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Stieger JR, Pinheiro-Chagas P, Fang Y, Li J, Lusk Z, Perry CM, Girn M, Contreras D, Chen Q, Huguenard JR, Spreng RN, Edlow BL, Wagner AD, Buch V, Parvizi J. Cross-regional coordination of activity in the human brain during autobiographical self-referential processing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316021121. [PMID: 39078679 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316021121] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
For the human brain to operate, populations of neurons across anatomical structures must coordinate their activity within milliseconds. To date, our understanding of such interactions has remained limited. We recorded directly from the hippocampus (HPC), posteromedial cortex (PMC), ventromedial/orbital prefrontal cortex (OFC), and the anterior nuclei of the thalamus (ANT) during two experiments of autobiographical memory processing that are known from decades of neuroimaging work to coactivate these regions. In 31 patients implanted with intracranial electrodes, we found that the presentation of memory retrieval cues elicited a significant increase of low frequency (LF < 6 Hz) activity followed by cross-regional phase coherence of this LF activity before select populations of neurons within each of the four regions increased high-frequency (HF > 70 Hz) activity. The power of HF activity was modulated by memory content, and its onset followed a specific temporal order of ANT→HPC/PMC→OFC. Further, we probed cross-regional causal effective interactions with repeated electrical pulses and found that HPC stimulations cause the greatest increase in LF-phase coherence across all regions, whereas the stimulation of any region caused the greatest LF-phase coherence between that particular region and ANT. These observations support the role of the ANT in gating, and the HPC in synchronizing, the activity of cortical midline structures when humans retrieve self-relevant memories of their past. Our findings offer a fresh perspective, with high temporal fidelity, about the dynamic signaling and underlying causal connections among distant regions when the brain is actively involved in retrieving self-referential memories from the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Stieger
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Pedro Pinheiro-Chagas
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Ying Fang
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Jian Li
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Zoe Lusk
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Claire M Perry
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Manesh Girn
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Diego Contreras
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Qi Chen
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - John R Huguenard
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - R Nathan Spreng
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Anthony D Wagner
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Vivek Buch
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Josef Parvizi
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
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2
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Aiello G, Ledergerber D, Dubcek T, Stieglitz L, Baumann C, Polanìa R, Imbach L. Functional network dynamics between the anterior thalamus and the cortex in deep brain stimulation for epilepsy. Brain 2023; 146:4717-4735. [PMID: 37343140 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad211] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Owing to its unique connectivity profile with cortical brain regions, and its suggested role in the subcortical propagation of seizures, the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) has been proposed as a key deep brain stimulation (DBS) target in drug-resistant epilepsy. However, the spatio-temporal interaction dynamics of this brain structure, and the functional mechanisms underlying ANT DBS in epilepsy remain unknown. Here, we study how the ANT interacts with the neocortex in vivo in humans and provide a detailed neurofunctional characterization of mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of ANT DBS, aiming at defining intraoperative neural biomarkers of responsiveness to therapy, assessed at 6 months post-implantation as the reduction in seizure frequency. A cohort of 15 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (n = 6 males, age = 41.6 ± 13.79 years) underwent bilateral ANT DBS implantation. Using intraoperative cortical and ANT simultaneous electrophysiological recordings, we found that the ANT is characterized by high amplitude θ (4-8 Hz) oscillations, mostly in its superior part. The strongest functional connectivity between the ANT and the scalp EEG was also found in the θ band in ipsilateral centro-frontal regions. Upon intraoperative stimulation in the ANT, we found a decrease in higher EEG frequencies (20-70 Hz) and a generalized increase in scalp-to-scalp connectivity. Crucially, we observed that responders to ANT DBS treatment were characterized by higher EEG θ oscillations, higher θ power in the ANT, and stronger ANT-to-scalp θ connectivity, highlighting the crucial role of θ oscillations in the dynamical network characterization of these structures. Our study provides a comprehensive characterization of the interaction dynamic between the ANT and the cortex, delivering crucial information to optimize and predict clinical DBS response in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Aiello
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Epilepsy Center (Klinik Lengg), 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Debora Ledergerber
- Swiss Epilepsy Center (Klinik Lengg), 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tena Dubcek
