1
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Reinoso Medina L, Thrasher CA, Harburger LL. Evidence for age-related decline in spatial memory in a novel allocentric memory task. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38643487 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2024.2344866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Several studies report spatial memory decline in old age. However, few studies have examined whether old adults are specifically impaired in allocentric memory tasks (testing for object-to-object spatial location memory). Thus, the present study examined the effects of age on allocentric spatial memory using a novel landmark memory task. Young (18-25 years old) and old (65 years and older) participants watched 10 short videos that displayed 180-degree viewpoints of distinct real-world locations with landmark cues. After watching each video, participants saw a snapshot from the video and were asked whether a landmark cue previously viewed in the video was to the left or right of the snapshot view. Young adults outperformed old adults on the task. This age-related decline in spatial performance was similar for men and women. These findings support that spatial ability in an allocentric task is sensitive to age-related cognitive decline in men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christina A Thrasher
- Department of Psychology, Purchase College, State University of New York, Purchase, NY, USA
| | - Lauren L Harburger
- Department of Psychology, Purchase College, State University of New York, Purchase, NY, USA
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2
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Boecker H, Daamen M, Kunz L, Geiß M, Müller M, Neuss T, Henschel L, Stirnberg R, Upadhyay N, Scheef L, Martin JA, Stöcker T, Radbruch A, Attenberger U, Axmacher N, Maurer A. Hippocampal subfield plasticity is associated with improved spatial memory. Commun Biol 2024; 7:271. [PMID: 38443439 PMCID: PMC10914736 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05949-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Physical exercise studies are generally underrepresented in young adulthood. Seventeen subjects were randomized into an intervention group (24.2 ± 3.9 years; 3 trainings/week) and 10 subjects into a passive control group (23.7 ± 4.2 years), over a duration of 6 months. Every two months, performance diagnostics, computerized spatial memory tests, and 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging were conducted. Here we find that the intervention group, compared to controls, showed increased cardiorespiratory fitness, spatial memory performance and subregional hippocampal volumes over time. Time-by-condition interactions occurred in right cornu ammonis 4 body and (trend only) dentate gyrus, left hippocampal tail and left subiculum. Increases in spatial memory performance correlated with hippocampal body volume changes and, subregionally, with left subicular volume changes. In conclusion, findings support earlier reports of exercise-induced subregional hippocampal volume changes. Such exercise-related plasticity may not only be of interest for young adults with clinical disorders of hippocampal function, but also for sedentary normal cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Boecker
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Marcel Daamen
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lukas Kunz
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Melanie Geiß
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Moritz Müller
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Neuss
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Leonie Henschel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Stirnberg
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Neeraj Upadhyay
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lukas Scheef
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jason A Martin
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tony Stöcker
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexander Radbruch
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ulrike Attenberger
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nikolai Axmacher
- Department of Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Angelika Maurer
- Clinical Functional Imaging Lab, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
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3
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Mollusky A, Reynolds-Lallement N, Lee D, Zhong JY, Magnusson KR. Investigating the effects of age and prior military service on fluid and crystallized cognitive functions using virtual morris water maze (vMWM) and NIH Toolbox tasks. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 116:105156. [PMID: 37604015 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Much of current knowledge of aging involves war veterans and research about age-related cognitive changes in veterans involves generalized or single function tests or health or neurological disorders. The current study examined military service within the context of comparisons of young and old humans involving generally healthy individuals to address normal age-associated cognitive changes. Adult participants included 11 young females (8 non-veterans; 3 veterans; 21-31 years), 5 young males (non-veterans, 21-24 years), 9 older females (non-veterans, 62-80 years), and 21 older males (11 non-veterans; 10 veterans; 60-86 years). They were tested in virtual Morris water maze (vMWM) tasks, which were designed to test spatial learning, cognitive flexibility and working memory, similar to rodent studies, and were validated by correlations with specific NIH Toolbox (NIH-TB) Cognitive Battery or Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) Logical Memory I and II tests. Significant age-related deficits were seen on multiple vMWM tasks and NIH-TB fluid cognition tasks. Among older males, vMWM tasks appeared to be more sensitive, based on finding statistical differences, to prior military service than NIH Toolbox tasks. Compared with male non-veterans of comparable age and younger, older male veterans exhibited significant deficits in spatial learning, cognitive flexibility, and working memory on vMWM tasks. Our findings support continued development and characterization of vMWM tasks that are comparable between rodents and humans for translating aging interventions between species, and provide impetus for larger investigations examining the extent to which prior military service can serve as a "hidden" variable in normal biological declines of cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adina Mollusky
