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Syvälahti T, Tuiskula A, Nevalainen P, Metsäranta M, Haataja L, Vanhatalo S, Tokariev A. Networks of cortical activity show graded responses to perinatal asphyxia. Pediatr Res 2024; 96:132-140. [PMID: 38135725 PMCID: PMC11258028 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02978-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perinatal asphyxia often leads to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) with a high risk of neurodevelopmental consequences. While moderate and severe HIE link to high morbidity, less is known about brain effects of perinatal asphyxia with no or only mild HIE. Here, we test the hypothesis that cortical activity networks in the newborn infants show a dose-response to asphyxia. METHODS We performed EEG recordings for infants with perinatal asphyxia/HIE of varying severity (n = 52) and controls (n = 53) and examined well-established computational metrics of cortical network activity. RESULTS We found graded alterations in cortical activity networks according to severity of asphyxia/HIE. Furthermore, our findings correlated with early clinical recovery measured by the time to attain full oral feeding. CONCLUSION We show that both local and large-scale correlated cortical activity are affected by increasing severity of HIE after perinatal asphyxia, suggesting that HIE and perinatal asphyxia are better represented as a continuum rather than the currently used discreet categories. These findings imply that automated computational measures of cortical function may be useful in characterizing the dose effects of adversity in the neonatal brain; such metrics hold promise for benchmarking clinical trials via patient stratification or as early outcome measures. IMPACT Perinatal asphyxia causes every fourth neonatal death worldwide and provides a diagnostic and prognostic challenge for the clinician. We report that infants with perinatal asphyxia show specific graded responses in cortical networks according to severity of asphyxia and ensuing hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Early EEG recording and automated computational measures of brain function have potential to help in clinical evaluation of infants with perinatal asphyxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Syvälahti
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children´s Hospital, and Epilepsia Helsinki, full member of ERN EpiCare, HUS Medical Imaging Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital (HUH), Helsinki, Finland.
- BABA center, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and HUH, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Anna Tuiskula
- BABA center, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and HUH, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital (HUH), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Nevalainen
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children´s Hospital, and Epilepsia Helsinki, full member of ERN EpiCare, HUS Medical Imaging Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital (HUH), Helsinki, Finland
- BABA center, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and HUH, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjo Metsäranta
- BABA center, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and HUH, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital (HUH), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Leena Haataja
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital (HUH), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children´s Hospital, and Epilepsia Helsinki, full member of ERN EpiCare, HUS Medical Imaging Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital (HUH), Helsinki, Finland
- BABA center, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and HUH, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anton Tokariev
- BABA center, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and HUH, Helsinki, Finland
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Yrjölä P, Vanhatalo S, Tokariev A. Neuronal Coupling Modes Show Differential Development in the Early Cortical Activity Networks of Human Newborns. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1012232024. [PMID: 38769006 PMCID: PMC11211727 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1012-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The third trimester is a critical period for the development of functional networks that support the lifelong neurocognitive performance, yet the emergence of neuronal coupling in these networks is poorly understood. Here, we used longitudinal high-density electroencephalographic recordings from preterm infants during the period from 33 to 45 weeks of conceptional age (CA) to characterize early spatiotemporal patterns in the development of local cortical function and the intrinsic coupling modes [ICMs; phase-phase (PPCs), amplitude-amplitude (AACs), and phase-amplitude correlations (PACs)]. Absolute local power showed a robust increase with CA across the full frequency spectrum, while local PACs showed sleep state-specific, biphasic development that peaked a few weeks before normal birth. AACs and distant PACs decreased globally at nearly all frequencies. In contrast, the PPCs showed frequency- and region-selective development, with an increase of coupling strength with CA between frontal, central, and occipital regions at low-delta and alpha frequencies together with a wider-spread decrease at other frequencies. Our findings together present the spectrally and spatially differential development of the distinct ICMs during the neonatal period and provide their developmental templates for future basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauliina Yrjölä
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, New Children's Hospital and HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki 00290, Finland
- Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, New Children's Hospital and HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki 00290, Finland
- Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Anton Tokariev
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, New Children's Hospital and HUS Diagnostic Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki 00290, Finland
- Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
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3
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Al‐Sa'd M, Vanhatalo S, Tokariev A. Multiplex dynamic networks in the newborn brain disclose latent links with neurobehavioral phenotypes. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26610. [PMID: 38339895 PMCID: PMC10839739 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The higher brain functions arise from coordinated neural activity between distinct brain regions, but the spatial, temporal, and spectral complexity of these functional connectivity networks (FCNs) has challenged the identification of correlates with neurobehavioral phenotypes. Characterizing behavioral correlates of early life FCNs is important to understand the activity dependent emergence of neurodevelopmental performance and for improving health outcomes. Here, we develop an analysis pipeline for identifying multiplex dynamic FCNs that combine spectral and spatiotemporal characteristics of the newborn cortical activity. This data-driven approach automatically uncovers latent networks that show robust neurobehavioral correlations and consistent effects by in utero drug exposure. Altogether, the proposed pipeline provides a robust end-to-end solution for an objective assessment and quantitation of neurobehaviorally meaningful network constellations in the highly dynamic cortical functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Al‐Sa'd
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, HUS imaging, HUS Diagnostic CenterUniversity of Helsinki and Helsinki University HospitalHelsinkiFinland
- Department of PhysiologyUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Faculty of Information Technology and Communication SciencesTampere UniversityTampereFinland
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, HUS imaging, HUS Diagnostic CenterUniversity of Helsinki and Helsinki University HospitalHelsinkiFinland
- Department of PhysiologyUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Anton Tokariev
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, HUS imaging, HUS Diagnostic CenterUniversity of Helsinki and Helsinki University HospitalHelsinkiFinland
- Department of PhysiologyUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
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4
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Nava E, Giraud M, Bolognini N. The emergence of the multisensory brain: From the womb to the first steps. iScience 2024; 27:108758. [PMID: 38230260 PMCID: PMC10790096 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108758] [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] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The becoming of the human being is a multisensory process that starts in the womb. By integrating spontaneous neuronal activity with inputs from the external world, the developing brain learns to make sense of itself through multiple sensory experiences. Over the past ten years, advances in neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques have allowed the exploration of the neural correlates of multisensory processing in the newborn and infant brain, thus adding an important piece of information to behavioral evidence of early sensitivity to multisensory events. Here, we review recent behavioral and neuroimaging findings to document the origins and early development of multisensory processing, particularly showing that the human brain appears naturally tuned to multisensory events at birth, which requires multisensory experience to fully mature. We conclude the review by highlighting the potential uses and benefits of multisensory interventions in promoting healthy development by discussing emerging studies in preterm infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Nava
- Department of Psychology & Milan Centre for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Michelle Giraud
- Department of Psychology & Milan Centre for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Nadia Bolognini
- Department of Psychology & Milan Centre for Neuroscience (NeuroMI), University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
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5