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Swiss Epilepsy Center (Klinik Lengg), 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lennart Stieglitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Baumann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rafael Polanìa
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Imbach
- Swiss Epilepsy Center (Klinik Lengg), 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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3
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Collomb-Clerc A, Gueguen MCM, Minotti L, Kahane P, Navarro V, Bartolomei F, Carron R, Regis J, Chabardès S, Palminteri S, Bastin J. Human thalamic low-frequency oscillations correlate with expected value and outcomes during reinforcement learning. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6534. [PMID: 37848435 PMCID: PMC10582006 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42380-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Reinforcement-based adaptive decision-making is believed to recruit fronto-striatal circuits. A critical node of the fronto-striatal circuit is the thalamus. However, direct evidence of its involvement in human reinforcement learning is lacking. We address this gap by analyzing intra-thalamic electrophysiological recordings from eight participants while they performed a reinforcement learning task. We found that in both the anterior thalamus (ATN) and dorsomedial thalamus (DMTN), low frequency oscillations (LFO, 4-12 Hz) correlated positively with expected value estimated from computational modeling during reward-based learning (after outcome delivery) or punishment-based learning (during the choice process). Furthermore, LFO recorded from ATN/DMTN were also negatively correlated with outcomes so that both components of reward prediction errors were signaled in the human thalamus. The observed differences in the prediction signals between rewarding and punishing conditions shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying action inhibition in punishment avoidance learning. Our results provide insight into the role of thalamus in reinforcement-based decision-making in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Collomb-Clerc
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Maëlle C M Gueguen
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000, Grenoble, France
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Health Institute and University Behavioral Health Care, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Lorella Minotti
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000, Grenoble, France
- Neurology Department, University Hospital of Grenoble, Grenoble, France
| | - Philippe Kahane
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000, Grenoble, France
- Neurology Department, University Hospital of Grenoble, Grenoble, France
| | - Vincent Navarro
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau, ICM, INSERM, CNRS, AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Fabrice Bartolomei
- Timone University Hospital, Sleep Unit, Epileptology and Cerebral Rhythmology, University Hospital of Marseille, Marseille, France
- Aix Marseille University, Inserm, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Marseille, France
| | - Romain Carron
- Aix Marseille University, Inserm, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Marseille, France
- Timone University Hospital, Department of functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, University Hospital of Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Jean Regis
- Neurosurgery Department, University Hospital of Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Stephan Chabardès
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000, Grenoble, France
- Neurosurgery Department, University Hospital of Grenoble, Grenoble, France
| | - Stefano Palminteri
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives Computationnelles, Département d'Etudes Cognitives, ENS, PSL, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Julien Bastin
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000, Grenoble, France.
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4
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Fisher RS. Deep brain stimulation of thalamus for epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 179:106045. [PMID: 36809846 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuromodulation (neurostimulation) is a relatively new and rapidly growing treatment for refractory epilepsy. Three varieties are approved in the US: vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS). This article reviews thalamic DBS for epilepsy. Among many thalamic sub-nuclei, DBS for epilepsy has been targeted to the anterior nucleus (ANT), centromedian nucleus (CM), dorsomedial nucleus (DM) and pulvinar (PULV). Only ANT is FDA-approved, based upon a controlled clinical trial. Bilateral stimulation of ANT reduced seizures by 40.5% at three months in the controlled phase (p = .038) and 75% by 5 years in the uncontrolled phase. Side effects related to paresthesias, acute hemorrhage, infection, occasional increased seizures, and usually transient effects on mood and memory. Efficacy was best documented for focal onset seizures in temporal or frontal lobe. CM stimulation may be useful for generalized or multifocal seizures and PULV for posterior limbic seizures. Mechanisms of DBS for epilepsy are largely unknown, but animal work points to changes in receptors, channels, neurotransmitters, synapses, network connectivity and neurogenesis. Personalization of therapies, in terms of connectivity of the seizure onset zone to the thalamic sub- nucleus and individual characteristics of the seizures, might lead to improved efficacy. Many questions remain about DBS, including the best candidates for different types of neuromodulation, the best targets, the best stimulation parameters, how to minimize side effects and how to deliver current noninvasively. Despite the questions, neuromodulation provides useful new opportunities to treat people with refractory seizures not responding to medicines and not amenable to resective surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert S Fisher
