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Miura H, Ono Y, Suzuki T, Ogihara Y, Imai Y, Watanabe A, Tokikuni Y, Sakuraba S, Sawamura D. Regional brain activity and neural network changes in cognitive-motor dual-task interference: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. Neuroimage 2024; 297:120714. [PMID: 38950665 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120714] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous neuroimaging studies have reported dual-task interference (DTi) and deterioration of task performance in a cognitive-motor dual task (DT) compared to that in a single task (ST). Greater frontoparietal activity is a neural signature of DTi; nonetheless, the underlying mechanism of cortical network in DTi still remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the regional brain activity and neural network changes during DTi induced by highly demanding cognitive-motor DT. Thirty-four right-handed healthy young adults performed the spiral-drawing task. They underwent a paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT) simultaneously or independently while their cortical activity was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Motor performance was determined using the balanced integration score (BIS), a balanced index of drawing speed and precision. The cognitive task of the PASAT was administered with two difficulty levels defined by 1 s (PASAT-1 s) and 2 s (PASAT-2 s) intervals, allowing for the serial addition of numbers. Cognitive performance was determined using the percentage of correct responses. These motor and cognitive performances were significantly reduced during DT, which combined a drawing and a cognitive task at either difficulty level, compared to those in the corresponding ST conditions. The DT conditions were also characterized by significantly increased activity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) compared to that in the ST conditions. Multivariate Granger causality (GC) analysis of cortical activity in the selected frontoparietal regions of interest further revealed selective top-down causal connectivity from the right DLPFC to the right inferior parietal cortex during DTs. Furthermore, changes in the frontoparietal GC connectivity strength between the PASAT-2 s DT and ST conditions significantly correlated negatively with changes in the percentage of correct responses. Therefore, DTi can occur even in cognitively proficient young adults, and the right DLPFC and frontoparietal network being crucial neural mechanisms underlying DTi. These findings provide new insights into DTi and its underlying neural mechanisms and have implications for the clinical utility of cognitive-motor DTs applied to clinical populations with cognitive decline, such as those with psychiatric and brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Miura
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan; Department of Rehabilitation, Higashinaebo Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yumie Ono
- Department of Electronics and Bioinformatics, School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Suzuki
- Department of Electronics and Bioinformatics, School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Japan; Electrical Engineering Program, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Yuji Ogihara
- Department of Rehabilitation, Higashinaebo Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yuna Imai
- Department of Rehabilitation, Higashinaebo Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Watanabe
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Yukina Tokikuni
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Satoshi Sakuraba
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Tobetsu, Ishikari, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sawamura
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan.
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Brown T, Kim K, Gehring WJ, Lustig C, Bohnen NI. Sensitivity to and Control of Distraction: Distractor-Entrained Oscillation and Frontoparietal EEG Gamma Synchronization. Brain Sci 2024; 14:609. [PMID: 38928609 PMCID: PMC11202030 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14060609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
While recent advancements have been made towards a better understanding of the involvement of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the context of cognitive control, the exact mechanism is still not fully understood. Successful behavior requires the correct detection of goal-relevant cues and resisting irrelevant distractions. Frontal parietal networks have been implicated as important for maintaining cognitive control in the face of distraction. The present study investigated the role of gamma-band power in distraction resistance and frontoparietal networks, as its increase is linked to cholinergic activity. We examined changes in gamma activity and their relationship to frontoparietal top-down modulation for distractor challenges and to bottom-up distractor processing. Healthy young adults were tested using a modified version of the distractor condition sustained attention task (dSAT) while wearing an EEG. The modified distractor was designed so that oscillatory activities could be entrained to it, and the strength of entrainment was used to assess the degree of distraction. Increased top-down control during the distractor challenge increased gamma power in the left parietal regions rather than the right prefrontal regions predicted from rodent studies. Specifically, left parietal gamma power increased in response to distraction where the amount of this increase was negatively correlated with the neural activity reflecting bottom-up distractor processing in the visual area. Variability in gamma power in right prefrontal regions was associated with increased response time variability during distraction. This may suggest that the right prefrontal region may contribute to the signaling needed for top-down control rather than its implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Brown
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - Kamin Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (K.K.); (W.J.G.); (C.L.)
| | - William J. Gehring
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (K.K.); (W.J.G.); (C.L.)
| | - Cindy Lustig
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (K.K.); (W.J.G.); (C.L.)
