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Patterson RA, Brooks H, Mirjalili M, Rashidi-Ranjbar N, Zomorrodi R, Blumberger DM, Fischer CE, Flint AJ, Graff-Guerrero A, Herrmann N, Kennedy JL, Kumar S, Lanctôt KL, Mah L, Mulsant BH, Pollock BG, Voineskos AN, Wang W, Rajji TK. Neurophysiological and other features of working memory in older adults at risk for dementia. Cogn Neurodyn 2024; 18:795-811. [PMID: 38826646 PMCID: PMC11143125 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-023-09938-y] [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: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Theta-gamma coupling (TGC) is a neurophysiological process that supports working memory. Working memory is associated with other clinical and biological features. The extent to which TGC is associated with these other features and whether it contributes to working memory beyond these features is unknown. Two-hundred-and-three older participants at risk for Alzheimer's dementia-98 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 39 with major depressive disorder (MDD) in remission, and 66 with MCI and MDD (MCI + MDD)-completed a clinical assessment, N-back-EEG, and brain MRI. Among them, 190 completed genetic testing, and 121 completed [11C] Pittsburgh Compound B ([11C] PIB) PET imaging. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to assess whether TGC is associated with demographic and clinical variables; Alzheimer's disease-related features (APOE ε4 carrier status and β-amyloid load); and structural features related to working memory. Then, linear regressions were used to assess whether TGC is associated with 2-back performance after accounting for these features. Other than age, TGC was not associated with any non-neurophysiological features. In contrast, TGC (β = 0.27; p = 0.006), age (β = - 0.29; p = 0.012), and parietal cortical thickness (β = 0.24; p = 0.020) were associated with 2-back performance. We also examined two other EEG features that are linked to working memory-theta event-related synchronization and alpha event-related desynchronization-and found them not to be associated with any feature or performance after accounting for TGC. Our findings suggest that TGC is a process that is independent of other clinical, genetic, neurochemical, and structural variables, and supports working memory in older adults at risk for dementia. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-023-09938-y.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather Brooks
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
| | - Mina Mirjalili
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
| | | | - Reza Zomorrodi
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
| | - Daniel M. Blumberger
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, CAMH, Toronto, ON M6J 1H1 Canada
| | - Corinne E. Fischer
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B, 1T8 Canada
| | - Alastair J. Flint
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7 Canada
| | - Ariel Graff-Guerrero
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
| | - Nathan Herrmann
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, ON M4N 3M5 Toronto, Canada
| | - James L. Kennedy
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Toronto Dementia Research Alliance, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Toronto, Canada
| | - Krista L. Lanctôt
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, ON M4N 3M5 Toronto, Canada
| | - Linda Mah
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1 Canada
| | - Benoit H. Mulsant
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, CAMH, Toronto, ON M6J 1H1 Canada
| | - Bruce G. Pollock
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Toronto Dementia Research Alliance, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Toronto, Canada
| | - Aristotle N. Voineskos
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
| | - Wei Wang
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
| | - Tarek K. Rajji
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Toronto Dementia Research Alliance, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Toronto, Canada
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Xu X, Ma X, Ni H, Wang H, Wang T, Liu C, Song X, Dong GH. Mindfulness meditation training reduces gaming cravings by reshaping the functional connectivity between default mode network and executive control-related brain regions. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024:S2451-9022(24)00113-7. [PMID: 38692393 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internet gaming disorder (IGD) can lead to psychological problems and cause behavioral problems in individuals. Traditional interventions have been ineffective in treating IGDs. Meanwhile, mindfulness meditation (MM) is an emerging method that has proven to be effective for treating psychiatry disorders. In this study, MM was used to intervene in IGD and to explore its neural mechanism. METHODS Eighty participants were recruited through advertisements. Eventually, 61 completed the one-month training (MM/progressive muscle relaxation: 31/30), including a pre-test, eight training sessions, and a post-test. Regional homogeneity and degree centrality were calculated and the tests (pre- and post-) and group (MM and PMR) ANOVA was performed. The overlapping results were obtained as ROI for functional connectivity (FC) analyses. Behavioral data and neurotransmitters correlated with FC. RESULTS Compared to PMR, MM decreased the severity of addiction and game craving in IGD. Brain imaging results showed that the FC between and within the executive control and default mode networks (DMN)/reward-related regions were enhanced. Significant negative correlations were observed between the FC and dopamine receptors D2, dopamine transporter (DAT), and acetylcholine receptors VAChT. Significant positive correlations were observed between FCs and serotonin and aminobutyric acid receptors. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed the effectiveness of MM in treating IGD. MM altered the default mode and enhanced the top-down control over game cravings. These findings were revealed by the correlations between brain regions and behavioral and bio-chemical effects. The results showed the neural mechanism of MM in reducing IGD and lay the foundation for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Xu