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and Neurosurgery by Courtesy, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 213 Quarry Road, Room 4865, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
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5
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Almeida VN, Radanovic M. Semantic processing and neurobiology in Alzheimer's disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Neuropsychologia 2022; 174:108337. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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The anterior thalamic nuclei: core components of a tripartite episodic memory system. Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; 23:505-516. [PMID: 35478245 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00591-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Standard models of episodic memory focus on hippocampal-parahippocampal interactions, with the neocortex supplying sensory information and providing a final repository of mnemonic representations. However, recent advances have shown that other regions make distinct and equally critical contributions to memory. In particular, there is growing evidence that the anterior thalamic nuclei have a number of key cognitive functions that support episodic memory. In this article, we describe these findings and argue for a core, tripartite memory system, comprising a 'temporal lobe' stream (centred on the hippocampus) and a 'medial diencephalic' stream (centred on the anterior thalamic nuclei) that together act on shared cortical areas. We demonstrate how these distributed brain regions form complementary and necessary partnerships in episodic memory formation.
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Refined Analysis of Chronic White Matter Changes after Traumatic Brain Injury and Repeated Sports-Related Concussions: Of Use in Targeted Rehabilitative Approaches? J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11020358. [PMID: 35054052 PMCID: PMC8780504 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11020358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) or repeated sport-related concussions (rSRC) may lead to long-term memory impairment. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is helpful to reveal global white matter damage but may underestimate focal abnormalities. We investigated the distribution of post-injury regional white matter changes after TBI and rSRC. Six patients with moderate/severe TBI, and 12 athletes with rSRC were included ≥6 months post-injury, and 10 (age-matched) healthy controls (HC) were analyzed. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status was performed at the time of DTI. Major white matter pathways were tracked using q-space diffeomorphic reconstruction and analyzed for global and regional changes with a controlled false discovery rate. TBI patients displayed multiple classic white matter injuries compared with HC (p < 0.01). At the regional white matter analysis, the left frontal aslant tract, anterior thalamic radiation, and the genu of the corpus callosum displayed focal changes in both groups compared with HC but with different trends. Both TBI and rSRC displayed worse memory performance compared with HC (p < 0.05). While global analysis of DTI-based parameters did not reveal common abnormalities in TBI and rSRC, abnormalities to the fronto-thalamic network were observed in both groups using regional analysis of the white matter pathways. These results may be valuable to tailor individualized rehabilitative approaches for post-injury cognitive impairment in both TBI and rSRC patients.
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Riding the slow wave: Exploring the role of entrained low-frequency oscillations in memory formation. Neuropsychologia 2021; 160:107962. [PMID: 34284040 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Neural oscillations are proposed to support a variety of behaviors, including long-term memory, yet their functional significance remains an active area of research. Here, we explore a potential functional role of low-frequency cortical oscillations in episodic memory formation. Recent theories suggest that low-frequency oscillations orchestrate rhythmic attentional sampling of the environment by dynamically modulating neural excitability across time. When these oscillations entrain to low-frequency rhythms present in the environment, such as speech or music, the brain can build temporal predictions about the onset of relevant events so that these events can be more efficiently processed. Building upon this literature, we propose that entrained low-frequency oscillations may similarly influence the temporal dynamics of episodic memory by rhythmically modulating encoding across time (mnemonic sampling). Central to this proposal is the phenomenon of cross-frequency phase-amplitude coupling, whereby the amplitudes of faster (higher frequency) rhythms, such as gamma oscillations, couple to the phase of slower (lower-frequency) rhythms entrained to environmental stimuli. By imposing temporal structure on higher-frequency oscillatory activity previously linked to memory formation, entrained low-frequency oscillations could dynamically orchestrate memory formation and optimize encoding at specific moments in time. We discuss prior experimental and theoretical work relevant to this proposal.