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Cameron S, Donnelly A, Broderick C, Arichi T, Bartsch U, Dazzan P, Elberling J, Godfrey E, Gringras P, Heathcote LC, Joseph D, Wood TC, Pariante C, Rubia K, Flohr C. Mind and skin: Exploring the links between inflammation, sleep disturbance and neurocognitive function in patients with atopic dermatitis. Allergy 2024; 79:26-36. [PMID: 37469218 DOI: 10.1111/all.15818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic and inflammatory, dry skin condition with many known comorbidities. These include airway disease, food allergies, atopic eye disease and autoimmune conditions. Furthermore, there is often significant sleep disturbance as well as increased psychological distress and mental health problems. Severe AD therefore often has a significant impact on the quality of life of both patients and their families. In this review we discuss recent findings on the putative links between AD, its association with itch, sleep disturbance and neuropsychiatric morbidity, including the role of inflammation in these conditions. Itch was thought to predominantly drive sleep disruption in AD. We now understand changes in sleep influence immune cell distribution and the associated inflammatory cytokines, which suggests a bidirectional relationship between AD and sleep. We also increasingly recognize inflammation as a key driver in psychological symptoms and disorders. The link between cutaneous, systemic and possible brain inflammation could at least in part be driven by the sleep deprivation and itch-driven neuronal proliferation seen in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shona Cameron
- St John's Institute of Dermatology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ali Donnelly
- St John's Institute of Dermatology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Conor Broderick
- St John's Institute of Dermatology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Tomoki Arichi
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ullrich Bartsch
- Surrey Sleep Research Centre, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Care Research & Technology Centre, Imperial College London and University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Paola Dazzan
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jesper Elberling
- Depart of Dermatology and Allergy, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emma Godfrey
- Health Psychology Section, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Paul Gringras
- Paediatric Sleep Department, Evelina Children's Hospital, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Lauren C Heathcote
- Health Psychology Section, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Desaline Joseph
- Paediatric Sleep Department, Evelina Children's Hospital, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Tobias C Wood
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Carmine Pariante
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Care Research & Technology Centre, Imperial College London and University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Katya Rubia
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Care Research & Technology Centre, Imperial College London and University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Carsten Flohr
- St John's Institute of Dermatology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Khazaei M, Raeisi K, Vanhatalo S, Zappasodi F, Comani S, Tokariev A. Neonatal cortical activity organizes into transient network states that are affected by vigilance states and brain injury. Neuroimage 2023; 279:120342. [PMID: 37619792 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120342] [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: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Early neurodevelopment is critically dependent on the structure and dynamics of spontaneous neuronal activity; however, the natural organization of newborn cortical networks is poorly understood. Recent adult studies suggest that spontaneous cortical activity exhibits discrete network states with physiological correlates. Here, we studied newborn cortical activity during sleep using hidden Markov modeling to determine the presence of such discrete neonatal cortical states (NCS) in 107 newborn infants, with 47 of them presenting with a perinatal brain injury. Our results show that neonatal cortical activity organizes into four discrete NCSs that are present in both cardinal sleep states of a newborn infant, active and quiet sleep, respectively. These NCSs exhibit state-specific spectral and functional network characteristics. The sleep states exhibit different NCS dynamics, with quiet sleep presenting higher fronto-temporal activity and a stronger brain-wide neuronal coupling. Brain injury was associated with prolonged lifetimes of the transient NCSs, suggesting lowered dynamics, or flexibility, in the cortical networks. Taken together, the findings suggest that spontaneously occurring transient network states are already present at birth, with significant physiological and pathological correlates; this NCS analysis framework can be fully automatized, and it holds promise for offering an objective, global level measure of early brain function for benchmarking neurodevelopmental or clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Khazaei
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, ITAB building, 3rd floor, room 314, Chieti, Via dei Vestini, Italy.
| | - Khadijeh Raeisi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, ITAB building, 3rd floor, room 314, Chieti, Via dei Vestini, Italy
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- BABA center, Pediatric Research Center, Departments of Clinical Neurophysiology and Physiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Filippo Zappasodi
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, ITAB building, 3rd floor, room 314, Chieti, Via dei Vestini, Italy; Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Silvia Comani
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, ITAB building, 3rd floor, room 314, Chieti, Via dei Vestini, Italy; Behavioral Imaging and Neural Dynamics Center, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Anton Tokariev
- BABA center, Pediatric Research Center, Departments of Clinical Neurophysiology and Physiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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7
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Witteveen IF, McCoy E, Holsworth TD, Shen CZ, Chang W, Nance MG, Belkowitz AR, Dougald A, Puglia MH, Ribic A. Preterm birth accelerates the maturation of spontaneous and resting activity in the visual cortex. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1149159. [PMID: 37255843 PMCID: PMC10225509 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1149159] [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: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Prematurity is among the leading risks for poor neurocognitive outcomes. The brains of preterm infants show alterations in structure and electrical activity, but the underlying circuit mechanisms are unclear. To address this, we performed a cross-species study of the electrophysiological activity in the visual cortices of prematurely born infants and mice. Using electroencephalography (EEG) in a sample of healthy preterm (N = 29) and term (N = 28) infants, we found that the maturation of the aperiodic EEG component was accelerated in the preterm cohort, with a significantly flatter 1/f slope when compared to the term infants. The flatter slope was a result of decreased spectral power in the theta and alpha bands and was correlated with the degree of prematurity. To determine the circuit and cellular changes that potentially mediate the changes in 1/f slope after preterm birth, we used in vivo electrophysiology in preterm mice and found that, similar to infants, preterm birth results in a flattened 1/f slope. We analyzed neuronal activity in the visual cortex of preterm (N = 6) and term (N = 9) mice and found suppressed spontaneous firing of neurons. Using immunohistochemistry, we further found an accelerated maturation of inhibitory circuits. In both preterm mice and infants, the functional maturation of the cortex was accelerated, underscoring birth as a critical checkpoint in cortical maturation. Our study points to a potential mechanism of preterm birth-related changes in resting neural activity, highlighting the utility of a cross-species approach in studying the neural circuit mechanisms of preterm birth-related neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle F. Witteveen
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Emily McCoy
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Troy D. Holsworth
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Catherine Z. Shen
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Winnie Chang
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Madelyn G. Nance
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Allison R. Belkowitz
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Avery Dougald
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Meghan H. Puglia
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Adema Ribic
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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8
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Witteveen IF, McCoy E, Holsworth TD, Shen CZ, Chang W, Nance MG, Belkowitz AR, Dougald A, Puglia MH, Ribic A. Preterm birth accelerates the maturation of spontaneous and resting activity in the visual cortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.20.524993. [PMID: 36711801 PMCID: PMC9882279 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.20.524993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Prematurity is among the leading risks for poor neurocognitive outcomes. The brains of preterm infants show alterations in structure and electrical activity, but the underlying circuit mechanisms are unclear. To address this, we performed a cross-species study of the electrophysiological activity in the visual cortices of prematurely born infants and mice. Using electroencephalography (EEG) in a sample of healthy preterm (N=29) and term (N=28) infants, we found that the maturation of the aperiodic EEG component was accelerated in the preterm cohort, with a significantly flatter 1/f slope when compared to the term infants. The flatter slope was a result of decreased spectral power in the theta and alpha bands and was correlated with the degree of prematurity. To determine the circuit and cellular changes that potentially mediate the changes in 1/f slope after preterm birth, we used in vivo electrophysiology in preterm mice and found that, similar to infants, preterm birth results in a flattened 1/f slope. We analyzed neuronal activity in the visual cortex of preterm mice (N=6 preterm and 9 term mice) and found suppressed spontaneous firing of neurons. Using immunohistochemistry, we further found an accelerated maturation of inhibitory circuits. In both preterm mice and infants, the functional maturation of the cortex was accelerated, underscoring birth as a critical checkpoint in cortical maturation. Our study points to a potential mechanism of preterm birth-related changes in resting neural activity, highlighting the utility of a cross-species approach in studying the neural circuit mechanisms of preterm birth-related neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle F. Witteveen
