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Fong PY, Rothwell JC, Rocchi L. The Past, Current and Future Research in Cerebellar TMS Evoked Responses-A Narrative Review. Brain Sci 2024; 14:432. [PMID: 38790411 PMCID: PMC11118133 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation coupled with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) is a novel technique to investigate cortical physiology in health and disease. The cerebellum has recently gained attention as a possible new hotspot in the field of TMS-EEG, with several reports published recently. However, EEG responses obtained by cerebellar stimulation vary considerably across the literature, possibly due to different experimental methods. Compared to conventional TMS-EEG, which involves stimulation of the cortex, cerebellar TMS-EEG presents some technical difficulties, including strong muscle twitches in the neck area and a loud TMS click when double-cone coils are used, resulting in contamination of responses by electromyographic activity and sensory potentials. Understanding technical difficulties and limitations is essential for the development of cerebellar TMS-EEG research. In this review, we summarize findings of cerebellar TMS-EEG studies, highlighting limitations in experimental design and potential issues that can result in discrepancies between experimental outcomes. Lastly, we propose a possible direction for academic and clinical research with cerebellar TMS-EEG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Yu Fong
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (J.C.R.)
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Medical School, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - John C. Rothwell
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (J.C.R.)
| | - Lorenzo Rocchi
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (J.C.R.)
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
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2
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Pezzetta R, Gambarota F, Tarantino V, Devita M, Cattaneo Z, Arcara G, Mapelli D, Masina F. A meta-analysis of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) effects on cerebellar-associated cognitive processes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 157:105509. [PMID: 38101590 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105509] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), have provided valuable insights into the role of the cerebellum in cognitive processes. However, replicating findings from studies involving cerebellar stimulation poses challenges. This meta-analysis investigates the impact of NIBS on cognitive processes associated with the cerebellum. We conducted a systematic search and analyzed 66 studies and 91 experiments involving healthy adults who underwent either TMS or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the cerebellum. The results indicate that anodal tDCS applied to the medial cerebellum enhances cognitive performance. In contrast, high-frequency TMS disrupts cognitive performance when targeting the lateral cerebellar hemispheres or when employed in online protocols. Similarly, low-frequency TMS and continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) diminish performance in offline protocols. Moreover, high-frequency TMS impairs accuracy. By identifying consistent effects and moderators of modulation, this meta-analysis contributes to improving the replicability of studies using NIBS on the cerebellum and provides guidance for future research aimed at developing effective NIBS interventions targeting the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Filippo Gambarota
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Vincenza Tarantino
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Devita
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Geriatrics Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Zaira Cattaneo
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Mapelli
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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3
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Maehara N, Nakamizo A, Arimura K, Yoshimoto K. Memory, Executive, and Intellectual Functions in Adults with Moyamoya Disease. World Neurosurg 2023; 180:e474-e483. [PMID: 37777176 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.09.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cognitive function can decline in adults with moyamoya disease (MMD). Memory, which is an essential but complex and multifaceted function, underpins executive and intellectual functions. However, the relationship between memory and executive or intellectual functions in adults with MMD has not been well studied. The relationship between memory and cerebral blood flow has also not been elucidated. This study investigated correlations between memory, executive function, and intellectual function, and associations between cerebral blood flow and memory in adults with MMD. METHODS Memory, executive function, and intellectual function were assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) third or fourth edition, respectively, in 31 adults with MMD. Cerebral blood flow was measured with iodine 123I-iodoamphetamine single-photon emission computed tomography. RESULTS WMS-R scores correlated significantly with total FAB and WAIS scores before and after revascularization. Cerebral blood flow in the left posterior cerebral artery territory correlated positively with WMS-R and WAIS scores pre- and postoperatively. Postoperative cerebrovascular reserves of the right cerebellum, pons, and vermis were positively associated with visual memory, and postoperative cerebrovascular reserve of the pons was also associated with general memory. CONCLUSIONS Memory function correlates with executive and intellectual functions in adults with MMD. The FAB, which requires about 10 min to administer, might be useful to screen for memory dysfunction. Memory might be vulnerable to hypoperfusion in the posterior cerebral artery territory among adults with MMD. Postoperative cerebrovascular reserve might help predict memory dysfunction in adults with MMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Maehara
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Akira Nakamizo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
| | - Koichi Arimura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Koji Yoshimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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4