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - Nadjalisse Reynolds-Lallement
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - Dylan Lee
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - Jimmy Y Zhong
- Department of Psychology, School of Social and Health Sciences, James Cook University, Australia (Singapore campus), Singapore 387380, Singapore; College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Australia (Singapore campus), Singapore 387380, Singapore; Georgia State/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging (CABI), Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30318, United States
| | - Kathy R Magnusson
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
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4
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Canada KL, Saifullah S, Gardner JC, Sutton BP, Fabiani M, Gratton G, Raz N, Daugherty AM. Development and validation of a quality control procedure for automatic segmentation of hippocampal subfields. Hippocampus 2023; 33:1048-1057. [PMID: 37246462 PMCID: PMC10524242 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Automatic segmentation methods for in vivo magnetic resonance imaging are increasing in popularity because of their high efficiency and reproducibility. However, automatic methods can be perfectly reliable and consistently wrong, and the validity of automatic segmentation methods cannot be taken for granted. Quality control (QC) by trained and reliable human raters is necessary to ensure the validity of automatic measurements. Yet QC practices for applied neuroimaging research are underdeveloped. We report a detailed QC and correction procedure to accompany our validated atlas for hippocampal subfield segmentation. We document a two-step QC procedure for identifying segmentation errors, along with a taxonomy of errors and an error severity rating scale. This detailed procedure has high between-rater reliability for error identification and manual correction. The latter introduces at maximum 3% error variance in volume measurement. All procedures were cross-validated on an independent sample collected at a second site with different imaging parameters. The analysis of error frequency revealed no evidence of bias. An independent rater with a third sample replicated procedures with high within-rater reliability for error identification and correction. We provide recommendations for implementing the described method along with hypothesis testing strategies. In sum, we present a detailed QC procedure that is optimized for efficiency while prioritizing measurement validity and suits any automatic atlas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jennie C. Gardner
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
| | - Bradley P. Sutton
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
| | - Monica Fabiani
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
| | - Gabriele Gratton
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
| | - Naftali Raz
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, NY
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin,
Germany
| | - Ana M. Daugherty
- Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit,
MI
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit,
MI
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5
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Merriman NA, Roudaia E, Ondřej J, Romagnoli M, Orvieto I, O’Sullivan C, Newell FN. “CityQuest,” A Custom-Designed Serious Game, Enhances Spatial Memory Performance in Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:806418. [PMID: 35356302 PMCID: PMC8959141 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.806418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial cognition is known to decline with aging. However, little is known about whether training can reduce or eliminate age-related deficits in spatial memory. We investigated whether a custom-designed video game involving spatial navigation, obstacle avoidance, and balance control would improve spatial memory in older adults. Specifically, 56 healthy adults aged 65 to 84 years received 10 sessions of multicomponent video game training, based on a virtual cityscape, over 5 weeks. Participants were allocated to one of three training conditions: the main intervention, the “CityQuest” group (n = 19), and two control groups, spatial navigation without obstacle avoidance (“Spatial Navigation-only” group, n = 21) and obstacle avoidance without spatial navigation (“Obstacles-only” group, n = 15). Performance on object recognition, egocentric and allocentric spatial memory (incorporating direction judgment tasks and landmark location tasks, respectively), navigation strategy preference, and executive functioning was assessed in pre- and post-intervention sessions. The results showed an overall benefit on performance in a number of spatial memory measures and executive function for participants who received spatial navigation training, particularly the CityQuest group, who also showed significant improvement on the landmark location task. However, there was no evidence of a shift from egocentric to allocentric strategy preference. We conclude that spatial memory in healthy older participants is amenable to improvement with training over a short term. Moreover, technology based on age-appropriate, multicomponent video games may play a key role in cognitive training in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niamh A. Merriman
- School of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eugenie Roudaia
- School of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jan Ondřej
- School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | - Carol O’Sullivan
- School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona N. Newell
- School of Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- *Correspondence: Fiona N. Newell,
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6