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
| | - Emily McCoy
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Troy D. Holsworth
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
| | - Catherine Z. Shen
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
| | - Winnie Chang
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Madelyn G. Nance
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Allison R. Belkowitz
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Avery Dougald
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Meghan H. Puglia
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Adema Ribic
- Department of Psychology, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
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McClelland VM, Lin JP. Dystonia in Childhood: How Insights from Paediatric Research Enrich the Network Theory of Dystonia. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 31:1-22. [PMID: 37338693 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-26220-3_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Dystonia is now widely accepted as a network disorder, with multiple brain regions and their interconnections playing a potential role in the pathophysiology. This model reconciles what could previously have been viewed as conflicting findings regarding the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological characteristics of the disorder, but there are still significant gaps in scientific understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. One of the greatest unmet challenges is to understand the network model of dystonia in the context of the developing brain. This article outlines how research in childhood dystonia supports and contributes to the network theory and highlights aspects where data from paediatric studies has revealed novel and unique physiological insights, with important implications for understanding dystonia across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verity M McClelland
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Children's Neurosciences Department, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | - Jean-Pierre Lin
- Children's Neurosciences Department, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Women and Children's Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine (FolSM), King's College London, London, UK
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10
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Robinson S, Winer JL, Kitase Y, Brigman JL, Jantzie LL. Neonatal administration of erythropoietin attenuates cognitive deficits in adult rats following placental insufficiency. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:2112-2126. [PMID: 33611820 PMCID: PMC10097461 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth is a principal cause of neurological disability later in life, including cognitive and behavioral deficits. Notably, cognitive impairment has greater impact on quality of life than physical disability. Survivors of preterm birth commonly have deficits of executive function. Difficulties with tasks and planning complexity correlate positively with increasing disability. To overcome these barriers for children born preterm, preclinical and clinical studies have emphasized the importance of neurorestoration. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a endogenous cytokine with multiple beneficial mechanisms of action following perinatal brain injury. While most preclinical investigations have focused on pathology and molecular mechanisms, translational studies of repair using clinically viable biobehavioral biomarkers are still lacking. Here, using an established model of encephalopathy of prematurity secondary to placental insufficiency, we tested the hypothesis that administration of EPO in the neonatal period would attenuate deficits in recognition memory and cognitive flexibility in adult rats of both sexes. We assessed cognition and executive function in two ways. First, using the classic test of novel object recognition and second, using a touchscreen platform. Touchscreen testing allows for rigorous testing of cognition and executive function in preclinical and clinical scenarios. Data show that adult rats exhibit deficits in recognition memory and cognitive flexibility following in utero placental insufficiency. Notably, neonatal treatment of EPO attenuates these deficits in adulthood and facilitates functional repair. Together, these data validate EPO neurorestoration using a clinically relevant outcome measure and support the concept that postnatal treatment following in utero injury can improve cognition and executive function through adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenandoah Robinson
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jesse L Winer
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Yuma Kitase
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan L Brigman
- Department of Neuroscience, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Lauren L Jantzie
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Ahtola E, Leikos S, Tuiskula A, Haataja L, Smeds E, Piitulainen H, Jousmäki V, Tokariev A, Vanhatalo S. Cortical networks show characteristic recruitment patterns after somatosensory stimulation by pneumatically evoked repetitive hand movements in newborn infants. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:4699-4713. [PMID: 36368888 PMCID: PMC10110426 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Controlled assessment of functional cortical networks is an unmet need in the clinical research of noncooperative subjects, such as infants. We developed an automated, pneumatic stimulation method to actuate naturalistic movements of an infant’s hand, as well as an analysis pipeline for assessing the elicited electroencephalography (EEG) responses and related cortical networks. Twenty newborn infants with perinatal asphyxia were recruited, including 7 with mild-to-moderate hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Statistically significant corticokinematic coherence (CKC) was observed between repetitive hand movements and EEG in all infants, peaking near the contralateral sensorimotor cortex. CKC was robust to common sources of recording artifacts and to changes in vigilance state. A wide recruitment of cortical networks was observed with directed phase transfer entropy, also including areas ipsilateral to the stimulation. The extent of such recruited cortical networks was quantified using a novel metric, Spreading Index, which showed a decrease in 4 (57%) of the infants with HIE. CKC measurement is noninvasive and easy to perform, even in noncooperative subjects. The stimulation and analysis pipeline can be fully automated, including the statistical evaluation of the cortical responses. Therefore, the CKC paradigm holds great promise as a scientific and clinical tool for controlled assessment of functional cortical networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eero Ahtola
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital and HUS Diagnostics, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
- Aalto University School of Science Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, , Espoo, 00076 AALTO , Finland
| | - Susanna Leikos
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital and HUS Diagnostics, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
| | - Anna Tuiskula
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital and HUS Diagnostics, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children’s Hospital, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
| | - Leena Haataja
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children’s Hospital, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
| | - Eero Smeds
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Research Center, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
| | - Harri Piitulainen
- Aalto University School of Science Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, , Espoo, 00076 AALTO , Finland
- University of Jyväskylä Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, , Jyväskylä, 40014 , Finland
| | - Veikko Jousmäki
- Aalto University Aalto NeuroImaging, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, , Espoo, 00076 AALTO , Finland
| | - Anton Tokariev
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital and HUS Diagnostics, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital and HUS Diagnostics, , Helsinki, 00029 HUS , Finland
- University of Helsinki Department of Physiology, , Helsinki, 00014 , Finland
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12
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Yrjölä P, Myers MM, Welch MG, Stevenson NJ, Tokariev A, Vanhatalo S. Facilitating early parent-infant emotional connection improves cortical networks in preterm infants. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabq4786. [PMID: 36170448 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq4786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental adversities during early brain development, such as preterm birth, can affect early brain organization. Here, we studied whether development of cortical activity networks in preterm infants may be improved by a multimodal environmental enrichment via bedside facilitation of mother-infant emotional connection. We examined functional cortico-cortical connectivity at term age using high-density electroencephalography recordings in infants participating in a randomized controlled trial of Family Nurture Intervention (FNI). Our results identify several large-scale, frequency-specific network effects of FNI, most extensively in the alpha frequency in fronto-central cortical regions. The connectivity strength in this network was correlated to later neurocognitive performance, and it was comparable to healthy term-born infants rather than the infants receiving standard care. These findings suggest that preterm neurodevelopmental care can be improved by a biologically driven environmental enrichment, such as early facilitation of direct human connection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauliina Yrjölä
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital and HUS Imaging, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael M Myers
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Martha G Welch
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Nathan J Stevenson
- Brain Modelling Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Anton Tokariev
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital and HUS Imaging, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- BABA Center, Pediatric Research Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital and HUS Imaging, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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13