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Institutes of Psychological Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xuefeng Ma
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Institutes of Psychological Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Haosen Ni
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Institutes of Psychological Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Huabin Wang
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Institutes of Psychological Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Tongtong Wang
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Institutes of Psychological Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chang Liu
- NuanCun Mindful-living Mindfulness Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiaolan Song
- Center of Mindfulness, School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Guang-Heng Dong
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Psychology, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
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Yi X, Wang X, Fu Y, Luo Y, Wang J, Han Z, Kuang Y, Chen X, Chen BT. Altered brain activity and cognitive impairment in patients with psoriasis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2024; 38:557-567. [PMID: 38059666 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with psoriasis may have cognitive impairment. However, there is limited information regarding intrinsic brain activity and cognitive function in patients with psoriasis. OBJECTIVES This study aim to assess alterations of intrinsic brain activity and its association with cognitive function in patients with psoriasis. METHODS A total of 222 patients with psoriasis aged 18-70 years and 144 age and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled into this study. All subjects underwent brain resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and neuropsychological testing. The rs-fMRI data were analysed for both intrinsic brain activity as indicated by amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and seed-based functional connectivity (FC). Correlative analysis of brain activity with cognitive assessment was performed. RESULTS Compared with the HCs, patients with psoriasis had worse cognitive performance in the Trail Making Test, Digit Span Test and Stroop Color-Word Test (p < 0.05). Patients with psoriasis showed decreased ALFF in the left superior frontal gyrus, the left medial superior frontal gyrus and the right precuneus gyrus; as well as enhanced ALFF in the left paracentral lobule (pFWE < 0.05). Significant correlations were noted between the altered ALFF in the four brain regions and cognitive assessment (p < 0.05). Moreover, patients with psoriasis had increased FC between the four brain regions with altered ALFF (seeds) and the left prefrontal gyrus, the left anterior cingulate gyrus, left superior parietal lobule and default mode network (DMN) regions such as the right precuneus gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, right angular gyrus and bilateral inferior temporal gyrus (pFWE < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients with psoriasis had altered brain activity and connectivity in the key brain areas within the DMN-prefrontal circuit. These brain changes may be the underlying neural correlates for cognitive functioning in patients with psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoping Yi
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xueying Wang
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yan Fu
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yan Luo
- Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zaide Han
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yehong Kuang
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Bihong T Chen
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
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Bai Y, Qu J, Li D, Yin H. Neural basis underlying the relation between internet addiction tendency and sleep quality: The intrinsic default-mode network connectivity pathways. Int J Psychophysiol 2024; 195:112264. [PMID: 37977269 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.112264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Internet addiction (IA) tendency is considered an addictive behavior that results from excessive Internet use, and severely affecting an individual's physical health, emotion, and sleep. Although previous studies indicated that IA tendency was negatively correlated with sleep quality, the underlying neural basis of this relationship remained unclear. To address this issue, we utilized resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analysis to identify the neural pathways of the relationship between IA tendency and sleep quality. The behavioral results indicated a positive correlation between these two factors. And RSFC results revealed that IA tendency was positively related to the strength of functional connectivity within the default-mode network (DMN), including the right precuneus-left middle temporal gyrus (rPrcu-lMTG), the left anterior cingulate-left superior frontal gyrus (lAC-lSFG), and the left inferior parietal lobe-left medial superior frontal gyrus (lIPL-lMSFG). More importantly, mediation analysis demonstrated that IA tendency could mediate the relationship between these functional couplings and sleep quality. In conclusion, our findings suggest that intrinsic DMN connectivity may be an important neural pathways underlying the effects of IA tendency on sleep quality, and provide neural evidence for understanding the relationship between IA tendency and sleep quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youling Bai
- School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Chang Sha 410081, China; Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Chang Sha 410081, China
| | - Jianguo Qu
- School of Educational Sciences, Huaihua University, Huaihua 418000, China
| | - Dan Li
- School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Chang Sha 410081, China; Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Chang Sha 410081, China.
| | - Huazhan Yin
- School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Chang Sha 410081, China; Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Chang Sha 410081, China.
