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Schwizer Ashkenazi S, Roell M, McCaskey U, Cachia A, Borst G, O'Gorman Tuura R, Kucian K. Are numerical abilities determined at early age? A brain morphology study in children and adolescents with and without developmental dyscalculia. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2024; 67:101369. [PMID: 38642426 PMCID: PMC11046253 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101369] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The intraparietal sulcus (IPS) has been associated with numerical processing. A recent study reported that the IPS sulcal pattern was associated with arithmetic and symbolic number abilities in children and adults. In the present study, we evaluated the link between numerical abilities and the IPS sulcal pattern in children with Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) and typically developing children (TD), extending previous analyses considering other sulcal features and the postcentral sulcus (PoCS). First, we confirm the longitudinal sulcal pattern stability of the IPS and the PoCS. Second, we found a lower proportion of left sectioned IPS and a higher proportion of a double-horizontal IPS shape bilaterally in DD compared to TD. Third, our analyses revealed that arithmetic is the only aspect of numerical processing that is significantly related to the IPS sulcal pattern (sectioned vs not sectioned), and that this relationship is specific to the left hemisphere. And last, correlation analyses of age and arithmetic in children without a sectioned left IPS indicate that although they may have an inherent disadvantage in numerical abilities, these may improve with age. Thus, our results indicate that only the left IPS sulcal pattern is related to numerical abilities and that other factors co-determine numerical abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Schwizer Ashkenazi
- Neuropsychology, Dept. of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Center for MR-Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Margot Roell
- Université de Paris, LaPsyDÉ, CNRS, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Ursina McCaskey
- Center for MR-Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud Cachia
- Université de Paris, LaPsyDÉ, CNRS, Paris F-75005, France; Université de Paris, Imaging biomarkers for brain development and disorders, UMR INSERM 1266, GHU Paris Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Gregoire Borst
- Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ruth O'Gorman Tuura
- Center for MR-Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karin Kucian
- Center for MR-Research, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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2
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Yeo DJ, Pollack C, Conrad BN, Price GR. Functional and representational differences between bilateral inferior temporal numeral areas. Cortex 2024; 171:113-135. [PMID: 37992508 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.08.018] [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: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The processing of numerals as visual objects is supported by an "Inferior Temporal Numeral Area" (ITNA) in the bilateral inferior temporal gyri (ITG). Extant findings suggest some degree of hemispheric asymmetry in how the bilateral ITNAs process numerals. Pollack and Price (2019) reported such a hemispheric asymmetry by which a region in the left ITG was sensitive to digits during a visual search for a digit among letters, and a homologous region in the right ITG that showed greater digit sensitivity in individuals with higher calculation skills. However, the ITG regions were localized with separate analyses without directly contrasting their digit sensitivities and relation to calculation skills. So, the extent of and reasons for these functional asymmetries remain unclear. Here we probe whether the functional and representational properties of the ITNAs are asymmetric by applying both univariate and multivariate region-of-interest analyses to Pollack and Price's (2019) data. Contrary to the implications of the original findings, digit sensitivity did not differ between ITNAs, and digit sensitivity in both left and right ITNAs was associated with calculation skills. Representational similarity analyses revealed that the overall representational geometries of digits in the ITNAs were also correlated, albeit weakly, but the representational contents of the ITNAs were largely inconclusive. Nonetheless, we found a right lateralization in engagement in alphanumeric categorization, and that the right ITNA showed greater discriminability between digits and letters. Greater right lateralization of digit sensitivity and digit discriminability in the left ITNA were also related to higher calculation skills. Our findings thus suggest that the ITNAs may not be functionally identical and should be directly contrasted in future work. Our study also highlights the importance of within-individual comparisons for understanding hemispheric asymmetries, and analyses of individual differences and multivariate features to uncover effects that would otherwise be obscured by averages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren J Yeo
- Department of Psychology & Human Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Division of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Courtney Pollack
- Department of Psychology & Human Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Benjamin N Conrad
