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Petro NM, Webert LK, Springer SD, Okelberry HJ, John JA, Horne LK, Glesinger R, Rempe MP, Wilson TW. Optimal gamma-band entrainment of visual cortex. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26775. [PMID: 38970249 PMCID: PMC11226544 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26775] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Visual entrainment is a powerful and widely used research tool to study visual information processing in the brain. While many entrainment studies have focused on frequencies around 14-16 Hz, there is renewed interest in understanding visual entrainment at higher frequencies (e.g., gamma-band entrainment). Notably, recent groundbreaking studies have demonstrated that gamma-band visual entrainment at 40 Hz may have therapeutic effects in the context of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by stimulating specific neural ensembles, which utilize GABAergic signaling. Despite such promising findings, few studies have investigated the optimal parameters for gamma-band visual entrainment. Herein, we examined whether visual stimulation at 32, 40, or 48 Hz produces optimal visual entrainment responses using high-density magnetoencephalography (MEG). Our results indicated strong entrainment responses localizing to the primary visual cortex in each condition. Entrainment responses were stronger for 32 and 40 Hz relative to 48 Hz, indicating more robust synchronization of neural ensembles at these lower gamma-band frequencies. In addition, 32 and 40 Hz entrainment responses showed typical patterns of habituation across trials, but this effect was absent for 48 Hz. Finally, connectivity between visual cortex and parietal and prefrontal cortices tended to be strongest for 40 relative to 32 and 48 Hz entrainment. These results suggest that neural ensembles in the visual cortex may resonate at around 32 and 40 Hz and thus entrain more readily to photic stimulation at these frequencies. Emerging AD therapies, which have focused on 40 Hz entrainment to date, may be more effective at lower relative to higher gamma frequencies, although additional work in clinical populations is needed to confirm these findings. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Gamma-band visual entrainment has emerged as a therapeutic approach for eliminating amyloid in Alzheimer's disease, but its optimal parameters are unknown. We found stronger entrainment at 32 and 40 Hz compared to 48 Hz, suggesting neural ensembles prefer to resonate around these relatively lower gamma-band frequencies. These findings may inform the development and refinement of innovative AD therapies and the study of GABAergic visual cortical functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan M. Petro
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Lauren K. Webert
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Seth D. Springer
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)OmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Hannah J. Okelberry
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Jason A. John
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Lucy K. Horne
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Ryan Glesinger
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Maggie P. Rempe
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)OmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Tony W. Wilson
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)OmahaNebraskaUSA
- Department of Pharmacology and NeuroscienceCreighton UniversityOmahaNebraskaUSA
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Tatti E, Cacciola A, Carrara F, Luciani A, Quartarone A, Ghilardi MF. Movement-related ERS and connectivity in the gamma frequency decrease with practice. Neuroimage 2023; 284:120444. [PMID: 37926216 PMCID: PMC10758293 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120444] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous work showed that movements are accompanied by modulation of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in both beta (13-30 Hz) and gamma (>30 Hz) ranges. The amplitude of beta event-related synchronization (ERS) is not linked to movement characteristics, but progressively increases with motor practice, returning to baseline after a period of rest. Conversely, movement-related gamma ERS amplitude is proportional to movement distance and velocity. Here, high-density EEG was recorded in 51 healthy subjects to investigate whether i) three-hour practice in two learning tasks, one with a motor component and one without, affects gamma ERS amplitude and connectivity during a motor reaching test, and ii) 90-minutes of either sleep or quiet rest have an effect on gamma oscillatory activity. We found that, while gamma ERS was appropriately scaled to the target extent at all testing points, its amplitude decreased after practice, independently of the type of interposed learning, and after both quiet wake and nap, with partial correlations with subjective fatigue scores. During movement execution, connectivity patterns within fronto-parieto-occipital electrodes, over areas associated with attentional networks, decreased after both practice and after 90-minute rest. While confirming the prokinetic nature of movement-related gamma ERS, these findings demonstrated the preservation of gamma ERS scaling to movement velocity with practice, despite constant amplitude reduction. We thus speculate that such decreases, differently from the practice-related increases of beta ERS, are related to reduced attention or working memory mechanisms due to fatigue or a switch of strategy toward automatization of movement execution and do not specifically reflect plasticity phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Tatti
- Department of Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences, CUNY, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10031, United States.
