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Pang Y, Bang JW, Kasi A, Li J, Parra C, Fieremans E, Wollstein G, Schuman JS, Wang M, Chan KC. Contributions of Brain Microstructures and Metabolism to Visual Field Loss Patterns in Glaucoma Using Archetypal and Information Gain Analyses. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:15. [PMID: 38975942 PMCID: PMC11232899 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.8.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the contributions of the microstructural and metabolic brain environment to glaucoma and their association with visual field (VF) loss patterns by using advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI), proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and clinical ophthalmic measures. Methods Sixty-nine glaucoma and healthy subjects underwent dMRI and/or MRS at 3 Tesla. Ophthalmic data were collected from VF perimetry and optical coherence tomography. dMRI parameters of microstructural integrity in the optic radiation and MRS-derived neurochemical levels in the visual cortex were compared among early glaucoma, advanced glaucoma, and healthy controls. Multivariate regression was used to correlate neuroimaging metrics with 16 archetypal VF loss patterns. We also ranked neuroimaging, ophthalmic, and demographic attributes in terms of their information gain to determine their importance to glaucoma. Results In dMRI, decreasing fractional anisotropy, radial kurtosis, and tortuosity and increasing radial diffusivity correlated with greater overall VF loss bilaterally. Regionally, decreasing intra-axonal space and extra-axonal space diffusivities correlated with greater VF loss in the superior-altitudinal area of the right eye and the inferior-altitudinal area of the left eye. In MRS, both early and advanced glaucoma patients had lower gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, and choline levels than healthy controls. GABA appeared to associate more with superonasal VF loss, and glutamate and choline more with inferior VF loss. Choline ranked third for importance to early glaucoma, whereas radial kurtosis and GABA ranked fourth and fifth for advanced glaucoma. Conclusions Our findings highlight the importance of non-invasive neuroimaging biomarkers and analytical modeling for unveiling glaucomatous neurodegeneration and how they reflect complementary VF loss patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyin Pang
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - Ji Won Bang
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - Anisha Kasi
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - Jeremy Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - Carlos Parra
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - Els Fieremans
- Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
| | - Gadi Wollstein
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York, United States
- Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Joel S Schuman
- Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Drexel University School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Studies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Mengyu Wang
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Kevin C Chan
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, New York, United States
- Neuroscience Institute and Tech4Health Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
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Remahi S, Mabika M, Côté S, Iorio-Morin C, Near J, Hui SCN, Edden RAE, Théoret H, Whittingstall K, Lepage JF. Neurotransmitter levels in the basal ganglia are associated with intracortical circuit activity of the primary motor cortex in healthy humans. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 129:110892. [PMID: 37952692 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110892] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The basal ganglia are strongly connected to the primary motor cortex (M1) and play a crucial role in movement control. Interestingly, several disorders showing abnormal neurotransmitter levels in basal ganglia also present concomitant anomalies in intracortical function within M1. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS The main aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between neurotransmitter content in the basal ganglia and intracortical function at M1 in healthy individuals. We hypothesized that neurotransmitter content of the basal ganglia would be significant predictors of M1 intracortical function. METHODS We combined magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to test this hypothesis in 20 healthy adults. An extensive TMS battery probing common measures of intracortical, and corticospinal excitability was administered, and GABA and glutamate-glutamine levels were assessed from voxels placed over the basal ganglia and the occipital cortex (control region). RESULTS Regression models using metabolite concentration as predictor and TMS metrics as outcome measures showed that glutamate level in the basal ganglia significantly predicted short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF), while GABA content did not. No model using metabolite measures from the occipital control voxel was significant. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results converge with those obtained in clinical populations and suggest that intracortical circuits in human M1 are associated with the neurotransmitter content of connected but distal subcortical structures crucial for motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Remahi
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Madora Mabika
- University of Galway, School of Medicine, Galway, Ireland
| | - Samantha Côté
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Christian Iorio-Morin
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Jamie Near
- Physical Sciences Platform, SunnyBrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, Canada
| | - Steve C N Hui
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hugo Théoret
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Kevin Whittingstall
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Jean-François Lepage
- Sherbrooke University Hospital Research Center, Sherbrooke, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Sherbrooke, Canada.
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Zhang C, Zhang K, Hu X, Cai X, Chen Y, Gao F, Wang G. Regional GABA levels modulate abnormal resting-state network functional connectivity and cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad535. [PMID: 38271282 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad535] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
More evidence shows that changes in functional connectivity with regard to brain networks and neurometabolite levels correlated to cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis. However, the neurological basis underlying the relationship among neurometabolite levels, functional connectivity, and cognitive impairment remains unclear. For this purpose, we used a combination of magnetic resonance spectroscopy and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to study gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate concentrations in the posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex and left hippocampus, and inter-network functional connectivity in 29 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and 34 matched healthy controls. Neuropsychological tests were used to evaluate the cognitive function. We found that relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients demonstrated significantly reduced gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate concentrations and aberrant functional connectivity involving cognitive-related networks compared to healthy controls, and both alterations were associated with specific cognition decline. Moreover, mediation analyses indicated that decremented hippocampus gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients mediated the association between inter-network functional connectivity in various components of default mode network and verbal memory deficits. In summary, our findings shed new lights on the essential function of GABAergic system abnormalities in regulating network dysconnectivity and functional connectivity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients, suggesting potential novel approach to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Kaihua Zhang
- School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
| | - Xin Hu
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Xianyun Cai
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Yufan Chen
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Guangbin Wang
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China
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Basu SK, Kapse KJ, Murnick J, Pradhan S, Spoehr E, Zhang A, Andescavage N, Nino G, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. Impact of bronchopulmonary dysplasia on brain GABA concentrations in preterm infants: Prospective cohort study. Early Hum Dev 2023; 186:105860. [PMID: 37757548 PMCID: PMC10843009 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2023.105860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is associated with cognitive-behavioral deficits in very preterm (VPT) infants, often in the absence of structural brain injury. Advanced GABA-editing techniques like Mescher-Garwood point resolved spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS) can quantify in-vivo gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA+, with macromolecules) and glutamate (Glx, with glutamine) concentrations to investigate for neurophysiologic perturbations in the developing brain of VPT infants. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between the severity of BPD and basal-ganglia GABA+ and Glx concentrations in VPT infants. METHODS MRI studies were performed on a 3 T scanner in a cohort of VPT infants [born ≤32 weeks gestational age (GA)] without major structural brain injury and healthy-term infants (>37 weeks GA) at term-equivalent age. MEGA-PRESS (TE68ms, TR2000ms, 256averages) sequence was acquired from the right basal-ganglia voxel (∼3cm3) and metabolite concentrations were quantified in institutional units (i.u.). We stratified VPT infants into no/mild (grade 0/1) and moderate-severe (grade 2/3) BPD. RESULTS Reliable MEGA-PRESS data was available from 63 subjects: 29 healthy-term and 34 VPT infants without major structural brain injury. VPT infants with moderate-severe BPD (n = 20) had the lowest right basal-ganglia GABA+ (median 1.88 vs. 2.28 vs. 2.12 i.u., p = 0.025) and GABA+/choline (0.73 vs. 0.99 vs. 0.88, p = 0.004) in comparison to infants with no/mild BPD and healthy-term infants. The GABA+/Glx ratio was lower (0.34 vs. 0.44, p = 0.034) in VPT infants with moderate-severe BPD than in infants with no/mild BPD. CONCLUSIONS Reduced GABA+ and GABA+/Glx in VPT infants with moderate-severe BPD indicate neurophysiologic perturbations which could serve as early biomarkers of future cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudeepta K Basu
- Neonatology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA; Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Kushal J Kapse
- Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Jonathan Murnick
- The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA; Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Subechhya Pradhan
- Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Emma Spoehr
- Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Anqing Zhang
- The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA; Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Nickie Andescavage
- Neonatology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA; Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Gustavo Nino
- The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA; Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Adre J du Plessis
- The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA; Perinatal Pediatrics institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA; Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA.
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5
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Savage K, Sarris J, Hughes M, Bousman CA, Rossell S, Scholey A, Stough C, Suo C. Neuroimaging Insights: Kava's ( Piper methysticum) Effect on Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex GABA in Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Nutrients 2023; 15:4586. [PMID: 37960239 PMCID: PMC10649338 DOI: 10.3390/nu15214586] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a prevalent, chronic mental health disorder. The measurement of regional brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) offers insight into its role in anxiety and is a potential biomarker for treatment response. Research literature suggests Piper methysticum (Kava) is efficacious as an anxiety treatment, but no study has assessed its effects on central GABA levels. This study investigated dorsal anterior cingulate (dACC) GABA levels in 37 adult participants with GAD. GABA was measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) at baseline and following an eight-week administration of Kava (standardised to 120 mg kavalactones twice daily) (n = 20) or placebo (n = 17). This study was part of the Kava for the Treatment of GAD (KGAD; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02219880), a 16-week intervention study. Compared with the placebo group, the Kava group had a significant reduction in dACC GABA (p = 0.049) at eight weeks. Baseline anxiety scores on the HAM-A were positively correlated with GABA levels but were not significantly related to treatment. Central GABA reductions following Kava treatment may signal an inhibitory effect, which, if considered efficacious, suggests that GABA levels are modulated by Kava, independent of reported anxiety symptoms. dACC GABA patterns suggest a functional role of higher levels in clinical anxiety but warrants further research for symptom benefit. Findings suggest that dACC GABA levels previously un-examined in GAD could serve as a biomarker for diagnosis and treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Savage
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, 427-451 Burwood Road, Melbourne 3122, Australia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne University, Melbourne 3121, Australia
| | - Jerome Sarris
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne University, Melbourne 3121, Australia
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney 2751, Australia
| | - Matthew Hughes
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne 3122, Australia
| | - Chad A. Bousman
- Departments of Medical Genetics, Psychiatry, Physiology & Pharmacology, and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Susan Rossell
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne 3122, Australia
- Mental Health, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne 3065, Australia
| | - Andrew Scholey
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, 427-451 Burwood Road, Melbourne 3122, Australia
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Melbourne 3168, Australia
| | - Con Stough
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, 427-451 Burwood Road, Melbourne 3122, Australia
| | - Chao Suo
- Brain Park, Turner Institute of Brain and Mind, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
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Wójcik J, Kochański B, Cieśla K, Lewandowska M, Karpiesz L, Niedziałek I, Raj-Koziak D, Skarżyński PH, Wolak T. An MR spectroscopy study of temporal areas excluding primary auditory cortex and frontal regions in subjective bilateral and unilateral tinnitus. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18417. [PMID: 37891242 PMCID: PMC10611771 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45024-3] [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: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies indicate changes in neurotransmission along the auditory pathway in subjective tinnitus. Most authors, however, investigated brain regions including the primary auditory cortex, whose physiology can be affected by concurrent hearing deficits. In the present MR spectroscopy study we assumed increased levels of glutamate and glutamine (Glx), and other Central Nervous System metabolites in the temporal lobe outside the primary auditory cortex, in a region involved in conscious auditory perception and memory. We studied 52 participants with unilateral (n = 24) and bilateral (n = 28) tinnitus, and a control group without tinnitus (n = 25), all with no severe hearing losses and a similar hearing profile. None of the metabolite levels in the temporal regions of interest were found related to tinnitus status or laterality. Unexpectedly, we found a tendency of increased concentration of Glx in the control left medial frontal region in bilateral vs unilateral tinnitus. Slightly elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms were also shown in participants with tinnitus, as compared to healthy individuals, with the bilateral tinnitus group marginally more affected. We discuss no apparent effect in the temporal lobes, as well as the role of frontal brain areas, with respect to hearing loss, attention and psychological well-being in chronic tinnitus. We furthermore elaborate on the design-related and technical obstacles of MR spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Wójcik
- Bioimaging Research Center, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Mokra 17 Street, Kajetany, 05-830, Nadarzyn, Poland
| | - Bartosz Kochański
- Bioimaging Research Center, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Mokra 17 Street, Kajetany, 05-830, Nadarzyn, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Cieśla
- Bioimaging Research Center, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Mokra 17 Street, Kajetany, 05-830, Nadarzyn, Poland.
