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Ben-David BM, Chebat DR, Icht M. "Love looks not with the eyes": supranormal processing of emotional speech in individuals with late-blindness versus preserved processing in individuals with congenital-blindness. Cogn Emot 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38785380 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2357656] [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: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Processing of emotional speech in the absence of visual information relies on two auditory channels: semantics and prosody. No study to date has investigated how blindness impacts this process. Two theories, Perceptual Deficit, and Sensory Compensation, yiled different expectations about the role of visual experience (or its lack thereof) in processing emotional speech. To test the effect of vision and early visual experience on processing of emotional speech, we compared individuals with congenital blindness (CB, n = 17), individuals with late blindness (LB, n = 15), and sighted controls (SC, n = 21) on identification and selective-attention of semantic and prosodic spoken-emotions. Results showed that individuals with blindness performed at least as well as SC, supporting Sensory Compensation and the role of cortical reorganisation. Individuals with LB outperformed individuals with CB, in accordance with Perceptual Deficit, supporting the role of early visual experience. The LB advantage was moderated by executive functions (working-memory). Namely, the advantage was erased for individuals with CB who showed higher levels of executive functions. Results suggest that vision is not necessary for processing of emotional speech, but early visual experience could improve it. The findings support a combination of the two aforementioned theories and reject a dichotomous view of deficiencies/enhancements of blindness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boaz M Ben-David
- Communication, Aging, and Neuropsychology Lab (CANlab), Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University (IDC), Herzliya, Israel
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- KITE, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Networks (UHN), Toronto, Canada
| | - Daniel-Robert Chebat
- Visual and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (VCN Lab), The Department of Psychology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Navigation and Accessibility Research Center (NARCA), Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Michal Icht
- Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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2
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Jendrichovsky P, Lee HK, Kanold PO. Dark exposure reduces high-frequency hearing loss in C57BL/6J mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.02.592252. [PMID: 38746420 PMCID: PMC11092591 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.02.592252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Plastic changes in the brain are primarily limited to early postnatal periods. Recovery of adult brain plasticity is critical for the effective development of therapies. A brief (1-2 week) duration of visual deprivation (dark exposure, DE) in adult mice can trigger functional plasticity of thalamocortical and intracortical circuits in the primary auditory cortex suggesting improved sound processing. We tested if DE enhances the ability of adult mice to detect sounds. We trained and continuously evaluated the behavioral performance of mice in control and DE conditions using automated home-cage training. Consistent with age-related peripheral hearing loss present in C57BL/6J mice, we observed decreased performance for high-frequency sounds with age, which was reduced by DE. In CBA mice with preserved peripheral hearing, we also found that DE enhanced auditory performance in low and mid frequencies over time compared to the control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Jendrichovsky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
| | - Hey-Kyoung Lee
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
- Kavli NDI, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
- Zanvyl-Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, USA
| | - Patrick O. Kanold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
- Kavli NDI, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, USA
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3
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Radziun D, Korczyk M, Szwed M, Ehrsson HH. Are blind individuals immune to bodily illusions? Somatic rubber hand illusion in the blind revisited. Behav Brain Res 2024; 460:114818. [PMID: 38135190 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114818] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Multisensory awareness of one's own body relies on the integration of signals from various sensory modalities such as vision, touch, and proprioception. But how do blind individuals perceive their bodies without visual cues, and does the brain of a blind person integrate bodily senses differently from a sighted person? To address this question, we aimed to replicate the only two previous studies on this topic, which claimed that blind individuals do not experience the somatic rubber hand illusion, a bodily illusion triggered by the integration of correlated tactile and proprioceptive signals from the two hands. We used a larger sample size than the previous studies and added Bayesian analyses to examine statistical evidence in favor of the lack of an illusion effect. Moreover, we employed tests to investigate whether enhanced tactile acuity and cardiac interoceptive accuracy in blind individuals could also explain the weaker illusion. We tested 36 blind individuals and 36 age- and sex-matched sighted volunteers. The results show that blind individuals do not experience the somatic rubber hand illusion based on questionnaire ratings and behavioral measures that assessed changes in hand position sense toward the location of the rubber hand. This conclusion is supported by Bayesian evidence in favor of the null hypothesis. The findings confirm that blind individuals do not experience the somatic rubber hand illusion, indicating that lack of visual experience leads to permanent changes in multisensory bodily perception. In summary, our study suggests that changes in multisensory integration of tactile and proprioceptive signals may explain why blind individuals are "immune" to the nonvisual version of the rubber hand illusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Radziun
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Marcin Szwed
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - H Henrik Ehrsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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4
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Sarzedas J, Lima CF, Roberto MS, Scott SK, Pinheiro AP, Conde T. Blindness influences emotional authenticity perception in voices: Behavioral and ERP evidence. Cortex 2024; 172:254-270. [PMID: 38123404 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The ability to distinguish spontaneous from volitional emotional expressions is an important social skill. How do blind individuals perceive emotional authenticity? Unlike sighted individuals, they cannot rely on facial and body language cues, relying instead on vocal cues alone. Here, we combined behavioral and ERP measures to investigate authenticity perception in laughter and crying in individuals with early- or late-blindness onset. Early-blind, late-blind, and sighted control participants (n = 17 per group, N = 51) completed authenticity and emotion discrimination tasks while EEG data were recorded. The stimuli consisted of laughs and cries that were either spontaneous or volitional. The ERP analysis focused on the N1, P2, and late positive potential (LPP). Behaviorally, early-blind participants showed intact authenticity perception, but late-blind participants performed worse than controls. There were no group differences in the emotion discrimination task. In brain responses, all groups were sensitive to laughter authenticity at the P2 stage, and to crying authenticity at the early LPP stage. Nevertheless, only early-blind participants were sensitive to crying authenticity at the N1 and middle LPP stages, and to laughter authenticity at the early LPP stage. Furthermore, early-blind and sighted participants were more sensitive than late-blind ones to crying authenticity at the P2 and late LPP stages. Altogether, these findings suggest that early blindness relates to facilitated brain processing of authenticity in voices, both at early sensory and late cognitive-evaluative stages. Late-onset blindness, in contrast, relates to decreased sensitivity to authenticity at behavioral and brain levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Sarzedas
- CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - César F Lima
- Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Social (CIS-IUL), Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Lisboa, Portugal; Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| | - Magda S Roberto
- CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sophie K Scott
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ana P Pinheiro
- CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Tatiana Conde
- CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Schone HR, Maimon Mor RO, Kollamkulam M, Gerrand C, Woollard A, Kang NV, Baker CI, Makin TR. Stable Cortical Body Maps Before and After Arm Amputation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.13.571314. [PMID: 38168448 PMCID: PMC10760201 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.13.571314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Neuroscientists have long debated the adult brain's capacity to reorganize itself in response to injury. A driving model for studying plasticity has been limb amputation. For decades, it was believed that amputation triggers large-scale reorganization of cortical body resources. However, these studies have relied on cross-sectional observations post-amputation, without directly tracking neural changes. Here, we longitudinally followed adult patients with planned arm amputations and measured hand and face representations, before and after amputation. By interrogating the representational structure elicited from movements of the hand (pre-amputation) and phantom hand (post-amputation), we demonstrate that hand representation is unaltered. Further, we observed no evidence for lower face (lip) reorganization into the deprived hand region. Collectively, our findings provide direct and decisive evidence that amputation does not trigger large-scale cortical reorganization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter R. Schone
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
- Laboratory of Brain & Cognition, National Institutes of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Rehab Neural Engineering Labs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Roni O. Maimon Mor
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London, UK
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mathew Kollamkulam
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Craig Gerrand
- Department of Orthopaedic Oncology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, Stanmore, Middlesex, UK
| | | | - Norbert V. Kang
- Plastic Surgery Department, Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Chris I. Baker
- Laboratory of Brain & Cognition, National Institutes of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Tamar R. Makin
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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6
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Abstract
Neurological insults, such as congenital blindness, deafness, amputation, and stroke, often result in surprising and impressive behavioural changes. Cortical reorganisation, which refers to preserved brain tissue taking on a new functional role, is often invoked to account for these behavioural changes. Here, we revisit many of the classical animal and patient cortical remapping studies that spawned this notion of reorganisation. We highlight empirical, methodological, and conceptual problems that call this notion into doubt. We argue that appeal to the idea of reorganisation is attributable in part to the way that cortical maps are empirically derived. Specifically, cortical maps are often defined based on oversimplified assumptions of 'winner-takes-all', which in turn leads to an erroneous interpretation of what it means when these maps appear to change. Conceptually, remapping is interpreted as a circuit receiving novel input and processing it in a way unrelated to its original function. This implies that neurons are either pluripotent enough to change what they are tuned to or that a circuit can change what it computes. Instead of reorganisation, we argue that remapping is more likely to occur due to potentiation of pre-existing architecture that already has the requisite representational and computational capacity pre-injury. This architecture can be facilitated via Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity mechanisms. Crucially, our revised framework proposes that opportunities for functional change are constrained throughout the lifespan by the underlying structural 'blueprint'. At no period, including early in development, does the cortex offer structural opportunities for functional pluripotency. We conclude that reorganisation as a distinct form of cortical plasticity, ubiquitously evoked with words such as 'take-over'' and 'rewiring', does not exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar R Makin
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - John W Krakauer
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- The Santa Fe InstituteSanta FeUnited States
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Koirala N, Deroche MLD, Wolfe J, Neumann S, Bien AG, Doan D, Goldbeck M, Muthuraman M, Gracco VL. Dynamic networks differentiate the language ability of children with cochlear implants. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1141886. [PMID: 37409105 PMCID: PMC10318154 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1141886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cochlear implantation (CI) in prelingually deafened children has been shown to be an effective intervention for developing language and reading skill. However, there is a substantial proportion of the children receiving CI who struggle with language and reading. The current study-one of the first to implement electrical source imaging in CI population was designed to identify the neural underpinnings in two groups of CI children with good and poor language and reading skill. Methods Data using high density electroencephalography (EEG) under a resting state condition was obtained from 75 children, 50 with CIs having good (HL) or poor language skills (LL) and 25 normal hearing (NH) children. We identified coherent sources using dynamic imaging of coherent sources (DICS) and their effective connectivity computing time-frequency causality estimation based on temporal partial directed coherence (TPDC) in the two CI groups compared to a cohort of age and gender matched NH children. Findings Sources with higher coherence amplitude were observed in three frequency bands (alpha, beta and gamma) for the CI groups when compared to normal hearing children. The two groups of CI children with good (HL) and poor (LL) language ability exhibited not only different cortical and subcortical source profiles but also distinct effective connectivity between them. Additionally, a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm using these sources and their connectivity patterns for each CI group across the three frequency bands was able to predict the language and reading scores with high accuracy. Interpretation Increased coherence in the CI groups suggest overall that the oscillatory activity in some brain areas become more strongly coupled compared to the NH group. Moreover, the different sources and their connectivity patterns and their association to language and reading skill in both groups, suggest a compensatory adaptation that either facilitated or impeded language and reading development. The neural differences in the two groups of CI children may reflect potential biomarkers for predicting outcome success in CI children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabin Koirala
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | | | - Jace Wolfe
- Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Sara Neumann
- Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Alexander G. Bien
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Derek Doan
- University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Michael Goldbeck
- University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Muthuraman Muthuraman
- Department of Neurology, Neural Engineering with Signal Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (NESA-AI), Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vincent L. Gracco
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Zhang S, Liu C, Wang Q, Zhou H, Wu H, Zhuang J, Cao Y, Shi H, Zhang J, Wang J. CRYAA and GJA8 promote visual development after whisker tactile deprivation. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13897. [PMID: 36915480 PMCID: PMC10006481 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13897] [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: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Deprivation of one sense can be followed by enhanced development of other senses via cross-modal plasticity mechanisms. To study the effect of whisker tactile deprivation on vision during the early stages of development, we clipped the bilateral whiskers of young mice and found that their vision was impaired but later recovered to normal levels. Our results demonstrate that inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/ERK signaling pathway caused short-term visual impairment during early development, while high expression levels of Crystallin Alpha A (CRYAA) and Gap Junction Protein Alpha 8 (GJA8) in the retina led to the recovery of developmental visual acuity. Interestingly, analysis of single-cell sequencing results from human embryonic retinas at 9-19 gestational weeks (GW) revealed that CRYAA and GJA8 display stage-specific peak expression during human embryonic retinal development, suggesting potential functions in visual development. Our data show that high expression levels of CRYAA and GJA8 in the retina after whisker deprivation rescue impaired visual development, which may provide a foundation for further research on the mechanisms of cross-modal plasticity and in particular, offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying tactile-visual cross-modal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibo Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shang Da Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuiping Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shang Da Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haicong Zhou
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shang Da Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shang Da Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Junyi Zhuang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shang Da Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiyang Cao
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shang Da Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongwei Shi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shang Da Road, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingfa Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Jiao Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, 99 Shang Da Road, Shanghai, China
- Corresponding author.
