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The medial temporal lobe structure and function support positive affect. Neuropsychologia 2022; 176:108373. [PMID: 36167193 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108373] [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: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Positive affect (PA) is not only associated with individuals' psychological and physical health, but also their cognitive processes. However, whether medial temporal lobe (MTL) and its subfields' volume/functional connectivity can explain individual variability in PA remains understudied. We investigated the morphological (i.e., grey matter volume; GMV) and functional characteristics (i.e., resting-state functional connectivity; rsFC) of PA with a combination of univariate and multivariate pattern analyses (MVPA) using a large sample of participants (n = 321). We simultaneously collected the T1-weighted (n = 321), high-resolution MTL T2-weighted, and resting-state functional imaging data (n = 209). The MTL and its subfields' volumes, including the CA1, CA2+3, DG, and subiculum (SUB), perirhinal cortex (PRC), and parahippocampus (PHC), were extracted using an automatic segmentation of hippocampal subfields (ASHS) software. The morphological results revealed that GMVs in the prefrontal-occipital and limbic (i.e., hippocampus, amygdala, and PHC) systems were associated with variability in PA at the whole-brain level using MVPA but not univariate analysis. Linear regression results further revealed a positive association between the MTL subfields' GMV, especially for the right PRC, and PA after controlling for several covariates. PRC-seed-based rsFC analyses further revealed that its couplings with the fronto-parietal-occipital system predicted PA in both univariate and MVPA. These findings provide novel insights into the neuroanatomical and functional substrates underlying human PA trait. Findings also suggest critical contributions of the MTL and its subfield of the perirhinal cortex, but not hippocampal subfields, as well as its functional coupling with the fronto-parietal control-system on the formation of PA.
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The relationship between early and recent life stress and emotional expression processing: A functional connectivity study. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 20:588-603. [PMID: 32342272 PMCID: PMC7266792 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-020-00789-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize neural activation during the processing of negative facial expressions in a non-clinical group of individuals characterized by two factors: the levels of stress experienced in early life and in adulthood. Two models of stress consequences were investigated: the match/mismatch and cumulative stress models. The match/mismatch model assumes that early adversities may promote optimal coping with similar events in the future through fostering the development of coping strategies. The cumulative stress model assumes that effects of stress are additive, regardless of the timing of the stressors. Previous studies suggested that stress can have both cumulative and match/mismatch effects on brain structure and functioning and, consequently, we hypothesized that effects on brain circuitry would be found for both models. We anticipated effects on the neural circuitry of structures engaged in face perception and emotional processing. Hence, the amygdala, fusiform face area, occipital face area, and posterior superior temporal sulcus were selected as seeds for seed-based functional connectivity analyses. The interaction between early and recent stress was related to alterations during the processing of emotional expressions mainly in to the cerebellum, middle temporal gyrus, and supramarginal gyrus. For cumulative stress levels, such alterations were observed in functional connectivity to the middle temporal gyrus, lateral occipital cortex, precuneus, precentral and postcentral gyri, anterior and posterior cingulate gyri, and Heschl's gyrus. This study adds to the growing body of literature suggesting that both the cumulative and the match/mismatch hypotheses are useful in explaining the effects of stress.
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Comparative Brain Imaging Reveals Analogous and Divergent Patterns of Species and Face Sensitivity in Humans and Dogs. J Neurosci 2020; 40:8396-8408. [PMID: 33020215 PMCID: PMC7577605 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2800-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Conspecific-preference in social perception is evident for multiple sensory modalities and in many species. There is also a dedicated neural network for face processing in primates. However, the evolutionary origin and the relative role of neural species sensitivity and face sensitivity in visuo-social processing are largely unknown. Conspecific-preference in social perception is evident for multiple sensory modalities and in many species. There is also a dedicated neural network for face processing in primates. However, the evolutionary origin and the relative role of neural species sensitivity and face sensitivity in visuo-social processing are largely unknown. In this comparative study, species sensitivity and face sensitivity to identical visual stimuli (videos of human and dog faces and occiputs) were examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging in dogs (n = 20; 45% female) and humans (n = 30; 50% female). In dogs, the bilateral mid suprasylvian gyrus showed conspecific-preference, no regions exhibited face-preference, and the majority of the visually-responsive cortex showed greater conspecific-preference than face-preference. In humans, conspecific-preferring regions (the right amygdala/hippocampus and the posterior superior temporal sulcus) also showed face-preference, and much of the visually-responsive cortex showed greater face-preference than conspecific-preference. Multivariate pattern analyses (MVPAs) identified species-sensitive regions in both species, but face-sensitive regions only in humans. Across-species representational similarity analyses (RSAs) revealed stronger correspondence between dog and human response patterns for distinguishing conspecific from heterospecific faces than other contrasts. Results unveil functional analogies in dog and human visuo-social processing of conspecificity but suggest that cortical specialization for face perception may not be ubiquitous across mammals. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT To explore the evolutionary origins of human face-preference and its relationship to conspecific-preference, we conducted the first comparative and noninvasive visual neuroimaging study of a non-primate and a primate species, dogs and humans. Conspecific-preferring brain regions were observed in both species, but face-preferring brain regions were observed only in humans. In dogs, an overwhelming majority of visually-responsive cortex exhibited greater conspecific-preference than face-preference, whereas in humans, much of the visually-responsive cortex showed greater face-preference than conspecific-preference. Together, these findings unveil functional analogies and differences in the organizing principles of visuo-social processing across two phylogenetically distant mammal species.