- Department of Psychology & Human Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Gavin R Price
- Department of Psychology & Human Development, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
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3
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Ayyıldız N, Beyer F, Üstün S, Kale EH, Mançe Çalışır Ö, Uran P, Öner Ö, Olkun S, Anwander A, Witte AV, Villringer A, Çiçek M. Changes in the superior longitudinal fasciculus and anterior thalamic radiation in the left brain are associated with developmental dyscalculia. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1147352. [PMID: 37868699 PMCID: PMC10586317 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1147352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental dyscalculia is a neurodevelopmental disorder specific to arithmetic learning even with normal intelligence and age-appropriate education. Difficulties often persist from childhood through adulthood lowering the individual's quality of life. However, the neural correlates of developmental dyscalculia are poorly understood. This study aimed to identify brain structural connectivity alterations in developmental dyscalculia. All participants were recruited from a large scale, non-referred population sample in a longitudinal design. We studied 10 children with developmental dyscalculia (11.3 ± 0.7 years) and 16 typically developing peers (11.2 ± 0.6 years) using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. We assessed white matter microstructure with tract-based spatial statistics in regions-of-interest tracts that had previously been related to math ability in children. Then we used global probabilistic tractography for the first time to measure and compare tract length between developmental dyscalculia and typically developing groups. The high angular resolution diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and crossing-fiber probabilistic tractography allowed us to evaluate the length of the pathways compared to previous studies. The major findings of our study were reduced white matter coherence and shorter tract length of the left superior longitudinal/arcuate fasciculus and left anterior thalamic radiation in the developmental dyscalculia group. Furthermore, the lower white matter coherence and shorter pathways tended to be associated with the lower math performance. These results from the regional analyses indicate that learning, memory and language-related pathways in the left hemisphere might be related to developmental dyscalculia in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazife Ayyıldız
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, Health Sciences Institute and Brain Research Center, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Frauke Beyer
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Subproject A1, CRC 1052 “Obesity Mechanisms”, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sertaç Üstün
- Department of Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, Health Sciences Institute and Brain Research Center, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Center of Excellence, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Emre H. Kale
- Department of Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, Health Sciences Institute and Brain Research Center, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Öykü Mançe Çalışır
- Department of Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, Health Sciences Institute and Brain Research Center, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Program of Counseling and Guidance, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Pınar Uran
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Izmir Democracy University, Izmir, Türkiye
| | - Özgür Öner
- Department of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Sinan Olkun
- Department of Elementary Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Alfred Anwander
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - A. Veronica Witte
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- MindBrainBody Institute, Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Charité and Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Metehan Çiçek
- Department of Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, Health Sciences Institute and Brain Research Center, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Center of Excellence, Ankara, Türkiye
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Suárez-Pellicioni M, Prado J, Booth JR. Neurocognitive mechanisms underlying multiplication and subtraction performance in adults and skill development in children: a scoping review. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2022.101228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Hakim U, Pinti P, Noah AJ, Zhang X, Burgess P, Hamilton A, Hirsch J, Tachtsidis I. Investigation of functional near-infrared spectroscopy signal quality and development of the hemodynamic phase correlation signal. NEUROPHOTONICS 2022; 9:025001. [PMID: 35599691 PMCID: PMC9116886 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.9.2.025001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Significance: There is a longstanding recommendation within the field of fNIRS to use oxygenated (HbO 2 ) and deoxygenated (HHb) hemoglobin when analyzing and interpreting results. Despite this, many fNIRS studies do focus onHbO 2 only. Previous work has shown thatHbO 2 on its own is susceptible to systemic interference and results may mostly reflect that rather than functional activation. Studies