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Szücs-Bencze L, Vékony T, Pesthy O, Szabó N, Kincses TZ, Turi Z, Nemeth D. Modulating Visuomotor Sequence Learning by Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: What Do We Know So Far? J Intell 2023; 11:201. [PMID: 37888433 PMCID: PMC10607545 DOI: 10.3390/jintelligence11100201] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Predictive processes and numerous cognitive, motor, and social skills depend heavily on sequence learning. The visuomotor Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT) can measure this fundamental cognitive process. To comprehend the neural underpinnings of the SRTT, non-invasive brain stimulation stands out as one of the most effective methodologies. Nevertheless, a systematic list of considerations for the design of such interventional studies is currently lacking. To address this gap, this review aimed to investigate whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a viable method of modulating visuomotor sequence learning and to identify the factors that mediate its efficacy. We systematically analyzed the eligible records (n = 17) that attempted to modulate the performance of the SRTT with rTMS. The purpose of the analysis was to determine how the following factors affected SRTT performance: (1) stimulated brain regions, (2) rTMS protocols, (3) stimulated hemisphere, (4) timing of the stimulation, (5) SRTT sequence properties, and (6) other methodological features. The primary motor cortex (M1) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were found to be the most promising stimulation targets. Low-frequency protocols over M1 usually weaken performance, but the results are less consistent for the DLPFC. This review provides a comprehensive discussion about the behavioral effects of six factors that are crucial in designing future studies to modulate sequence learning with rTMS. Future studies may preferentially and synergistically combine functional neuroimaging with rTMS to adequately link the rTMS-induced network effects with behavioral findings, which are crucial to develop a unified cognitive model of visuomotor sequence learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Szücs-Bencze
- Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Teodóra Vékony
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, INSERM, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 95 Boulevard Pinel, F-69500 Bron, France
| | - Orsolya Pesthy
- Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella utca 46, H-1064 Budapest, Hungary
- Brain, Memory and Language Research Group, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd Universiry, Izabella utca 46, H-1064 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikoletta Szabó
- Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Tamás Zsigmond Kincses
- Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Department of Radiology, University of Szeged, Semmelweis utca 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Turi
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 17, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dezso Nemeth
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR5292, INSERM, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 95 Boulevard Pinel, F-69500 Bron, France
- BML-NAP Research Group, Institute of Psychology & Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University & Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Damjanich utca 41, H-1072 Budapest, Hungary
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5
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Mill RD, Cole MW. Neural representation dynamics reveal computational principles of cognitive task learning. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.27.546751. [PMID: 37425922 PMCID: PMC10327096 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.27.546751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
During cognitive task learning, neural representations must be rapidly constructed for novel task performance, then optimized for robust practiced task performance. How the geometry of neural representations changes to enable this transition from novel to practiced performance remains unknown. We hypothesized that practice involves a shift from compositional representations (task-general activity patterns that can be flexibly reused across tasks) to conjunctive representations (task-specific activity patterns specialized for the current task). Functional MRI during learning of multiple complex tasks substantiated this dynamic shift from compositional to conjunctive representations, which was associated with reduced cross-task interference (via pattern separation) and behavioral improvement. Further, we found that conjunctions originated in subcortex (hippocampus and cerebellum) and slowly spread to cortex, extending multiple memory systems theories to encompass task representation learning. The formation of conjunctive representations hence serves as a computational signature of learning, reflecting cortical-subcortical dynamics that optimize task representations in the human brain.
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6
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Ferrari C, Ciricugno A, Arioli M, Cattaneo Z. Functional Segregation of the Human Cerebellum in Social Cognitive Tasks Revealed by TMS. J Neurosci 2023; 43:3708-3717. [PMID: 37037608 PMCID: PMC10198446 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1818-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the posterior cerebellum in social cognition is well established; however, it is still unclear whether different cerebellar subregions contribute to different social cognitive processes by exerting specific functions. Here, we employed transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in male and female healthy humans to test the hypothesis of the existence of a medial-to-lateral gradient in the functional organization of the posterior cerebellum, according to which the phylogenetically newer cerebellar hemispheres are involved in tasks requiring higher-level social inferences whereas vermal/medial sectors are involved in basic perceptual emotional mechanisms. We found that interfering via TMS with activity of the medial cerebellum significantly impaired basic emotional recognition/discrimination. In turn, only TMS over the lateral cerebellum affected a task requiring recognizing an emotion considering the social context in which it was experienced. Overall, our data support the existence of a medial-to-lateral gradient in the posterior cerebellum, with medial sectors supporting basic emotion recognition and lateral sectors being recruited when the task taps on higher inferential processing/mentalizing. Interestingly, the contribution of the cerebellum in these different processes seems to be restricted to negative emotional stimuli.