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9
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Nelson AJD. The anterior thalamic nuclei and cognition: A role beyond space? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 126:1-11. [PMID: 33737105 PMCID: PMC8363507 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Anterior thalamic nuclei important for specific classes of temporal discriminations. Anterior thalamic nuclei required for hippocampal-dependent contextual processes. Critical role for anterior thalamic nuclei in selective attention. Significance of anterior thalamic – anterior cingulate interactions.
The anterior thalamic nuclei are a vital node within hippocampal-diencephalic-cingulate circuits that support spatial learning and memory. Reflecting this interconnectivity, the overwhelming focus of research into the cognitive functions of the anterior thalamic nuclei has been spatial processing. However, there is increasing evidence that the functions of the anterior thalamic nuclei extend beyond the spatial realm. This work has highlighted how these nuclei are required for certain classes of temporal discrimination as well as their importance for processing other contextual information; revealing parallels with the non-spatial functions of the hippocampal formation. Yet further work has shown how the anterior thalamic nuclei may be important for other forms of non-spatial learning, including a critical role for these nuclei in attentional mechanisms. This evidence signals the need to reconsider the functions of the anterior thalamic within the framework of their wider connections with sites including the anterior cingulate cortex that subserve non-spatial functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J D Nelson
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, UK.
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10
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Dillingham CM, Milczarek MM, Perry JC, Vann SD. Time to put the mammillothalamic pathway into context. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 121:60-74. [PMID: 33309908 PMCID: PMC8137464 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The medial diencephalon, in particular the mammillary bodies and anterior thalamic nuclei, has long been linked to memory and amnesia. The mammillary bodies provide a dense input into the anterior thalamic nuclei, via the mammillothalamic tract. In both animal models, and in patients, lesions of the mammillary bodies, mammillothalamic tract and anterior thalamic nuclei all produce severe impairments in temporal and contextual memory, yet it is uncertain why these regions are critical. Mounting evidence from electrophysiological and neural imaging studies suggests that mammillothalamic projections exercise considerable distal influence over thalamo-cortical and hippocampo-cortical interactions. Here, we outline how damage to the mammillary body-anterior thalamic axis, in both patients and animal models, disrupts behavioural performance on tasks that relate to contextual ("where") and temporal ("when") processing. Focusing on the medial mammillary nuclei as a possible 'theta-generator' (through their interconnections with the ventral tegmental nucleus of Gudden) we discuss how the mammillary body-anterior thalamic pathway may contribute to the mechanisms via which the hippocampus and neocortex encode representations of experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Dillingham
- School of Psychology, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Michal M Milczarek
- School of Psychology, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - James C Perry
- School of Psychology, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Seralynne D Vann
- School of Psychology, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK.
