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Alanazi FI, Bravo CAR, Moreno JSS, Botero-Posada LF, Ladino LD, Rios ALL, Hutchison WD. Modulation of neuronal activity in human centromedian nucleus during an auditory attention and working memory task. Neuroimage 2024; 296:120686. [PMID: 38871037 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120686] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Centromedian nucleus (CM) is one of several intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus and is thought to be involved in consciousness, arousal, and attention. CM has been suggested to play a key role in the control of attention, by regulating the flow of information to different brain regions such as the ascending reticular system, basal ganglia, and cortex. While the neurophysiology of attention in visual and auditory systems has been studied in animal models, combined single unit and LFP recordings in human have not, to our knowledge, been reported. Here, we recorded neuronal activity in the CM nucleus in 11 patients prior to insertion of deep brain stimulation electrodes for the treatment of epilepsy while subjects performed an auditory attention task. Patients were requested to attend and count the infrequent (p = 0.2) odd or "deviant" tones, ignore the frequent standard tones and report the total number of deviant tones at trial completion. Spikes were discriminated, and LFPs were band pass filtered (5-45 Hz). Average peri‑stimulus time histograms and spectra were constructed by aligning on tone onsets and statistically compared. The firing rate of CM neurons showed selective, multi-phasic responses to deviant tones in 81% of the tested neurons. Local field potential analysis showed selective beta and low gamma (13-45 Hz) modulations in response to deviant tones, also in a multi-phasic pattern. The current study demonstrates that CM neurons are under top-down control and participate in the selective processing during auditory attention and working memory. These results, taken together, implicate the CM in selective auditory attention and working memory and support a role of beta and low gamma oscillatory activity in cognitive processes. It also has potential implications for DBS therapy for epilepsy and non-motor symptoms of PD, such as apathy and other disorders of attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frhan I Alanazi
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Canada; Krembil Brain Institute, Leonard St, Toronto Ontario, Canada; Department of Basic Sciences, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | | | - Juan Sebastián Saavedra Moreno
- Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación, Medellín, Colombia; Hospital San Vicente Fundación, Rionegro, Colombia; Department of Neurology, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Luis Fernando Botero-Posada
- Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación, Medellín, Colombia; Hospital San Vicente Fundación, Rionegro, Colombia
| | - Lady Diana Ladino
- Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación, Medellín, Colombia; Hospital San Vicente Fundación, Rionegro, Colombia; Department of Neurology, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Adriana Lucia Lopez Rios
- Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación, Medellín, Colombia; Hospital San Vicente Fundación, Rionegro, Colombia
| | - William D Hutchison
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Canada; Krembil Brain Institute, Leonard St, Toronto Ontario, Canada; Hospital San Vicente Fundación, Rionegro, Colombia; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Canada
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Sicre M, Ambroggi F, Meffre J. Two Distinct Neuronal Populations in the Rat Parafascicular Nucleus Oppositely Encode the Engagement in Stimulus-driven Reward-seeking. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:1551-1565. [PMID: 38847144 PMCID: PMC11097993 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x22666240131114225] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The thalamus is a phylogenetically well-preserved structure. Known to densely contact cortical regions, its role in the transmission of sensory information to the striatal complex has been widely reconsidered in recent years. METHODS The parafascicular nucleus of the thalamus (Pf) has been implicated in the orientation of attention toward salient sensory stimuli. In a stimulus-driven reward-seeking task, we sought to characterize the electrophysiological activity of Pf neurons in rats. RESULTS We observed a predominance of excitatory over inhibitory responses for all events in the task. Neurons responded more strongly to the stimulus compared to lever-pressing and reward collecting, confirming the strong involvement of the Pf in sensory information processing. The use of long sessions allowed us to compare neuronal responses to stimuli between trials when animals were engaged in action and those when they were not. We distinguished two populations of neurons with opposite responses: MOTIV+ neurons responded more intensely to stimuli followed by a behavioral response than those that were not. Conversely, MOTIV- neurons responded more strongly when the animal did not respond to the stimulus. In addition, the latency of excitation of MOTIV- neurons was shorter than that of MOTIV+ neurons. CONCLUSION Through this encoding, the Pf could perform an early selection of environmental stimuli transmitted to the striatum according to motivational level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Sicre
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, UMR 7291, Marseille, France
| | - Frederic Ambroggi
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, UMR 7291, Marseille, France
- Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INT, Marseille, France
| | - Julie Meffre
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, UMR 7291, Marseille, France