| | - Alberto Cacciola
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; Center for Complex Network Intelligence (CCNI), Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence (THBI), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Federico Carrara
- Department of Mathematics, Polytechnic University of Milan, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Adalgisa Luciani
- Department of Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences, CUNY, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10031, United States; Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Angelo Quartarone
- IRCCS-Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, S.S. 113, Via Palermo, C. da Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
| | - M Felice Ghilardi
- Department of Molecular, Cellular & Biomedical Sciences, CUNY, School of Medicine, New York, NY 10031, United States.
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Ward TW, Springer SD, Schantell M, John JA, Horne LK, Coutant AT, Okelberry HJ, Willett MP, Johnson HJ, Killanin AD, Heinrichs‐Graham E, Wilson TW. Regular cannabis use alters the neural dynamics serving complex motor control. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:6511-6522. [PMID: 37955378 PMCID: PMC10681654 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26527] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis is the most widely used recreational drug in the United States and regular use has been linked to deficits in attention and memory. However, the effects of regular use on motor control are less understood, with some studies showing deficits and others indicating normal performance. Eighteen users and 23 nonusers performed a motor sequencing task during high-density magnetoencephalography (MEG). The MEG data was transformed into the time-frequency domain and beta responses (16-24 Hz) during motor planning and execution phases were imaged separately using a beamformer approach. Whole-brain maps were examined for group (cannabis user/nonuser) and time window (planning/execution) effects. As expected, there were no group differences in task performance (e.g., reaction time, accuracy, etc.). Regular cannabis users exhibited stronger beta oscillations in the contralateral primary motor cortex compared to nonusers during the execution phase of the motor sequences, but not during the motor planning phase. Similar group-by-time window interactions were observed in the left superior parietal, right inferior frontal cortices, right posterior insular cortex, and the bilateral motor cortex. We observed differences in the neural dynamics serving motor control in regular cannabis users compared to nonusers, suggesting regular users may employ compensatory processing in both primary motor and higher-order motor cortices to maintain adequate task performance. Future studies will need to examine more complex motor control tasks to ascertain whether this putative compensatory activity eventually becomes exhausted and behavioral differences emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W. Ward
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Department of Pharmacology & NeuroscienceCreighton UniversityOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Seth D. Springer
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Mikki Schantell
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Jason A. John
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Lucy K. Horne
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Anna T. Coutant
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Hannah J. Okelberry
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Madelyn P. Willett
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Hallie J. Johnson
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Abraham D. Killanin
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Elizabeth Heinrichs‐Graham
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Department of Pharmacology & NeuroscienceCreighton UniversityOmahaNebraskaUSA
| | - Tony W. Wilson
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Department of Pharmacology & NeuroscienceCreighton UniversityOmahaNebraskaUSA
- College of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmahaNebraskaUSA
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Dietz SM, Schantell M, Spooner RK, Sandal ME, Mansouri A, Arif Y, Okelberry HJ, John JA, Glesinger R, May PE, Heinrichs-Graham E, Case AJ, Zimmerman MC, Wilson TW. Elevated CRP and TNF-α levels are associated with blunted neural oscillations serving fluid intelligence. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 114:430-437. [PMID: 37716379 PMCID: PMC10591904 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Inflammatory processes help protect the body from potential threats such as bacterial or viral invasions. However, when such inflammatory processes become chronically engaged, synaptic impairments and neuronal cell death may occur. In particular, persistently high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) have been linked to deficits in cognition and several psychiatric disorders. Higher-order cognitive processes such as fluid intelligence (Gf) are thought to be particularly vulnerable to persistent inflammation. Herein, we investigated the relationship between elevated CRP and TNF-α and the neural oscillatory dynamics serving Gf. METHODS Seventy adults between the ages of 20-66 years (Mean = 45.17 years, SD = 16.29, 21.4% female) completed an abstract reasoning task that probes Gf during magnetoencephalography (MEG) and provided a blood sample for inflammatory marker analysis. MEG data were imaged in the time-frequency domain, and whole-brain regressions were conducted using each individual's plasma CRP and TNF-α concentrations per oscillatory response, controlling for age, BMI, and education. RESULTS CRP and TNF-α levels were significantly associated with region-specific neural oscillatory responses. In particular, elevated CRP concentrations were associated with altered gamma activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus and right cerebellum. In contrast, elevated TNF-α levels scaled with alpha/beta oscillations in the left anterior cingulate and left middle temporal, and gamma activity in the left intraparietal sulcus. DISCUSSION Elevated inflammatory markers such as CRP and TNF-α were associated with aberrant neural oscillations in regions important for Gf. Linking inflammatory markers with regional neural oscillations may hold promise in identifying mechanisms of cognitive and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Dietz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Mikki Schantell
