1
|
Muhammad F, Weber KA, Rohan M, Smith ZA. Patterns of cortical thickness alterations in degenerative cervical myelopathy: associations with dexterity and gait dysfunctions. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae279. [PMID: 39364309 PMCID: PMC11448325 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) can lead to significant brain structural reorganization. The association between the cortical changes and specific motor symptoms in DCM has yet to be fully elucidated. We investigated the associations between cortical thickness changes with neurological symptoms, such as dexterity and gait abnormalities, in patients with DCM in a case-control study. A 3 Tesla MRI scanner was used to acquire high-resolution T1-weighted structural scans from 30 right-handed patients with DCM and 22 age-matched healthy controls. Pronounced cortical thinning was observed in DCM patients relative to healthy controls, particularly in the bilateral precentral and prefrontal gyri, left pars triangularis, left postcentral gyrus, right transverse temporal and visual cortices (P ≤ 0.04). Notably, cortical thickness in these regions showed strong correlations with objective motor deficits (P < 0.0001). Specifically, the prefrontal cortex, premotor area and supplementary motor area exhibited significant thickness reductions correlating with diminished dexterity (R2 = 0.33, P < 0.0007; R2 = 0.34, P = 0.005, respectively). Similarly, declines in gait function were associated with reduced cortical thickness in the visual motor and frontal eye field cortices (R2 = 0.39, P = 0.029, R2 = 0.33, P = 0.04, respectively). Interestingly, only the contralateral precuneus thickness was associated with the overall modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scores (R2 = 0.29, P = 0.003). However, the upper extremity subscore of mJOA indicated an association with the visual cortex and the anterior prefrontal (R2 = 0.48, P = 0.002, R2 = 0.33, P = 0.0034, respectively). In conclusion, our findings reveal patterns of cortical changes correlating with motor deficits, highlighting the significance of combining objective clinical and brain imaging assessments for understanding motor network dysfunction in DCM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fauziyya Muhammad
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Kenneth A Weber
- Systems Neuroscience and Pain Lab, Division of Pain Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Michael Rohan
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA
| | - Zachary A Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Durán-Santos M, Salazar-Varas R, Etcheverry G. Modeling the cortical response elicited by wrist manipulation via a nonlinear delay differential embedding. Phys Eng Sci Med 2024; 47:1-14. [PMID: 38739346 DOI: 10.1007/s13246-024-01427-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Regarding motor processes, modeling healthy people's brains is essential to understand the brain activity in people with motor impairments. However, little research has been undertaken when external forces disturb limbs, having limited information on physiological pathways. Therefore, in this paper, a nonlinear delay differential embedding model is used to estimate the brain response elicited by externally controlled wrist movement in healthy individuals. The aim is to improve the understanding of the relationship between a controlled wrist movement and the generated cortical activity of healthy people, helping to disclose the underlying mechanisms and physiological relationships involved in the motor event. To evaluate the model, a public database from the Delft University of Technology is used, which contains electroencephalographic recordings of ten healthy subjects while wrist movement was externally provoked by a robotic system. In this work, the cortical response related to movement is identified via Independent Component Analysis and estimated based on a nonlinear delay differential embedding model. After a cross-validation analysis, the model performance reaches 90.21% ± 4.46% Variance Accounted For, and Correlation 95.14% ± 2.31%. The proposed methodology allows to select the model degree, to estimate a general predominant operation mode of the cortical response elicited by wrist movement. The obtained results revealed two facts that had not previously been reported: the movement's acceleration affects the cortical response, and a common delayed activity is shared among subjects. Going forward, identifying biomarkers related to motor tasks could aid in the evaluation of rehabilitation treatments for patients with upper limbs motor impairments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martín Durán-Santos
- Department of Computing, Electronics and Mechatronics, Universidad de las Americas Puebla (UDLAP), Ex Hacienda Sta. Catarina Mártir S/N, C.P. 72810, San Andrés Cholula, Puebla, Mexico.
