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Becegato M, Silva RH. Female rodents in behavioral neuroscience: Narrative review on the methodological pitfalls. Physiol Behav 2024; 284:114645. [PMID: 39047942 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114645] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Since the NIH 'Sex as biological variable' policy, the percentage of studies including female subjects have increased largely. Nonetheless, many researchers fail to adequate their protocols to include females. In this narrative review, we aim to discuss the methodological pitfalls of the inclusion of female rodents in behavioral neuroscience. We address three points to consider in studies: the manipulations conducted only in female animals (such as estrous cycle monitoring, ovariectomy, and hormone replacement), the consideration of males as the standard, and biases related to interpretation and publication of the results. In addition, we suggest guidelines and perspectives for the inclusion of females in preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Becegato
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Regina H Silva
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; MaternaCiência, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Hardee JE, Weigard AS, Heitzeg MM, Martz ME, Cope LM. Sex differences in distributed error-related neural activation in problem-drinking young adults. Drug Alcohol Depend 2024; 263:112421. [PMID: 39208693 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Detecting and responding to errors is central to goal-directed behavior and cognitive control and is thought to be supported by a network of structures that includes the anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula. Sex differences in the maturational timing of cognitive control systems create differential periods of vulnerability for psychiatric conditions, such as substance use disorders. METHODS We examined sex differences in error-related activation across an array of distributed brain regions during a Go/No-Go task in young adults with problem alcohol use (N=69; 34 females; M=19.4 years). Regions of interest previously linked to error-related activation, including anterior cingulate cortex, insula, and frontoparietal structures, were selected in a term-based meta-analysis. Individual differences in their responses to false alarm (FA) inhibitory errors relative to "go" trials (FA>GO) and correct rejections (FA>CR) were indexed using multivariate summary measures derived from principal components analysis. RESULTS FA>GO and FA>CR activation both revealed a first component that explained the majority of the variance across error-associated regions and displayed the strongest loadings on salience network structures. Compared to females, males exhibited significantly higher levels of the FA>GO component but not the FA>CR component. CONCLUSIONS Males exhibit greater salience network activation in response to inhibitory errors, which could be attributed to sex differences in error-monitoring processes or to other functions (e.g., novelty detection). The findings are relevant for the further characterization of sex differences in cognitive control and may have implications for understanding individual differences in those at risk for substance use or other cognitive control disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian E Hardee
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Center, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Alexander S Weigard
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Center, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Mary M Heitzeg
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Center, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Meghan E Martz
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Center, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lora M Cope
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction Center, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Shuang L, Liu G, Huang Y, Xie T, Lin H, Liu R, Xue J, Huang Z, Jiang L. Genistein-3'-sodium sulfonate enhances neurological function in neonatal rats with hypoxia-ischemia during the recovery period. Heliyon 2024; 10:e37696. [PMID: 39323827 PMCID: PMC11422614 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37696] [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: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischemic (HI) can cause neonatal brain damage leading to disability. Patients with HI experience long-term neurological issues impacting quality of life. Limited clinical treatments are available despite extensive research on HI's molecular mechanisms. Genistein-3'-sodium sulfonate (GSS), a phytoestrogen, has been found to improve acute brain injury in neonatal rats caused by hypoxic-ischemia, but its potential for chronic stage neurological recovery in HI is unknown. HI neonatal rats were treated with 1 mg/kg GSS once a day for 21 days. Then, a series of behavioral experiments was performed to evaluate the learning, memory, cognition, anxiety level and depression-like behaviors of the rats. GSS treatment reduced neuronal loss, enhanced learning, memory and cognitive function while also alleviated anxiety and depression-like behaviors in HI rats during the recovery period. These findings indicated that GSS exerted enhance neurological function in HI rats during the chronic stage, prompting further research on how it works to potentially develop new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Shuang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Neuroinflammation Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Gaigai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Neuroinflammation Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Yun Huang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Neuroinflammation Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Ting Xie
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Neuroinflammation Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Huijie Lin
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Neuroinflammation Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Ruizhen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Neuroinflammation Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Jinhua Xue
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Neuroinflammation Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Zhihua Huang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Neuroinflammation Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Lixia Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Neuroinflammation Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
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Soni ND, Swain A, Juul H, Cao Q, Haris M, Wolk DA, Lee VMY, Detre JA, Nanga RPR, Reddy R. Detection of sex-specific glutamate changes in subregions of hippocampus in an early-stage Alzheimer's disease mouse model using GluCEST MRI. Alzheimers Dement 2024. [PMID: 39262197 DOI: 10.1002/alz.14190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Regional glucose hypometabolism resulting in glutamate loss has been shown as one of the characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Because the impact of AD varies between the sexes, we utilized glutamate-weighted chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for high-resolution spatial mapping of cerebral glutamate and investigated subregional changes in a sex-specific manner. METHODS Eight-month-old male and female AD mice harboring mutant amyloid precursor protein (APPNL-F/NL-F: n = 36) and wild-type (WT: n = 39) mice underwent GluCEST MRI, followed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in hippocampus and thalamus/hypothalamus using 9.4T preclinical MR scanner. RESULTS GluCEST measurements revealed significant (p ≤ 0.02) glutamate loss in the entorhinal cortex (% change ± standard error: 8.73 ± 2.12%), hippocampus (11.29 ± 2.41%), and hippocampal fimbriae (19.15 ± 2.95%) of male AD mice. A similar loss of hippocampal glutamate in male AD mice (11.22 ± 2.33%; p = 0.01) was also observed in 1H-MRS. DISCUSSIONS GluCEST MRI detected glutamate reductions in the fimbria and entorhinal cortex of male AD mice, which was not reported previously. Resilience in female AD mice against these changes indicates an intact status of cerebral energy metabolism. HIGHLIGHTS Glutamate levels were monitored in different brain regions of early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) and wild-type male and female mice using glutamate-weighted chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Male AD mice exhibited significant glutamate loss in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and the fimbriae of the hippocampus. Interestingly, female AD mice did not have any glutamate loss in any brain region and should be investigated further to find the probable cause. These findings demonstrate previously unreported sex-specific glutamate changes in hippocampal sub-regions using high-resolution GluCEST MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narayan Datt Soni
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anshuman Swain
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Halvor Juul
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Quy Cao
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David A Wolk
- Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Virginia M-Y Lee
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John A Detre
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ravi Prakash Reddy Nanga
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ravinder Reddy
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Bernstein BJ, Kendricks DR, Fry S, Wilson L, Koopmans B, Loos M, Stevanovic KD, Cushman JD. Sex differences in spontaneous behavior and cognition in mice using an automated behavior monitoring system. Physiol Behav 2024; 283:114595. [PMID: 38810714 PMCID: PMC11246821 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Isolation of sex differences as a key characteristic underlying neurobehavioral differentiation is an essential component of studies in neuroscience. The current study sought to address this concern by observing behavioral differences using an automated home cage system for neurobehavioral assessment, a method rapidly increasing in use due to advances in technology and advantages such as reduced handling stress and cross-lab variability. Sex differences in C57BL/6 mice arose for motor activity and circadian-linked behavior, with females being more active compared to males, and males having a stronger anticipatory increase in activity leading up to the onset of the light phase compared to females. These activity differences were observed not only across the lifespan, but also in different genetic background mouse strains across different testing sites showing the generalizability and robustness of these observed effects. Activity differences were also observed in performance on a spatial learning and reversal task with females making more responses and receiving a corresponding elevation in reward pellets. Notably, there were no sex differences in learning nor achieved accuracy, suggesting these observed effects were predominantly in activity. The outcomes of this study align with previous reports showcasing differences in activity between males and females. The comparison across strains and testing sites showed robust and reproducible differences in behavior between female and male mice that are relevant to consider when designing behavioral studies. Furthermore, the observed sex differences in performance on the learning and reversal procedure raise concern for interpretation of behavior differences between sexes due to the attribution of these differences to motor activity rather than cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana J Bernstein
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Dalisa R Kendricks
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS), National Institute of Health, NC, USA
| | - Sydney Fry
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, University of Colorado, CO, USA
| | - Leslie Wilson
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS), National Institute of Health, NC, USA
| | - Bastijn Koopmans
- Sylics (Synaptologics B.V.), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; InnoSer Nederland B.V., Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten Loos
- Sylics (Synaptologics B.V.), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; InnoSer Nederland B.V., Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Korey D Stevanovic
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS), National Institute of Health, NC, USA
| | - Jesse D Cushman
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS), National Institute of Health, NC, USA.
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Dei Cas A, Micheli MM, Aldigeri R, Gardini S, Ferrari-Pellegrini F, Perini M, Messa G, Antonini M, Spigoni V, Cinquegrani G, Vazzana A, Moretti V, Caffarra P, Bonadonna RC. Long-acting exenatide does not prevent cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment: a proof-of-concept clinical trial. J Endocrinol Invest 2024; 47:2339-2349. [PMID: 38565814 PMCID: PMC11368991 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-024-02320-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE According to preclinical evidence, GLP-1 receptor may be an actionable target in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous clinical trials of GLP-1 receptor agonists were conducted in patients with early AD, yielding mixed results. The aim was to assess in a proof-of-concept study whether slow-release exenatide, a long-acting GLP-1 agonist, can benefit the cognitive performance of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS Thirty-two (16 females) patients were randomized to either slow-release exenatide (n = 17; 2 mg s.c. once a week) or no treatment (n = 15) for 32 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in ADAS-Cog11 cognitive test score at 32 weeks vs baseline. Secondary endpoints herein reported included additional cognitive tests and plasma readouts of GLP-1 receptor engagement. Statistical analysis was conducted by intention to treat. RESULTS No significant between-group effects of exenatide on ADAS-Cog11 score (p = 0.17) were detected. A gender interaction with treatment was observed (p = 0.04), due to worsening of the ADAS-Cog11 score in women randomized to exenatide (p = 0.018), after correction for age, scholar level, dysglycemia, and ADAS-Cog score baseline value. Fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.02) and body weight (p = 0.03) decreased in patients randomized to exenatide. CONCLUSION In patients with MCI, a 32-week trial with slow-release exenatide had no beneficial effect on cognitive performance. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03881371, registered on 21 July, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dei Cas
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
- Division of Nutritional and Metabolic Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
| | - M M Micheli
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - R Aldigeri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - S Gardini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - F Ferrari-Pellegrini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - M Perini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - G Messa
- Center for Cognitive Disorders, AUSL Parma, Via Verona 36, Parma, Italy
| | - M Antonini
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - V Spigoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - G Cinquegrani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - A Vazzana
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - V Moretti
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - P Caffarra
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - R C Bonadonna
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
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7
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Shansky RM. Behavioral neuroscience's inevitable SABV growing pains. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:669-676. [PMID: 39034262 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.06.007] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The field of rodent behavioral neuroscience is undergoing two major sea changes: an ever-growing technological revolution, and worldwide calls to consider sex as a biological variable (SABV) in experimental design. Both have enormous potential to improve the precision and rigor with which the brain can be studied, but the convergence of these shifts in scientific practice has exposed critical limitations in classic and widely used behavioral paradigms. While our tools have advanced, our behavioral metrics - mostly developed in males and often allowing for only binary outcomes - have not. This opinion article explores how this disconnect has presented challenges for the accurate depiction and interpretation of sex differences in brain function, arguing for the expansion of current behavioral constructs to better account for behavioral diversity.