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Johnson EL, Kam JWY, Tzovara A, Knight RT. Insights into human cognition from intracranial EEG: A review of audition, memory, internal cognition, and causality. J Neural Eng 2020; 17:051001. [PMID: 32916678 PMCID: PMC7731730 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abb7a5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
By recording neural activity directly from the human brain, researchers gain unprecedented insight into how neurocognitive processes unfold in real time. We first briefly discuss how intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) recordings, performed for clinical practice, are used to study human cognition with the spatiotemporal and single-trial precision traditionally limited to non-human animal research. We then delineate how studies using iEEG have informed our understanding of issues fundamental to human cognition: auditory prediction, working and episodic memory, and internal cognition. We also discuss the potential of iEEG to infer causality through the manipulation or 'engineering' of neurocognitive processes via spatiotemporally precise electrical stimulation. We close by highlighting limitations of iEEG, potential of burgeoning techniques to further increase spatiotemporal precision, and implications for future research using intracranial approaches to understand, restore, and enhance human cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Johnson
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, United States of America
- Life-Span Cognitive Neuroscience Program, Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, United States of America
| | - Julia W Y Kam
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Athina Tzovara
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, United States of America
- Institute for Computer Science, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Sleep Wake Epilepsy Center | NeuroTec, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Robert T Knight
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, United States of America
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12
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Meier JK, Weymar M, Schwabe L. Stress Alters the Neural Context for Building New Memories. J Cogn Neurosci 2020; 32:2226-2240. [PMID: 32762518 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Stressful events affect mnemonic processing, in particular for emotionally arousing events. Previous research on the mechanisms underlying stress effects on human memory focused on stress-induced changes in the neural activity elicited by a stimulus. We tested an alternative mechanism and hypothesized that stress may already alter the neural context for successful memory formation, reflected in the neural activity preceding a stimulus. Therefore, 69 participants underwent a stress or control procedure before encoding neutral and negative pictures. During encoding, we recorded high-density EEG and analyzed-based on multivariate searchlight analyses-oscillatory activity and cross-frequency coupling patterns before stimulus onset that were predictive of memory tested 24 hr later. Prestimulus theta predicted subsequent memory in controls but not in stressed participants. Instead, prestimulus gamma predicted successful memory formation after stress, specifically for emotional material. Likewise, stress altered the patterns of prestimulus theta-beta and theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling predictive of subsequent memory, again depending on the emotionality of the presented material. Our data suggest that stress changes the neural context for building new memories, tuning this neural context specifically to the encoding of emotionally salient events. These findings point to a yet unknown mechanism through which stressful events may change (emotional) memory formation.
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13
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Nunes AS, Kozhemiako N, Hutcheon E, Chau C, Ribary U, Grunau RE, Doesburg SM. Atypical neuromagnetic resting activity associated with thalamic volume and cognitive outcome in very preterm children. Neuroimage Clin 2020; 27:102275. [PMID: 32480286 PMCID: PMC7264077 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Children born very preterm, even in the absence of overt brain injury or major impairment, are at increased risk of cognitive difficulties. This risk is associated with developmental disruptions of the thalamocortical system during critical periods while in the neonatal intensive care unit. The thalamus is an important structure that not only relays sensory information but acts as a hub for integration of cortical activity which regulates cortical power across a range of frequencies. In this study, we investigate the association between atypical power at rest in children born very preterm at school age using magnetoencephalography (MEG), neurocognitive function and structural alterations related to the thalamus using MRI. Our results indicate that children born extremely preterm have higher power at slow frequencies (delta and theta) and lower power at faster frequencies (alpha and beta), compared to controls born full-term. A similar pattern of spectral power was found to be associated with poorer neurocognitive outcomes, as well as with normalized T1 intensity and the volume of the thalamus. Overall, this study provides evidence regarding relations between structural alterations related to very preterm birth, atypical oscillatory power at rest and neurocognitive difficulties at school-age children born very preterm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adonay S Nunes
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
| | - Nataliia Kozhemiako
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Evan Hutcheon
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Cecil Chau
- Pediatrics Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; B.C. Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Urs Ribary
- Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience Institute, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Pediatrics Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; B.C. Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Ruth E Grunau
- Pediatrics Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; B.C. Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sam M Doesburg
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience Institute, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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14
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Wagner IC, van Buuren M, Fernández G. Thalamo-cortical coupling during encoding and consolidation is linked to durable memory formation. Neuroimage 2019; 197:80-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.04.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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15