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Keresztes A, Raffington L, Bender AR, Bögl K, Heim C, Shing YL. Longitudinal Developmental Trajectories Do Not Follow Cross-Sectional Age Associations in Hippocampal Subfield and Memory Development. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 54:101085. [PMID: 35278767 PMCID: PMC8917271 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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7
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Wang J, Tang J, Liang X, Luo Y, Zhu P, Li Y, Xiao K, Jiang L, Yang H, Xie Y, Zhang L, Deng Y, Li J, Tang Y. Hippocampal PGC-1α-mediated positive effects on parvalbumin interneurons are required for the antidepressant effects of running exercise. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:222. [PMID: 33859158 PMCID: PMC8050070 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01339-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Running exercise was shown to have a positive effect on depressive-like symptoms in many studies, but the underlying mechanism of running exercise in the treatment of depression has not been determined. Parvalbumin-positive interneurons (PV+ interneurons), a main subtype of GABA neurons, were shown to be decreased in the brain during the depression. PGC-1α, a molecule that is strongly related to running exercise, was shown to regulate PV+ interneurons. In the present study, we found that running exercise increased the expression of PGC-1α in the hippocampus of depressed mice. Adult male mice with PGC-1α gene silencing in the hippocampus ran on a treadmill for 4 weeks. Then, depression-like behavior was evaluated by the behavioral tests, and the PV+ interneurons in the hippocampus were investigated. We found that running exercise could not improve depressive-like symptoms or increase the gene expression of PV because of the lack of PGC-1α in the hippocampus. Moreover, a lack of PGC-1α in the hippocampus decreased the number and activity of PV+ interneurons in the CA3 subfield of the hippocampus, and running exercise could not reverse the pathological changes because of the lack of PGC-1α. The present study demonstrated that running exercise regulates PV+ interneurons through PGC-1α in the hippocampus of mice to reverse depressive-like behaviors. These data indicated that hippocampal PGC-1α-mediated positive effects on parvalbumin interneurons are required for the antidepressant actions of running exercise. Our results will help elucidate the antidepressant mechanism of running exercise and identify new targets for antidepressant treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Tang
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Liang
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanmin Luo
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Peilin Zhu
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Li
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kai Xiao
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lin Jiang
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Lab Teaching & Management Center, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hao Yang
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuhan Xie
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuhui Deng
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Li
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China ,grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016 Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yong Tang
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Thornberry C, Cimadevilla JM, Commins S. Virtual Morris water maze: opportunities and challenges. Rev Neurosci 2021; 32:887-903. [PMID: 33838098 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The ability to accurately recall locations and navigate our environment relies on multiple cognitive mechanisms. The behavioural and neural correlates of spatial navigation have been repeatedly examined using different types of mazes and tasks with animals. Accurate performances of many of these tasks have proven to depend on specific circuits and brain structures and some have become the standard test of memory in many disease models. With the introduction of virtual reality (VR) to neuroscience research, VR tasks have become a popular method of examining human spatial memory and navigation. However, the types of VR tasks used to examine navigation across laboratories appears to greatly differ, from open arena mazes and virtual towns to driving simulators. Here, we examined over 200 VR navigation papers, and found that the most popular task used is the virtual analogue of the Morris water maze (VWM). Although we highlight the many advantages of using the VWM task, there are also some major difficulties related to the widespread use of this behavioural method. Despite the task's popularity, we demonstrate an inconsistency of use - particularly with respect to the environmental setup and procedures. Using different versions of the virtual water maze makes replication of findings and comparison of results across researchers very difficult. We suggest the need for protocol and design standardisation, alongside other difficulties that need to be addressed, if the virtual water maze is to become the 'gold standard' for human spatial research similar to its animal counterpart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor Thornberry
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, John Hume Building, North Campus, Maynooth, Co KildareW23 F2H6, Ireland
| | - Jose M Cimadevilla
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center, University of Almeria, 04120La Cañada, Almería, Spain
| | - Sean Commins
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, John Hume Building, North Campus, Maynooth, Co KildareW23 F2H6, Ireland
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9