| | - R Salazar-Varas
- Department of Computing, Electronics and Mechatronics, Universidad de las Americas Puebla (UDLAP), Ex Hacienda Sta. Catarina Mártir S/N, C.P. 72810, San Andrés Cholula, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Gibran Etcheverry
- Department of Mathematics, Tiffin University, 155 Miami St, Tiffin, OH, 44883, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Voegtle A, Terzic L, Farahat A, Hartong N, Galazky I, Hinrichs H, Nasuto SJ, de Oliveira Andrade A, Knight RT, Ivry RB, Voges J, Deliano M, Buentjen L, Sweeney-Reed CM. Ventrointermediate thalamic stimulation improves motor learning in humans. Commun Biol 2024; 7:798. [PMID: 38956172 PMCID: PMC11220095 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06462-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Ventrointermediate thalamic stimulation (VIM-DBS) modulates oscillatory activity in a cortical network including primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, and parietal cortex. Here we show that, beyond the beneficial effects of VIM-DBS on motor execution, this form of invasive stimulation facilitates production of sequential finger movements that follow a repeated sequence. These results highlight the role of thalamo-cortical activity in motor learning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Voegtle
- Neurocybernetics and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Laila Terzic
- Neurocybernetics and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Amr Farahat
- Neurocybernetics and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Nanna Hartong
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Imke Galazky
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hermann Hinrichs
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences-CBBS, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Slawomir J Nasuto
- Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Division, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Adriano de Oliveira Andrade
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Center for Innovation and Technology Assessment in Health, Postgraduate Program in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Robert T Knight
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Richard B Ivry
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jürgen Voges
- Department of Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Deliano
- Combinatorial Neuroimaging Core Facility, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lars Buentjen
- Department of Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Catherine M Sweeney-Reed
- Neurocybernetics and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences-CBBS, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Spani F, Carducci F, Piervincenzi C, Ben-Soussan TD, Mallio CA, Quattrocchi CC. Assessing brain neuroplasticity: Surface morphometric analysis of cortical changes induced by Quadrato motor training. J Anat 2024. [PMID: 38924527 DOI: 10.1111/joa.14104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Morphological markers for brain plasticity are still lacking and their findings are challenged by the extreme variability of cortical brain surface. Trying to overcome the "correspondence problem," we applied a landmark-free method (the generalized procrustes surface analysis (GPSA)) for investigating the shape variation of cortical surface in a group of 40 healthy volunteers (i.e., the practice group) subjected to daily motor training known as Quadrato motor training (QMT). QMT is a sensorimotor walking meditation that aims at balancing body, cognition, and emotion. More specifically, QMT requires coordination and attention and consists of moving in one of three possible directions on corners of a 50 × 50 cm2. Brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of practice group (acquired at baseline, as well as after 6 and 12 weeks of QMT), were 3D reconstructed and here compared with brain MRIs of six more volunteers never practicing the QMT (naïve group). Cortical regions mostly affected by morphological variations were visualized on a 3D average color-scaled brain surface indicating from higher (red) to lower (blue) levels of variation. Cortical regions interested in most of the shape variations were as follows: (1) the supplementary motor cortex; (2) the inferior frontal gyrus (pars opercolaris) and the anterior insula; (3) the visual cortex; (4) the inferior parietal lobule (supramarginal gyrus and angular gyrus). Our results show that surface morphometric analysis (i.e., GPSA) can be applied to assess brain neuroplasticity processes, such as those stimulated by QMT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Spani
- Department of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - F Carducci
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome (IT), Rome, Italy
| | - C Piervincenzi
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - T D Ben-Soussan
- Research Institute for Neuroscience, Education and Didactics (RINED), Patrizio Paoletti Foundation, Assisi, Italy
