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Klaus J, Stoodley CJ, Schutter DJLG. Neurodevelopmental trajectories of cerebellar grey matter associated with verbal abilities in males with autism spectrum disorder. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2024; 67:101379. [PMID: 38615557 PMCID: PMC11026694 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101379] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition frequently associated with structural cerebellar abnormalities. Whether cerebellar grey matter volumes (GMV) are linked to verbal impairments remains controversial. Here, the association between cerebellar GMV and verbal abilities in ASD was examined across the lifespan. Lobular segmentation of the cerebellum was performed on structural MRI scans from the ABIDE I dataset in male individuals with ASD (N=144, age: 8.5-64.0 years) and neurotypical controls (N=188; age: 8.0-56.2 years). Stepwise linear mixed effects modeling including group (ASD vs. neurotypical controls), lobule-wise GMV, and age was performed to identify cerebellar lobules which best predicted verbal abilities as measured by verbal IQ (VIQ). An age-specific association between VIQ and GMV of bilateral Crus II was found in ASD relative to neurotypical controls. In children with ASD, higher VIQ was associated with larger GMV of left Crus II but smaller GMV of right Crus II. By contrast, in adults with ASD, higher VIQ was associated with smaller GMV of left Crus II and larger GMV of right Crus II. These findings indicate that relative to the contralateral hemisphere, an initial reliance on the language-nonspecific left cerebellar hemisphere is offset by more typical right-lateralization in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Klaus
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Dennis J L G Schutter
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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2
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Bortoletto R, Candolo A, Nicotra A, Saetti L, Perini L, Balestrieri M, Colizzi M, Comacchio C. Tic-Related Obsessive-Compulsive and Eating Disorders in Dandy-Walker Variant: A Case Report and Systematic Reappraisal of Psychiatric Profiles. Brain Sci 2024; 14:362. [PMID: 38672014 PMCID: PMC11048094 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14040362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Dandy-Walker complex (DWC) consists of a continuum of brain malformations involving the posterior fossa, often leading to psychiatric manifestations during adulthood. We discussed the case of a young woman with Dandy-Walker variant (DWV) and a comorbid complex neuropsychiatric presentation, who was diagnosed with an eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a tic disorder. Afterwards, we conducted a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020-compliant systematic review reappraising all evidence of psychiatric outcomes in adults with DWC. Overall, 34 studies were eligible for data extraction, comprising 36 patients. Psychiatric profiles were more common among young adult males, with DWC lesions, especially DWV subtype, being often discovered incidentally after admission to mental health inpatient facilities. Most patients were diagnosed with psychosis and bipolar disorder, often comorbid with cognitive impairment. Psychotropic polypharmacy was frequently prescribed, generally leading to complete recovery. Evidence from our case report and systematic review indicates the importance of monitoring long-term psychiatric sequelae among adult patients with DWC malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Bortoletto
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (R.B.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (L.S.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (C.C.)
| | - Anna Candolo
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (R.B.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (L.S.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (C.C.)
| | - Alessandra Nicotra
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (R.B.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (L.S.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (C.C.)
| | - Luana Saetti
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (R.B.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (L.S.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (C.C.)
| | - Laura Perini
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (R.B.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (L.S.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (C.C.)
| | - Matteo Balestrieri
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (R.B.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (L.S.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (C.C.)
| | - Marco Colizzi
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (R.B.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (L.S.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (C.C.)
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Carla Comacchio
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (R.B.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (L.S.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (C.C.)
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3
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Karavallil Achuthan S, Stavrinos D, Holm HB, Anteraper SA, Kana RK. Alterations of Functional Connectivity in Autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Revealed by Multi-Voxel Pattern Analysis. Brain Connect 2023; 13:528-540. [PMID: 37522594 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2023.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders that share common and distinct neurobiological mechanisms, with disrupted brain connectivity patterns being a hallmark feature of both conditions. It is challenging to gain a mechanistic understanding of the underlying disorder, because brain connectivity changes in autism and ADHD are heterogeneous. Objectives: The present resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) study focuses on investigating the shared and distinct resting state-fMRI connectivity (rsFC) patterns in autistic and ADHD adults using multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA). By identifying spatial patterns of fMRI activity across a given time course, MVPA is an innovative and powerful method for generating seed regions of interest (ROIs) without a priori hypotheses. Methods: We performed a data-driven, whole-brain, connectome-wide MVPA on rs-fMRI data collected from 15 autistic, 19 ADHD, and 15 neurotypical (NT) young adults. Results: MVPA identified cerebellar vermis 9, precuneus, and the right cerebellum VI for autistic versus NT, right inferior frontal gyrus and vermis 9 for ADHD versus NT, and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for autistic versus ADHD as significant clusters. Post hoc seed-to-voxel analyses using these clusters as seed ROIs were performed for further characterization of group differences. The cerebellum VI, vermis, and precuneus in autistic adults, and the vermis and frontal regions in ADHD showed different connectivity patterns in comparison with NT. Conclusions: The study characterizes the rsFC profile of cerebellum with key cortical areas in autism and ADHD, and it emphasizes the importance of studying the role of the functional connectivity of the cerebellum in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha Karavallil Achuthan
- Department of Psychology & The Center for Innovative Research in Autism, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Despina Stavrinos
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Haley B Holm
- Children's Hospital of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sheeba Arnold Anteraper
- Stephens Family Clinical Research Institute, Carle Illinois Advanced Imaging Center, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Rajesh K Kana
- Department of Psychology & The Center for Innovative Research in Autism, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
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Bylemans T, Heleven E, Asselman E, Baetens K, Deroost N, Baeken C, Van Overwalle F. Sex differences in autistic adults: A preliminary study showing differences in mentalizing, but not in narrative coherence. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2023; 236:103918. [PMID: 37071947 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.103918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying autism might be a complex endeavor due to its clinical heterogeneity. Little is currently known about potential sex differences in autistic adults, especially regarding mentalizing and narrative coherence. In this study, male and female participants told a personal story about one of their most positive and most negative life events and performed two mentalizing tasks. One of these mentalizing tasks was a recently developed Picture and Verbal Sequencing task that has shown cerebellar recruitment, and which requires mentalizing in a sequential context (i.e., participants chronologically ordered scenarios that required true and false belief mentalizing). Our preliminary comparison shows that males were faster and more accurate on the Picture Sequencing task compared to female participants when ordering sequences involving false beliefs, but not true beliefs. No sex differences were found for the other mentalizing and narrative tasks. These results highlight the importance of looking at sex differences in autistic adults and provide a possible explanation for sex-related differences in daily life mentalizing functions, which suggest a need for more sensitive diagnosis and tailored support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Bylemans
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
| | - Elien Heleven
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
| | - Emma Asselman
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
| | - Kris Baetens
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
| | - Natacha Deroost
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
| | - Chris Baeken