| | - Nicolaas I. Bohnen
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Neurology Service and GRECC, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
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Basal Forebrain Chemogenetic Inhibition Converts the Attentional Control Mode of Goal-Trackers to That of Sign-Trackers. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0418-22.2022. [PMID: 36635246 PMCID: PMC9794377 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0418-22.2022] [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: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sign tracking versus goal tracking in rats indicate vulnerability and resistance, respectively, to Pavlovian cue-evoked addictive drug taking and relapse. Here, we tested hypotheses predicting that the opponent cognitive-behavioral styles indexed by sign tracking versus goal tracking include variations in attentional performance which differentially depend on basal forebrain projection systems. Pavlovian Conditioned Approach (PCA) testing was used to identify male and female sign-trackers (STs) and goal-trackers (GTs), as well as rats with an intermediate phenotype (INTs). Upon reaching asymptotic performance in an operant task requiring the detection of visual signals (hits) as well as the reporting of signal absence for 40 min per session, GTs scored more hits than STs, and hit rates across all phenotypes correlated with PCA scores. STs missed relatively more signals than GTs specifically during the last 15 min of a session. Chemogenetic inhibition of the basal forebrain decreased hit rates in GTs but was without effect in STs. Moreover, the decrease in hits in GTs manifested solely during the last 15 min of a session. Transfection efficacy in the horizontal limb of the diagonal band (HDB), but not substantia innominate (SI) or nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM), predicted the behavioral efficacy of chemogenetic inhibition in GTs. Furthermore, the total subregional transfection space, not transfection of just cholinergic neurons, correlated with performance effects. These results indicate that the cognitive-behavioral phenotype indexed by goal tracking, but not sign tracking, depends on activation of the basal forebrain-frontal cortical projection system and associated biases toward top-down or model-based performance.
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Madden MB, Stewart BW, White MG, Krimmel SR, Qadir H, Barrett FS, Seminowicz DA, Mathur BN. A role for the claustrum in cognitive control. Trends Cogn Sci 2022; 26:1133-1152. [PMID: 36192309 PMCID: PMC9669149 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Early hypotheses of claustrum function were fueled by neuroanatomical data and yielded suggestions that the claustrum is involved in processes ranging from salience detection to multisensory integration for perceptual binding. While these hypotheses spurred useful investigations, incompatibilities inherent in these views must be reconciled to further conceptualize claustrum function amid a wealth of new data. Here, we review the varied models of claustrum function and synthesize them with developments in the field to produce a novel functional model: network instantiation in cognitive control (NICC). This model proposes that frontal cortices direct the claustrum to flexibly instantiate cortical networks to subserve cognitive control. We present literature support for this model and provide testable predictions arising from this conceptual framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell B Madden
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Brent W Stewart
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Michael G White
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Samuel R Krimmel
- Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Houman Qadir
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Frederick S Barrett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - David A Seminowicz
- Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian N Mathur
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Donovan E, Avila C, Klausner S, Parikh V, Fenollar-Ferrer C, Blakely RD, Sarter M. Disrupted Choline Clearance and Sustained Acetylcholine Release In Vivo by a Common Choline Transporter Coding Variant Associated with Poor Attentional Control in Humans. J Neurosci 2022; 42:3426-3444. [PMID: 35232764 PMCID: PMC9034784 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1334-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transport of choline via the neuronal high-affinity choline transporter (CHT; SLC5A7) is essential for cholinergic terminals to synthesize and release acetylcholine (ACh). In humans, we previously demonstrated an association between a common CHT coding substitution (rs1013940; Ile89Val) and reduced attentional control as well as attenuated frontal cortex activation. Here, we used a CRISPR/Cas9 approach to generate mice expressing the I89V substitution and assessed, in vivo, CHT-mediated choline transport, and ACh release. Relative to wild-type (WT) mice, CHT-mediated clearance of choline in male and female mice expressing one or two Val89 alleles was reduced by over 80% in cortex and over 50% in striatum. Choline clearance in CHT Val89 mice was further reduced by neuronal inactivation. Deficits in ACh release, 5 and 10 min after repeated depolarization at a low, behaviorally relevant frequency, support an attenuated reloading capacity of cholinergic neurons in mutant mice. The density of CHTs in total synaptosomal lysates and neuronal plasma-membrane-enriched fractions was not impacted by the Val89 variant, indicating a selective impact on CHT function. When challenged with a visual disruptor to reveal attentional control mechanisms, Val89 mice failed to adopt a more conservative response bias. Structural modeling revealed that Val89 may attenuate choline transport by altering conformational changes of CHT that support normal transport rates. Our findings support the view that diminished sustained cholinergic signaling capacity underlies perturbed attentional performance in individuals expressing CHT Val89. The CHT Val89 mouse serves as a valuable model to study heritable risk for cognitive disorders arising from cholinergic dysfunction.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Acetylcholine (ACh) signaling depends on the functional capacity of the neuronal choline transporter (CHT). Previous research demonstrated that humans expressing the common CHT coding variant Val89 exhibit attentional vulnerabilities and attenuated fronto-cortical activation during attention. Here, we find that mice engineered to express the Val89 variant exhibit reduced CHT-mediated choline clearance and a diminished capacity to sustain ACh release. Additionally, Val89 mice lack cognitive flexibility in response to an attentional challenge. These findings provide a mechanistic and cognitive framework for interpreting the attentional phenotype associated with the human Val89 variant and establish a model that permits a more invasive interrogation of CNS effects as well as the development of therapeutic strategies for those, including Val89 carriers, with presynaptic cholinergic perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eryn Donovan