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The cerebellum has been recently recognized as a critical component of the social brain, however, the functional topography of this structure in relation to social and emotional processes is still debated. By adopting a causative approach through the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the present study critically insights into the functional organization of the posterior cerebellum by testing the hypothesis of a medial-to-lateral gradient that reflects increasing complexity of social cognitive processes. Our findings demonstrate that lateral and medial cerebellar regions exert partially distinguishable functions in the social cognitive domain, with the medial cerebellum that mainly mediates basic perceptual emotional mechanisms while the lateral cerebellum, although supporting more basic functions, further subserves higher-level social operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Ferrari
- Department of Humanities, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
- IRCCS, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Mondino Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciricugno
- IRCCS, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Mondino Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Maria Arioli
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo 24129, Italy
| | - Zaira Cattaneo
- IRCCS, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Mondino Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo 24129, Italy
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7
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Díez-Cirarda M, Yus M, Gómez-Ruiz N, Polidura C, Gil-Martínez L, Delgado-Alonso C, Jorquera M, Gómez-Pinedo U, Matias-Guiu J, Arrazola J, Matias-Guiu JA. Multimodal neuroimaging in post-COVID syndrome and correlation with cognition. Brain 2023; 146:2142-2152. [PMID: 36288544 PMCID: PMC9620345 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain changes have been reported in the first weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, limited literature exists about brain alterations in post-COVID syndrome, a condition increasingly associated with cognitive impairment. The present study aimed to evaluate brain functional and structural alterations in patients with post-COVID syndrome, and assess whether these brain alterations were related to cognitive dysfunction. Eighty-six patients with post-COVID syndrome and 36 healthy controls were recruited and underwent neuroimaging acquisition and a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Cognitive and neuroimaging examinations were performed 11 months after the first symptoms of SARS-CoV-2. Whole-brain functional connectivity analysis was performed. Voxel-based morphometry was performed to evaluate grey matter volume, and diffusion tensor imaging was carried out to analyse white-matter alterations. Correlations between cognition and brain changes were conducted and Bonferroni corrected. Post-COVID syndrome patients presented with functional connectivity changes, characterized by hypoconnectivity between left and right parahippocampal areas, and between bilateral orbitofrontal and cerebellar areas compared to controls. These alterations were accompanied by reduced grey matter volume in cortical, limbic and cerebellar areas, and alterations in white matter axial and mean diffusivity. Grey matter volume loss showed significant associations with cognitive dysfunction. These cognitive and brain alterations were more pronounced in hospitalized patients compared to non-hospitalized patients. No associations with vaccination status were found. The present study shows persistent structural and functional brain abnormalities 11 months after the acute infection. These changes are associated with cognitive dysfunction and contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the post-COVID syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Díez-Cirarda
- Department of Neurology. Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Yus
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
| | - Natividad Gómez-Ruiz
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Polidura
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Gil-Martínez
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Delgado-Alonso
- Department of Neurology. Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuela Jorquera
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
| | - Ulises Gómez-Pinedo
- Department of Neurology. Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Matias-Guiu
- Department of Neurology. Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Arrazola
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi A Matias-Guiu
- Department of Neurology. Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Health Research Institute “San Carlos” (IdISCC). Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid, Spain
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8
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McFadden J. Consciousness: Matter or EMF? Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 16:1024934. [PMID: 36741784 PMCID: PMC9889563 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.1024934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional theories of consciousness (ToCs) that assume that the substrate of consciousness is the brain's neuronal matter fail to account for fundamental features of consciousness, such as the binding problem. Field ToC's propose that the substrate of consciousness is the brain's best accounted by some kind of field in the brain. Electromagnetic (EM) ToCs propose that the conscious field is the brain's well-known EM field. EM-ToCs were first proposed only around 20 years ago primarily to account for the experimental discovery that synchronous neuronal firing was the strongest neural correlate of consciousness (NCC). Although EM-ToCs are gaining increasing support, they remain controversial and are often ignored by neurobiologists and philosophers and passed over in most published reviews of consciousness. In this review I examine EM-ToCs against established criteria for distinguishing between ToCs and demonstrate that they outperform all conventional ToCs and provide novel insights into the nature of consciousness as well as a feasible route toward building artificial consciousnesses.
