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Caravati E, Barbeni F, Chiarion G, Raggi M, Mesin L. Closed-Loop Transcranial Electrical Neurostimulation for Sustained Attention Enhancement: A Pilot Study towards Personalized Intervention Strategies. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:467. [PMID: 38790334 PMCID: PMC11118513 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11050467] [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: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Sustained attention is pivotal for tasks like studying and working for which focus and low distractions are necessary for peak productivity. This study explores the effectiveness of adaptive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in either the frontal or parietal region to enhance sustained attention. The research involved ten healthy university students performing the Continuous Performance Task-AX (AX-CPT) while receiving either frontal or parietal tDCS. The study comprised three phases. First, we acquired the electroencephalography (EEG) signal to identify the most suitable metrics related to attention states. Among different spectral and complexity metrics computed on 3 s epochs of EEG, the Fuzzy Entropy and Multiscale Sample Entropy Index of frontal channels were selected. Secondly, we assessed how tDCS at a fixed 1.0 mA current affects attentional performance. Finally, a real-time experiment involving continuous metric monitoring allowed personalized dynamic optimization of the current amplitude and stimulation site (frontal or parietal). The findings reveal statistically significant improvements in mean accuracy (94.04 vs. 90.82%) and reaction times (262.93 vs. 302.03 ms) with the adaptive tDCS compared to a non-stimulation condition. Average reaction times were statistically shorter during adaptive stimulation compared to a fixed current amplitude condition (262.93 vs. 283.56 ms), while mean accuracy stayed similar (94.04 vs. 93.36%, improvement not statistically significant). Despite the limited number of subjects, this work points out the promising potential of adaptive tDCS as a tailored treatment for enhancing sustained attention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Luca Mesin
- Mathematical Biology and Physiology, Department Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy; (E.C.); (F.B.); (G.C.); (M.R.)
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Yang C, Biswal B, Cui Q, Jing X, Ao Y, Wang Y. Frequency-dependent alterations of global signal topography in patients with major depressive disorder. Psychol Med 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38362834 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291724000254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated not only with disorders in multiple brain networks but also with frequency-specific brain activities. The abnormality of spatiotemporal networks in patients with MDD remains largely unclear. METHODS We investigated the alterations of the global spatiotemporal network in MDD patients using a large-sample multicenter resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging dataset. The spatiotemporal characteristics were measured by the variability of global signal (GS) and its correlation with local signals (GSCORR) at multiple frequency bands. The association between these indicators and clinical scores was further assessed. RESULTS The GS fluctuations were reduced in patients with MDD across the full frequency range (0-0.1852 Hz). The GSCORR was also reduced in the MDD group, especially in the relatively higher frequency range (0.0728-0.1852 Hz). Interestingly, these indicators showed positive correlations with depressive scores in the MDD group and relative negative correlations in the control group. CONCLUSION The GS and its spatiotemporal effects on local signals were weakened in patients with MDD, which may impair inter-regional synchronization and related functions. Patients with severe depression may use the compensatory mechanism to make up for the functional impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengxiao Yang
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Bharat Biswal
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Qian Cui
- School of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xiujuan Jing
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Yujia Ao
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yifeng Wang
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, China
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Yang S, Dong H, Albitos PJ, Wang Y, Fang Y, Cao L, Wang J, Sun L, Zhang H. Low-frequency variability in theta activity modulates the attention-fluctuation across task and resting states. Neuropsychologia 2024; 193:108757. [PMID: 38103680 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108757] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Sustained attention is not constant but fluctuates influencing our task performance. Albeit intensive investigations, it remains unclear whether the attention-fluctuation during tasks is derived from its spontaneous fluctuation in the resting state. Here, we addressed this issue by investigating the attention-fluctuation in both task and resting states, through the EEG measurement of theta-variability. We found significant rest-task modulation of theta-variability, i.e., reduced theta-variability in the task state compared to the resting state. This task and rest modulation was manifested in the low-frequency of theta-variability (<0.1 Hz). Furthermore, the low-frequency theta-variability exhibited a significant rest-task correlation, however, only the low-frequency theta-variability in the task state but not in the resting state was correlated with the behavioral performance. These findings shed light on the low-frequency feature of attention-fluctuation, and advanced our understanding of sustained attention by suggesting that the theta-variability in low-frequencies was relevant to attention level in task state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyou Yang