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Cassandra Avila
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Sarah Klausner
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Vinay Parikh
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122
| | - Cristina Fenollar-Ferrer
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Section of Human Genetics, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Randy D Blakely
- Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute and Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida 33458
| | - Martin Sarter
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program and Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
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Tseng A, Camchong J, Francis SM, Mueller BA, Lim KO, Conelea CA, Jacob S. Differential extrinsic brain network connectivity and social cognitive task-specific demands in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). J Psychiatr Res 2022; 148:230-239. [PMID: 35149435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.01.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Few studies have used task-based functional connectivity (FC) magnetic resonance imaging to examine emotion-processing during the critical neurodevelopmental period of adolescence in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Moreover, task designs with pervasive confounds (e.g., lack of appropriate controls) persist because they activate neural circuits of interest reliably. As an alternative approach to "subtracting" activity from putative control conditions, we propose examining FC across an entire task run. By pivoting our analysis and interpretation of existing paradigms, we may better understand neural response to non-focal instances of socially-relevant stimuli that approximate real-world experiences more closely. Hence, using two well-established affective tasks (face-viewing, face-matching) with diverging social-cognitive demands, we investigated extrinsic FC from amygdala (AMG) and fusiform gyrus (FG) seeds in typically-developing (TD; N = 17) and ASD (N = 17) male adolescents (10-18 yo) and clinical correlations (Social Communication Questionnaire; SCQ) of group FC differences. Participant data (4TD, 6ASD) with excessive head-motion were excluded from final analysis. Direct between-group comparisons revealed significant differences between groups for neural response but not task performance (accuracy, reaction time). During face-viewing, we found greater FC from AMG and FG seeds for ASD participants (ASD > TD) in regions involved in the Default Mode and Fronto-Parietal Task Control Networks. During face-matching, we found greater FC from AMG and FG seeds for TD participants (TD > ASD), in regions associated with the Salience, Dorsal Attention, and Somatosensory Networks. SCQ scores correlated positively with regions with group differences on the face-viewing task and negatively with regions identified for the face-matching task. Task-dependent group differences in FC despite comparable behavioral performance suggest that high-functioning ASD may wield compensatory strategies; clinically-correlated FC patterns may associate with differential task-demands, ecological validity, and context-dependent processing. Employing this novel approach may further the development of targeted therapeutic interventions informed by individual differences in the highly heterogeneous ASD population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Tseng
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Jazmin Camchong
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Sunday M Francis
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Bryon A Mueller
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Kelvin O Lim
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Christine A Conelea
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Suma Jacob
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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7
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Cai X, Li G, Liu Q, Xiao F, Zhang Y, Wang Y. The Neural Mechanisms of Cognitive Control in the Category Induction Task. Front Psychol 2022; 13:743178. [PMID: 35242072 PMCID: PMC8887600 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.743178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the conflict monitoring hypothesis, conflict monitoring and inhibitory control in cognitive control mainly cause activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and control-related prefrontal cortex (PFC) in many cognitive tasks. However, the role of brain regions in the default mode network (DMN) in cognitive control during category induction tasks is unclear. To test the role of the ACC, PFC, and subregions of the DMN elicited by cognitive control during category induction, a modified category induction task was performed using simultaneous fMRI scanning. The results showed that the left middle frontal gyrus (BA9) and bilateral dorsal ACC/medial frontal gyrus (BA8/32) were sensitive to whether conflict information (with/without) appears, but not to the level of conflict. In addition, the bilateral ventral ACC (BA32), especially the right vACC, a part of the DMN, showed significant deactivation with an increase in cognitive effort depending on working memory. These findings not only offer further evidence for the important role of the dorsolateral PFC and dorsal ACC in cognitive control during categorization but also support the functional distinction of the dorsal/ventral ACC in the category induction task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueli Cai
- Psychological Research and Counseling Center, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guo Li
- Psychological Research and Counseling Center, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qinxia Liu
- Psychological Research and Counseling Center, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department of Education Science, Innovation Center for Fundamental Education Quality Enhancement of Shanxi Province, Shanxi Normal University, Linfen, China
| | - Youxue Zhang
- School of Education and Psychology, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yifeng Wang
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
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Tubbs AS, Fernandez FX, Grandner MA, Perlis ML, Klerman EB. The Mind After Midnight: Nocturnal Wakefulness, Behavioral Dysregulation, and Psychopathology. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 1:830338. [PMID: 35538929 PMCID: PMC9083440 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2021.830338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Sufficient sleep with minimal interruption during the circadian/biological night supports daytime cognition and emotional regulation. Conversely, disrupted sleep involving significant nocturnal wakefulness leads to cognitive and behavioral dysregulation. Most studies to-date have examined how fragmented or insufficient sleep affects next-day functioning, but recent work highlights changes in cognition and behavior that occur when someone is awake during the night. This review summarizes the evidence for day-night alterations in maladaptive behaviors, including suicide, violent crime, and substance use, and examines how mood, reward processing, and executive function differ during nocturnal wakefulness. Based on this evidence, we propose the Mind after Midnight hypothesis in which attentional biases, negative affect, altered reward processing, and prefrontal disinhibition interact to promote behavioral dysregulation and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Tubbs