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA; College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Rachel K Spooner
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA; Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Megan E Sandal
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Amirsalar Mansouri
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Yasra Arif
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Hannah J Okelberry
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Jason A John
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Ryan Glesinger
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Pamela E May
- Department of Neurological Sciences, UNMC, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Adam J Case
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA; College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Walshe EA, Roberts TPL, Ward McIntosh C, Winston FK, Romer D, Gaetz W. An event-based magnetoencephalography study of simulated driving: Establishing a novel paradigm to probe the dynamic interplay of executive and motor function. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:2109-2121. [PMID: 36617993 PMCID: PMC9980886 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is particularly well-suited to the study of human motor cortex oscillatory rhythms and motor control. However, the motor tasks studied to date are largely overly simplistic. This study describes a new approach: a novel event-based simulated drive made operational via MEG compatible driving simulator hardware, paired with differential beamformer methods to characterize the neural correlates of realistic, complex motor activity. We scanned 23 healthy individuals aged 16-23 years (mean age = 19.5, SD = 2.5; 18 males and 5 females, all right-handed) who completed a custom-built repeated trials driving scenario. MEG data were recorded with a 275-channel CTF, and a volumetric magnetic resonance imaging scan was used for MEG source localization. To validate this paradigm, we hypothesized that pedal-use would elicit expected modulation of primary motor responses beta-event-related desynchronization (B-ERD) and movement-related gamma synchrony (MRGS). To confirm the added utility of this paradigm, we hypothesized that the driving task could also probe frontal cognitive control responses (specifically, frontal midline theta [FMT]). Three of 23 participants were removed due to excess head motion (>1.5 cm/trial), confirming feasibility. Nonparametric group analysis revealed significant regions of pedal-use related B-ERD activity (at left precentral foot area, as well as bilateral superior parietal lobe: p < .01 corrected), MRGS (at medial precentral gyrus: p < .01 corrected), and FMT band activity sustained around planned braking (at bilateral superior frontal gyrus: p < .01 corrected). This paradigm overcomes the limits of previous efforts by allowing for characterization of the neural correlates of realistic, complex motor activity in terms of brain regions, frequency bands and their dynamic temporal interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Walshe
- Center for Injury Research and PreventionChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Timothy P. L. Roberts
- Center for Injury Research and PreventionChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA,Lurie Family Foundations' MEG Imaging Center, Department of RadiologyChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA,Department of RadiologyPerelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Chelsea Ward McIntosh
- Center for Injury Research and PreventionChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Flaura K. Winston
- Center for Injury Research and PreventionChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA,Department of RadiologyPerelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA,Department of PediatricsPerelamn School of Medicine, University of PennysylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Dan Romer
- Annenberg Public Policy CenterUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - William Gaetz
- Center for Injury Research and PreventionChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA,Lurie Family Foundations' MEG Imaging Center, Department of RadiologyChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA,Department of RadiologyPerelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
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Fung MH, Heinrichs-Graham E, Taylor BK, Frenzel MR, Eastman JA, Wang YP, Calhoun VD, Stephen JM, Wilson TW. The development of sensorimotor cortical oscillations is mediated by pubertal testosterone. Neuroimage 2022; 264:119745. [PMID: 36368502 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119745] [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: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Puberty is a period of substantial hormonal fluctuations, and pubertal hormones can modulate structural and functional changes in the developing brain. Many previous studies have characterized the neural oscillatory responses serving movement, which include a beta event-related desynchronization (ERD) preceding movement onset, gamma and theta responses coinciding with movement execution, and a post-movement beta-rebound (PMBR) response following movement offset. While a few studies have investigated the developmental trajectories of these neural oscillations serving motor control, the impact of pubertal hormone levels on the maturation of these dynamics has not yet been examined. Since the timing and tempo of puberty varies greatly between individuals, pubertal hormones may uniquely impact the maturation of motor cortical oscillations distinct from other developmental metrics, such as age. In the current study we quantified these oscillations using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and utilized chronological age and measures of endogenous testosterone as indices of development during the transition from childhood to adolescence in 69 youths. Mediation analyses revealed complex maturation patterns for the beta ERD, in which testosterone predicted both spontaneous baseline and ERD power through direct and indirect effects. Age, but not pubertal hormones, predicted motor-related theta, and no relationships between oscillatory responses and developmental metrics were found for gamma or PMBR responses. These findings provide novel insight into how pubertal hormones affect motor-related oscillations, and highlight the continued development of motor cortical dynamics throughout the pubertal period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison H Fung