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Mohammadkhani R, Salehi I, Safari S, Ghahremani R, Komaki A, Karimi SA. Continuous exercise training rescues hippocampal long-term potentiation in the VPA rat model of Autism: Uncovering sex-specific effects. Neuroscience 2024; 559:105-112. [PMID: 39214164 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.08.037] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Long-term potentiation (LTP) impairment has been reported in many studies of autistic models. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of interval training (IT) and continuous training (CT) exercises on LTP in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) neurons of valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism. To induce an autism-like model, pregnant rats were injected 500 mg/kg NaVPA (intraperitoneal) on the embryonic day 12.5. IT and CT aerobic exercises started on postnatal day 56 in the offspring. Four weeks after IT and/or CT exercises, the offspring were urethane-anesthetized and placed into a stereotaxic apparatus for surgery, electrode implantation, and field potential recording. In the DG region, excitatory post synaptic potentials (EPSP) slope and population spike (PS) amplitude were measured. Sex differences in LTP were evident for control rats but not for VPA-exposed offspring. LTP was significantly smaller in VPA-exposed male offspring compared with control male rats. In contrast to males, there was no difference between VPA-exposed female offspring and control female rats. Interestingly, we observed a sex difference in the response to exercise between VPA-exposed male and female offspring. CT exercise training (but not IT) increased LTP in VPA-exposed male offspring. Both IT and CT exercise trainings had no effect on intact LTP in VPA-exposed female offspring. Our work suggests that there may be differences in the benefits of exercise interventions based on sex, and CT exercise training could be more beneficial for LTP improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iraj Salehi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Samaneh Safari
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, School of Science and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Reza Ghahremani
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
| | - Alireza Komaki
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, School of Science and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Seyed Asaad Karimi
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, School of Science and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada.
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9
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Quintana GR, Pfaus JG. Do Sex and Gender Have Separate Identities? ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024; 53:2957-2975. [PMID: 39105983 PMCID: PMC11335805 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-024-02933-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
The largely binary nature of biological sex and its conflation with the socially constructed concept of gender has created much strife in the last few years. The notion of gender identity and its differences and similarities with sex have fostered much scientific and legal confusion and disagreement. Settling the debate can have significant repercussions for science, medicine, legislation, and people's lives. The present review addresses this debate though different levels of analysis (i.e., genetic, anatomical, physiological, behavioral, and sociocultural), and their implications and interactions. We propose a rationale where both perspectives coexist, where diversity is the default, establishing a delimitation to the conflation between sex and gender, while acknowledging their interaction. Whereas sex in humans and other mammals is a biological reality that is largely binary and based on genes, chromosomes, anatomy, and physiology, gender is a sociocultural construct that is often, but not always, concordant with a person' sex, and can span a multitude of expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo R Quintana
- Departamento de Psicología y Filosofía, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Arica y Parinacota, Chile
| | - James G Pfaus
- Department of Psychology and Life Sciences, Charles University, Prague, 18200, Czech Republic.
- Center for Sexual Health and Intervention, Czech National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic.
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Raymond JS, Rehn S, James MH, Everett NA, Bowen MT. Sex differences in the social motivation of rats: Insights from social operant conditioning, behavioural economics, and video tracking. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:57. [PMID: 39030614 PMCID: PMC11264584 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00612-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social behaviour plays a key role in mental health and wellbeing, and developing greater understanding of mechanisms underlying social interaction-particularly social motivation-holds substantial transdiagnostic impact. Common rodent behavioural assays used to assess social behaviour are limited in their assessment of social motivation, whereas the social operant conditioning model can provide unique and valuable insights into social motivation. Further characterisation of common experimental parameters that may influence social motivation within the social operant model, as well as complementary methodological and analytical approaches, are warranted. METHODS This study investigated the effects of biological sex, housing condition, and time-of-day, on social motivation using the social operant model. This involved training rats to lever press (FR1) for 60-s access to a social reward (same-sex conspecific stimulus). Subjects were male and female Wistar rats, housed under individual or paired conditions, and sessions were conducted either in the mid-late light phase (ZT6-10) or early-mid dark phase (ZT13-17). A behavioural economics approach was implemented to measure social demand and the influence of stimulus partner sex (same- vs. opposite-sex stimulus) on social operant responding. Additionally, video tracking analyses were conducted to assess the degree of convergence between social appetitive and consummatory behaviours. RESULTS Biological sex, housing conditions, the interaction between sex and housing, and stimulus partner sex potently influenced social motivation, whereas time-of-day did not. Behavioural economics demonstrated that sex, housing, and their interaction influence both the hedonic set-point and elasticity of social demand. Video analysis of social interaction during social operant sessions revealed that social appetitive and consummatory behaviours are not necessarily convergent, and indicate potential social satiety. Lastly, oestrus phase of female experimental and stimulus rats did not impact social motivation within the model. CONCLUSIONS Social isolation-dependent sex differences exist in social motivation for rats, as assessed by social operant conditioning. The social operant model represents an optimal preclinical assay that comprehensively evaluates social motivation and offers a platform for future investigations of neurobiological mechanisms underlying sex differences in social motivation. These findings highlight the importance of continued consideration and inclusion of sex as a biological variable in future social operant conditioning studies. Humans are social creatures-our everyday interactions with others and the support this provides play a key role in our wellbeing. For those experiencing mental health conditions, people's motivation to engage with others can wane, which can lead them to withdraw from those who support them. Therefore, to develop better treatment strategies for these conditions, we need to gain a deeper understanding of social motivation. Studying social behaviour in animals can facilitate this investigation of social motivation as it allows for a causal understanding of underlying neurobiology that is not possible in human experiments. An optimal way to study social motivation in animals is using the social operant conditioning model, where rats learn to press a lever that opens a door and allows them to interact with another rat for a short time. This study characterised the social operant model by testing whether sex, housing conditions, time-of-day, and the sex of the stimulus partner influence rats' motivation to seek interaction with another rat. We found that female rats were more socially motivated than males, and that rats living alone were more motivated than those living with another rat; interestingly, this effect of housing affected females more than males. Regardless of sex, rats were more motivated to interact with a rat of the opposite sex. These findings provide insights into sex differences in social motivation in rats and new insights into the social operant model which will help guide future research into social motivation and other mental health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel S Raymond
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallett Street, 2050, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Simone Rehn
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Morgan H James
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Nicholas A Everett
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallett Street, 2050, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael T Bowen
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallett Street, 2050, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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11
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Sun L, Zhao T, Liang X, Xia M, Li Q, Liao X, Gong G, Wang Q, Pang C, Yu Q, Bi Y, Chen P, Chen R, Chen Y, Chen T, Cheng J, Cheng Y, Cui Z, Dai Z, Deng Y, Ding Y, Dong Q, Duan D, Gao JH, Gong Q, Han Y, Han Z, Huang CC, Huang R, Huo R, Li L, Lin CP, Lin Q, Liu B, Liu C, Liu N, Liu Y, Liu Y, Lu J, Ma L, Men W, Qin S, Qiu J, Qiu S, Si T, Tan S, Tang Y, Tao S, Wang D, Wang F, Wang J, Wang P, Wang X, Wang Y, Wei D, Wu Y, Xie P, Xu X, Xu Y, Xu Z, Yang L, Yuan H, Zeng Z, Zhang H, Zhang X, Zhao G, Zheng Y, Zhong S, He Y. Functional connectome through the human life span. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.12.557193. [PMID: 37745373 PMCID: PMC10515818 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.12.557193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The lifespan growth of the functional connectome remains unknown. Here, we assemble task-free functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging data from 33,250 individuals aged 32 postmenstrual weeks to 80 years from 132 global sites. We report critical inflection points in the nonlinear growth curves of the global mean and variance of the connectome, peaking in the late fourth and late third decades of life, respectively. After constructing a fine-grained, lifespan-wide suite of system-level brain atlases, we show distinct maturation timelines for functional segregation within different systems. Lifespan growth of regional connectivity is organized along a primary-to-association cortical axis. These connectome-based normative models reveal substantial individual heterogeneities in functional brain networks in patients with autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder, and Alzheimer's disease. These findings elucidate the lifespan evolution of the functional connectome and can serve as a normative reference for quantifying individual variation in development, aging, and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianglong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Tengda Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyuan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Mingrui Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiongling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuhong Liao
- School of Systems Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Gaolang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenxuan Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanchao Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Pindong Chen
- Brainnetome Center & National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Taolin Chen
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingliang Cheng
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuqi Cheng
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Zaixu Cui
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengjia Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuyin Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Dingna Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Hong Gao
- Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing City Key Laboratory for Medical Physics and Engineering, Institute of Heavy Ion Physics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Han
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zaizhu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chu-Chung Huang
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiwang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ran Huo
- Department of Radiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lingjiang Li
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Mental Health Institute of Central South University, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Hunan Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hunan Medical Center for Mental Health, Changsha, China
| | - Ching-Po Lin
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, China
- Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, China
| | - Qixiang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Bangshan Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Mental Health Institute of Central South University, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Hunan Technology Institute of Psychiatry, Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hunan Medical Center for Mental Health, Changsha, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ningyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Radiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging, School of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Leilei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Men
- Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing City Key Laboratory for Medical Physics and Engineering, Institute of Heavy Ion Physics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shaozheng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
- Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shijun Qiu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tianmei Si
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuping Tan
- Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Yanqing Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Sha Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Dawei Wang
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji’nan, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiali Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoqin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
- Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanpei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongtao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
- Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yankun Wu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Xie
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiufeng Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Yuehua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhilei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Liyuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Huishu Yuan
- Department of Radiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zilong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Haibo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, the Second Medical Centre, National Clinical Research Centre for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Gai Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanting Zheng
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suyu Zhong
- Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging, School of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
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12
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Iqbal I, Saqib F, Mubarak Z, Latif MF, Wahid M, Nasir B, Shahzad H, Sharifi-Rad J, Mubarak MS. Alzheimer's disease and drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier: approaches and challenges. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:313. [PMID: 38849950 PMCID: PMC11161981 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01915-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a diverse disease with a complex pathophysiology. The presence of extracellular β-amyloid deposition as neuritic plaques and intracellular accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated tau as neurofibrillary tangles remain the core neuropathologic criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. Nonetheless, several recent basic discoveries have revealed significant pathogenic roles for other essential cellular and molecular processes. Previously, there were not so many disease-modifying medications (DMT) available as drug distribution through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is difficult due to its nature, especially drugs of polypeptides nature and proteins. Recently FDA has approved lecanemab as DMT for its proven efficacy. It is also complicated to deliver drugs for diseases like epilepsy or any brain tumor due to the limitations of the BBB. After the advancements in the drug delivery system, different techniques are used to transport the medication across the BBB. Other methods are used, like enhancement of brain blood vessel fluidity by liposomes, infusion of hyperosmotic solutions, and local intracerebral implants, but these are invasive approaches. Non-invasive approaches include the formulation of nanoparticles and their coating with polymers. This review article emphasizes all the above-mentioned techniques, procedures, and challenges to transporting medicines across the BBB. It summarizes the most recent literature dealing with drug delivery across the BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iram Iqbal
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan
- Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, Govt of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Fatima Saqib
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan.