- Sleep and Health Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Tucson, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Fabian-Xosé Fernandez
- Department of Psychology, Evelyn F Mcknight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Michael A. Grandner
- Sleep and Health Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Tucson, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Michael L. Perlis
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Elizabeth B. Klerman
- Department of Neurology, Division of Sleep Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Machner B, Braun L, Imholz J, Koch PJ, Münte TF, Helmchen C, Sprenger A. Resting-State Functional Connectivity in the Dorsal Attention Network Relates to Behavioral Performance in Spatial Attention Tasks and May Show Task-Related Adaptation. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 15:757128. [PMID: 35082607 PMCID: PMC8784839 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.757128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Between-subject variability in cognitive performance has been related to inter-individual differences in functional brain networks. Targeting the dorsal attention network (DAN) we questioned (i) whether resting-state functional connectivity (FC) within the DAN can predict individual performance in spatial attention tasks and (ii) whether there is short-term adaptation of DAN-FC in response to task engagement. Twenty-seven participants first underwent resting-state fMRI (PRE run), they subsequently performed different tasks of spatial attention [including visual search (VS)] and immediately afterwards received another rs-fMRI (POST run). Intra- and inter-hemispheric FC between core hubs of the DAN, bilateral intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and frontal eye field (FEF), was analyzed and compared between PRE and POST. Furthermore, we investigated rs-fMRI-behavior correlations between the DAN-FC in PRE/POST and task performance parameters. The absolute DAN-FC did not change from PRE to POST. However, different significant rs-fMRI-behavior correlations were revealed for intra-/inter-hemispheric connections in the PRE and POST run. The stronger the FC between left FEF and IPS before task engagement, the better was the learning effect (improvement of reaction times) in VS (r = 0.521, p = 0.024). And the faster the VS (mean RT), the stronger was the FC between right FEF and IPS after task engagement (r = −0.502, p = 0.032). To conclude, DAN-FC relates to the individual performance in spatial attention tasks supporting the view of functional brain networks as priors for cognitive ability. Despite a high inter- and intra-individual stability of DAN-FC, the change of FC-behavior correlations after task performance possibly indicates task-related adaptation of the DAN, underlining that behavioral experiences may shape intrinsic brain activity. However, spontaneous state fluctuations of the DAN-FC over time cannot be fully ruled out as an alternative explanation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Machner
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- *Correspondence: Björn Machner, ; orcid.org/0000-0001-7981-2906
| | - Lara Braun
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jonathan Imholz
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Philipp J. Koch
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Thomas F. Münte
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christoph Helmchen
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Andreas Sprenger
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Psychology II, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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10
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Solis I, Janowich J, Candelaria-Cook F, Collishaw W, Wang YP, Wilson TW, Calhoun VD, Ciesielski KRT, Stephen JM. Frontoparietal network and neuropsychological measures in typically developing children. Neuropsychologia 2021; 159:107914. [PMID: 34119500 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Resting-state activity has been used to gain a broader understanding of typical and aberrant developmental changes. However, the developmental trajectory of resting-state activity in relation to cognitive performance has not been studied in detail. The present study assessed spectral characteristics of theta (5-8 Hz) and alpha (9-13 Hz) frequency bands during resting-state in a priori selected regions of the frontoparietal network (FPN). We also examined the relationship between resting-state activity and cognitive performance in typically developing children. We hypothesized that older children and children with high attentional scores would have higher parietal alpha activity and frontal theta activity while at rest compared to young children and those with lower attentional scores. MEG data were collected in 65 typically developing children, ages 9-14 years, as part of the Developmental Chronnecto-Genomics study. Resting-state data were collected during eyes open and eyes closed for 5 min. Participants completed the NIH Toolbox Flanker Inhibitory Control (FICA) and Attention Test and Dimensional Change Card Sort Test (DCCS) to assess top-down attentional control. Spectral power density was used to characterize the FPN. We found during eyes open and eyes closed, all participants had higher theta and alpha power in parietal regions relative to frontal regions. The group with high attentional scores had higher alpha power during resting-state eyes closed compared to those with low attentional scores. However, there were no significant differences between age groups, suggesting changes in the maturation of neural oscillations in theta and alpha are not evident among children in the 9-14-year age range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Solis
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, 2001 Redondo S Dr, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA; Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd N.E., Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA.
| | - Jacki Janowich
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, 2001 Redondo S Dr, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA; Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd N.E., Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA.
| | - Felicha Candelaria-Cook
- Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd N.E., Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA.
| | - William Collishaw
- Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd N.E., Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA.
| | - Yu-Ping Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA.