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Ahn HC, Kim KT. Case report: Improved behavioral and psychiatric symptoms with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation at the bilateral DLPFC combined with cognitive and behavioral therapy in a patient with unilateral thalamic hemorrhage. Front Neurol 2022; 13:880161. [PMID: 35959382 PMCID: PMC9358288 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.880161] [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: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral and psychological symptoms are not uncommon after thalamic stroke, and are often intractable despite medication and behavioral interventions. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is as an adjunctive therapeutic tool for neuropsychiatric diseases, and bilateral rTMS has been recently introduced to maximize the therapeutic effect. Herein, we report the case details of a patient with unilateral left thalamic hemorrhage without cortical lesions who had treatment-resistant neuropsychiatric symptoms. We hypothesized that bilateral rTMS targeting the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFCs) would positively affect thalamocortical neural connections and result in neuropsychiatric symptom improvement. The patient received a total of 10 sessions of bilateral rTMS over 2 weeks, applied at the DLPFCs, with high frequency in the left hemisphere and low frequency in the right hemisphere. After each rTMS treatment, computer-based cognitive-behavioral therapy was administered for 30 min. Behavioral and psychological symptoms, including hallucinations, aggressiveness, aberrant motor activity, disinhibition, and abrupt emotional changes, were significantly improved as assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. These effects persisted for up to 1 month. This case demonstrates the clinical potential of bilateral rTMS treatment in patients with intractable neurocognitive impairment after thalamic stroke.
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Warsi NM, Yan H, Suresh H, Wong SM, Arski ON, Gorodetsky C, Zhang K, Gouveia FV, Ibrahim GM. The anterior and centromedian thalamus: anatomy, function, and dysfunction in epilepsy. Epilepsy Res 2022; 182:106913. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2022.106913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Dautan D, Kovács A, Bayasgalan T, Diaz-Acevedo MA, Pal B, Mena-Segovia J. Modulation of motor behavior by the mesencephalic locomotor region. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109594. [PMID: 34433068 PMCID: PMC8641693 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) serves as an interface between higher-order motor systems and lower motor neurons. The excitatory module of the MLR is composed of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) and the cuneiform nucleus (CnF), and their activation has been proposed to elicit different modalities of movement. However, how the differences in connectivity and physiological properties explain their contributions to motor activity is not well known. Here we report that CnF glutamatergic neurons are more electrophysiologically homogeneous than PPN neurons and have mostly short-range connectivity, whereas PPN glutamatergic neurons are heterogeneous and maintain long-range connections, most notably with the basal ganglia. Optogenetic activation of CnF neurons produces short-lasting muscle activation, driving involuntary motor activity. In contrast, PPN neuron activation produces long-lasting increases in muscle tone that reduce motor activity and disrupt gait. Our results highlight biophysical and functional attributes among MLR neurons that support their differential contribution to motor behavior. Dautan et al. show key differences in the connectivity and physiological properties of neurons of the mesencephalic locomotor region. Although activation of CnF neurons elicits involuntary locomotor responses, activation of PPN neurons increases muscle tone and reduces motor activity, suggesting that PPN encodes a readiness signal that precedes locomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Dautan
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
| | - Adrienn Kovács
- Department of Physiology, University of Debrecen, Faculty of Medicine, 4012 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Tsogbadrakh Bayasgalan
- Department of Physiology, University of Debrecen, Faculty of Medicine, 4012 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Miguel A Diaz-Acevedo
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Balazs Pal
- Department of Physiology, University of Debrecen, Faculty of Medicine, 4012 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Juan Mena-Segovia
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
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Grillner S, Robertson B, Kotaleski JH. Basal Ganglia—A Motion Perspective. Compr Physiol 2020; 10:1241-1275. [DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c190045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Kaido T, Hirabayashi H, Murase N, Sasaki R, Shimokawara T, Nagata K, Bando C, Aono Y. Deep slow nasal respiration with tight lip closure for immediate attenuation of severe tics. J Clin Neurosci 2020; 77:67-74. [PMID: 32417125 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.05.037] [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: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe intractable tics, which are associated with Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorder (TS/CTD), severely affect the quality of life. Common less-invasive treatments are often unable to attenuate tics with deep brain stimulation currently being the only effective treatment. We aimed to assess the anti-tic effect of deep slow nasal respiration with tight lip closure using patients with TS/CTD. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 10 consecutive patients (9 men, 1 woman; 23-41 years old). We instructed the patients to perform the procedure for 120 s and to obtain a video recording of before and during the procedure. The videos were used to count tics and determine lip competency or incompetency. The counted tics were rated using the modified Rush Video Rating Scale. RESULTS Compared with before the procedure, there were significantly lower frequencies of motor and phonic tics, as well as video scored, during the procedure. Eight patients presented with lip incompetency before the procedure and none after the procedure (P = 0.041). There were no side effects associated with the procedure. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that deep slow nasal respiration with tight lip closure ameliorates tics in patients with TS/CTD. In accordance with our results, lip opening and oral breathing could be causes of tics, in addition to heritability. Therefore, this novel procedure could improve tics. Furthermore, our findings could contribute toward the development of tic treatments and elucidate their pathophysiology regarding the reward system, hypersensitivity, autonomic nerves, and nasal airway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanobu Kaido
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital Organization Nara Medical Center, Nara, Japan; Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Nutrition, Osaka Shoin Women's University, Higashiosaka, Japan.
| | - Hidehiro Hirabayashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital Organization Nara Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Nagako Murase
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Nara Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Ryota Sasaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital Organization Nara Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Shimokawara
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital Organization Nara Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Nagata
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Hospital Organization Nara Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Chiaki Bando
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Hospital Organization Nara Medical Center, Nara, Japan
| | - Yuka Aono
- Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health and Nutrition, Osaka Shoin Women's University, Higashiosaka, Japan
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Beck AK, Sandmann P, Dürschmid S, Schwabe K, Saryyeva A, Krauss JK. Neuronal activation in the human centromedian-parafascicular complex predicts cortical responses to behaviorally significant auditory events. Neuroimage 2020; 211:116583. [PMID: 32006682 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies with non-human primates have suggested an excitatory influence of the thalamus on the cerebral cortex, with the centromedian-parafascicular complex (CM-Pf) being particularly involved in processes of sensory event-driven attention and arousal. To define the involvement of the human CM-Pf in bottom-up and top-down auditory attention, we simultaneously recorded cortical EEG activity and intracranial local field potentials (LFPs) via electrodes implanted for deep brain stimulation for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The patients (N = 6) performed an auditory three-class oddball paradigm with frequent standard stimuli and two types of infrequent deviant stimuli (target and distractor). We found a parietal P3b to targets and a central P3a to distractors at the scalp level. Subcortical recordings in the CM-Pf revealed enhanced activation to targets compared to standards. Interarea-correlation analyses showed that activation in the CM-Pf predicted the generation of longer latency P3b scalp potentials specifically in the target condition. Our results provide first direct human evidence for a functional temporal relationship between target-related activation in the CM-Pf and an enhanced cortical target response. These results corroborate the hypothetical model of a cortico-basal ganglia loop system that switches from top-down to bottom-up mode in response to salient, task-relevant external events that are not predictable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Kathrin Beck
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany; Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Pascale Sandmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Stefan Dürschmid
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany; Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schwabe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Hearing4all", Germany
| | - Assel Saryyeva
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Joachim K Krauss
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Hearing4all", Germany
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Yufik YM. The Understanding Capacity and Information Dynamics in the Human Brain. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 21:E308. [PMID: 33267023 PMCID: PMC7514789 DOI: 10.3390/e21030308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This article proposes a theory of neuronal processes underlying cognition, focusing on the mechanisms of understanding in the human brain. Understanding is a product of mental modeling. The paper argues that mental modeling is a form of information production inside the neuronal system extending the reach of human cognition "beyond the information given" (Bruner, J.S., Beyond the Information Given, 1973). Mental modeling enables forms of learning and prediction (learning with understanding and prediction via explanation) that are unique to humans, allowing robust performance under unfamiliar conditions having no precedents in the past history. The proposed theory centers on the notions of self-organization and emergent properties of collective behavior in the neuronal substrate. The theory motivates new approaches in the design of intelligent artifacts (machine understanding) that are complementary to those underlying the technology of machine learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan M Yufik
- Virtual Structures Research, Inc., Potomac, MD 20854, USA