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Grady CL, Rieck JR, Nichol D, Garrett DD. Functional Connectivity within and beyond the Face Network Is Related to Reduced Discrimination of Degraded Faces in Young and Older Adults. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:6206-6223. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Degrading face stimuli reduces face discrimination in both young and older adults, but the brain correlates of this decline in performance are not fully understood. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the effects of degraded face stimuli on face and nonface brain networks and tested whether these changes would predict the linear declines seen in performance. We found decreased activity in the face network (FN) and a decrease in the similarity of functional connectivity (FC) in the FN across conditions as degradation increased but no effect of age. FC in whole-brain networks also changed with increasing degradation, including increasing FC between the visual network and cognitive control networks. Older adults showed reduced modulation of this whole-brain FC pattern. The strongest predictors of within-participant decline in accuracy were changes in whole-brain network FC and FC similarity of the FN. There was no influence of age on these brain-behavior relations. These results suggest that a systems-level approach beyond the FN is required to understand the brain correlates of performance decline when faces are obscured with noise. In addition, the association between brain and behavior changes was maintained into older age, despite the dampened FC response to face degradation seen in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl L Grady
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, ON M6A2E1, Canada
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jenny R Rieck
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, ON M6A2E1, Canada
| | - Daniel Nichol
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, ON M6A2E1, Canada
| | - Douglas D Garrett
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
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Denadai R, Chou PY, Su YY, Lo CC, Lin HH, Ho CT, Lo LJ. Facial Appearance and Psychosocial Features in Orthognathic Surgery: A FACE-Q- and 3D Facial Image-Based Comparative Study of Patient-, Clinician-, and Lay-Observer-Reported Outcomes. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E909. [PMID: 31242639 PMCID: PMC6616869 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8060909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Outcome measures reported by patients, clinicians, and lay-observers can help to tailor treatment plans to meet patients' needs. This study evaluated orthognathic surgery (OGS) outcomes using pre- and post-OGS patients' (n = 84) FACE-Q reports, and a three-dimensional facial photograph-based panel assessment of facial appearance and psychosocial parameters, with 96 blinded layperson and orthodontic and surgical professional raters, and verified whether there were correlations between these outcome measurement tools. Post-OGS FACE-Q and panel assessment measurements showed significant (p < 0.001) differences from pre-OGS measurements. Pre-OGS patients' FACE-Q scores were significantly (p < 0.01) lower than normal, age-, gender-, and ethnicity-matched individuals' (n = 54) FACE-Q scores, with no differences in post-OGS comparisons. The FACE-Q overall facial appearance scale had a low, statistically significant (p < 0.001) correlation to the facial-aesthetic-based panel assessment, but no correlation to the FACE-Q lower face and lips scales. No significant correlation was observed between the FACE-Q and panel assessment psychosocial-related scales. This study demonstrates that OGS treatment positively influences the facial appearance and psychosocial-related perceptions of patients, clinicians and lay observers, but that there is only a low, or no, correlation between the FACE-Q and panel assessment tools. Future investigations may consider the inclusion of both tools as OGS treatment endpoints for the improvement of patient-centered care, and guiding the health-system-related decision-making processes of multidisciplinary teams, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Denadai
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Craniofacial Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
| | - Pang-Yun Chou
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Craniofacial Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
| | - Yu-Ying Su
- Department of Craniofacial Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
| | - Chi-Chin Lo
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Craniofacial Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
| | - Hsiu-Hsia Lin
- Image Lab and Craniofacial Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Ting Ho
- Department of Craniofacial Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
| | - Lun-Jou Lo
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Craniofacial Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
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Rostalski SM, Amado C, Kovács G. Repetition Suppression for Noisy and Intact Faces in the Occipito-Temporal Cortex. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1348. [PMID: 31258501 PMCID: PMC6587110 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetition suppression (RS), the relative lower neural response magnitude to repeated as compared to non-repeated stimuli, is often explained within the predictive coding framework. According to this theory, precise predictions (priors) together with less precise sensory evidences lead to decisions that are determined largely by the predictions and the other way around. In other words, the prediction error, namely the magnitude of RS, should depend on the precision of predictions and sensory inputs. In the current study, we aimed at testing this idea by manipulating the clarity and thereby the precision of the incoming sensory data by adding noise to the images. This resulted in an fMRI adaptation design with repeated or alternating trials showing clear or noisy face stimuli. Our results show a noise effect on the activity in the fusiform face area (FFA), namely less activation for noisy than for clear trials, which supports previous findings. No such effects could be found in OFA or LO. Data also showed reliable RS in the FFA (bilateral) and unilaterally in OFA (right) and LO (left). Interestingly, the noise added to the stimuli did not affect the magnitude of RS in any of the tested cortical areas. This suggests that the clarity of the sensory input is not crucial in determining the magnitude of RS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie-Marie Rostalski