| | - Monika Lewandowska
- Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Fosa Staromiejska 1a Street, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
| | - Lucyna Karpiesz
- Tinnitus Department, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Mokra 17 Street, Kajetany, 05-830, Nadarzyn, Poland
| | - Iwona Niedziałek
- Tinnitus Department, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Mokra 17 Street, Kajetany, 05-830, Nadarzyn, Poland
| | - Danuta Raj-Koziak
- Tinnitus Department, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Mokra 17 Street, Kajetany, 05-830, Nadarzyn, Poland
| | - Piotr Henryk Skarżyński
- Department of Teleaudiology and Screening, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Mokra 17 Street, Kajetany, 05-830, Nadarzyn, Poland
- Institute of Sensory Organs, Mokra 1 Street, Kajetany, 05-830, Nadarzyn, Poland
- Heart Failure and Cardiac Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Kondratowicza 8 Street, 03-242, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Wolak
- Bioimaging Research Center, World Hearing Center, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Mokra 17 Street, Kajetany, 05-830, Nadarzyn, Poland
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Yaakub SN, White TA, Roberts J, Martin E, Verhagen L, Stagg CJ, Hall S, Fouragnan EF. Transcranial focused ultrasound-mediated neurochemical and functional connectivity changes in deep cortical regions in humans. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5318. [PMID: 37658076 PMCID: PMC10474159 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40998-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is an emerging non-invasive technique for focally modulating human brain function. The mechanisms and neurochemical substrates underlying TUS neuromodulation in humans and how these relate to excitation and inhibition are still poorly understood. In 24 healthy controls, we separately stimulated two deep cortical regions and investigated the effects of theta-burst TUS, a protocol shown to increase corticospinal excitability, on the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and functional connectivity. We show that theta-burst TUS in humans selectively reduces GABA levels in the posterior cingulate, but not the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. Functional connectivity increased following TUS in both regions. Our findings suggest that TUS changes overall excitability by reducing GABAergic inhibition and that changes in TUS-mediated neuroplasticity last at least 50 mins after stimulation. The difference in TUS effects on the posterior and anterior cingulate could suggest state- or location-dependency of the TUS effect-both mechanisms increasingly recognized to influence the brain's response to neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti N Yaakub
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
- Brain Research and Imaging Centre, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Tristan A White
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
- Brain Research and Imaging Centre, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Jamie Roberts
- Department of Clinical Measurement and Innovation, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, UK
| | - Eleanor Martin
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lennart Verhagen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Charlotte J Stagg
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephen Hall
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
- Brain Research and Imaging Centre, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Elsa F Fouragnan
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
- Brain Research and Imaging Centre, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
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8
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Bang JW, Parra C, Yu K, Wollstein G, Schuman JS, Chan KC. GABA decrease is associated with degraded neural specificity in the visual cortex of glaucoma patients. Commun Biol 2023; 6:679. [PMID: 37386293 PMCID: PMC10310759 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04918-8] [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: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is an age-related neurodegenerative disease of the visual system, affecting both the eye and the brain. Yet its underlying metabolic mechanisms and neurobehavioral relevance remain largely unclear. Here, using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the GABAergic and glutamatergic systems in the visual cortex of glaucoma patients, as well as neural specificity, which is shaped by GABA and glutamate signals and underlies efficient sensory and cognitive functions. Our study shows that among the older adults, both GABA and glutamate levels decrease with increasing glaucoma severity regardless of age. Further, our study shows that the reduction of GABA but not glutamate predicts the neural specificity. This association is independent of the impairments on the retina structure, age, and the gray matter volume of the visual cortex. Our results suggest that glaucoma-specific decline of GABA undermines neural specificity in the visual cortex and that targeting GABA could improve the neural specificity in glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Won Bang
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York, 10017, USA.
| | - Carlos Parra
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York, 10017, USA
| | - Kevin Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York, 10017, USA
| | - Gadi Wollstein
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York, 10017, USA
- Center for Neural Science, College of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, New York, 10003, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, New York, 11201, USA
| | - Joel S Schuman
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York, 10017, USA
- Center for Neural Science, College of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, New York, 10003, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, New York, 11201, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York, 10016, USA
| | - Kevin C Chan
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York, 10017, USA.
- Center for Neural Science, College of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, New York, 10003, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, New York, 11201, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York, 10016, USA.
- Department of Radiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York, 10016, USA.
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9
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Paparella I, Vanderwalle G, Stagg CJ, Maquet P. An integrated measure of GABA to characterize post-stroke plasticity. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 39:103463. [PMID: 37406594 PMCID: PMC10339061 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103463] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Stroke is a major cause of death and chronic neurological disability. Despite the improvements in stroke care, the number of patients affected by stroke keeps increasing and many stroke survivors are left permanently disabled. Current therapies are limited in efficacy. Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying post-stroke recovery is therefore crucial to find new therapeutic options to address this medical burden. Long-lasting and widespread alterations of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission seem to play a key role in stroke recovery. In this review we first discuss a possible model of GABAergic modulation of post-stroke plasticity. We then overview the techniques currently available to non-invasively assess GABA in patients and the conclusions drawn from this limited body of work. Finally, we address the remaining open questions to clarify GABAergic changes underlying post-stroke recovery, we briefly review possible ways to modulate GABA post stroke and propose a novel approach to thoroughly quantify GABA in stroke patients, by integrating its concentration, the activity of its receptors and its link with microstructural changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Paparella
- GIGA-Research, Cyclotron Research Center-In Vivo Imaging Unit, 8 allée du Six Août, Batiment B30, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Gilles Vanderwalle
- GIGA-Research, Cyclotron Research Center-In Vivo Imaging Unit, 8 allée du Six Août, Batiment B30, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Charlotte J Stagg
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit, Oxford, UK
| | - Pierre Maquet
- GIGA-Research, Cyclotron Research Center-In Vivo Imaging Unit, 8 allée du Six Août, Batiment B30, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman, Bâtiment B35, CHU de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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10
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Cadwallader CJ, Steiniger J, Cooper PS, Zhou SH, Hendrikse J, Sumner RL, Kirk IJ, Chong TTJ, Coxon JP. Acute exercise as a modifier of neocortical plasticity and aperiodic activity in the visual cortex. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7491. [PMID: 37161049 PMCID: PMC10169840 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34749-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a form of neuroplasticity commonly implicated in mechanistic models of learning and memory. Acute exercise can boost LTP in the motor cortex, and is associated with a shift in excitation/inhibition (E:I) balance, but whether this extends to other regions such as the visual cortex is unknown. We investigated the effect of a preceding bout of exercise on LTP induction and the E:I balance in the visual cortex using electroencephalography (EEG). Young adults (N = 20, mean age = 24.20) engaged in 20 min of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise and rest across two counterbalanced sessions. LTP was induced using a high frequency presentation of a visual stimulus; a "visual tetanus". Established EEG markers of visual LTP, the N1b and P2 component of the visual evoked potential, and an EEG-derived measure of the E:I balance, the aperiodic exponent, were measured before and after the visual tetanus. As expected, there was a potentiation of the N1b following the visual tetanus, with specificity to the tetanised stimulus, and a non-specific potentiation of the P2. These effects were not sensitive to a preceding bout of exercise. However, the E:I balance showed a late shift towards inhibition following the visual tetanus. A preceding bout of exercise resulted in specificity of this E:I balance shift to the tetanised stimulus, that was not seen following rest. This novel finding suggests a possible exercise-induced tuning of the visual cortex to stimulus details following LTP induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J Cadwallader
- School of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
| | - Jennifer Steiniger
- School of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Patrick S Cooper
- School of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Shou-Han Zhou
- School of Psychology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Joshua Hendrikse
- School of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Rachael L Sumner
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ian J Kirk
- School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Trevor T-J Chong
- School of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, 3065, Australia
| | - James P Coxon
- School of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
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11
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Elsaid S, Truong P, Sailasuta N, Le Foll B. Evaluating Back-to-Back and Day-to-Day Reproducibility of Cortical GABA+ Measurements Using Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ( 1H MRS). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097713. [PMID: 37175420 PMCID: PMC10178500 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097713] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders. The best method for quantifying GABA is proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS). Considering that accurate measurements of GABA are affected by slight methodological alterations, demonstrating GABA reproducibility in healthy volunteers is essential before implementing the changes in vivo. Thus, our study aimed to evaluate the back-to-back (B2B) and day-to-day (D2D) reproducibility of GABA+ macromolecules (GABA+) using a 3 Tesla MRI scanner, the new 32-channel head coil (CHC), and Mescher-Garwood Point Resolved Spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS) technique with the scan time (approximately 10 min), adequate for psychiatric patients. The dorsomedial pre-frontal cortex/anterior cingulate cortex (dmPFC/ACC) was scanned in 29 and the dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex (dlPFC) in 28 healthy volunteers on two separate days. Gannet 3.1 was used to quantify GABA+. The reproducibility was evaluated by Pearson's r correlation, the interclass-correlation coefficient (ICC), and the coefficient of variation (CV%) (r/ICC/CV%). For Day 1, B2B reproducibility was 0.59/0.60/5.02% in the dmPFC/ACC and 0.74/0.73/5.15% for dlPFC. For Day 2, it was 0.60/0.59/6.26% for the dmPFC/ACC and 0.54/0.54/6.89 for dlPFC. D2D reproducibility of averaged GABA+ was 0.62/0.61/4.95% for the dmPFC/ACC and 0.58/0.58/5.85% for dlPFC. Our study found excellent GABA+ repeatability and reliability in the dmPFC/ACC and dlPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Elsaid