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Chini M, Pfeffer T, Hanganu-Opatz I. An increase of inhibition drives the developmental decorrelation of neural activity. eLife 2022; 11:78811. [PMID: 35975980 PMCID: PMC9448324 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout development, the brain transits from early highly synchronous activity patterns to a mature state with sparse and decorrelated neural activity, yet the mechanisms underlying this process are poorly understood. The developmental transition has important functional consequences, as the latter state is thought to allow for more efficient storage, retrieval, and processing of information. Here, we show that, in the mouse medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), neural activity during the first two postnatal weeks decorrelates following specific spatial patterns. This process is accompanied by a concomitant tilting of excitation-inhibition (E-I) ratio toward inhibition. Using optogenetic manipulations and neural network modeling, we show that the two phenomena are mechanistically linked, and that a relative increase of inhibition drives the decorrelation of neural activity. Accordingly, in mice mimicking the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, subtle alterations in E-I ratio are associated with specific impairments in the correlational structure of spike trains. Finally, capitalizing on EEG data from newborn babies, we show that an analogous developmental transition takes place also in the human brain. Thus, changes in E-I ratio control the (de)correlation of neural activity and, by these means, its developmental imbalance might contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Chini
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Pfeffer
- Center for Brain and Cognition, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ileana Hanganu-Opatz
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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14
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Xie W, Toll RT, Nelson CA. EEG functional connectivity analysis in the source space. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 56:101119. [PMID: 35716637 PMCID: PMC9204388 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing interest in using electroencephalography (EEG) and source modeling to investigate functional interactions among cortical processes, particularly when dealing with pediatric populations. This paper introduces two pipelines that have been recently used to conduct EEG FC analysis in the cortical source space. The analytic streams of these pipelines can be summarized into the following steps: 1) cortical source reconstruction of high-density EEG data using realistic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) models created with age-appropriate MRI templates; 2) segmentation of reconstructed source activities into brain regions of interest; and 3) estimation of FC in age-related frequency bands using robust EEG FC measures, such as weighted phase lag index and orthogonalized power envelope correlation. In this paper we demonstrate the two pipelines with resting-state EEG data collected from children at 12 and 36 months of age. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of the methods/techniques integrated into the pipelines. Given there is a need in the research community for open-access analytic toolkits that can be used for pediatric EEG data, programs and codes used for the current analysis are made available to the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanze Xie
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, China; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, China.
| | - Russell T Toll
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre at Dallas, USA
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, USA
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15
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Hervé E, Mento G, Desnous B, François C. Challenges and new perspectives of developmental cognitive EEG studies. Neuroimage 2022; 260:119508. [PMID: 35882267 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite shared procedures with adults, electroencephalography (EEG) in early development presents many specificities that need to be considered for good quality data collection. In this paper, we provide an overview of the most representative early cognitive developmental EEG studies focusing on the specificities of this neuroimaging technique in young participants, such as attrition and artifacts. We also summarize the most representative results in developmental EEG research obtained in the time and time-frequency domains and use more advanced signal processing methods. Finally, we briefly introduce three recent standardized pipelines that will help promote replicability and comparability across experiments and ages. While this paper does not claim to be exhaustive, it aims to give a sufficiently large overview of the challenges and solutions available to conduct robust cognitive developmental EEG studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Hervé
- CNRS, LPL, Aix-Marseille University, 5 Avenue Pasteur, Aix-en-Provence 13100, France
| | - Giovanni Mento
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy; Padua Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Béatrice Desnous
- APHM, Reference Center for Rare Epilepsies, Timone Children Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille 13005, France; Inserm, INS, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Clément François
- CNRS, LPL, Aix-Marseille University, 5 Avenue Pasteur, Aix-en-Provence 13100, France.
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16
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Luhmann HJ, Kanold PO, Molnár Z, Vanhatalo S. Early brain activity: Translations between bedside and laboratory. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 213:102268. [PMID: 35364141 PMCID: PMC9923767 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Neural activity is both a driver of brain development and a readout of developmental processes. Changes in neuronal activity are therefore both the cause and consequence of neurodevelopmental compromises. Here, we review the assessment of neuronal activities in both preclinical models and clinical situations. We focus on issues that require urgent translational research, the challenges and bottlenecks preventing translation of biomedical research into new clinical diagnostics or treatments, and possibilities to overcome these barriers. The key questions are (i) what can be measured in clinical settings versus animal experiments, (ii) how do measurements relate to particular stages of development, and (iii) how can we balance practical and ethical realities with methodological compromises in measurements and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko J. Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, Mainz, Germany.,Correspondence:, , ,
| | - Patrick O. Kanold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue / Miller 379, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Correspondence:, , ,
| | - Zoltán Molnár
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- BABA Center, Departments of Physiology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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17
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Tokariev A, Oberlander VC, Videman M, Vanhatalo S. Cortical Cross-Frequency Coupling Is Affected by in utero Exposure to Antidepressant Medication. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:803708. [PMID: 35310093 PMCID: PMC8927083 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.803708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to five percent of human infants are exposed to maternal antidepressant medication by serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI) during pregnancy, yet the SRI effects on infants’ early neurodevelopment are not fully understood. Here, we studied how maternal SRI medication affects cortical frequency-specific and cross-frequency interactions estimated, respectively, by phase-phase correlations (PPC) and phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) in electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings. We examined the cortical activity in infants after fetal exposure to SRIs relative to a control group of infants without medical history of any kind. Our findings show that the sleep-related dynamics of PPC networks are selectively affected by in utero SRI exposure, however, those alterations do not correlate to later neurocognitive development as tested by neuropsychological evaluation at two years of age. In turn, phase-amplitude coupling was found to be suppressed in SRI infants across multiple distributed cortical regions and these effects were linked to their neurocognitive outcomes. Our results are compatible with the overall notion that in utero drug exposures may cause subtle, yet measurable changes in the brain structure and function. Our present findings are based on the measures of local and inter-areal neuronal interactions in the cortex which can be readily used across species, as well as between different scales of inspection: from the whole animals to in vitro preparations. Therefore, this work opens a framework to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental SRI effects at all translational levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Tokariev
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, New Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- *Correspondence: Anton Tokariev,
| | - Victoria C. Oberlander
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, New Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Computer Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Mari Videman
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, New Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, New Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, New Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Sampsa Vanhatalo,
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18