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9
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Siebner HR, Funke K, Aberra AS, Antal A, Bestmann S, Chen R, Classen J, Davare M, Di Lazzaro V, Fox PT, Hallett M, Karabanov AN, Kesselheim J, Beck MM, Koch G, Liebetanz D, Meunier S, Miniussi C, Paulus W, Peterchev AV, Popa T, Ridding MC, Thielscher A, Ziemann U, Rothwell JC, Ugawa Y. Transcranial magnetic stimulation of the brain: What is stimulated? - A consensus and critical position paper. Clin Neurophysiol 2022; 140:59-97. [PMID: 35738037 PMCID: PMC9753778 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial (electro)magnetic stimulation (TMS) is currently the method of choice to non-invasively induce neural activity in the human brain. A single transcranial stimulus induces a time-varying electric field in the brain that may evoke action potentials in cortical neurons. The spatial relationship between the locally induced electric field and the stimulated neurons determines axonal depolarization. The induced electric field is influenced by the conductive properties of the tissue compartments and is strongest in the superficial parts of the targeted cortical gyri and underlying white matter. TMS likely targets axons of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The propensity of individual axons to fire an action potential in response to TMS depends on their geometry, myelination and spatial relation to the imposed electric field and the physiological state of the neuron. The latter is determined by its transsynaptic dendritic and somatic inputs, intrinsic membrane potential and firing rate. Modeling work suggests that the primary target of TMS is axonal terminals in the crown top and lip regions of cortical gyri. The induced electric field may additionally excite bends of myelinated axons in the juxtacortical white matter below the gyral crown. Neuronal excitation spreads ortho- and antidromically along the stimulated axons and causes secondary excitation of connected neuronal populations within local intracortical microcircuits in the target area. Axonal and transsynaptic spread of excitation also occurs along cortico-cortical and cortico-subcortical connections, impacting on neuronal activity in the targeted network. Both local and remote neural excitation depend critically on the functional state of the stimulated target area and network. TMS also causes substantial direct co-stimulation of the peripheral nervous system. Peripheral co-excitation propagates centrally in auditory and somatosensory networks, but also produces brain responses in other networks subserving multisensory integration, orienting or arousal. The complexity of the response to TMS warrants cautious interpretation of its physiological and behavioural consequences, and a deeper understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of TMS will be critical for advancing it as a scientific and therapeutic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hartwig R Siebner
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Klaus Funke
- Department of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Aman S Aberra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Andrea Antal
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sven Bestmann
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Chen
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network and Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph Classen
- Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marco Davare
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Peter T Fox
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Mark Hallett
- Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anke N Karabanov
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Nutrition and Exercise, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Janine Kesselheim
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Mikkel M Beck
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Giacomo Koch
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Laboratorio di NeurologiaClinica e Comportamentale, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - David Liebetanz
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sabine Meunier
- Sorbonne Université, Faculté de Médecine, INSERM U 1127, CNRS 4 UMR 7225, Institut du Cerveau, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Carlo Miniussi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Italy; Cognitive Neuroscience Section, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di DioFatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Walter Paulus
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Angel V Peterchev
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Traian Popa
- Center for Neuroprosthetics (CNP) and Brain Mind Institute (BMI), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland; Center for Neuroprosthetics (CNP) and Brain Mind Institute (BMI), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL Valais), Clinique Romande de Réadaptation, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Michael C Ridding
- University of South Australia, IIMPACT in Health, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Axel Thielscher
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ulf Ziemann
- Department of Neurology & Stroke, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - John C Rothwell
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Neurology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan; Fukushima Global Medical Science Centre, Advanced Clinical Research Centre, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
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10
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Ferrari C, Ciricugno A, Urgesi C, Cattaneo Z. Cerebellar contribution to emotional body language perception: a TMS study. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2022; 17:81-90. [PMID: 31588511 PMCID: PMC8824541 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsz074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Consistent evidence suggests that the cerebellum contributes to the processing of emotional facial expressions. However, it is not yet known whether the cerebellum is recruited when emotions are expressed by body postures or movements, or whether it is recruited differently for positive and negative emotions. In this study, we asked healthy participants to discriminate between body postures (with masked face) expressing emotions of opposite valence (happiness vs anger, Experiment 1), or of the same valence (negative: anger vs sadness; positive: happiness vs surprise, Experiment 2). While performing the task, participants received online transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over a region of the posterior left cerebellum and over two control sites (early visual cortex and vertex). We found that TMS over the cerebellum affected participants' ability to discriminate emotional body postures, but only when one of the emotions was negatively valenced (i.e. anger). These findings suggest that the cerebellar region we stimulated is involved in processing the emotional content conveyed by body postures and gestures. Our findings complement prior evidence on the role of the cerebellum in emotional face processing and have important implications from a clinical perspective, where non-invasive cerebellar stimulation is a promising tool for the treatment of motor, cognitive and affective deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Ferrari