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 988440 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd N.E., Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, 498 Terrace St NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA; Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, 33 Glimer St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
| | - Kristina R T Ciesielski
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, 2001 Redondo S Dr, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA; MGH/MIT A. A. Martinos Center for Biomed. Imaging, Dept of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, 149 Thirteenth St, Suite 2301, Charleston, MA, 02129, USA.
| | - Julia M Stephen
- Mind Research Network and Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, 1101 Yale Blvd N.E., Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA.
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Age-related differences in structural and functional prefrontal networks during a logical reasoning task. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:1085-1102. [PMID: 32556885 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00315-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In logical reasoning, difficulties in inhibition of currently-held beliefs may lead to unwarranted conclusions, known as belief bias. Aging is associated with difficulties in inhibitory control, which may lead to deficits in inhibition of currently-held beliefs. No study to date, however, has investigated the underlying neural substrates of age-related differences in logical reasoning and the impact of belief load. The aim of the present study was to delineate age differences in brain activity during a syllogistic logical reasoning task while the believability load of logical inferences was manipulated. Twenty-nine, healthy, younger and thirty, healthy, older adults (males and females) completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment in which they were asked to determine the logical validity of conclusions. Unlike younger adults, older adults engaged a large-scale network including anterior cingulate cortex and inferior frontal gyrus during conclusion stage. Our functional connectivity results suggest that while older adults engaged the anterior cingulate network to overcome their intuitive responses for believable inferences, the inferior frontal gyrus network contributed to higher control over responses during both believable and unbelievable conditions. Our functional results were further supported by structure-function-behavior analyses indicating the importance of cingulum bundle and uncinate fasciculus integrity in rejection of believable statements. These novel findings lend evidence for age-related differences in belief bias, with potentially important implications for decision making where currently-held beliefs and given assumptions are in conflict.
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12
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Reduction of falls in a rat model of PD falls by the M1 PAM TAK-071. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:1953-1964. [PMID: 33735392 PMCID: PMC7969347 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05822-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE In addition to the disease-defining motor symptoms, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit gait dysfunction, postural instability, and a propensity for falls. These dopamine (DA) replacement-resistant symptoms in part have been attributed to loss of basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons and, in interaction with striatal dopamine (DA) loss, to the resulting disruption of the attentional control of balance and complex movements. Rats with dual cholinergic-DA losses ("DL rats") were previously demonstrated to model PD falls and associated impairments of gait and balance. OBJECTIVES We previously found that the muscarinic M1-positive allosteric modulator (PAM) TAK-071 improved the attentional performance of rats with BF cholinergic losses. Here, we tested the hypotheses that TAK-071 reduces fall rates in DL rats. RESULTS Prior to DL surgery, female rats were trained to traverse a rotating straight rod as well as a rod with two zigzag segments. DL rats were refamiliarized with such traversals post-surgery and tested over 7 days on increasingly demanding testing conditions. TAK-071 (0.1, 0.3 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered prior to daily test sessions over this 7-day period. As before, DL rats fell more frequently than sham-operated control rats. Treatment of DL rats with TAK-071 reduced falls from the rotating rod and the rotating zigzag rod, specifically when the angled part of the zigzag segment, upon entering, was at a steep, near vertical angle. CONCLUSIONS TAK-071 may benefit complex movement control, specifically in situations which disrupt the patterning of forward movement and require the interplay between cognitive and motor functions to modify movement based on information about the state of dynamic surfaces, balance, and gait.
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13
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Zhao S, Bury G, Milne A, Chait M. Pupillometry as an Objective Measure of Sustained Attention in Young and Older Listeners. Trends Hear 2020; 23:2331216519887815. [PMID: 31775578 PMCID: PMC6883360 DOI: 10.1177/2331216519887815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to sustain attention on a task-relevant sound source while avoiding
distraction from concurrent sounds is fundamental to listening in crowded
environments. We aimed to (a) devise an experimental paradigm with which this
aspect of listening can be isolated and (b) evaluate the applicability of
pupillometry as an objective measure of sustained attention in young and older
populations. We designed a paradigm that continuously measured behavioral
responses and pupillometry during 25-s trials. Stimuli contained a number of
concurrent, spectrally distinct tone streams. On each trial, participants
detected gaps in one of the streams while resisting distraction from the others.