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Ramanoël S, Durteste M, Bécu M, Habas C, Arleo A. Differential Brain Activity in Regions Linked to Visuospatial Processing During Landmark-Based Navigation in Young and Healthy Older Adults. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:552111. [PMID: 33240060 PMCID: PMC7668216 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.552111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Older adults have difficulties in navigating unfamiliar environments and updating their wayfinding behavior when faced with blocked routes. This decline in navigational capabilities has traditionally been ascribed to memory impairments and dysexecutive function, whereas the impact of visual aging has often been overlooked. The ability to perceive visuospatial information such as salient landmarks is essential to navigating efficiently. To date, the functional and neurobiological factors underpinning landmark processing in aging remain insufficiently characterized. To address this issue, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the brain activity associated with landmark-based navigation in young and healthy older participants. The performances of 25 young adults (μ = 25.4 years, σ = 2.7; seven females) and 17 older adults (μ = 73.0 years, σ = 3.9; 10 females) were assessed in a virtual-navigation task in which they had to orient using salient landmarks. The underlying whole-brain patterns of activity as well as the functional roles of specific cerebral regions involved in landmark processing, namely the parahippocampal place area (PPA), the occipital place area (OPA), and the retrosplenial cortex (RSC), were analyzed. Older adults' navigational abilities were overall diminished compared to young adults. Also, the two age groups relied on distinct navigational strategies to solve the task. Better performances during landmark-based navigation were associated with increased neural activity in an extended neural network comprising several cortical and cerebellar regions. Direct comparisons between age groups revealed that young participants had greater anterior temporal activity. Also, only young adults showed significant activity in occipital areas corresponding to the cortical projection of the central visual field during landmark-based navigation. The region-of-interest analysis revealed an increased OPA activation in older adult participants during the landmark condition. There were no significant between-group differences in PPA and RSC activations. These preliminary results hint at the possibility that aging diminishes fine-grained information processing in occipital and temporal regions, thus hindering the capacity to use landmarks adequately for navigation. Keeping sight of its exploratory nature, this work helps towards a better comprehension of the neural dynamics subtending landmark-based navigation and it provides new insights on the impact of age-related visuospatial processing differences on navigation capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Ramanoël
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- University of Côte d’Azur, LAMHESS, Nice, France
| | - Marion Durteste
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Marcia Bécu
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Angelo Arleo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
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10
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Daugherty AM, Schwarb HD, McGarry MDJ, Johnson CL, Cohen NJ. Magnetic Resonance Elastography of Human Hippocampal Subfields: CA3-Dentate Gyrus Viscoelasticity Predicts Relational Memory Accuracy. J Cogn Neurosci 2020; 32:1704-1713. [PMID: 32379003 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The hippocampus is necessary for binding and reconstituting information in relational memory. These essential memory functions are supported by the distinct cytoarchitecture of the hippocampal subfields. Magnetic resonance elastography is an emerging tool that provides sensitive estimates of microstructure vis-à-vis tissue mechanical properties. Here, we report the first in vivo study of human hippocampal subfield viscoelastic stiffness and damping ratio. Stiffness describes resistance of a viscoelastic tissue to a stress and is thought to reflect the relative composition of tissue at the microscale; damping ratio describes relative viscous-to-elastic behavior and is thought to generally reflect microstructural organization. Measures from the subiculum (combined with presubiculum and parasubiculum), cornu ammonis (CA) 1-2, and CA3-dentate gyrus (CA3-DG) were collected in a sample of healthy, cognitively normal men (n = 20, age = 18-33 years). In line with known cytoarchitecture, the subiculum demonstrated the lowest damping ratio, followed by CA3-DG and then combined CA1-CA2. Moreover, damping ratio of the CA3-DG-potentially reflective of number of cells and their connections-predicted relational memory accuracy and alone replicated most of the variance in performance that was explained by the whole hippocampus. Stiffness did not differentiate the hippocampal subfields and was unrelated to task performance in this sample. Viscoelasticity measured with magnetic resonance elastography appears to be sensitive to microstructural properties relevant to specific memory function, even in healthy younger adults, and is a promising tool for future studies of hippocampal structure in aging and related diseases.
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11
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Wang J, Luo Y, Tang J, Liang X, Huang C, Gao Y, Qi Y, Yang C, Chao F, Zhang Y, Tang Y. The effects of fluoxetine on oligodendrocytes in the hippocampus of chronic unpredictable stress-induced depressed model rats. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:2583-2594. [PMID: 32246847 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a mental illness which is harmful seriously to the society. This study investigated the effects of fluoxetine on the CNPase+ oligodendrocytes in hippocampus of the depressed rats to explore the new target structure of antidepressants. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to build chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) depressed model of rats. Then, the depressed rats were divided into the CUS standard group and the CUS + fluoxetine (CUS/FLX) group. The CUS/FLX group was treated with fluoxetine at dose of 5 mg/(kg·d) from the fifth week to seventh week. After 7 weeks CUS intervention, the sucrose preference of the CUS standard group was significantly lower than that of the control group and the CUS/FLX group. The stereological results showed that the total number of the CNPase+ cells in the CA1, CA3, and DG subfield of the hippocampus in the CUS standard group were significantly decreased, when compared with the CNPase+ cells in the control group. However, the total number of the CNPase+ cells in the CA1 and CA3 subfield of the hippocampus in the CUS standard group was significantly decreased when it compared with CNPase+ cells in the CUS/FLX group. Therefore, fluoxetine might prevent the loss of CNPase+ oligodendrocytes in CA1 and CA3 subfields of hippocampus of the depressed rats. The oligodendrocytes in hippocampus may play an important role in the pathogenesis of depression. The current result might provide structural basis for the future studies that search for new antidepressant strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanmin Luo