| | - C A Mallio
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Unit of Diagnostic Imaging, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Operative Research Unit of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Rome, Italy
| | - C C Quattrocchi
- Centre for Medical Sciences-CISMed, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Valadez-Roque G, Cantillo-Negrete J, Carino-Escobar RI, Torres-Chávez A. [Paresis of an upper extremity. Action observation and motor imagery in recovery of patients with chronic stroke]. Rev Neurol 2024; 78:307-315. [PMID: 38813788 PMCID: PMC11407457 DOI: 10.33588/rn.7811.2024017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Action observation (AO) and motor imagery (MI) are considered functionally equivalent forms of motor representation related to movement execution (ME). Because of their characteristics, AO and MI have been proposed as techniques to facilitate the recovery of post-stroke hemiparesis in the upper extremities. PATIENTS AND METHODS An experimental, longitudinal, prospective, single-blinded design was undertaken. Eleven patients participated, and were randomly assigned to each study group. Both groups received 10 to 12 sessions of physical therapy. Five patients were assigned to the control treatment group, and six patients to the experimental treatment group (AO + MI). All were assessed before and after treatment for function, strength (newtons) and mobility (percentage) in the affected limb, as well as alpha desynchronisation (8-13 Hz) in the supplementary motor area, the premotor cortex and primary motor cortex while performing AO + MI tasks and action observation plus motor execution (AO + ME). RESULTS The experimental group presented improvement in function and strength. A negative correlation was found between desynchronisation in the supplementary motor area and function, as well as a post-treatment increase in desynchronisation in the premotor cortex of the injured hemisphere in the experimental group only. CONCLUSIONS An AO + MI-based intervention positively impacts recovery of the paretic upper extremity by stimulating the supplementary motor area, a cortex involved in movement preparation and learning. AO + MI therapy can be used as adjunctive treatment in patients with upper extremity paresis following chronic stroke.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Valadez-Roque
- Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México, México
| | - J Cantillo-Negrete
- Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México, México
| | - R I Carino-Escobar
- Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Ciudad de México, México
| | - A Torres-Chávez
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ishikuro K, Hattori N, Otomune H, Furuya K, Nakada T, Miyahara K, Shibata T, Noguchi K, Kuroda S, Nakatsuji Y, Nishijo H. Neural Mechanisms of Neuro-Rehabilitation Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) over the Front-Polar Area. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1604. [PMID: 38002563 PMCID: PMC10670271 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13111604] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that applies a weak current to the scalp to modulate neuronal excitability by stimulating the cerebral cortex. The technique can produce either somatic depolarization (anodal stimulation) or somatic hyperpolarization (cathodal stimulation), based on the polarity of the current used by noninvasively stimulating the cerebral cortex with a weak current from the scalp, making it a NIBS technique that can modulate neuronal excitability. Thus, tDCS has emerged as a hopeful clinical neuro-rehabilitation treatment strategy. This method has a broad range of potential uses in rehabilitation medicine for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The present paper reviews the efficacy of tDCS over the front-polar area (FPA) in healthy subjects, as well as patients with PD, where tDCS is mainly applied to the primary motor cortex (M1 area). Multiple evidence lines indicate that the FPA plays a part in motor learning. Furthermore, recent studies have reported that tDCS applied over the FPA can improve motor functions in both healthy adults and PD patients. We argue that the application of tDCS to the FPA promotes motor skill learning through its effects on the M1 area and midbrain dopamine neurons. Additionally, we will review other unique outcomes of tDCS over the FPA, such as effects on persistence and motivation, and discuss their underlying neural mechanisms. These findings support the claim that the FPA could emerge as a new key brain region for tDCS in neuro-rehabilitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koji Ishikuro
- Department of Rehabilitation, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; (K.I.); (N.H.); (H.O.); (K.F.); (T.N.)
| | - Noriaki Hattori
- Department of Rehabilitation, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; (K.I.); (N.H.); (H.O.); (K.F.); (T.N.)
