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Siva NK, Bauer C, Glover C, Stolin A, Chandi S, Melnick H, Marano G, Parker B, Mandich M, Lewis JW, Qi J, Gao S, Nott K, Majewski S, Brefczynski-Lewis JA. Real-time motion-enabling positron emission tomography of the brain of upright ambulatory humans. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2024; 4:117. [PMID: 38872007 PMCID: PMC11176317 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-024-00547-2] [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: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile upright PET devices have the potential to enable previously impossible neuroimaging studies. Currently available options are imagers with deep brain coverage that severely limit head/body movements or imagers with upright/motion enabling properties that are limited to only covering the brain surface. METHODS In this study, we test the feasibility of an upright, motion-compatible brain imager, our Ambulatory Motion-enabling Positron Emission Tomography (AMPET) helmet prototype, for use as a neuroscience tool by replicating a variant of a published PET/fMRI study of the neurocorrelates of human walking. We validate our AMPET prototype by conducting a walking movement paradigm to determine motion tolerance and assess for appropriate task related activity in motor-related brain regions. Human participants (n = 11 patients) performed a walking-in-place task with simultaneous AMPET imaging, receiving a bolus delivery of F18-Fluorodeoxyglucose. RESULTS Here we validate three pre-determined measure criteria, including brain alignment motion artifact of less than <2 mm and functional neuroimaging outcomes consistent with existing walking movement literature. CONCLUSIONS The study extends the potential and utility for use of mobile, upright, and motion-tolerant neuroimaging devices in real-world, ecologically-valid paradigms. Our approach accounts for the real-world logistics of an actual human participant study and can be used to inform experimental physicists, engineers and imaging instrumentation developers undertaking similar future studies. The technical advances described herein help set new priorities for facilitating future neuroimaging devices and research of the human brain in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanda K Siva
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | | | - Colson Glover
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Alexander Stolin
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Sonia Chandi
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Helen Melnick
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Gary Marano
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Benjamin Parker
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - MaryBeth Mandich
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - James W Lewis
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Jinyi Qi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Si Gao
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Kaylee Nott
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9303, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Stan Majewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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Zhi Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Kong Y. Age-associated changes in multimodal pain perception. Age Ageing 2024; 53:afae107. [PMID: 38776215 PMCID: PMC11110914 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae107] [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: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain sensitivity varies across multimodal somatosensory stimuli that can rely on different conductive fibres, which, when damaged, will lead to neuropathies. However, there is limited research examining the characteristics of perceived pain, particularly as affected by the ageing process, as induced by various somatosensory stimuli that may rely on small or large fibres. METHODS Using heat and pressure stimuli on small and large fibres separately on both younger and older adults, this study examined age-associated changes in pain perception by measuring self-reported pain sensitivity, pain threshold and pain discriminability. RESULTS Heat pain threshold was significantly positively correlated with age, but not pressure pain threshold. Pain threshold increased and pain discriminability decreased in response to heat stimuli in the older participants compared with the younger ones. CONCLUSION An age-associated decline in heat pain perception was observed, suggesting an earlier degradation of heat perception. These findings provide new insight into understanding and assessing somatosensory disorders, which can help ageing populations better maintain healthy sensory functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongkang Zhi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Applied Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yazhuo Kong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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Hong Y, Bao D, Manor B, Zhou J. Characterizing the supraspinal sensorimotor control of walking using MRI-compatible system: a systematic review. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2024; 21:34. [PMID: 38443983 PMCID: PMC10913571 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-024-01323-y] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The regulation of gait is critical to many activities of everyday life. When walking, somatosensory information obtained from mechanoreceptors throughout body is delivered to numerous supraspinal networks and used to execute the appropriate motion to meet ever-changing environmental and task demands. Aging and age-related conditions oftentimes alter the supraspinal sensorimotor control of walking, including the responsiveness of the cortical brain regions to the sensorimotor inputs obtained from the peripheral nervous system, resulting in diminished mobility in the older adult population. It is thus important to explicitly characterize such supraspinal sensorimotor elements of walking, providing knowledge informing novel rehabilitative targets. The past efforts