- Translation Addiction Research Laboratory (TARL), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science (IMS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Brain Health Imaging Centre (BHIC), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Peter Truong
- Brain Health Imaging Centre (BHIC), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Napapon Sailasuta
- Brain Health Imaging Centre (BHIC), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Departments of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Bernard Le Foll
- Translation Addiction Research Laboratory (TARL), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science (IMS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Brain Health Imaging Centre (BHIC), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada
- Addictions Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Waypoint Research Institute, Penetanguishene, ON L9M 1G3, Canada
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12
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Ziminski JJ, Frangou P, Karlaftis VM, Emir U, Kourtzi Z. Microstructural and neurochemical plasticity mechanisms interact to enhance human perceptual decision-making. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002029. [PMID: 36897881 PMCID: PMC10032544 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Experience and training are known to boost our skills and mold the brain's organization and function. Yet, structural plasticity and functional neurotransmission are typically studied at different scales (large-scale networks, local circuits), limiting our understanding of the adaptive interactions that support learning of complex cognitive skills in the adult brain. Here, we employ multimodal brain imaging to investigate the link between microstructural (myelination) and neurochemical (GABAergic) plasticity for decision-making. We test (in males, due to potential confounding menstrual cycle effects on GABA measurements in females) for changes in MRI-measured myelin, GABA, and functional connectivity before versus after training on a perceptual decision task that involves identifying targets in clutter. We demonstrate that training alters subcortical (pulvinar, hippocampus) myelination and its functional connectivity to visual cortex and relates to decreased visual cortex GABAergic inhibition. Modeling interactions between MRI measures of myelin, GABA, and functional connectivity indicates that pulvinar myelin plasticity interacts-through thalamocortical connectivity-with GABAergic inhibition in visual cortex to support learning. Our findings propose a dynamic interplay of adaptive microstructural and neurochemical plasticity in subcortico-cortical circuits that supports learning for optimized decision-making in the adult human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Ziminski
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Polytimi Frangou
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Vasilis M Karlaftis
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Uzay Emir
- Purdue University School of Health Sciences, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Zoe Kourtzi
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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13
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Li N, Ma W, Ren F, Li X, Li F, Zong W, Wu L, Dai Z, Hui SCN, Edden RAE, Li M, Gao F. Neurochemical and functional reorganization of the cognitive-ear link underlies cognitive impairment in presbycusis. Neuroimage 2023; 268:119861. [PMID: 36610677 PMCID: PMC10026366 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that the interaction between presbycusis and cognitive impairment may be partially explained by the cognitive-ear link. However, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we combined magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate auditory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (Glu) levels, intra- and inter-network functional connectivity, and their relationships with auditory and cognitive function in 51 presbycusis patients and 51 well-matched healthy controls. Our results confirmed reorganization of the cognitive-ear link in presbycusis, including decreased auditory GABA and Glu levels and aberrant functional connectivity involving auditory networks (AN) and cognitive-related networks, which were associated with reduced speech perception or cognitive impairment. Moreover, mediation analyses revealed that decreased auditory GABA levels and dysconnectivity between the AN and default mode network (DMN) mediated the association between hearing loss and impaired information processing speed in presbycusis. These findings highlight the importance of AN-DMN dysconnectivity in cognitive-ear link reorganization leading to cognitive impairment, and hearing loss may drive reorganization via decreased auditory GABA levels. Modulation of GABA neurotransmission may lead to new treatment strategies for cognitive impairment in presbycusis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Li
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Wen Ma
- Department of Otolaryngology, the Central Hospital of Jinan City, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fuxin Ren
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fuyan Li
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wei Zong
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Lili Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zongrui Dai
- Westa College, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Steve C N Hui
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Muwei Li
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.
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14
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Delli Pizzi S, Franciotti R, Chiacchiaretta P, Ferretti A, Edden RA, Sestieri C, Russo M, Sensi SL, Onofrj M. Altered Medial Prefrontal Connectivity in Parkinson's Disease Patients with Somatic Symptoms. Mov Disord 2022; 37:2226-2235. [PMID: 36054283 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29187] [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: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The high co-occurrence of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suggests overlapping pathophysiology. However, little is known about the neural correlates of SSD and their possible interactions with PD. Existing studies have shown that SSD is associated with reduced task-evoked activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a central node of the default-mode network (DMN). SSD is also associated with abnormal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content, a marker of local inhibitory tone and regional hypoactivity, in the same area when SSD co-occurs with PD. OBJECTIVES To disentangle the individual and shared effects of SSD and PD on mPFC neurotransmission and connectivity patterns and help disclose the neural mechanisms of comorbidity in the PD population. METHODS The study cohort included 18 PD patients with SSD (PD + SSD), 18 PD patients, 13 SSD patients who did not exhibit neurologic disorders, and 17 healthy subjects (HC). Proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy evaluated GABA levels within a volume of interest centered on the mPFC. Resting-state functional MR imaging investigated the region's functional connectivity patterns. RESULTS Compared to HC or PD groups, the mPFC of SSD subjects exhibited higher GABA levels and connectivity. Higher mPFC connectivity involved DMN regions in SSD patients without PD and regions of the executive and attentional networks (EAN) in patients with PD comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS Aberrant reconfigurations of connectivity patterns between the mPFC and the EAN are distinct features of the PD + SSD comorbidity. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Delli Pizzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti- Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Service of Molecular Neurology, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti- Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Raffaella Franciotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti- Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Piero Chiacchiaretta
- Advanced Computing Core, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Department of Advanced Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, 66100, Italy
| | - Antonio Ferretti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti- Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Richard A Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,F.M. Kirby Center for Functional MRI, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carlo Sestieri
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti- Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Mirella Russo
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Stefano L Sensi
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti- Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Service of Molecular Neurology, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti- Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Marco Onofrj
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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15
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Li H, Heise KF, Chalavi S, Puts NAJ, Edden RAE, Swinnen SP. The role of MRS-assessed GABA in human behavioral performance. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 212:102247. [PMID: 35149113 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms that drive human behavior has been a long-standing focus of cognitive neuroscience. One well-known neuro-metabolite involved in the creation of optimal behavioral repertoires is GABA, the main inhibitory neurochemical in the human brain. Converging evidence from both animal and human studies indicates that individual variations in GABAergic function are associated with behavioral performance. In humans, one increasingly used in vivo approach to measuring GABA levels is through Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). However, the implications of MRS measures of GABA for behavior remain poorly understood. In this respect, it is yet to be determined how GABA levels within distinct task-related brain regions of interest account for differences in behavioral performance. This review summarizes findings from cross-sectional studies that determined baseline MRS-assessed GABA levels and examined their associations with performance on various behaviors representing the perceptual, motor and cognitive domains, with a particular focus on healthy participants across the lifespan. Overall, the results indicate that MRS-assessed GABA levels play a pivotal role in various domains of behavior. Even though some converging patterns emerge, it is challenging to draw comprehensive conclusions due to differences in behavioral task paradigms, targeted brain regions of interest, implemented MRS techniques and reference compounds used. Across all studies, the effects of GABA levels on behavioral performance point to generic and partially independent functions that refer to distinctiveness, interference suppression and cognitive flexibility. On one hand, higher baseline GABA levels may support the distinctiveness of neural representations during task performance and better coping with interference and suppression of preferred response tendencies. On the other hand, lower baseline GABA levels may support a reduction of inhibition, leading to higher cognitive flexibility. These effects are task-dependent and appear to be mediated by age. Nonetheless, additional studies using emerging advanced methods are required to further clarify the role of MRS-assessed GABA in behavioral performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Li
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Kirstin-Friederike Heise
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Belgium; Department of Health Sciences and Research, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Sima Chalavi
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Nicolaas A J Puts
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephan P Swinnen
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Belgium.