| | - Hironori Otomune
- Department of Rehabilitation, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; (K.I.); (N.H.); (H.O.); (K.F.); (T.N.)
| | - Kohta Furuya
- Department of Rehabilitation, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; (K.I.); (N.H.); (H.O.); (K.F.); (T.N.)
| | - Takeshi Nakada
- Department of Rehabilitation, Toyama University Hospital, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; (K.I.); (N.H.); (H.O.); (K.F.); (T.N.)
| | - Kenichiro Miyahara
- Department of Physical Therapy, Toyama College of Medical Welfare, Toyama 930-0194, Japan;
| | - Takashi Shibata
- Department of Neurosurgery, Toyama Nishi General Hospital, Toyama 939-2716, Japan;
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan;
| | - Kyo Noguchi
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan;
| | - Satoshi Kuroda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan;
| | - Yuji Nakatsuji
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan;
| | - Hisao Nishijo
- Faculty of Human Sciences, University of East Asia, Shimonoseki 751-8503, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Firouzi M, Baetens K, Saeys M, Duta C, Baeken C, Van Overwalle F, Swinnen E, Deroost N. Differential effects of conventional and high-definition transcranial direct-current stimulation of the motor cortex on implicit motor sequence learning. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:4181-4194. [PMID: 37864365 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Conventional transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) delivered to the primary motor cortex (M1) has been shown to enhance implicit motor sequence learning (IMSL). Conventional tDCS targets M1 but also the motor association cortices (MAC), making the precise contribution of these areas to IMSL presently unclear. We aimed to address this issue by comparing conventional tDCS of M1 and MAC to 4 * 1 high-definition (HD) tDCS, which more focally targets M1. In this mixed-factorial, sham-controlled, crossover study in 89 healthy young adults, we used mixed-effects models to analyse sequence-specific and general learning effects in the acquisition and short- and long-term consolidation phases of IMSL, as measured by the serial reaction time task. Conventional tDCS did not influence general learning, improved sequence-specific learning during acquisition (anodal: M = 42.64 ms, sham: M = 32.87 ms, p = .041), and seemingly deteriorated it at long-term consolidation (anodal: M = 75.37 ms, sham: M = 86.63 ms, p = .019). HD tDCS did not influence general learning, slowed performance specifically in sequential blocks across all learning phases (all p's < .050), and consequently deteriorated sequence-specific learning during acquisition (anodal: M = 24.13 ms, sham: M = 35.67 ms, p = .014) and long-term consolidation (anodal: M = 60.03 ms, sham: M = 75.01 ms, p = .002). Our findings indicate that the observed superior conventional tDCS effects on IMSL are possibly attributable to a generalized stimulation of M1 and/or adjacent MAC, rather than M1 alone. Alternatively, the differential effects can be attributed to cathodal inhibition of other cortical areas involved in IMSL by the 4 * 1 HD tDCS return electrodes, and/or more variable electric field strengths induced by HD tDCS, compared with conventional tDCS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahyar Firouzi
- Brain, Body and Cognition Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
- Rehabilitation Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Kris Baetens
- Brain, Body and Cognition Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Manon Saeys
- Brain, Body and Cognition Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Catalina Duta
- Brain, Body and Cognition Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Chris Baeken
- Brain, Body and Cognition Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University, University Hospital Ghent (UZ Ghent), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Jette, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Hospital Brussel (UZ Brussel), Jette, Belgium
| | - Frank Van Overwalle
- Brain, Body and Cognition Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Eva Swinnen
- Rehabilitation Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Natacha Deroost
- Brain, Body and Cognition Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lamanna J, Ferro M, Spadini S, Racchetti G, Malgaroli A. The Dysfunctional Mechanisms Throwing Tics: Structural and Functional Changes in Tourette Syndrome. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:668. [PMID: 37622808 PMCID: PMC10451670 DOI: 10.3390/bs13080668] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a high-incidence multifactorial neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics co-occurring with several diverse comorbidities, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The origin of TS is multifactorial, with strong genetic, perinatal, and immunological influences. Although almost all neurotransmettitorial systems have been implicated in TS pathophysiology, a comprehensive neurophysiological model explaining the dynamics of expression and inhibition of tics is still lacking. The genesis and maintenance of motor and non-motor aspects of TS are thought to arise from functional and/or structural modifications of the basal ganglia and related circuitry. This complex wiring involves several cortical and subcortical structures whose concerted activity controls the selection of the most appropriate reflexive and habitual motor, cognitive and emotional actions. Importantly, striatal circuits exhibit bidirectional forms of synaptic plasticity that differ in many respects from hippocampal and neocortical plasticity, including sensitivity to metaplastic molecules such as dopamine. Here, we review the available evidence about structural and functional anomalies in neural circuits which have been found in TS patients. Finally, considering what is known in the field of striatal plasticity, we discuss the role of exuberant plasticity in TS, including the prospect of future pharmacological and neuromodulation avenues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Lamanna
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Mattia Ferro
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University, 20143 Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Spadini
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Racchetti
- Division of Neuroscience, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Malgaroli
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
García‐Ramos BR, Villarroel R, González‐Mora JL, Revert C, Modroño C. Neurofunctional correlates of a neurorehabilitation system based on eye movements in chronic stroke impairment levels: A pilot study. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3049. [PMID: 37434341 PMCID: PMC10454340 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rehabilitation after a stroke is widely considered fundamental to improve secondary functional impairments. Accessible methods based on motor learning, motor transfer and virtual environments are necessary to help to improve stroke patients' quality of life. OBJECTIVES Continuing the line of our previous studies, this work investigated the effect of our new and innovative game-based virtual reality training using the control of virtual objects with gaze in three chronic stroke survivors. METHODS All participants performed an eye-controlled virtual training task for 4 weeks. Pre- and post-training evaluation were carried out with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for upper extremity scale as well as performing a tracking task inside an MRI scanner with a MRI-compatible eye-tracker or a joystick. RESULTS Neural results for each participant show the increase of activity in the motor cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum for both effectors (hand or eye). CONCLUSION These promising results have a potential application as a new game-based neurorehabilitation approach to enhance the motor activity of stroke patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebeca Villarroel
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas BásicasUniversidad de la LagunaTenerifeSpain
| | - José L. González‐Mora
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas BásicasUniversidad de la LagunaTenerifeSpain
- Instituto de Tecnologías BiomédicasUniversidad de la LagunaTenerifeSpain
- Instituto Universitario de NeurocienciaUniversidad de la LagunaTenerifeSpain
| | - Consuelo Revert
- Departamento de Medicina Física y FarmacologíaUniversidad de la LagunaTenerifeSpain
| | - Cristián Modroño
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas BásicasUniversidad de la LagunaTenerifeSpain
- Instituto de Tecnologías BiomédicasUniversidad de la LagunaTenerifeSpain
- Instituto Universitario de NeurocienciaUniversidad de la LagunaTenerifeSpain
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ort A, Smallridge JW, Sarasso S, Casarotto S, von Rotz R, Casanova A, Seifritz E, Preller KH, Tononi G, Vollenweider FX. TMS-EEG and resting-state EEG applied to altered states of consciousness: oscillations, complexity, and phenomenology. iScience 2023; 26:106589. [PMID: 37138774 PMCID: PMC10149373 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Exploring the neurobiology of the profound changes in consciousness induced by classical psychedelic drugs may require novel neuroimaging methods. Serotonergic psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin produce states of increased sensory-emotional awareness and arousal, accompanied by increased spontaneous electroencephalographic (EEG) signal diversity. By directly stimulating cortical tissue, the altered dynamics and propagation of the evoked EEG activity can reveal drug-induced changes in the overall brain state. We combine Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and EEG to reveal that psilocybin produces a state of increased chaotic brain activity which is not a result of altered complexity in the underlying causal interactions between brain regions. We also map the regional effects of psilocybin on TMS-evoked activity and identify changes in frontal brain structures that may be associated with the phenomenology of psychedelic experiences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andres Ort
- Neurophenomenology of Consciousness Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - John W. Smallridge