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Characteristic cortico-cortical connection profile of human precuneus revealed by probabilistic tractography. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1936. [PMID: 36732604 PMCID: PMC9895448 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29251-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
It is generally hypothesized that functional connectivity (FC) reflects the underlying structural connectivity (SC). The precuneus is associated with highly integrated cognitive functions. However, our understanding of the structural connections that could underlie them is limited. This study aimed to characterize the cortico-cortical connections by probabilistic tractography. The precuneus corresponds to the five cortical areas (7Am, PCV, 7Pm, 7m, POS2) on the HCP MMP atlas. We first conducted the atlas-based probabilistic tractography. The anterior part (7Am) was strongly connected to the sensorimotor region. The dorsal part (7Am, 7Pm) was highly connected with the adjacent parietal and temporal cortex, while the ventral part (PCV, 7m) showed strong connections with the adjacent posterior cingulate and medial prefrontal cortex. The most posterior part (POS2) was explicitly connected to the visual cortex. In addition, there was a correlation between SC and resting-state fMRI connectivity (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient = 0.322 ± 0.019, p < 0.05 corrected at subject level). Collectively, the current study revealed the characteristic connectional profile of precuneus, which could shed light on the structural heterogeneity for the future functional analyses.
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Central precuneus lesions are associated with impaired executive function. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:3099-3108. [PMID: 36087124 PMCID: PMC9743014 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02556-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The functional roles of the precuneus are unclear. Focal precuneus lesions are rare, making it difficult to identify robust brain-behavior relationships. Distinct functional subdivisions of the precuneus have been proposed based on unique connectivity profiles. This includes an association of the anterior division with bodily awareness, the central region with complex cognition, and the posterior division with visual processing. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that the central precuneus is preferentially involved (compared to the other sectors of the precuneus) in executive function, as estimated from performance on the trail-making test (TMT). 35 patients with focal brain lesions involving the precuneus were included from the University of Iowa and Montpellier University. Multivariate lesion symptom mapping of TMT performance was performed to evaluate whether lesion location was associated with impaired task performance. Lesion symptom mapping revealed a statistically significant association of central precuneus lesions with impaired TMT performance (r = 0.43, p < 0.01). Further, a functional network derived from this precuneus region showed connectivity to other cortical areas implicated in executive function, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior parietal lobe. This analysis provides support for the role of the central precuneus in executive function, consistent with the unique connectivity pattern of the central precuneus with a broader network implicated in cognitive control and executive function.
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Lada G, Talbot PS, Chinoy H, Warren RB, Mcfarquhar M, Kleyn CE. Brain structure and connectivity in psoriasis and associations with depression and inflammation; findings from the UK biobank. Brain Behav Immun Health 2022; 26:100565. [PMID: 36471870 PMCID: PMC9719019 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Psoriasis is a chronic systemic inflammatory skin disease, coexisting with depression in up to 25% of patients. Little is known about the drivers of comorbidity, including shared neurobiology and depression brain imaging patterns in patients. An immune-mediated crosstalk between the brain and skin has been hypothesized in psoriasis. With the aim of investigating brain structure and connectivity in psoriasis in relation to depression comorbidity, we conducted a brain imaging study including the largest psoriasis patient sample to date (to our knowledge) and the first to investigate the role of depression and systemic inflammation in brain measures. Effects of coexisting psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which represents joint involvement in psoriasis and a higher putative inflammatory state, were further explored. Methods Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 1,048 UK Biobank participants were used (131 comorbid patients with psoriasis and depression, age-and sex-matched to: 131 non-depressed psoriasis patients; 393 depressed controls; and 393 non-depressed controls). Interaction effects of psoriasis and depression on volume, thickness and surface of a-priori defined regions of interest (ROIs), white matter tracts and 55x55 partial correlation resting-state connectivity matrices were investigated using general linear models. Linear regression was employed to test associations of brain measures with C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil counts. Results No differences in regional or global brain volumes or white matter integrity were found in patients with psoriasis compared to controls without psoriasis or PsA. Thickness in right precuneus was increased in psoriasis patients compared to controls, only when depression was present (β = 0.26, 95% CI [Confidence Intervals] 0.08, 0.44; p = 0.02). In further analysis, psoriasis patients who had PsA exhibited fronto-occipital decoupling in resting-state connectivity compared to patients without joint involvement (β = 0.39, 95% CI 0.13, 0.64; p = 0.005) and controls (β = 0.49, 95% CI 0.25, 0.74; p < 0.001), which was unrelated to depression comorbidity. Precuneus thickness and fronto-occipital connectivity were not predicted by CRP or neutrophil counts. Precuneus thickening among depressed psoriasis patients showed a marginal correlation with recurrent lifetime suicidality. Conclusions Our findings provide evidence for a combined effect of psoriasis and depression on the precuneus, which is not directly linked to systemic inflammation, and may relate to suicidality or altered somatosensory processing. The use of the UK Biobank may limit generalizability of results in populations with severe disease.