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Huimei Dong
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Princess Jane Albitos
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yaoyao Wang
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yantong Fang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Longfei Cao
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinghua Wang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Neurology the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Xu N, Smith DM, Jeno G, Seeburger DT, Schumacher EH, Keilholz SD. The interaction between random and systematic visual stimulation and infraslow quasiperiodic spatiotemporal patterns of whole brain activity. IMAGING NEUROSCIENCE (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 1:1-19. [PMID: 37701786 PMCID: PMC10494556 DOI: 10.1162/imag_a_00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
One prominent feature of the infraslow BOLD signal during rest or task is quasi-periodic spatiotemporal pattern (QPP) of signal changes that involves an alternation of activity in key functional networks and propagation of activity across brain areas, and that is known to tie to the infraslow neural activity involved in attention and arousal fluctuations. This ongoing whole-brain pattern of activity might potentially modify the response to incoming stimuli or be modified itself by the induced neural activity. To investigate this, we presented checkerboard sequences flashing at 6Hz to subjects. This is a salient visual stimulus that is known to produce a strong response in visual processing regions. Two different visual stimulation sequences were employed, a systematic stimulation sequence in which the visual stimulus appeared every 20.3 secs and a random stimulation sequence in which the visual stimulus occurred randomly every 14~62.3 secs. Three central observations emerged. First, the two different stimulation conditions affect the QPP waveform in different aspects, i.e., systematic stimulation has greater effects on its phase and random stimulation has greater effects on its magnitude. Second, the QPP was more frequent in the systematic condition with significantly shorter intervals between consecutive QPPs compared to the random condition. Third, the BOLD signal response to the visual stimulus across both conditions was swamped by the QPP at the stimulus onset. These results provide novel insights into the relationship between intrinsic patterns and stimulated brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xu
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Derek M. Smith
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neurology/Neuropsychology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - George Jeno
- School of Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Dolly T. Seeburger
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Eric H. Schumacher
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Shella D. Keilholz
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Yang S, Enkhzaya G, Zhu BH, Chen J, Wang ZJ, Kim ES, Kim NY. High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in the Right Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex Lengthens Sustained Attention in Virtual Reality. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:721. [PMID: 37370652 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10060721] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the current limitations of three-dimensional (3D) simulation graphics technology, mind wandering commonly occurs in virtual reality tasks, which has impeded it being applied more extensively. The right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (rVLPFC) plays a vital role in executing continuous two-dimensional (2D) mental paradigms, and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over this cortical region has been shown to successfully modulate sustained 2D attention. Accordingly, we further explored the effects of electrical activation of the rVLPFC on 3D attentional tasks using anodal high-definition (HD)-tDCS. A 3D Go/No-go (GNG) task was developed to compare the after effects of real and sham brain stimulation. Specifically, GNG tasks were periodically interrupted to assess the subjective perception of attentional level, behavioral reactions were tracked and decomposed into an underlying decision cognition process, and electroencephalography data were recorded to calculate event-related potentials (ERPs) in rVLPFC. The p-values statistically indicated that HD-tDCS improved the subjective mentality, led to more cautious decisions, and enhanced neuronal discharging in rVLPFC. Additionally, the neurophysiological P300 ERP component and stimulation being active or sham could effectively predict several objective outcomes. These findings indicate that the comprehensive approach including brain stimulation, 3D mental paradigm, and cross-examined performance could significantly lengthen and robustly compare sustained 3D attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Yang
- RFIC Center, Department of Electronic Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Nonwon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
- NDAC Center, Department of Electronic Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Nonwon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Ganbold Enkhzaya
- RFIC Center, Department of Electronic Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Nonwon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
- NDAC Center, Department of Electronic Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Nonwon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Bao-Hua Zhu
- RFIC Center, Department of Electronic Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Nonwon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Jian Chen
- RFIC Center, Department of Electronic Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Nonwon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhi-Ji Wang