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Physiology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Tang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Liang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunxia Huang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Physiology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingqiang Qi
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunmao Yang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - FengLei Chao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Tang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
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12
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Stern Y, Barnes CA, Grady C, Jones RN, Raz N. Brain reserve, cognitive reserve, compensation, and maintenance: operationalization, validity, and mechanisms of cognitive resilience. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 83:124-129. [PMID: 31732015 PMCID: PMC6859943 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Significant individual differences in the trajectories of cognitive aging and in age-related changes of brain structure and function have been reported in the past half-century. In some individuals, significant pathological changes in the brain are observed in conjunction with relatively well-preserved cognitive performance. Multiple constructs have been invoked to explain this paradox of resilience, including brain reserve, cognitive reserve, brain maintenance, and compensation. The aim of this session of the Cognitive Aging Summit III was to examine the overlap and distinctions in definitions and measurement of these constructs, to discuss their neural and behavioral correlates and to propose plausible mechanisms of individual cognitive resilience in the face of typical age-related neural declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaakov Stern
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carol A Barnes
- Departments of Psychology, Neurology and Neuroscience, and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Cheryl Grady
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, and Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard N Jones
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Naftali Raz
- Institute of Gerontology and Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.
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13
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14
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Li AWY, King J. Spatial memory and navigation in ageing: A systematic review of MRI and fMRI studies in healthy participants. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 103:33-49. [PMID: 31129234 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
AIM Spatial deficits are widely observed in normal ageing and early Alzheimer's disease. This review systematically examined neuroimaging evidence for structural and functional differences in the hippocampus (HC) associated with non-pathological age-related changes in allocentric spatial abilities. METHODS Databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed studies on allocentric spatial processing in normal ageing including MRI or fMRI data. 15 eligible studies were reviewed after applying exclusion criteria and quality assessment. RESULTS There was a marked deficit in allocentric spatial processing and trend towards egocentric strategies in older adults when compared to young controls or across the lifespan, associated in the majority of studies with HC volumetric changes, metabolic or microstructural indicators, and underactivity. A few studies reported no significant correlations. CONCLUSION Findings confirm literature supporting an age-related allocentric spatial processing deficit and a shift towards egocentric strategies. A majority of studies implicated HC atrophy, microstructural/metabolic alterations or functional changes in age-related allocentric spatial impairment. More sensitive imaging techniques and ecologically valid spatial tasks are needed to detect subtle changes in the HC and brain's navigational network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne W Y Li
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
| | - John King
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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15
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Everyday taxi drivers: Do better navigators have larger hippocampi? Cortex 2019; 115:280-293. [PMID: 30884282 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Work with non-human animals and human navigation experts (London taxi drivers) suggests that the size of the hippocampus, particularly the right posterior hippocampus in humans, relates to navigation expertise. Similar observations, sometimes implicating other sections of the hippocampus, have been made for aging populations and for people with neurodegenerative diseases that affect the hippocampus. These data support the hypothesis that hippocampal volume relates to navigation ability. However, the support for this hypothesis is mixed in healthy, young adults, who range widely in their navigation ability. Here, we administered a naturalistic navigation task that measures cognitive map accuracy to a sample of 90 healthy, young adults who also had MRI scans. Using a sequential analysis design with a registered analysis plan, we did not find that navigation ability related to hippocampal volume (total, right only, right posterior only). We conclude that navigation ability in a typical population does not correlate with variations in hippocampal size, and consider possible explanations for this null result.