Behavior demonstrated increasing difficulty with time-on-task and with
number/proximity of distractor streams. In young listeners
(N = 20; aged 18 to 35 years), pupil diameter (on the group and
individual level) was dynamically modulated by instantaneous task difficulty:
Periods where behavioral performance revealed a strain on sustained attention
were accompanied by increased pupil diameter. Only trials on which participants
performed successfully were included in the pupillometry analysis so that the
observed effects reflect task demands as opposed to failure to attend. In line
with existing reports, we observed global changes to pupil dynamics in the older
group (N = 19; aged 63 to 79 years) including decreased pupil
diameter, limited dilation range, and reduced temporal variability. However,
despite these changes, older listeners showed similar effects of attentive
tracking to those observed in the young listeners. Overall, our results
demonstrate that pupillometry can be a reliable and time-sensitive measure of
attentive tracking over long durations in both young and (with caveats) older
listeners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Zhao
- Ear Institute, University College London, UK
| | | | - Alice Milne
- Ear Institute, University College London, UK
| | - Maria Chait
- Ear Institute, University College London, UK
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14
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Forebrain Cholinergic Signaling: Wired and Phasic, Not Tonic, and Causing Behavior. J Neurosci 2020; 40:712-719. [PMID: 31969489 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1305-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Conceptualizations of cholinergic signaling as primarily spatially diffuse and slow-acting are based largely on measures of extracellular brain ACh levels that require several minutes to generate a single data point. In addition, most such studies inhibited the highly potent catalytic enzyme for ACh, AChE, to facilitate measurement of ACh. Absent such inhibition, AChE limits the presence of ambient ACh and thus renders it unlikely that ACh influences target regions via slow changes in extracellular ACh concentrations. We describe an alternative view by which forebrain signaling in cortex driving cognition is largely phasic (milliseconds to perhaps seconds), and unlikely to be volume-transmitted. This alternative is supported by new evidence from real-time amperometric recordings of cholinergic signaling indicating a specific function of rapid, phasic, transient cholinergic signaling in attentional contexts. Previous neurochemical evidence may be reinterpreted in terms of integrated phasic cholinergic activity that mediates specific behavioral and cognitive operations; this reinterpretation fits well with recent computational models. Optogenetic studies support a causal relationship between cholinergic transients and behavior. This occurs in part via transient-evoked muscarinic receptor-mediated high-frequency oscillations in cortical regions. Such oscillations outlast cholinergic transients and thus link transient ACh signaling with more sustained postsynaptic activity patterns to support relatively persistent attentional biases. Reconceptualizing cholinergic function as spatially specific, phasic, and modulating specific cognitive operations is theoretically powerful and may lead to pharmacologic treatments more effective than those based on traditional views.Dual Perspectives Companion Paper: Diverse Spatiotemporal Scales of Cholinergic Signaling in the Neocortex, by Anita A. Disney and Michael J. Higley.
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15
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Complex Movement Control in a Rat Model of Parkinsonian Falls: Bidirectional Control by Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6049-6067. [PMID: 32554512 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0220-20.2020] [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] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Older persons and, more severely, persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit gait dysfunction, postural instability and a propensity for falls. These dopamine (DA) replacement-resistant symptoms are associated with losses of basal forebrain and striatal cholinergic neurons, suggesting that falls reflect disruption of the corticostriatal transfer of movement-related cues and their striatal integration with movement sequencing. To advance a rodent model of the complex movement deficits of Parkinsonian fallers, here we first demonstrated that male and female rats with dual cortical cholinergic and striatal DA losses (DL rats) exhibit cued turning deficits, modeling the turning deficits seen in these patients. As striatal cholinergic interneurons (ChIs) are positioned to integrate movement cues with gait, and as ChI loss has been associated with falls in PD, we next used this task, as well as a previously established task used to reveal heightened fall rates in DL rats, to broadly test the role of ChIs. Chemogenetic inhibition of ChIs in otherwise intact male and female rats caused cued turning deficits and elevated fall rates. Spontaneous turning was unaffected. Furthermore, chemogenetic stimulation of ChIs in DL rats reduced fall rates and restored cued turning performance. Stimulation of ChIs was relatively more effective in rats with viral transfection spaces situated lateral to the DA depletion areas in the dorsomedial striatum. These results indicate that striatal ChIs are essential for the control of complex movements, and they suggest a therapeutic potential of stimulation of ChIs to restore gait and balance, and to prevent falls in PD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In persons with Parkinson's disease, gait dysfunction and the associated risk for falls do not benefit from dopamine replacement therapy and often result in long-term hospitalization and nursing home placement. Here, we first validated a new task to demonstrate impairments in cued turning behavior in rodents modeling the cholinergic-dopaminergic losses observed in Parkinsonian fallers. We then demonstrated the essential role of striatal cholinergic interneurons for turning behavior as well as for traversing dynamic surfaces and avoiding falls. Stimulation of these interneurons in the rat model rescued turning performance and reduced fall rates. Our findings indicate the feasibility of investigating the neuronal circuitry underling complex movement control in rodents, and that striatal cholinergic interneurons are an essential node of such circuitry.