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Ilyas A, Pizarro D, Romeo AK, Riley KO, Pati S. The centromedian nucleus: Anatomy, physiology, and clinical implications. J Clin Neurosci 2019; 63:1-7. [PMID: 30827880 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Of all the truncothalamic nuclei, the centromedian-parafascicular nuclei complex (CM-Pf) is the largest and is considered the prototypic thalamic projection system. Located among the caudal intralaminar thalamic nuclei, the CM-Pf been described by Jones as "the forgotten components of the great loop of connections joining the cerebral cortex via the basal ganglia". The CM, located lateral relative to the Pf, is a major source of direct input to the striatum and also has connections to other, distinct region of the basal ganglia as well as the brainstem and cortex. Functionally, the CM participates in sensorimotor coordination, cognition (e.g. attention, arousal), and pain processing. The role of CM as 'gate control' function by propagating only salient stimuli during attention-demanding tasks has been proposed. Given its rich connectivity and diverse physiologic role, recent studies have explored the CM as potential target for neuromodulation therapy for Tourette syndrome, Parkinson's disease, generalized epilepsy, intractable neuropathic pain, and in restoring consciousness. This comprehensive review summarizes the structural and functional anatomy of the CM and its physiologic role with a focus on clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeel Ilyas
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
| | - Diana Pizarro
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Andrew K Romeo
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Kristen O Riley
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Sandipan Pati
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Crabtree JW. Functional Diversity of Thalamic Reticular Subnetworks. Front Syst Neurosci 2018; 12:41. [PMID: 30405364 PMCID: PMC6200870 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2018.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity of the GABAergic neurons of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) has long been known to play important roles in modulating the flow of information through the thalamus and in generating changes in thalamic activity during transitions from wakefulness to sleep. Recently, technological advances have considerably expanded our understanding of the functional organization of TRN. These have identified an impressive array of functionally distinct subnetworks in TRN that participate in sensory, motor, and/or cognitive processes through their different functional connections with thalamic projection neurons. Accordingly, "first order" projection neurons receive "driver" inputs from subcortical sources and are usually connected to a densely distributed TRN subnetwork composed of multiple elongated neural clusters that are topographically organized and incorporate spatially corresponding electrically connected neurons-first order projection neurons are also connected to TRN subnetworks exhibiting different state-dependent activity profiles. "Higher order" projection neurons receive driver inputs from cortical layer 5 and are mainly connected to a densely distributed TRN subnetwork composed of multiple broad neural clusters that are non-topographically organized and incorporate spatially corresponding electrically connected neurons. And projection neurons receiving "driver-like" inputs from the superior colliculus or basal ganglia are connected to TRN subnetworks composed of either elongated or broad neural clusters. Furthermore, TRN subnetworks that mediate interactions among neurons within groups of thalamic nuclei are connected to all three types of thalamic projection neurons. In addition, several TRN subnetworks mediate various bottom-up, top-down, and internuclear attentional processes: some bottom-up and top-down attentional mechanisms are specifically related to first order projection neurons whereas internuclear attentional mechanisms engage all three types of projection neurons. The TRN subnetworks formed by elongated and broad neural clusters may act as templates to guide the operations of the TRN subnetworks related to attentional processes. In this review article, the evidence revealing the functional TRN subnetworks will be evaluated and will be discussed in relation to the functions of the various sensory and motor thalamic nuclei with which these subnetworks are connected.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Crabtree
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Medical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Cariaga-Martinez A, Gutiérrez K, Alelú-Paz R. Rethinking schizophrenia through the lens of evolution: shedding light on the enigma. RESEARCH IDEAS AND OUTCOMES 2018. [DOI: 10.3897/rio.4.e28459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia refers to a complex psychiatric illness characterized by the heterogenic presence of positive, negative and cognitive symptoms occurring in all human societies. The fact that the disorder lacks a unifying neuropathology, presents a decreased fecundity of the affected individuals and has a cross-culturally stable incidence rate, makes it necessary for an evolutionary explanation that fully accounts for the preservation of “schizophrenic genes” in the global human genepool, explaining the potential sex differences and the heterogeneous cognitive symptomatology of the disorder and is consistent with the neuropsychological, developmental and evolutionary findings regarding the human brain. Here we proposed a new evolutionary framework for schizophrenia that is consistent with findings presented in different dimensions, considering the disorder as a form of brain functioning that allows us to adapt to the environment and, ultimately, maintain the survival of the species. We focus on the epigenetic regulation of thalamic interneurons as a major player involved in the development of the clinical picture characteristic of schizophrenia.