- Ghent University: Department of Head and Skin (UZGent), Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Belgium; Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium; Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
| | - Frank Van Overwalle
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
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Bylemans T, Heleven E, Baetens K, Deroost N, Baeken C, Van Overwalle F. Mentalizing and narrative coherence in autistic adults: Cerebellar sequencing and prediction. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 146:105045. [PMID: 36646260 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105045] [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: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BYLEMANS, T., et al. Mentalizing and narrative coherence in autistic adults: Cerebellar sequencing and prediction. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV, 2022. - This review focuses on autistic adults and serves 4 purposes: (1) providing an overview of their difficulties regarding mentalizing (understanding others' mental states) and narrative coherence (structured storytelling), (2) highlighting the relations between both skills by examining behavioral observations and shared neural substrates, (3) providing an integrated perspective regarding novel diagnostic tools and support services, and (4) raising awareness of adult autism. We suggest that mentalizing and narrative coherence are related at the behavioral level and neural level. In addition to the traditional mentalizing network, the cerebellum probably serves as an important hub in shared cerebral networks implicated in mentalizing and narrative coherence. Future autism research and support services should tackle new questions within a framework of social cerebellar (dys)functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Bylemans
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Elien Heleven
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Kris Baetens
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Natacha Deroost
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Chris Baeken
- Ghent University: Department of Head and Skin (UZGent), Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Belgium; Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium; Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
| | - Frank Van Overwalle
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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Olivito G, Siciliano L, Clausi S, Lupo M, Baiocco R, Gragnani A, Saettoni M, Delle Chiaie R, Laghi F, Leggio M. The Cerebellum Gets Social: Evidence from an Exploratory Study of Cerebellar, Neurodevelopmental, and Psychiatric Disorders. Biomedicines 2023; 11:309. [PMID: 36830846 PMCID: PMC9953169 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Social prediction is a key feature of social cognition (SC), a function in which the modulating role of the cerebellum is recognized. Accordingly, cerebellar alterations are reported in cerebellar pathologies, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychiatric conditions that show SC deficits. Nevertheless, to date, no study has directly compared populations representative of these three conditions with respect to SC and cerebellar alterations. Therefore, the present exploratory study aimed to compare the SC profiles of individuals with cerebellar neurodegenerative disorders (CB), autism (ASD), bipolar disorder type 2 (BD2), or healthy subjects (HS) using a battery of social tests requiring different degrees of prediction processing. The patterns of cerebellar gray matter (GM) alterations were compared among the groups using voxel-based morphometry. Compared to HS, the clinical groups showed common SC deficits in tasks involving a moderate to high level of prediction. The behavioral results of the clinical groups are consistent with the presence of overlapping GM reduction in cerebellar right Crus II, an area notably involved in complex social processing and prediction. Although exploratory and preliminary, these results deepen the cerebellar role in social prediction and highlight the transdiagnostic value of the cerebellum in social functioning and prediction in pathologies of different aetiologies, forecasting novel possibilities for shared interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusy Olivito
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Libera Siciliano
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Clausi
- Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Klinikos Center for Psychodiagnostics and Psychotherapy, Viale delle Milizie 38, 00192 Roma, Italy
| | - Michela Lupo
- Servizio di Tutela della Salute Mentale e Riabilitazione dell’Età Evolutiva ASL, Roma 2, 00145 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Baiocco
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Gragnani
- Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva SPC, 58100 Grosseto, Italy
- Associazione Psicologia Cognitiva (APC)/Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (SPC), 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Saettoni
- Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva SPC, 58100 Grosseto, Italy
- Unità Funzionale Salute Mentale Adulti ASL Toscana Nord-Ovest Valle del Serchio, 56121 Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberto Delle Chiaie
- Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health–Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorenzo Laghi
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
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7
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Siciliano L, Olivito G, Lupo M, Urbini N, Gragnani A, Saettoni M, Delle Chiaie R, Leggio M. The role of the cerebellum in sequencing and predicting social and non-social events in patients with bipolar disorder. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1095157. [PMID: 36874211 PMCID: PMC9974833 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1095157] [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: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Advances in the operational mode of the cerebellum indicate a role in sequencing and predicting non-social and social events, crucial for individuals to optimize high-order functions, such as Theory of Mind (ToM). ToM deficits have been described in patients with remitted bipolar disorders (BD). The literature on BD patients' pathophysiology reports cerebellar alterations; however, sequential abilities have never been investigated and no study has previously focused on prediction abilities, which are needed to properly interpret events and to adapt to changes. Methods To address this gap, we compared the performance of BD patients in the euthymic phase with healthy controls using two tests that require predictive processing: a ToM test that require implicit sequential processing and a test that explicitly assesses sequential abilities in non-ToM functions. Additionally, patterns of cerebellar gray matter (GM) alterations were compared between BD patients and controls using voxel-based morphometry. Results Impaired ToM and sequential skills were detected in BD patients, specifically when tasks required a greater predictive load. Behavioral performances might be consistent with patterns of GM reduction in cerebellar lobules Crus I-II, which are involved in advanced human functions. Discussion These results highlight the importance of deepening the cerebellar role in sequential and prediction abilities in patients with BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libera Siciliano
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giusy Olivito
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Lupo
- Servizio di Tutela della Salute Mentale e Riabilitazione dell'Età Evolutiva ASL, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicole Urbini
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Gragnani
- Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva SPC, Grosseto, Italy.,Associazione Psicologia Cognitiva (APC)/Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (SPC), Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Saettoni
- Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva SPC, Grosseto, Italy.,Unità Funzionale Salute Mentale Adulti ASL Toscana Nord-Ovest Valle del Serchio, Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberto Delle Chiaie
- Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health-Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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8
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Modulating mental state recognition by anodal tDCS over the cerebellum. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22616. [PMID: 36585436 PMCID: PMC9803656 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26914-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence from neuroimaging and clinical studies has demonstrated cerebellar involvement in social cognition components, including the mentalizing process. The aim of this study was to apply transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to modulate cerebellar excitability to investigate the role the cerebellum plays in mental state recognition. Forty-eight healthy subjects were randomly assigned to different groups in which anodal, cathodal, or sham tDCS (2 mA for 20 min) was delivered centering the electrode on the vermis to stimulate the posterior portion of the cerebellum. The ability to attribute mental states to others was tested before and after tDCS using a digital version of the 'Reading the Mind in the Eyes test', which includes visual perceptive and motor stimuli as control conditions. Correct response and reaction times (RTs) were recorded. The results revealed a significant reduction in RTs between the baseline and post-stimulation sessions after cerebellar anodal tDCS only for mental state stimuli (Wilcoxon test p = 0.00055), whereas no significant effect was found in the cathodal or sham conditions or for visual perceptive and motor stimuli. Overall, our study suggests that cerebellar anodal tDCS might selectively improve mental state recognition and constitute an effective strategy to positively modulate the mentalizing process.