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Helfrich RF, Knight RT. Cognitive neurophysiology of the prefrontal cortex. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2019; 163:35-59. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-804281-6.00003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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16
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Fredericks CA, Brown JA, Deng J, Kramer A, Ossenkoppele R, Rankin K, Kramer JH, Miller BL, Rabinovici GD, Seeley WW. Intrinsic connectivity networks in posterior cortical atrophy: A role for the pulvinar? Neuroimage Clin 2018; 21:101628. [PMID: 30528957 PMCID: PMC6411779 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.101628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a clinical variant of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that presents with progressive visuospatial symptoms. While amnestic AD is characterized by disrupted default mode network (DMN) connectivity with corresponding increases in salience network (SN) connectivity, a visuospatial network appears to be disrupted early in PCA. Based on PCA patients' clinical features, we hypothesized that, in addition to early decreased integrity within the visuospatial network, patients with PCA would show increases in SN connectivity despite relative preservation of DMN. As the lateral pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus has direct anatomical connections with striate and extrastriate cortex and DMN, and the medial pulvinar is anatomically interconnected with SN, we further hypothesized that lateral and medial pulvinar nuclei might be implicated in intrinsic connectivity changes in PCA. METHODS 26 patients with PCA and 64 matched controls were recruited through UCSF Memory and Aging Center research programs. Each completed a standardized neuropsychological battery, structural MRI, and task-free fMRI. Seed-based functional correlations were used to probe networks of interest, including those seeded by the medial and lateral pulvinar thalamic nuclei, across the whole brain, and functional data analyses were adjusted for brain atrophy. RESULTS Patients with PCA showed disproportionate deficits in the visuospatial domain; they also showed preserved social sensitivity and endorsed more depressive symptoms than HCs. PCA patients had significant parietooccipital atrophy accompanied by widespread connectivity decreases within the visuospatial network, enhanced connectivity between some structures in SN, and enhanced connectivity between key nodes of the DMN compared to controls. Increased SN connectivity correlated with a measure of social sensitivity, and increased DMN connectivity correlated with short-term memory performance. Medial pulvinar connectivity increases in PCA were topographically similar to SN (anterior insula) connectivity increases, while lateral pulvinar connectivity increases were similar to DMN (posterior cingulate) connectivity increases. CONCLUSIONS PCA is characterized by preserved to heightened connectivity in the SN and DMN despite decreased visuospatial network connectivity. The spatial similarity of medial and lateral pulvinar connectivity changes to those seen in the SN and DMN suggests a role for the pulvinar in intrinsic connectivity network changes in PCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn A Fredericks
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Jesse A Brown
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Jersey Deng
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Abigail Kramer
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Rik Ossenkoppele
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Katherine Rankin
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Joel H Kramer
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Gil D Rabinovici
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - William W Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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17
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Barnett SC, Perry BAL, Dalrymple-Alford JC, Parr-Brownlie LC. Optogenetic stimulation: Understanding memory and treating deficits. Hippocampus 2018; 28:457-470. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S. C. Barnett
- Department of Psychology; University of Canterbury; Christchurch 8041 New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand; New Zealand
| | - B. A. L. Perry
- Department of Psychology; University of Canterbury; Christchurch 8041 New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand; New Zealand
| | - J. C. Dalrymple-Alford
- Department of Psychology; University of Canterbury; Christchurch 8041 New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand; New Zealand
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute; Christchurch New Zealand
| | - L. C. Parr-Brownlie
- Brain Research New Zealand; New Zealand
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Science; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago; Dunedin New Zealand
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18
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Theta Oscillations Organize Spiking Activity in Higher-Order Visual Thalamus during Sustained Attention. eNeuro 2018; 5:eN-NWR-0384-17. [PMID: 29619407 PMCID: PMC5881415 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0384-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher-order visual thalamus plays a fundamental but poorly understood role in attention-demanding tasks. To investigate how neuronal dynamics in higher-order visual thalamus are modulated by sustained attention, we performed multichannel electrophysiological recordings in the lateral posterior-pulvinar complex (LP/pulvinar) in the ferret (Mustela putorius furo). We recorded single unit activity and local field potential (LFP) during the performance of the five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT), which is used in both humans and animals as an assay of sustained attention. We found that half of the units exhibited an increasing firing rate during the delay period before stimulus onset (attention-modulated units). In contrast, the non-attention-modulated units responded to the stimulus, but not during the delay period. Spike-field coherence (SFC) of only the attention-modulated neurons significantly increased from the start of the delay period until screen touch, predominantly in the θ frequency band. In addition, θ power and θ/γ phase amplitude coupling (PAC) were elevated throughout the delay period. Our findings suggest that the θ oscillation plays a central role in orchestrating thalamic signaling during sustained attention.