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Molnar SM, Beaton LE, Happer JP, Holcomb LA, Huang S, Arienzo D, Marinkovic K. Behavioral and Brain Activity Indices of Cognitive Control Deficits in Binge Drinkers. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8010009. [PMID: 29300304 PMCID: PMC5789340 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Heavy episodic drinking is prevalent among young adults and is a public issue of increasing importance. Its initiation and maintenance are associated with deficits in the capacity to inhibit automatic processing in favor of non-habitual responses. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine behavioral and brain activity indices of cognitive control during the Stroop task as a function of binge drinking. Heavy episodic drinkers (HED) reported consuming 5+/6+ drinks in two hours at least five times in the past six months and were compared to light drinkers (LED) who reported two or fewer binge episodes but were matched on demographics, intelligence and family history of alcoholism. Greater conflict-induced activity in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and thalamus was observed in HED participants and it was positively correlated with alcohol intake and alcohol-related harmful consequences. HEDs maintained intact accuracy but at a cost of prolonged reaction times to high-conflict trials and increased ratings of task difficulty. Greater activation of the areas implicated in cognitive control is consistent with compensatory network expansion to meet higher cognitive demands. These results provide further insight into degradation of cognitive control in HEDs which may benefit development of detection and prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Molnar
- Spatio-Temporal Brain Imaging Lab, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | - Lauren E Beaton
- Spatio-Temporal Brain Imaging Lab, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | - Joseph P Happer
- Spatio-Temporal Brain Imaging Lab, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | - Lee A Holcomb
- Spatio-Temporal Brain Imaging Lab, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | - Siyuan Huang
- Spatio-Temporal Brain Imaging Lab, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | - Donatello Arienzo
- Spatio-Temporal Brain Imaging Lab, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| | - Ksenija Marinkovic
- Spatio-Temporal Brain Imaging Lab, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA 92039, USA.