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano–Bicocca, Milan 20126, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciricugno
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Cosimo Urgesi
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society University of Udine, Udine 33100, Italy
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Neuropsychiatry and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco 23900, Italy
| | - Zaira Cattaneo
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano–Bicocca, Milan 20126, Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
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11
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Ferrari C, Ciricugno A, Battelli L, Grossman ED, Cattaneo Z. Distinct cerebellar regions for body motion discrimination. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2022; 17:72-80. [PMID: 31820788 PMCID: PMC8824544 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsz088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual processing of human movements is critical for adaptive social behavior. Cerebellar activations have been observed during biological motion discrimination in prior neuroimaging studies, and cerebellar lesions may be detrimental for this task. However, whether the cerebellum plays a causal role in biological motion discrimination has never been tested. Here, we addressed this issue in three different experiments by interfering with the posterior cerebellar lobe using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during a biological discrimination task. In Experiments 1 and 2, we found that TMS delivered at onset of the visual stimuli over the vermis (vermal lobule VI), but not over the left cerebellar hemisphere (left lobule VI/Crus I), interfered with participants' ability to distinguish biological from scrambled motion compared to stimulation of a control site (vertex). Interestingly, when stimulation was delivered at a later time point (300 ms after stimulus onset), participants performed worse when TMS was delivered over the left cerebellar hemisphere compared to the vermis and the vertex (Experiment 3). Our data show that the posterior cerebellum is causally involved in biological motion discrimination and suggest that different sectors of the posterior cerebellar lobe may contribute to the task at different time points.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Ciricugno
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Lorella Battelli
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto 38068, Italy
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02155, MA, USA
| | - Emily D Grossman
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine 92617, CA, USA
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12
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Janssens SEW, Sack AT. Spontaneous Fluctuations in Oscillatory Brain State Cause Differences in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Effects Within and Between Individuals. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:802244. [PMID: 34924982 PMCID: PMC8674306 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.802244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can cause measurable effects on neural activity and behavioral performance in healthy volunteers. In addition, TMS is increasingly used in clinical practice for treating various neuropsychiatric disorders. Unfortunately, TMS-induced effects show large intra- and inter-subject variability, hindering its reliability, and efficacy. One possible source of this variability may be the spontaneous fluctuations of neuronal oscillations. We present recent studies using multimodal TMS including TMS-EMG (electromyography), TMS-tACS (transcranial alternating current stimulation), and concurrent TMS-EEG-fMRI (electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging), to evaluate how individual oscillatory brain state affects TMS signal propagation within targeted networks. We demonstrate how the spontaneous oscillatory state at the time of TMS influences both immediate and longer-lasting TMS effects. These findings indicate that at least part of the variability in TMS efficacy may be attributable to the current practice of ignoring (spontaneous) oscillatory fluctuations during TMS. Ignoring this state-dependent spread of activity may cause great individual variability which so far is poorly understood and has proven impossible to control. We therefore also compare two technical solutions to directly account for oscillatory state during TMS, namely, to use (a) tACS to externally control these oscillatory states and then apply TMS at the optimal (controlled) brain state, or (b) oscillatory state-triggered TMS (closed-loop TMS). The described multimodal TMS approaches are paramount for establishing more robust TMS effects, and to allow enhanced control over the individual outcome of TMS interventions aimed at modulating information flow in the brain to achieve desirable changes in cognition, mood, and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanice E W Janssens
- Section Brain Stimulation and Cognition, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (MBIC), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Alexander T Sack
- Section Brain Stimulation and Cognition, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (MBIC), Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Brain + Nerve Centre, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, Netherlands.,Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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13
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Gatti D, Rinaldi L, Ferreri L, Vecchi T. The Human Cerebellum as a Hub of the Predictive Brain. Brain Sci 2021; 11:1492. [PMID: 34827491 PMCID: PMC8615481 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11111492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the cerebellum has long been believed to be involved uniquely in sensorimotor processes, recent research works pointed to its participation in a wide range of cognitive predictive functions. Here, we review the available evidence supporting a generalized role of the cerebellum in predictive computation. We then discuss the anatomo-physiological properties that make the cerebellum the ideal hub of the predictive brain. We further argue that cerebellar involvement in cognition may follow a continuous gradient, with higher cerebellar activity occurring for tasks relying more on predictive processes, and outline the empirical scenarios to probe this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Gatti
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (L.R.); (T.V.)
| | - Luca Rinaldi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (L.R.); (T.V.)
- Cognitive Psychology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Ferreri
- Laboratoire d’Étude des Mécanismes Cognitifs, Université Lumière Lyon 2, 69767 Lyon, France;
| | - Tomaso Vecchi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (L.R.); (T.V.)
