an increased number of speech disfluencies.
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Antonenko D, Külzow N, Cesarz ME, Schindler K, Grittner U, Flöel A. Hippocampal Pathway Plasticity Is Associated with the Ability to Form Novel Memories in Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:61. [PMID: 27047376 PMCID: PMC4801877 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
White matter deterioration in the aging human brain contributes to cognitive decline. The fornix as main efferent hippocampal pathway is one of the tracts most strongly associated with age-related memory impairment. Its deterioration may predict conversion to Alzheimer’s dementia and its precursors. However, the associations between the ability to form novel memories, fornix microstructure and plasticity in response to training have never been tested. In the present study, 25 healthy older adults (15 women; mean age (SD): 69 (6) years) underwent an object-location training on three consecutive days. Behavioral outcome measures comprised recall performance on the training days, and on 1-day and 1-month follow up assessments. MRI at 3 Tesla was assessed before and after training. Fornix microstructure was determined by fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity (MD) values from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). In addition, hippocampal volumes were extracted from high-resolution images; individual hippocampal masks were further aligned to DTI images to determine hippocampal microstructure. Using linear mixed model analysis, we found that the change in fornix FA from pre- to post-training assessment was significantly associated with training success. Neither baseline fornix microstructure nor hippocampal microstructure or volume changes were significantly associated with performance. Further, models including control task performance (auditory verbal learning) and control white matter tract microstructure (uncinate fasciculus and parahippocampal cingulum) did not yield significant associations. Our results confirm that hippocampal pathways respond to short-term cognitive training, and extend previous findings by demonstrating that the magnitude of training-induced structural changes is associated with behavioral success in older adults. This suggests that the amount of fornix plasticity may not only be behaviorally relevant, but also a potential sensitive biomarker for the success of training interventions aimed at improving memory formation in older adults, a hypothesis to be evaluated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Antonenko
- Department of Neurology, NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Külzow
- Department of Neurology, NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Germany
| | - Magda E Cesarz
- Department of Neurology, NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Ulrike Grittner
- Center for Stroke Research, Charité University MedicineBerlin, Germany; Department for Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité University MedicineBerlin, Germany
| | - Agnes Flöel
- Department of Neurology, NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité University MedicineBerlin, Germany; Center for Stroke Research, Charité University MedicineBerlin, Germany
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Hoyau E, Cousin E, Jaillard A, Baciu M. Modulation of the inter-hemispheric processing of semantic information during normal aging. A divided visual field experiment. Neuropsychologia 2016; 93:425-436. [PMID: 26724229 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2015] [Revised: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated the effect of normal aging on the inter-hemispheric processing of semantic information by using the divided visual field (DVF) method, with words and pictures. Two main theoretical models have been considered, (a) the HAROLD model which posits that aging is associated with supplementary recruitment of the right hemisphere (RH) and decreased hemispheric specialization, and (b) the RH decline theory, which assumes that the RH becomes less efficient with aging, associated with increased LH specialization. Two groups of subjects were examined, a Young Group (YG) and an Old Group (OG), while participants performed a semantic categorization task (living vs. non-living) in words and pictures. The DVF was realized in two steps: (a) unilateral DVF presentation with stimuli presented separately in each visual field, left or right, allowing for their initial processing by only one hemisphere, right or left, respectively; (b) bilateral DVF presentation (BVF) with stimuli presented simultaneously in both visual fields, followed by their processing by both hemispheres. These two types of presentation permitted the evaluation of two main characteristics of the inter-hemispheric processing of information, the hemispheric specialization (HS) and the inter-hemispheric cooperation (IHC). Moreover, the BVF allowed determining the driver-hemisphere for processing information presented in BVF. Results obtained in OG indicated that: (a) semantic categorization was performed as accurately as YG, even if more slowly, (b) a non-semantic RH decline was observed, and (c) the LH controls the semantic processing during the BVF, suggesting an increased role of the LH in aging. However, despite the stronger involvement of the LH in OG, the RH is not completely devoid of semantic abilities. As discussed in the paper, neither the HAROLD nor the RH decline does fully explain this pattern of results. We rather suggest that the effect of aging on the hemispheric specialization and inter-hemispheric cooperation during semantic processing is explained not by only one model, but by an interaction between several complementary mechanisms and models.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Hoyau
- University Grenoble Alpes, LPNC, F-38040 Grenoble, France; CNRS, LPNC UMR 5105, F-38040 Grenoble, France
| | - E Cousin
- University Grenoble Alpes, LPNC, F-38040 Grenoble, France; CNRS, LPNC UMR 5105, F-38040 Grenoble, France; UMS IRMaGe, IRM 3T, CHU Grenoble, University Grenoble Alpes, F-38043 Grenoble, France
| | - A Jaillard
- UMS IRMaGe, IRM 3T, CHU Grenoble, University Grenoble Alpes, F-38043 Grenoble, France
| | - M Baciu
- University Grenoble Alpes, LPNC, F-38040 Grenoble, France; CNRS, LPNC UMR 5105, F-38040 Grenoble, France.