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Brittany K Taylor
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Michaela R Frenzel
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Jacob A Eastman
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Yu-Ping Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | | | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Heinrichs-Graham E, Wiesman AI, Embury CM, Schantell M, Joe TR, Eastman JA, Wilson TW. Differential impact of movement on the alpha and gamma dynamics serving visual processing. J Neurophysiol 2022; 127:928-937. [PMID: 35264002 PMCID: PMC8977134 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00380.2021] [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: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual processing is widely understood to be served by a decrease in alpha activity in occipital cortices, largely concurrent with an increase in gamma activity. Although the characteristics of these oscillations are well documented in response to a range of complex visual stimuli, little is known about how these dynamics are impacted by concurrent motor responses, which is problematic as many common visual tasks involve such responses. Thus, in the current study, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) and modified a well-established visual paradigm to explore the impact of motor responses on visual oscillatory activity. Thirty-four healthy adults viewed a moving gabor (grating) stimulus that was known to elicit robust alpha and gamma oscillations in occipital cortices. Frequency and power characteristics were assessed statistically for differences as a function of movement condition. Our results indicated that occipital alpha significantly increased in power during movement relative to no movement trials. No differences in peak frequency or power were found for gamma responses between the two movement conditions. These results provide valuable evidence of visuomotor integration and underscore the importance of careful task design and interpretation, especially in the context of complex visual processing, and suggest that even basic motor responses alter occipital visual oscillations in healthy adults.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Processing of visual stimuli is served by occipital alpha and gamma activity. Many studies have investigated the impact of visual stimuli on motor cortical responses, but few studies have systematically investigated the impact of motor responses on visual oscillations. We found that when participants are asked to move in response to a visual stimulus, occipital alpha power was modulated whereas gamma responses were unaffected. This suggests that these responses have dissociable roles in visuomotor integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska
- College of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
- College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Alex I Wiesman
- College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christine M Embury
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Mikki Schantell
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska
- College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Timothy R Joe
- College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Jacob A Eastman
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska
- College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska
- College of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
- College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
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Trevarrow MP, Reelfs A, Baker SE, Hoffman RM, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Spinal cord microstructural changes are connected with the aberrant sensorimotor cortical oscillatory activity in adults with cerebral palsy. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4807. [PMID: 35314729 PMCID: PMC8938462 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08741-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous animal models have illustrated that reduced cortical activity in the developing brain has cascading activity-dependent effects on the microstructural organization of the spinal cord. A limited number of studies have attempted to translate these findings to humans with cerebral palsy (CP). Essentially, the aberrations in sensorimotor cortical activity in those with CP could have an adverse effect on the spinal cord microstructure. To investigate this knowledge gap, we utilized magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging to quantify motor-related oscillatory activity in fourteen adults with CP and sixteen neurotypical (NT) controls. A subset of these participants also underwent cervical-thoracic spinal cord MRI. Our results showed that the strength of the peri-movement beta desynchronization and the post-movement beta rebound were each weaker in the adults with CP relative to the controls, and these weakened responses were associated with poorer task performance. Additionally, our results showed that the strength of the peri-movement beta response was associated with the total cross-sectional area of the spinal cord and the white matter cross-sectional area. Altogether these results suggest that the altered sensorimotor cortical activity seen in CP may result in activity-dependent plastic changes within the spinal cord microstructure, which could ultimately contribute to the sensorimotor deficits seen in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Trevarrow
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA
| | - Anna Reelfs
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA
| | - Sarah E Baker
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA
| | | | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA
| | - Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA.
