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Frassineti L, Catrambone V, Lanatà A, Valenza G. Impaired brain-heart axis in focal epilepsy: Alterations in information flow and implications for seizure dynamics. Netw Neurosci 2024; 8:541-556. [PMID: 38952812 PMCID: PMC11168720 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
This study delves into functional brain-heart interplay (BHI) dynamics during interictal periods before and after seizure events in focal epilepsy. Our analysis focuses on elucidating the causal interaction between cortical and autonomic nervous system (ANS) oscillations, employing electroencephalography and heart rate variability series. The dataset for this investigation comprises 47 seizure events from 14 independent subjects, obtained from the publicly available Siena Dataset. Our findings reveal an impaired brain-heart axis especially in the heart-to-brain functional direction. This is particularly evident in bottom-up oscillations originating from sympathovagal activity during the transition between preictal and postictal periods. These results indicate a pivotal role of the ANS in epilepsy dynamics. Notably, the brain-to-heart information flow targeting cardiac oscillations in the low-frequency band does not display significant changes. However, there are noteworthy changes in cortical oscillations, primarily originating in central regions, influencing heartbeat oscillations in the high-frequency band. Our study conceptualizes seizures as a state of hyperexcitability and a network disease affecting both cortical and peripheral neural dynamics. Our results pave the way for a deeper understanding of BHI in epilepsy, which holds promise for the development of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic approaches also based on bodily neural activity for individuals living with epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Frassineti
- Department of Information Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Catrambone
- Department of Information Engineering and Bioengineering & Robotics Research Center E. Piaggio, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Lanatà
- Department of Information Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - Gaetano Valenza
- Department of Information Engineering and Bioengineering & Robotics Research Center E. Piaggio, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Wu CH, Hsu TW, Lai KL, Wang YF, Fuh JL, Wu HM, Lirng JF, Wang SJ, Chen SP. Disrupted Brain Functional Status in Patients with Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome. Ann Neurol 2023; 94:772-784. [PMID: 37345341 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the functional networks in subjects with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). METHODS We prospectively recruited patients with RCVS and healthy controls (HCs) between February 2017 and April 2021. The rs-fMRI data were analyzed using graph theory methods. We compared node-based global and regional topological metrics (Bundle 1) and network-based intranetwork and internetwork connectivity (Bundle 2) between RCVS patients and HCs. We also explored the associations of clinical and vascular (ie, the Lindegaard index, LI) parameters with significant rs-fMRI metrics. RESULTS A total of 104 RCVS patients and 93 HCs were included in the final analysis. We identified significantly decreased local efficiency of the left dorsal anterior insula (dAI; p = 0.0005) in RCVS patients within 30 days after disease onset as compared to HCs, which improved 1 month later. RCVS patients also had increased global efficiency (p = 0.009) and decreased average degree centrality (p = 0.045), clustering coefficient (p = 0.033), and assortativity values (p = 0.003) in node-based analysis. In addition, patients with RCVS had increased internetwork connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) with the salience (p = 0.027) and dorsal attention (p = 0.016) networks. Significant correlations between LI and regional local efficiency in left dAI (rs = -0.418, p = 0.042) was demonstrated. INTERPRETATION The significantly lower local efficiency of the left dAI, suggestive of impaired central autonomic modulation, was negatively correlated with vasoconstriction severity, which is highly plausible for the pathogenesis of RCVS. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:772-784.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hung Wu
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tun-Wei Hsu
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Lin Lai
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Feng Wang
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jong-Ling Fuh
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Mei Wu
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiing-Feng Lirng
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shuu-Jiun Wang
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Pin Chen
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Translational Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Harper RM. Exploring the brain with sleep-related injuries, and fixing it. SLEEP ADVANCES : A JOURNAL OF THE SLEEP RESEARCH SOCIETY 2023; 4:zpad007. [PMID: 37193272 PMCID: PMC10148654 DOI: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpad007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The focus of my research efforts rests with determining dysfunctional neural systems underlying disorders of sleep, and identifying interventions to overcome those disorders. Aberrant central and physiological control during sleep exerts serious consequences, including disruptions in breathing, motor control, blood pressure, mood, and cognition, and plays a major role in sudden infant death syndrome, congenital central hypoventilation, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, among other concerns. The disruptions can be traced to brain structural injury, leading to inappropriate outcomes. Identification of failing systems arose from the assessment of single neuron discharge in intact, freely moving and state-changing human and animal preparations within multiple systems, including serotonergic action and motor control sites. Optical imaging of chemosensitive, blood pressure and other breathing regulatory areas, especially during development, were useful to show integration of regional cellular action in modifying neural output. Identification of damaged neural sites in control and afflicted humans through structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging procedures helped to identify the sources of injury, and the nature of interactions between brain sites that compromise physiological systems and lead to failure. Interventions to overcome flawed regulatory processes were developed, and incorporate noninvasive neuromodulatory means to recruit ancient reflexes or provide peripheral sensory stimulation to assist breathing drive to overcome apnea, reduce the frequency of seizures, and support blood pressure in conditions where a failure to perfuse can lead to death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald M Harper