| | - Zobia Mubarak
- Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
- Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, Govt of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Farhaj Latif
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan
| | - Muqeet Wahid
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800, Pakistan
| | - Bushra Nasir
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Hamna Shahzad
- Department of Biochemistry, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Javad Sharifi-Rad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Mohammad S Mubarak
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
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13
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Oluyemi K, Rechtman E, Invernizzi A, Gennings C, Renzetti S, Patrono A, Cagna G, Reichenberg A, Smith DR, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Placidi D, Horton MK. Sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and externalizing symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118443. [PMID: 38365053 PMCID: PMC11102844 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Externalizing disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), account for the majority of the child/adolescent referrals to mental health services and increase risk for later-life psychopathology. Although the expression of externalizing disorders is more common among males, few studies have addressed how sex modifies associations between metal exposure and adolescent externalizing symptoms. This study aimed to examine sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and externalizing symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. Among 150 adolescents and young adults (55% female, ages: 15-25 years) enrolled in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study in Brescia, Italy, we measured five metals (manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni)) in four biological matrices (blood, urine, hair, and saliva). Externalizing symptoms were assessed using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) Youth Self-Report (YSR) or Adult Self Report (ASR). Using generalized weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, we investigated the moderating effect of sex (i.e., assigned at birth) on associations between the joint effect of exposure to the metal mixture and externalizing symptoms, adjusting for age and socioeconomic status. We observed that metal mixture exposure was differentially associated with aggressive behavior in males compared to females (β = -0.058, 95% CI [-0.126, -0.009]). In males, exposure was significantly associated with more externalizing problems, and aggressive and intrusive behaviors, driven by Pb, Cu and Cr. In females, exposure was not significantly associated with any externalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that the effect of metal exposure on externalizing symptoms differs in magnitude between the sexes, with males being more vulnerable to increased externalizing symptoms following metal exposure. Furthermore, our findings support the hypothesis that sex-specific vulnerabilities to mixed metal exposure during adolescence/young adulthood may play a role in sex disparities observed in mental health disorders, particularly those characterized by externalizing symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie Oluyemi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA; The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Azzurra Invernizzi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Patrono
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Abraham Reichenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donald R Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Roberto G Lucchini
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic Sciences and Neurosciences, University of Modena, Italy
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Megan K Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Fang S, Luo Z, Wei Z, Qin Y, Zheng J, Zhang H, Jin J, Li J, Miao C, Yang S, Li Y, Liang Z, Yu XD, Zhang XM, Xiong W, Zhu H, Gan WB, Huang L, Li B. Sexually dimorphic control of affective state processing and empathic behaviors. Neuron 2024; 112:1498-1517.e8. [PMID: 38430912 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Recognizing the affective states of social counterparts and responding appropriately fosters successful social interactions. However, little is known about how the affective states are expressed and perceived and how they influence social decisions. Here, we show that male and female mice emit distinct olfactory cues after experiencing distress. These cues activate distinct neural circuits in the piriform cortex (PiC) and evoke sexually dimorphic empathic behaviors in observers. Specifically, the PiC → PrL pathway is activated in female observers, inducing a social preference for the distressed counterpart. Conversely, the PiC → MeA pathway is activated in male observers, evoking excessive self-grooming behaviors. These pathways originate from non-overlapping PiC neuron populations with distinct gene expression signatures regulated by transcription factors and sex hormones. Our study unveils how internal states of social counterparts are processed through sexually dimorphic mechanisms at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels and offers insights into the neural mechanisms underpinning sex differences in higher brain functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunchang Fang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhengyi Luo
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zicheng Wei
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yuxin Qin
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jieyan Zheng
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hongyang Zhang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jianhua Jin
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jiali Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chenjian Miao
- Institute on Aging, Hefei, China and Brain Disorders, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Shana Yang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yonglin Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zirui Liang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Yu
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao Min Zhang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Institute on Aging, Hefei, China and Brain Disorders, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Hongying Zhu
- Institute on Aging, Hefei, China and Brain Disorders, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | | | - Lianyan Huang
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Key Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Chronic Diseases (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510655, China.
| | - Boxing Li
- Neuroscience Program, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Advanced Medical Technology Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Key Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Chronic Diseases (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510655, China.
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15
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Pan N, Yang C, Suo X, Shekara A, Hu S, Gong Q, Wang S. Sex differences in the relationship between brain gray matter volume and psychological resilience in late adolescence. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:1057-1066. [PMID: 37212908 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02231-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Psychological resilience reflects an individual's ability to adapt and cope successfully in adverse environments and situations, making it a crucial trait in resisting stress-linked mental disorders and physical diseases. Although prior literature has consistently shown that males are more resilient than females, the sex-linked neuroanatomical correlates of psychological resilience are largely unknown. This study aims to explore the sex-specific relation between psychological resilience and brain gray matter volume (GMV) in adolescents via structural magnetic resonance imaging (s-MRI). A cohort of 231 healthy adolescents (121/110 females/males), aged 16 to 20 completed brain s-MRI scanning and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and other controlling behavioral tests. With s-MRI data, an optimized voxel-based morphometry method was used to estimate regional GMV, and a whole-brain condition-by-covariate interaction analysis was performed to identify the brain regions showing sex effects on the relation between psychological resilience and GMV. Male adolescents scored significantly higher than females on the CD-RISC. The association of psychological resilience with GMV differed between the two sex groups in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex extending to the adjacent anterior insula, with a positive correlation among males and a negative correlation among females. The sex-specific association between psychological resilience and GMV might be linked to sex differences in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and brain maturation during adolescence. This study may be novel in revealing the sex-linked neuroanatomical basis of psychological resilience, highlighting the need for a more thorough investigation of the role of sex in future studies of psychological resilience and stress-related illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanfang Pan
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Cheng Yang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Xueling Suo
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Aniruddha Shekara
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Samantha Hu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Radiology, West China Xiamen Hospital of Sichuan University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Song Wang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China.
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16
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Steinkrauss AC, Slotnick SD. Is implicit memory associated with the hippocampus? Cogn Neurosci 2024; 15:56-70. [PMID: 38368598 DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2024.2315816] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
According to the traditional memory-systems view, the hippocampus is critical during explicit (conscious) long-term memory, whereas other brain regions support implicit (nonconscious) memory. In the last two decades, some fMRI studies have reported hippocampal activity during implicit memory tasks. The aim of the present discussion paper was to identify whether any implicit memory fMRI studies have provided convincing evidence that the hippocampus is associated with nonconscious processes without being confounded by conscious processes. Experimental protocol and analysis parameters included the stimulus type(s), task(s), measures of subjective awareness, explicit memory accuracy, the relevant fMRI contrast(s) or analysis, and confound(s). A systematic review was conducted to identify implicit memory studies that reported fMRI activity in the hippocampus. After applying exclusion criteria, 13 articles remained for analysis. We found that there were no implicit memory fMRI studies where subjective awareness was absent, explicit memory performance was at chance, and there were no confounds that could have driven the observed hippocampal activity. The confounds included explicit memory (including false memory), imbalanced attentional states between conditions (yielding activation of the default-mode network), imbalanced stimuli between conditions, and differential novelty. As such, not a single fMRI study provided convincing evidence that implicit memory was associated with the hippocampus. Neuropsychological evidence was also considered, and implicit memory deficits were caused by factors known to disrupt brain regions beyond the hippocampus, such that the behavioral effects could not be attributed to this region. The present results indicate that implicit memory is not associated with the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley C Steinkrauss
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Scott D Slotnick
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
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17
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Rubianes M, Drijvers L, Muñoz F, Jiménez-Ortega L, Almeida-Rivera T, Sánchez-García J, Fondevila S, Casado P, Martín-Loeches M. The Self-reference Effect Can Modulate Language Syntactic Processing Even Without Explicit Awareness: An Electroencephalography Study. J Cogn Neurosci 2024; 36:460-474. [PMID: 38165746 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Although it is well established that self-related information can rapidly capture our attention and bias cognitive functioning, whether this self-bias can affect language processing remains largely unknown. In addition, there is an ongoing debate as to the functional independence of language processes, notably regarding the syntactic domain. Hence, this study investigated the influence of self-related content on syntactic speech processing. Participants listened to sentences that could contain morphosyntactic anomalies while the masked face identity (self, friend, or unknown faces) was presented for 16 msec preceding the critical word. The language-related ERP components (left anterior negativity [LAN] and P600) appeared for all identity conditions. However, the largest LAN effect followed by a reduced P600 effect was observed for self-faces, whereas a larger LAN with no reduction of the P600 was found for friend faces compared with unknown faces. These data suggest that both early and late syntactic processes can be modulated by self-related content. In addition, alpha power was more suppressed over the left inferior frontal gyrus only when self-faces appeared before the critical word. This may reflect higher semantic demands concomitant to early syntactic operations (around 150-550 msec). Our data also provide further evidence of self-specific response, as reflected by the N250 component. Collectively, our results suggest that identity-related information is rapidly decoded from facial stimuli and may impact core linguistic processes, supporting an interactive view of syntactic processing. This study provides evidence that the self-reference effect can be extended to syntactic processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Rubianes
- Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
- UCM-ISCIII Center for Human Evolution and Behavior, Madrid, Spain
| | - Linda Drijvers
- Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Francisco Muñoz
- Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
- UCM-ISCIII Center for Human Evolution and Behavior, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Jiménez-Ortega
- Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
- UCM-ISCIII Center for Human Evolution and Behavior, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Sabela Fondevila
- Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
- UCM-ISCIII Center for Human Evolution and Behavior, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Casado
- Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
- UCM-ISCIII Center for Human Evolution and Behavior, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Martín-Loeches
- Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
- UCM-ISCIII Center for Human Evolution and Behavior, Madrid, Spain
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18
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Ryali S, Zhang Y, de los Angeles C, Supekar K, Menon V. Deep learning models reveal replicable, generalizable, and behaviorally relevant sex differences in human functional brain organization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2310012121. [PMID: 38377194 PMCID: PMC10907309 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310012121] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex plays a crucial role in human brain development, aging, and the manifestation of psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, our understanding of sex differences in human functional brain organization and their behavioral consequences has been hindered by inconsistent findings and a lack of replication. Here, we address these challenges using a spatiotemporal deep neural network (stDNN) model to uncover latent functional brain dynamics that distinguish male and female brains. Our stDNN model accurately differentiated male and female brains, demonstrating consistently high cross-validation accuracy (>90%), replicability, and generalizability across multisession data from the same individuals and three independent cohorts (N ~ 1,500 young adults aged 20 to 35). Explainable AI (XAI) analysis revealed that brain features associated with the default mode network, striatum, and limbic network consistently exhibited significant sex differences (effect sizes > 1.5) across sessions and independent cohorts. Furthermore, XAI-derived brain features accurately predicted sex-specific cognitive profiles, a finding that was also independently replicated. Our results demonstrate that sex differences in functional brain dynamics are not only highly replicable and generalizable but also behaviorally relevant, challenging the notion of a continuum in male-female brain organization. Our findings underscore the crucial role of sex as a biological determinant in human brain organization, have significant implications for developing personalized sex-specific biomarkers in psychiatric and neurological disorders, and provide innovative AI-based computational tools for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikanth Ryali
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Carlo de los Angeles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Kaustubh Supekar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Vinod Menon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
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19
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Geleta U, Prajapati P, Bachstetter A, Nelson PT, Wang WX. Sex-Biased Expression and Response of microRNAs in Neurological Diseases and Neurotrauma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2648. [PMID: 38473893 PMCID: PMC10931569 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurological diseases and neurotrauma manifest significant sex differences in prevalence, progression, outcome, and therapeutic responses. Genetic predisposition, sex hormones, inflammation, and environmental exposures are among many physiological and pathological factors that impact the sex disparity in neurological diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a powerful class of gene expression regulator that are extensively involved in mediating biological pathways. Emerging evidence demonstrates that miRNAs play a crucial role in the sex dimorphism observed in various human diseases, including neurological diseases. Understanding the sex differences in miRNA expression and response is believed to have important implications for assessing the risk of neurological disease, defining therapeutic intervention strategies, and advancing both basic research and clinical investigations. However, there is limited research exploring the extent to which miRNAs contribute to the sex disparities observed in various neurological diseases. Here, we review the current state of knowledge related to the sexual dimorphism in miRNAs in neurological diseases and neurotrauma research. We also discuss how sex chromosomes may contribute to the miRNA sexual dimorphism phenomenon. We attempt to emphasize the significance of sexual dimorphism in miRNA biology in human diseases and to advocate a gender/sex-balanced science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urim Geleta
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (U.G.); (P.P.); (A.B.); (P.T.N.)
| | - Paresh Prajapati
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (U.G.); (P.P.); (A.B.); (P.T.N.)
| | - Adam Bachstetter
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (U.G.); (P.P.); (A.B.); (P.T.N.)