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Saniya K, Patil BG, Chavan MD, Prakash KG, Sailesh KS, Archana R, Johny M. Neuroanatomical Changes in Brain Structures Related to Cognition in Epilepsy: An Update. J Nat Sci Biol Med 2017; 8:139-143. [PMID: 28781476 PMCID: PMC5523517 DOI: 10.4103/0976-9668.210016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the microanatomical changes in brain structures is necessary for developing innovative therapeutic approaches to prevent/delay the cognitive impairment in epilepsy. We review here the microanatomical changes in the brain structures related to cognition in epilepsy. Here, we have presented the changes in major brain structures related to cognition, which helps the clinicians understand epilepsy more clearly and also helps researchers develop new treatment procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Saniya
- Department of Anatomy, Azeezia Institute of Medical Sciences, Kollam, Kerala, India
| | - B G Patil
- Department of Anatomy, Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Bijapur, Karnataka, India
| | - Madhavrao D Chavan
- Department of Pharmacology, Azeezia Institute of Medical Sciences, Kollam, Kerala, India
| | - K G Prakash
- Department of Anatomy, Azeezia Institute of Medical Sciences, Kollam, Kerala, India
| | - Kumar Sai Sailesh
- Department of Physiology, Little Flower Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Angamaly, Kerala, India
| | - R Archana
- Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Minu Johny
- Department of Physiology, Little Flower Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Angamaly, Kerala, India
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Baghdadi G, Towhidkhah F, Rostami R. A mathematical and biological plausible model of decision-execution regulation in "Go/No-Go" tasks: Focusing on the fronto-striatal-thalamic pathway. Comput Biol Med 2017; 86:113-128. [PMID: 28528232 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Discovering factors influencing the speed and accuracy of responses in tasks such as "Go/No-Go" is one of issues which have been raised in neurocognitive studies. Mathematical models are considered as tools to identify and to study decision making procedure from different aspects. In this paper, a mathematical model has been presented to show several factors can alter the output of decision making procedure before execution in a "Go/No-Go" task. The dynamic of this model has two stable fixed points, each of them corresponds to the "Press" and "Not-press" responses. This model that focuses on the fronto-striatal-thalamic direct and indirect pathways, receives planned decisions from frontal cortex and sends a regulated output to motor cortex for execution. The state-space analysis showed that several factors could affect the regulation procedure such as the input strength, noise value, initial condition, and the values of involved neurotransmitters. Some probable analytical reasons that may lead to changes in decision-execution regulation have been suggested as well. Bifurcation diagram analysis demonstrates that an optimal interaction between these factors can compensate the weaknesses of some others. It is predicted that abnormalities of response control in different brain disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may be resolved by providing treatment techniques that target the regulation of the interaction. The model also suggests a possible justification to show why so many studies insist on the important role of dopamine in some brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golnaz Baghdadi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzad Towhidkhah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Rostami
- Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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16
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Crittenden JR, Lacey CJ, Weng FJ, Garrison CE, Gibson DJ, Lin Y, Graybiel AM. Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons Modulate Spike-Timing in Striosomes and Matrix by an Amphetamine-Sensitive Mechanism. Front Neuroanat 2017; 11:20. [PMID: 28377698 PMCID: PMC5359318 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2017.00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The striatum is key for action-selection and the motivation to move. Dopamine and acetylcholine release sites are enriched in the striatum and are cross-regulated, possibly to achieve optimal behavior. Drugs of abuse, which promote abnormally high dopamine release, disrupt normal action-selection and drive restricted, repetitive behaviors (stereotypies). Stereotypies occur in a variety of disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, schizophrenia and Huntington's disease, as well as in addictive states. The severity of drug-induced stereotypy is correlated with induction of c-Fos expression in striosomes, a striatal compartment that is related to the limbic system and that directly projects to dopamine-producing neurons of the substantia nigra. These characteristics of striosomes contrast with the properties of the extra-striosomal matrix, which has strong sensorimotor and associative circuit inputs and outputs. Disruption of acetylcholine signaling in the striatum blocks the striosome-predominant c-Fos expression pattern induced by drugs of abuse and alters drug-induced stereotypy. The activity of striatal cholinergic interneurons is associated with behaviors related to sensory cues, and cortical inputs to striosomes can bias action-selection in the face of conflicting cues. The neurons and neuropil of striosomes and matrix neurons have observably separate distributions, both at the input level in the striatum and at the output level in the substantia nigra. Notably, cholinergic axons readily cross compartment borders, providing a potential route for local cross-compartment communication to maintain a balance between striosomal and matrix activity. We show here, by slice electrophysiology in transgenic mice, that repetitive evoked firing patterns in striosomal and matrix striatal projection neurons (SPNs) are interrupted by optogenetic activation of cholinergic interneurons either by the addition or the deletion of spikes. We demonstrate that this cholinergic modulation of projection neurons is blocked in brain slices taken from mice exposed to amphetamine and engaged in amphetamine-induced stereotypy, and lacking responsiveness to salient cues. Our findings support a model whereby activity in striosomes is normally under strong regulation by cholinergic interneurons, favoring behavioral flexibility, but that in animals with drug-induced stereotypy, this cholinergic signaling breaks down, resulting in differential modulation of striosomal activity and an inability to bias action-selection according to relevant sensory cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill R Crittenden