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Amano H, Kochiyama T, Tanabe HC, Ogihara N. Morphological invariant of the midsagittal deep brain anatomy between humans and African great apes. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2022; 177:39-47. [PMID: 36787753 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Efforts have been made to mathematically reconstruct the brain morphology from human fossil crania to clarify the evolutionary changes in the brain that are associated with the emergence of human cognitive ability. However, because conventional reconstruction methods are based solely on the endocranial shape, deep brain structures cannot be estimated with sufficient accuracy. Our study aims to investigate the possible morphological correspondence between the cranial and deep brain morphologies based on humans and African great apes, with the goal of a more precise reconstruction of fossil brains. MATERIALS AND METHODS Midsagittal endocranial and deep brain landmarks were obtained from magnetic resonance images of humans and three species of African great apes. The average midsagittal endocranial profile of all four species was calculated after Procrustes registration. The spatial deformation function from each of the endocranial profiles to the average endocranial profile was defined, and the brain landmarks enclosed in the endocranium were transformed using the deformation function to evaluate the interspecific variabilities of the positions of the brain landmarks on the average endocranial profile. RESULTS The interspecific differences in the shape-normalized positions of the corpus callosum, anterior commissure, thalamus center, and brainstem were approximately within the range of 2% of the human cranial length, indicating that the interspecific variabilities of the positions of these deep brain structures were relatively small among the four species. DISCUSSION Such an invariant relationship of the deep brain structure and the endocranium that encloses the brain can potentially be utilized to reconstruct the brains of fossil hominins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Amano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takanori Kochiyama
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroki C Tanabe
- Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Naomichi Ogihara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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A metric survey on the sagittal and coronal morphology of the precuneus in adult humans. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:2747-2755. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02152-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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10
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Zhou S, Xiong P, Ren H, Tan W, Yan Y, Gao Y. Aberrant dorsal attention network homogeneity in patients with right temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2020; 111:107278. [PMID: 32693375 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal attention network (DAN) is involved in the process that causes wide-ranging cognitive damage resulted in right temporal lobe epilepsy (rTLE). Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated the relationship between DAN and rTLE. There has been little research on alterations in the network homogeneity (NH) of the DAN in rTLE. The aim of the present study was to investigate NH changes in DAN in patients with rTLE. We included 85 patients with rTLE and 69 healthy controls in this study, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were acquired. The NH method was used for data analysis. All subjects took the attention network test (ANT). Network homogeneity in the right superior parietal lobule (SPL) and right precuneus (PCU) was significantly higher in patients with rTLE than in healthy controls. The reaction time (RT) was significantly longer in patients with rTLE than in controls. Notably, we observed no significant relationship between the clinical variables and the abnormal NH. These results indicated that abnormal alterations in DAN existed in patients with rTLE and highlighted the crucial role of DAN in the pathophysiology of cognitive damage in rTLE. Our findings suggested that the executive function (EF) significantly weakened in patients with rTLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangyu Zhou
- School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, China; Department of Psychiatry, Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Pingan Xiong
- Department of Taihe Hospital Reproductive Medicine Center Affiliated to Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China
| | - Hongwei Ren
- Department of Medical Imaging, Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Wei Tan
- Hospital of Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Yanguo Yan
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Yujun Gao
- Department of Psychiatry, Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, China.