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9
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Ulloa JL. The Control of Movements via Motor Gamma Oscillations. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 15:787157. [PMID: 35111006 PMCID: PMC8802912 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.787157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to perform movements is vital for our daily life. Our actions are embedded in a complex environment where we need to deal efficiently in the face of unforeseen events. Neural oscillations play an important role in basic sensorimotor processes related to the execution and preparation of movements. In this review, I will describe the state of the art regarding the role of motor gamma oscillations in the control of movements. Experimental evidence from electrophysiological studies has shown that motor gamma oscillations accomplish a range of functions in motor control beyond merely signaling the execution of movements. However, these additional aspects associated with motor gamma oscillation remain to be fully clarified. Future work on different spatial, temporal and spectral scales is required to further understand the implications of gamma oscillations in motor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Ulloa
- Programa de Investigación Asociativa (PIA) en Ciencias Cognitivas, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Cognitivas (CICC), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
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10
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Christopher-Hayes NJ, Lew BJ, Wiesman AI, Schantell M, O'Neill J, May PE, Swindells S, Wilson TW. Cannabis use impacts pre-stimulus neural activity in the visual cortices of people with HIV. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:5446-5457. [PMID: 34464488 PMCID: PMC8519863 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25634] [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: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
People with HIV (PWH) use cannabis at a higher rate than the general population, but the influence on neural activity is not well characterized. Cannabis use among PWH may have a beneficial effect, as neuroinflammation is known to be a critical problem in PWH and cannabis use has been associated with a reduction in proinflammatory markers. Thus, it is important to understand the net impact of cannabis use on brain and cognitive function in PWH. In this study, we collected magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging data on 81 participants split across four demographically matched groups (i.e., PWH using cannabis, controls using cannabis, non‐using PWH, and non‐using controls). Participants completed a visuospatial processing task during MEG. Time–frequency resolved voxel time series were extracted to identify the dynamics of oscillatory and pre‐stimulus baseline neural activity. Our results indicated strong theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (10–16 Hz), and gamma (62–72 Hz) visual oscillations in parietal–occipital brain regions across all participants. PWH exhibited significant behavioral deficits in visuospatial processing, as well as reduced theta oscillations and elevated pre‐stimulus gamma activity in visual cortices, all of which replicate prior work. Strikingly, chronic cannabis use was associated with a significant reduction in pre‐stimulus gamma activity in the visual cortices, such that PWH no longer statistically differed from controls. These results provide initial evidence that cannabis use may normalize some neural aberrations in PWH. This study fills an important gap in understanding the impact of cannabis use on brain and cognitive function in PWH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brandon J Lew
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska, USA.,College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Alex I Wiesman
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska, USA.,College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Nebraska, USA.,Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mikki Schantell
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska, USA.,College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Jennifer O'Neill
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, UNMC, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Pamela E May
- Department of Neurological Sciences, UNMC, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Susan Swindells
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, UNMC, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, Nebraska, USA.,College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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