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Liu Y, Niu H, Zhang T, Cai L, Liu D, Zhao E, Zhu L, Qiao P, Zheng W, Ren P, Wang Z. Altered spontaneous brain activity during dobutamine challenge in healthy young adults: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Front Neurosci 2023; 16:1033569. [PMID: 36685245 PMCID: PMC9853379 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1033569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is a growing interest in exploring brain-heart interactions. However, few studies have investigated the brain-heart interactions in healthy populations, especially in healthy young adults. The aim of this study was to explore the association between cardiovascular and spontaneous brain activities during dobutamine infusion in healthy young adults. Methods Forty-eight right-handed healthy participants (43 males and 5 females, range: 22-34 years) underwent vital signs monitoring, cognitive function assessment and brain MRI scans. Cardiovascular function was evaluated using blood pressure and heart rate, while two resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) methods-regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF)-were used together to reflect the local neural activity of the brain. Logistic regression was used to model the association between brain and heart. Results Results showed that blood pressure and heart rate significantly increased after dobutamine infusion, and the performance in brain functional activity was the decrease in ReHo in the left gyrus rectus and in ALFF in the left frontal superior orbital. The results of logistic regression showed that the difference of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) had significant positive relationship with the degree of change of ReHo, while the difference of systolic blood pressure (SBP) had significant negative impact on the degree of change in ALFF. Discussion These findings suggest that the brain-heart interactions exist in healthy young adults under acute cardiovascular alterations, and more attention should be paid to blood pressure changes in young adults and assessment of frontal lobe function to provide them with more effective health protection management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Liu
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Haijun Niu
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China,Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Linkun Cai
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Dong Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Erwei Zhao
- National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Liang Zhu
- National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids, Beijing, China
| | - PengGang Qiao
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Pengling Ren
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,Pengling Ren,
| | - Zhenchang Wang
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China,Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Zhenchang Wang,
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Kassinopoulos M, Mitsis GD. A multi-measure approach for assessing the performance of fMRI preprocessing strategies in resting-state functional connectivity. Magn Reson Imaging 2021; 85:228-250. [PMID: 34715292 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2021.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that head motion and physiological processes (e.g. cardiac and breathing activity) should be taken into consideration when analyzing and interpreting results in fMRI studies. However, even though recent studies aimed to evaluate the performance of different preprocessing pipelines there is still no consensus on the optimal strategy. This is partly due to the fact that the quality control (QC) metrics used to evaluate differences in performance across pipelines have often yielded contradictory results. Furthermore, preprocessing techniques based on physiological recordings or data decomposition techniques (e.g. aCompCor) have not been comprehensively examined. Here, to address the aforementioned issues, we propose a framework that summarizes the scores from eight previously proposed and novel QC metrics to a reduced set of two QC metrics that reflect the signal-to-noise ratio and the reduction in motion artifacts and biases in the preprocessed fMRI data. Using this framework, we evaluate the performance of three commonly used practices on the quality of data: 1) Removal of nuisance regressors from fMRI data, 2) discarding motion-contaminated volumes (i.e., scrubbing) before regression, and 3) low-pass filtering the data and the nuisance regressors before their removal. Using resting-state fMRI data from the Human Connectome Project, we show that the scores of the examined QC metrics improve the most when the global signal (GS) and about 17% of principal components from white matter (WM) are removed from the data. Finally, we observe a small further improvement with low-pass filtering at 0.20 Hz and milder variants of WM denoising, but not with scrubbing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michalis Kassinopoulos
- Graduate Program in Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Georgios D Mitsis
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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