- RFIC Center, Department of Electronic Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Nonwon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Seong Kim
- RFIC Center, Department of Electronic Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Nonwon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Young Kim
- RFIC Center, Department of Electronic Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Nonwon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
- NDAC Center, Department of Electronic Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Nonwon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
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Xu N, Smith DM, Jeno G, Seeburger DT, Schumacher EH, Keilholz SD. The interaction between random and systematic visual stimulation and infraslow quasiperiodic spatiotemporal patterns of whole brain activity. Neuroimage 2023:120165. [PMID: 37172663 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
One prominent feature of the infraslow BOLD signal during rest or task is quasi-periodic spatiotemporal pattern (QPP) of signal changes that involves an alternation of activity in key functional networks and propagation of activity across brain areas, and that is known to tie to the infraslow neural activity involved in attention and arousal fluctuations. This ongoing whole-brain pattern of activity might potentially modify the response to incoming stimuli or be modified itself by the induced neural activity. To investigate this, we presented checkerboard sequences flashing at 6Hz to subjects. This is a salient visual stimulus that is known to produce a strong response in visual processing regions. Two different visual stimulation sequences were employed, a systematic stimulation sequence in which the visual stimulus appeared every 20.3 secs and a random stimulation sequence in which the visual stimulus occurred randomly every 14∼62.3 secs. Three central observations emerged. First, the two different stimulation conditions affect the QPP waveform in different aspects, i.e., systematic stimulation has greater effects on its phase and random stimulation has greater effects on its magnitude. Second, the QPP was more frequent in the systematic condition with significantly shorter intervals between consecutive QPPs compared to the random condition. Third, the BOLD signal response to the visual stimulus across both conditions was swamped by the QPP at the stimulus onset. These results provide novel insights into the relationship between intrinsic patterns and stimulated brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xu
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Derek M Smith
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Neurology, Division of Cognitive Neurology/Neuropsychology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - George Jeno
- School of Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Dolly T Seeburger
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Eric H Schumacher
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Shella D Keilholz
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Qiao J, Wang Y, Wang S. Natural frequencies of neural activities and cognitions may serve as precise targets of rhythmic interventions to the aging brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:988193. [PMID: 36172484 PMCID: PMC9510897 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.988193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhythmic neural activities are critical to the efficiency of regulatory procedures in brain functions. However, brain functions usually decline in aging as accompanied by frequency shift and temporal dedifferentiation of neural activities. Considering the strong oscillations and long-lasting after-effects induced by rhythmic brain stimulations, we suggest that non-invasive rhythmic brain stimulation technique may help restore the natural frequencies of neural activities in aging to that in younger and healthy brains. Although with tremendous work to do, this technique offers great opportunities for the restoration of normal brain functions in aging, or even in those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Qiao
- Academy for Engineering and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifeng Wang
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
- Yifeng Wang,
| | - Shouyan Wang
- Academy for Engineering and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Shouyan Wang,
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Kropotov JD. The enigma of infra-slow fluctuations in the human EEG. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:928410. [PMID: 35982689 PMCID: PMC9378968 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.928410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous Infra-Slow Fluctuations (ISFs) of the human EEG (EEG-ISFs) were discovered 60 years ago when appropriate amplifiers for their recordings were designed. To avoid skin-related artifacts the recording of EEG-ISFs required puncturing the skin under the electrode. In the beginning of the 21st century the interest in EEG-ISFs was renewed with the appearance of commercially available DC-coupled amplified and by observation of ISFs of the blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging signal at a similar frequency. The independent components of irregular EEG-ISFs were shown to correlate with BOLD signals which in turn were driven by changes in arousal level measured by galvanic skin response (GSR), pupil size and HRV. There is no consensus regarding the temporal organization of EEG-ISFs: some studies emphasize the absence of peaks on EEG-ISFs spectra, some studies report prominent oscillations with frequency around 0.1 or 0.02 Hz, while some emphasize multiple discrete infraslow oscillations. No studies used parameters of EEG-ISFs as neuromarkers to discriminate psychiatric patients from healthy controls. Finally, a set of working hypotheses is suggested that must be tested in future research to solve the enigma of EEG-ISFs.
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