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Miraglia F, Vecchio F, Bramanti P, Rossini P. Small-worldness characteristics and its gender relation in specific hemispheric networks. Neuroscience 2015; 310:1-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Xiao Y, Friederici AD, Margulies DS, Brauer J. Development of a selective left-hemispheric fronto-temporal network for processing syntactic complexity in language comprehension. Neuropsychologia 2015; 83:274-282. [PMID: 26352468 PMCID: PMC4780430 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The development of language comprehension abilities in childhood is closely related to the maturation of the brain, especially the ability to process syntactically complex sentences. Recent studies proposed that the fronto-temporal connection within left perisylvian regions, supporting the processing of syntactically complex sentences, is still immature at preschool age. In the current study, resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from typically developing 5-year-old children and adults to shed further light on the brain functional development. Children additionally performed a behavioral syntactic comprehension test outside the scanner. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations was analyzed in order to identify the functional correlation networks of language-relevant brain regions. Results showed an intrahemispheric correlation between left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and left posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) in adults, whereas an interhemispheric correlation between left IFG and its right-hemispheric homolog was predominant in children. Correlation analysis between resting-state functional connectivity and sentence processing performance in 5-year-olds revealed that local connectivity within the left IFG is associated with competence of processing syntactically simple canonical sentences, while long-range connectivity between IFG and pSTS in left hemisphere is associated with competence of processing syntactically relatively more complex non-canonical sentences. The present developmental data suggest that a selective left fronto-temporal connectivity network for processing complex syntax is already in functional connection at the age of 5 years when measured in a non-task situation. The correlational findings provide new insight into the relationship between intrinsic functional connectivity and syntactic language abilities in preschool children. resting state ALFF correlated in adults between left IFG and left pSTS. resting state ALFF correlated in children between left IFG and right homolog area. intrahemispheric connectivity co-varies with syntactic processing skills in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqiong Xiao
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Angela D Friederici
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel S Margulies
- Max Planck Research Group for Neuroanatomy & Connectivity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Brauer
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
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Perry A, Wen W, Lord A, Thalamuthu A, Roberts G, Mitchell PB, Sachdev PS, Breakspear M. The organisation of the elderly connectome. Neuroimage 2015; 114:414-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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Manza P, Zhang S, Hu S, Chao HH, Leung HC, Li CSR. The effects of age on resting state functional connectivity of the basal ganglia from young to middle adulthood. Neuroimage 2015; 107:311-322. [PMID: 25514518 PMCID: PMC4300261 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The basal ganglia nuclei are critical for a variety of cognitive and motor functions. Much work has shown age-related structural changes of the basal ganglia. Yet less is known about how the functional interactions of these regions with the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum change throughout the lifespan. Here, we took advantage of a convenient sample and examined resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 250 adults 18 to 49 years of age, focusing specifically on the caudate nucleus, pallidum, putamen, and ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra (VTA/SN). There are a few main findings to report. First, with age, caudate head connectivity increased with a large region of ventromedial prefrontal/medial orbitofrontal cortex. Second, across all subjects, pallidum and putamen showed negative connectivity with default mode network (DMN) regions such as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex, in support of anti-correlation of the "task-positive" network (TPN) and DMN. This negative connectivity was reduced with age. Furthermore, pallidum, posterior putamen and VTA/SN connectivity to other TPN regions, such as somatomotor cortex, decreased with age. These results highlight a distinct effect of age on cerebral functional connectivity of the dorsal striatum and VTA/SN from young to middle adulthood and may help research investigating the etiologies or monitoring outcomes of neuropsychiatric conditions that implicate dopaminergic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Manza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Sien Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Herta H Chao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; Medical Service, VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Hoi-Chung Leung
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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40