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Peter T. Nelson
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (U.G.); (P.P.); (A.B.); (P.T.N.)
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Wang-Xia Wang
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; (U.G.); (P.P.); (A.B.); (P.T.N.)
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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20
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Mazza M, De Berardis D, Marano G. Keep in mind sex differences when prescribing psychotropic drugs. World J Psychiatry 2024; 14:194-198. [PMID: 38464773 PMCID: PMC10921286 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v14.i2.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Women represent the majority of patients with psychiatric diagnoses and also the largest users of psychotropic drugs. There are inevitable differences in efficacy, side effects and long-term treatment response between men and women. Psychopharmacological research needs to develop adequately powered animal and human trials aimed to consider pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of central nervous system drugs in both male and female subjects. Healthcare professionals have the responsibility to prescribe sex-specific psychopharmacotherapies with a priority to differentiate between men and women in order to minimize adverse drugs reactions, to maximize therapeutic effectiveness and to provide personalized management of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Mazza
- Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Marano
- Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy
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21
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Di Lucente J, Persico G, Zhou Z, Jin LW, Ramsey JJ, Rutkowsky JM, Montgomery CM, Tomilov A, Kim K, Giorgio M, Maezawa I, Cortopassi GA. Ketogenic diet and BHB rescue the fall of long-term potentiation in an Alzheimer's mouse model and stimulates synaptic plasticity pathway enzymes. Commun Biol 2024; 7:195. [PMID: 38366025 PMCID: PMC10873348 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05860-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The Ketogenic Diet (KD) improves memory and longevity in aged C57BL/6 mice. We tested 7 months KD vs. control diet (CD) in the mouse Alzheimer's Disease (AD) model APP/PS1. KD significantly rescued Long-Term-Potentiation (LTP) to wild-type levels, not by changing Amyloid-β (Aβ) levels. KD's 'main actor' is thought to be Beta-Hydroxy-butyrate (BHB) whose levels rose significantly in KD vs. CD mice, and BHB itself significantly rescued LTP in APP/PS1 hippocampi. KD's 6 most significant pathways induced in brains by RNAseq all related to Synaptic Plasticity. KD induced significant increases in synaptic plasticity enzymes p-ERK and p-CREB in both sexes, and of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in APP/PS1 females. We suggest KD rescues LTP through BHB's enhancement of synaptic plasticity. LTP falls in Mild-Cognitive Impairment (MCI) of human AD. KD and BHB, because they are an approved diet and supplement respectively, may be most therapeutically and translationally relevant to the MCI phase of Alzheimer's Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Di Lucente
- Department of Pathology and MIND Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Giuseppe Persico
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, 21041, Milan, Italy
| | - Zeyu Zhou
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Lee-Way Jin
- Department of Pathology and MIND Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Jon J Ramsey
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jennifer M Rutkowsky
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Claire M Montgomery
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Alexey Tomilov
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Kyoungmi Kim
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Marco Giorgio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Izumi Maezawa
- Department of Pathology and MIND Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Gino A Cortopassi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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22
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Shirzadi S, Dadgostar M, Einalou Z, Erdoğan SB, Akin A. Sex based differences in functional connectivity during a working memory task: an fNIRS study. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1207202. [PMID: 38390414 PMCID: PMC10881810 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1207202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Differences in corticocerebral structure and function between males and females and their effects on behavior and the prevalence of various neuropsychiatric disorders have been considered as a fundamental topic in various fields of neuroscience. Recent studies on working memory (WM) reported the impact of sex on brain connectivity patterns, which reflect the important role of functional connectivity in the sex topic. Working memory, one of the most important cognitive tasks performed by regions of the PFC, can provide evidence regarding the presence of a difference between males and females. The present study aimed to assess sex differences in brain functional connectivity during working memory-related tasks by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In this regard, nine males and nine females completed a dual n-back working memory task with two target inputs of color and location stimuli in three difficulty levels (n = 0, 1, 2). Functional connectivity matrices were extracted for each subject for each memory load level. Females made less errors than males while spending more time performing the task for all workload levels except in 0-back related to the color stimulus, where the reaction time of females was shorter than males. The results of functional connectivity reveal the inverse behavior of two hemispheres at different memory workload levels between males and females. In the left hemisphere, males exhibited stronger connectivity compared to the females, while stronger connectivity was observed in the females' right hemisphere. Furthermore, an inverse trend was detected in the channel pairs with significant connectivity in the right hemisphere of males (falling) and females (rising) by enhancing working memory load level. Considering both behavioral and functional results for two sexes demonstrated a better performance in females due to the more effective use of the brain. The results indicate that sex affects functional connectivity between different areas in both hemispheres of the brain during cognitive tasks of varying difficulty levels although the general impression is that spatial capabilities are considered as a performance of the brain's right hemisphere. These results reinforce the presence of a sex effect in the functional imaging studies of hemodynamic function and emphasize the importance of evaluating brain network connectivity for achieving a better scientific understanding of sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sima Shirzadi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Dadgostar
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Zahra Einalou
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Sinem Burcu Erdoğan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Ata Akin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Türkiye
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23
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Bauer JA, Romano ME, Jackson BP, Bellinger D, Korrick S, Karagas MR. Associations of Perinatal Metal and Metalloid Exposures with Early Child Behavioral Development Over Time in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. EXPOSURE AND HEALTH 2024; 16:135-148. [PMID: 38694196 PMCID: PMC11060719 DOI: 10.1007/s12403-023-00543-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Research on the neurodevelopmental effects of metal(loid)s has focused mainly on outcomes assessed at one time point, even though brain development progresses over time. We investigated biomarkers of perinatal exposure to metals and changes in child behavior over time. We followed 268 participants from the prospective New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study between birth and age 5 years. We measured arsenic (As), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) in toenails from 6-week-old infants. The Behavioral Symptoms Index (BSI), externalizing, and internalizing symptoms were assessed using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd edition (BASC-2) at ages 3 and 5 years. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate associations of metals with behavior change, calculated as the difference in symptom raw scores between 3 and 5 years, in addition to the associations for symptom scores at 3 and 5 years separately. Sex-specific associations were also explored using stratified models and a sex-metal interaction term. Adjusted associations of metals and change in behavior varied by exposure and outcome. Each 1 μg/g increase in ln toenail Cu was associated with improved behavior between 3 and 5 years [BSI: β = - 3.88 (95%CI: - 7.12, - 0.64); Externalizing problems: β = - 2.20 (95%CI: - 4.07, - 0.33)]. Increasing Zn was associated with increased externalizing behavior over time (β = 3.42 (95%CI: 0.60, 6.25). Sex-stratified analyses suggested more pronounced associations among boys compared to girls. Perinatal exposure to metals may alter behavioral development between ages 3 and 5 years. Findings support the need for more research on associations between metals and neurodevelopment over longer time periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A. Bauer
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
| | - Megan E. Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
| | - Brian P. Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - David Bellinger
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan Korrick
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margaret R. Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
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24
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Suchanecka A, Boroń A, Chmielowiec K, Strońska-Pluta A, Masiak J, Lachowicz M, Chmielowiec J, Janiszewska-Olszowska J, Grzywacz A. The HINT1 Gene rs2526303 Polymorphism and Its Association with Personality Traits in Cigarette Smokers. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1218. [PMID: 38279213 PMCID: PMC10816865 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021218] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of a substance use disorder (SUD) is a multifaceted process influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Recent research has suggested the potential involvement of the HINT1 gene in various aspects of plasticity, mood regulation, anxiety-like behaviour, and stress-coping mechanisms. Moreover, personality traits are also recognised to be instrumental in developing substance dependency. Given these considerations, our study investigated the associations among cigarette smoking, personality traits, and the rs2526303 polymorphism. Additionally, we investigated the interactions between personality traits and rs2526303 in the HINT1 gene. The study group comprised 531 volunteers: 375 cigarette users (mean age = 29.42 ± 10.72; F = 49%, M = 51%) and 156 never-smokers (mean age = 26.93 ± 10.09; F = 79%, M = 21%). Genotyping was conducted using the real-time PCR method, and the NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered. There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of rs2526303 genotypes and alleles in the cigarette user group compared to the control group. Compared to the control group, the cigarette users obtained higher scores in the assessment of the NEO-FFI Extraversion scale and lower results for the NEO-FFI Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness scales. Additionally, there was a statistically significant effect of rs2526303 genotype interaction and cigarette-using status on the conscientiousness scale. These outcomes collectively suggest a notable association between cigarette smoking and specific dimensions of personality, particularly highlighting differences in extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Furthermore, the detected interaction effect involving rs2526303 concerning conscientiousness signifies a complex interplay between genetic factors and smoking behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Suchanecka
- Independent Laboratory of Health Promotion, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St., 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (A.S.); (A.S.-P.)
| | - Agnieszka Boroń
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Biochemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St., 70-111 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Krzysztof Chmielowiec
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 28 Zyty St., 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland; (K.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Aleksandra Strońska-Pluta
- Independent Laboratory of Health Promotion, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St., 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (A.S.); (A.S.-P.)
| | - Jolanta Masiak
- Second Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Głuska St., 20-059 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Milena Lachowicz
- Department of Psychology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland;
| | - Jolanta Chmielowiec
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 28 Zyty St., 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland; (K.C.); (J.C.)
| | | | - Anna Grzywacz
- Independent Laboratory of Health Promotion, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St., 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (A.S.); (A.S.-P.)
