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Astrakas LG, Elbach S, Giannopulu I, Li S, Benjafield H, Tzika AA. The role of ventral tegmental area in chronic stroke rehabilitation: an exploratory study. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1270783. [PMID: 38116106 PMCID: PMC10728864 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1270783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The acknowledged role of external rewards in chronic stroke rehabilitation, offering positive reinforcement and motivation, has significantly contributed to patient engagement and perseverance. However, the exploration of self-reward's importance in this context remains limited. This study aims to investigate the functional connectivity of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a key node in the brain's reward circuitry, during motor task-based rehabilitation and its correlation with the recovery process. Methods Twelve right-handed healthy volunteers (4 men, 8 women, aged 57.4 ± 11.3 years) and twelve chronic stroke patients (5 men, 7 women, aged 48.1 ± 11.1 years) with clinically significant right-sided motor impairment (mean FM-UE score of 27.6 ± 8.7) participated. The analysis employed the CONN toolbox to assess the association between motor tasks and VTA connectivity using psychophysiological interaction (PPI). Results PPI analysis revealed motor-dependent changes in VTA connectivity, particularly with regions within the motor circuitry, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortex. Notably, stronger connectivity between the ipsilesional VTA and cerebellum was observed in healthy controls compared to chronic stroke patients, highlighting the importance of VTA-cerebellum interactions in motor function. Stroke patients' motor performance was associated with VTA modulation in areas related to both motor tasks and reward processing, emphasizing the role of self-reward processes in rehabilitation. Changes in VTA influence on motor circuitry were linked to improvements in motor performance resulting from rehabilitation. Discussion Our findings underscore the potential of neuroimaging techniques in quantifying and predicting rehabilitation outcomes by examining self-reward processes. The observed associations between VTA connectivity and motor performance in both healthy and stroke-affected individuals emphasize the role of psychological factors, particularly self-reward, in the rehabilitation process. This study contributes valuable insights into the intricate interplay between reward circuits and motor function, highlighting the importance of addressing psychological dimensions in neurorehabilitation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loukas G. Astrakas
- Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Sabrina Elbach
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center of Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- NMR Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Shasha Li
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center of Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- NMR Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Howard Benjafield
- School of Social Sciences and Professions – Psychology, London Metropolitan University, London, United Kingdom
| | - A. Aria Tzika
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center of Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- NMR Surgical Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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2
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Swanson OK, Yevoo PE, Richard D, Maffei A. Altered Thalamocortical Signaling in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6021-6034. [PMID: 37527923 PMCID: PMC10451150 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2871-20.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of the primary motor cortex (M1) is important for the execution of skilled movements and motor learning, and its dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). A well-accepted idea in PD research, albeit not tested experimentally, is that the loss of midbrain dopamine leads to decreased activation of M1 by the motor thalamus. Here, we report that midbrain dopamine loss altered motor thalamus input in a laminar- and cell type-specific fashion and induced laminar-specific changes in intracortical synaptic transmission. Frequency-dependent changes in synaptic dynamics were also observed. Our results demonstrate that loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons alters thalamocortical activation of M1 in both male and female mice, and provide novel insights into circuit mechanisms for motor cortex dysfunction in a mouse model of PD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Loss of midbrain dopamine neurons increases inhibition from the basal ganglia to the motor thalamus, suggesting that it may ultimately lead to reduced activation of primary motor cortex (M1). In contrast with this line of thinking, analysis of M1 activity in patients and animal models of Parkinson's disease report hyperactivation of this region. Our results are the first report that midbrain dopamine loss alters the input-output function of M1 through laminar and cell type specific effects. These findings support and expand on the idea that loss of midbrain dopamine reduces motor cortex activation and provide experimental evidence that reconciles reduced thalamocortical input with reports of altered activation of motor cortex in patients with Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia K Swanson
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Priscilla E Yevoo
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Dave Richard
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Arianna Maffei
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794
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3