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Ros T, Michela A, Mayer A, Bellmann A, Vuadens P, Zermatten V, Saj A, Vuilleumier P. Disruption of large-scale electrophysiological networks in stroke patients with visuospatial neglect. Netw Neurosci 2022; 6:69-89. [PMID: 35356193 PMCID: PMC8959119 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke frequently produces attentional dysfunctions including symptoms of hemispatial neglect, which is characterized by a breakdown of awareness for the contralesional hemispace. Recent studies with functional MRI (fMRI) suggest that hemineglect patients display abnormal intra- and interhemispheric functional connectivity. However, since stroke is a vascular disorder and fMRI signals remain sensitive to nonneuronal (i.e., vascular) coupling, more direct demonstrations of neural network dysfunction in hemispatial neglect are warranted. Here, we utilize electroencephalogram (EEG) source imaging to uncover differences in resting-state network organization between patients with right hemispheric stroke (N = 15) and age-matched, healthy controls (N = 27), and determine the relationship between hemineglect symptoms and brain network organization. We estimated intra- and interregional differences in cortical communication by calculating the spectral power and amplitude envelope correlations of narrow-band EEG oscillations. We first observed focal frequency-slowing within the right posterior cortical regions, reflected in relative delta/theta power increases and alpha/beta/gamma decreases. Secondly, nodes within the right temporal and parietal cortex consistently displayed anomalous intra- and interhemispheric coupling, stronger in delta and gamma bands, and weaker in theta, alpha, and beta bands. Finally, a significant association was observed between the severity of left-hemispace search deficits (e.g., cancellation test omissions) and reduced functional connectivity within the alpha and beta bands. In sum, our novel results validate the hypothesis of large-scale cortical network disruption following stroke and reinforce the proposal that abnormal brain oscillations may be intimately involved in the pathophysiology of visuospatial neglect. Stroke patients often exhibit a disabling deficit of visual awareness in the hemifield opposite to their brain lesion, known as hemineglect. Recent studies with functional MRI (fMRI) suggest that hemineglect patients display abnormal functional coupling (i.e., connectivity) within and between brain hemispheres. However, since stroke is a vascular disorder and fMRI measures nonneuronal (i.e., vascular) coupling, we here provide direct evidence of neural network dysfunction in hemineglect by using electroencephalogram (EEG) source imaging, which measures the electrical fluctuations of large neuronal populations. Overall, we observed a breakdown of interhemispheric network connectivity within alpha/beta rhythms, which specifically correlated with the degree of patients’ hemispatial errors. The high temporal resolution and frequency content of EEG signals could lead to more sensitive markers and targeted rehabilitation approaches of hemineglect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Ros
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- CIBM Center for Biomedical Imaging, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Abele Michela
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anaïs Mayer
- Romand Clinic of Readaptation, SUVA, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Anne Bellmann
- Romand Clinic of Readaptation, SUVA, Sion, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Arnaud Saj
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
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19
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Abstract
During evolution, the cerebral cortex advances by increasing in surface and the introduction of new cytoarchitectonic areas among which the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is considered to be the substrate of highest cognitive functions. Although neurons of the PFC are generated before birth, the differentiation of its neurons and development of synaptic connections in humans extend to the 3rd decade of life. During this period, synapses as well as neurotransmitter systems including their receptors and transporters, are initially overproduced followed by selective elimination. Advanced methods applied to human and animal models, enable investigation of the cellular mechanisms and role of specific genes, non-coding regulatory elements and signaling molecules in control of prefrontal neuronal production and phenotypic fate, as well as neuronal migration to establish layering of the PFC. Likewise, various genetic approaches in combination with functional assays and immunohistochemical and imaging methods reveal roles of neurotransmitter systems during maturation of the PFC. Disruption, or even a slight slowing of the rate of neuronal production, migration and synaptogenesis by genetic or environmental factors, can induce gross as well as subtle changes that eventually can lead to cognitive impairment. An understanding of the development and evolution of the PFC provide insight into the pathogenesis and treatment of congenital neuropsychiatric diseases as well as idiopathic developmental disorders that cause intellectual disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon M Kolk
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Pasko Rakic
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
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20
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Electrophysiological and behavioral correlates of cannabis use disorder. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 22:1421-1431. [PMID: 35698004 PMCID: PMC9622528 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01016-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Current research indicates deficits in cognitive function together with widespread changes in brain activity following long-term cannabis use. In particular, cannabis use has been associated with excessive spectral power of the alpha rhythm (8-12 Hz), which is also known to be modulated during attentional states. Recent neuroimaging studies have linked heavy cannabis use with structural and metabolic changes in the brain; however, the functional consequences of these changes are still not fully characterized. This study investigated the electrophysiological and behavioral correlates of cannabis dependence by comparing patients with a cannabis use disorder (CUD; N = 24) with cannabis nonuser controls (N = 24), using resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) source-imaging. In addition to evaluating mean differences between groups, we also explored whether particular EEG patterns were associated with individual cognitive-behavioral measures. First, we replicated historical findings of elevated levels of (relative) alpha rhythm in CUD patients compared with controls and located these abnormalities to mainly prefrontal cortical regions. Importantly, we observed a significant negative correlation between alpha spectral power in several cortical regions and individual attentional performance in the Go/NoGo task. Because such relationship was absent in the nonuser control group, our results suggest that reduced prefrontal cortical activation (indexed by increased relative alpha power) could be partly responsible for the reported cognitive impairments in CUD. Our findings support the use of electroencephalography as a noninvasive and cost-effective tool for biomarker discovery in substance abuse and have the potential of directly informing future intervention strategies.
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21
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Yrjölä P, Stjerna S, Palva JM, Vanhatalo S, Tokariev A. Phase-Based Cortical Synchrony Is Affected by Prematurity. Cereb Cortex 2021; 32:2265-2276. [PMID: 34668522 PMCID: PMC9113310 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Inter-areal synchronization by phase–phase correlations (PPCs) of cortical oscillations mediates many higher neurocognitive functions, which are often affected by prematurity, a globally prominent neurodevelopmental risk factor. Here, we used electroencephalography to examine brain-wide cortical PPC networks at term-equivalent age, comparing human infants after early prematurity to a cohort of healthy controls. We found that prematurity affected these networks in a sleep state-specific manner, and the differences between groups were also frequency-selective, involving brain-wide connections. The strength of synchronization in these networks was predictive of clinical outcomes in the preterm infants. These findings show that prematurity affects PPC networks in a clinically significant manner, suggesting early functional biomarkers of later neurodevelopmental compromise that may be used in clinical or translational studies after early neonatal adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauliina Yrjölä
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00029 HUS, Finland.,Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Helsinki, 00076 AALTO, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susanna Stjerna
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00029 HUS, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.,Division of Neuropsychology, HUS Neurocenter, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, PL 340, 00029 HUS, Finland
| | - J Matias Palva
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Helsinki, 00076 AALTO, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.,Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QB, UK
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00029 HUS, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anton Tokariev
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, BABA Center, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00029 HUS, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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22
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Tokariev A, Breakspear M, Videman M, Stjerna S, Scholtens LH, van den Heuvel MP, Cocchi L, Vanhatalo S. Impact of In Utero Exposure to Antiepileptic Drugs on Neonatal Brain Function. Cereb Cortex 2021; 32:2385-2397. [PMID: 34585721 PMCID: PMC9157298 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In utero brain development underpins brain health across the lifespan but is vulnerable to physiological and pharmacological perturbation. Here, we show that antiepileptic medication during pregnancy impacts on cortical activity during neonatal sleep, a potent indicator of newborn brain health. These effects are evident in frequency-specific functional brain networks and carry prognostic information for later neurodevelopment. Notably, such effects differ between different antiepileptic drugs that suggest neurodevelopmental adversity from exposure to antiepileptic drugs and not maternal epilepsy per se. This work provides translatable bedside metrics of brain health that are sensitive to the effects of antiepileptic drugs on postnatal neurodevelopment and carry direct prognostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Tokariev
- Baby Brain Activity Center (BABA), Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, New Children's Hospital, HUS Imaging, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael Breakspear
- School of Psychology, College of Engineering, Science and the Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mari Videman
- Baby Brain Activity Center (BABA), Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, New Children's Hospital, HUS Imaging, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Pediatric Neurology, New Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susanna Stjerna
- Baby Brain Activity Center (BABA), Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, New Children's Hospital, HUS Imaging, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lianne H Scholtens