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Dong GH, Wang M, Wang Z, Zheng H, Du X, Potenza MN. Addiction severity modulates the precuneus involvement in internet gaming disorder: Functionality, morphology and effective connectivity. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 98:109829. [PMID: 31790725 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although higher precuneus activation has often been observed in subjects with addictions when facing addiction-relevant cues, the recruitment of the precuneus is not consistent across studies. Here, we examined the extent to which addiction severity may relate to precuneus involvement during cue reactivity in internet gaming disorder (IGD). We recruited 65 subjects with IGD, collected brain responses when exposed to gaming cues and assessed brain structure. We correlated IGD severity with brain responses during a cue-craving task, precuneus volume, and connectivity with respect to inputs/outputs to/from the precuneus. In the cue-craving task, IGD severity was positively correlated with precuneus activation when exposed to gaming cues. IGD severity was also positively correlated with the volume of precuneus and connectivity from the hippocampal gyrus to the precuneus. IGD severity was also negatively correlated with connectivity from the middle frontal gyrus to the precuneus. In IGD, IGD severity relates to precuneus involvement with respect to functionality, morphology, and connectivity. The precuneus may act as a platform for integrating potential contradictory information between executive control and sub-cortical cravings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Heng Dong
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
| | - Min Wang
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ziliang Wang
- School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Zheng
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoxia Du
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Marc N Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neurobiology, and Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA; Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
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12
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Bruner E, Fedato A, Silva-Gago M, Alonso-Alcalde R, Terradillos-Bernal M, Fernández-Durantes MÁ, Martín-Guerra E. Cognitive archeology, body cognition, and hand–tool interaction. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2018; 238:325-345. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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13
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Neubauer S, Hublin JJ, Gunz P. The evolution of modern human brain shape. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaao5961. [PMID: 29376123 PMCID: PMC5783678 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aao5961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Modern humans have large and globular brains that distinguish them from their extinct Homo relatives. The characteristic globularity develops during a prenatal and early postnatal period of rapid brain growth critical for neural wiring and cognitive development. However, it remains unknown when and how brain globularity evolved and how it relates to evolutionary brain size increase. On the basis of computed tomographic scans and geometric morphometric analyses, we analyzed endocranial casts of Homo sapiens fossils (N = 20) from different time periods. Our data show that, 300,000 years ago, brain size in early H. sapiens already fell within the range of present-day humans. Brain shape, however, evolved gradually within the H. sapiens lineage, reaching present-day human variation between about 100,000 and 35,000 years ago. This process started only after other key features of craniofacial morphology appeared modern and paralleled the emergence of behavioral modernity as seen from the archeological record. Our findings are consistent with important genetic changes affecting early brain development within the H. sapiens lineage since the origin of the species and before the transition to the Later Stone Age and the Upper Paleolithic that mark full behavioral modernity.
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Szymkowicz SM, Dotson VM, McLaren ME, De Wit L, O'Shea DM, Talty FT, O'Shea A, Porges EC, Cohen RA, Woods AJ. Precuneus abnormalities in middle-aged to older adults with depressive symptoms: An analysis of BDI-II symptom dimensions. Psychiatry Res 2017; 268:9-14. [PMID: 28837829 PMCID: PMC5593781 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We recently reported age-related increases in left precuneus cortical thickness (CT) in older adults with elevated total depressive symptoms. However, it is unclear whether abnormalities in precuneus surface area (SA) are also evident and whether specific symptom dimensions of depression moderated age effects on these measurements. Seventy-three adults completed the Beck Depression Inventory - 2nd edition (BDI-II) and underwent structural neuroimaging. Measures of CT and SA were extracted from the right and left precuneus via FreeSurfer. Regression models included regions of interest as dependent variables, with age, BDI-II subscale scores (e.g., affective, cognitive, and somatic symptoms), and their interactions as independent variables, controlling for mean hemispheric thickness (for CT) or total intracranial volume (for SA). A significant age × somatic symptom interaction was found for left precuneus CT, such that elevated levels of somatic symptoms were significantly associated with age-related cortical thinning. No depressive symptom dimensions moderated the relationship between age and SA, suggesting that CT may be a more sensitive measure of brain abnormalities in middle-aged to older adults with depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Szymkowicz
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Vonetta M Dotson
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Molly E McLaren
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Liselotte De Wit
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Deirdre M O'Shea
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Francis T Talty
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Andrew O'Shea