- Cognitive Psychology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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14
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Gatti D, Rinaldi L, Cristea I, Vecchi T. Probing cerebellar involvement in cognition through a meta-analysis of TMS evidence. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14777. [PMID: 34285287 PMCID: PMC8292349 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94051-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, the cerebellum has been linked to motor coordination, but growing evidence points to its involvement in a wide range of non-motor functions. Though the number of studies using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate cerebellar involvement in cognitive processes is growing exponentially, these findings have not yet been synthesized in a meta-analysis. Here, we used meta-analysis to estimate the effects of cerebellar TMS on performance in cognitive tasks for healthy participants. Outcomes included participants' accuracy and response times (RTs) of several non-motor tasks performed either during or after the administration of TMS. We included overall 41 studies, of which 44 single experiments reported effects on accuracy and 41 on response times (RTs). The meta-analyses showed medium effect sizes (for accuracy: d = 0.61 [95% CI = 0.48, .073]; for RTs: d = 0.40 [95% CI = 0.30, 0.49]), with leave-one-out analyses indicating that cumulative effects were robust, and with moderate heterogeneity. For both accuracy and RTs, the effect of TMS was moderated by the stimulation paradigm adopted but not by the cognitive function investigated, while the timing of the stimulation moderated only the effects on RTs. Further analyses on lateralization revealed no moderation effects of the TMS site. Taken together, these findings indicate that TMS administered over the cerebellum is able to modulate cognitive performance, affecting accuracy or RTs, and suggest that the various stimulation paradigms play a key role in determining the efficacy of cerebellar TMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Gatti
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Luca Rinaldi
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy ,grid.419416.f0000 0004 1760 3107Cognitive Psychology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ioana Cristea
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Tomaso Vecchi
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy ,grid.419416.f0000 0004 1760 3107Cognitive Psychology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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15
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Starowicz-Filip A, Prochwicz K, Kłosowska J, Chrobak AA, Krzyżewski R, Myszka A, Rajtar-Zembaty A, Bętkowska-Korpała B, Kwinta B. Is Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III Sensitive Enough to Detect Cognitive Dysfunctions in Patients with Focal Cerebellar Lesions? Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2021; 37:423-436. [PMID: 34128041 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acab045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The main aim of the study was to evaluate whether the available brief test of mental functions Addenbrooke's cognitive examination III (ACE III) detects cognitive impairment in patients with cerebellar damage. The second goal was to show the ACE III cognitive impairment profile of patients with focal cerebellar lesions. METHOD The study sample consisted of 31 patients with focal cerebellar lesions, 78 patients with supratentorial brain damage, and 31 subjects after spine surgery or with spine degeneration considered as control group, free of organic brain damage. The ACE III was used. RESULTS Patients with cerebellar damage obtained significantly lower results in the ACE III total score and in several subscales: attention, fluency, language, and visuospatial domains than healthy controls without brain damage. With the cut-off level of 89 points, the ACE III was characterized by the sensitivity of 71%, specificity of 72%, and accuracy of 72%. The cerebellar cognitive impairment profile was found to be "frontal-like" and similar to that observed in patients with anterior supratentorial brain damage, with decreased ability to retrieve previously learned material and its preserved recognition, impaired word fluency, and executive dysfunction. The results are consistent with cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome. CONCLUSIONS The ACE III can be used as a sensitive screening tool to detect cognitive impairments in patients with cerebellar damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Starowicz-Filip
- Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Psychology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.,Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Kraków, Poland
| | | | | | | | - Roger Krzyżewski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Aneta Myszka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Rajtar-Zembaty
- Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Psychology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Barbara Bętkowska-Korpała
- Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Psychology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Borys Kwinta
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
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16
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Functional specificity of the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in positive reappraisal: A single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation study. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 21:793-804. [PMID: 33751480 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00881-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Neuroimage studies have yielded evidence for a correlation between the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and a specific type of cognitive reappraisal strategy, positive reappraisal. However, evidence is still lacking for a direct relation. We used single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the left VLPFC at different time points to investigate the functional specificity of the left VLPFC in the success of positive reappraisal and the timing at which the left VLPC was involved in positive reappraisal. Fifteen participants engaged in a baseline experiment and in TMS experiments. All participants successfully reduced their negative emotional ratings using positive reappraisal in the baseline experiment. In the TMS experiments, participants performed the same task as in the baseline experiment but single-pulse TMS was applied over the left VLPFC at 300 ms or/and 3,300 ms after stimulus onset, as well as over the vertex as a control stimulation. Valence ratings of negative stimuli increased (unpleasantness reduction) when participants reappraised negative stimuli with TMS stimulation over the left VLPFC, regardless of the timing of the stimulation at 300 ms or/and at 3,300 ms after the stimulus onset, relative to the vertex stimulation and the baseline experiment. Our study provided evidence of the functional specificity of the left VLPFC in regulation of negative emotions using positive reappraisal. The left VLPFC was believed to be involved in different stages of positive reappraisal. The prominent facilitation effect of TMS over the left VLPFC makes it possible to consider potential applications in clinical practice for mood disorders.