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19
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Dolcos F, Katsumi Y, Weymar M, Moore M, Tsukiura T, Dolcos S. Emerging Directions in Emotional Episodic Memory. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1867. [PMID: 29255432 PMCID: PMC5723010 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Building upon the existing literature on emotional memory, the present review examines emerging evidence from brain imaging investigations regarding four research directions: (1) Social Emotional Memory, (2) The Role of Emotion Regulation in the Impact of Emotion on Memory, (3) The Impact of Emotion on Associative or Relational Memory, and (4) The Role of Individual Differences in Emotional Memory. Across these four domains, available evidence demonstrates that emotion- and memory-related medial temporal lobe brain regions (amygdala and hippocampus, respectively), together with prefrontal cortical regions, play a pivotal role during both encoding and retrieval of emotional episodic memories. This evidence sheds light on the neural mechanisms of emotional memories in healthy functioning, and has important implications for understanding clinical conditions that are associated with negative affective biases in encoding and retrieving emotional memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florin Dolcos
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Yuta Katsumi
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Mathias Weymar
- Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Matthew Moore
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Takashi Tsukiura
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sanda Dolcos
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
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20
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Sweeney-Reed CM, Zaehle T, Voges J, Schmitt FC, Buentjen L, Borchardt V, Walter M, Hinrichs H, Heinze HJ, Rugg MD, Knight RT. Anterior Thalamic High Frequency Band Activity Is Coupled with Theta Oscillations at Rest. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:358. [PMID: 28775684 PMCID: PMC5518534 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cross-frequency coupling (CFC) between slow and fast brain rhythms, in the form of phase–amplitude coupling (PAC), is proposed to enable the coordination of neural oscillatory activity required for cognitive processing. PAC has been identified in the neocortex and mesial temporal regions, varying according to the cognitive task being performed and also at rest. PAC has also been observed in the anterior thalamic nucleus (ATN) during memory processing. The thalamus is active during the resting state and has been proposed to be involved in switching between task-free cognitive states such as rest, in which attention is internally-focused, and externally-focused cognitive states, in which an individual engages with environmental stimuli. It is unknown whether PAC is an ongoing phenomenon during the resting state in the ATN, which is modulated during different cognitive states, or whether it only arises during the performance of specific tasks. We analyzed electrophysiological recordings of ATN activity during rest from seven patients who received thalamic electrodes implanted for treatment of pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy. PAC was identified between theta (4–6 Hz) phase and high frequency band (80–150 Hz) amplitude during rest in all seven patients, which diminished during engagement in tasks involving an external focus of attention. The findings are consistent with the proposal that theta–gamma coupling in the ATN is an ongoing phenomenon, which is modulated by task performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Sweeney-Reed
- Departments of Neurology and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburg, Germany
| | - Tino Zaehle
- Departments of Neurology and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Voges
- Departments of Neurology and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburg, Germany.,Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburg, Germany
| | - Friedhelm C Schmitt
- Departments of Neurology and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburg, Germany
| | - Lars Buentjen
- Departments of Neurology and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburg, Germany
| | - Viola Borchardt
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburg, Germany
| | - Martin Walter
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburg, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Eberhard Karls UniversityTübingen, Germany
| | - Hermann Hinrichs
- Departments of Neurology and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburg, Germany.,Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburg, Germany.,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Jochen Heinze
- Departments of Neurology and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Otto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburg, Germany.,Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for NeurobiologyMagdeburg, Germany.,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Otto von Guericke UniversityMagdeburg, Germany
| | - Michael D Rugg
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of TexasDallas, TX, United States
| | - Robert T Knight
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and Department of Psychology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA, United States
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21
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Amygdala-hippocampal dynamics during salient information processing. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14413. [PMID: 28176756 PMCID: PMC5309795 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recognizing motivationally salient information is critical to guiding behaviour. The amygdala and hippocampus are thought to support this operation, but the circuit-level mechanism of this interaction is unclear. We used direct recordings in the amygdala and hippocampus from human epilepsy patients to examine oscillatory activity during processing of fearful faces compared with neutral landscapes. We report high gamma (70–180 Hz) activation for fearful faces with earlier stimulus evoked onset in the amygdala compared with the hippocampus. Attending to fearful faces compared with neutral landscape stimuli enhances low-frequency coupling between the amygdala and the hippocampus. The interaction between the amygdala and hippocampus is largely unidirectional, with theta/alpha oscillations in the amygdala modulating hippocampal gamma activity. Granger prediction, phase slope index and phase lag analysis corroborate this directional coupling. These results demonstrate that processing emotionally salient events in humans engages an amygdala-hippocampal network, with the amygdala influencing hippocampal dynamics during fear processing. Amygdala and hippocampus are involved in processing motivationally salient stimuli but the precise circuit dynamics of the interaction is not understood. Here the authors show that in response to fearful faces in humans, theta/alpha oscillations in the amygdala modulate hippocampal activity dynamics.