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Eric C Porges
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ronald A Cohen
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Adam J Woods
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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15
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Pereira-Pedro AS, Rilling JK, Chen X, Preuss TM, Bruner E. Midsagittal Brain Variation among Non-Human Primates: Insights into Evolutionary Expansion of the Human Precuneus. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2017; 90:255-263. [PMID: 29065406 PMCID: PMC5687995 DOI: 10.1159/000481085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The precuneus is a major element of the superior parietal lobule, positioned on the medial side of the hemisphere and reaching the dorsal surface of the brain. It is a crucial functional region for visuospatial integration, visual imagery, and body coordination. Previously, we argued that the precuneus expanded in recent human evolution, based on a combination of paleontological, comparative, and intraspecific evidence from fossil and modern human endocasts as well as from human and chimpanzee brains. The longitudinal proportions of this region are a major source of anatomical variation among adult humans and, being much larger in Homo sapiens, is the main characteristic differentiating human midsagittal brain morphology from that of our closest living primate relative, the chimpanzee. In the current shape analysis, we examine precuneus variation in non-human primates through landmark-based models, to evaluate the general pattern of variability in non-human primates, and to test whether precuneus proportions are influenced by allometric effects of brain size. Results show that precuneus proportions do not covary with brain size, and that the main difference between monkeys and apes involves a vertical expansion of the frontal and occipital regions in apes. Such differences might reflect differences in brain proportions or differences in cranial architecture. In this sample, precuneus variation is apparently not influenced by phylogenetic or allometric factors, but does vary consistently within species, at least in chimpanzees and macaques. This result further supports the hypothesis that precuneus expansion in modern humans is not merely a consequence of increasing brain size or of allometric scaling, but rather represents a species-specific morphological change in our lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia Pereira-Pedro
- Grupo de Paleoneurología, Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Burgos (Spain)
| | - James K. Rilling
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta (USA)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta (USA)
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Atlanta (USA)
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta (USA)
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, (USA)
| | - Xu Chen
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta (USA)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta (USA)
| | - Todd M. Preuss
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Atlanta (USA)
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta (USA)
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta (USA)
| | - Emiliano Bruner
- Grupo de Paleoneurología, Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Burgos (Spain)
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Bruner E. Language, Paleoneurology, and the Fronto-Parietal System. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:349. [PMID: 28713257 PMCID: PMC5491953 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Bruner
- Programa de Paleobiología, Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución HumanaBurgos, Spain
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17
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Bruner E, Pereira-Pedro AS, Bastir M. Patterns of morphological integration between parietal and temporal areas in the human skull. J Morphol 2017; 278:1312-1320. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Bruner
- Grupo de Paleobiología; Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana; Burgos Spain
| | - Ana Sofia Pereira-Pedro
- Grupo de Paleobiología; Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana; Burgos Spain
| | - Markus Bastir
- Departamento de Paleobiología; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales; Madrid Spain
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18
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Precuneus proportions and cortical folding: A morphometric evaluation on a racially diverse human sample. Ann Anat 2017; 211:120-128. [PMID: 28279731 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent analyses have suggested that the size and proportions of the precuneus are remarkably variable among adult humans, representing a major source of geometrical difference in midsagittal brain morphology. The same area also represents the main midsagittal brain difference between humans and chimpanzees, being more expanded in our species. Enlargement of the upper parietal surface is a specific feature of Homo sapiens, when compared with other fossil hominids, suggesting the involvement of these cortical areas in recent modern human evolution. Here, we provide a survey on midsagittal brain morphology by investigating whether precuneus size represents the largest component of variance within a larger and racially diverse sample of 265 adult humans. Additionally, we investigate the relationship between precuneus shape variation and folding patterns. Precuneus proportions are confirmed to be a major source of human brain variation even when racial variability is considered. Larger precuneus size is associated with additional precuneal gyri, generally in its anterior district. Spatial variation is most pronounced in the dorsal areas, with no apparent differences between hemispheres, between sexes, or among different racial groups. These dorsal areas integrate somatic and visual information together with the lateral elements of the parietal cortex, representing a crucial node for self-centered mental imagery. The histological basis and functional significance of this intra-specific variation in the upper precuneus remains to be evaluated.