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Glutig K, Lange L, Krüger PC, Gräger S, de Vries H, Brandl U, Gaser C, Mentzel HJ. Differences in Cerebellar Volume as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Children and Adolescents With Epilepsy of Unknown Etiology. J Child Neurol 2022; 37:939-948. [PMID: 36113051 PMCID: PMC9703387 DOI: 10.1177/08830738221114241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Epilepsy is one of the most common brain diseases during childhood and adolescence. Atrophy in different brain areas is possible during epilepsy. This study aimed to verify whether cerebellar volume differences could be detected by volume analysis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with epilepsy. METHOD In this retrospective study, 41 children (3.1-18.8 years) with epilepsy of unknown etiology were included (duration of epilepsy 1.9 ± 3 years). A cranial MRI with a volumetric 3-dimensional, T1-weighted sequence was used for volume analysis. The MRIs of 26 patients with headache (5.3-17.1 years) were analyzed for comparison. A volume analysis of the cerebellum was performed using region-based morphometry. Total cerebellar volume, total white and gray matter volume, and 48 regional lobules (L), separated into white and gray matter, were calculated. Cerebellar volumes are presented in relative ratios as the volume fraction of cerebellar volume to total intracranial volume: CV/TIV. RESULTS The ratio of overall white matter volume was significantly lower in the case group (23.93 × 10-3, P = .039). A significantly lower ratio of regional white matter volume was detected in LV right (P = .031) and left (P = .014), in LVIIIB right (P = .011) and left (P = .019), and in LVIIIA left (P = .009). CONCLUSION Our results emphasize that volume analysis of the total cerebellar volume alone is insufficient to characterize cerebellar differences in children with epilepsy. Rather, in specific cerebellar region volume analysis using region-based morphometry, children with epilepsy showed significantly lower regional volumes of lobules, which are important for sensorimotor function (LV, LVIII) and higher cognitive function (crus I).
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Glutig
- Department of Radiology, Section of Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital, Jena, Germany,Katja Glutig, Jena University Hospital, Department of Radiology, Section of Pediatric Radiology, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Luisa Lange
- Department of Radiology, Section of Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Paul-Christian Krüger
- Department of Radiology, Section of Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Stephanie Gräger
- Department of Radiology, Section of Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Heike de Vries
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University Children’s Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich Brandl
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University Children’s Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Gaser
- Structural Brain Mapping Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Hans-Joachim Mentzel
- Department of Radiology, Section of Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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10
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Argyropoulos GPD, Lupo M, Olivito G. Editorial: The cerebellar role in psychiatric disorders: Emerging evidence and future perspectives. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:1075679. [PMID: 36386782 PMCID: PMC9664192 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1075679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michela Lupo
- Servizio di Tutela della Salute Mentale e Riabilitazione dell'Età Evolutiva Azienda Sanitaria Locale, Rome, Italy
| | - Giusy Olivito
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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11
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Heleven E, Bylemans T, Ma Q, Baeken C, Baetens K. Impaired sequence generation: a preliminary comparison between high functioning autistic and neurotypical adults. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:946482. [PMID: 36147543 PMCID: PMC9486458 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.946482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Earlier research demonstrated robust cerebellar involvement in sequencing, including high-level social information sequencing that requires mental state attributions, termed mentalizing. Earlier research also found cerebellar deficiencies in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) which are characterized by social difficulties. However, studies on high-level social sequencing functionality by persons with ASD are almost non-existent. In this study, we, therefore, perform a comparison between behavioral performances of high-functioning ASD and neurotypical participants on the Picture and Verbal Sequencing Tasks. In these tasks, participants are requested to put separate events (depicted in cartoon-like pictures or behavioral sentences, respectively) in their correct chronological order. To do so, some of these events require understanding of high-level social beliefs, of social routines (i.e., scripts), or nonsocial mechanical functionality. As expected, on the Picture Sequencing task, we observed longer response times for persons with ASD (in comparison with neurotypical controls) when ordering sequences requiring an understanding of social beliefs and social scripts, but not when ordering nonsocial mechanical events. This confirms our hypotheses that social sequence processing is impaired in ASD. The verbal version of this task did not reveal differences between groups. Our results are the first step toward new theoretical insights for social impairments of persons with ASD. They highlight the importance of taking into account sequence processing, and indirectly the cerebellum when investigating ASD difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elien Heleven
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Elien Heleven
| | - Tom Bylemans
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Qianying Ma
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Head and Skin (UZGent), Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Baetens
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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12
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Bylemans T, Heleven E, Baetens K, Deroost N, Baeken C, Van Overwalle F. A narrative sequencing and mentalizing training for adults with autism: A pilot study. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:941272. [PMID: 36062258 PMCID: PMC9433774 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.941272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adults diagnosed with autism experience difficulties with understanding the mental states of others, or themselves (mentalizing) and with adequately sequencing personal stories (narrative coherence). Given that the posterior cerebellum is implicated in both skills, as well as in the etiology of autism, we developed a narrative sequencing and mentalizing training for autistic adults. Participants with an official autism diagnosis were randomly assigned to a Training group (n = 17) or a waiting-list Control group (n = 15). The Training group took part in six weekly sessions in groups of three participants lasting each about 60 min. During training, participants had to (re)tell stories from the perspective of the original storyteller and answer questions that required mentalizing. We found significant improvements in mentalizing about others’ beliefs and in narrative coherence for the Training group compared to the Control group immediately after the training compared to before the training. Almost all participants from the Training group expressed beneficial effects of the training on their mood and half of the participants reported positive effects on their self-confidence in social situations. All participants recommended the current training to others. Results are discussed in light of cerebellar theories on sequencing of social actions during mentalizing. Further improvements to the program are suggested. Our results highlight the potential clinical utility of adopting a neuroscience-informed approach to developing novel therapeutic interventions for autistic populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Bylemans
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Tom Bylemans,
| | - Elien Heleven
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kris Baetens
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Natacha Deroost
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Department of Head and Skin (UZGent), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZ Brussel), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Frank Van Overwalle
- Brain Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
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13