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17
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Gatti D, Vecchi T, Mazzoni G. Cerebellum and semantic memory: A TMS study using the DRM paradigm. Cortex 2020; 135:78-91. [PMID: 33360762 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Traditionally, the cerebellum has been linked to motor functions, but recent evidence suggest that it is also involved in a wide range of cognitive processes. Given the uniformity of cerebellar cortex microstructure, it has been proposed that the same computational process might underlie cerebellar involvement in both motor and cognitive functions. Within motor functions, the cerebellum it is involved in procedural memory and associative learning. Here, we hypothesized that the cerebellum may participate to semantic memory as well. To test whether the cerebellum is causally involved in semantic memory, we carried out two experiments in which participants performed the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm (DRM) while online transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was administered over the right cerebellum or over a control site. In Experiment 1, cerebellar TMS selectively affected participants' discriminability for critical lures without affecting participants' discriminability for unrelated words and in Experiment 2 we found that the higher was the semantic association between new and studied words, the higher was the memory impairment caused by the TMS. These results indicate that the right cerebellum is causally involved in semantic memory and provide evidence consistent with theories that proposed the existence of a unified cerebellar function within motor and cognitive domains, as well with recent perspectives about cerebellar involvement in semantic memory and predictive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Gatti
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Tomaso Vecchi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Cognitive Psychology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuliana Mazzoni
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy; School of Life Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
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18
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Gatti D, Van Vugt F, Vecchi T. A causal role for the cerebellum in semantic integration: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18139. [PMID: 33097802 PMCID: PMC7584601 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75287-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that the cerebellum, a structure previously linked to motor function, is also involved in a wide range of non-motor processes. It has been proposed that the cerebellum performs the same computational processes in both motor and non-motor domains. Within motor functions, the cerebellum is involved in the integration of signals from multiple systems. Here we hypothesized that cerebellum may be involved in integration within semantic memory as well. Specifically, understanding a noun-adjective combination (e.g. red apple) requires combining the meaning of the adjective (red) with the meaning of the noun (apple). In two experiments, participants were asked to judge whether noun-adjective word-pairs were semantically related (e.g., red apple) or not (e.g., lucky milk) while online transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was administered over the right cerebellum or over a control site (vertex in Experiment 1 and visual cortex in Experiment 2). Cerebellar TMS caused a decrease in participants’ accuracy for related word-pairs while accuracy for unrelated stimuli was not affected. A third experiment using a control task where subjects compared pairs of random letters showed no effect of TMS. Taken together these results indicate that the right cerebellum is involved specifically in the processing of semantically related stimuli. These results are consistent with theories that proposed the existence of a unified cerebellar function within motor and non-motor domains, as well with recent perspectives about cerebellar involvement in semantic memory and predictive cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Gatti
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, via Bassi 21, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Floris Van Vugt
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, via Bassi 21, 27100, Pavia, Italy.,Psychology Department, University of Montreal, Montreal, H3A1G1, Canada
| | - Tomaso Vecchi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, via Bassi 21, 27100, Pavia, Italy. .,IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
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19
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França C, de Andrade DC, Silva V, Galhardoni R, Barbosa ER, Teixeira MJ, Cury RG. Effects of cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation on ataxias: A randomized trial. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2020; 80:1-6. [PMID: 32920321 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cerebellar ataxia remains a neurological symptom orphan of treatment interventions, despite being prevalent and incapacitating. We aimed to study, in a double-blind design, whether cerebellar modulation could improve ataxia. METHODS We included patients with diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, multiple systems atrophy cerebellar type, or post-lesion ataxia. Patients received five sessions each of sham and active cerebellar 1 Hz deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in randomized order. Our primary outcome was the decrease in the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia when comparing phases (active x sham). Secondary outcomes measures included the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale, and other motor, cognitive, and quality of life scales. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (protocol NCT03213106). RESULTS Twenty-four patients aged 29-74 years were included in our trial. After active stimulation, the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia score was significantly lower than the score after sham stimulation [median (interquartile range) of 10.2 (6.2, 16.2) versus 12.8 (9.6, 17.8); p = 0.002]. The International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale score also improved after active stimulation versus sham [median (interquartile range) of 29.0 (21.0, 43.5) versus 32.8 (22.0, 47.0); p = 0.005]. Other secondary outcomes were not significantly modified by stimulation. No patient presented severe side effects, and nine presented mild and self-limited symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Our protocol was safe and well-tolerated. These findings suggest that cerebellar modulation may improve ataxic symptom and provide reassurance about safety for clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina França
- Movement Disorders Center, LIM 62, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel C de Andrade
- Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation (SIN), Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Valquíria Silva
- Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation (SIN), Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Galhardoni
- Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation (SIN), Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Egberto R Barbosa
- Movement Disorders Center, LIM 62, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Manoel J Teixeira
- Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation (SIN), Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Functional Neurosurgery Division, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rubens G Cury
- Movement Disorders Center, LIM 62, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation (SIN), Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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20