using bothHbO 2 and HHb to draw their conclusions do so with varying methods and can lead to discrepancies between studies. The combination ofHbO 2 and HHb has been recommended as a method to utilize both signals in analysis. Aim: We present the development of the hemodynamic phase correlation (HPC) signal to combineHbO 2 and HHb as recommended to utilize both signals in the analysis. We use synthetic and experimental data to evaluate how the HPC and current signals used for fNIRS analysis compare. Approach: About 18 synthetic datasets were formed using resting-state fNIRS data acquired from 16 channels over the frontal lobe. To simulate fNIRS data for a block-design task, we superimposed a synthetic task-related hemodynamic response to the resting state data. This data was used to develop an HPC-general linear model (GLM) framework. Experiments were conducted to investigate the performance of each signal at different SNR and to investigate the effect of false positives on the data. Performance was based on each signal's mean T -value across channels. Experimental data recorded from 128 participants across 134 channels during a finger-tapping task were used to investigate the performance of multiple signals [HbO 2 , HHb, HbT, HbD, correlation-based signal improvement (CBSI), and HPC] on real data. Signal performance was evaluated on its ability to localize activation to a specific region of interest. Results: Results from varying the SNR show that the HPC signal has the highest performance for high SNRs. The CBSI performed the best for medium-low SNR. The next analysis evaluated how false positives affect the signals. The analyses evaluating the effect of false positives showed that the HPC and CBSI signals reflect the effect of false positives onHbO 2 and HHb. The analysis of real experimental data revealed that the HPC and HHb signals provide localization to the primary motor cortex with the highest accuracy. Conclusions: We developed a new hemodynamic signal (HPC) with the potential to overcome the current limitations of usingHbO 2 and HHb separately. Our results suggest that the HPC signal provides comparable accuracy to HHb to localize functional activation while at the same time being more robust against false positives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uzair Hakim
- University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paola Pinti
- University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, London, United Kingdom
- University of London, Birkbeck College, Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adam J. Noah
- Yale University, Department of Neuroscience and Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, United States
| | - Xian Zhang
- Yale University, Department of Neuroscience and Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, United States
| | - Paul Burgess
- University College London, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom
| | - Antonia Hamilton
- University College London, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joy Hirsch
- University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, London, United Kingdom
- Yale University, Department of Neuroscience and Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, United States
| | - Ilias Tachtsidis
- University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, London, United Kingdom
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6
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Training causes activation increase in temporo-parietal and parietal regions in children with mathematical disabilities. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:1757-1771. [PMID: 35257218 PMCID: PMC9098620 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02470-5] [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: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
While arithmetic training reduces fronto-temporo-parietal activation related to domain-general processes in typically developing (TD) children, we know very little about the training-related neurocognitive changes in children with mathematical disabilities (MD), who seek evidenced-based educational interventions. In a within-participant design, a group of 20 children (age range = 10-15 years old) with MD underwent 2 weeks of arithmetic training. Brain activation was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) before and after training to assess training-related changes. Two weeks of training led to both behavioral and brain changes. Training-specific change for trained versus untrained (control) simple multiplication solving was observed as activation increase in the bilateral temporo-parietal region including angular gyrus and middle temporal gyrus. Training-specific change for trained versus untrained (control) complex multiplication solving was observed as activation increase in the bilateral parietal region including intraparietal sulcus, superior parietal lobule, and supramarginal gyrus. Unlike the findings of a similar study in TD children, 2 weeks of multiplication training led to brain activation increase in the fronto-parietal network in children with MD. Interestingly, these brain activation differences between the current findings and a recent similar study in TD children underlie a rather similar behavioral improvement as regards response time and accuracy after 2 weeks of training. This finding provides valuable insights into underlying mechanisms of mathematics learning in special samples and suggests that the findings in TD children may not be readily generalized to children with MD.