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Abstract
The central cholinergic system is one of the most important modulator neurotransmitter system implicated in diverse behavioral processes. Activation of the basal forebrain cortical cholinergic input system represents a critical step in cortical information processing. This chapter explores recent developments illustrating cortical cholinergic transmission mediate defined cognitive operations, which is contrary to the traditional view that acetylcholine acts as a slowly acting neuromodulator that influences arousal cortex-wide. Specifically, we review the evidence that phasic cholinergic signaling in the prefrontal cortex is a causal mediator of signal detection. In addition, studies that support the neuromodulatory role of cholinergic inputs in top-down attentional control are summarized. Finally, we review new findings that reveal sex differences and hormonal regulation of the cholinergic-attention system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Parikh
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Debra A Bangasser
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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17
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Zuo N, Salami A, Yang Y, Yang Z, Sui J, Jiang T. Activation-based association profiles differentiate network roles across cognitive loads. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:2800-2812. [PMID: 30854745 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Working memory (WM) is a complex and pivotal cognitive system underlying the performance of many cognitive behaviors. Although individual differences in WM performance have previously been linked to the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) response across several large-scale brain networks, the unique and shared contributions of each large-scale brain network to efficient WM processes across different cognitive loads remain elusive. Using a WM paradigm and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) from the Human Connectome Project, we proposed a framework to assess the association and shared-association strength between imaging biomarkers and behavioral scales. Association strength is the capability of individual brain regions to modulate WM performance and shared-association strength measures how different regions share the capability of modulating performance. Under higher cognitive load (2-back), the frontoparietal executive control network (FPN), dorsal attention network (DAN), and salience network showed significant positive activation and positive associations, whereas the default mode network (DMN) showed the opposite pattern, namely, significant deactivation and negative associations. Comparing the different cognitive loads, the DMN and FPN showed predominant associations and globally shared-associations. When investigating the differences in association from lower to higher cognitive loads, the DAN demonstrated enhanced association strength and globally shared-associations, which were significantly greater than those of the other networks. This study characterized how brain regions individually and collaboratively support different cognitive loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nianming Zuo
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Alireza Salami
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institute and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Yihong Yang
- Neuroimaging Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Zhengyi Yang
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Sui
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianzi Jiang
- Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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18
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Sarter M, Lustig C. Cholinergic double duty: cue detection and attentional control. Curr Opin Psychol 2019; 29:102-107. [PMID: 30711909 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cholinergic signaling in the cortex involves fast or transient signaling as well as a relatively slower neuromodulatory component. These two components of cholinergic activity mediate separate yet interacting aspects of cue detection and attentional control. The transient component appears to support the activation of cue-associated task or response sets, whereas the slower modulatory component stabilizes task-set and context representations, therefore potentially facilitating top-down control. Evidence from humans expressing genetic variants of the choline transporter as well as from patients with degenerating cholinergic systems supports the hypothesis that attentional control capacities depend on levels of cholinergic neuromodulation. Deficits in cholinergic-attentional control impact diverse cognitive functions, including timing, working memory, and complex movement control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Sarter
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
| | - Cindy Lustig
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
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19
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Berry AS, Shah VD, Jagust WJ. The Influence of Dopamine on Cognitive Flexibility Is Mediated by Functional Connectivity in Young but Not Older Adults. J Cogn Neurosci 2018; 30:1330-1344. [PMID: 29791298 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Dopaminergic signaling in striatum is strongly implicated in executive functions including cognitive flexibility. However, there is a paucity of multimodal research in humans defining the nature of relationships between endogenous dopamine, striatal network activity, and cognition. Here, we measured dopamine synthesis capacity in young and older adults using the PET tracer 6-[18F]fluoro-l- m-tyrosine and examined its relationship with cognitive performance and functional connectivity during an fMRI study of task switching. Aging is associated with alteration in dopamine function, including profound losses in dopamine receptors but an apparent elevation in dopamine synthesis. A compensatory benefit of upregulated dopamine synthesis in aging has not been established. Across young and older adults, we found that cognitive flexibility (low behavioral switch cost) was associated with stronger task-related functional connectivity within canonical fronto-striato-thalamic circuits connecting left inferior frontal gyrus, dorsal caudate nucleus (DCA) and ventral lateral/ventral anterior thalamic nuclei. In young adults, functional connectivity mediated the influence of DCA dopamine synthesis capacity on switch cost. For older adults, these relationships were modified such that DCA synthesis capacity and connectivity interacted to influence switch cost. Older adults with most elevated synthesis capacity maintained the pattern of connectivity-cognition relationships observed in youth, whereas these relationships were not evident for older adults with low synthesis capacity. Together, these findings suggest a role of dopamine in tuning striatal circuits to benefit executive function in young adults and clarify the functional impact of elevated dopamine synthesis capacity in aging.