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martijn P van den Heuvel
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Child Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Luca Cocchi
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- Baby Brain Activity Center (BABA), Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, New Children's Hospital, HUS Imaging, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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23
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Zhang Y, Lu S, Wu Y, Hu W, Yuan Z. Prediction of Preterm Using Time Series Technology Based Machine Learning: Retrospective Cohort Study (Preprint). JMIR Med Inform 2021; 10:e33835. [PMID: 35700004 PMCID: PMC9237764 DOI: 10.2196/33835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Objective Methods Results Conclusions
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sha Lu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hangzhou Women's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hangzhou Women's Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yina Wu
- Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wensheng Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hangzhou Women's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hangzhou Women's Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
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Characterization of the Functional Dynamics in the Neonatal Brain during REM and NREM Sleep States by means of Microstate Analysis. Brain Topogr 2021; 34:555-567. [PMID: 34258668 PMCID: PMC8384814 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-021-00861-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Neonates spend most of their life sleeping. During sleep, their brain experiences fast changes in its functional organization. Microstate analysis permits to capture the rapid dynamical changes occurring in the functional organization of the brain by representing the changing spatio-temporal features of the electroencephalogram (EEG) as a sequence of short-lasting scalp topographies—the microstates. In this study, we modeled the ongoing neonatal EEG into sequences of a limited number of microstates and investigated whether the extracted microstate features are altered in REM and NREM sleep (usually known as active and quiet sleep states—AS and QS—in the newborn) and depend on the EEG frequency band. 19-channel EEG recordings from 60 full-term healthy infants were analyzed using a modified version of the k-means clustering algorithm. The results show that ~ 70% of the variance in the datasets can be described using 7 dominant microstate templates. The mean duration and mean occurrence of the dominant microstates were significantly different in the two sleep states. Microstate syntax analysis demonstrated that the microstate sequences characterizing AS and QS had specific non-casual structures that differed in the two sleep states. Microstate analysis of the neonatal EEG in specific frequency bands showed a clear dependence of the explained variance on frequency. Overall, our findings demonstrate that (1) the spatio-temporal dynamics of the neonatal EEG can be described by non-casual sequences of a limited number of microstate templates; (2) the brain dynamics described by these microstate templates depends on frequency; (3) the features of the microstate sequences can well differentiate the physiological conditions characterizing AS and QS.
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25
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Advances in functional and diffusion neuroimaging research into the long-term consequences of very preterm birth. J Perinatol 2021; 41:689-706. [PMID: 33099576 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-020-00865-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Very preterm birth (<32 weeks of gestation) has been associated with lifelong difficulties in a variety of neurocognitive functions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with advanced analytical approaches have been employed in order to increase our understanding of the neurodevelopmental problems that many very preterm born individuals face as they grow up. In this review, we will focus on two novel imaging techniques that have explored relationships between specific brain mechanisms and behavioural outcomes. These are functional MRI, which maps regional, time-varying changes in brain metabolism and diffusion-weighted MRI, which measures the displacement of water molecules in tissue and provides quantitative information about tissue microstructure. Identifying the neurobiological underpinning of the long-term sequelae associated with very preterm birth could inform the development and implementation of preventative interventions (before any cognitive problem emerges) and could facilitate the identification of behavioural targets for improving the life course outcomes of very preterm individuals.
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26
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Safar K, Zhang J, Emami Z, Gharehgazlou A, Ibrahim G, Dunkley BT. Mild traumatic brain injury is associated with dysregulated neural network functioning in children and adolescents. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab044. [PMID: 34095832 PMCID: PMC8176148 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury is highly prevalent in paediatric populations, and can result in chronic physical, cognitive and emotional impairment, known as persistent post-concussive symptoms. Magnetoencephalography has been used to investigate neurophysiological dysregulation in mild traumatic brain injury in adults; however, whether neural dysrhythmia persists in chronic mild traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents is largely unknown. We predicted that children and adolescents would show similar dysfunction as adults, including pathological slow-wave oscillations and maladaptive, frequency-specific, alterations to neural connectivity. Using magnetoencephalography, we investigated regional oscillatory power and distributed brain-wide networks in a cross-sectional sample of children and adolescents in the chronic stages of mild traumatic brain injury. Additionally, we used a machine learning pipeline to identify the most relevant magnetoencephalography features for classifying mild traumatic brain injury and to test the relative classification performance of regional power versus functional coupling. Results revealed that the majority of participants with chronic mild traumatic brain injury reported persistent post-concussive symptoms. For neurophysiological imaging, we found increased regional power in the delta band in chronic mild traumatic brain injury, predominantly in bilateral occipital cortices and in the right inferior temporal gyrus. Those with chronic mild traumatic brain injury also showed dysregulated neuronal coupling, including decreased connectivity in the delta range, as well as hyper-connectivity in the theta, low gamma and high gamma bands, primarily involving frontal, temporal and occipital brain areas. Furthermore, our multivariate classification approach combined with functional connectivity data outperformed regional power in terms of between-group classification accuracy. For the first time, we establish that local and large-scale neural activity are altered in youth in the chronic phase of mild traumatic brain injury, with the majority presenting persistent post-concussive symptoms, and that dysregulated interregional neural communication is a reliable marker of lingering paediatric ‘mild’ traumatic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Safar
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4.,Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4.,Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4
| | - Zahra Emami
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4.,Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4
| | - Avideh Gharehgazlou
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4.,Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4.,Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 1A8
| | - George Ibrahim
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4.,Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 1P5.,Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9 Canada
| | - Benjamin T Dunkley
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4.,Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 0A4.,Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 1W7
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27
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Frassineti L, Parente A, Manfredi C. Multiparametric EEG analysis of brain network dynamics during neonatal seizures. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 348:109003. [PMID: 33249182 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.109003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the most challenging issues in paediatric neurology is the diagnosis of neonatal seizures, whose delayed treatment may affect the neurodevelopment of the newborn. Formulation of the correct diagnosis is conditioned by the high number of perceptually or automatically detected false positives. NEW METHOD New methodologies are proposed to assess neonatal seizures trend over time. Our approach is based on the analysis of standardized trends of two properties of the brain network: the Synchronizabilty (S) and the degree of phase synchronicity given by the Circular Omega Complexity (COC). Qualitative and quantitative methods based on network dynamics allow differentiating seizure events from interictal periods and seizure-free patients. RESULTS The methods were tested on a public dataset of labelled neonatal seizures. COC shows significant differences among seizure and non-seizure events (p-value <0.001, Cohen's d 0.86). Combining S and COC in standardized temporal instants provided a reliable description of the physiological behaviour of the brain's network during neonatal seizures. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) Few of the existing network methods propose an operative way for carrying their analytical approach into the diagnostic process of neonatal seizures. Our methods offer a simple representation of brain network dynamics easily implementable and understandable also by less experienced staff. CONCLUSIONS Our findings confirm the usefulness of the evaluation of brain network dynamics over time for a better understanding and interpretation of the complex mechanisms behind neonatal seizures. The proposed methods could also reliably support existing seizure detectors as a post-processing step in doubtful cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Frassineti
- Department of Information Engineering, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Universita' degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy.