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Nair VA, Young BM, La C, Reiter P, Nadkarni TN, Song J, Vergun S, Addepally NS, Mylavarapu K, Swartz JL, Jensen MB, Chacon MR, Sattin JA, Prabhakaran V. Functional connectivity changes in the language network during stroke recovery. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2015; 2:185-95. [PMID: 25750922 PMCID: PMC4338958 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Several neuroimaging studies have examined language reorganization in stroke patients with aphasia. However, few studies have examined language reorganization in stroke patients without aphasia. Here, we investigated functional connectivity (FC) changes after stroke in the language network using resting-state fMRI and performance on a verbal fluency (VF) task in patients without clinically documented language deficits. Methods Early-stage ischemic stroke patients (N = 26) (average 5 days from onset), 14 of whom were tested at a later stage (average 4.5 months from onset), 26 age-matched healthy control subjects (HCs), and 12 patients with cerebrovascular risk factors (patients at risk, PR) participated in this study. We examined FC of the language network with 23 seed regions based on a previous study. We evaluated patients' behavioral performance on a VF task and correlation between brain resting-state FC (rsFC) and behavior. Results Compared to HCs, early stroke patients showed significantly decreased rsFC in the language network but no difference with respect to PR. Early stroke patients showed significant differences in performance on the VF task compared to HCs but not PR. Late-stage patients compared to HCs and PR showed no differences in brain rsFC in the language network and significantly stronger connections compared to early-stage patients. Behavioral differences persisted in the late stage compared to HCs. Change in specific connection strengths correlated with changes in behavior from early to late stage. Conclusions These results show decreased rsFC in the language network and verbal fluency deficits in early stroke patients without clinically documented language deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veena A Nair
- Department of Radiology, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Brittany M Young
- Department of Radiology, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Neuroscience Training Program, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Medical Scientist Training Program, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Christian La
- Department of Radiology, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Neuroscience Training Program, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Peter Reiter
- Department of Radiology, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Tanvi N Nadkarni
- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jie Song
- Department of Radiology, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Svyatoslav Vergun
- Department of Radiology, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Department of Medical Physics, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Clinical Neuroengineering Training Program, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vivek Prabhakaran
- Department of Radiology, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Neuroscience Training Program, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Medical Scientist Training Program, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Clinical Neuroengineering Training Program, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Department of Neurology, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin ; Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, UW-Madison Madison, Wisconsin
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Davis SW, Zhuang J, Wright P, Tyler LK. Age-related sensitivity to task-related modulation of language-processing networks. Neuropsychologia 2014; 63:107-15. [PMID: 25172389 PMCID: PMC4410794 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
It is widely assumed that cognitive functions decline with age and that these decrements are associated with age-related changes in patterns of functional activity. However, these functional changes may be due to age-related increased responsiveness to task demands and not to other cognitive processes on which neural and behavioural responses rely, since many ageing studies use task paradigms that may not be orthogonal to the cognitive function being investigated. Here we test this hypothesis in adults aged 20–86 years by combining measures of language comprehension, functional connectivity and neural integrity to identify functional networks activated in two language experiments with varying task demands. In one, participants listened to spoken sentences without performing an overt task (the natural listening condition) while in the other they performed a task in response to the same sentences. Using task-based ICA of fMRI, we identified a left-lateralised frontotemporal network associated with syntactic analysis, which remained consistently activated regardless of task demands. In contrast, in the task condition only a separate set of components showed task-specific activity in Opercular, Frontoparietal, and bilateral PFC. Only the PFC showed age-related increases in activation which, furthermore, was strongly mediated by grey matter health. These results suggest that, contrary to prevailing views, age-related changes in cognitive activation may be due in part to differential responses to task-related processes. Ageing effects on brain activity may be over-estimated due to demands of tasks. Age differences in PFC network activity were present only during an active task. This age-related increase is largely accounted for by grey matter morphology. Results suggest that age-related changes may be due to task-related processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon W Davis
- Centre for Speech, Language and the Brain, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK.