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16
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Cruz-Almeida Y, Forbes M, Cohen RC, Woods AJ, Fillingim RB, Riley JL, Porges ES. Brain gamma-aminobutyric acid, but not glutamine and glutamate levels are lower in older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain: considerations by sex and brain location. Pain Rep 2021; 6:e952. [PMID: 34514275 PMCID: PMC8423393 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems are central to the pathophysiology of chronic pain and are equally affected by aging processes. We measured levels of frontal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the combined resonance of glutamate and glutamine (Glx) in vivo using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to elucidate age-specific and pain-specific associations with clinical and experimental pain in older adults. METHODS Younger (18-24, n = 24) and older (60-94, n = 41) individuals part of a larger study (Neuromodulatory Examination of Pain and Mobility Across the Lifespan [NEPAL]) underwent questionnaires, quantitative sensory testing, and 1H-MRS Mescher-Garwood point-resolved spectroscopy to measure GABA and Glx levels in prefrontal and sensorimotor brain regions. RESULTS Older participants had significantly lower sensorimotor, but not prefrontal, GABA and Glx levels, compared with younger controls (P's < 0.05). Younger controls had significantly higher prefrontal and sensorimotor GABA, but not Glx, levels compared with older controls and older adults with chronic pain (P's < 0.05). Older males with chronic pain had significantly lower prefrontal GABA compared with older and younger male controls (P's < 0.05). Prefrontal GABA, but not Glx, was significantly associated with self-reported and experimental pain measures (P's < 0.05). Our results are the first to focus exclusively on age and pain differences in GABA and Glx including younger and older controls to elucidate aging and pain contributions to brain GABAergic and glutamatergic processes. CONCLUSION Evaluation of both the neuroinhibitory and neuroexcitatory mechanisms provide promising potential for improving both our understanding of the mechanisms of chronic pain in aging and opportunities for effective, individualized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yenisel Cruz-Almeida
- Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Foundation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Community Dentistry & Behavioral Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Megan Forbes
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Foundation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ronald C. Cohen
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Foundation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Adam J. Woods
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Foundation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Roger B. Fillingim
- Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Joseph L. Riley
- Pain Research & Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Eric S. Porges
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Foundation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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17
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Rudroff T, Workman CD. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as a Treatment Tool for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11060806. [PMID: 34207004 PMCID: PMC8235194 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has been defined as a transient (<24 h) condition of confusion and/or loss of consciousness for less than 30 min after brain injury and can result in short- and long-term motor and cognitive impairments. Recent studies have documented the therapeutic potential of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques for the enhancement of cognitive and motor function in mTBI. Alongside repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), the main technique used for this purpose is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The focus of this review was to provide a detailed, comprehensive (i.e., both cognitive and motor impairment) overview of the literature regarding therapeutic tDCS paradigms after mTBI. A publication search of the PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases was performed to identify records that applied tDCS in mTBI. The publication search yielded 14,422 records from all of the databases, however, only three met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. Based on the review, there is limited evidence of tDCS improving cognitive and motor performance. Surprisingly, there were only three studies that used tDCS in mTBI, which highlights an urgent need for more research to provide additional insights into ideal therapeutic brain targets and optimized stimulation parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Rudroff
- Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Health Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-319-467-0363
| | - Craig D. Workman
- Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
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18
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Porges EC, Jensen G, Foster B, Edden RAE, Puts NAJ. The trajectory of cortical GABA across the lifespan, an individual participant data meta-analysis of edited MRS studies. eLife 2021; 10:e62575. [PMID: 34061022 PMCID: PMC8225386 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human brain and can be measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Conflicting accounts report decreases and increases in cortical GABA levels across the lifespan. This incompatibility may be an artifact of the size and age range of the samples utilized in these studies. No single study to date has included the entire lifespan. In this study, eight suitable datasets were integrated to generate a model of the trajectory of frontal GABA estimates (as reported through edited MRS; both expressed as ratios and in institutional units) across the lifespan. Data were fit using both a log-normal curve and a nonparametric spline as regression models using a multi-level Bayesian model utilizing the Stan language. Integrated data show that an asymmetric lifespan trajectory of frontal GABA measures involves an early period of increase, followed by a period of stability during early adulthood, with a gradual decrease during adulthood and aging that is described well by both spline and log-normal models. The information gained will provide a general framework to inform expectations of future studies based on the age of the population being studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Porges
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
- McKnight Brain Research Foundation, University of FloridaUnited StatesUnited States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Greg Jensen
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Brent Foster
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
- McKnight Brain Research Foundation, University of FloridaUnited StatesUnited States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Richard AE Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger InstituteBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Nicolaas AJ Puts
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger InstituteBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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19
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Basu SK, Pradhan S, du Plessis AJ, Ben-Ari Y, Limperopoulos C. GABA and glutamate in the preterm neonatal brain: In-vivo measurement by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Neuroimage 2021; 238:118215. [PMID: 34058332 PMCID: PMC8404144 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive and behavioral disabilities in preterm infants, even without obvious brain injury on conventional neuroimaging, underscores a critical need to identify the subtle underlying microstructural and biochemical derangements. The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems undergo rapid maturation during the crucial late gestation and early postnatal life, and are at-risk of disruption after preterm birth. Animal and human autopsy studies provide the bulk of current understanding since non-invasive specialized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to measure GABA and glutamate are not routinely available for this vulnerable population due to logistical and technical challenges. We review the specialized 1H-MRS techniques including MEscher-GArwood Point Resolved Spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS), special challenges and considerations needed for interpretation of acquired data from the developing brain of preterm infants. We summarize the limited in-vivo preterm data, highlight the gaps in knowledge, and discuss future directions for optimal integration of available in-vivo approaches to understand the influence of GABA and glutamate on neurodevelopmental outcomes after preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudeepta K Basu
- Neonatology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Center for the Developing Brain, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States
| | - Subechhya Pradhan
- Center for the Developing Brain, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States
| | - Adre J du Plessis
- Fetal Medicine institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States
| | - Yehezkel Ben-Ari
- Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Neurochlore, Marseille, France
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Center for the Developing Brain, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States.
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20
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Rideaux R. No balance between glutamate+glutamine and GABA+ in visual or motor cortices of the human brain: A magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Neuroimage 2021; 237:118191. [PMID: 34023450 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Theoretical work, supported by electrophysiological evidence, asserts that a balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I) is critical for healthy brain function. In magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies, the ratio of excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA) neurotransmitters is often used as a proxy for this E/I balance. Recent MRS work found a positive correlation between GABA+ and Glx (glutamate+glutamine) in medial parietal cortex, providing validation for this proxy and supporting the link between the E/I balance observed in electrophysiology and that detected with MRS. Here we assess the same relationship, between GABA+ and Glx, in visual and motor cortices of male and female human participants. We find moderate to strong evidence that there is no positive correlation between these neurotransmitters in either location. We show this holds true when controlling for a range of other factors (i.e., demographics, signal quality, tissue composition, other neurochemicals) and regardless of the state of neural activity (i.e., resting/active). These results show that there is no brain-wide balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters and indicates a dissociation between the E/I balance observed in electrophysiological work and the ratio of MRS-detected neurotransmitters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuben Rideaux
- Department of Psychology, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, UK; Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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21
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Bell T, Boudes ES, Loo RS, Barker GJ, Lythgoe DJ, Edden RAE, Lebel RM, Wilson M, Harris AD. In vivo Glx and Glu measurements from GABA-edited MRS at 3 T. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2021; 34:e4245. [PMID: 31990112 PMCID: PMC7384936 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
In vivo quantification of glutamate (Glu) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) using MRS is often achieved using two separate sequences: a short-echo point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) acquisition for Glu and a Mescher-Garwood PRESS (MEGA-PRESS) acquisition for GABA. The purpose of this study was to examine the agreement of Glu and Glx (the combined signal of glutamate + glutamine) quantified from two different GABA-edited MEGA-PRESS acquisitions (GABA plus macromolecules, GABA+, TE = 68 ms, and macromolecule suppressed, MMSup, TE = 80 ms) with Glu and Glx quantified from a short-echo PRESS (PRESS-35, TE = 35 ms) acquisition. Fifteen healthy male volunteers underwent a single scan session, in which data were acquired using the three acquisitions (GABA+, MMSup and PRESS-35) in both the sensorimotor and anterior cingulate cortices using a voxel size of 3 × 3 × 3 cm3 . Glx and Glu were quantified from the MEGA-PRESS data using both the OFF sub-spectra and the difference (DIFF) spectra. Agreement was assessed using correlation analyses, Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients. Glx quantified from the OFF sub-spectra from both the GABA+ and MMSup acquisitions showed poor agreement with PRESS-35 in both brain regions. In the sensorimotor cortex, Glu quantified from the OFF sub-spectra of GABA+ showed moderate agreement with PRESS-35 data, but this finding was not replicated in the anterior cingulate cortex. Glx and Glu quantified using the DIFF spectra of either MEGA-PRESS sequence were in poor agreement with the PRESS-35 data in both brain regions. In conclusion, Glx and Glu measured from MEGA-PRESS data generally showed poor agreement with Glx and Glu measured using PRESS-35.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Bell
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Canada
| | - Elodie S Boudes
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Canada
| | - Rachelle S Loo
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Canada
| | - Gareth J Barker
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - David J Lythgoe
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Richard AE Edden
- Russel H Morgan Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
- F.M. Kirby Centre for Functional MRI, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, USA
| | | | - Martin Wilson
- Centre for Human Brain Health and School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Canada
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22
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DeMayo MM, Harris AD, Song YJC, Pokorski I, Thapa R, Patel S, Ambarchi Z, Thomas EE, Hickie IB, Guastella AJ. Age-related parietal GABA alterations in children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2021; 14:859-872. [PMID: 33634588 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and is essential to the balance of cortical excitation and inhibition. Reductions in GABA are proposed to result in an overly excitatory cortex that may cause, or contribute to, symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study employed a cross-sectional design to explore GABA+ differences in ASD and the impact of age, comparing 4-12 year olds with ASD (N = 24) to typically developing children (N = 35). GABA+ concentration was measured using edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the left parietal lobe. This study used a mixed model to investigate group differences between children with ASD and typically developing children. There was a significant difference in GABA+ levels between the groups, a significant effect of age and interaction between age and diagnostic group. The ASD group showed an association between GABA+ and age, with GABA+ levels gradually increasing with age (r = 0.59, p = 0.003). Typically developing children did not show age-related change in GABA+ concentration (r = 0.09, p = 0.60). By the age of 9, children with ASD showed GABA+ levels that were comparable to their typically developing peers. This study suggests that children with ASD have initially lower levels of GABA+ in the left parietal lobe compared to typically developing children, and that these initially lower levels of GABA+ increase with age in ASD within this region. It is suggested that this developmental shift of GABA+ levels within the left parietal lobe provides a possible explanation for the previously found reductions in childhood that does not persist in adults. LAY SUMMARY: This study measured levels of GABA in the left parietal lobe using magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with ASD and typically developing children. GABA levels were initially lower in the ASD group, and increased with age, while GABA did not change with age in the typically developing group. This suggests that alterations in GABA signaling may be associated with ASD in childhood. Autism Res 2021, 14: 859-872. © 2021 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilena M DeMayo
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Yun Ju C Song
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Izabella Pokorski
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rinku Thapa
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shrujna Patel
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zahava Ambarchi
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emma E Thomas
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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23
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Groth CL, Brown M, Honce JM, Shelton E, Sillau SH, Berman BD. Cervical Dystonia Is Associated With Aberrant Inhibitory Signaling Within the Thalamus. Front Neurol 2021; 11:575879. [PMID: 33633655 PMCID: PMC7900407 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.575879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate whether alterations in the neurotransmission of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the thalamus are present in patients with cervical dystonia compared to healthy controls. Methods: GABA magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate concentration levels of GABA in the thalamus of cervical dystonia patients (n = 17) compared to healthy controls (n = 18). Additionally, a focused post hoc analysis of thalamic GABAA receptor availability data in a similar cohort (n = 15 for both groups) using data from a previously collected 11C-flumazenil positron emission tomography study was performed. Group comparisons for all evaluations were performed using two-sided t-tests with adjustments for age and sex, and Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was applied. Spearman's coefficient was used to test correlations. Results: We found significantly reduced GABA+/Cre levels in the thalamus of cervical dystonia patients compared to controls, and these levels positively correlated with disease duration. Although mean thalamic GABAA receptor availability did not differ between patients and controls, GABAA availability negatively correlated with both disease duration and dystonia severity. Conclusions: These findings support that aberrant inhibitory signaling within the thalamus contributes to the pathophysiology of cervical dystonia. Additionally, these results suggest that an inadequate ability to compensate for the loss of GABA through upregulation of GABAA receptors may underlie more severe symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Groth
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, United States.,Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Mark Brown
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Justin M Honce
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Erika Shelton
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Stefan H Sillau
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Brian D Berman
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical, Aurora, CO, United States.,Neurology Section, Denver VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO, United States
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24
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Bell T, Stokoe M, Harris AD. Macromolecule suppressed GABA levels show no relationship with age in a pediatric sample. Sci Rep 2021; 11:722. [PMID: 33436899 PMCID: PMC7804253 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80530-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays a crucial role in cortical development. Therefore, characterizing changes in GABA levels during development has important implications for the study of healthy development and developmental disorders. Brain GABA levels can be measured non-invasively using GABA-edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). However, the most commonly used editing technique to measure GABA results in contamination of the GABA signal with macromolecules (MM). Therefore, GABA measured using this technique is often referred to as GABA+ . While few in number, previous studies have shown GABA+ levels increase with age during development. However, these studies are unable to specify whether it is specifically GABA that is increasing or, instead, if levels of MM increase. In this study, we use a GABA-editing technique specifically designed to suppress the MM signal (MM-supp GABA). We find no relationship between MM-supp GABA and age in healthy children aged 7-14 years. These findings suggest that the relationship between GABA+ and age is driven by changes in MM levels, not by changes in GABA levels. Moreover, these findings highlight the importance of accounting for MM levels in MRS quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Bell
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 28 Oki Drive, Office B4-510, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A9, Canada.