majorly relied upon mental imagery or virtual reality to study the supraspinal control of walking. Recent efforts have been made to develop magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-compatible devices simulating specific somatosensory and/or motor aspects of walking. However, there exists large variance in the design and functionality of these devices, and as such inconsistent functional MRI (fMRI) observations. METHODS We have therefore completed a systematic review to summarize current achievements in the development of these MRI-compatible devices and synthesize available imaging results emanating from studies that have utilized these devices. RESULTS The device design, study protocol and neuroimaging observations of 26 studies using 13 types of devices were extracted. Three of these devices can provide somatosensory stimuli, eight motor stimuli, and two both types of stimuli. Our review demonstrated that using these devices, fMRI data of brain activation can be successfully obtained when participants remain motionless and experience sensorimotor stimulation during fMRI acquisition. The activation in multiple cortical (e.g., primary sensorimotor cortex) and subcortical (e.g., cerebellum) regions has been each linked to these types of walking-related sensorimotor stimuli. CONCLUSION The observations of these publications suggest the promise of implementing these devices to characterize the supraspinal sensorimotor control of walking. Still, the evidence level of these neuroimaging observations was still low due to small sample size and varied study protocols, which thus needs to be confirmed via studies with more rigorous design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinglu Hong
- School of Sport Medicine and Physical Therapy, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Dapeng Bao
- China Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
| | - Brad Manor
- Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Junhong Zhou
- Hebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Xiao S, Wang B, Yu C, Shen B, Zhang X, Ye D, Deng L, Xu Y, Zhou J, Fu W. Effects of intervention combining transcranial direct current stimulation and foot core exercise on sensorimotor function in foot and static balance. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2022; 19:98. [PMID: 36104787 PMCID: PMC9476283 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-022-01077-5] [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: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
This study aimed to examine the effects of combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and foot core exercise (FCE) on the sensorimotor function of the foot (i.e., toe flexor strength and passive ankle kinesthesia) and static balance.
Methods
In this double-blinded and randomized study, 30 participants were randomly assigned into two groups: tDCS combined with FCE and sham combined with FCE (i.e., control group). The participants received 2 mA stimulation for 20 min concurrently with FCE over 4 weeks (i.e., three sessions per week). After the first two groups completed the intervention, a reference group (FCE-only group) was included to further explore the placebo effects of sham by comparing it with the control group. Foot muscle strength, passive ankle kinesthesia, and static balance were assessed at baseline and after the intervention.
Results
Compared with the control group and baseline, tDCS combined with FCE could increase toe flexor strength (p < 0.001) and decrease the passive kinesthesia threshold of ankle eversion (p = 0.002). No significant differences in static balance were observed between tDCS + FCE and control groups. The linear regression models showed an association towards significance between the percent changes in metatarsophalangeal joint flexor strength and the anteroposterior average sway velocity of the center of gravity in one-leg standing with eyes closed following tDCS + FCE (r2 = 0.286; p = 0.057). The exploratory analysis also showed that compared with FCE alone, the sham stimulation did not induce any placebo effects during FCE.
Conclusion
Participating in 4 weeks of intervention using tDCS in combination with FCE effectively enhances toe flexor strength and foot–ankle sensory function.
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Lewis S, Factor S, Giladi N, Nieuwboer A, Nutt J, Hallett M. Stepping up to meet the challenge of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:23. [PMID: 35490252 PMCID: PMC9057060 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00298-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been a growing appreciation for freezing of gait as a disabling symptom that causes a significant burden in Parkinson’s disease. Previous research has highlighted some of the key components that underlie the phenomenon, but these reductionist approaches have yet to lead to a paradigm shift resulting in the development of novel treatment strategies. Addressing this issue will require greater integration of multi-modal data with complex computational modeling, but there are a number of critical aspects that need to be considered before embarking on such an approach. This paper highlights where the field needs to address current gaps and shortcomings including the standardization of definitions and measurement, phenomenology and pathophysiology, as well as considering what available data exist and how future studies should be constructed to achieve the greatest potential to better understand and treat this devastating symptom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Lewis
- ForeFront Parkinson's Disease Research Clinic, Brain and Mind Centre, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Stewart Factor
- Jean and Paul Amos Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Program, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nir Giladi
- Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Alice Nieuwboer
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - John Nutt
- Movement Disorder Section, Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Mark Hallett
- Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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