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Sarkisova K, van Luijtelaar G. The impact of early-life environment on absence epilepsy and neuropsychiatric comorbidities. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2022; 13:436-468. [PMID: 36386598 PMCID: PMC9649966 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2022.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
This review discusses the long-term effects of early-life environment on epileptogenesis, epilepsy, and neuropsychiatric comorbidities with an emphasis on the absence epilepsy. The WAG/Rij rat strain is a well-validated genetic model of absence epilepsy with mild depression-like (dysthymia) comorbidity. Although pathologic phenotype in WAG/Rij rats is genetically determined, convincing evidence presented in this review suggests that the absence epilepsy and depression-like comorbidity in WAG/Rij rats may be governed by early-life events, such as prenatal drug exposure, early-life stress, neonatal maternal separation, neonatal handling, maternal care, environmental enrichment, neonatal sensory impairments, neonatal tactile stimulation, and maternal diet. The data, as presented here, indicate that some early environmental events can promote and accelerate the development of absence seizures and their neuropsychiatric comorbidities, while others may exert anti-epileptogenic and disease-modifying effects. The early environment can lead to phenotypic alterations in offspring due to epigenetic modifications of gene expression, which may have maladaptive consequences or represent a therapeutic value. Targeting DNA methylation with a maternal methyl-enriched diet during the perinatal period appears to be a new preventive epigenetic anti-absence therapy. A number of caveats related to the maternal methyl-enriched diet and prospects for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Sarkisova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Butlerova str. 5a, Moscow 117485, Russia
| | - Gilles van Luijtelaar
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Donders Center for Cognition, Radboud University, Nijmegen, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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10
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Xiao YJ, Wang L, Liu YZ, Chen J, Zhang H, Gao Y, He H, Zhao Z, Wang Z. Excitatory Crossmodal Input to a Widespread Population of Primary Sensory Cortical Neurons. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:1139-1152. [PMID: 35429324 PMCID: PMC9554107 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00855-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Crossmodal information processing in sensory cortices has been reported in sparsely distributed neurons under normal conditions and can undergo experience- or activity-induced plasticity. Given the potential role in brain function as indicated by previous reports, crossmodal connectivity in the sensory cortex needs to be further explored. Using perforated whole-cell recording in anesthetized adult rats, we found that almost all neurons recorded in the primary somatosensory, auditory, and visual cortices exhibited significant membrane-potential responses to crossmodal stimulation, as recorded when brain activity states were pharmacologically down-regulated in light anesthesia. These crossmodal cortical responses were excitatory and subthreshold, and further seemed to be relayed primarily by the sensory thalamus, but not the sensory cortex, of the stimulated modality. Our experiments indicate a sensory cortical presence of widespread excitatory crossmodal inputs, which might play roles in brain functions involving crossmodal information processing or plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Jie Xiao
- Institute and Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Lidan Wang
- Institute and Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yu-Zhang Liu
- Institute and Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15260, USA
| | - Jiayu Chen
- Institute and Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Haoyu Zhang
- Institute and Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Institute and Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Hua He
- Department of Neurosurgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of the Navy Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Zheng Zhao
- Institute and Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| | - Zhiru Wang
- Institute and Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
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Mortazavi M, Aigner K, Antono JE, Gambacorta C, Nahum M, Levi DM, Föcker J. Intramodal cortical plastic changes after moderate visual impairment in human amblyopia. iScience 2022; 25:104871. [PMID: 36034215 PMCID: PMC9403333 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
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Breitinger E, Pokorny L, Biermann L, Jarczok TA, Dundon NM, Roessner V, Bender S. What makes somatosensory short-term memory maintenance effective? An EEG study comparing contralateral delay activity between sighted participants and participants who are blind. Neuroimage 2022; 259:119407. [PMID: 35752414 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119407] [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: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatosensory short-term memory is essential for object recognition, sensorimotor learning, and, especially, Braille reading for people who are blind. This study examined how visual sensory deprivation and a compensatory focus on somatosensory information influences memory processes in this domain. We measured slow cortical negativity developing during short-term tactile memory maintenance (tactile contralateral delay activity, tCDA) in frontal and somatosensory areas while a sample of 24 sighted participants and 22 participants who are blind completed a tactile change-detection task where varying loads of Braille pin patterns served as stimuli. Auditory cues, appearing at varying latencies between sample arrays, could be used to reduce memory demands during maintenance. Participants who are blind (trained Braille readers) outperformed sighted participants behaviorally. In addition, while task-related frontal activation featured in both groups, participants who are blind uniquely showed higher tCDA amplitudes specifically over somatosensory areas. The site specificity of this component's functional relevance in short-term memory maintenance was further supported by somatosensory tCDA amplitudes first correlating across the whole sample with behavioral performance, and secondly showing sensitivity to varying memory load. The results substantiate sensory recruitment models and provide new insights into the effects of visual sensory deprivation on tactile processing. Between-group differences in the interplay between frontal and somatosensory areas during somatosensory maintenance also suggest that efficient maintenance of complex tactile stimuli in short-term memory is primarily facilitated by lateralized activity in somatosensory cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Breitinger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Germany.
| | - Lena Pokorny
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Germany
| | - Lea Biermann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Germany
| | - Tomasz Antoni Jarczok
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Germany; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, KJF Klinik Josefinum, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Neil M Dundon
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University of Freiburg, Germany; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
| | - Veit Roessner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital C. G. Carus, Germany
| | - Stephan Bender
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Germany
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13
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Lifelong changes of neurotransmitter receptor expression and debilitation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity following early postnatal blindness. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9142. [PMID: 35650390 PMCID: PMC9160005 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13127-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In the weeks immediately after onset of sensory loss, extensive reorganization of both the cortex and hippocampus occurs. Two fundamental characteristics comprise widespread changes in the relative expression of GABA and glutamate receptors and debilitation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Here, we explored whether recovery from adaptive changes in the expression of plasticity-related neurotransmitter receptors and hippocampal synaptic plasticity occurs in the time-period of up to 12 months after onset of sensory loss. We compared receptor expression in CBA/J mice that develop hereditary blindness, with CBA/CaOlaHsd mice that have intact vision and no deficits in other sensory modalities throughout adulthood. GluN1-subunit expression was reduced and the GluN2A:GluN2B ratio was persistently altered in cortex and hippocampus. GABA-receptor expression was decreased and metabotropic glutamate receptor expression was altered. Hippocampal synaptic plasticity was persistently compromised in vivo. But although LTP in blind mice was chronically impaired throughout adulthood, a recovery of the early phase of LTP became apparent when the animals reached 12 months of age. These data show that cortical and hippocampal adaptation to early postnatal blindness progresses into advanced adulthood and is a process that compromises hippocampal function. A partial recovery of hippocampal synaptic plasticity emerges in advanced adulthood, however.
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14
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Andin J, Holmer E. Reorganization of large-scale brain networks in deaf signing adults: The role of auditory cortex in functional reorganization following deafness. Neuropsychologia 2022; 166:108139. [PMID: 34990695 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
If the brain is deprived of input from one or more senses during development, functional and structural reorganization of the deprived regions takes place. However, little is known about how sensory deprivation affects large-scale brain networks. In the present study, we use data-driven independent component analysis (ICA) to characterize large-scale brain networks in 15 deaf early signers and 24 hearing non-signers based on resting-state functional MRI data. We found differences between the groups in independent components representing the left lateralized control network, the default network, the ventral somatomotor network, and the attention network. In addition, we showed stronger functional connectivity for deaf compared to hearing individuals from the middle and superior temporal cortices to the cingulate cortex, insular cortex, cuneus and precuneus, supramarginal gyrus, supplementary motor area, and cerebellum crus 1, and stronger connectivity for hearing non-signers to hippocampus, middle and superior frontal gyri, pre- and postcentral gyri, and cerebellum crus 8. These results show that deafness induces large-scale network reorganization, with the middle/superior temporal cortex as a central node of plasticity. Cross-modal reorganization may be associated with behavioral adaptations to the environment, including superior ability in some visual functions such as visual working memory and visual attention, in deaf signers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Andin
- Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, SE, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Emil Holmer
- Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, SE, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden; Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization, Linköping University, Sweden.