| | - Mehak Stokoe
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 28 Oki Drive, Office B4-510, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A9, Canada
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 28 Oki Drive, Office B4-510, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A9, Canada
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25
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Abstract
An imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission has been linked to fibromyalgia (FM). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy has shown increased levels of glutamate in the insula and posterior cingulate cortex in FM as well as reduced insular levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Both of these changes have been associated with increased pain sensitivity. However, it is not clear whether excitatory and/or inhibitory neurotransmission is altered across the brain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify GABAA receptor concentration on the whole brain level in FM to investigate a potential dysregulation of the GABAergic system. Fifty-one postmenopausal women (26 FM, 25 matched controls) underwent assessments of pain sensitivity, attention and memory, psychological status and function, as well as positron emission tomography imaging using a tracer for GABAA receptors, [F]flumazenil. Patients showed increased pain sensitivity, impaired immediate memory, and increased cortical GABAA receptor concentration in the attention and default-mode networks. No decrease of GABAA receptor concentration was observed. Across the 2 groups, GABAA receptor concentration correlated positively with functional scores and current pain in areas overlapping with regions of increased GABAA receptor concentration. This study shows increased GABAA receptor concentration in FM, associated with pain symptoms and impaired function. The changes were widespread and not restricted to pain-processing regions. These findings suggest that the GABAergic system is altered, possibly indicating an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. Future studies should try to understand the nature of the dysregulation of the GABAergic system in FM and in other pain syndromes.
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26
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Rafique SA, Steeves JKE. Assessing differential effects of single and accelerated low-frequency rTMS to the visual cortex on GABA and glutamate concentrations. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01845. [PMID: 32964685 PMCID: PMC7749615 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The application of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for therapeutic use in visual-related disorders and its underlying mechanisms in the visual cortex is under-investigated. Additionally, there is little examination of rTMS adverse effects particularly with regards to visual and cognitive function. Neural plasticity is key in rehabilitation and recovery of function; thus, effective therapeutic strategies must be capable of modulating plasticity. Glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated changes in the balance between excitation and inhibition are prominent features in visual cortical plasticity. OBJECTIVES AND METHOD We investigated the effects of low-frequency (1 Hz) rTMS to the visual cortex on levels of neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate to determine the therapeutic potential of 1 Hz rTMS for visual-related disorders. Two rTMS regimes commonly used in clinical applications were investigated: participants received rTMS to the visual cortex either in a single 20-min session or five accelerated 20-min sessions (not previously investigated at the visual cortex). Proton (1H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy for in vivo quantification of GABA (assessed via GABA+) and glutamate (assessed via Glx) concentrations was performed pre- and post-rTMS. RESULTS GABA+ and Glx concentrations were unaltered following a single session of rTMS to the visual cortex. One day of accelerated rTMS significantly reduced GABA+ concentration for up to 24 hr, with levels returning to baseline by 1-week post-rTMS. Basic visual and cognitive function remained largely unchanged. CONCLUSION Accelerated 1 Hz rTMS to the visual cortex has greater potential for approaches targeting plasticity or in cases with altered GABAergic responses in visual disorders. Notably, these results provide preliminary insight into a critical window of plasticity with accelerated rTMS (e.g., 24 hr) in which adjunct therapies may offer better functional outcome. We describe detailed procedures to enable further exploration of these protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A. Rafique
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Vision ResearchYork UniversityTorontoONCanada
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27
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Abstract
Executive functions (EFs) are cognitive processes that support flexible goal pursuit. Healthy development of EFs during childhood is critical for later life outcomes including health, wealth and educational attainment. As such it is crucial to understand how EFs can be supported and protected against insult. Here we examine whether there are sensitive periods in the development of EFs, by drawing on deprivation and enrichment studies in humans. While there is suggestive evidence that pre-6 months of age constitutes a sensitive period for EF development, given the higher-order nature of EF, we argue for the possibility of multiple sensitive periods of constituent processes. We identify relevant future questions and outline a research agenda to systematically test for sensitive period in EF development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Thompson
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, UCL, London, WC1H 0AP, UK
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28
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Ferland MC, Therrien-Blanchet JM, Proulx S, Klees-Themens G, Bacon BA, Dang Vu TT, Théoret H. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and H 1-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Measures of Excitation and Inhibition Following Lorazepam Administration. Neuroscience 2020; 452:235-246. [PMID: 33246064 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed at better understanding the neurochemistry underlying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) measurements as it pertains to GABAergic activity following administration of allosteric GABAA receptor agonist lorazepam. Seventeen healthy adults (8 females, 26.0 ± 5.4 years old) participated in a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study, where participants underwent TMS and MRS two hours after drug intake (placebo or lorazepam; 2.5 mg). Neuronavigated TMS measures reflecting cortical inhibition and excitation were obtained in the left primary motor cortex. Sensorimotor cortex and occipital cortex MRS data were acquired using a 3T scanner with a MEGA-PRESS sequence, allowing water-referenced [GABA] and [Glx] (glutamate + glutamine) quantification. Lorazepam administration decreased occipital [GABA], decreased motor cortex excitability and increased GABAA-receptor mediated motor cortex inhibition (short intracortical inhibition (SICI)). Lorazepam intake did not modulate sensorimotor [GABA] and TMS measures of intra-cortical facilitation, long-interval cortical inhibition, cortical silent period, and resting motor threshold. Furthermore, higher sensorimotor [GABA] was associated with higher cortical inhibition (SICI) following lorazepam administration, suggesting that baseline sensorimotor [GABA] may be valuable in predicting pharmacological or neuromodulatory treatment response. Finally, the differential effects of lorazepam on MRS and TMS measures, with respect to GABA, support the idea that TMS measures of cortical inhibition reflect synaptic GABAergic phasic inhibitory activity while MRS reflects extrasynaptic GABA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Thien Thanh Dang Vu
- Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology and Perform Center, Department of Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Research Center, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, Qc, Canada
| | - Hugo Théoret
- Département de psychologie, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de l'Hôpital Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Lea-Carnall CA, Williams SR, Sanaei-Nezhad F, Trujillo-Barreto NJ, Montemurro MA, El-Deredy W, Parkes LM. GABA Modulates Frequency-Dependent Plasticity in Humans. iScience 2020; 23:101657. [PMID: 33163932 PMCID: PMC7599432 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Frequency-dependent reorganization of the primary somatosensory cortex, together with perceptual changes, arises following repetitive sensory stimulation. Here, we investigate the role of GABA in this process. We co-stimulated two finger tips and measured GABA and Glx using magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy at the beginning and end of the stimulation. Participants performed a perceptual learning task before and after stimulation. There were 2 sessions with stimulation frequency either at or above the resonance frequency of the primary somatosensory cortex (23 and 39 Hz, respectively). Perceptual learning occurred following above resonance stimulation only, while GABA reduced during this condition. Lower levels of early GABA were associated with greater perceptual learning. One possible mechanism underlying this finding is that cortical disinhibition “unmasks” lateral connections within the cortex to permit adaptation to the sensory environment. These results provide evidence in humans for a frequency-dependent inhibitory mechanism underlying learning and suggest a mechanism-based approach for optimizing neurostimulation frequency. In the context of repetitive sensory stimulation, GABA release is frequency dependent Stimulating above the resonance frequency of the somatosensory cortex reduces GABA Perceptual learning is associated with a reduction in GABA Early GABA reduction opens a window for plasticity and learning
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A. Lea-Carnall
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Corresponding author
| | - Stephen R. Williams
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Faezeh Sanaei-Nezhad
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Nelson J. Trujillo-Barreto
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Marcelo A. Montemurro
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Wael El-Deredy
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería en Salud, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Corresponding author
| | - Laura M. Parkes
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
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Age-related GABAergic differences in the primary sensorimotor cortex: A multimodal approach combining PET, MRS and TMS. Neuroimage 2020; 226:117536. [PMID: 33186716 PMCID: PMC7894275 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthy aging is associated with mechanistic changes in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human brain. While previous work mainly focused on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-based GABA+ levels and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-based GABAA receptor (GABAAR) activity in the primary sensorimotor (SM1) cortex, the aim of the current study was to identify age-related differences in positron emission tomography (PET)-based GABAAR availability and its relationship with GABA+ levels (i.e. GABA with the contribution of macromolecules) and GABAAR activity. For this purpose, fifteen young (aged 20–28 years) and fifteen older (aged 65–80 years) participants were recruited. PET and MRS images were acquired using simultaneous time-of-flight PET/MR to evaluate age-related differences in GABAAR availability (distribution volume ratio with pons as reference region) and GABA+ levels. TMS was applied to identify age-related differences in GABAAR activity by measuring short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI). Whereas GABAAR availability was significantly higher in the SM cortex of older as compared to young adults (18.5%), there were neither age-related differences in GABA+ levels nor SICI. A correlation analysis revealed no significant associations between GABAAR availability, GABAAR activity and GABA+ levels. Although the exact mechanisms need to be further elucidated, it is possible that a higher GABAAR availability in older adults is a compensatory mechanism to ensure optimal inhibitory functionality during the aging process.