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Carolyn J Lacey
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Feng-Ju Weng
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Catherine E Garrison
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniel J Gibson
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yingxi Lin
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ann M Graybiel
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, USA
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17
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Yamanaka K, Hori Y, Minamimoto T, Yamada H, Matsumoto N, Enomoto K, Aosaki T, Graybiel AM, Kimura M. Roles of centromedian parafascicular nuclei of thalamus and cholinergic interneurons in the dorsal striatum in associative learning of environmental events. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017; 125:501-513. [PMID: 28324169 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-017-1713-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The thalamus provides a massive input to the striatum, but despite accumulating evidence, the functions of this system remain unclear. It is known, however, that the centromedian (CM) and parafascicular (Pf) nuclei of the thalamus can strongly influence particular striatal neuron subtypes, notably including the cholinergic interneurons of the striatum (CINs), key regulators of striatal function. Here, we highlight the thalamostriatal system through the CM-Pf to striatal CINs. We consider how, by virtue of the direct synaptic connections of the CM and PF, their neural activity contributes to the activity of CINs and striatal projection neurons (SPNs). CM-Pf neurons are strongly activated at sudden changes in behavioral context, such as switches in action-outcome contingency or sequence of behavioral requirements, suggesting that their activity may represent change of context operationalized as associability. Striatal CINs, on the other hand, acquire and loose responses to external events associated with particular contexts. In light of this physiological evidence, we propose a hypothesis of the CM-Pf-CINs system, suggesting that it augments associative learning by generating an associability signal and promotes reinforcement learning guided by reward prediction error signals from dopamine-containing neurons. We discuss neuronal circuit and synaptic organizations based on in vivo/in vitro studies that we suppose to underlie our hypothesis. Possible implications of CM-Pf-CINs dysfunction (or degeneration) in brain diseases are also discussed by focusing on Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ko Yamanaka
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yukiko Hori
- Department of Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Functional Brain Imaging, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takafumi Minamimoto
- Department of Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Functional Brain Imaging, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yamada
- Department of Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Matsumoto
- Department of Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Food and Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kazuki Enomoto
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Aosaki
- Neurophysiology Research Group, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Ann M Graybiel
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Minoru Kimura
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, Japan. .,Department of Physiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
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18
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Schepers IM, Beck AK, Bräuer S, Schwabe K, Abdallat M, Sandmann P, Dengler R, Rieger JW, Krauss JK. Human centromedian-parafascicular complex signals sensory cues for goal-oriented behavior selection. Neuroimage 2017; 152:390-399. [PMID: 28288908 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental research has shown that the centromedian-parafascicular complex (CM-Pf) of the intralaminar thalamus is activated in attentional orienting and processing of behaviorally relevant stimuli. These observations resulted in the hypothesis that the CM-Pf plays a pivotal role in goal-oriented behavior selection. We here set out to test this hypothesis with electrophysiological recordings from patients with electrodes implanted in CM-Pf for deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. Six patients participated in (1) an auditory three-class oddball experiment, which required a button press to target tones, but not to standard and deviant tones and in (2) a multi-speaker experiment with a target word that required attention selection and a target image that required response selection. Subjects showed transient neural responses (8-15Hz) to the target tone and the target word. Two subjects additionally showed transient neural responses (15-25Hz) to the target image. All sensory target stimuli were related to an internal goal and required a behavior selection (attention selection, response selection). In group analyses, neural responses were greater to target tones than deviant and standard tones and to target words than other task-relevant words that did not require attention selection. The transient neural responses occurred after the target stimuli but prior to the overt behavioral response. Our results demonstrate that in human subjects the CM-Pf is involved in signaling sensory inputs related to goal-oriented selection of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga M Schepers
- Department of Psychology, Oldenburg University, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4All, Germany.