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16
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Buckley MG, Bast T. A new human delayed-matching-to-place test in a virtual environment reverse-translated from the rodent watermaze paradigm: Characterization of performance measures and sex differences. Hippocampus 2018; 28:796-812. [PMID: 30451330 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Watermaze tests of place learning and memory in rodents and corresponding reverse-translated human paradigms in real or virtual environments are key tools to study hippocampal function. In common variants, the animal or human participant has to find a hidden goal that remains in the same place over many trials, allowing for incremental learning of the place with reference to distal cues surrounding the circular, featureless maze. Although the hippocampus is involved in incremental place learning, rodent studies have shown that the delayed-matching-to-place (DMP) watermaze test is a more sensitive assay of hippocampal function. On the DMP test, the goal location changes every four trials, requiring the rapid updating of place memory. Here, we developed a virtual DMP test reverse-translated from the rat watermaze DMP paradigm. In two replications, participants showed 1-trial place learning, evidenced by marked latency and path length savings between Trials 1 and 2 to the same goal location, and by search preference for the vicinity of the goal when Trial 2 was run as probe trial (during which the goal was removed). The performance was remarkably similar to rats' performance on the watermaze DMP test. In both replications, male participants showed greater savings and search preferences compared to female participants. Male participants also showed better mental rotation performance, although mental rotation scores did not consistently correlate with DMP performance measures, pointing to distinct neurocognitive mechanisms. The remarkable similarity between rodent and human DMP performance suggests similar underlying neuro-psychological mechanisms, including hippocampus dependence. The new virtual DMP test may, therefore, provide a sensitive tool to probe human hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tobias Bast
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience@Nottingham, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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17
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Vouros A, Gehring TV, Szydlowska K, Janusz A, Tu Z, Croucher M, Lukasiuk K, Konopka W, Sandi C, Vasilaki E. A generalised framework for detailed classification of swimming paths inside the Morris Water Maze. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15089. [PMID: 30305680 PMCID: PMC6180070 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33456-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Morris Water Maze is commonly used in behavioural neuroscience for the study of spatial learning with rodents. Over the years, various methods of analysing rodent data collected during this task have been proposed. These methods span from classical performance measurements to more sophisticated categorisation techniques which classify the animal swimming path into behavioural classes known as exploration strategies. Classification techniques provide additional insight into the different types of animal behaviours but still only a limited number of studies utilise them. This is primarily because they depend highly on machine learning knowledge. We have previously demonstrated that the animals implement various strategies and that classifying entire trajectories can lead to the loss of important information. In this work, we have developed a generalised and robust classification methodology to boost classification performance and nullify the need for manual tuning. We have also made available an open-source software based on this methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiago V Gehring
- Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Kinga Szydlowska
- Laboratory of Epileptogenesis, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Artur Janusz
- Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zehai Tu
- Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Katarzyna Lukasiuk
- Laboratory of Epileptogenesis, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Witold Konopka
- Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eleni Vasilaki
- Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
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18
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Zhong JY, Moffat SD. Extrahippocampal Contributions to Age-Related Changes in Spatial Navigation Ability. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 12:272. [PMID: 30042665 PMCID: PMC6048192 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related decline in spatial navigation is well-known and the extant literature emphasizes the important contributions of a hippocampus-dependent spatial navigation system in mediating this decline. However, navigation is a multifaceted cognitive domain and some aspects of age-related navigational decline may be mediated by extrahippocampal brain regions and/or systems. The current review presents an overview of some key cognitive domains that contribute to the age-related changes in spatial navigation ability, and elucidates such domains in the context of an increased engagement of navigationally relevant extrahippocampal brain regions with advancing age. Specifically, this review focuses on age-related declines in three main areas: (i) allocentric strategy use and switching between egocentric and allocentric strategies, (ii) associative learning of landmarks/locations and heading directions, and (iii) executive functioning and attention. Thus far, there is accumulating neuroimaging evidence supporting the functional relevance of the striatum for egocentric/response strategy use in older adults, and of the prefrontal cortex for mediating executive functions that contribute to successful navigational performance. Notably, the functional role of the prefrontal cortex was particularly emphasized via the proposed relevance of the fronto-locus coeruleus noradrenergic system for strategy switching and of the fronto-hippocampal circuit for landmark-direction associative learning. In view of these putative prefrontal contributions to navigation-related functions, we recommend future spatial navigation studies to adopt a systems-oriented approach that investigates age-related alterations in the interaction between the prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and extrahippocampal regions, as well as an individual differences approach that clarifies the differential engagement of prefrontal executive processes among older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott D. Moffat
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
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19