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31
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Liu B, Wang Z, Lin L, Yang H, Gao F, Gong T, Edden RAE, Wang G. Brain GABA+ changes in primary hypothyroidism patients before and after levothyroxine treatment: A longitudinal magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Neuroimage Clin 2020; 28:102473. [PMID: 33395967 PMCID: PMC7663215 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Increasing evidence indicates the involvement of the GABAergic system in the pathophysiology of hypothyroidism. We aimed to investigate longitudinal changes of brain GABA in primary hypothyroidism before and after levothyroxine (L-T4) treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 18 patients with hypothyroidism, we used the MEGA-PRESS (Mescher-Garwood point-resolved spectroscopy) editing sequence to measure brain GABA levels from medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) at baseline and after 6-months of L-T4 treatment. Sex- and age-matched healthy controls (n = 18) were scanned at baseline. Thyroid function and neuropsychological tests were also performed. RESULTS GABA signals were successfully quantified from all participants with fitting errors lower than 15%. GABA signal was labeled as GABA+ due to contamination from co-edited macromoleculars and homocarnosine. In hypothyroid patients, mean GABA+ was significantly lower in the mPFC region compared with controls (p = 0.031), and the mPFC GABA+ measurements were significantly correlated with depressive symptoms and memory function (r = -0.558, p = 0.016; r = 0.522, p = 0.026, respectively). After adequate L-T4 treatment, the mPFC GABA+ in hypothyroid patients increased to normal level, along with relieved neuropsychological impairments. CONCLUSION The study suggested the decrease of GABA+ may be an important neurobiological factor in the pathophysiology of hypothyroidism. Treatment of L-T4 may reverse the abnormal GABA+ and hypothyroidism-induced neuropsychiatric impairments, indicating the action mode of L-T4 in adjunctive treatment of affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liu
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhensong Wang
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Liangjie Lin
- MSC Clinical & Technical Solutions, Philips Healthcare, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fei Gao
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Tao Gong
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; FM Kirby Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Guangbin Wang
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
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Dobri SGJ, Ross B. Total GABA level in human auditory cortex is associated with speech-in-noise understanding in older age. Neuroimage 2020; 225:117474. [PMID: 33099004 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Speech-in-noise (SIN) understanding often becomes difficult for older adults because of impaired hearing and aging-related changes in central auditory processing. Central auditory processing depends on a fine balance between excitatory and inhibitory neural mechanisms, which may be upset in older age by a change in the level of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In this study, we used MEGA-PRESS magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to estimate GABA levels in both the left and right auditory cortices of young and older adults. We found that total auditory GABA levels were lower in older compared to young adults. To understand the relationship between GABA and hearing function, we correlated GABA levels with hearing loss and SIN performance. In older adults, the GABA level in the right auditory cortex was correlated with age and SIN performance. The relationship between chronological age and SIN loss was partially mediated by the GABA level in the right auditory cortex. These findings support the hypothesis that inhibitory mechanisms in the auditory system are reduced in aging, and this reduction relates to functional impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon G J Dobri
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Bernhard Ross
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Steel A, Mikkelsen M, Edden RAE, Robertson CE. Regional balance between glutamate+glutamine and GABA+ in the resting human brain. Neuroimage 2020; 220:117112. [PMID: 32619710 PMCID: PMC9652611 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Models of healthy brain function and psychiatric conditions assume that excitatory and inhibitory activity are balanced in the human brain at multiple spatial and temporal scales. In human neuroimaging, concentrations of the major excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA) neurotransmitters are measured in vivo using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). However, despite the central importance of E/I balance to theories of brain function, a relationship between regional glutamate and GABA levels in the human brain has not been shown. We addressed this question in a large corpus of edited MRS data collected at 19 different sites (n = 220). Consistent with the notion of E/I balance, we found that levels of glutamate+glutamine (Glx) and GABA+ were highly correlated (R = 0.52, p = 2.86 x 10−14). This relationship held when controlling for site, scanner vendor, and demographics. Controlling for neurochemicals associated with neuronal density and metabolism (i.e. N-acetylaspartate and creatine) significantly reduced the correlation between GABA+ and Glx, suggesting that the levels of GABA+ and Glx may be critically linked to regional metabolism. These results are consistent with the notion that excitation and inhibition are balanced in the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Steel
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
| | - Mark Mikkelsen
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Caroline E Robertson
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
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34
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Sundström-Poromaa I, Comasco E, Sumner R, Luders E. Progesterone - Friend or foe? Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 59:100856. [PMID: 32730861 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Estradiol is the "prototypic" sex hormone of women. Yet, women have another sex hormone, which is often disregarded: Progesterone. The goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive review on progesterone, and its metabolite allopregnanolone, emphasizing three key areas: biological properties, main functions, and effects on mood in women. Recent years of intensive research on progesterone and allopregnanolone have paved the way for new treatment of postpartum depression. However, treatment for premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder as well as contraception that women can use without risking mental health problems are still needed. As far as progesterone is concerned, we might be dealing with a two-edged sword: while its metabolite allopregnanolone has been proven useful for treatment of PPD, it may trigger negative symptoms in women with PMS and PMDD. Overall, our current knowledge on the beneficial and harmful effects of progesterone is limited and further research is imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erika Comasco
- Department of Neuroscience, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Eileen Luders
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
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35
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A multimodal magnetoencephalography 7 T fMRI and 7 T proton MR spectroscopy study in first episode psychosis. NPJ SCHIZOPHRENIA 2020; 6:23. [PMID: 32887887 PMCID: PMC7473853 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-020-00113-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We combined magnetoencephalography (MEG), 7 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and 7 T fMRI during performance of a task in a group of 23 first episode psychosis (FEP) patients and 26 matched healthy controls (HC). We recorded both the auditory evoked response to 40 Hz tone clicks and the resting state in MEG. Neurometabolite levels were obtained from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). The fMRI BOLD response was obtained during the Stroop inhibitory control task. FEP showed a significant increase in resting state low frequency theta activity (p < 0.05; Cohen d = 0.69), but no significant difference in the 40 Hz auditory evoked response compared to HC. An across-groups whole brain analysis of the fMRI BOLD response identified eight regions that were significantly activated during task performance (p < 0.01, FDR-corrected); the mean signal extracted from those regions was significantly different between the groups (p = 0.0006; d = 1.19). In the combined FEP and HC group, there was a significant correlation between the BOLD signal during task performance and MEG resting state low frequency activity (p < 0.05). In FEP, we report significant alteration in resting state low frequency MEG activity, but no alterations in auditory evoked gamma band response, suggesting that the former is a more robust biomarker of early psychosis. There were no correlations between gamma oscillations and GABA levels in either HC or FEP. Finally, in this study, each of the three imaging modalities differentiated FEP from HC; fMRI with good and MEG and MRS with moderate effect size.
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36
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Hoshino O, Kameno R, Kubo J, Watanabe K. Spatiotemporal regulation of GABA concentration in extracellular space by gliotransmission crucial for extrasynaptic receptor-mediated improvement of sensory tuning performance in schizophrenia. J Comput Neurosci 2020; 48:317-332. [PMID: 32761409 DOI: 10.1007/s10827-020-00755-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In schizophrenic patients, sensory tuning performance tends to be deteriorated (i.e., flattened sensory tuning), for which impaired intracortical tonic inhibition arising from a reduction in GABA concentration in extracellular space might be responsible. The δ subunit-containing GABAA receptor, located on extrasynaptic sites, is known to be involved in mediating tonic inhibitory currents in cortical pyramidal cells and is considered to be one of the beneficial therapeutic targets for the treatment of schizophrenia. The transporter GAT-1 in glial (astrocytic) membrane controls concentration of GABA molecules by removing them from extracellular space. We speculated that the upregulation of extrasynaptic receptors might compensate for the impaired tonic inhibition and thus improve their sensory tuning performance, in which the astrocytic GABA transporter might play an important role. To test our hypothesis, we simulated a schizophrenic neural network model with a GABAergic gliotransmission (i.e., GABA transport by transporters embedded in astrocytic membranes) mechanism that modulates local ambient (extracellular) GABA levels in a neuronal activity-dependent manner. Upregulating extrasynaptic GABA receptors compensated the impaired tonic inhibition and sharpened the sensory tuning, provided that ambient GABA molecules around stimulus-sensitive pyramidal cells were actively removed during sensory stimulation. We suggest that the upregulation of extrasynaptic GABA receptors can improve the performance of sensory tuning in schizophrenic patients, for which spatiotemporal regulation of ambient GABA concentration by gliotransmission may be crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osamu Hoshino
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Ibaraki University, 4-12-1 Nakanarusawa, Hitachi, Ibaraki, 316-8511, Japan. .,Southern Tohoku Research Institute for Neuroscience, Southern Tohoku General Hospital, 7-115 Yatsuyamada, Koriyama, Fukushima, 963-8563, Japan.