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Cartier L, Guérin M, Saulnier F, Cotocea I, Mohammedi A, Moussaoui F, Kheloui S, Juster RP. Sex and gender correlates of sexually polymorphic cognition. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:3. [PMID: 38191503 PMCID: PMC10773055 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00579-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexually polymorphic cognition (SPC) results from the interaction between biological (birth-assigned sex (BAS), sex hormones) and socio-cultural (gender identity, gender roles, sexual orientation) factors. The literature remains quite mixed regarding the magnitude of the effects of these variables. This project used a battery of classic cognitive tests designed to assess the influence of sex hormones on cognitive performance. At the same time, we aimed to assess the inter-related and respective effects that BAS, sex hormones, and gender-related factors have on SPC. METHODS We recruited 222 adults who completed eight cognitive tasks that assessed a variety of cognitive domains during a 150-min session. Subgroups were separated based on gender identity and sexual orientation and recruited as follows: cisgender heterosexual men (n = 46), cisgender non-heterosexual men (n = 36), cisgender heterosexual women (n = 36), cisgender non-heterosexual women (n = 38), gender diverse (n = 66). Saliva samples were collected before, during, and after the test to assess testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone. Psychosocial variables were derived from self-report questionnaires. RESULTS Cognitive performance reflects sex and gender differences that are partially consistent with the literature. Interestingly, biological factors seem to better explain differences in male-typed cognitive tasks (i.e., spatial), while psychosocial factors seem to better explain differences in female-typed cognitive tasks (i.e., verbal). CONCLUSION Our results establish a better comprehension of SPC over and above the effects of BAS as a binary variable. We highlight the importance of treating sex as a biological factor and gender as a socio-cultural factor together since they collectively influence SPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Cartier
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mina Guérin
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fanny Saulnier
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ioana Cotocea
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
| | - Amine Mohammedi
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fadila Moussaoui
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sarah Kheloui
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Robert-Paul Juster
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Kundakovic M, Tickerhoof M. Epigenetic mechanisms underlying sex differences in the brain and behavior. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:18-35. [PMID: 37968206 PMCID: PMC10841872 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences are found across brain regions, behaviors, and brain diseases. Sexual differentiation of the brain is initiated prenatally but it continues throughout life, as a result of the interaction of three major factors: gonadal hormones, sex chromosomes, and the environment. These factors are thought to act, in part, via epigenetic mechanisms which control chromatin and transcriptional states in brain cells. In this review, we discuss evidence that epigenetic mechanisms underlie sex-specific neurobehavioral changes during critical organizational periods, across the estrous cycle, and in response to diverse environments throughout life. We further identify future directions for the field that will provide novel mechanistic insights into brain sex differences, inform brain disease treatments and women's brain health in particular, and apply to people across genders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Kundakovic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA.
| | - Maria Tickerhoof
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA
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Ibáñez-Del Valle V, Ballestar-Tarín ML, Mafla-España MA, Cauli O, Navarro-Martínez R. Salivary Interleukin 1-Beta Concentration Associates With Sleep Quality in Older Individuals. Biol Res Nurs 2024; 26:21-34. [PMID: 37269122 DOI: 10.1177/10998004231181347] [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] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Background: Poor sleep quality is prevalent in older people and impairs their quality of life. Various studies show an association between sleep disorders and altered levels of inflammatory cytokines. The cytokine IL-1β has been shown to display both somnogenic and insomnia-promoting effects in experimental animals. Objectives: to evaluate the relationship between insomnia and salivary IL-1β concentration and the role of associated factors such as the symptoms of depression, use of hypnotics, intake of caffeinated beverages, smoking, and alcohol use in older individuals. An analytical, cross-sectional, observational research was carried out with a population of community-dwelling individuals over 60 years of age in Valencia (Spain). Sleep quality was measured with the Athens insomnia scale (AIS) and depressive symptoms with Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: 287 individuals participated in the study (mean age 74.08 years (76.7% women). 41.5% of the participants had insomnia, 36.9% took drugs for sleep problems, and 32.4% had relevant depressive symptoms. There was a significant inverse correlation between the IL-1β and total AIS score (rho = -0.302, p < 0.001), the sleep difficulty subdomain (rho = -0.259, p < 0.001), and the daytime sleepiness subdomain (rho = -0.322, p < 0.001). No significant correlation was observed between GDS and salivary IL-1β concentration. The IL-1β concentration was significantly lower in individuals taking drugs for sleeping compared with those not taking those drugs (1.11 ± 0.09 and 1.48 ± 0.08, respectively; p = 0.001). Regarding the AIS score, there was no significant difference in marital status, smoking, or the number of cups of tea or cola drinks, but there was a significant association with alcohol intake (p = 0.019) and in the number of daily intakes of coffee (p = 0.030). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of IL-1β for diagnosis of moderate-severe insomnia showed an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.71-0.85). At the cut-off of 0.83 pg/µL of Il-1β, it had a sensitivity of 70.3% and a specificity of 69.8%.
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Mohamed NF, Jiun Ting T, Ab Manan N, Mohd Senari IF, Muhammad Firdaus Chan MF, Rahmatullah B, Govindasamy P, Abdulla K. Prevalence and predictors of social anxiety disorders among Malaysian secondary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring the influence of internet gaming disorder and impulsivity. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024:13591045231206967. [PMID: 38163335 DOI: 10.1177/13591045231206967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SAD) among Malaysian secondary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore its correlations with demographic variables, impulsivity behavior, and internet gaming disorder (IGD). A total of 1574 participants from 12 government secondary schools across five Malaysian states, comprising 569 males and 1005 females, completed an online questionnaire containing validated Malay versions of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale - Short Form. The findings revealed a notable SAD prevalence rate of 40.53% among Malaysian adolescents. Logistic regression analysis unveiled significant associations between SAD and factors such as attention impulsiveness (OR = 2.58, p < .001), motor impulsiveness (OR = 1.47, p = .03), female gender (OR = 2, p < .001), Malay ethnicity, and IGD (OR = 1.08, p < .001). In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the extent of social anxiety experienced by Malaysian secondary school students during the pandemic, shedding light on the demographic and psychosocial factors linked to its emergence. Furthermore, the research underscores a robust link between IGD and SAD, emphasizing the need for comprehensive interventions addressing both issues concurrently. By recognizing the multifaceted nature of these associations, future interventions can be tailored to provide holistic support for adolescents' mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nor Firdous Mohamed
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Development, Sultan Idris Education University, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Tan Jiun Ting
- Department of Psychology, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore
| | | | - Izatul Farhana Mohd Senari
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Development, Sultan Idris Education University, Perak, Malaysia
| | | | - Bahbibi Rahmatullah
- Department of Software Engineering and Smart Technology, Faculty of Computer and Meta-Technology, Sultan Idris Education University, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Priyalatha Govindasamy
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Development, Sultan Idris Education University, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Kahar Abdulla
- European Alliance Against Depression, Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany
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Rocks D, Purisic E, Gallo EF, Greally JM, Suzuki M, Kundakovic M. Egr1 is a sex-specific regulator of neuronal chromatin, synaptic plasticity, and behaviour. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.20.572697. [PMID: 38187614 PMCID: PMC10769422 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.20.572697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Sex differences are found in brain structure and function across species, and across brain disorders in humans1-3. The major source of brain sex differences is differential secretion of steroid hormones from the gonads across the lifespan4. Specifically, ovarian hormones oestrogens and progesterone are known to dynamically change structure and function of the adult female brain, having a major impact on psychiatric risk5-7. However, due to limited molecular studies in female rodents8, very little is still known about molecular drivers of female-specific brain and behavioural plasticity. Here we show that overexpressing Egr1, a candidate oestrous cycle-dependent transcription factor9, induces sex-specific changes in ventral hippocampal neuronal chromatin, gene expression, and synaptic plasticity, along with hippocampus-dependent behaviours. Importantly, Egr1 overexpression mimics the high-oestrogenic phase of the oestrous cycle, and affects behaviours in ovarian hormone-depleted females but not in males. We demonstrate that Egr1 opens neuronal chromatin directly across the sexes, although with limited genomic overlap. Our study not only reveals the first sex-specific chromatin regulator in the brain, but also provides functional evidence that this sex-specific gene regulation drives neuronal gene expression, synaptic plasticity, and anxiety- and depression-related behaviour. Our study exemplifies an innovative sex-based approach to studying neuronal gene regulation1 in order to understand sex-specific synaptic and behavioural plasticity and inform novel brain disease treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin Rocks
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Eric Purisic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Eduardo F. Gallo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - John M. Greally
- Center for Epigenomics, Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Masako Suzuki
- Center for Epigenomics, Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Marija Kundakovic
- Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
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Lopez DL, Wortman A. El Género Como el Nuevo Lenguaje de Rebeldía Adolescente. Psychodyn Psychiatry 2023; 51:1-21. [PMID: 38047661 DOI: 10.1521/pdps.2023.51.4.supp] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
El número creciente de adolescentes con identidad de género no conforme parece estar asociado a lo que los autores consideran ser la manifestación contemporánea del fenómeno de la crisis de identidad adolescente. Ésta se expresa a través de un rechazo deliberado y una revaloración de los roles y las normas convencionales de género. La crisis de identidad adolescente, tal y como fue conceptualizada inicialmente por Erik Erikson (1956), constituye un fenómeno multifacético inconsciente que se manifiesta en el contexto familiar y social. Los autores hacen una revisión histórica de la terminología pertinente, seguida de la presentación de cuatro bocetos clínicos, seleccionados para mostrar este fenómeno y los conflictos familiares que comúnmente se producen como resultado. A continuación, se presenta un caso clínico que abarca el proceso de evaluación clínica, formulación psicodinámica, consideraciones del tratamiento y el trabajo con los padres. Se enumeran las fuentes de información disponibles para los pacientes y sus familias. Las ilustraciones clínicas están compuestas de varios casos sobrepuestos y los datos se han alterado para proteger la privacidad y confidencialidad de los pacientes. Por último, los autores hacen un llamado a la comunidad científica a realizar indagaciones profundas a largo plazo sobre este fenómeno clínico.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Lopez
- Psiquiatra, Psiquiatra infantil y de la Adolescencia y Psicoanalista, Médico Adjunto, Departamento de Psiquiatría/Psiquiatría Infantil y de la Adolescencia, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Westchester; Miembro Psicoanalista del Centro Psicoanalítico de Filadelfia; Expresidente de la Academia Estadounidense de Psiquiatría Psicodinámica y Psicoanálisis (AAPDPP, por sus siglas en inglés)
| | - Alejandra Wortman
- Psiquiatra, Psiquiatra infantil y de la Adolescencia, Médico Adjunto, Departamento de Psiquiatría/Psiquiatría Infantil y de la Adolescencia, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Westchester; Miembro Psiquiatra de la Academia Estadounidense de Psiquiatría Psicodinámica y Psicoanálisis (AAPDPP, por sus siglas en inglés)
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Moysés-Oliveira M, Favilla BP, Melaragno MI, Tufik S. X-Chromosome Dependent Differences in the Neuronal Molecular Signatures and Their Implications in Sleep Patterns. Sleep Med Clin 2023; 18:521-531. [PMID: 38501524 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2023.06.014] [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] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Biological factors and mechanisms that drive sex differences observed in sleep disturbances are understudied and poorly understood. The extent to which sex chromosome constitution impacts on sex differences in circadian patterns is still a knowledge void in the sleep medicine field. Here we focus on the neurological consequences of X-chromosome functional imbalances between males and females and how this molecular inequality might affect sex divergencies on sleep. In light of the X-chromosome inactivation mechanism in females and its implications in gene regulation, we describe sleep-related neuronal circuits and brain regions impacted by sex-biased modulations of the transcriptome and the epigenome. Benefited from recent large-scale genetic studies on the interplay between X-chromosome and brain function, we list clinically relevant genes that might play a role in sex differences in neuronal pathways. Those molecular signatures are put into the context of sleep and sleep-associated neurological phenotypes, aiming to identify biological mechanisms that link X-chromosome gene regulation to sex-biased human traits. These findings are a significant step forward in understanding how X-linked genes manifest in sleep-associated transcriptional networks and point to future research opportunities to address female-specific clinical manifestations and therapeutic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Moysés-Oliveira
- Sleep Institute, Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa, Rua Marselhea, 500, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bianca Pereira Favilla
- Genetics Division, Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Isabel Melaragno