| | - Angela Parente
- School of Engineering, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Claudia Manfredi
- Department of Information Engineering, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
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28
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Chini M, Hanganu-Opatz IL. Prefrontal Cortex Development in Health and Disease: Lessons from Rodents and Humans. Trends Neurosci 2020; 44:227-240. [PMID: 33246578 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) takes center stage among unanswered questions in modern neuroscience. The PFC has a Janus-faced nature: it enables sophisticated cognitive and social abilities that reach their maximum expression in humans, yet it underlies some of the devastating symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Accordingly, appropriate prefrontal development is crucial for many high-order cognitive abilities and dysregulation of this process has been linked to various neuropsychiatric diseases. Reviewing recent advances in the field, with a primary focus on rodents and humans, we highlight why, despite differences across species, a cross-species approach is a fruitful strategy for understanding prefrontal development. We briefly review the developmental contribution of molecules and extensively discuss how electrical activity controls the early maturation and wiring of prefrontal areas, as well as the emergence and refinement of input-output circuitry involved in cognitive processing. Finally, we highlight the mechanisms of developmental dysfunction and their relevance for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Chini
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Ileana L Hanganu-Opatz
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
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29
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White matter injury and neurodevelopmental disabilities: A cross-disease (dis)connection. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 193:101845. [PMID: 32505757 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
White matter (WM) injury, once known primarily in preterm newborns, is emerging in its non-focal (diffused), non-necrotic form as a critical component of subtle brain injuries in many early-life diseases like prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction, congenital heart defects, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. While advances in medical techniques have reduced the number of severe outcomes, the incidence of tardive impairments in complex cognitive functions or psychopathology remains high, with lifelong detrimental effects. The importance of WM in coordinating neuronal assemblies firing and neural groups synchronizing within multiple frequency bands through myelination, even mild alterations in WM structure, may interfere with the cognitive performance that increasing social and learning demands would exploit tardively during children growth. This phenomenon may contribute to explaining longitudinally the high incidence of late-appearing impairments that affect children with a history of perinatal insults. Furthermore, WM abnormalities have been highlighted in several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia. In this review, we gather and organize evidence on how diffused WM injuries contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders through different perinatal diseases and insults. An insight into a possible common, cross-disease, mechanism, neuroimaging and monitoring, biomarkers, and neuroprotective strategies will also be presented.
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30
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Ahtola E, Stjerna S, Tokariev A, Vanhatalo S. Use of complex visual stimuli allows controlled recruitment of cortical networks in infants. Clin Neurophysiol 2020; 131:2032-2040. [PMID: 32461100 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2020.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize cortical networks activated by patterned visual stimuli in infants, and to evaluate their potential for assessment of visual processing and their associations with neurocognitive development. METHODS Three visual stimuli, orientation reversal (OR), global form (GF), and global motion (GM), were presented to cohort of five-month-old infants (N = 26). Eye tracker was used to guide the stimulation and to choose epochs for analysis. Visual responses were recorded with electroencephalography and analysed in source space using weighted phase lag index as the connectivity measure. The networks were quantified using several metrics that were compared between stimuli and correlated to cognitive outcomes. RESULTS Responses to OR/GF/GM stimuli were observed in nearly all (96/100/100%) recordings. All stimuli recruited cortical networks that were partly condition-specific in their characteristics. The more complex GF and GM conditions recruited wider global networks than OR. Additionally, strength of the GF network showed positive association with later cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS Network analysis suggests that visual stimulation recruits large-scale cortical networks that extend far beyond the conventional visual streams and that differ between stimulation conditions. SIGNIFICANCE The method allows controlled recruitment of wide cortical networks, which holds promise for the early assessment of visual processing and its related higher-order cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eero Ahtola
- BABA Center and Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland.
| | - Susanna Stjerna
- BABA Center and Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anton Tokariev
- BABA Center and Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- BABA Center and Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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31
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Electroencephalographic functional connectivity in extreme prematurity: a pilot study based on graph theory. Pediatr Res 2020; 87:753-759. [PMID: 31726463 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-019-0621-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Connectivity studies based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provided new insights in neonatal brain development but cannot be performed at bedside in the clinical setting. The electroencephalogram (EEG) connectivity has been less studied, particularly using the new approach based on graph theory. This study aimed to explore the functional EEG connectivity using graph theory analysis at an early post-conception age in extremely premature and late-preterm babies free of medical complications and overt brain damage. METHODS Sixteen neonates (8 extremely low gestational age (ELGA) and 8 late-preterm infants), both groups having performed multichannel EEG recordings at 35 weeks' post-conception, were recruited in a single tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit and well-baby nursery, respectively. Global (i.e., small-worldness) and local (i.e., clustering and strength) connectivity measures were calculated on a single-subject connectivity matrix of EEG data. RESULTS Both ELGA and late-preterm infants showed small-worldness organization at 35 weeks' post-conception. The ELGA group had the strength parameter of the theta frequency band lower in the right than in the left hemisphere. This asymmetry did not emerge in the late-preterm group. Moreover, the mean strength parameter was significantly greater in the right hemisphere in the late preterms than in the ELGA group. CONCLUSION EEG connectivity measures could represent an index of left-to-right maturation and developmental disadvantage in extremely preterm infants.
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32
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Xie W, Jensen SKG, Wade M, Kumar S, Westerlund A, Kakon SH, Haque R, Petri WA, Nelson CA. Growth faltering is associated with altered brain functional connectivity and cognitive outcomes in urban Bangladeshi children exposed to early adversity. BMC Med 2019; 17:199. [PMID: 31760950 PMCID: PMC6876085 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-019-1431-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stunting affects more than 161 million children worldwide and can compromise cognitive development beginning early in childhood. There is a paucity of research using neuroimaging tools in conjunction with sensitive behavioral assays in low-income settings, which has hindered researchers' ability to explain how stunting impacts brain and behavioral development. We employed high-density EEG to examine associations among children's physical growth, brain functional connectivity (FC), and cognitive development. METHODS We recruited participants from an urban impoverished neighborhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh. One infant cohort consisted of 92 infants whose height (length) was measured at 3, 4.5, and 6 months; EEG data were collected at 6 months; and cognitive outcomes were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning at 27 months. A second, older cohort consisted of 118 children whose height was measured at 24, 30, and 36 months; EEG data were collected at 36 months; and Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores were assessed at 48 months. Height-for-age (HAZ) z-scores were calculated based on the World Health Organization standard. EEG FC in different frequency bands was calculated in the cortical source space. Linear regression and longitudinal path analysis were conducted to test the associations between variables, as well as the indirect effect of child growth on cognitive outcomes via brain FC. RESULTS In the older cohort, we found that HAZ was negatively related to brain FC in the theta and beta frequency bands, which in turn was negatively related to children's IQ score at 48 months. Longitudinal path analysis showed an indirect effect of HAZ on children's IQ via brain FC in both the theta and beta bands. There were no associations between HAZ and brain FC or cognitive outcomes in the infant cohort. CONCLUSIONS The association observed between child growth and brain FC may reflect a broad deleterious effect of malnutrition on children's brain development. The mediation effect of FC on the relation between child growth and later IQ provides the first evidence suggesting that brain FC may serve as a neural pathway by which biological adversity impacts cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanze Xie
- Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA. .,Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| | - Sarah K G Jensen
- Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Mark Wade
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, USA
| | - Swapna Kumar
- Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - Alissa Westerlund
- Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | | | | | - William A Petri
- Infectious Diseases & International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA. .,Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. .,Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, USA.