- Neurophenomenology of Consciousness Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simone Sarasso
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Casarotto
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Robin von Rotz
- Neurophenomenology of Consciousness Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Casanova
- Neurophenomenology of Consciousness Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katrin H. Preller
- Neurophenomenology of Consciousness Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giulio Tononi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Franz X. Vollenweider
- Neurophenomenology of Consciousness Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lv X, Funahashi S, Li C, Wu J. Variational relevance evaluation of individual fMRI data enables deconstruction of task-dependent neural dynamics. Commun Biol 2023; 6:491. [PMID: 37147471 PMCID: PMC10163018 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04804-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In neuroimaging research, univariate analysis has always been used to localize "representations" at the microscale, whereas network approaches have been applied to characterize transregional "operations". How are representations and operations linked through dynamic interactions? We developed the variational relevance evaluation (VRE) method to analyze individual task fMRI data, which selects informative voxels during model training to localize the "representation", and quantifies the dynamic contributions of single voxels across the whole-brain to different cognitive functions to characterize the "operation". Using 15 individual fMRI data files for higher visual area localizers, we evaluated the characterization of selected voxel positions of VRE and revealed different object-selective regions functioning in similar dynamics. Using another 15 individual fMRI data files for memory retrieval after offline learning, we found similar task-related regions working in different neural dynamics for tasks with diverse familiarities. VRE demonstrates a promising horizon in individual fMRI research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Lv
- School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Shintaro Funahashi
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Chunlin Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jinglong Wu
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
- Researh Center for Medical Artificial Intelligence, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Saadat A, Blackwell A, Kaszowski C, Pallera H, Owens D, Lattanzio F, Shah T. Therapeutic hypothermia demonstrates sex-dependent improvements in motor function in a rat model of neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Behav Brain Res 2023; 437:114119. [PMID: 36162642 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a neurological disease caused by restricted oxygen and blood flow to the brain at or around the time of birth. Long term cognitive and motor sequelae are common and demonstrate sexual dimorphism in animal studies. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the standard of care for HIE, but provides incomplete neuroprotection. Using the Vannucci model of neonatal HIE, term-equivalent 11-day old rat pups were subjected to mild-moderate hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII), and a subset of animals were treated with TH. Sex-dependent neuroprotection was measured with gross and fine motor control assays, and functional deficits detected with these assays were correlated to injury in specific brain structures. At the equivalent of human adolescence and adulthood (P51-89), accelerod and beam walking tests were used to assess gross motor function, and string-pulling and food handling tests were used to assess fine motor function. At necropsy (P94-97), brain lesions were primarily focused to the posterior cerebrum and characterized by variable reduction in cortical, thalamic and hippocampal regions and glial scarring. Gross motor impairment was detected in male rats with untreated and TH-treated HIE in the accelerod test, but beam walk test data was confounded by the lower body mass of untreated male rats. HIE animals of both sexes demonstrated deficit in the forelimb contralateral to ischemic surgery, observed as unilaterally impaired food handling behaviors, and in string pulling as decreased string contacts and increased in bracing behavior. However, kinematic analyses revealed sex-specific decreases in peak speeds in string reaching and pulling movements. In both sexes, treatment with TH improved body mass, some measures of contralateral forelimb impairment, and the severity of brain lesions to levels not different to Sham surgery rats. Unique differences in behavior following TH were observed in female rats, who took longer to consume food items but traversed beams and approached strings faster than untreated and Sham females. Future use of these motor assays may unravel the subtle, sex-specific differences in HIE outcomes and in developing a customized therapeutic approach to neonatal brain injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Saadat
- Neonatal Brain Institute, Children's Specialty Group, USA.