- Genetics Division, Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergio Tufik
- Sleep Institute, Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa, Rua Marselhea, 500, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Lopez DL, Wortman A. Il Genere come il Nuovo Linguaggio di Ribellione dell'Adolescenza. Psychodyn Psychiatry 2023; 51:1-21. [PMID: 39013162 DOI: 10.1521/pdps.2023.51.4.supp.italian] [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] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Il crescente numero di adolescenti con identità di genere non conforme sembra essere associato a quello che gli autori considerano essere, in epoca contemporanea, una manifestazione del fenomeno della crisi d'identità dell'adolescente. Questa si presenta con un deliberato rifiuto del proprio genere e con una rivalutazione dei ruoli e delle norme di genere convenzionali. La crisi d'identità dell'adolescente, così come inizialmente concepita da Erik Erikson (1956), costituisce un fenomeno poliedrico inconscio che si manifesta nel contesto familiare e sociale. Gli autori conducono una revisione storica della terminologia pertinente, seguita dalla presentazione di quattro casi clinici, selezionati al fine di illustrare questo fenomeno ed i conflitti familiari che comunemente ne derivano. Successivamente, viene riportato un caso clinico specifico che concerne il processo di valutazione clinica, la diagnosi psicodinamica, le considerazioni sul trattamento psicoterapeutico ed il lavoro con i genitori. Sono inoltre citate le fonti di informazione disponibili per i pazienti e per le loro famiglie. Al fine di proteggere la privacy e la riservatezza dei pazienti, i casi clinici sono raccontati in modo combinato. Infine, gli autori concludono l'articolo con un invito rivolto alla comunità scientifica a condurre indagini prospettiche a lungo termine su questo nuovo fenomeno clinico.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Lopez
- Psichiatra infantile e dell'adolescenza e Psicoanalista, Medico Aggiunto, Dipartimento di Psichiatria/Psichiatria Infantile e dell'Adolescenza, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Westchester; Psicoanalista Membro del Centro Psicoanalitico di Filadelfia; Ex Presidente dell'Accademia Americana di Psichiatria Psicodinamica e Psicoanalisi (AAPDPP)
| | - Alejandra Wortman
- Psichiatra, Psichiatra infantile e dell'adolescenza, Medico Aggiunto, Dipartimento di Psichiatria/Psichiatria Infantile e dell'Adolescenza, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Westchester; Psichiatra Membro dell'Accademia Americana di Psichiatria Psicodinamica e Psicoanalisi (AAPDPP)
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Lopez DL, Wortman A. Gender as the New Language of Teen Rebellion. Psychodyn Psychiatry 2023; 51:434-452. [PMID: 38047671 DOI: 10.1521/pdps.2023.51.4.434] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The growing occurrence of adolescents with gender nonconforming identities appears to be associated with what the authors believe is the contemporary manifestation of the adolescent identity crisis phenomenon. This phenomenon is expressed through a deliberate rejection and reappraisal of conventional gender roles and norms. The adolescent identity crisis, as initially conceptualized by Erik Erikson (1956), constitutes an unconscious multifaceted phenomenon that is outwardly displayed within familial and societal frameworks. A historical overview of pertinent terminology is provided, followed by the presentation of four clinical vignettes chosen to exemplify this phenomenon, alongside the resultant family conflicts that often ensue. Additionally, an anonymized clinical case is presented, encompassing the evaluation process, the subsequent psychodynamic formulation, treatment considerations, parent work, and the available resources for patients and families. The clinical illustrations are case composites and the data disguised to protect patient privacy and confidentiality. A plea is made to the scientific community for in-depth long-term research into this clinical phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Lopez
- David L. Lopez, M.D., Psychiatrist, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst, Assistant Attending, Department of Psychiatry/Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York Presbyterian Hospital Westchester; Psychoanalyst Member of the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia; Past-President of the American Academy of Psychodynamic Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis
| | - Alejandra Wortman
- Psychiatrist, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Assistant Attending, Department of Psychiatry/Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York Presbyterian Hospital Westchester; Psychiatric Member of the American Academy of Psychodynamic Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis
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Weller S, Derntl B, Plewnia C. Sex matters for the enhancement of cognitive training with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:78. [PMID: 37919761 PMCID: PMC10623760 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00561-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can influence brain network activity and associated cognitive and behavioural functions. In addition to the extensive variety in stimulation parameters, numerous biological factors drive these effects, however these are yet poorly understood. Here, we investigate one of the major biological factors by focusing on sex-dependent effects of tDCS on a challenging cognitive control task (adaptive paced auditory serial addition task [PASAT]) in healthy humans. METHODS This sex-specific re-analysis was performed on data of 163 subjects who underwent a 2-week cognitive control training (6 sessions in total). Subjects received either verum (anodal/cathodal) or sham tDCS. Electrodes were placed over the left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the respective contralateral deltoid muscle. Cognitive control was measured as performance in the PASAT and was analysed in respect to stimulation conditions (sham, anodal, cathodal) and sex. RESULTS Regardless of stimulation condition, performance gains between the sexes were higher in females compared to males (p = 0.0038). Female's performance during anodal tDCS exceeded male's (p = 0.0070), yet no effects were found for cathodal or sham tDCS. Moreover, in females we found a superior effect for anodal tDCS over sham stimulation (fanodal: p = 0.0354; fcathodal: p = 0.6181), but no such effect in males (manodal: p = 0.6882; mcathodal: p = 0.4822). CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the relevance of biological sex for the effects of tDCS on cognitive training. Thus, an increased attention to biological sex is advisable in future brain stimulation research to highlight and in consequence better understand potentially underlying sex-specific mechanisms. Considering biological sex will further advance customisation and individualisation of tDCS interventions. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04108663.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Weller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Neurophysiology and Interventional Neuropsychiatry, University of Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Tübingen, Germany
| | - Birgit Derntl
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, University of Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Plewnia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Neurophysiology and Interventional Neuropsychiatry, University of Tübingen, Calwerstraße 14, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Tübingen, Germany.
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Ash H, Goy RW, Spaulding A, Colman RJ, Corbett CJ, Ziegler TE. Cognitive development from infancy to young adulthood in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus): Effect of age, sex, and hormones on learning and affective state. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22430. [PMID: 37860906 PMCID: PMC10804839 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22430] [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: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Studies looking at individual variability in cognition have increased in recent years. We followed 43 marmosets (21 males, 22 females) from infancy to young adulthood. At 3-months old, marmosets were trained to touch a rewarded stimulus. At 9-, 15-, and 21-months old, they were given visual discrimination and cognitive bias tests, and urine samples were collected to examine hormone levels. Marmosets were significantly more successful learners at 15 months than 9 months. Individuals who were more successful learners at 9 months were also more successful at 15 months, with more male learners than expected at 15 months. At 9 months, learning success was associated with higher cortisol levels. At 15 months, males with higher estradiol levels were more successful learners, whereas at 21 months, females with higher estradiol and cortisol levels tended to be less successful learners and more pessimistic. Nine months, therefore, appears to be an important developmental timepoint for acquiring cognitive control, which has developed by 15 months. Steroids may have differential effects on each sex, with complex interactions between gonadal and adrenal hormones having an influence on cognitive function over the lifespan. This longitudinal study offers new insight into cognition, including its development and biological underpinnings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Ash
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), University of Wisconsin, Madison WI, United States
| | - Robinson W. Goy
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), University of Wisconsin, Madison WI, United States
| | - Abigail Spaulding
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), University of Wisconsin, Madison WI, United States
| | - Ricki J. Colman
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), University of Wisconsin, Madison WI, United States
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI, United States
| | - Cody J. Corbett
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), University of Wisconsin, Madison WI, United States
| | - Toni E. Ziegler
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC), University of Wisconsin, Madison WI, United States
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Aguilar R. Finger-Length Ratios and Sexual Orientation in Southern Spain: A Large Sample Study on Sex-Linked Personality and Cognitive Traits. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2023; 52:3301-3312. [PMID: 37537427 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02670-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Some similarities between sex differences and sexual orientation differences, with gay men shifted in female-typical directions and lesbians shifted in male-typical directions, have been hypothesized to reflect the effects of prenatal androgen exposure. This report assessed sex-linked personality and cognitive traits in a Spanish sample of 1117 straight (i.e., heterosexual) and non-straight (i.e., non-heterosexual) men and women, using finger-length ratio (2D:4D) as an index of prenatal androgen exposure. Observed sex differences were in the expected direction: Measures of right-hand 2D:4D, left-hand 2D:4D, and anxiety were higher in straight women than men, whereas impulsivity, dominance, cognitive reflection, and mathematical proficiency were higher in straight men than women. Gay men proved to be shifted in a female-typical direction compared to straight men for right-hand 2D:4D, left-hand 2D:4D, anxiety, and cognitive reflection; they were intermediate for dominance and mathematics, and were shifted in a male-typical direction for impulsivity. Lesbians were shifted in a male-typical direction compared to straight women for left-hand 2D:4D, anxiety, cognitive reflection, and mathematics; and they were shifted in a highly female-typical direction for impulsivity and dominance (scoring lower than straight women). Observed sex-linked shifts in gay men and lesbians were larger for psychological traits that displayed larger sex differences, and smallest for impulsivity (which displayed the smallest sex difference). Evidence also suggested that sex-related measures were linked to 2D:4D in theoretically meaningful ways. In conclusion, this report suggests a plausible role of androgens as prenatal determinants of sex-linked personality and cognitive traits in straight and non-straight men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raúl Aguilar
- Departamento de Psicología Básica, Facultad de Psicología y Logopedia, Universidad de Málaga, C/ Doctor Ortiz Ramos, 12, Ampliación de Teatinos, 29010, Málaga, Spain.
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El-Kafoury BMA, Abdel-Hady EA, El Bakly W, Elayat WM, Hamam GG, Abd El Rahman SMM, Lasheen NN. Lipoic acid inhibits cognitive impairment induced by multiple cell phones in young male rats: role of Sirt1 and Atg7 pathway. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18486. [PMID: 37898621 PMCID: PMC10613255 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44134-2] [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: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The utilization of digital technology has grown rapidly in the past three decades. With this rapid increase, cell phones emit electromagnetic radiation; that is why electromagnetic field (EMF) has become a substantial new pollution source in modern civilization, mainly having adverse effects on the brain. While such a topic attracted many researchers' scopes, there are still minimal discoveries made regarding chronic exposure to EMF. The extensive use of cell phones may affect children's cognition even indirectly if parents and guardians used their phones repeatedly near them. This study aims to investigate possible lipoic acid (LA) effects on cognitive functions and hippocampal structure in young male rats exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted from multiple cell phones. Forty young male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into three groups: control, multiple cell phones-exposed and lipoic acid-treated rats. By the end of the experimental period, the Morris water maze was used as a cognitive test. The rats were sacrificed for the collection of serum and hippocampal tissue. These serum samples were then utilized for assessment of Liver function tests. The level ofglutamate, acetylcholine (Ach) and malondialdehyde (MDA) was estimated, in addition to evaluating the expression of autophagy-related protein-7 (Atg7) and Sirt1 genes. The left hippocampal specimens were used for histopathological studies. Results showed that multiple cell phone-exposed rats exhibited shorter latency time to reach the platform by the fifth day of training; additionally, there was a reduction in consolidation of spatial long-term memory. Correspondingly, there was an elevation of hippocampal Ach, glutamate, and MDA levels; accompanied by up-regulation of hippocampal Sirt1 and Atg7 gene expression. Compared to the EMF-exposed group, LA administration improved both learning and memory, this was proved by the significant decline in hippocampal MDA and Ach levels, the higher hippocampal glutamate, the downregulated hippocampal Sirt1 gene expression and the upregulated Atg7 gene expression. In conclusion, EMF exposure could enhance learning ability; however, it interfered with long-term memory consolidation shown by higher hippocampal Ach levels. Lipoic acid treatment improved both learning and memory by enhancing autophagy and hippocampal glutamate level and by the reduced Ach levels and Sirt1 gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bataa M A El-Kafoury
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Enas A Abdel-Hady
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Wesam El Bakly
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, AFCM, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Wael M Elayat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Galala University, Galala City, Egypt
| | - Ghada Galal Hamam
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Noha N Lasheen
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Galala University, Galala City, Egypt.