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33
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Kozhemiako N, Nunes A, Vakorin VA, Chau CMY, Moiseev A, Ribary U, Grunau RE, Doesburg SM. Atypical resting state neuromagnetic connectivity and spectral power in very preterm children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2019; 60:975-987. [PMID: 30805942 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children born very preterm often display selective cognitive difficulties at school age even in the absence of major brain injury. Alterations in neurophysiological activity underpinning such difficulties, as well as their relation to specific aspects of adverse neonatal experience, remain poorly understood. In the present study, we examined interregional connectivity and spectral power in very preterm children at school age, and their relationship with clinical neonatal variables and long-term outcomes (IQ, executive functions, externalizing/internalizing behavior, visual-motor integration). METHODS We collected resting state magnetoencephalographic (MEG) and psychometric data from a cohort at the age of 8 years followed prospectively since birth, which included three groups: Extremely Low Gestational Age (ELGA, 24-28 weeks GA n = 24, age 7.7 ± 0.38, 10 girls), Very Low Gestational Age (VLGA, 29-32 weeks GA n = 37, age 7.7 ± 0.39, 24 girls), and full-term children (38-41 weeks GA n = 39, age 7.9 ± 1.02, 24 girls). Interregional phase synchrony and spectral power were tested for group differences, and associations with neonatal and outcome variables were examined using mean-centered and behavioral Partial Least Squares (PLS) analyses, respectively. RESULTS We found greater connectivity in the theta band in the ELGA group compared to VLGA and full-term groups, primarily involving frontal connections. Spectral power analysis demonstrated overall lower power in the ELGA and VLGA compared to full-term group. PLS indicated strong associations between neurophysiological connectivity at school age, adverse neonatal experience and cognitive performance, and behavior. Resting spectral power was associated only with behavioral scores. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate significant atypicalities of neuromagnetic brain activity and connectivity in very preterm children at school age, with alterations in connectivity mainly observed only in the ELGA group. We demonstrate a significant relationship between connectivity, adverse neonatal experience, and long-term outcome, indicating that the disruption of developing neurophysiological networks may mediate relationships between neonatal events and cognitive and behavioral difficulties at school age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliia Kozhemiako
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Adonay Nunes
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Vasily A Vakorin
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.,Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience Institute, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.,Fraser Health, British Columbia Health Authority, Surrey, BC, Canada
| | - Cecil M Y Chau
- Pediatrics Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,B.C. Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alexander Moiseev
- Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience Institute, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Urs Ribary
- Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience Institute, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.,Pediatrics Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,B.C. Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Ruth E Grunau
- Pediatrics Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,B.C. Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sam M Doesburg
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.,Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience Institute, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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34
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Tokariev A, Roberts JA, Zalesky A, Zhao X, Vanhatalo S, Breakspear M, Cocchi L. Large-scale brain modes reorganize between infant sleep states and carry prognostic information for preterms. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2619. [PMID: 31197175 PMCID: PMC6565810 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10467-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep architecture carries vital information about brain health across the lifespan. In particular, the ability to express distinct vigilance states is a key physiological marker of neurological wellbeing in the newborn infant although systems-level mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the transition from quiet to active sleep in newborn infants is marked by a substantial reorganization of large-scale cortical activity and functional brain networks. This reorganization is attenuated in preterm infants and predicts visual performance at two years. We find a striking match between these empirical effects and a computational model of large-scale brain states which uncovers fundamental biophysical mechanisms not evident from inspection of the data. Active sleep is defined by reduced energy in a uniform mode of neural activity and increased energy in two more complex anteroposterior modes. Preterm-born infants show a deficit in this sleep-related reorganization of modal energy that carries novel prognostic information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Tokariev
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia. .,Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. .,BABA center, Pediatric Research Center, Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - James A Roberts
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Andrew Zalesky
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3053, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Xuelong Zhao
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Sampsa Vanhatalo
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,BABA center, Pediatric Research Center, Clinical Neurophysiology, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael Breakspear
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Luca Cocchi
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia. .,School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia.
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35
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Carrasco M, Stafstrom CE. How Early Can a Seizure Happen? Pathophysiological Considerations of Extremely Premature Infant Brain Development. Dev Neurosci 2019; 40:417-436. [PMID: 30947192 DOI: 10.1159/000497471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Seizures in neonates represent a neurologic emergency requiring prompt recognition, determination of etiology, and treatment. Yet, the definition and identification of neonatal seizures remain challenging and controversial, in part due to the unique physiology of brain development at this life stage. These issues are compounded when considering seizures in premature infants, in whom the complexities of brain development may engender different clinical and electrographic seizure features at different points in neuronal maturation. In extremely premature infants (< 28 weeks gestational age), seizure pathophysiology has not been explored in detail. This review discusses the physiological and structural development of the brain in this developmental window, focusing on factors that may lead to seizures and their consequences at this early time point. We hypothesize that the clinical and electrographic phenomenology of seizures in extremely preterm infants reflects the specific pathophysiology of brain development in that age window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Carrasco
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carl E Stafstrom
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,
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36
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Abstract
Humans are endowed with an exceptional ability for detecting faces, a competence that, in adults, is supported by a set of face-specific cortical patches. Human newborns, already shortly after birth, preferentially orient to faces, even when they are presented in the form of highly schematic geometrical patterns vs. perceptually equivalent nonfacelike stimuli. The neural substrates underlying this early preference are still largely unexplored. Is the adult face-specific cortical circuit already active at birth, or does its specialization develop slowly as a function of experience and/or maturation? We measured EEG responses in 1- to 4-day-old awake, attentive human newborns to schematic facelike patterns and nonfacelike control stimuli, visually presented with slow oscillatory "peekaboo" dynamics (0.8 Hz) in a frequency-tagging design. Despite the limited duration of newborns' attention, reliable frequency-tagged responses could be estimated for each stimulus from the peak of the EEG power spectrum at the stimulation frequency. Upright facelike stimuli elicited a significantly stronger frequency-tagged response than inverted facelike controls in a large set of electrodes. Source reconstruction of the underlying cortical activity revealed the recruitment of a partially right-lateralized network comprising lateral occipitotemporal and medial parietal areas overlapping with the adult face-processing circuit. This result suggests that the cortical route specialized in face processing is already functional at birth.
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