- Department of Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neurosciences, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Catarina Amado
- Department of Computer Science, Experimental Cognitive Science Research Group, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gyula Kovács
- Department of Biological Psychology and Cognitive Neurosciences, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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McGugin RW, Ryan KF, Tamber-Rosenau BJ, Gauthier I. The Role of Experience in the Face-Selective Response in Right FFA. Cereb Cortex 2017; 28:2071-2084. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rankin W McGugin
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Wilson Hall, PMB 407817, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37240-7817, USA
| | - Katie F Ryan
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Wilson Hall, PMB 407817, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37240-7817, USA
| | - Benjamin J Tamber-Rosenau
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Wilson Hall, PMB 407817, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37240-7817, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 126 Heyne Building, 3695 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Isabel Gauthier
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Wilson Hall, PMB 407817, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37240-7817, USA
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Schelinski S, Borowiak K, von Kriegstein K. Temporal voice areas exist in autism spectrum disorder but are dysfunctional for voice identity recognition. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2016; 11:1812-1822. [PMID: 27369067 PMCID: PMC5091681 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsw089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to recognise the identity of others is a key requirement for successful communication. Brain regions that respond selectively to voices exist in humans from early infancy on. Currently, it is unclear whether dysfunction of these voice-sensitive regions can explain voice identity recognition impairments. Here, we used two independent functional magnetic resonance imaging studies to investigate voice processing in a population that has been reported to have no voice-sensitive regions: autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our results refute the earlier report that individuals with ASD have no responses in voice-sensitive regions: Passive listening to vocal, compared to non-vocal, sounds elicited typical responses in voice-sensitive regions in the high-functioning ASD group and controls. In contrast, the ASD group had a dysfunction in voice-sensitive regions during voice identity but not speech recognition in the right posterior superior temporal sulcus/gyrus (STS/STG)-a region implicated in processing complex spectrotemporal voice features and unfamiliar voices. The right anterior STS/STG correlated with voice identity recognition performance in controls but not in the ASD group. The findings suggest that right STS/STG dysfunction is critical for explaining voice recognition impairments in high-functioning ASD and show that ASD is not characterised by a general lack of voice-sensitive responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Schelinski
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Max Planck Research Group, Neural mechanisms of human communication, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Kamila Borowiak
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Max Planck Research Group, Neural mechanisms of human communication, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, 10117
| | - Katharina von Kriegstein
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Max Planck Research Group, Neural mechanisms of human communication, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, 12489, Germany
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10
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Schelinski S, Roswandowitz C, von Kriegstein K. Voice identity processing in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2016; 10:155-168. [PMID: 27404447 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties in identifying another person by face and voice. This might contribute considerably to the development of social cognition and interaction difficulties. The characteristics of the voice recognition deficit in ASD are unknown. Here, we used a comprehensive behavioral test battery to systematically investigate voice processing in high-functioning ASD (n = 16) and typically developed pair-wise matched controls (n = 16). The ASD group had particular difficulties with discriminating, learning, and recognizing unfamiliar voices, while recognizing famous voices was relatively intact. Tests on acoustic processing abilities showed that the ASD group had a specific deficit in vocal pitch perception that was dissociable from otherwise intact acoustic processing (i.e., musical pitch, musical, and vocal timbre perception). Our results allow a characterization of the voice recognition deficit in ASD: The findings indicate that in high-functioning ASD, the difficulty to recognize voices is particularly pronounced for learning novel voices and the recognition of unfamiliar peoples' voices. This pattern might be indicative of difficulties with integrating the acoustic characteristics of the voice into a coherent percept-a function that has been previously associated with voice-selective regions in the posterior superior temporal sulcus/gyrus of the human brain. Autism Res 2017, 10: 155-168. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Schelinski
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School on Neuroscience of Communication, Leipzig, Germany.,Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Roswandowitz
- International Max Planck Research School on Neuroscience of Communication, Leipzig, Germany