| | - Rikiya Kameno
- Southern Tohoku Research Institute for Neuroscience, Southern Tohoku General Hospital, 7-115 Yatsuyamada, Koriyama, Fukushima, 963-8563, Japan
| | - Jin Kubo
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Ichikawa Hospital, 6-1-14 Konodai, Ichikawa, Chiba, 272-0827, Japan
| | - Kazuo Watanabe
- Southern Tohoku Research Institute for Neuroscience, Southern Tohoku General Hospital, 7-115 Yatsuyamada, Koriyama, Fukushima, 963-8563, Japan
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37
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Delli Pizzi S, Franciotti R, Ferretti A, Edden RA, Zöllner HJ, Esposito R, Bubbico G, Aiello C, Calvanese F, Sensi SL, Tartaro A, Onofrj M, Bonanni L. High
γ‐Aminobutyric
Acid Content Within the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Is a Functional Signature of Somatic Symptoms Disorder in Patients With Parkinson's Disease. Mov Disord 2020; 35:2184-2192. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.28221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Delli Pizzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), “G. d'Annunzio” University Chieti‐Pescara Italy
- Center of Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
| | - Raffaella Franciotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), “G. d'Annunzio” University Chieti‐Pescara Italy
- Center of Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
| | - Antonio Ferretti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), “G. d'Annunzio” University Chieti‐Pescara Italy
| | - Richard A.E. Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA
- F.M. Kirby Center for Functional MRI Kennedy Krieger Institute Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Helge J. Zöllner
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA
- F.M. Kirby Center for Functional MRI Kennedy Krieger Institute Baltimore Maryland USA
| | | | - Giovanna Bubbico
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), “G. d'Annunzio” University Chieti‐Pescara Italy
| | - Claudia Aiello
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
| | - Francesco Calvanese
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
| | - Stefano L. Sensi
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
- Center of Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
| | - Armando Tartaro
- Department of Medical Sciences, Oral and Biotechnology University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
| | - Marco Onofrj
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
- Center of Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
| | - Laura Bonanni
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
- Center of Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine University “G. d'Annunzio” of Chieti‐Pescara Chieti Italy
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38
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Sandrini M, Manenti R, Sahin H, Cotelli M. Effects of transcranial electrical stimulation on episodic memory in physiological and pathological ageing. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 61:101065. [PMID: 32275953 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Memory for personally-relevant past events (episodic memory) is critical for activities of daily living. Decline in this type of declarative long-term memory is a common characteristic of healthy ageing, a process accelerated in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) has been used as a strategy to ameliorate episodic memory. Here, we critically review studies investigating whether tES may improve episodic memory in physiological and pathological ageing. Most of the studies suggest that tES over the prefrontal or temporoparietal cortices can have a positive effect on episodic memory, but the transfer to improvement of execution of daily living activities is still unknown. Further work is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying the effects of stimulation, combine tES with neuroimaging and optimizing the dosing of stimulation. Future studies should also investigate the optimal timing of stimulation and the combination with medications to induce long-lasting beneficial effects in pathological ageing. More open science efforts should be done to improve rigor and reliability of tES in ageing research.
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39
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Puts NA, Ryan M, Oeltzschner G, Horska A, Edden RAE, Mahone EM. Reduced striatal GABA in unmedicated children with ADHD at 7T. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2020; 301:111082. [PMID: 32438277 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2020.111082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattention and increased impulsive and hypermotoric behaviors.Despite the high prevalence and impact of ADHD, little is known about the underlying neurophysiology of ADHD. The main inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate are receiving increased attention in ADHD and can be measured using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). However, MRS studies in ADHD are limited. We measured GABA and glutamate in young unmedicated participants, utilizing high magnetic field strength. Fifty unmedicated children (26 with ADHD, 24 controls) aged 5-9 years completed MRS at 7T and behavioral testing. GABA and glutamate were measured in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), premotor cortex (PMC), and striatum, and estimated using LCModel. Children with ADHD showed poorer inhibitory control and significantly reduced GABA/Cr in the striatum, but not in ACC, DLPFC, or PMC regions. There were no significant group differences for Glu/Cr levels, or correlations with behavioral manifestations of ADHD. The primary finding of this study is a reduction of striatal GABA levels in unmedicated children with ADHD at 7T. These findings provide guidance for future studies or interventions. Reduced striatal GABA may be a marker for specific GABA-related treatment for ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolaas A Puts
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, United States; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AB, United Kingdom.
| | - Matthew Ryan
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 1750 E. Fairmount Ave., Baltimore, MD 21231 United States
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, United States; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Alena Horska
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, United States
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, United States; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - E Mark Mahone
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 1750 E. Fairmount Ave., Baltimore, MD 21231 United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287, United States
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40
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King BR, Rumpf JJ, Verbaanderd E, Heise KF, Dolfen N, Sunaert S, Doyon J, Classen J, Mantini D, Puts NAJ, Edden RAE, Albouy G, Swinnen SP. Baseline sensorimotor GABA levels shape neuroplastic processes induced by motor learning in older adults. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:3680-3695. [PMID: 32583940 PMCID: PMC7416055 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research in young adults has demonstrated that both motor learning and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) trigger decreases in the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the sensorimotor cortex, and these decreases are linked to greater learning. Less is known about the role of GABA in motor learning in healthy older adults, a knowledge gap that is surprising given the established aging-related reductions in sensorimotor GABA. Here, we examined the effects of motor learning and subsequent tDCS on sensorimotor GABA levels and resting-state functional connectivity in the brains of healthy older participants. Thirty-six older men and women completed a motor sequence learning task before receiving anodal or sham tDCS to the sensorimotor cortex. GABA-edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the sensorimotor cortex and resting-state (RS) functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired before and after learning/stimulation. At the group level, neither learning nor anodal tDCS significantly modulated GABA levels or RS connectivity among task-relevant regions. However, changes in GABA levels from the baseline to post-learning session were significantly related to motor learning magnitude, age, and baseline GABA. Moreover, the change in functional connectivity between task-relevant regions, including bilateral motor cortices, was correlated with baseline GABA levels. These data collectively indicate that motor learning-related decreases in sensorimotor GABA levels and increases in functional connectivity are limited to those older adults with higher baseline GABA levels and who learn the most. Post-learning tDCS exerted no influence on GABA levels, functional connectivity or the relationships among these variables in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley R King
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,LBI-KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Elvire Verbaanderd
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kirstin F Heise
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,LBI-KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nina Dolfen
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,LBI-KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefan Sunaert
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospital Leuven (UZ Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Julien Doyon
- McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Joseph Classen
- Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dante Mantini
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,LBI-KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium.,Brain Imaging and Neural Dynamics Research Group, IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy
| | - Nicolaas A J Puts
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Geneviève Albouy
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,LBI-KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephan P Swinnen
- Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,LBI-KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
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41
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Sumner RL, Spriggs MJ, Muthukumaraswamy SD, Kirk IJ. The role of Hebbian learning in human perception: a methodological and theoretical review of the human Visual Long-Term Potentiation paradigm. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 115:220-237. [PMID: 32562886 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is one of the most widely studied forms of neural plasticity, and is thought to be the principle mechanism underlying long-term memory and learning in the brain. Sensory paradigms utilising electroencephalography (EEG) and sensory stimulation to induce LTP have allowed translation from rodent and primate invasive research to non-invasive human investigations. This review focusses on visual sensory LTP induced using repetitive visual stimulation, resulting in changes in the visually evoked response recorded at the scalp with EEG. Across 15 years of use and replication in humans several major paradigm variants for eliciting visual LTP have emerged. The application of different paradigms, and the broad implementation of visual LTP across different populations combines to provide a rich and sensitive account of Hebbian LTP, and potentially non-Hebbian plasticity mechanisms. This review will conclude with a discussion of how these findings have advanced existing theories of perceptual learning by positioning Hebbian learning both alongside and within other major theories such as Predictive Coding and The Free Energy Principle.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Meg J Spriggs
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Brain Sciences, Centre for Psychiatry, Imperial College London, UK
| | | | - Ian J Kirk
- Brain Research, New Zealand; School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
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42
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Kolodny T, Schallmo MP, Gerdts J, Edden RAE, Bernier RA, Murray SO. Concentrations of Cortical GABA and Glutamate in Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2020; 13:1111-1129. [PMID: 32297709 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The balance of excitation and inhibition in neural circuits is hypothesized to be increased in autism spectrum disorder, possibly mediated by altered signaling of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), yet empirical evidence in humans is inconsistent. We used edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to quantify signals associated with both GABA and the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate in multiple regions of the sensory and sensorimotor cortex, including primary visual, auditory, and motor areas in adult individuals with autism and in neurotypical controls. Despite the strong a priori hypothesis of reduced GABA in autism spectrum disorder, we found no group differences in neurometabolite concentrations in any of the examined regions and no correlations of MRS measure with psychophysical visual sensitivity or autism symptomatology. We demonstrate high data quality that is comparable across groups, with a relatively large sample of well-characterized participants, and use Bayesian statistics to corroborate the lack of any group differences. We conclude that levels of GABA and Glx (glutamate, glutamine, and glutathione) in the sensory and sensorimotor cortex, as measured with MRS at 3T, are comparable in adults with autism and neurotypical individuals. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1111-1129. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate are the main inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in the human brain, respectively, and their balanced interaction is necessary for neural function. Previous research suggests that the GABA and glutamate systems might be altered in autism. In this study, we used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure concentrations of these neurotransmitters in the sensory areas in the brains of young adults with autism. In contradiction to the common hypothesis of reduced GABA in autism, we demonstrate that concentrations of both GABA and glutamate, in all the brain regions examined, are comparable in individuals with autism and in neurotypical adults. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Kolodny
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Michael-Paul Schallmo
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jennifer Gerdts
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Scott O Murray
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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43
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DeSouza DD, Stimpson KH, Baltusis L, Sacchet MD, Gu M, Hurd R, Wu H, Yeomans DC, Willliams N, Spiegel D. Association between Anterior Cingulate Neurochemical Concentration and Individual Differences in Hypnotizability. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:3644-3654. [PMID: 32108220 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypnosis is the oldest form of Western psychotherapy and a powerful evidence-based treatment for numerous disorders. Hypnotizability is variable between individuals; however, it is a stable trait throughout adulthood, suggesting that neurophysiological factors may underlie hypnotic responsiveness. One brain region of particular interest in functional neuroimaging studies of hypnotizability is the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Here, we examined the relationships between the neurochemicals, GABA, and glutamate, in the ACC and hypnotizability in healthy individuals. Participants underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session, whereby T1-weighted anatomical and MEGA-PRESS spectroscopy scans were acquired. Voxel placement over the ACC was guided by a quantitative meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies of hypnosis. Hypnotizability was assessed using the Hypnotic Induction Profile (HIP), and self-report questionnaires to assess absorption (TAS), dissociation (DES), and negative affect were completed. ACC GABA concentration was positively associated with HIP scores such that the higher the GABA concentration, the more hypnotizable an individual. An exploratory analysis of questionnaire subscales revealed a negative relationship between glutamate and the absorption and imaginative involvement subscale of the DES. These results provide a putative neurobiological basis for individual differences in hypnotizability and can inform our understanding of treatment response to this growing psychotherapeutic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle D DeSouza