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15
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Radziun D, Crucianelli L, Ehrsson HH. Limits of Cross-modal Plasticity? Short-term Visual Deprivation Does Not Enhance Cardiac Interoception, Thermosensation, or Tactile Spatial Acuity. Biol Psychol 2021; 168:108248. [PMID: 34971758 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the effect of short-term visual deprivation on discriminative touch, cardiac interoception, and thermosensation by asking 64 healthy volunteers to perform four behavioral tasks. The experimental group contained 32 subjects who were blindfolded and kept in complete darkness for 110minutes, while the control group consisted of 32 volunteers who were not blindfolded but were otherwise kept under identical experimental conditions. Both groups performed the required tasks three times: before and directly after deprivation (or control) and after an additional washout period of 40minutes, in which all participants were exposed to normal light conditions. Our results showed that short-term visual deprivation had no effect on any of the senses tested. This finding suggests that short-term visual deprivation does not modulate basic bodily senses and extends this principle beyond tactile processing to the interoceptive modalities of cardiac and thermal sensations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Radziun
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Laura Crucianelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - H Henrik Ehrsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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16
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Uccheddu S, Biggio F, Gallucci A. Compulsive right circling in a cat: Obsessive‐compulsive disorder or primary neurological disease. VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/vrc2.257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Federica Biggio
- La Fenice Veterinary Center Neurology Service Cagliari Italy
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17
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Whitton S, Kim JM, Scurry AN, Otto S, Zhuang X, Cordes D, Jiang F. Multisensory temporal processing in early deaf. Neuropsychologia 2021; 163:108069. [PMID: 34715119 PMCID: PMC8653765 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108069] [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: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Navigating the world relies on understanding progressive sequences of multisensory events across time. Early deaf (ED) individuals are more precise in visual detection of space and motion than their normal hearing (NH) counterparts. However, whether ED individuals show altered multisensory temporal processing abilities is less clear. According to the connectome model, brain development depends on experience, and therefore the lack of audition may affect how the brain responds to remaining senses and how they are functionally connected. We used a temporal order judgment (TOJ) task to examine multisensory (visuotactile) temporal processing in ED and NH groups. We quantified BOLD responses and functional connectivity (FC) in both groups. ED and NH groups performed similarly for the visuotactile TOJ task. Bilateral posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) BOLD responses during the TOJ task were significantly larger in the ED group than in NH. Using anatomically defined pSTS seeds, our FC analysis revealed stronger somatomotor and weaker visual regional connections in the ED group than in NH during the TOJ task. These results suggest that a lack of auditory input might alter the balance of tactile and visual area FC with pSTS when a multisensory temporal task is involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Whitton
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA.
| | - Jung Min Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
| | | | - Stephanie Otto
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
| | - Xiaowei Zhuang
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, USA
| | - Dietmar Cordes
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, USA
| | - Fang Jiang
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, USA
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18
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Iravani B, Peter MG, Arshamian A, Olsson MJ, Hummel T, Kitzler HH, Lundström JN. Acquired olfactory loss alters functional connectivity and morphology. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16422. [PMID: 34385571 PMCID: PMC8361122 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95968-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Removing function from a developed and functional sensory system is known to alter both cerebral morphology and functional connections. To date, a majority of studies assessing sensory-dependent plasticity have focused on effects from either early onset or long-term sensory loss and little is known how the recent sensory loss affects the human brain. With the aim of determining how recent sensory loss affects cerebral morphology and functional connectivity, we assessed differences between individuals with acquired olfactory loss (duration 7-36 months) and matched healthy controls in their grey matter volume, using multivariate pattern analyses, and functional connectivity, using dynamic connectivity analyses, within and from the olfactory cortex. Our results demonstrate that acquired olfactory loss is associated with altered grey matter volume in, among others, posterior piriform cortex, a core olfactory processing area, as well as the inferior frontal gyrus and angular gyrus. In addition, compared to controls, individuals with acquired anosmia displayed significantly stronger dynamic functional connectivity from the posterior piriform cortex to, among others, the angular gyrus, a known multisensory integration area. When assessing differences in dynamic functional connectivity from the angular gyrus, individuals with acquired anosmia had stronger connectivity from the angular gyrus to areas primary responsible for basic visual processing. These results demonstrate that recently acquired sensory loss is associated with both changed cerebral morphology within core olfactory areas and increase dynamic functional connectivity from olfactory cortex to cerebral areas processing multisensory integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behzad Iravani
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Moa G Peter
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Artin Arshamian
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats J Olsson
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Hagen H Kitzler
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Johan N Lundström
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Stockholm University Brain Imaging Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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19
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Niesen M, Trotta N, Noel A, Coolen T, Fayad G, Leurkin-Sterk G, Delpierre I, Henrard S, Sadeghi N, Goffard JC, Goldman S, De Tiège X. Structural and metabolic brain abnormalities in COVID-19 patients with sudden loss of smell. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2021; 48:1890-1901. [PMID: 33398411 PMCID: PMC7781559 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-020-05154-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Sudden loss of smell is a very common symptom of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). This study characterizes the structural and metabolic cerebral correlates of dysosmia in patients with COVID-19. METHODS Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography with [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) were prospectively acquired simultaneously on a hybrid PET-MR in 12 patients (2 males, 10 females, mean age: 42.6 years, age range: 23-60 years) with sudden dysosmia and positive detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on nasopharyngeal swab specimens. FDG-PET data were analyzed using a voxel-based approach and compared with that of a group of healthy subjects. RESULTS Bilateral blocking of the olfactory cleft was observed in six patients, while subtle olfactory bulb asymmetry was found in three patients. No MRI signal abnormality downstream of the olfactory tract was observed. Decrease or increase in glucose metabolism abnormalities was observed (p < .001 uncorrected, k ≥ 50 voxels) in core olfactory and high-order neocortical areas. A modulation of regional cerebral glucose metabolism by the severity and the duration of COVID-19-related dysosmia was disclosed using correlation analyses. CONCLUSIONS This PET-MR study suggests that sudden loss of smell in COVID-19 is not related to central involvement due to SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasiveness. Loss of smell is associated with subtle cerebral metabolic changes in core olfactory and high-order cortical areas likely related to combined processes of deafferentation and active functional reorganization secondary to the lack of olfactory stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Niesen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.