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22
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Helfrich RF, Knight RT. Oscillatory Dynamics of Prefrontal Cognitive Control. Trends Cogn Sci 2016; 20:916-930. [PMID: 27743685 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2016.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) provides the structural basis for numerous higher cognitive functions. However, it is still largely unknown which mechanisms provide the functional basis for flexible cognitive control of goal-directed behavior. Here, we review recent findings that suggest that the functional architecture of cognition is profoundly rhythmic and propose that the PFC serves as a conductor to orchestrate task-relevant large-scale networks. We highlight several studies that demonstrated that oscillatory dynamics, such as phase resetting, cross-frequency coupling (CFC), and entrainment, support PFC-dependent recruitment of task-relevant regions into coherent functional networks. Importantly, these findings support the notion that distinct spectral signatures reflect different cortical computations supporting effective multiplexing on different temporal channels along the same anatomical pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randolph F Helfrich
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, 132 Barker Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway; Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Robert T Knight
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, 132 Barker Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Psychology, UC Berkeley, Tolman Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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23
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Pre-stimulus thalamic theta power predicts human memory formation. Neuroimage 2016; 138:100-108. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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24
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Memory-guided attention in the anterior thalamus. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 66:163-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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25
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Aggleton JP, Pralus A, Nelson AJD, Hornberger M. Thalamic pathology and memory loss in early Alzheimer's disease: moving the focus from the medial temporal lobe to Papez circuit. Brain 2016; 139:1877-90. [PMID: 27190025 PMCID: PMC4939698 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely assumed that incipient protein pathology in the medial temporal lobe instigates the loss of episodic memory in Alzheimer’s disease, one of the earliest cognitive deficits in this type of dementia. Within this region, the hippocampus is seen as the most vital for episodic memory. Consequently, research into the causes of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease continues to centre on hippocampal dysfunction and how disease-modifying therapies in this region can potentially alleviate memory symptomology. The present review questions this entrenched notion by bringing together findings from post-mortem studies, non-invasive imaging (including studies of presymptomatic, at-risk cases) and genetically modified animal models. The combined evidence indicates that the loss of episodic memory in early Alzheimer’s disease reflects much wider neurodegeneration in an extended mnemonic system (Papez circuit), which critically involves the limbic thalamus. Within this system, the anterior thalamic nuclei are prominent, both for their vital contributions to episodic memory and for how these same nuclei appear vulnerable in prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. As thalamic abnormalities occur in some of the earliest stages of the disease, the idea that such changes are merely secondary to medial temporal lobe dysfunctions is challenged. This alternate view is further strengthened by the interdependent relationship between the anterior thalamic nuclei and retrosplenial cortex, given how dysfunctions in the latter cortical area provide some of the earliest
in vivo
imaging evidence of prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. Appreciating the importance of the anterior thalamic nuclei for memory and attention provides a more balanced understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, this refocus on the limbic thalamus, as well as the rest of Papez circuit, would have significant implications for the diagnostics, modelling, and experimental treatment of cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Aggleton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Agathe Pralus
- Master of Biosciences, ENS de Lyon, 46 allée d'Italie, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Andrew J D Nelson
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
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