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Vitrac C, Nallet-Khosrofian L, Iijima M, Rioult-Pedotti MS, Luft A. Endogenous dopamine transmission is crucial for motor skill recovery after stroke. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2022; 13:15-21. [PMID: 35707766 PMCID: PMC9189999 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Clément Vitrac
- Vascular Neurology and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University of Zürich, Switzerland
- Correspondence to: Universitätspital Zürich, Vascular Neurology and Rehabilitation, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | | | - Maiko Iijima
- Vascular Neurology and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mengia-Seraina Rioult-Pedotti
- Vascular Neurology and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University of Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of MCB, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Andreas Luft
- Center for Neurology and Rehabilitation, Vitznau, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Reduced Dopamine Signaling Impacts Pyramidal Neuron Excitability in Mouse Motor Cortex. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0548-19.2021. [PMID: 34556558 PMCID: PMC8525657 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0548-19.2021] [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: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopaminergic modulation is essential for the control of voluntary movement; however, the role of dopamine in regulating the neural excitability of the primary motor cortex (M1) is not well understood. Here, we investigated two modes by which dopamine influences the input/output function of M1 neurons. To test the direct regulation of M1 neurons by dopamine, we performed whole-cell recordings of excitatory neurons and measured excitability before and after local, acute dopamine receptor blockade. We then determined whether chronic depletion of dopaminergic input to the entire motor circuit, via a mouse model of Parkinson's disease, was sufficient to shift M1 neuron excitability. We show that D1 receptor (D1R) and D2R antagonism altered subthreshold and suprathreshold properties of M1 pyramidal neurons in a layer-specific fashion. The effects of D1R antagonism were primarily driven by changes to intrinsic properties, while the excitability shifts following D2R antagonism relied on synaptic transmission. In contrast, chronic depletion of dopamine to the motor circuit with 6-hydroxydopamine induced layer-specific synaptic transmission-dependent shifts in M1 neuron excitability that only partially overlapped with the effects of acute D1R antagonism. These results suggest that while acute and chronic changes in dopamine modulate the input/output function of M1 neurons, the mechanisms engaged are distinct depending on the duration and origin of the manipulation. Our study highlights the broad influence of dopamine on M1 excitability by demonstrating the consequences of local and global dopamine depletion on neuronal input/output function.
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Ammann C, Dileone M, Pagge C, Catanzaro V, Mata-Marín D, Hernández-Fernández F, Monje MHG, Sánchez-Ferro Á, Fernández-Rodríguez B, Gasca-Salas C, Máñez-Miró JU, Martínez-Fernández R, Vela-Desojo L, Alonso-Frech F, Oliviero A, Obeso JA, Foffani G. Cortical disinhibition in Parkinson's disease. Brain 2021; 143:3408-3421. [PMID: 33141146 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In Parkinson's disease, striatal dopamine depletion produces profound alterations in the neural activity of the cortico-basal ganglia motor loop, leading to dysfunctional motor output and parkinsonism. A key regulator of motor output is the balance between excitation and inhibition in the primary motor cortex, which can be assessed in humans with transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques. Despite decades of research, the functional state of cortical inhibition in Parkinson's disease remains uncertain. Towards resolving this issue, we applied paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols in 166 patients with Parkinson's disease (57 levodopa-naïve, 50 non-dyskinetic, 59 dyskinetic) and 40 healthy controls (age-matched with the levodopa-naïve group). All patients were studied OFF medication. All analyses were performed with fully automatic procedures to avoid confirmation bias, and we systematically considered and excluded several potential confounding factors such as age, gender, resting motor threshold, EMG background activity and amplitude of the motor evoked potential elicited by the single-pulse test stimuli. Our results show that short-interval intracortical inhibition is decreased in Parkinson's disease compared to controls. This reduction of intracortical inhibition was obtained with relatively low-intensity conditioning stimuli (80% of the resting motor threshold) and was not associated with any significant increase in short-interval intracortical facilitation or intracortical facilitation with the same low-intensity conditioning stimuli, supporting the involvement of cortical inhibitory circuits. Short-interval intracortical inhibition was similarly reduced in levodopa-naïve, non-dyskinetic and dyskinetic patients. Importantly, intracortical inhibition was reduced compared to control subjects also on the less affected side (n = 145), even in de novo drug-naïve patients in whom the less affected side was minimally symptomatic (lateralized Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III = 0 or 1, n = 23). These results suggest that cortical disinhibition is a very early, possibly prodromal feature of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ammann
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.,CIBERNED, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michele Dileone
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Pagge
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Valentina Catanzaro
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Mata-Marín