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Katy H Stimpson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Laima Baltusis
- Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Imaging, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Matthew D Sacchet
- Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont MA, USA
| | - Meng Gu
- Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Ralph Hurd
- Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Hua Wu
- Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Imaging, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - David C Yeomans
- Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Nolan Willliams
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - David Spiegel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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44
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Garner R, La Rocca M, Vespa P, Jones N, Monti MM, Toga AW, Duncan D. Imaging biomarkers of posttraumatic epileptogenesis. Epilepsia 2019; 60:2151-2162. [PMID: 31595501 PMCID: PMC6842410 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects 2.5 million people annually within the United States alone, with over 300 000 severe injuries resulting in emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Severe TBI can result in long-term disability. Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is one of the most debilitating consequences of TBI, with an estimated incidence that ranges from 2% to 50% based on severity of injury. Conducting studies of PTE poses many challenges, because many subjects with TBI never develop epilepsy, and it can be more than 10 years after TBI before seizures begin. One of the unmet needs in the study of PTE is an accurate biomarker of epileptogenesis, or a panel of biomarkers, which could provide early insights into which TBI patients are most susceptible to PTE, providing an opportunity for prophylactic anticonvulsant therapy and enabling more efficient large-scale PTE studies. Several recent reviews have provided a comprehensive overview of this subject (Neurobiol Dis, 123, 2019, 3; Neurotherapeutics, 11, 2014, 231). In this review, we describe acute and chronic imaging methods that detect biomarkers for PTE and potential mechanisms of epileptogenesis. We also describe shortcomings in current acquisition methods, analysis, and interpretation that limit ongoing investigations that may be mitigated with advancements in imaging techniques and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Garner
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Marianna La Rocca
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Paul Vespa
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nigel Jones
- Van Cleef Centre for Nervous Diseases, Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Martin M. Monti
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Arthur W. Toga
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dominique Duncan
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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45
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Gao F, Yin X, Edden RAE, Evans AC, Xu J, Cao G, Li H, Li M, Zhao B, Wang J, Wang G. Altered hippocampal GABA and glutamate levels and uncoupling from functional connectivity in multiple sclerosis. Hippocampus 2019; 28:813-823. [PMID: 30069963 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
There is growing evidence for dysfunctional glutamatergic excitation and/or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic inhibition in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Cognitive impairment may occur during the early stages of MS and hippocampal abnormalities have been suggested as biomarkers. However, researchers have not clearly determined whether changes in hippocampal GABA and glutamate (Glu) levels are associated with cognitive impairment and aberrant neural activity in patients with MS. We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure GABA+ and Glu levels in the left hippocampal region of 29 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 29 healthy controls (HCs). Resting-state functional connectivity (FC) with the hippocampus was also examined. Compared to HCs, patients exhibited significantly lower GABA+ and Glu levels, which were associated with verbal and visuospatial memory deficits, respectively. Patients also showed decreased FC strengths between the hippocampus and several cortical regions, which are located within the default mode network. Moreover, hippocampal GABA+ levels and Glu/GABA+ ratios correlated with the FC strengths in HCs but not in patients with MS. This study describes a novel method for investigating the complex relationships among excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitters, brain connectivity and cognition in health and disease. Strategies that modulate Glu and GABA neurotransmission may represent new therapeutic treatments for patients with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Gao
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xuntao Yin
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,FM Kirby Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alan C Evans
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Junhai Xu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cognitive Computing and Application, School of Computer Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Guanmei Cao
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Honghao Li
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Muwei Li
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Bin Zhao
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Guangbin Wang
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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46
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Piras F, Piras F, Banaj N, Ciullo V, Vecchio D, Edden RAE, Spalletta G. Cerebellar GABAergic correlates of cognition-mediated verbal fluency in physiology and schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2019; 139:582-594. [PMID: 30887499 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Defective cerebellar GABAergic inhibitory control may participate to the cognitive impairments seen in SZ. We tested the prediction of a model for the relationship between cerebellar GABA concentration and the associative/executive processes required by verbal fluency in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and matched healthy controls (HC). METHOD Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of GABA was performed using a 3 Tesla scanner and verbal fluency assessed by the Controlled Word (WFT) and Semantic (SFT) Fluency tests. Cerebellar GABA measurements were obtained using the MEGA-PRESS acquisition sequence. Linear correlations between cerebellar GABA levels and the WFT, SFT score were performed to test differences between correlation coefficients of SZ and HC. Quantile regressions between GABA levels and the WFT score were performed. RESULTS Higher cerebellar GABA concentration was associated in SZ with lower phonemic fluency and reduced number of switches among subcategories as opposed to what observed in HC (with higher cerebellar GABA associated with higher number of words and phonemic switches). GABA levels explained phonemic fluency in SZ performing above the group mean. CONCLUSION Studying cerebellar GABA provides a valid heuristic to explore the molecular mechanisms of SZ. This is crucial for developing pharmacological treatments to improve cognition and functional recovery in SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Piras
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - F Piras
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - N Banaj
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - V Ciullo
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - D Vecchio
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - R A E Edden
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,F.M. Kirby Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - G Spalletta
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Beth K. and Stuart C. Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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47
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Filmer HL, Ehrhardt SE, Bollmann S, Mattingley JB, Dux PE. Accounting for individual differences in the response to tDCS with baseline levels of neurochemical excitability. Cortex 2019; 115:324-334. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2019.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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48
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Ajram LA, Pereira AC, Durieux AMS, Velthius HE, Petrinovic MM, McAlonan GM. The contribution of [1H] magnetic resonance spectroscopy to the study of excitation-inhibition in autism. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:236-244. [PMID: 30248378 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects over 1:100 of the population and costs the UK more than £32bn and the USA more than $175bn (£104bn) annually. Its core symptoms are social and communication difficulties, repetitive behaviours and sensory hyper- or hypo-sensitivities. A highly diverse phenotypic presentation likely reflects its etiological heterogeneity and makes finding treatment targets for ASD challenging. In addition, there are no means to identify biologically responsive individuals who may benefit from specific interventions. There is hope however, and in this review we consolidate how findings from magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) add to the evidence that differences in the brain's excitatory glutamate and inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) balance may be both a key biomarker and a tractable treatment target in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Ajram
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK; Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Andreia C Pereira
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK; Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, Faculty of Medicine, ICNAS - Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Polo 3, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alice M S Durieux
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK; Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Hester E Velthius
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Marija M Petrinovic
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK; Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - Grainne M McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK; Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
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49
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Levar N, Van Doesum TJ, Denys D, Van Wingen GA. Anterior cingulate GABA and glutamate concentrations are associated with resting-state network connectivity. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2116. [PMID: 30765822 PMCID: PMC6375948 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-38078-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, resting-state (RS) networks and RS function have received increased attention, highlighting their importance in both cognitive function and psychopathology. The neurochemical substrates underlying RS networks and their interactions, however, have not yet been well established. Even though prior research has provided first evidence for a negative association between brain GABA levels and RS connectivity, these findings have been limited to within network connectivity, and not network interactions. In this multi-modal imaging study, we investigated the role of the main inhibitory neurotransmitter У-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the main excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate (Glx) on RS network function and network coupling of three core networks: the default-mode network (DMN), salience network (SN), and central executive network (CEN). Resting-state functional connectivity and GABA and Glx levels in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) were assessed in 64 healthy male participants using functional MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Analyses showed that dACC GABA levels were positively correlated with resting-state connectivity in the CEN, and negatively associated with functional coupling of the DMN and CEN. In contrast, GABA/Glx ratios were inversely correlated with the SN and DMN. These findings extend insights into the role of GABA and Glx in individual networks to interactions across networks, suggesting that GABA levels in the SN might play a role in RS functional connectivity within the central executive network, and network interactions with the default-mode network. Our results further suggest a potentially critical role of the relationship between GABA and Glx in RS network function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Levar
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,Spinoza Center for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Tessa J Van Doesum
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Spinoza Center for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Damiaan Denys
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Spinoza Center for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Guido A Van Wingen
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Brain & Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Spinoza Center for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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50
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Ford TC, Abu-Akel A, Crewther DP. The association of excitation and inhibition signaling with the relative symptom expression of autism and psychosis-proneness: Implications for psychopharmacology. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 88:235-242. [PMID: 30075170 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The underlying mechanisms of autism and schizophrenia are poorly understood, partly due to a lack of dimension-specific research. Aberrant excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission are implicated in both conditions, particularly in social dysfunction. This study investigates the extent to which the degree of autistic tendency and psychosis-proneness exclusively and interactively predict excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter concentrations in the superior temporal cortex (STC). In 38 adults (18 male, 18-40 years), we obtained autistic tendencies (Autism-Spectrum Quotient [AQ]) and psychosis-proneness scores (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire [PP]); magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) quantified glutamate and GABA+ concentrations from the STC. Results demonstrated a negative AQ/PP interaction with glutamate concentration for the left STC voxel, where PP increased with glutamate for average AQ, while AQ decreased with glutamate for average-high PP. There was a negative AQ/PP interaction with glutamate/GABA+ ratio for the right STC, AQ increasing with glutamate/GABA+ for low-average PP, while PP decreased with glutamate/GABA+ for high AQ. Consistent with animal studies, we also reveal that overall reduced glutamate/GABA+ ratio might be precipitated by increased right hemisphere GABA+ concentrations. These findings illustrate the importance of considering the concurrent effects of autism and psychosis dimensions on understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in either condition, and can advance psychopharmacological research into better treatment options for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talitha C Ford
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Ahmad Abu-Akel
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David P Crewther
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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