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Clausi S, Siciliano L, Olivito G, Leggio M. Cerebellum and Emotion in Social Behavior. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1378:235-253. [PMID: 35902475 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-99550-8_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that the cerebellum plays a crucial role not only in the motor and cognitive domains but also in emotions and social behavior. In the present chapter, after a general introduction on the significance of the emotional components of social behavior, we describe recent efforts to understand the contributions of the cerebellum in social cognition focusing on the emotional and affective aspects. Specifically, starting from the description of the cerebello-cortical networks subtending the social-affective domains, we illustrate the most recent findings on the social cerebellum and the possible functional mechanisms by which the cerebellum modulate social-affective behavior. Finally, we discuss the possible consequences of cerebellar dysfunction in the social-affective domain, focusing on those neurological and psychopathological conditions in which emotional and social behavior difficulties have been described as being associated with cerebellar structural or functional alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Clausi
- Ataxia Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy. .,Psychology Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
| | - Libera Siciliano
- Ataxia Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Psychology Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giusy Olivito
- Ataxia Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Psychology Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Leggio
- Ataxia Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Psychology Department, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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14
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Mario M. Cerebellar Disorders: At the Frontiers of Neurology, Psychiatry, and the Modern Approach to Psychology. THE NEW REVOLUTION IN PSYCHOLOGY AND THE NEUROSCIENCES 2022:105-122. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-06093-9_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
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15
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Van Overwalle F, Baeken C, Campanella S, Crunelle CL, Heleven E, Kornreich C, Leggio M, Noël X, Vanderhasselt MA, Baetens K. The Role of the Posterior Cerebellum in Dysfunctional Social Sequencing. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 21:1123-1134. [PMID: 34637054 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01330-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in social neuroscience have highlighted the critical role of the cerebellum in social cognition, and especially the posterior cerebellum. Studies have supported the view that the posterior cerebellum builds internal action models of our social interactions to predict how other people's actions will be executed and what our most likely responses are to these actions. This mechanism allows to better anticipate action sequences during social interactions in an automatic and intuitive way and to fine-tune these anticipations, making it easier to understand other's social behaviors and mental states (e.g., beliefs, intentions, traits). In this paper, we argue that the central role of the posterior cerebellum in identifying and automatizing social action sequencing provides a fruitful starting point for investigating social dysfunctions in a variety of clinical pathologies, such as autism, obsessive-compulsive and bipolar disorder, depression, and addiction. Our key hypothesis is that dysfunctions of the posterior cerebellum lead to under- or overuse of inflexible social routines and lack of plasticity for learning new, more adaptive, social automatisms. We briefly review past research supporting this view and propose a program of research to test our hypothesis. This approach might alleviate a variety of mental problems of individuals who suffer from inflexible automatizations that stand in the way of adjustable and intuitive social behavior, by increasing posterior cerebellar plasticity using noninvasive neurostimulation or neuro-guided training programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Van Overwalle
- Department of Psychology & Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium.
| | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Psychology & Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium.,Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussel, Belgium.,Department of Psychiatry, Ghent Experimental Psychiatry Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Salvatore Campanella
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Médicale Et d'Addictologie, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium.,UNI Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium.,Faculty of Psychology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Cleo L Crunelle
- Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Elien Heleven
- Department of Psychology & Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Charles Kornreich
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Médicale Et d'Addictologie, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium.,UNI Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium.,Faculty of Psychology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology & Ataxia Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Sapienza University of Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Xavier Noël
- Laboratoire de Psychologie Médicale Et d'Addictologie, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium.,UNI Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium.,Faculty of Psychology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | | | - Kris Baetens
- Department of Psychology & Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium.,Brussels University Consultation Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
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16
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Clausi S, Olivito G, Siciliano L, Lupo M, Laghi F, Baiocco R, Leggio M. The cerebellum is linked to theory of mind alterations in autism. A direct clinical and MRI comparison between individuals with autism and cerebellar neurodegenerative pathologies. Autism Res 2021; 14:2300-2313. [PMID: 34374492 PMCID: PMC9291804 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, structural and functional alterations in the cerebellum have been reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Intriguingly, recent studies demonstrated that the social behavioral profile of individuals with cerebellar pathologies is characterized by a theory of mind (ToM) impairment, one of the main behavioral hallmarks of ASD. The aim of the present study was to compare ToM abilities and underlying cerebello-cortical structural patterns between ASD individuals and individuals with cerebellar atrophy to further specify the cerebellar role in mentalizing alterations in ASD. Twenty-one adults with ASD without language and intellectual impairments (based on DSM-5), 36 individuals affected by degenerative cerebellar damage (CB), and 67 healthy participants were enrolled in the study. ToM abilities were assessed using the reading the mind in the eyes test and the faux pas test. One-way ANCOVA was conducted to compare the performances between the two cohorts. Three-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance scans were collected, and a voxel-based morphometry analysis was performed to characterize the brain structural alterations in the two cohorts. ASD and CB participants had comparable ToM performance with similar difficulties in both the tests. CB and ASD participants showed an overlapping pattern of gray matter (GM) reduction in a specific cerebellar portion (Crus-II). Our study provides the first direct comparison of ToM abilities between ASD and CB individuals, boosting the idea that specific cerebellar structural alterations impact the mentalizing process. The present findings open a new perspective for considering the cerebellum as a potential target for treatment implementation. The present work will critically advance current knowledge about the cerebellar role in ToM alterations of ASD, in particular, elucidating the presence of common cerebellar structural abnormalities in ASD and cerebellar individuals that may underlie specific mentalizing alterations. These findings may pave the way for alternative therapeutic indications, such as cerebellar neuromodulation, with a strong clinical impact. LAY SUMMARY: The present work will critically advance current knowledge about the cerebellar role in theory of mind alterations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in particular, elucidating the presence of common cerebellar structural abnormalities in ASD and cerebellar individuals that may underlie specific mentalizing alterations. These findings may pave the way for alternative therapeutic indications, such as cerebellar neuromodulation, with a strong clinical impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Clausi
- Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Giusy Olivito
- Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Libera Siciliano
- PhD Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Lupo
- Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorenzo Laghi
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Baiocco
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Leggio
- Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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17
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Van Overwalle F, Ma Q, Heleven E. The posterior crus II cerebellum is specialized for social mentalizing and emotional self-experiences: a meta-analysis. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2021; 15:905-928. [PMID: 32888303 PMCID: PMC7851889 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This meta-analysis explores the role of the posterior cerebellum Crus I/II in social mentalizing. We identified over 200 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies via NeuroSynth that met our inclusion criteria and fell within bilateral Crus II areas related to ‘sequencing’ during mentalizing (coordinates ±24 −76 −40; from earlier studies) and mere social ‘mentalizing’ or self-related emotional cognition (coordinates ±26 −84 −34; from NeuroSynth), located in the cerebellar mentalizing network. A large majority of these studies (74%) involved mentalizing or self-related emotional cognition. Other functions formed small minorities. This high incidence in Crus II compares very favorably against the lower base rate for mentalizing and self-related emotions (around 35%) across the whole brain as revealed in NeuroSynth. In contrast, there was much less support for a similar role of Crus I (coordinates −40 −70 −40 from earlier ‘sequencing’ studies) as only 35% of the studies were related to mentalizing or self-related emotions. The present findings show that a domain-specific social mentalizing functionality is supported in the cerebellar Crus II. This has important implications for theories of the social cerebellum focusing on sequencing of social actions, and for cerebellar neurostimulation treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Van Overwalle
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
| | - Qianying Ma
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
| | - Elien Heleven
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
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18
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Ramphal B, Pagliaccio D, Thomas LV, He X, Margolis AE. Contributions of Cerebellar White Matter Microstructure to Social Difficulty in Nonverbal Learning Disability. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 20:931-937. [PMID: 33856654 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01265-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that the cerebellum may contribute to variety of cognitive capacities, including social cognition. Nonverbal learning disability (NVLD) is characterized by visual-spatial and social impairment. Recent functional neuroimaging studies have shown that children with NVLD have altered cerebellar resting-state functional connectivity, which is associated with various symptom domains. However, little is known about cerebellar white matter microstructure in NVLD and whether it contributes to social deficits. Twenty-seven children (12 with NVLD, 15 typically developing (TD)) contributed useable diffusion tensor imaging data. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were used to quantify fractional anisotropy (FA) in the cerebellar peduncles. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist, providing a measure of social difficulty. Children with NVLD had greater fractional anisotropy in the left and right inferior cerebellar peduncle. Furthermore, right inferior cerebellar peduncle FA was associated with social impairment as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist Social Problems subscale. Finally, the association between NVLD diagnosis and greater social impairment was mediated by right inferior cerebellar peduncle FA. These findings provide additional evidence that the cerebellum contributes both to social cognition and to the pathophysiology of NVLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Ramphal
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - David Pagliaccio
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Lauren V Thomas
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Xiaofu He
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Amy E Margolis
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Box 74 / Room 2403, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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19
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Supernumerary neurons within the cerebral cortical subplate in autism spectrum disorders. Brain Res 2021; 1760:147350. [PMID: 33607045 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) involve alterations to cortical connectivity that manifest as reduced coordinated activity between cortical regions. The neurons of the cortical subplate are a major contributor to establishing thalamocortical, corticothalamic and corticocortical long-range connections and only a subset of this cell population survives into adulthood. Previous reports of an indistinct gray-white matter boundary in subjects with ASD suggest that the adjacent subplate may also show organizational abnormalities. Frozen human postmortem tissue samples from the parietal lobe (BA7) were used to evaluate white-matter neuron densities adjacent to layer VI with an antibody to NeuN. In addition, fixed postmortem tissue samples from frontal (BA9), parietal (BA7) and temporal lobe (BA21) locations, were stained with a Golgi-Kopsch procedure, and used to examine the morphology of these neuronal profiles. Relative to control cases, ASD subjects showed a large average density increase of NeuN-positive profiles of 44.7 percent. The morphologies of these neurons were consistent with subplate cells of the fusiform, polymorphic and pyramidal cell types. Lower ratios of fusiform to other cell types are found early in development and although adult ASD subjects showed consistently lower ratios, these differences were not significant. The increased number of retained subplate profiles, along with cell type ratios redolent of earlier developmental stages, suggests either an abnormal initial population or a partial failure of the apoptosis seen in neurotypical development. These results indicate abnormalities within a neuron population that plays multiple roles in the developing and mature cerebral cortex, including the establishment of long-range cortical connections.
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20
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The neurobiological underpinning of the social cognition impairments in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2. Cortex 2021; 138:101-112. [PMID: 33677324 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Clinical studies described emotional and social behaviour alterations in patients with cerebellar diseases, proposing a role of specific cerebello-cerebral circuits in social cognition. However, for a long time these difficulties were underestimated, and no studies have addressed the correlation between social cognition deficits and topography of the cerebellar damage. The present study aims to investigate the social cognition impairment and the neuroanatomical alterations in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) and to analyze their relationship. To this purpose a social cognition battery composed by three tests, and a MRI protocol were administered to 13 SCA2 patients and 26 healthy subjects. The pattern of gray matter (GM) atrophy was analyzed by voxel-based morphometry, and the GM volumes of each altered area were correlated with the behavioral scores to investigate anatomo-functional relationships. In addition, we investigated the relationship between social deficits and damage to the cerebellar peduncles using DTI diffusivity indices. Our patients showed impairment of the immediate perceptual component of the mental state recognition (i.e., to recognize feelings and thoughts from the eyes expression), and difficulties in anger attribution, and in the understanding of false or mistaken beliefs. They showed a pattern of GM reduction in cerebellar regions, including lobules IX and VIIIb and Crus II, all of which are involved in specific components of the mentalizing process. Interestingly, the behavioral performance, in which SCA2 patients showed impairments compared to controls, correlated with the degree of cerebellar GM reduction and with the presence of microstructural abnormalities in the cerebellar peduncles. The present study provides the first characterization of the social cognition deficits in a homogenous cohort SCA2 patients and demonstrates that alterations in specific cerebellar regions should represent the neurobiological underpinning of their social behavior difficulties. Our results offer a new point of view in considering these aspects in the clinical practice.