- Laboratoire de Cartographie fonctionnelle du Cerveau, UNI - ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Nicola Trotta
- Laboratoire de Cartographie fonctionnelle du Cerveau, UNI - ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Antoine Noel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tim Coolen
- Laboratoire de Cartographie fonctionnelle du Cerveau, UNI - ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Radiology, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Georges Fayad
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gil Leurkin-Sterk
- Laboratoire de Cartographie fonctionnelle du Cerveau, UNI - ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Delpierre
- Department of Radiology, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sophie Henrard
- Laboratoire de Cartographie fonctionnelle du Cerveau, UNI - ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Internal Medicine, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Niloufar Sadeghi
- Department of Radiology, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Christophe Goffard
- Department of Internal Medicine, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Serge Goldman
- Laboratoire de Cartographie fonctionnelle du Cerveau, UNI - ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Xavier De Tiège
- Laboratoire de Cartographie fonctionnelle du Cerveau, UNI - ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, CUB Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
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20
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Pant R, Guerreiro MJS, Ley P, Bottari D, Shareef I, Kekunnaya R, Röder B. The size-weight illusion is unimpaired in individuals with a history of congenital visual deprivation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6693. [PMID: 33758328 PMCID: PMC7988063 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86227-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual deprivation in childhood can lead to lifelong impairments in multisensory processing. Here, the Size-Weight Illusion (SWI) was used to test whether visuo-haptic integration recovers after early visual deprivation. Normally sighted individuals perceive larger objects to be lighter than smaller objects of the same weight. In Experiment 1, individuals treated for dense bilateral congenital cataracts (who had no patterned visual experience at birth), individuals treated for developmental cataracts (who had patterned visual experience at birth, but were visually impaired), congenitally blind individuals and normally sighted individuals had to rate the weight of manually explored cubes that differed in size (Small, Medium, Large) across two possible weights (350 g, 700 g). In Experiment 2, individuals treated for dense bilateral congenital cataracts were compared to sighted individuals in a similar task using a string set-up, which removed haptic size cues. In both experiments, indistinguishable SWI effects were observed across all groups. These results provide evidence that early aberrant vision does not interfere with the development of the SWI, and suggest a recovery of the integration of size and weight cues provided by the visual and haptic modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashi Pant
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Maria J S Guerreiro
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Pia Ley
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Davide Bottari
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.,Molecular Mind Lab, IMT School for Advanced Studies, 55100, Lucca, Italy
| | - Idris Shareef
- Child Sight Institute, Jasti V Ramanamma Children's Eye Care Center, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500034, India
| | - Ramesh Kekunnaya
- Child Sight Institute, Jasti V Ramanamma Children's Eye Care Center, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500034, India
| | - Brigitte Röder
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
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21
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Rogge AK, Hamacher D, Cappagli G, Kuhne L, Hötting K, Zech A, Gori M, Röder B. Balance, gait, and navigation performance are related to physical exercise in blind and visually impaired children and adolescents. Exp Brain Res 2021; 239:1111-1123. [PMID: 33550429 PMCID: PMC8068618 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-021-06038-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Self-motion perception used for locomotion and navigation requires the integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive input. In the absence of vision, postural stability and locomotor tasks become more difficult. Previous research has suggested that in visually deprived children, postural stability and levels of physical activity are overall lower than in sighted controls. Here we hypothesized that visually impaired and blind children and adolescents differ from sighted controls in postural stability and gait parameters, and that physically active individuals outperform sedentary peers in postural stability and gait parameters as well as in navigation performance. Fourteen blind and visually impaired children and adolescents (8-18 years of age) and 14 matched sighted individuals took part. Assessments included postural sway, single-leg stance time, parameters of gait variability and stability, self-reported physical activity, and navigation performance. Postural sway was larger and single-leg stance time was lower in blind and visually impaired participants than in blindfolded sighted individuals. Physical activity was higher in the sighted group. No differences between the group of blind and visually impaired and blindfolded sighted participants were observed for gait parameters and navigation performance. Higher levels of physical activity were related to lower postural sway, longer single-leg stance time, higher gait stability, and superior navigation performance in blind and visually impaired participants. The present data suggest that physical activity may enhance postural stability and gait parameters, and thereby promote navigation performance in blind and visually impaired children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Kathrin Rogge
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 11, 20146, Hamburg, Germany. .,Max Planck School of Cognition, Max-Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Daniel Hamacher
- Institute of Sport Science, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.,Friedrich Schiller University, Statistics and Methods in Sports, Jena, Germany
| | - Giulia Cappagli
- Unit for Visually Impaired People, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, U-VIP, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Kuhne
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 11, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Hötting
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 11, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Astrid Zech
- Institute of Sport Science, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Monica Gori
- Unit for Visually Impaired People, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, U-VIP, Genoa, Italy
| | - Brigitte Röder
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 11, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
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22
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Amoruso E, Kromm M, Spampinato D, Kop B, Muret D, Rothwell J, Rocchi L, Makin TR. Stimulating the deprived motor 'hand' area causes facial muscle responses in one-handers. Brain Stimul 2021; 14:347-350. [PMID: 33549718 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Amoruso
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Kromm
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Danny Spampinato
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Kop
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dollyane Muret
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Rothwell
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lorenzo Rocchi
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tamar R Makin
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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23
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Visual experience dependent plasticity in humans. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 67:155-162. [PMID: 33340877 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
While sensitive periods in brain development have often been studied by investigating the recovery of visual functions after a congenital phase of visual deprivation in non-human animals, research in humans who had recovered sight after a transient phase of congenital blindness is still scarce. Here, we discuss the hypothesis put forward based on non-human primate work which states that the effects of experience increase downstream the visual processing hierarchy. Recent results from behavioral and neuroscience studies in sight recovery individuals are discussed in the context of research findings from permanently congenitally blind humans as well as from prospective studies in infants and children.
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24
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Arioli M, Ricciardi E, Cattaneo Z. Social cognition in the blind brain: A coordinate-based meta-analysis. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 42:1243-1256. [PMID: 33320395 PMCID: PMC7927293 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Social cognition skills are typically acquired on the basis of visual information (e.g., the observation of gaze, facial expressions, gestures). In light of this, a critical issue is whether and how the lack of visual experience affects neurocognitive mechanisms underlying social skills. This issue has been largely neglected in the literature on blindness, despite difficulties in social interactions may be particular salient in the life of blind individuals (especially children). Here we provide a meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies reporting brain activations associated to the representation of self and others' in early blind individuals and in sighted controls. Our results indicate that early blindness does not critically impact on the development of the "social brain," with social tasks performed on the basis of auditory or tactile information driving consistent activations in nodes of the action observation network, typically active during actual observation of others in sighted individuals. Interestingly though, activations along this network appeared more left-lateralized in the blind than in sighted participants. These results may have important implications for the development of specific training programs to improve social skills in blind children and young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Arioli
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Zaira Cattaneo
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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25
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Vannson N, Strelnikov K, James CJ, Deguine O, Barone P, Marx M. Evidence of a functional reorganization in the auditory dorsal stream following unilateral hearing loss. Neuropsychologia 2020; 149:107683. [PMID: 33212140 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) generates a disruption of binaural hearing mechanisms, which impairs sound localization and speech understanding in noisy environments. We conducted an original study using fMRI and psychoacoustic assessments to investigate the relationships between the extent of cortical reorganization across the auditory areas for UHL patients, the severity of unilateral hearing loss, and the deficit in binaural abilities. Twenty-eight volunteers (14 UHL patients) were recruited (twenty-two females and six males). The brain imaging analysis demonstrated that UHL induces a shift in aural dominance favoring the better ear, with a cortical reorganization located in the non-primary auditory areas, ipsilateral (same side) to the better ear. This reorganization is correlated not only to the hearing loss severity but also to spatial localization abilities. A regression analysis between brain activity and patient's performance clearly showed that the spatial hearing deficit was linked to a functional alteration of the posterior auditory areas known to process spatial hearing. Altogether, our study reveals that UHL alters the dorsal auditory stream, which is deleterious to spatial hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Vannson
- Brain and Cognition Research Centre, University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Brain and Cognition Research Centre, CNRS-UMR, 5549, Toulouse, France; Cochlear France SAS, Toulouse, France.
| | | | | | - Olivier Deguine
- Brain and Cognition Research Centre, University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Brain and Cognition Research Centre, CNRS-UMR, 5549, Toulouse, France; Service d'Otologie, Otoneurologie et ORL pédiatrique, Hôpital Pierre-Paul Riquet, CHU Toulouse Purpan, France
| | - Pascal Barone
- Brain and Cognition Research Centre, University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Brain and Cognition Research Centre, CNRS-UMR, 5549, Toulouse, France
| | - Mathieu Marx
- Brain and Cognition Research Centre, University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Brain and Cognition Research Centre, CNRS-UMR, 5549, Toulouse, France; Service d'Otologie, Otoneurologie et ORL pédiatrique, Hôpital Pierre-Paul Riquet, CHU Toulouse Purpan, France
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V1 Projection Zone Signals in Human Macular Degeneration Depend on Task Despite Absence of Visual Stimulus. Curr Biol 2020; 31:406-412.e3. [PMID: 33157025 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Identifying the plastic and stable components of the visual cortex after retinal loss is an important topic in visual neuroscience and neuro-ophthalmology.1-5 Humans with juvenile macular degeneration (JMD) show significant blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) responses in the primary visual area (V1) lesion projection zone (LPZ),6 despite the absence of the feedforward signals from the degenerated retina. Our previous study7 reported that V1 LPZ responds to full-field visual stimuli during the one-back task (OBT), not during passive viewing, suggesting the involvement of task-related feedback signals. Aiming to clarify whether visual inputs to the intact retina are necessary for the LPZ responses, here, we measured BOLD responses to tactile and auditory stimuli for both JMD patients and control participants with and without OBT. Participants were instructed to close their eyes during the experiment for the purpose of eliminating retinal inputs. Without OBT, no V1 responses were detected in both groups of participants. With OBT, to the contrary, both stimuli caused substantial V1 responses in JMD patients, but not controls. Furthermore, we also found that the task-dependent activity in V1 LPZ became less pronounced when JMD patients opened their eyes, suggesting that task-related feedback signals can be partially suppressed by residual feedforward signals. Modality-independent V1 LPZ responses only in the task condition suggest that V1 LPZ responses reflect task-related feedback signals rather than reorganized feedforward visual inputs.