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Kogler L, Müller VI, Moser E, Windischberger C, Gur RC, Habel U, Eickhoff SB, Derntl B. Testosterone and the Amygdala's Functional Connectivity in Women and Men. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6501. [PMID: 37892639 PMCID: PMC10607739 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12206501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The amygdala contains androgen receptors and is involved in various affective and social functions. An interaction between testosterone and the amygdala's functioning is likely. We investigated the amygdala's resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) network in association with testosterone in 94 healthy young adult women and men (final data available for analysis from 42 women and 39 men). Across the whole sample, testosterone was positively associated with the rsFC between the right amygdala and the right middle occipital gyrus, and it further predicted lower agreeableness scores. Significant sex differences appeared for testosterone and the functional connectivity between the right amygdala and the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), showing higher testosterone levels with lower connectivity in women. Sex further predicted the openness and agreeableness scores. Our results show that testosterone modulates the rsFC between brain areas involved in affective processing and executive functions. The data indicate that the cognitive control of the amygdala via the frontal cortex is dependent on the testosterone levels in a sex-specific manner. Testosterone seems to express sex-specific patterns (1) in networks processing affect and cognition, and (2) in the frontal down-regulation of the amygdala. The sex-specific coupling between the amygdala and the frontal cortex in interaction with the hormone levels may drive sex-specific differences in a variety of behavioral phenomena that are further associated with psychiatric illnesses that show sex-specific prevalence rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Kogler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Centre for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Calwerstrasse 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) Partner Site, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Veronika I. Müller
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine: Brain and Behavior (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (V.I.M.); (S.B.E.)
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ewald Moser
- High-Field MR Center, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (E.M.); (C.W.)
| | - Christian Windischberger
- High-Field MR Center, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (E.M.); (C.W.)
| | - Ruben C. Gur
- Brain Behavior Laboratory and Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Section, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany;
- JARA BRAIN Institute I, Translational Brain Medicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Simon B. Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine: Brain and Behavior (INM-7), Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (V.I.M.); (S.B.E.)
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Centre for Mental Health (TüCMH), Medical Faculty, University of Tübingen, Calwerstrasse 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) Partner Site, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- LEAD Graduate School and Network, University of Tübingen, Walter-Simon-Straße 12, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for the Mechanisms of Mental Function and Dysfunction (IMPRS-MMFD), Otfried-Müller-Str. 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Newman BT, Patrie JT, Druzgal TJ. An intracellular isotropic diffusion signal is positively associated with pubertal development in white matter. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 63:101301. [PMID: 37717292 PMCID: PMC10511341 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101301] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Puberty is a key event in adolescent development that involves significant, hormone-driven changes to many aspects of physiology including the brain. Understanding how the brain responds during this time period is important for evaluating neuronal developments that affect mental health throughout adolescence and the adult lifespan. This study examines diffusion MRI scans from the cross-sectional ABCD Study baseline cohort, a large multi-site study containing thousands of participants, to describe the relationship between pubertal development and brain microstructure. Using advanced, 3-tissue constrained spherical deconvolution methods, this study is able to describe multiple tissue compartments beyond only white matter (WM) axonal qualities. After controlling for age, sex, brain volume, subject handedness, scanning site, and sibling relationships, we observe a positive relationship between an isotropic, intracellular diffusion signal fraction and pubertal development across a majority of regions of interest (ROIs) in the WM skeleton. We also observe regional effects from an intracellular anisotropic signal fraction compartment and extracellular isotropic free water-like compartment in several ROIs. This cross-sectional work suggests that changes in pubertal status are associated with a complex response from brain tissue that cannot be completely described by traditional methods focusing only on WM axonal properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin T Newman
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, USA.
| | - James T Patrie
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, USA
| | - T Jason Druzgal
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, USA
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40
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Deist M, Suliman S, Kidd M, Franklin D, Cherner M, Heaton RK, Spies G, Seedat S. Neuropsychological Test Norms for the Assessment of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Impairment Among South African Adults. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:3080-3097. [PMID: 36918465 PMCID: PMC10386947 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-023-04029-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Reliable and valid neurocognitive (NC) test batteries that assess multiple domains of cognitive functioning are vital tools in the early detection of HIV-associated NC impairment. The HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center's International Neurobehavioral Battery (HNRC Battery) is one such diagnostic tool and has shown cultural validity in several international neuroHIV studies. However, no published norms are currently available for the full HNRC Battery in South Africa. To accurately interpret NC test results, appropriate reference norms are required. In light of this challenge, data were collected from 500 healthy, HIV-uninfected participants to develop demographically corrected South African norms. When demographically corrected United States of America (U.S.) norms were applied to the performance scores of our neurologically intact, HIV-negative sample, an impairment rate of 62.2% was observed compared to a 15.0% impairment rate when the newly generated South African norms were applied. These results reiterate the findings of other low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the need for localized, country-specific norms when interpreting NC performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Deist
- South African PTSD Research Programme of Excellence, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sharain Suliman
- South African PTSD Research Programme of Excellence, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Martin Kidd
- Centre for Statistical Consultation, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Donald Franklin
- The HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC), San Diego, USA
| | - Mariana Cherner
- The HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC), San Diego, USA
| | - Robert K Heaton
- The HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC), San Diego, USA
| | - Georgina Spies
- South African PTSD Research Programme of Excellence, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Soraya Seedat
- South African PTSD Research Programme of Excellence, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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41
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Stahn AC, Bucher D, Zu Eulenburg P, Denise P, Smith N, Pagnini F, White O. Paving the way to better understand the effects of prolonged spaceflight on operational performance and its neural bases. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:59. [PMID: 37524737 PMCID: PMC10390562 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00295-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Space exploration objectives will soon move from low Earth orbit to distant destinations like Moon and Mars. The present work provides an up-to-date roadmap that identifies critical research gaps related to human behavior and performance in altered gravity and space. The roadmap summarizes (1) key neurobehavioral challenges associated with spaceflight, (2) the need to consider sex as a biological variable, (3) the use of integrative omics technologies to elucidate mechanisms underlying changes in the brain and behavior, and (4) the importance of understanding the neural representation of gravity throughout the brain and its multisensory processing. We then highlight the need for a variety of target-specific countermeasures, and a personalized administration schedule as two critical strategies for mitigating potentially adverse effects of spaceflight on the central nervous system and performance. We conclude with a summary of key priorities for the roadmaps of current and future space programs and stress the importance of new collaborative strategies across agencies and researchers for fostering an integrative cross- and transdisciplinary approach from cells, molecules to neural circuits and cognitive performance. Finally, we highlight that space research in neurocognitive science goes beyond monitoring and mitigating risks in astronauts but could also have significant benefits for the population on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Stahn
- Unit of Experimental Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Berlin, Germany.
| | - D Bucher
- IZN-Neurobiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - P Zu Eulenburg
- Institute for Neuroradiology & German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - P Denise
- Normandie Univ. UNICAEN, INSERM, COMETE, CYCERON, Caen, France
| | - N Smith
- Protective Security and Resilience Centre, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - F Pagnini
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - O White
- Université de Bourgogne INSERM-U1093 Cognition, Action, and Sensorimotor Plasticity, Dijon, France.
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Rech M, Diaz GB, Schaab BL, Rech CGSL, Calvetti PÜ, Reppold CT. Association of Emotional Self-Regulation with Psychological Distress and Positive Functioning Dimensions in Brazilian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6428. [PMID: 37510660 PMCID: PMC10379342 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20146428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Emotional self-regulation is a relevant factor for human development capable of minimizing emotional difficulties in the face of adverse events, as was particularly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to evaluate emotional self-regulation in Brazilian health science university students and its relationship with positive psychology constructs (subjective well-being, hope, optimism, spirituality, self-compassion, and self-efficacy) and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress). This was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational, analytic study of 1062 Brazilian undergraduate students with data collected using self-administered online questionnaires. Students in the first years of their undergraduate degree programs had significantly higher dysregulation scores than those in the final years. Multiple linear regression yielded a model that explained 71.8% of the variation in emotion dysregulation. The correlations of emotion dysregulation were significant and strong, scoring negatively with self-compassion, optimism, and subjective well-being and positively with psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurício Rech
- Research Laboratory for Psychological Assessment, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Bertoletti Diaz
- Research Laboratory for Psychological Assessment, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Bruno Luis Schaab
- Research Laboratory for Psychological Assessment, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Carolina Garcia Soares Leães Rech
- Research Laboratory for Psychological Assessment, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Prisla Ücker Calvetti
- Research Laboratory for Psychological Assessment, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Caroline Tozzi Reppold
- Research Laboratory for Psychological Assessment, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, Brazil
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Rechtman E, Navarro E, de Water E, Tang CY, Curtin P, Papazaharias DM, Ambrosi C, Mascaro L, Cagna G, Gasparotti R, Invernizzi A, Reichenberg A, Austin C, Arora M, Smith DR, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Placidi D, Horton MK. Early-Life Critical Windows of Susceptibility to Manganese Exposure and Sex-Specific Changes in Brain Connectivity in Late Adolescence. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:460-469. [PMID: 37519473 PMCID: PMC10382697 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Early-life environmental exposures during critical windows (CWs) of development can impact life course health. Exposure to neuroactive metals such as manganese (Mn) during prenatal and early postnatal CWs may disrupt typical brain development, leading to persistent behavioral changes. Males and females may be differentially vulnerable to Mn, presenting distinctive CWs to Mn exposure. Methods We used magnetic resonance imaging to investigate sex-specific associations between early-life Mn uptake and intrinsic functional connectivity in adolescence. A total of 71 participants (15-23 years old; 53% female) from the Public Health Impact of Manganese Exposure study completed a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. We estimated dentine Mn concentrations at prenatal, postnatal, and early childhood periods using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. We performed seed-based correlation analyses to investigate the moderating effect of sex on the associations between Mn and intrinsic functional connectivity adjusting for age and socioeconomic status. Results We identified significant sex-specific associations between dentine Mn at all time points and intrinsic functional connectivity in brain regions involved in cognitive and motor function: 1) prenatal: dorsal striatum, occipital/frontal lobes, and middle frontal gyrus; 2) postnatal: right putamen and cerebellum; and 3) early childhood: putamen and occipital, frontal, and temporal lobes. Network associations differed depending on exposure timing, suggesting that different brain networks may present distinctive CWs to Mn. Conclusions These findings suggest that the developing brain is vulnerable to Mn exposure, with effects lasting through late adolescence, and that females and males are not equally vulnerable to these effects. Future studies should investigate cognitive and motor outcomes related to these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Esmeralda Navarro
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Erik de Water
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Cheuk Y. Tang
- Department of Diagnostic, Molecular, and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Demetrios M. Papazaharias
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Claudia Ambrosi
- ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lorella Mascaro
- ASST Spedali Civili Hospital, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Gasparotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Azzurra Invernizzi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Abraham Reichenberg
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Christine Austin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Donald R. Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Megan K. Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
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Bachtoula O, Arranz-Paraíso S, Luna R, Serrano-Pedraza I. Visual motion discrimination experiments reveal small differences between males and females. Vision Res 2023; 208:108222. [PMID: 37004491 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2023.108222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Recent results have shown that males have lower duration thresholds for motion direction discrimination than females. Measuring contrast thresholds, a previous study has shown that males have a greater sensitivity to fine details and fast flickering stimuli than females, and that females have a higher sensitivity to low spatial frequencies modulated at low temporal frequencies. Here, we present the data of a contrast-detection motion discrimination experiment and a reanalysis of four different motion discrimination experiments where we compare duration thresholds for males and females using different spatial frequencies, stimulus sizes, contrasts, and temporal frequencies (in two experiments, motion surround suppression was measured). Results from the main experiment and the reanalysis show that, in general, the association between sex and contrast and duration thresholds for motion discrimination is not significant, with males and females showing similar data patterns. Only the reanalysis of one out of four studies revealed different duration thresholds between males and females paired with a strong effect size supporting previous results in the literature, although motion surround suppression was identical between groups. Importantly, most of our results do not show significant differences between males and females in contrast and duration thresholds, suggesting that the sex variable may not be as relevant as previously claimed when testing visual motion discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Bachtoula