| | - Ashley Blackwell
- Center for Integrative Neuroinflammatory and Inflammatory Diseases, USA; Dept. Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, USA
| | | | - Haree Pallera
- Neonatal Brain Institute, Children's Specialty Group, USA
| | - Daley Owens
- Neonatal Brain Institute, Children's Specialty Group, USA
| | - Frank Lattanzio
- Dept. Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, USA
| | - Tushar Shah
- Neonatal Brain Institute, Children's Specialty Group, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Tonelli A, Lunghi C, Gori M. Moderate physical activity alters the estimation of time, but not space. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1004504. [PMID: 36275247 PMCID: PMC9580464 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1004504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Moderate physical activity can influence cognitive functions and visual cortical activity. However, little is known about the effects of exercise on fundamental perceptual domains, such as spatial and temporal representation. Here we tackled this issue by testing the impact of physical activity on a temporal estimation task in a group of adult volunteers in three different conditions: (1) in a resting condition (baseline), (2) during moderate physical activity (cycling in place – PA), and (3) approximately 15 to 20 min following the physical activity phase, in which participants were seated and returned to a regular heart rate (POST). We show that physical activity specifically impacts time perception, inducing a consistent overestimation for durations in the range of milliseconds. Notably, the effect persisted in the POST session, ruling out the main contribution of either heart rate or cycling rhythmicity. In a control experiment, we found that spatial perception (distance estimation) was unaffected by physical activity, ruling out a major contribution of arousal and fatigue to the observed temporal distortion. We speculate that physical exercise might alter temporal estimation either by up-regulating the dopaminergic system or modulating GABAergic inhibition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Tonelli
- UVIP – Unit for Visually Impaired People, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alessia Tonelli,
| | - Claudia Lunghi
- Laboratoire des Systèmes Perceptifs, Département d’Études Cognitives, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Monica Gori
- UVIP – Unit for Visually Impaired People, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Jeon W, Wang S, Bhatt T, Westlake KP. Perturbation-Induced Protective Arm Responses: Effect of Age, Perturbation-Intensity, and Relationship with Stepping Stability: A Pilot Study. Brain Sci 2022; 12:953. [PMID: 35884758 PMCID: PMC9313371 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12070953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
During balance recovery from slip perturbations, forward flexion (elevation) of the arms serves to counterbalance the posteriorly displaced center of mass (CoM). We aimed to investigate whether aging affects modulation of arm responses to various intensities of unpredictable slip perturbations and whether arm responses are related to compensatory stepping stability. Ten healthy young adults and ten healthy older adults participated. Participants were asked to react naturally to three randomly administered levels of slip-like surface perturbations (intensity 1 (7.75 m/s2), intensity 2 (12.00 m/s2) and intensity 3 (16.75 m/s2), which occurred by means of forward acceleration of the treadmill belt while standing. Kinematic data were collected using a motion capture system. Outcomes included arm elevation displacement, velocity, and margin of stability (MoS) of compensatory stepping. The results reveal no modulation of arm elevation velocity in older adults from perturbation intensity 1 to 2, whereas younger adults demonstrated progressive increases from intensity 1 to 2 to 3. At intensity 3, older adults demonstrated reduced maximal arm elevation velocity compared to younger adults (p = 0.02). The results in both groups combined reveal a positive correlation between maximal arm elevation velocity and first compensatory step MoS at intensity 3 (p = 0.01). Together, these findings indicate age-related decreases in arm response modulation and the association of arm elevation response with protective stepping stability, suggesting that fall prevention interventions may benefit from an emphasis on arm elevation velocity control in response to greater perturbation intensities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Woohyoung Jeon
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Shuaijie Wang
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - Tanvi Bhatt
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - Kelly P. Westlake
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| |
Collapse
|