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Canales-Johnson A, Beerendonk L, Blain S, Kitaoka S, Ezquerro-Nassar A, Nuiten S, Fahrenfort J, van Gaal S, Bekinschtein TA. Decreased Alertness Reconfigures Cognitive Control Networks. J Neurosci 2020; 40:7142-7154. [PMID: 32801150 PMCID: PMC7480250 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0343-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans' remarkable capacity to flexibly adapt their behavior based on rapid situational changes is termed cognitive control. Intuitively, cognitive control is thought to be affected by the state of alertness; for example, when drowsy, we feel less capable of adequately implementing effortful cognitive tasks. Although scientific investigations have focused on the effects of sleep deprivation and circadian time, little is known about how natural daily fluctuations in alertness in the regular awake state affect cognitive control. Here we combined a conflict task in the auditory domain with EEG neurodynamics to test how neural and behavioral markers of conflict processing are affected by fluctuations in alertness. Using a novel computational method, we segregated alert and drowsy trials from two testing sessions and observed that, although participants (both sexes) were generally sluggish, the typical conflict effect reflected in slower responses to conflicting information compared with nonconflicting information, as well as the moderating effect of previous conflict (conflict adaptation), were still intact. However, the typical neural markers of cognitive control-local midfrontal theta-band power changes-that participants show during full alertness were no longer noticeable when alertness decreased. Instead, when drowsy, we found an increase in long-range information sharing (connectivity) between brain regions in the same frequency band. These results show the resilience of the human cognitive control system when affected by internal fluctuations of alertness and suggest that there are neural compensatory mechanisms at play in response to physiological pressure during diminished alertness.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The normal variability in alertness we experience in daily tasks is rarely taken into account in cognitive neuroscience. Here we studied neurobehavioral dynamics of cognitive control with decreasing alertness. We used the classic Simon task where participants hear the word "left" or "right" in the right or left ear, eliciting slower responses when the word and the side are incongruent-the conflict effect. Participants performed the task both while fully awake and while getting drowsy, allowing for the characterization of alertness modulating cognitive control. The changes in the neural signatures of conflict from local theta oscillations to a long-distance distributed theta network suggest a reconfiguration of the underlying neural processes subserving cognitive control when affected by alertness fluctuations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Canales-Johnson
- Cambridge Consciousness and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3480112, Chile
| | - Lola Beerendonk
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Salome Blain
- Cambridge Consciousness and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Shin Kitaoka
- Cambridge Consciousness and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandro Ezquerro-Nassar
- Cambridge Consciousness and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Stijn Nuiten
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Fahrenfort
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Simon van Gaal
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tristan A Bekinschtein
- Cambridge Consciousness and Cognition Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
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Fernández E, Alfaro A, González-López P. Toward Long-Term Communication With the Brain in the Blind by Intracortical Stimulation: Challenges and Future Prospects. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:681. [PMID: 32848535 PMCID: PMC7431631 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The restoration of a useful visual sense in a profoundly blind person by direct electrical stimulation of the visual cortex has been a subject of study for many years. However, the field of cortically based sight restoration has made few advances in the last few decades, and many problems remain. In this context, the scientific and technological problems associated with safe and effective communication with the brain are very complex, and there are still many unresolved issues delaying its development. In this work, we review some of the biological and technical issues that still remain to be solved, including long-term biotolerability, the number of electrodes required to provide useful vision, and the delivery of information to the implants. Furthermore, we emphasize the possible role of the neuroplastic changes that follow vision loss in the success of this approach. We propose that increased collaborations among clinicians, basic researchers, and neural engineers will enhance our ability to send meaningful information to the brain and restore a limited but useful sense of vision to many blind individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Fernández
- Institute of Bioengineering, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in the Network in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
- John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Arantxa Alfaro
- Center for Biomedical Research in the Network in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
- Hospital Vega Baja, Orihuela, Spain
| | - Pablo González-López
- Institute of Bioengineering, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
- Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
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Gilissen SR, Arckens L. Posterior parietal cortex contributions to cross-modal brain plasticity upon sensory loss. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 67:16-25. [PMID: 32777707 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Sensory loss causes compensatory behavior, like echolocation upon vision loss or improved visual motion detection upon deafness. This is enabled by recruitment of the deprived cortical area by the intact senses. Such cross-modal plasticity can however hamper rehabilitation via sensory substitution devices. To steer rehabilitation towards the desired outcome for the patient, having control over the cross-modal take-over is essential. Evidence accumulates to support a role for the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in multimodal plasticity. This area shows increased activity after sensory loss, keeping similar functions but driven by other senses. Patient-specific factors like stress, social situation, age and attention, have a significant influence on the PPC and on cross-modal plasticity. We propose that understanding the response of the PPC to sensory loss and context is extremely important for determining the best possible implant-based therapies, and that mouse research holds potential to help unraveling the underlying anatomical, cellular and neuromodulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rj Gilissen
- KU Leuven, Department of Biology & Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- KU Leuven, Department of Biology & Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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No Olfactory Compensation in Food-related Hazard Detection Among Blind and Deaf Adults: A Psychophysical Approach. Neuroscience 2020; 440:56-64. [PMID: 32473274 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The exposure-driven olfactory compensation associated with sensory loss is likely to be observed in assessment of food-related dangers. Therefore, in the current study we tested the hypothesis that olfactory compensation occurs in the case of protection from food-related hazards. We compared thresholds for detection of an unpleasant rotten food odor (fermented fish sauce) in four groups of subjects: blind subjects (n = 100), sighted controls (n = 100), deaf subjects (n = 74) and hearing controls (n = 99). Overall, we observed no significant differences in smell acuity between the blind and deaf groups and their matched control samples. However, the sensory deprived subjects assessed their sensitivity as higher than did control groups. The present study is yet another example of research among large samples of sensory deprived individuals that shows no evidence of olfactory compensation. This result is consistent with a growing number of studies suggesting no sensory compensation in simple, absolute sensitivity tasks.