| | - Jie Zhuang
- Centre for Speech, Language and the Brain, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Paul Wright
- Centre for Speech, Language and the Brain, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Lorraine K Tyler
- Centre for Speech, Language and the Brain, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
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42
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Wu CY, Koh JYS, Ho MHR, Miyakoshi M, Nakai T, Chen SHA. Age-related differences in effective connectivity of brain regions involved in Japanese kanji processing with homophone judgment task. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2014; 135:32-41. [PMID: 24893344 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2014.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2013] [Revised: 03/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Reading is a complex process involving neural networks in which connections may be influenced by task demands and other factors. We employed functional magnetic resonance imaging and dynamic causal modeling to examine age-related influences on left-hemispheric kanji reading networks. During a homophone judgment task, activation in the middle frontal gyrus, and dorsal and ventral inferior frontal gyri were identified, representing areas involved in orthographic, phonological, and semantic processing, respectively. The young adults showed a preference for a semantically-mediated pathway from orthographic inputs to the retrieval of phonological representations, whereas the elderly preferred a direct connection from orthographic inputs to phonological lexicons prior to the activation of semantic representations. These sequential pathways are in line with the lexical semantic and non-semantic routes in the dual-route cascaded model. The shift in reading pathways accompanied by slowed reaction time for the elderly might suggest age-related declines in the efficiency of network connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiao-Yi Wu
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Jia Ying Serene Koh
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Moon-Ho Ringo Ho
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Makoto Miyakoshi
- Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience, Institute for Neural Computation, University of California San Diego, United States; Neuroimaging and Informatics Lab, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Ohbu, Aichi, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences, Japan
| | - Toshiharu Nakai
- Neuroimaging and Informatics Lab, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Ohbu, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shen-Hsing Annabel Chen
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
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Muller AM, Meyer M. Language in the brain at rest: new insights from resting state data and graph theoretical analysis. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:228. [PMID: 24808843 PMCID: PMC4009443 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, the most obvious functional lateralization is the specialization of the left hemisphere for language. Therefore, the involvement of the right hemisphere in language is one of the most remarkable findings during the last two decades of fMRI research. However, the importance of this finding continues to be underestimated. We examined the interaction between the two hemispheres and also the role of the right hemisphere in language. From two seeds representing Broca's area, we conducted a seed correlation analysis (SCA) of resting state fMRI data and could identify a resting state network (RSN) overlapping to significant extent with a language network that was generated by an automated meta-analysis tool. To elucidate the relationship between the clusters of this RSN, we then performed graph theoretical analyses (GTA) using the same resting state dataset. We show that the right hemisphere is clearly involved in language. A modularity analysis revealed that the interaction between the two hemispheres is mediated by three partitions: A bilateral frontal partition consists of nodes representing the classical left sided language regions as well as two right-sided homologs. The second bilateral partition consists of nodes from the right frontal, the left inferior parietal cortex as well as of two nodes within the posterior cerebellum. The third partition is also bilateral and comprises five regions from the posterior midline parts of the brain to the temporal and frontal cortex, two of the nodes are prominent default mode nodes. The involvement of this last partition in a language relevant function is a novel finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Muller
- Research Unit for Neuroplasticity and Learning in the Healthy Aging Brain, Psychological Institute, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; International Normal Aging and Plasticity Imaging Center Zurich, Switzerland ; URPP Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Meyer
- Research Unit for Neuroplasticity and Learning in the Healthy Aging Brain, Psychological Institute, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; International Normal Aging and Plasticity Imaging Center Zurich, Switzerland ; URPP Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Cognitive Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Klagenfurt Klagenfurt, Austria
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44
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Antonenko D, Flöel A. Healthy aging by staying selectively connected: a mini-review. Gerontology 2013; 60:3-9. [PMID: 24080587 DOI: 10.1159/000354376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive neuroscience of the healthy aging human brain has thus far addressed age-related changes of local functional and structural properties of gray and white matter and their association with declining or preserved cognitive functions. In addition to these localized changes, recent neuroimaging research has attributed an important role to neural networks with a stronger focus on interacting rather than isolated brain regions. The analysis of functional connectivity encompasses task-dependent and -independent synchronous activity in the brain, and thus reflects the organization of the brain in distinct performance-relevant networks. Structural connectivity in white matter pathways, representing the integrity of anatomical connections, underlies the communication between the nodes of these functional networks. Both functional and structural connectivity within these networks have been demonstrated to change with aging, and to have different predictive values for cognitive abilities in older compared to young adults. Structural degeneration has been found in the entire cerebral white matter with greatest deterioration in frontal areas, affecting whole brain structural network efficiency. With regard to functional connectivity, both higher and lower functional coupling has been observed in the aging compared to the young brain. Here, high connectivity within the nodes of specific functional networks on the one hand, and low connectivity to regions outside this network on the other hand, were associated with preserved cognitive functions in aging in most cases. For example, in the language domain, connections between left-hemisphere language-related prefrontal, posterior temporal and parietal areas were described as beneficial, whereas connections between the left and right hemisphere were detrimental for language task performance. Of note, interactions between structural and functional network properties may change in the course of aging and differentially impact behavioral performance in older versus young adults. Finally, studies using noninvasive brain stimulation techniques like transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to simultaneously modulate behavior and functional connectivity support the importance of 'selective connectivity' of aging brain networks for preserved cognitive functions. These studies demonstrate that enhancing task performance by tDCS is paralleled by increased connectivity within functional networks. In this review, we outline the network perspective on healthy brain aging and discuss recent developments in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Antonenko
- Department of Neurology, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, and Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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