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21
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Van Overwalle F, Manto M, Cattaneo Z, Clausi S, Ferrari C, Gabrieli JDE, Guell X, Heleven E, Lupo M, Ma Q, Michelutti M, Olivito G, Pu M, Rice LC, Schmahmann JD, Siciliano L, Sokolov AA, Stoodley CJ, van Dun K, Vandervert L, Leggio M. Consensus Paper: Cerebellum and Social Cognition. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 19:833-868. [PMID: 32632709 PMCID: PMC7588399 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-020-01155-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The traditional view on the cerebellum is that it controls motor behavior. Although recent work has revealed that the cerebellum supports also nonmotor functions such as cognition and affect, only during the last 5 years it has become evident that the cerebellum also plays an important social role. This role is evident in social cognition based on interpreting goal-directed actions through the movements of individuals (social "mirroring") which is very close to its original role in motor learning, as well as in social understanding of other individuals' mental state, such as their intentions, beliefs, past behaviors, future aspirations, and personality traits (social "mentalizing"). Most of this mentalizing role is supported by the posterior cerebellum (e.g., Crus I and II). The most dominant hypothesis is that the cerebellum assists in learning and understanding social action sequences, and so facilitates social cognition by supporting optimal predictions about imminent or future social interaction and cooperation. This consensus paper brings together experts from different fields to discuss recent efforts in understanding the role of the cerebellum in social cognition, and the understanding of social behaviors and mental states by others, its effect on clinical impairments such as cerebellar ataxia and autism spectrum disorder, and how the cerebellum can become a potential target for noninvasive brain stimulation as a therapeutic intervention. We report on the most recent empirical findings and techniques for understanding and manipulating cerebellar circuits in humans. Cerebellar circuitry appears now as a key structure to elucidate social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Van Overwalle
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mario Manto
- Mediathèque Jean Jacquy, Service de Neurologie, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium
- Service des Neurosciences, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Zaira Cattaneo
- University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Clausi
- Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - John D. E. Gabrieli
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA
| | - Xavier Guell
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA
- Ataxia Unit, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Elien Heleven
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Michela Lupo
- Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Qianying Ma
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marco Michelutti
- Service de Neurologie & Neuroscape@NeuroTech Platform, Département des Neurosciences Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Service de Neurologie Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giusy Olivito
- Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Min Pu
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laura C. Rice
- Department of Psychology and Department of Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC USA
| | - Jeremy D. Schmahmann
- Ataxia Unit, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Libera Siciliano
- Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Arseny A. Sokolov
- Service de Neurologie & Neuroscape@NeuroTech Platform, Département des Neurosciences Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Service de Neurologie Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Neurorehabilitation, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London (UCL), London, UK
- Neuroscape Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Catherine J. Stoodley
- Department of Psychology and Department of Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC USA
| | - Kim van Dun
- Neurologic Rehabilitation Research, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Larry Vandervert
- American Nonlinear Systems, 1529 W. Courtland Avenue, Spokane, WA 99205-2608 USA
| | - Maria Leggio
- Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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22
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Functional Changes of Mentalizing Network in SCA2 Patients: Novel Insights into Understanding the Social Cerebellum. THE CEREBELLUM 2020; 19:235-242. [PMID: 31925668 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01081-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, increasing evidence of the cerebellar role in social cognition has emerged. The cerebellum has been shown to modulate cortical activity of social brain regions serving as a regulator of function-specific mentalizing and mirroring processes. In particular, a mentalizing area in the posterior cerebellum, specifically Crus II, is preferentially recruited for more complex and abstract forms of social processing, together with mentalizing cerebral areas including the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ), and the precuneus. In the present study, the network-based statistics approach was used to assess functional connectivity (FC) differences within this mentalizing cerebello-cerebral network associated with a specific cerebellar damage. To this aim, patients affected by spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), a neurodegenerative disease specifically affecting regions of the cerebellar cortex, and age-matched healthy subjects have been enrolled. The dmPFC, left and right TPJ, the precuneus, and the cerebellar Crus II were used as regions of interest to construct the mentalizing network to be analyzed and evaluate pairwise functional relations between them. When compared with controls, SCA2 patients showed altered internodal connectivity between dmPFC, left (L-) and right (R-) TPJ, and right posterior cerebellar Crus II.The present results indicate that FC changes affect a function-specific mentalizing network in patients affected by cerebellar damage. In particular, they allow to better clarify functional alteration mechanisms driven by the cerebellar damage associated with SCA2 suggesting that selective cortico-cerebellar functional disconnections may underlie patients' social impairment in domain-specific complex and abstract forms of social functioning.
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23
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Anteraper SA, Guell X, Hollinshead MO, D'Mello A, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Biederman J, Joshi G. Functional Alterations Associated with Structural Abnormalities in Adults with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Connect 2020; 10:368-376. [DOI: 10.1089/brain.2020.0746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sheeba Arnold Anteraper
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xavier Guell
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marisa O. Hollinshead
- Department of Psychology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anila D'Mello
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Joseph Biederman
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gagan Joshi
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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24
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Increased Accuracy of Emotion Recognition in Individuals with Autism-Like Traits after Five Days of Magnetic Stimulations. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:9857987. [PMID: 32714385 PMCID: PMC7355343 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9857987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism-like traits (ALT) belong to a subclinical group with similar social deficits as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Their main social deficits include atypical eye contact and difficulty in understanding facial expressions, both of which are associated with an abnormality of the right posterior superior temporal sulcus (rpSTS). It is still undetermined whether it is possible to improve the social function of ALT individuals through noninvasive neural modulation. To this end, we randomly assigned ALT individuals into the real (n = 16) and sham (n = 16) stimulation groups. All subjects received five consecutive days of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on the rpSTS. Eye tracking data and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were acquired on the first and sixth days. The real group showed significant improvement in emotion recognition accuracy after iTBS, but the change was not significantly larger than that in the sham group. Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between the rpSTS and the left cerebellum significantly decreased in the real group than the sham group after iTBS. At baseline, rsFC in the left cerebellum was negatively correlated with emotion recognition accuracy. Our findings indicated that iTBS of the rpSTS could improve emotion perception of ALT individuals by modulating associated neural networks. This stimulation protocol could be a vital therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ASD.