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Chebat DR, Schneider FC, Ptito M. Spatial Competence and Brain Plasticity in Congenital Blindness via Sensory Substitution Devices. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:815. [PMID: 32848575 PMCID: PMC7406645 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In congenital blindness (CB), tactile, and auditory information can be reinterpreted by the brain to compensate for visual information through mechanisms of brain plasticity triggered by training. Visual deprivation does not cause a cognitive spatial deficit since blind people are able to acquire spatial knowledge about the environment. However, this spatial competence takes longer to achieve but is eventually reached through training-induced plasticity. Congenitally blind individuals can further improve their spatial skills with the extensive use of sensory substitution devices (SSDs), either visual-to-tactile or visual-to-auditory. Using a combination of functional and anatomical neuroimaging techniques, our recent work has demonstrated the impact of spatial training with both visual to tactile and visual to auditory SSDs on brain plasticity, cortical processing, and the achievement of certain forms of spatial competence. The comparison of performances between CB and sighted people using several different sensory substitution devices in perceptual and sensory-motor tasks uncovered the striking ability of the brain to rewire itself during perceptual learning and to interpret novel sensory information even during adulthood. We discuss here the implications of these findings for helping blind people in navigation tasks and to increase their accessibility to both real and virtual environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel-Robert Chebat
- Visual and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (VCN Lab), Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Navigation and Accessibility Research Center of Ariel University (NARCA), Ariel, Israel
| | - Fabien C. Schneider
- Department of Radiology, University of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France
- Neuroradiology Unit, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Maurice Ptito
- BRAIN Lab, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Chaire de Recherche Harland Sanders en Sciences de la Vision, École d’Optométrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Topalidis P, Zinchenko A, Gädeke JC, Föcker J. The role of spatial selective attention in the processing of affective prosodies in congenitally blind adults: An ERP study. Brain Res 2020; 1739:146819. [PMID: 32251662 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The question whether spatial selective attention is necessary in order to process vocal affective prosody has been controversially discussed in sighted individuals: whereas some studies argue that attention is required in order to process emotions, other studies conclude that vocal prosody can be processed even outside the focus of spatial selective attention. Here, we asked whether spatial selective attention is necessary for the processing of affective prosodies after visual deprivation from birth. For this purpose, pseudowords spoken in happy, neutral, fearful or threatening prosodies were presented at the left or right loudspeaker. Congenitally blind individuals (N = 8) and sighted controls (N = 13) had to attend to one of the loudspeakers and detect rare pseudowords presented at the attended loudspeaker during EEG recording. Emotional prosody of the syllables was task-irrelevant. Blind individuals outperformed sighted controls by being more efficient in detecting deviant syllables at the attended loudspeaker. A higher auditory N1 amplitude was observed in blind individuals compared to sighted controls. Additionally, sighted controls showed enhanced attention-related ERP amplitudes in response to fearful and threatening voices during the time range of the N1. By contrast, blind individuals revealed enhanced ERP amplitudes in attended relative to unattended locations irrespective of the affective valence in all time windows (110-350 ms). These effects were mainly observed at posterior electrodes. The results provide evidence for "emotion-general" auditory spatial selective attention effects in congenitally blind individuals and suggest a potential reorganization of the voice processing brain system following visual deprivation from birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlos Topalidis
- Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Artyom Zinchenko
- Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia C Gädeke
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Föcker
- Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, Germany; University of Lincoln, School of Social Sciences, United Kingdom.
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33
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Castaldi E, Lunghi C, Morrone MC. Neuroplasticity in adult human visual cortex. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 112:542-552. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Georgy L, Lewis JD, Bezgin G, Diano M, Celeghin A, Evans AC, Tamietto M, Ptito A. Changes in peri-calcarine cortical thickness in blindsight. Neuropsychologia 2020; 143:107463. [PMID: 32275967 PMCID: PMC7322521 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Blindsight is the ability of patients with primary visual cortex (V1) damage to process information in their clinically blind visual field in the absence of conscious awareness. In addition to those with localized V1 lesions, some patients exhibiting this phenomenon have had a cerebral hemisphere removed or disconnected from the rest of the brain for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (hemispherectomy). Research into the underlying neural substrates of blindsight has long implicated the intact visual cortex in maintaining residual vision and supporting visuo-guided responses to stimuli presented ipsilaterally within the blind visual field while operating outside the geniculo-striate pathway. A recent study demonstrated functional reorganization in the dorsal visual areas of the intact hemisphere, thereby supporting its compensatory role in non-conscious vision. In this study, we used cortical thickness analysis to examine anatomical differences in the visual cortex of the intact hemisphere of three subjects with varying degrees of cortical damage and well documented blindsight: two with a right hemispherectomy (complete and partial), and one with a left V1 lesion. T1-weighted MRI data were obtained for the subjects while control data were chosen from publicly available NKI-dataset to match closely the acquisition parameters of our blindsight cases. Our results show significant increases in cortical thickness in the visual cortex of all blindsight subjects compared to healthy controls, irrespective of age-onset, etiology, and extent of the damage. Our findings add to accumulating evidence from behavioral, functional imaging, and tractography studies of cerebral compensation and reorganization. Examined anatomical changes in the intact visual cortex of rare blindsight patients. First comparison of hemispherectomy and lesion patients to a large control sample. Blindsight subjects show significant increases in peri-calcarine cortical thickness. Similar changes observed despite differences in etiology and age at time of lesion. Increases are possible morphological signs of compensation underlying blindsight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loraine Georgy
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - John D Lewis
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Gleb Bezgin
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; McGill Centre for Studies in Aging, Douglas Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Matteo Diano
- Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Alan C Evans
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Marco Tamietto
- Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy; Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases - CoRPS - Tilburg University, the Netherlands
| | - Alain Ptito
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
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35
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Bennett CR, Bauer CM, Bailin ES, Merabet LB. Neuroplasticity in cerebral visual impairment (CVI): Assessing functional vision and the neurophysiological correlates of dorsal stream dysfunction. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 108:171-181. [PMID: 31655075 PMCID: PMC6949360 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) results from perinatal injury to visual processing structures and pathways and is the most common individual cause of pediatric visual impairment and blindness in developed countries. While there is mounting evidence demonstrating extensive neuroplastic reorganization in early onset, profound ocular blindness, how the brain reorganizes in the setting of congenital damage to cerebral (i.e. retro-geniculate) visual pathways remains comparatively poorly understood. Individuals with CVI exhibit a wide range of visual deficits and, in particular, present with impairments of higher order visual spatial processing (referred to as "dorsal stream dysfunction") as well as object recognition (associated with processing along the ventral stream). In this review, we discuss the need for ongoing work to develop novel, neuroscience-inspired approaches to investigate functional visual deficits in this population. We also outline the role played by advanced structural and functional neuroimaging in helping to elucidate the underlying neurophysiology of CVI, and highlight key differences with regard to patterns of neural reorganization previously described in ocular blindness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Bennett
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Corinna M Bauer
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Emma S Bailin
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Lotfi B Merabet
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
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Cisneros-Franco JM, Voss P, Thomas ME, de Villers-Sidani E. Critical periods of brain development. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2020; 173:75-88. [PMID: 32958196 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64150-2.00009-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Brain plasticity is maximal at specific time windows during early development known as critical periods (CPs), during which sensory experience is necessary to establish optimal cortical representations of the surrounding environment. After CP closure, a range of functional and structural elements prevent passive experience from eliciting significant plastic changes in the brain. The transition from a plastic to a more fixed state is advantageous as it allows for the sequential consolidation and retention of new and more complex perceptual, motor, and cognitive functions. However, the formation of stable neural representations may pose limitations on future revisions to the circuitry. If sensory experience is abnormal or absent during this time, it can have profound effects on sensory representations in adulthood, resulting in quasi-permanent adaptations that can make it nearly impossible to learn certain skills or process certain stimulus properties later on in life. This chapter begins with a brief introduction to experience-dependent plasticity throughout the lifespan (Section Introduction). Next, we define what constitutes a CP (Section What Are Critical Periods?) and review some of the key CPs in the visual and auditory systems (Section Key Critical Periods of Sensory Systems). We then discuss the mechanisms whereby cortical plasticity is regulated both locally and through neuromodulatory systems (Section How Are Critical Periods Regulated?). Finally, we highlight studies showing that CPs can be extended beyond their normal epochs, closed prematurely, or reopened during adult life by merely altering sensory inputs (Section Timing of Critical Periods: Can CP Plasticity Be Extended, Limited, or Reactivated?).