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19
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Pereira-Pedro AS, Bruner E. Sulcal pattern, extension, and morphology of the precuneus in adult humans. Ann Anat 2016; 208:85-93. [PMID: 27210059 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The precuneus represents a relevant cortical component of the parietal lobes. It is involved in visuospatial integration, imagery and simulation, self-awareness, and it is a main node of the Default Mode Network. Its morphology is extremely variable among adult humans, and it has been hypothesized to have undergone major morphological changes in the evolution of Homo sapiens. Recent studies have evidenced a marked variation also associated with its sulcal patterns. The present survey contributes to add further information on this topic, investigating the extension of its main folds, their geometrical influence on the lateral parietal areas, and the relationships with the sulcal schemes. The subparietal sulcus, on average, extends 14mm in its anterior and middle regions and 11mm in its posterior area. The precuneal area extends 36mm above this sulcus. The subparietal sulcus is generally wider on the right hemisphere. Males have larger values than females, but differences are not significant. Sulcal pattern is not correlated with the size of the subparietal sulcus extension. There is a lack of consistent correspondence between hemispheres in the sulcal patterns, pointing further towards a notable individual variability and random asymmetries. The vertical extension of the precuneus influences the height and proportions of the upper parietal profile, but the lateral parietal outline is not sensitive to precuneal variation. There is no correlation between external cortical shape and the size of the subparietal sulcus. Morphological analyses of the precuneus must be integrated with studies on histological factors involved in its variability and, ultimately, with analyses on possible relationships with functional factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emiliano Bruner
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Spain.
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20
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Evidence for expansion of the precuneus in human evolution. Brain Struct Funct 2016; 222:1053-1060. [PMID: 26725108 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-015-1172-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of neurocranial morphology in Homo sapiens is characterized by bulging of the parietal region, a feature unique to our species. In modern humans, expansion of the parietal surface occurs during the first year of life, in a morphogenetic stage which is absent in chimpanzees and Neandertals. A similar variation in brain shape among living adult humans is associated with expansion of the precuneus. Using MRI-derived structural brain templates, we compare medial brain morphology between humans and chimpanzees through shape analysis and geometrical modeling. We find that the main spatial difference is a prominent expansion of the precuneus in our species, providing further evidence of evolutionary changes associated with this area. The precuneus is a major hub of brain organization, a central node of the default-mode network, and plays an essential role in visuospatial integration. Together, the comparative neuroanatomical and paleontological evidence suggest that precuneus expansion is a neurological specialization of H. sapiens that evolved in the last 150,000 years that may be associated with recent human cognitive specializations.
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21
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Bruner E, Amano H, de la Cuétara JM, Ogihara N. The brain and the braincase: a spatial analysis on the midsagittal profile in adult humans. J Anat 2015. [PMID: 26200138 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatial relationships between brain and braincase represent a major topic in surgery and evolutionary neuroanatomy. In paleoneurology, neurocranial landmarks are often used as references for brain areas. In this study, we analyze the variation and covariation of midsagittal brain and skull coordinates in a sample of adult modern humans in order to demonstrate spatial associations between hard and soft tissues. The correlation between parietal lobe size and parietal bone size is very low, and there is a marked individual variation. The distances between lobes and bones are partially influenced by the dimensions of the parietal lobes. The main pattern of morphological variability among individuals, associated with the size of the precuneus, apparently does not influence the position of the neurocranial sutures. Therefore, variations in precuneal size modify the distance between the paracentral lobule and bregma, and between the parietal lobe and lambda. Hence, the relative position of the cranial and cerebral landmarks can change as a function of the parietal dimensions. The slight correlation and covariation among these elements suggests a limited degree of spatial integration between soft and hard tissues. Therefore, although the brain influences the cranial size and shape during morphogenesis, the specific position of the cerebral components is sensitive to multiple effects and local factors, without a strict correspondence with the bone landmarks. This absence of correspondent change between brain and skull boundaries suggests caution when making inferences about the brain areas from the position of the cranial sutures. The fact that spatial relationships between cranial and brain areas may vary according to brain proportions must be considered in paleoneurology, when brain anatomy is inferred from cranial evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Bruner
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Burgos, Spain
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