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25
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Su LD, Xu FX, Wang XT, Cai XY, Shen Y. Cerebellar Dysfunction, Cerebro-cerebellar Connectivity and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Neuroscience 2020; 462:320-327. [PMID: 32450293 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum has long been conceptualized to control motor learning and motor coordination. However, increasing evidence suggests its roles in cognition and emotion behaviors. In particular, the cerebellum has been recognized as one of key brain regions affected in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To better understand the contribution of the cerebellum in ASD pathogenesis, we here discuss recent behavioral, genetic, and molecular studies from the human and mouse models. In addition, we raise several questions that need to be investigated in future studies from the point view of cerebellar dysfunction, cerebro-cerebellar connectivity and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Da Su
- Neuroscience Care Unit, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Fang-Xiao Xu
- Department of Physiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xin-Tai Wang
- Department of Physiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xin-Yu Cai
- Department of Physiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ying Shen
- Department of Physiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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26
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Anteraper SA, Guell X, Taylor HP, D'Mello A, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Joshi G. Intrinsic Functional Connectivity of Dentate Nuclei in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Connect 2020; 9:692-702. [PMID: 31591901 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2019.0692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar abnormalities are commonly reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dentate nuclei (DNs) are key structures in the anatomical circuits linking the cerebellum to the extracerebellum. Previous resting-state functional connectivity (RsFc) analyses reported DN abnormalities in high-functioning ASD (HF-ASD). This study examined the RsFc of the DN in young adults with HF-ASD compared with healthy controls (HCs) with the aim to expand upon previous findings of DNs in a dataset using advanced, imaging acquisition methods that optimize spatiotemporal resolution and statistical power. Additional seed-to-voxel analyses were carried out using motor and nonmotor DN coordinates reported in previous studies as seeds. We report abnormal dentato-cerebral and dentato-cerebellar functional connectivity in ASD. Our results expand and, in part, replicate previous descriptions of DN RsFc abnormalities in this disorder and reveal correlations between DN-cerebral RsFc and ASD symptom severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheeba Arnold Anteraper
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Xavier Guell
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hoyt Patrick Taylor
- Department of Physics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Anila D'Mello
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Gagan Joshi
- Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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27
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Argyropoulos GPD, van Dun K, Adamaszek M, Leggio M, Manto M, Masciullo M, Molinari M, Stoodley CJ, Van Overwalle F, Ivry RB, Schmahmann JD. The Cerebellar Cognitive Affective/Schmahmann Syndrome: a Task Force Paper. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2020; 19:102-125. [PMID: 31522332 PMCID: PMC6978293 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01068-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Sporadically advocated over the last two centuries, a cerebellar role in cognition and affect has been rigorously established in the past few decades. In the clinical domain, such progress is epitomized by the "cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome" ("CCAS") or "Schmahmann syndrome." Introduced in the late 1990s, CCAS reflects a constellation of cerebellar-induced sequelae, comprising deficits in executive function, visuospatial cognition, emotion-affect, and language, over and above speech. The CCAS thus offers excellent grounds to investigate the functional topography of the cerebellum, and, ultimately, illustrate the precise mechanisms by which the cerebellum modulates cognition and affect. The primary objective of this task force paper is thus to stimulate further research in this area. After providing an up-to-date overview of the fundamental findings on cerebellar neurocognition, the paper substantiates the concept of CCAS with recent evidence from different scientific angles, promotes awareness of the CCAS as a clinical entity, and examines our current insight into the therapeutic options available. The paper finally identifies topics of divergence and outstanding questions for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kim van Dun
- Rehabilitation Research Center REVAL, UHasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Michael Adamaszek
- Clinical and Cognitive Neurorehabilitation, Center of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Klinik Bavaria Kreischa, An der Wolfsschlucht 1-2, 01703 Kreischa, Germany
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Manto
- Department of Neurology, CHU-Charleroi, 6000 Charleroi, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Marcella Masciullo
- SPInal REhabilitation Lab (SPIRE), IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Molinari
- Neuro-Robot Rehabilitation Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Richard B. Ivry
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Jeremy D. Schmahmann
- Ataxia Unit, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
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28
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Siciliano L, Clausi S. Implicit vs. Explicit Emotion Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Opinion on the Role of the Cerebellum. Front Psychol 2020; 11:96. [PMID: 32082228 PMCID: PMC7005590 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Libera Siciliano
- PhD Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Clausi
- Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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29
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Foxe JJ, Molholm S, Baudouin SJ, Wallace MT. Explorations and perspectives on the neurobiological bases of autism spectrum disorder. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 47:488-496. [PMID: 29575230 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John J Foxe
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,The Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Departments of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Sophie Molholm
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,The Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Departments of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Mark T Wallace
- Center for Integrative and Cognitive Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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30
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Patterns of Cerebellar Connectivity with Intrinsic Connectivity Networks in Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:4498-4514. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04168-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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31
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Argyropoulos GPD, van Dun K, Adamaszek M, Leggio M, Manto M, Masciullo M, Molinari M, Stoodley CJ, Van Overwalle F, Ivry RB, Schmahmann JD. The Cerebellar Cognitive Affective/Schmahmann Syndrome: a Task Force Paper. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2019. [PMID: 31522332 DOI: 10.1007/s12311‐019‐01068‐8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sporadically advocated over the last two centuries, a cerebellar role in cognition and affect has been rigorously established in the past few decades. In the clinical domain, such progress is epitomized by the "cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome" ("CCAS") or "Schmahmann syndrome." Introduced in the late 1990s, CCAS reflects a constellation of cerebellar-induced sequelae, comprising deficits in executive function, visuospatial cognition, emotion-affect, and language, over and above speech. The CCAS thus offers excellent grounds to investigate the functional topography of the cerebellum, and, ultimately, illustrate the precise mechanisms by which the cerebellum modulates cognition and affect. The primary objective of this task force paper is thus to stimulate further research in this area. After providing an up-to-date overview of the fundamental findings on cerebellar neurocognition, the paper substantiates the concept of CCAS with recent evidence from different scientific angles, promotes awareness of the CCAS as a clinical entity, and examines our current insight into the therapeutic options available. The paper finally identifies topics of divergence and outstanding questions for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kim van Dun
- Rehabilitation Research Center REVAL, UHasselt, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Michael Adamaszek
- Clinical and Cognitive Neurorehabilitation, Center of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Klinik Bavaria Kreischa, An der Wolfsschlucht 1-2, 01703, Kreischa, Germany
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Manto
- Department of Neurology, CHU-Charleroi, 6000, Charleroi, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences, University of Mons, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Marcella Masciullo
- SPInal REhabilitation Lab (SPIRE), IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Molinari
- Neuro-Robot Rehabilitation Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Richard B Ivry
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Ataxia Unit, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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32
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Van Overwalle F, Manto M, Leggio M, Delgado-García JM. The sequencing process generated by the cerebellum crucially contributes to social interactions. Med Hypotheses 2019; 128:33-42. [PMID: 31203906 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2019.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The capacity to understand another person's emotions, intentions, beliefs and personality traits, based on observed or communicated behaviors, is termed social cognition. During the last decade, social neuroscience has made great progress in understanding the neural correlates of social cognition. However, because the cerebellum is traditionally viewed as only involved in motor processing, the contribution of this major part of the brain in social processing has been largely ignored and its specific role in social cognition remains unclear. Nevertheless, recent meta-analyses have made its crucial contribution to social cognition evident. This raises the question: What is the exact function of the cerebellum in social cognition? We hypothesize that the cerebellum builds internal action models of our social inter-actions to predict how other people's actions will be executed, what our most likely responses are to these actions, so that we can automatize our interactions and instantly detect disruptions in these action sequences. This mechanism likely allows to better anticipate action sequences during social interactions in an automatic and intuitive way and to fine-tune these anticipations, making it easier to understand behaviors and to detect violations. This hypothesis has major implications in neurological disorders affecting the cerebellum such as autism, with detrimental effects on social functionality, especially on more complex and abstract social cognitive processes. Because the fundamental anatomical organization of the cerebellum is identical in many species (cerebellar microcomplexes), this hypothesis could have major impacts to elucidate social interactions in social animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mario Manto
- Service de Neurologie, CHU-Charleroi, Belgium & Service des Neurosciences, Université de Mons, Belgium.