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Mu D, Xu Y, Zhao T, Watanabe K, Xiao Z, Ye H. Cntn6 deficiency impairs allocentric navigation in mice. Brain Behav 2018; 8:e00969. [PMID: 30106251 PMCID: PMC5991572 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION CNTN6 is an immunoglobulin domain-containing cell adhesion molecule that belongs to the contactin family. It is involved in the development of the nervous system. We aim to determine the effect of Cntn6 deficiency on the allocentric navigation in mice. METHODS We recorded the travel distance and escape time of wild-type and Cntn6 mutant male and female mice in the Morris water maze task according to the protocol. RESULTS There was hardly any Cntn6 expression in the hippocampus of postnatal day 0 (P0) mice, while obvious Cntn6 expression was present in the hippocampal CA1 region of the P7 mice. During the acquisition period of Morris water maze task (Day 1 to 4), Cntn6-/- male mice failed to shorten the escape time to reach platform on the third day, while the travel distance to platform was not significantly different. There was no significant difference in both escape time and travel distance to the platform among all female subjects. In the probe trial test (Day 5), spatial memory of the female mutant mice was mildly affected, while Cntn6-/- male mice were normal. In the spatial relearning test (Day 7 to 10), Cntn6-/- male mice showed no difference in escape time to the platform compared to the wild-type male mice, while Cntn6 deficient female mice required shorter escape time to travel to the platform on day 7, day 8, and day 10. CONCLUSIONS Cntn6 is expressed in the developing hippocampus in mice. Cntn6 deficiency affects spatial learning and memory, indicating that Cntn6 plays a role in the development of hippocampus and affects allocentric navigation of the animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Mu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesBeijing Institute for Brain DisordersCenter of SchizophreniaCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yiliang Xu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesBeijing Institute for Brain DisordersCenter of SchizophreniaCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Tian Zhao
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesBeijing Institute for Brain DisordersCenter of SchizophreniaCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Kazutada Watanabe
- Department of BioengineeringNagaoka University of TechnologyNagaokaNiigataJapan
| | - Zhi‐Cheng Xiao
- The Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineInstitute of Molecular and Clinical MedicineKunming Medical UniversityKunmingChina
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental BiologyMonash UniversityClaytonMELAustralia
| | - Haihong Ye
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesBeijing Institute for Brain DisordersCenter of SchizophreniaCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
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20
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Ianov L, De Both M, Chawla MK, Rani A, Kennedy AJ, Piras I, Day JJ, Siniard A, Kumar A, Sweatt JD, Barnes CA, Huentelman MJ, Foster TC. Hippocampal Transcriptomic Profiles: Subfield Vulnerability to Age and Cognitive Impairment. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:383. [PMID: 29276487 PMCID: PMC5727020 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study employed next-generation RNA sequencing to examine gene expression differences related to brain aging, cognitive decline, and hippocampal subfields. Young and aged rats were trained on a spatial episodic memory task. Hippocampal regions CA1, CA3, and the dentate gyrus were isolated. Poly-A mRNA was examined using two different sequencing platforms, Illumina, and Ion Proton. The Illumina platform was used to generate seed lists of genes that were statistically differentially expressed across regions, ages, or in association with cognitive function. The gene lists were then retested using the data from the Ion Proton platform. The results indicate hippocampal subfield differences in gene expression and point to regional differences in vulnerability to aging. Aging was associated with increased expression of immune response-related genes, particularly in the dentate gyrus. For the memory task, impaired performance of aged animals was linked to the regulation of Ca2+ and synaptic function in region CA1. Finally, we provide a transcriptomic characterization of the three subfields regardless of age or cognitive status, highlighting and confirming a correspondence between cytoarchitectural boundaries and molecular profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Ianov
- Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics and Genomics Program, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Matt De Both
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Monica K Chawla
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Asha Rani
- Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics and Genomics Program, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Andrew J Kennedy
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Ignazio Piras
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jeremy J Day
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Ashley Siniard
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics and Genomics Program, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - J David Sweatt
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Carol A Barnes
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Departments of Psychology, Neurology and Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Matthew J Huentelman
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics and Genomics Program, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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21
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Lester AW, Moffat SD, Wiener JM, Barnes CA, Wolbers T. The Aging Navigational System. Neuron 2017; 95:1019-1035. [PMID: 28858613 PMCID: PMC5659315 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of neuronal systems dedicated to computing spatial information, composed of functionally distinct cell types such as place and grid cells, combined with an extensive body of human-based behavioral and neuroimaging research has provided us with a detailed understanding of the brain's navigation circuit. In this review, we discuss emerging evidence from rodents, non-human primates, and humans that demonstrates how cognitive aging affects the navigational computations supported by these systems. Critically, we show 1) that navigational deficits cannot solely be explained by general deficits in learning and memory, 2) that there is no uniform decline across different navigational computations, and 3) that navigational deficits might be sensitive markers for impending pathological decline. Following an introduction to the mechanisms underlying spatial navigation and how they relate to general processes of learning and memory, the review discusses how aging affects the perception and integration of spatial information, the creation and storage of memory traces for spatial information, and the use of spatial information during navigational behavior. The closing section highlights the clinical potential of behavioral and neural markers of spatial navigation, with a particular emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam W Lester
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Division of Neural Systems, Memory and Aging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Scott D Moffat
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
| | - Jan M Wiener
- Department of Psychology, Ageing and Dementia Institute, Bournemouth University, Poole BH12 5BB, UK
| | - Carol A Barnes
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Division of Neural Systems, Memory and Aging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Departments of Psychology, Neurology, and Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Thomas Wolbers
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Aging and Cognition Research Group, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), 39118 Magdeburg, Germany.
