Cortical map asymmetries in the context of transcallosal excitatory influences

The corpus callosum modulates spindle-burst activity within homotopic regions of somatosensory cortex in newborn rats

The corpus callosum, a major interhemispheric fiber tract, mediates communication between homotopic regions within the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Recently, in 1- to 6-day-old rats, brief bursts of oscillatory activity - called spindle-bursts (SBs) - were described in cortical somatosensory areas following sensory feedback from sleep-related myoclonic twitches or specific peripheral stimulation. To determine whether interhemispheric communication via the corpus callosum modulates the expression of SBs during this early period of development, we investigated the spontaneous expression of SBs in unanesthetized 1- to 6-day-old rats as well as SBs evoked by plantar surface stimulation of the forepaw. We hypothesized that surgically disrupting transcallosal communication (i.e. with callosotomy) or unilateral pharmacological manipulation of S1 activity (e.g. by blocking muscarinic receptors) would alter S1 activity in one or both hemispheres. First, callosotomy doubled the rate of spontaneous, twitch-related SBs in left and right S1s by reducing the interval between successive SBs. Second, unilateral infusion into the left S1 of the muscarinic receptor antagonist, scopolamine, inhibited SBs in response to right forepaw stimulation; importantly, SBs were now disinhibited in the right S1 to right forepaw stimulation, thus 'unmasking' an ipsilateral representation. Subsequent callosotomy reinstated contralateral SB responses in the left S1. Finally, tactile and proprioceptive stimulation produced dissociable neurophysiological S1 responses; specifically, SBs were produced in response to proprioceptive, but not tactile, stimulation. We conclude that the corpus callosum modulates functionally inhibitory interactions between homotopic regions in left and right S1s during the early developmental period when organized neurophysiological activity is first detected in the neocortex.

Neurocomputational models of the remote effects of focal brain damage

Sudden localized brain damage, such as occurs in stroke, produces neurological deficits directly attributable to the damaged site. In addition, other clinical deficits occur due to secondary "remote" effects that functionally impair the remaining intact brain regions (e.g., due to their sudden disconnection from the damaged area), a phenomenon known as diaschisis. The underlying mechanisms of these remote effects, particularly those involving interactions between the left and right cerebral hemispheres, have proven somewhat difficult to understand in the context of current theories of hemispheric specialization. This article describes some recent neurocomputational models done in the author's research group that try to explain diaschisis qualitatively. These studies show that both specialization and diaschisis can be accounted for with a single model of hemispheric interactions. Further, the results suggest that left-right subcortical influences may be much more important in influencing hemispheric specialization than is generally recognized.

Impaired neurovascular coupling by transhemispheric diaschisis in rat cerebral cortex

In acute brain disorders, elimination of the excitatory output from an injured brain region reduces activity in connecting brain regions remote from the lesion site (i.e., diaschisis). The authors examined the effect of functional ablation of the left cerebral cortex by cortical spreading depression (CSD) or topical application of tetrodotoxin on single cell spiking activity, baseline CBF, and neurovascular coupling in the right rat sensory cortex. CSD or tetrodotoxin in left cortex reduced the right cortical spontaneous spike rate by 36% and 45%, respectively. Baseline CBF in the right cortex was unaffected by a left-sided CSD, but decreased by 12% for left cortical application of tetrodotoxin. This suggested dissociation between spontaneous spiking activity and basal CBF. Left in-fraorbital nerve stimulation evoked local field potentials in right cerebral cortex that were reduced in amplitude by 19% for left CSD and by 23% for left tetrodotoxin application. The corresponding declines in the evoked CBF responses were 42% for CSD and 23% for tetrodotoxin. Vascular reactivity to adenosine remained unchanged in right cortex. Thus, transhemispheric diaschisis produced a pronounced decrease in the spontaneous spike rate accompanied by no reduction or a small reduction in basal CBF, and an attenuation in amplitudes of evoked synaptic responses and corresponding rises in CBF. The findings suggest that disturbed neurovascular coupling may contribute to the disturbance in brain function in acute transhemispheric diaschisis.

Contralateral voluntary hand movement inhibits human parkinsonian tremor and variably influences essential tremor

While voluntary movement blocks Parkinsonian rest tremor (PT), essential tremor (ET) is enforced by postural and/or kinetic action. We studied the effect of contralateral externally- and internally triggered hand movement on PT and ET to investigate the transhemispheric influences on tremor genesis. We measured the changes of tremor peak frequency power after flash signal (F), flash triggered (FM) and self-paced (SPM) movement of the contralateral hand in nine PT and seven ET patients using accelerometer. PT significantly decreased both during FM and SPM tasks, suggesting that it is generated by a constant subcortico-cortical network, which includes higher order motor areas. Intensity of ET showed a remarkable intra- and interindividual variability both during FM and SPM reflecting a different generator circuitry with variable functional connections.

Effects of callosal lesions in a model of letter perception

During cognitive tasks, the cerebral hemispheres cooperate, compete, and in general, interact via the corpus callosum. Although behavioral studies in normal and split-brain subjects have revealed a great deal about the transcallosal exchange of information, a fundamental question remains unanswered and controversial: Are transcallosal interhemispheric influences primarily excitatory or inhibitory? In this context, we examined the effects of simulating sectioning of the corpus callosum in a computational model of visual letter recognition. Differences were found, following simulated callosal sectioning, in the performance of each individual hemisphere, in the mean activation levels of hemispheres, and in the specific patterns of activity, depending on the nature of the callosal influences. Together with other recent computational modeling results, the findings are most consistent with the hypothesis that transcallosal influences are predominantly excitatory, and they suggest measures that could be examined in future experimental studies to help resolve this issue.