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Frida Hernández-Fernández
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.,Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariana H G Monje
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Sánchez-Ferro
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Carmen Gasca-Salas
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge U Máñez-Miró
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raul Martínez-Fernández
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lydia Vela-Desojo
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.,Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Alonso-Frech
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.,Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - José A Obeso
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.,CIBERNED, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Guglielmo Foffani
- CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.,CIBERNED, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
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Primary motor cortex in Parkinson's disease: Functional changes and opportunities for neurostimulation. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 147:105159. [PMID: 33152506 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Movement abnormalities of Parkinson's disease (PD) arise from disordered neural activity in multiple interconnected brain structures. The planning and execution of movement requires recruitment of a heterogeneous collection of pyramidal projection neurons in the primary motor cortex (M1). The neural representations of movement in M1 single-cell and field potential recordings are directly and indirectly influenced by the midbrain dopaminergic neurons that degenerate in PD. This review examines M1 functional alterations in PD as uncovered by electrophysiological recordings and neurostimulation studies in patients and experimental animal models. Dysfunction of the parkinsonian M1 depends on the severity and/or duration of dopamine-depletion and the species examined, and is expressed as alterations in movement-related firing dynamics; functional reorganisation of local circuits; and changes in field potential beta oscillations. Neurostimulation methods that modulate M1 activity directly (e.g., transcranial magnetic stimulation) or indirectly (subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation) improve motor function in PD patients, showing that targeted neuromodulation of M1 is a realistic therapy. We argue that the therapeutic profile of M1 neurostimulation is likely to be greatly enhanced with alternative technologies that permit cell-type specific control and incorporate feedback from electrophysiological biomarkers measured locally.
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7
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Advanced TMS approaches to probe corticospinal excitability during action preparation. Neuroimage 2020; 213:116746. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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Renteria R, Cazares C, Gremel CM. Habitual Ethanol Seeking and Licking Microstructure of Enhanced Ethanol Self-Administration in Ethanol-Dependent Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:880-891. [PMID: 32020644 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A significant component of ethanol (EtOH) dependence is the disruption to decision-making processes. Prior work has shown EtOH dependence biases habitual seeking of EtOH and disrupts neural mechanisms supporting decision-making. This has contributed to the hypothesis that habitual EtOH seeking in EtOH dependence may promote excessive habitual or compulsive EtOH consumption. However, decision-making and behavioral processes underlying seeking and consummatory behaviors differ. Here, we examine the microstructure of EtOH consummatory behavior in the context of habitual EtOH seeking. METHODS Following home cage pre-exposure to EtOH, C57Bl/6J mice underwent 4 rounds of chronic intermittent EtOH (CIE) or air exposure. Following acute withdrawal, mice began training for operant self-administration of 15% EtOH. Training consisted of 16-hour sessions in which mice were trained in a random ratio (RR) schedule of reinforcement for 30-second access to the EtOH sipper. To test for CIE-induced changes in action control, we used sensory-specific satiation and assessed the effect of outcome devaluation on EtOH seeking. Importantly, the use of a lickometer during operant training allowed us to measure the microstructure of lick behavior. RESULTS Prior induction of EtOH dependence led to increased EtOH seeking, consumption, and an insensitivity to outcome devaluation, the latter indicative of habitual EtOH seeking. We also found altered consummatory lick patterns in CIE-exposed mice compared to Air controls. While CIE mice had significantly more licks in a burst and a longer burst duration, there were no differences in the total number of bursts compared to Air controls. Furthermore, these EtOH consummatory behaviors correlated with blood EtOH concentrations (BECs), while EtOH-seeking responses did not. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirm that EtOH dependence can produce habitual EtOH seeking and suggests the increased EtOH consummatory behaviors following EtOH dependence are separable from decision-making processes controlling EtOH seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Renteria
- From the, Department of Psychology, (RR, CMG), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Christian Cazares
- The Neurosciences Graduate Program, (CC, CMG), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Christina M Gremel
- From the, Department of Psychology, (RR, CMG), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.,The Neurosciences Graduate Program, (CC, CMG), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
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