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22
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Hippocampal maturity promotes memory distinctiveness in childhood and adolescence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:9212-9217. [PMID: 28784801 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1710654114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptive learning systems need to meet two complementary and partially conflicting goals: detecting regularities in the world versus remembering specific events. The hippocampus (HC) keeps a fine balance between computations that extract commonalities of incoming information (i.e., pattern completion) and computations that enable encoding of highly similar events into unique representations (i.e., pattern separation). Histological evidence from young rhesus monkeys suggests that HC development is characterized by the differential development of intrahippocampal subfields and associated networks. However, due to challenges in the in vivo investigation of such developmental organization, the ontogenetic timing of HC subfield maturation remains controversial. Delineating its course is important, as it directly influences the fine balance between pattern separation and pattern completion operations and, thus, developmental changes in learning and memory. Here, we relate in vivo, high-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging data of HC subfields to behavioral memory performance in children aged 6-14 y and in young adults. We identify a multivariate profile of age-related differences in intrahippocampal structures and show that HC maturity as captured by this pattern is associated with age differences in the differential encoding of unique memory representations.
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23
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Daugherty AM, Flinn R, Ofen N. Hippocampal CA3-dentate gyrus volume uniquely linked to improvement in associative memory from childhood to adulthood. Neuroimage 2017; 153:75-85. [PMID: 28342999 PMCID: PMC5477670 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.03.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Associative memory develops into adulthood and critically depends on the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a complex structure composed of subfields that are functionally-distinct, and anterior-posterior divisions along the length of the hippocampal horizontal axis that may also differ by cognitive correlates. Although each of these aspects has been considered independently, here we evaluate their relative contributions as correlates of age-related improvement in memory. Volumes of hippocampal subfields (subiculum, CA1-2, CA3-dentate gyrus) and anterior-posterior divisions (hippocampal head, body, tail) were manually segmented from high-resolution images in a sample of healthy participants (age 8-25 years). Adults had smaller CA3-dentate gyrus volume as compared to children, which accounted for 67% of the indirect effect of age predicting better associative memory via hippocampal volumes. Whereas hippocampal body volume demonstrated non-linear age differences, larger hippocampal body volume was weakly related to better associative memory only when accounting for the mutual correlation with subfields measured within that region. Thus, typical development of associative memory was largely explained by age-related differences in CA3-dentate gyrus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Daugherty
- Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Robert Flinn
- Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Noa Ofen
- Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
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Cognitive correlates of spatial navigation: Associations between executive functioning and the virtual Morris Water Task. Behav Brain Res 2017; 317:470-478. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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25
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Daugherty AM, Raz N. A virtual water maze revisited: Two-year changes in navigation performance and their neural correlates in healthy adults. Neuroimage 2016; 146:492-506. [PMID: 27659539 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Revised: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related declines in spatial navigation are associated with deficits in procedural and episodic memory and deterioration of their neural substrates. For the lack of longitudinal evidence, the pace and magnitude of these declines and their neural mediators remain unclear. Here we examined virtual navigation in healthy adults (N=213, age 18-77 years) tested twice, two years apart, with complementary indices of navigation performance (path length and complexity) measured over six learning trials at each occasion. Slopes of skill acquisition curves and longitudinal change therein were estimated in structural equation modeling, together with change in regional brain volumes and iron content (R2* relaxometry). Although performance on the first trial did not differ between occasions separated by two years, the slope of path length improvement over trials was shallower and end-of-session performance worse at follow-up. Advanced age, higher pulse pressure, smaller cerebellar and caudate volumes, and greater caudate iron content were associated with longer search paths, i.e. poorer navigation performance. In contrast, path complexity diminished faster over trials at follow-up, albeit less so in older adults. Improvement in path complexity after two years was predicted by lower baseline hippocampal iron content and larger parahippocampal volume. Thus, navigation path length behaves as an index of perceptual-motor skill that is vulnerable to age-related decline, whereas path complexity may reflect cognitive mapping in episodic memory that improves with repeated testing, although not enough to overcome age-related deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Daugherty
- Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.
| | - Naftali Raz
- Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
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