| | - Anne-Kathrin Beck
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4All, Germany
| | - Susann Bräuer
- Department of Psychology, Oldenburg University, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4All, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schwabe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4All, Germany
| | | | - Pascale Sandmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Reinhard Dengler
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4All, Germany
| | - Jochem W Rieger
- Department of Psychology, Oldenburg University, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4All, Germany
| | - Joachim K Krauss
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Hearing4All, Germany
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19
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Marcos E, Genovesio A. Determining Monkey Free Choice Long before the Choice Is Made: The Principal Role of Prefrontal Neurons Involved in Both Decision and Motor Processes. Front Neural Circuits 2016; 10:75. [PMID: 27713692 PMCID: PMC5031774 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2016.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
When choices are made freely, they might emerge from pre-existing neural activity. However, whether neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PF) show this anticipatory effect and, if so, in which part of the process they are involved is still debated. To answer this question, we studied PF activity in monkeys while they performed a strategy task. In this task when the stimulus changed from the previous trial, the monkeys had to shift their response to one of two spatial goals, excluding the one that had been previously selected. Under this free-choice condition, the prestimulus activity of the same neurons that are involved in decision and motor processes predicted future choices. These neurons developed the same goal preferences during the prestimulus presentation as they did later in the decision phase. In contrast, the same effect was not observed in motor-only neurons and it was present but weaker in decision-only neurons. Overall, our results suggest that the PF neuronal activity predicts upcoming actions mainly through the decision-making network that integrate in time decision and motor task aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Encarni Marcos
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Genovesio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome Rome, Italy
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20
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Uncertainty and expectancy deviations require cortico-subcortical cooperation. Neuroimage 2016; 144:23-34. [PMID: 27261161 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.05.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In a dynamic and uncertain environment it is beneficial to learn the causal structure of the environment in order to minimize uncertainty. This requires determining estimates of probable outcomes, which will guide expectations about incoming information. One key factor in this learning process is to detect whether an unexpected event constitutes a low probability, but valid outcome, or an outright error. The present 7T-fMRI study investigated the role of subcortical structures in regulating this probabilistic inferential learning process. A new task was designed, in which participants learned to calculate the value, and therefore to anticipate the outcome of different visual sequences. Three types of sequences provided unambiguous, ambiguous, and incongruent contextual evidence and each sequence had two outcomes, which differed in their probability of occurrence. We hypothesized that subcortical regions are necessary when expectations are violated, and that their involvement will depend on the nature of the unexpected event. The results show increased dorsomedial striatal and thalamic activation for less probable sequences; in addition, ambiguous sequences also display larger activation in the red nuclei. Incongruent sequences displayed a pattern of subcortical activation restricted to the dorsolateral and the posterior dorsomedial striatum. These results confirm that different subcortical structures regulate uncertainty and expectancy deviations; this is crucial not only for learning to predict events in the environment, but also for flexible cognitive control in general.
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21
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Saalmann YB, Kastner S. The cognitive thalamus. Front Syst Neurosci 2015; 9:39. [PMID: 25852498 PMCID: PMC4362213 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2015.00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yuri B Saalmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sabine Kastner
- Department of Psychology and Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University Princeton, NJ, USA
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22
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Saalmann YB. Intralaminar and medial thalamic influence on cortical synchrony, information transmission and cognition. Front Syst Neurosci 2014; 8:83. [PMID: 24847225 PMCID: PMC4023070 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The intralaminar and medial thalamic nuclei are part of the higher-order thalamus, which receives little sensory input, and instead forms extensive cortico-thalamo-cortical pathways. The large mediodorsal thalamic nucleus predominantly connects with the prefrontal cortex, the adjacent intralaminar nuclei connect with fronto-parietal cortex, and the midline thalamic nuclei connect with medial prefrontal cortex and medial temporal lobe. Taking into account this connectivity pattern, it is not surprising that the intralaminar and medial thalamus has been implicated in a variety of cognitive functions, including memory processing, attention and orienting, as well as reward-based behavior. This review addresses how the intralaminar and medial thalamus may regulate information transmission in cortical circuits. A key neural mechanism may involve intralaminar and medial thalamic neurons modulating the degree of synchrony between different groups of cortical neurons according to behavioral demands. Such a thalamic-mediated synchronization mechanism may give rise to large-scale integration of information across multiple cortical circuits, consequently influencing the level of arousal and consciousness. Overall, the growing evidence supports a general role for the higher-order thalamus in the control of cortical information transmission and cognitive processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri B Saalmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA
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