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Seese RR. Working Memory Impairments in Cerebellar Disorders of Childhood. Pediatr Neurol 2020; 107:16-23. [PMID: 32276741 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum is a crucial center for motor control and integration. Increasing evidence supports the notion that the cerebellum is also involved in nonmotor functions. Along these lines, multiple cerebellar disorders of childhood and adulthood are associated with behavioral and cognitive symptoms, including impairments in memory. One form of memory commonly affected in cerebellar disorders is working memory, which uses attention to manipulate information that is immediately available to execute cognitive tasks. This article reviews the literature illustrating that working memory impairments are frequently observed in acquired, congenital, and genetic/developmental cerebellar disorders of childhood. Functional neuroimaging studies demonstrate that working memory tasks engage many posterior regions of the cerebellar hemispheres and vermis. Thus, the cerebellum acts as one important node in the working memory circuit, and when the cerebellum is involved in childhood disorders, deficits in working memory commonly occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald R Seese
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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21
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Evaluating the causal contribution of fronto-parietal cortices to the control of the bottom-up and top-down visual attention using fMRI-guided TMS. Cortex 2020; 126:200-212. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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22
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The Optogenetic Revolution in Cerebellar Investigations. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072494. [PMID: 32260234 PMCID: PMC7212757 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is most renowned for its role in sensorimotor control and coordination, but a growing number of anatomical and physiological studies are demonstrating its deep involvement in cognitive and emotional functions. Recently, the development and refinement of optogenetic techniques boosted research in the cerebellar field and, impressively, revolutionized the methodological approach and endowed the investigations with entirely new capabilities. This translated into a significant improvement in the data acquired for sensorimotor tests, allowing one to correlate single-cell activity with motor behavior to the extent of determining the role of single neuronal types and single connection pathways in controlling precise aspects of movement kinematics. These levels of specificity in correlating neuronal activity to behavior could not be achieved in the past, when electrical and pharmacological stimulations were the only available experimental tools. The application of optogenetics to the investigation of the cerebellar role in higher-order and cognitive functions, which involves a high degree of connectivity with multiple brain areas, has been even more significant. It is possible that, in this field, optogenetics has changed the game, and the number of investigations using optogenetics to study the cerebellar role in non-sensorimotor functions in awake animals is growing. The main issues addressed by these studies are the cerebellar role in epilepsy (through connections to the hippocampus and the temporal lobe), schizophrenia and cognition, working memory for decision making, and social behavior. It is also worth noting that optogenetics opened a new perspective for cerebellar neurostimulation in patients (e.g., for epilepsy treatment and stroke rehabilitation), promising unprecedented specificity in the targeted pathways that could be either activated or inhibited.
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23
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Starowicz-Filip A, Chrobak AA, Kwiatkowski S, Milczarek O, Rajtar-Zembaty AM. “Cerebellar lesions after low-grade tumor resection can induce memory impairment in children, similar to that observed in patients with frontal lesions”. Child Neuropsychol 2019; 26:388-408. [DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2019.1657391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Starowicz-Filip
- Department of Psychiatry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children University Hospital, Krakow, Poland
| | | | - Stanisław Kwiatkowski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children University Hospital, Krakow, Poland
| | - Olga Milczarek
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children University Hospital, Krakow, Poland
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24
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Deverett B, Kislin M, Tank DW, Wang SSH. Cerebellar disruption impairs working memory during evidence accumulation. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3128. [PMID: 31311934 PMCID: PMC6635393 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11050-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To select actions based on sensory evidence, animals must create and manipulate representations of stimulus information in memory. Here we report that during accumulation of somatosensory evidence, optogenetic manipulation of cerebellar Purkinje cells reduces the accuracy of subsequent memory-guided decisions and causes mice to downweight prior information. Behavioral deficits are consistent with the addition of noise and leak to the evidence accumulation process. We conclude that the cerebellum can influence the accurate maintenance of working memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Deverett
- Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Mikhail Kislin
- Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - David W Tank
- Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Samuel S-H Wang
- Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
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Insights from perceptual, sensory, and motor functioning in autism and cerebellar primary disturbances: Are there reliable markers for these disorders? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 95:263-279. [PMID: 30268434 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The contribution of cerebellar circuitry alterations in the pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been widely investigated in the last decades. Yet, experimental studies on neurocognitive markers of ASD have not been attentively compared with similar studies in patients with cerebellar primary disturbances (e.g., malformations, agenesis, degeneration, etc). Addressing this neglected issue could be useful to underline unexpected areas of overlap and/or underestimated differences between these sets of conditions. In fact, ASD and cerebellar primary disturbances (notably, Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome, CCAS) can share atypical manifestations in perceptual, sensory, and motor functions, but neural subcircuits involved in these anomalies/difficulties could be distinct. Here, we specifically deal with this issue focusing on four paradigmatic neurocognitive functions: visual and biological motion perception, multisensory integration, and high stages of the motor hierarchy. From a research perspective, this represents an essential challenge to more deeply understand neurocognitive markers of ASD and of cerebellar primary disturbances/CCAS. Although we cannot assume definitive conclusions, and beyond phenotypical similarities between ASD and CCAS, clinical and experimental evidence described in this work argues that ASD and CCAS are distinct phenomena. ASD and CCAS seem to be characterized by different pathophysiological mechanisms and mediated by distinct neural nodes. In parallel, from a clinical perspective, this characterization may furnish insights to tackle the distinction between autistic functioning/autistic phenotype (in ASD) and dysmetria of thought/autistic-like phenotype (in CCAS).
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