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7
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Metzen D, Genç E, Getzmann S, Larra MF, Wascher E, Ocklenburg S. Frontal and parietal EEG alpha asymmetry: a large-scale investigation of short-term reliability on distinct EEG systems. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 227:725-740. [PMID: 34676455 PMCID: PMC8843903 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02399-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
EEG resting-state alpha asymmetry is one of the most widely investigated forms of functional hemispheric asymmetries in both basic and clinical neuroscience. However, studies yield inconsistent results. One crucial prerequisite to obtain reproducible results is the reliability of the index of interest. There is a body of research suggesting a moderate-to-good reliability of EEG resting-state alpha asymmetry, but unfortunately sample sizes in these studies are typically small. This study presents the first large-scale short-term reliability study of frontal and parietal EEG resting-state alpha asymmetry. We used the Dortmund Vital Study data set containing 370 participants. In each participant, EEG resting state was recorded eight times, twice with their eyes opened, twice with their eyes-closed, each on two different EEG systems. We found good reliability of EEG alpha power and alpha asymmetry on both systems for electrode pairs. We also found that alpha power asymmetry reliability is higher in the eyes-closed condition than in the eyes-open condition. The frontomedial electrode pair showed weaker reliability than the frontolateral and parietal electrode pairs. Interestingly, we found no population-level alpha asymmetry in frontal electrodes, one of the most investigated electrode sites in alpha asymmetry research. In conclusion, our results suggest that while EEG alpha asymmetry is an overall reliable measure, frontal alpha asymmetry should be assessed using multiple electrode pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Metzen
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Erhan Genç
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Stephan Getzmann
- Department of Ergonomics, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Mauro F Larra
- Department of Ergonomics, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Edmund Wascher
- Department of Ergonomics, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139, Dortmund, Germany
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Serrien DJ, Spapé MM. Space, time and number: common coding mechanisms and interactions between domains. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2021; 86:364-374. [PMID: 33755798 PMCID: PMC8885535 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-021-01503-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Space, time and number are key dimensions that underlie how we perceive, identify and act within the environment. They are interconnected in our behaviour and brain. In this study, we examined interdependencies between these dimensions. To this end, left- and right-handed participants performed an object collision task that required space–time processing and arithmetic tests that involved number processing. Handedness of the participants influenced collision detection with left-handers being more accurate than right-handers, which is in line with the premise that hand preference guides individual differences as a result of sensorimotor experiences and distinct interhemispheric integration patterns. The data further showed that successful collision detection was a predictor for arithmetic achievement, at least in right-handers. These findings suggest that handedness plays a mediating role in binding information processing across domains, likely due to selective connectivity properties within the sensorimotor system that is guided by hemispheric lateralisation patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michiel M Spapé
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Ganor-Stern D, Gliksman Y, Naparstek S, Ifergane G, Henik A. Damage to the Intraparietal Sulcus Impairs Magnitude Representations of Results of Complex Arithmetic Problems. Neuroscience 2020; 438:137-144. [PMID: 32416117 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Past research investigating the role of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) in numerical processes focused mainly on quantity and numerical comparisons as well on single digit arithmetic. The present study investigates the involvement of the IPS in estimating the results of multi-digit multiplication problems. For this purpose, the performance a 24-year-old female (JD) with brain damage in the left IPS was compared to an age-matched control group in the computation estimation task. When required to estimate whether the results of multi-digit multiplication problems are smaller or larger than given reference numbers, JD, in contrast to controls, did not show the common patterns of distance and size effects. Her strategy use was also atypical. Most control participants used both the approximated calculation strategy that involves rounding and calculation procedures and the sense of magnitude strategy that relies on an intuitive approximated magnitude representation of the results. In contrast, JD used only the former but not the latter strategy. Together, these findings suggest that the damage to the IPS impaired JD's representations of magnitude that play an important role in this computation estimation task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Ganor-Stern
- Department of Psychology, Achva Academic College, MP. Shikmim 79800, Israel.
| | - Yarden Gliksman
- Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84965, Israel
| | - Sharon Naparstek
- Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84965, Israel; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Gal Ifergane
- Department of Neurology, Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheva 84965, Israel
| | - Avishai Henik
- Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84965, Israel
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