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20
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Compensatory dopaminergic-cholinergic interactions in conflict processing: Evidence from patients with Parkinson's disease. Neuroimage 2018; 190:94-106. [PMID: 29337277 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Executive functions are complex both in the cognitive operations involved and in the neural structures and functions that support those operations. This complexity makes executive function highly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of aging, brain injury, and disease, but may also open paths to compensation. Neural compensation is often used to explain findings of additional or altered patterns of brain activations by older adults or patient populations compared to young adults or healthy controls, especially when associated with relatively preserved performance. Here we test the hypothesis of an alternative form of compensation, between different neuromodulator systems. 135 patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) completed vesicular monoamine transporter type2 (VMAT2) and acetylcholinesterase PET scanning to assess the integrity of nigrostriatal dopaminergic, thalamic cholinergic, and cortical cholinergic pathways, and a behavioral test (Stroop + task-switching) that puts high demands on conflict processing, an important aspect of executive control. Supporting the compensatory hypothesis, regression models controlling for age and other covariates revealed an interaction between caudate dopamine and cortical cholinergic integrity: Cortical cholinergic integrity was a stronger predictor of conflict processing in patients with relatively low caudate dopaminergic function. These results suggest that although frontostriatal dopaminergic function plays a central role in executive control, cholinergic systems may also make an important contribution. The present results suggest potential pathways for remediation, and that the appropriate interventions for each patient may depend on their particular profile of decline. Furthermore, they help to elucidate the brain systems that underlie executive control, which may be important for understanding other disorders as well as executive function in healthy adults.
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21
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Bast N, Poustka L, Freitag CM. The locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system as pacemaker of attention - a developmental mechanism of derailed attentional function in autism spectrum disorder. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 47:115-125. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nico Bast
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy; University Hospital; Goethe University Frankfurt am Main; Deutschordenstraße 50 60528 Frankfurt am Main Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy; Medical Faculty Mannheim; Central Institute of Mental Health; Heidelberg University; Heidelberg Germany
| | - Luise Poustka
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy; Medical Faculty Mannheim; Central Institute of Mental Health; Heidelberg University; Heidelberg Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy; University Medical Center Göttingen; Medical University of Göttingen; Göttingen Germany
| | - Christine M. Freitag
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy; University Hospital; Goethe University Frankfurt am Main; Deutschordenstraße 50 60528 Frankfurt am Main Germany
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22
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The cortical cholinergic system contributes to the top-down control of distraction: Evidence from patients with Parkinson's disease. Neuroimage 2017; 190:107-117. [PMID: 29277400 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Past animal and human studies robustly report that the cholinergic system plays an essential role in both top-down and bottom-up attentional control, as well as other aspects of cognition (see Ballinger et al., 2016 for a recent review). However, current understanding of how two major cholinergic pathways in the human brain (the basal forebrain-cortical pathway, and the brainstem pedunculopontine-thalamic pathway) contribute to specific cognitive functions remains somewhat limited. To address this issue, we examine how individual variation in the integrity of striatal-dopaminergic, thalamic-cholinergic, and cortical-cholinergic pathways (measured using Positron Emission Tomography in patients with Parkinson's disease) was associated with individual variation in the initial goal-directed focus of attention, the ability to sustain attentional performance over time, and the ability to avoid distraction from a highly-salient, but irrelevant, environmental stimulus. Compared to healthy controls, PD patients performed similarly in the precision of attention-dependent judgments of duration, and in sustaining attention over time. However, PD patients' performance was strikingly more impaired by the distractor. More critically, regression analyses indicated that only cortical-cholinergic integrity, not thalamic-cholinergic or striatal-dopaminergic integrity, made a specific contribution to the ability to resist distraction after controlling for the other variables. These results demonstrate that the basal forebrain cortical cholinergic system serves a specific role in executing top-down control to resist external distraction.
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23
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Kim K, Müller MLTM, Bohnen NI, Sarter M, Lustig C. Thalamic cholinergic innervation makes a specific bottom-up contribution to signal detection: Evidence from Parkinson's disease patients with defined cholinergic losses. Neuroimage 2017; 149:295-304. [PMID: 28167350 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful behavior depends on the ability to detect and respond to relevant cues, especially under challenging conditions. This essential component of attention has been hypothesized to be mediated by multiple neuromodulator systems, but the contributions of individual systems (e.g., cholinergic, dopaminergic) have remained unclear. The present study addresses this issue by leveraging individual variation in regionally-specific cholinergic denervation in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, while controlling for variation in dopaminergic denervation. Patients whose dopaminergic and cholinergic nerve terminal integrity had been previously assessed using Positron Emission Tomography (Bohnen et al., 2012) and controls were tested in a signal detection task that manipulates attentional-perceptual challenge and has been used extensively in both rodents and humans to investigate the cholinergic system's role in responding to such challenges (Demeter et al., 2008; McGaughy and Sarter, 1995; see Hasselmo and Sarter 2011 for review). In simple correlation analyses, measures of midbrain dopaminergic, and both cortical and thalamic cholinergic innervation all predicted preserved signal detection under challenge. However, regression analyses also controlling for age, disease severity, and other variables showed that the only significant independent neurotransmitter-related predictor over and above the other variables in the model was thalamic cholinergic integrity. Furthermore, thalamic cholinergic innervation exclusively predicted hits, not correct rejections, indicating a specific contribution to bottom-up salience processing. These results help define regionally-specific contributions of cholinergic function to different aspects of attention and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamin Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
| | - Martijn L T M Müller
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Nicolaas I Bohnen
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Martin Sarter
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Cindy Lustig
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; University of Michigan Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
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