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Affiliation(s)
- J Miguel Cisneros-Franco
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Patrice Voss
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Maryse E Thomas
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Etienne de Villers-Sidani
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Ricciardi E, Bottari D, Ptito M, Röder B, Pietrini P. The sensory-deprived brain as a unique tool to understand brain development and function. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 108:78-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Peter MG, Porada DK, Regenbogen C, Olsson MJ, Lundström JN. Sensory loss enhances multisensory integration performance. Cortex 2019; 120:116-130. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Zhang C, Lee TMC, Fu Y, Ren C, Chan CCH, Tao Q. Properties of cross-modal occipital responses in early blindness: An ALE meta-analysis. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 24:102041. [PMID: 31677587 PMCID: PMC6838549 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.102041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
ALE meta-analysis reveals distributed brain networks for object and spatial functions in individuals with early blindness. ALE contrast analysis reveals specific activations in the left cuneus and lingual gyrus for language function, suggesting a reverse hierarchical organization of the visual cortex for early blind individuals. The findings contribute to visual rehabilitation in blind individuals by revealing the function-dependent and sensory-independent networks during nonvisual processing.
Cross-modal occipital responses appear to be essential for nonvisual processing in individuals with early blindness. However, it is not clear whether the recruitment of occipital regions depends on functional domain or sensory modality. The current study utilized a coordinate-based meta-analysis to identify the distinct brain regions involved in the functional domains of object, spatial/motion, and language processing and the common brain regions involved in both auditory and tactile modalities in individuals with early blindness. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a total of 55 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The specific analyses revealed the brain regions that are consistently recruited for each function, such as the dorsal fronto-parietal network for spatial function and ventral occipito-temporal network for object function. This is consistent with the literature, suggesting that the two visual streams are preserved in early blind individuals. The contrast analyses found specific activations in the left cuneus and lingual gyrus for language function. This finding is novel and suggests a reverse hierarchical organization of the visual cortex for early blind individuals. The conjunction analyses found common activations in the right middle temporal gyrus, right precuneus and a left parieto-occipital region. Clinically, this work contributes to visual rehabilitation in early blind individuals by revealing the function-dependent and sensory-independent networks during nonvisual processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Zhang
- Psychology Department, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Tatia M C Lee
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, CHINA; Laboratory of Cognitive Affective Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, CHINA; The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunwei Fu
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Chaoran Ren
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China; Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chetwyn C H Chan
- Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, CHINA.
| | - Qian Tao
- Psychology Department, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou, China.
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Remapping in Cerebral and Cerebellar Cortices Is Not Restricted by Somatotopy. J Neurosci 2019; 39:9328-9342. [PMID: 31611305 PMCID: PMC6867820 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2599-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental organizing principle in the somatosensory and motor systems is somatotopy, where specific body parts are represented separately and adjacently to other body parts, resulting in a body map. Different terminals of the sensorimotor network show varied somatotopic layouts, in which the relative position, distance, and overlap between body-part representations differ. Since somatotopy is best characterized in the primary somatosensory (S1) and motor (M1) cortices, these terminals have been the main focus of research on somatotopic remapping following loss of sensory input (e.g., arm amputation). Cortical remapping is generally considered to be driven by the layout of the underlying somatotopy, such that neighboring body-part representations tend to activate the deprived brain region. Here, we challenge the assumption that somatotopic layout restricts remapping, by comparing patterns of remapping in humans born without one hand (hereafter, one-handers, n = 26) across multiple terminals of the sensorimotor pathway. We first report that, in the cerebellum of one-handers, the deprived hand region represents multiple body parts. Importantly, the native representations of some of these body parts do not neighbor the deprived hand region. We further replicate our previous findings, showing a similar pattern of remapping in the deprived hand region of the cerebral cortex in one-handers. Finally, we report preliminary results of a similar remapping pattern in the putamen of one-handers. Since these three sensorimotor terminals (cerebellum, cerebrum, putamen) contain different somatotopic layouts, the parallel remapping they undergo demonstrates that the mere spatial layout of body-part representations may not exclusively dictate remapping in the sensorimotor systems. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT When a hand is missing, the brain region that typically processes information from that hand may instead process information from other body parts, a phenomenon termed remapping. It is commonly thought that only body parts whose information is processed in regions neighboring the hand region could “take up” the resources of this now deprived region. Here we demonstrate that information from multiple body parts is processed in the hand regions of both the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. The native brain regions of these body parts have varying levels of overlap with the hand regions of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, and do not necessarily neighbor the hand regions. We therefore propose that proximity between brain regions does not limit brain remapping.
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Rogge AK, Hötting K, Nagel V, Zech A, Hölig C, Röder B. Improved balance performance accompanied by structural plasticity in blind adults after training. Neuropsychologia 2019; 129:318-330. [PMID: 31004689 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Postural control requires the sensory integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive signals. In the absence of vision, either by blindfolding or in blind individuals, balance performance is typically poorer than with sight. Previous research has suggested that despite showing compensatory vestibular and proprioceptive processing during upright standing, balance performance in blind individuals is overall lower than in sighted controls with eyes open. The present study tested whether balance training, which places demands on vestibular and proprioceptive self-motion perception, improves balance performance in blind adults, and whether we find similar structural correlates in cortical and subcortical brain areas as have been reported in sighted individuals. Fourteen congenitally or late blind adults were randomly assigned to either a balance or a relaxation group and exercised twice a week for 12 weeks. Assessments prior to and after training included balance tests and the acquisition of T1-weighted MRI images. The blind balance group significantly improved in dynamic, static, and functional balance performance compared to the blind relaxation group. The balance performance improvement did not differ from that of age- and gender matched sighted adults after balance training. Cortical thickness increased in the left parahippocampus and decreased in the inferior insula bilaterally in the blind balance group compared to the blind relaxation group. Thickness decreases in the insula were related to improved static and functional balance. Gray matter volume was reduced in the left hippocampus proper and increased in the right subiculum in the blind balance group. The present data suggest that impaired balance performance in blind adults can be significantly improved by a training inducing plasticity in brain regions associated with vestibular and proprioceptive self-motion processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Kathrin Rogge
- Universität Hamburg, Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, Von-Melle-Park 11, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Kirsten Hötting
- Universität Hamburg, Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, Von-Melle-Park 11, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Volker Nagel
- Universität Hamburg, Sports Medicine, Turmweg 2, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Astrid Zech
- Friedrich Schiller University, Human Movement Science, Seidelstraße 20, 07749, Jena, Germany.
| | - Cordula Hölig
- Friedrich Schiller University, Human Movement Science, Seidelstraße 20, 07749, Jena, Germany.
| | - Brigitte Röder
- Universität Hamburg, Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, Von-Melle-Park 11, 20146, Hamburg, Germany.
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