| | - Maria Leggio
- Department of Psychology, University of Rome 'Sapienza', Rome, Italy; Ataxia Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
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33
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Smith REW, Avery JA, Wallace GL, Kenworthy L, Gotts SJ, Martin A. Sex Differences in Resting-State Functional Connectivity of the Cerebellum in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 13:104. [PMID: 31024276 PMCID: PMC6460665 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more prevalent in males than females, but the underlying neurobiology of this sex bias remains unclear. Given its involvement in ASD, its role in sensorimotor, cognitive, and socio-affective processes, and its developmental sensitivity to sex hormones, the cerebellum is a candidate for understanding this sex difference. The current study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate sex-dependent differences in cortico-cerebellar organization in ASD. We collected resting-state fMRI scans from 47 females (23 ASD, 24 controls) and 120 males (56 ASD, 65 controls). Using a measure of global functional connectivity (FC), we ran a linear mixed effects analysis to determine whether there was a sex-by-diagnosis interaction in resting-state FC. Subsequent seed-based analyses from the resulting clusters were run to clarify the global connectivity effects. Two clusters in the bilateral cerebellum exhibited a diagnosis-by-sex interaction in global connectivity. These cerebellar clusters further showed a pattern of interaction with regions in the cortex, including bilateral fusiform, middle occipital, middle frontal, and precentral gyri, cingulate cortex, and precuneus. Post hoc tests revealed a pattern of cortico-cerebellar hyperconnectivity in ASD females and a pattern of hypoconnectivity in ASD males. Furthermore, cortico-cerebellar FC in females more closely resembled that of control males than that of control females. These results shed light on the sex-specific pathophysiology of ASD and are indicative of potentially divergent neurodevelopmental trajectories for each sex. This sex-dependent, aberrant cerebellar connectivity in ASD might also underlie some of the motor and/or socio-affective difficulties experienced by members of this population, but the symptomatic correlate(s) of these brain findings remain unknown. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, NIH Clinical Study Protocol 10-M-0027 (ZIA MH002920-09) identifier #NCT01031407
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E W Smith
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jason A Avery
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Gregory L Wallace
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Lauren Kenworthy
- Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Stephen J Gotts
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Alex Martin
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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34
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Abstract
Cerebellar neuroscience has undergone a paradigm shift. The theories of the universal cerebellar transform and dysmetria of thought and the principles of organization of cerebral cortical connections, together with neuroanatomical, brain imaging, and clinical observations, have recontextualized the cerebellum as a critical node in the distributed neural circuits subserving behavior. The framework for cerebellar cognition stems from the identification of three cognitive representations in the posterior lobe, which are interconnected with cerebral association areas and distinct from the primary and secondary cerebellar sensorimotor representations linked with the spinal cord and cerebral motor areas. Lesions of the anterior lobe primary sensorimotor representations produce dysmetria of movement, the cerebellar motor syndrome. Lesions of the posterior lobe cognitive-emotional cerebellum produce dysmetria of thought and emotion, the cerebellar cognitive affective/Schmahmann syndrome. The notion that the cerebellum modulates thought and emotion in the same way that it modulates motor control advances the understanding of the mechanisms of cognition and opens new therapeutic opportunities in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Ataxia Unit, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA;
| | - Xavier Guell
- Ataxia Unit, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA; .,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Catherine J Stoodley
- Department of Psychology and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA
| | - Mark A Halko
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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35
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Is there an "antisocial" cerebellum? Evidence from disorders other than autism characterized by abnormal social behaviours. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:1-8. [PMID: 30153496 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum is a hindbrain structure which involvement in functions not related to motor control and planning is being increasingly recognized in the last decades. Studies on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have reported cerebellar involvement on these conditions characterized by social deficits and repetitive motor behavior patterns. Although such an involvement hints at a possible cerebellar participation in the social domain, the fact that ASD patients present both social and motor deficits impedes drawing any firm conclusion regarding cerebellar involvement in pathological social behaviours, probably influenced by the classical view of the cerebellum as a purely "motor" brain structure. Here, we suggest the cerebellum can be a key node for the production and control of normal and particularly aberrant social behaviours, as indicated by its involvement in other neuropsychiatric disorders which main symptom is deregulated social behaviour. Therefore, in this work, we briefly review cerebellar involvement in social behavior in rodent models, followed by discussing the findings linking the cerebellum to those other psychiatric conditions characterized by defective social behaviours. Finally, possible commonalities between the studies and putative underlying impaired functions will be discussed and experimental approaches both in patients and experimental animals will also be proposed, aimed at stimulating research on the role of the cerebellum in social behaviours and disorders characterized by social impairments, which, if successful, will definitely help reinforcing the proposed cerebellar involvement in the social domain.
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36
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Castellazzi G, Bruno SD, Toosy AT, Casiraghi L, Palesi F, Savini G, D'Angelo E, Wheeler-Kingshott CAMG. Prominent Changes in Cerebro-Cerebellar Functional Connectivity During Continuous Cognitive Processing. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:331. [PMID: 30327590 PMCID: PMC6174227 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
While task-dependent responses of specific brain areas during cognitive tasks are well established, much less is known about the changes occurring in resting state networks (RSNs) in relation to continuous cognitive processing. In particular, the functional involvement of cerebro-cerebellar loops connecting the posterior cerebellum to associative cortices, remains unclear. In this study, 22 healthy volunteers underwent a multi-session functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) protocol composed of four consecutive 8-min resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) scans. After a first control scan, participants listened to a narrated story for the entire duration of the second rs-fMRI scan; two further rs-fMRI scans followed the end of story listening. The story plot was purposely designed to stimulate specific cognitive processes that are known to involve the cerebro-cerebellar loops. Almost all of the identified 15 RSNs showed changes in functional connectivity (FC) during and for several minutes after the story. The FC changes mainly occurred in the frontal and prefrontal cortices and in the posterior cerebellum, especially in Crus I-II and lobule VI. The FC changes occurred in cerebellar clusters belonging to different RSNs, including the cerebellar network (CBLN), sensory networks (lateral visual network, LVN; medial visual network, MVN) and cognitive networks (default mode network, DMN; executive control network, ECN; right and left ventral attention networks, RVAN and LVAN; salience network, SN; language network, LN; and working memory network, WMN). Interestingly, a k-means analysis of FC changes revealed clustering of FCN, ECN, and WMN, which are all involved in working memory functions, CBLN, DMN, and SN, which play a key-role in attention switching, and RSNs involved in visual imagery. These results show that the cerebellum is deeply entrained in well-structured network clusters, which reflect multiple aspects of cognitive processing, during and beyond the conclusion of auditory stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Castellazzi
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Queen Square MS Centre, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania D Bruno
- Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmed T Toosy
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, Queen Square MS Centre, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Letizia Casiraghi
- Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fulvia Palesi
- Brain MRI 3T Center, Neuroradiology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Physics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Egidio D'Angelo
- Brain Connectivity Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudia Angela Michela Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Queen Square MS Centre, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Brain MRI 3T Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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