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, 28223, Spain
| | - Sandra Arranz-Paraíso
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, 28223, Spain
| | - Raúl Luna
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, 28223, Spain; Institute of Optics, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, 28006, Spain
| | - Ignacio Serrano-Pedraza
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, 28223, Spain; Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
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45
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Polcz VE, Barrios EL, Chapin B, Price C, Nagpal R, Chakrabarty P, Casadesus G, Foster T, Moldawer L, Efron PA. Sex, sepsis and the brain: defining the role of sexual dimorphism on neurocognitive outcomes after infection. Clin Sci (Lond) 2023; 137:963-978. [PMID: 37337946 PMCID: PMC10285043 DOI: 10.1042/cs20220555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphisms exist in multiple domains, from learning and memory to neurocognitive disease, and even in the immune system. Male sex has been associated with increased susceptibility to infection, as well as increased risk of adverse outcomes. Sepsis remains a major source of morbidity and mortality globally, and over half of septic patients admitted to intensive care are believed to suffer some degree of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). In the short term, SAE is associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, and in the long term, has the potential for significant impairment of cognition, memory, and acceleration of neurocognitive disease. Despite increasing information regarding sexual dimorphism in neurologic and immunologic systems, research into these dimorphisms in sepsis-associated encephalopathy remains critically understudied. In this narrative review, we discuss how sex has been associated with brain morphology, chemistry, and disease, sexual dimorphism in immunity, and existing research into the effects of sex on SAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie E. Polcz
- Department of Surgery and Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Evan L. Barrios
- Department of Surgery and Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Benjamin Chapin
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Catherine C. Price
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Ravinder Nagpal
- Florida State University College of Health and Human Sciences, Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Paramita Chakrabarty
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Gemma Casadesus
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Thomas Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Lyle L. Moldawer
- Department of Surgery and Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
| | - Philip A. Efron
- Department of Surgery and Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
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Tremblay C, Choudhury P, Belden CM, Goldfarb D, Lorenzini I, Beach TG, Serrano GE. The role of sex differences in depression in pathologically defined Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1156764. [PMID: 37234269 PMCID: PMC10206015 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1156764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sex differences in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may contribute to disease heterogeneity and affect prevalence, risk factors, disease trajectories and outcomes. Depression impacts a large number of patients with AD and has been reported to be more prevalent in women. We aimed to better understand the interaction between sex, depression and AD neuropathology, which could have implications for detection of symptoms, earlier diagnosis, therapeutic management, and enhanced quality of life. Methods We compared 338 cases with clinicopathologically confirmed AD (46% women) to 258 control cases (50% women), without dementia, parkinsonism or a significant pathological diagnosis. Depression was assessed both, using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), and as being reported in their medical history combined with treatment with antidepressant medication. Results In the control group, women showed a higher depression severity, and a higher proportion of women were found to meet the cut-off score for depression on the HAM-D (32 vs. 16%) and having an history of depression (33 vs. 21%), while these sex differences were not observed in AD. Further, in both groups, female sex independently predicted the presence of depression, with covariates for age and cognitive status. AD subjects had higher mean HAM-D scores, were more likely to meet cutoff scores for depression (41 vs. 24%) and have a history of depression than controls (47 vs. 27%). When comparing the increase in frequency of depression in controls versus AD, the difference was significantly greater in men (AD men - control men: 24%) than in women (AD women - control women: 9%). Although subjects with depression were more likely to have higher levels of AD neuropathology, these differences were not observed when investigating the control or AD group separately. Discussion Control women had a higher likelihood and severity of depression than control men, but this sex difference was not noted when considering only those with pathologically defined AD, emphasizing the importance of considering sex in aging studies. AD was associated with higher rates of depression and men may be more likely to report or be diagnosed with depression once they develop AD indicating the importance of more frequent depression screenings in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécilia Tremblay
- Department of Neuropathology, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, United States
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Privodnova EY, Slobodskaya HR, Savostyanov AN, Bocharov AV, Saprigyn AE, Knyazev GG. Fast changes in default and control network activity underlying intraindividual response time variability in childhood: Does age and sex matter? Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22382. [PMID: 37073590 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Intraindividual response time variability (RTV) is considered as a general marker of neurological health. In adults, the central executive and salience networks (task-positive networks, TPN) and the default mode network (DMN) are critical for RTV. Given that RTV decreases with growing up, and that boys are likely somewhat behind girls with respect to the network development, we aimed to clarify age and sex effects. Electroencephalogram was recorded during Stroop-like test performance in 124 typically developing children aged 5-12 years. Network fluctuations were calculated as changes of current source density (CSD) in regions of interest (ROIs) from pretest to 1-s test interval. In boys, TPN activation (CSD increase in ROIs included in the TPN) was associated with lower RTV, suggesting a greater engagement of attentional control. In children younger than 9.5 years, higher response stability was associated with the predominance of TPN activation over DMN activation (CSD increase in ROIs included in the TPN > that in the DMN); this predominance increased with age, suggesting that variability among younger children may be due to network immaturity. These findings suggest that the TPN and DMN may play different roles within the network mechanisms of RTV in boys and girls and at different developmental stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniya Yu Privodnova
- Laboratory of Cognitive Physiology, Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Helena R Slobodskaya
- Department of Child Development and Individual Differences, Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander N Savostyanov
- Laboratory of Differential Psychophysiology, Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Institute for the Humanities, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Andrey V Bocharov
- Laboratory of Differential Psychophysiology, Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Institute for the Humanities, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander E Saprigyn
- Laboratory of Differential Psychophysiology, Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Laboratory of Psychological Genetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Gennady G Knyazev
- Laboratory of Differential Psychophysiology, Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
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48
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Elton A, Allen JH, Yorke M, Khan F, Xu P, Boettiger CA. Sex moderates family history of alcohol use disorder and childhood maltreatment effects on an fMRI stop-signal task. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:2436-2450. [PMID: 36722505 PMCID: PMC10028663 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment (CM) and a family history (FH) of alcohol use disorder (AUD) are each associated with increased impulsivity. However, their unique or shared brain targets remain unknown. Furthermore, both CM and FH demonstrate sex-dependent effects on brain and behavior. We hypothesized that CM and FH interact in brain regions involved in impulsivity with sex-dependent effects. 144 first-year college students (18-19 years old) with varying experiences of CM and/or FH but without current AUD performed an fMRI stop-signal task. We tested interactions between FH, CM, and sex on task performance and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal during successful inhibitions. We examined correlations between BOLD response and psychiatric symptoms. Significant three-way interactions of FH, CM, and sex were detected for brain and behavioral data, largely driven by male subjects. In males, CM was associated with poorer response inhibition but only for those with less FH; males with higher levels of both CM and FH demonstrated better response inhibition. Three-way interaction effects on voxel-wise BOLD response during response inhibition were found in bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex. Network-level analyses implicated the left frontoparietal network, executive control network, and default-mode network. Greater BOLD response in these networks correlated with lower depressive, impulsive, and attentional symptoms, reduced alcohol misuse, greater resilience scores, and heightened trait anxiety. The results highlight sex-divergent effects of heritable and environmental risk factors that may account for sex-dependent expression of psychopathology in response to risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Elton
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol StudiesUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
- Biomedical Research Imaging CenterUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - John Hunter Allen
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Mya Yorke
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Farhan Khan
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Charlotte A. Boettiger
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
- Bowles Center for Alcohol StudiesUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
- Biomedical Research Imaging CenterUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
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49
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Lo LLH, Lee EHM, Hui CLM, Chong CSY, Chang WC, Chan SKW, Lin JJ, Lo WTL, Chen EYH. Effect of high-endurance exercise intervention on sleep-dependent procedural memory consolidation in individuals with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial. Psychol Med 2023; 53:1708-1720. [PMID: 34615565 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721003196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the effects of physical exercise on sleep-dependent consolidation of procedural memory in individuals with schizophrenia. We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the effectiveness of physical exercise in improving this cognitive function in schizophrenia. METHODS A three-arm parallel open-labeled RCT took place in a university hospital. Participants were randomized and allocated into either the high-intensity-interval-training group (HIIT), aerobic-endurance exercise group (AE), or psychoeducation group for 12 weeks, with three sessions per week. Seventy-nine individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder were contacted and screened for their eligibility. A total of 51 were successfully recruited in the study. The primary outcome was sleep-dependent procedural memory consolidation performance as measured by the finger-tapping motor sequence task (MST). Assessments were conducted during baseline and follow-up on week 12. RESULTS The MST performance scored significantly higher in the HIIT (n = 17) compared to the psychoeducation group (n = 18) after the week 12 intervention (p < 0.001). The performance differences between the AE (n = 16) and the psychoeducation (p = 0.057), and between the AE and the HIIT (p = 0.999) were not significant. Yet, both HIIT (p < 0.0001) and AE (p < 0.05) showed significant within-group post-intervention improvement. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that HIIT and AE were effective at reverting the defective sleep-dependent procedural memory consolidation in individuals with schizophrenia. Moreover, HIIT had a more distinctive effect compared to the control group. These findings suggest that HIIT may be a more effective treatment to improve sleep-dependent memory functions in individuals with schizophrenia than AE alone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edwin Ho Ming Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | | | | | - Wing Chung Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Sherry Kit Wa Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Jessie Jingxia Lin
- Neuroscience and Neurological Rehabilitation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | | | - Eric Yu Hai Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
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50
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Kernbach JM, Hartwigsen G, Lim JS, Bae HJ, Yu KH, Schlaug G, Bonkhoff A, Rost NS, Bzdok D. Bayesian stroke modeling details sex biases in the white matter substrates of aphasia. Commun Biol 2023; 6:354. [PMID: 37002267 PMCID: PMC10066402 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04733-1] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ischemic cerebrovascular events often lead to aphasia. Previous work provided hints that such strokes may affect women and men in distinct ways. Women tend to suffer strokes with more disabling language impairment, even if the lesion size is comparable to men. In 1401 patients, we isolate data-led representations of anatomical lesion patterns and hand-tailor a Bayesian analytical solution to carefully model the degree of sex divergence in predicting language outcomes ~3 months after stroke. We locate lesion-outcome effects in the left-dominant language network that highlight the ventral pathway as a core lesion focus across different tests of language performance. We provide detailed evidence for sex-specific brain-behavior associations in the domain-general networks associated with cortico-subcortical pathways, with unique contributions of the fornix in women and cingular fiber bundles in men. Our collective findings suggest diverging white matter substrates in how stroke causes language deficits in women and men. Clinically acknowledging such sex disparities has the potential to improve personalized treatment for stroke patients worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius M Kernbach
- Neurosurgical Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Aachen (NAILA), RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Music, Neuroimaging, and Stroke Recovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Gesa Hartwigsen
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Lise Meitner Research Group Cognition and Plasticity, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jae-Sung Lim
- Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Joon Bae
- Department of Neurology, Cerebrovascular Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Ho Yu
- Department of Neurology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Gottfried Schlaug
- Music, Neuroimaging, and Stroke Recovery Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Anna Bonkhoff
- J. Philip Kistler Stroke Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Natalia S Rost
- J. Philip Kistler Stroke Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Danilo Bzdok
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, Faculty of Medicine, School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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