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Zimmer M, Zbanţ A, Németh K, Kovács G. Adaptation Duration Dissociates Category-, Image-, and Person-Specific Processes on Face-Evoked Event-Related Potentials. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1945. [PMID: 26733925 PMCID: PMC4686601 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies demonstrated that face perception is biased by the prior presentation of another face, a phenomenon termed as face-related after-effect (FAE). FAE is linked to a neural signal-reduction at occipito-temporal areas and it can be observed in the amplitude modulation of the early event-related potential (ERP) components. Recently, macaque single-cell recording studies suggested that manipulating the duration of the adaptor makes the selective adaptation of different visual motion processing steps possible. To date, however, only a few studies tested the effects of adaptor duration on the electrophysiological correlates of human face processing directly. The goal of the current study was to test the effect of adaptor duration on the image-, identity-, and generic category-specific face processing steps. To this end, in a two-alternative forced choice familiarity decision task we used five adaptor durations (ranging from 200-5000 ms) and four adaptor categories: adaptor and test were identical images-Repetition Suppression (RS); adaptor and test were different images of the Same Identity (SameID); adaptor and test images depicted Different Identities (DiffID); the adaptor was a Fourier phase-randomized image (No). Behaviorally, a strong priming effect was observed in both accuracy and response times for RS compared with both DiffID and No. The electrophysiological results suggest that rapid adaptation leads to a category-specific modulation of P100, N170, and N250. In addition, both identity and image-specific processes affected the N250 component during rapid adaptation. On the other hand, prolonged (5000 ms) adaptation enhanced, and extended category-specific adaptation processes over all tested ERP components. Additionally, prolonged adaptation led to the emergence of image-, and identity-specific modulations on the N170 and P2 components as well. In other words, there was a clear dissociation among category, identity-, and image-specific processing steps in the case of longer (3500 and 5000 ms) but not for shorter durations (< 3500 ms), reflected in the gradual reduction of N170 and enhancement of P2 in the No, DiffID, SameID, and RS conditions. Our findings imply that by manipulating adaptation duration one can dissociate the various steps of human face processing, reflected in the ERP response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márta Zimmer
- Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics Budapest, Hungary
| | - Adriana Zbanţ
- Faculty of Philosophy and Education, University of Vienna Vienna, Austria
| | - Kornél Németh
- Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gyula Kovács
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University JenaJena, Germany; DFG Research Unit Person Perception, Friedrich Schiller University JenaJena, Germany
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The reliability of individual differences in face-selective responses in the fusiform gyrus and their relation to face recognition ability. Brain Imaging Behav 2015; 10:707-18. [DOI: 10.1007/s11682-015-9467-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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13
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Grewen K, Salzwedel AP, Gao W. Functional Connectivity Disruption in Neonates with Prenatal Marijuana Exposure. Front Hum Neurosci 2015; 9:601. [PMID: 26582983 PMCID: PMC4631947 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal marijuana exposure (PME) is linked to neurobehavioral and cognitive impairments; however, findings in childhood and adolescence are inconsistent. Type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) modulate fetal neurodevelopment, mediating PME effects on growth of functional circuitry sub-serving behaviors critical for academic and social success. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of prenatal marijuana on development of early brain functional circuitry prior to prolonged postnatal environmental influences. We measured resting state functional connectivity during unsedated sleep in infants at 2–6 weeks (+MJ: 20 with PME in combination with nicotine, alcohol, opiates, and/or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; −MJ: 23 exposed to the same other drugs without marijuana, CTR: 20 drug-free controls). Connectivity of subcortical seed regions with high fetal CB1R expression was examined. Marijuana-specific differences were observed in insula and three striatal connections: anterior insula–cerebellum, right caudate–cerebellum, right caudate–right fusiform gyrus/inferior occipital, left caudate–cerebellum. +MJ neonates had hypo-connectivity in all clusters compared with −MJ and CTR groups. Altered striatal connectivity to areas involved in visual spatial and motor learning, attention, and in fine-tuning of motor outputs involved in movement and language production may contribute to neurobehavioral deficits reported in this at-risk group. Disrupted anterior insula connectivity may contribute to altered integration of interoceptive signals with salience estimates, motivation, decision-making, and later drug use. Compared with CTRs, both +MJ and −MJ groups demonstrated hyper-connectivity of left amygdala seed with orbital frontal cortex and hypo-connectivity of posterior thalamus seed with hippocampus, suggesting vulnerability to multiple drugs in these circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Grewen
- Department of Psychiatry, Neurobiology, and Psychology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA
| | - Andrew P Salzwedel
- Department of Radiology, Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA ; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Imaging, Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Cente , Los Angeles, CA , USA
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Radiology, Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC , USA ; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Imaging, Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Cente , Los Angeles, CA , USA
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