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Zanto TP, Giannakopoulou A, Gallen CL, Ostrand AE, Younger JW, Anguera-Singla R, Anguera JA, Gazzaley A. Digital rhythm training improves reading fluency in children. Dev Sci 2024; 27:e13473. [PMID: 38193394 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Musical instrument training has been linked to improved academic and cognitive abilities in children, but it remains unclear why this occurs. Moreover, access to instrument training is not always feasible, thereby leaving less fortunate children without opportunity to benefit from such training. Although music-based video games may be more accessible to a broader population, research is lacking regarding their benefits on academic and cognitive performance. To address this gap, we assessed a custom-designed, digital rhythm training game as a proxy for instrument training to evaluate its ability to engender benefits in math and reading abilities. Furthermore, we tested for changes in core cognitive functions related to math and reading to inform how rhythm training may facilitate improved academic abilities. Classrooms of 8-9 year old children were randomized to receive either 6 weeks of rhythm training (N = 32) or classroom instruction as usual (control; N = 21). Compared to the control group, results showed that rhythm training improved reading, but not math, fluency. Assessments of cognition showed that rhythm training also led to improved rhythmic timing and language-based executive function (Stroop task), but not sustained attention, inhibitory control, or working memory. Interestingly, only the improvements in rhythmic timing correlated with improvements in reading ability. Together, these results provide novel evidence that a digital platform may serve as a proxy for musical instrument training to facilitate reading fluency in children, and that such reading improvements are related to enhanced rhythmic timing ability and not other cognitive functions associated with reading performance. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Digital rhythm training in the classroom can improve reading fluency in 8-9 year old children Improvements in reading fluency were positively correlated with enhanced rhythmic timing ability Alterations in reading fluency were not predicted by changes in other executive functions that support reading A digital platform may be a convenient and cost-effective means to provide musical rhythm training, which in turn, can facilitate academic skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Courtney L Gallen
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Avery E Ostrand
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jessica W Younger
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Roger Anguera-Singla
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joaquin A Anguera
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Kettner H, Roseman L, Gazzaley A, Carhart-Harris R, Pasquini L. Improvements in well-being following naturalistic psychedelic use and underlying mechanisms of change in older adults: A prospective cohort study. Res Sq 2024:rs.3.rs-3977169. [PMID: 38496492 PMCID: PMC10942571 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3977169/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Affective symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, and loneliness are prevalent and highly debilitating symptoms among older adults (OA). Serotonergic psychedelics are novel experimental interventions for affective disorders, yet little is known regarding their effects in OA. Using a prospective cohort design, we identified 62 OA (age ≥ 60 years) and 62 matched younger adults (YA) who completed surveys two weeks before, and one day, two weeks, four weeks, and six months after a guided psychedelic group session in a retreat setting. Mixed linear regression analyses revealed significant well-being improvements in OA and YA, amplified in OA with a history of a psychiatric diagnosis. Compared to YA, acute subjective psychedelic effects were attenuated in OA and did not significantly predict well-being changes. However, a psychosocial measure of Communitas emerged as a predictor in OA, suggesting that the relational components in psychedelic group settings may hold particular value for OA.
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Pasquini L, Simon AJ, Gallen CL, Kettner H, Roseman L, Gazzaley A, Carhart-Harris RL, Timmermann C. Brain substates induced by DMT relate to sympathetic output and meaningfulness of the experience. bioRxiv 2024:2024.02.14.580356. [PMID: 38464275 PMCID: PMC10925211 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.14.580356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic, known to rapidly induce short-lasting alterations in conscious experience, characterized by a profound and immersive sense of physical transcendence alongside rich and vivid auditory distortions and visual imagery. Multimodal neuroimaging data paired with dynamic analysis techniques offer a valuable approach for identifying unique signatures of brain activity - and linked autonomic physiology - naturally unfolding during the altered state of consciousness induced by DMT. We leveraged simultaneous fMRI and EKG data acquired in 14 healthy volunteers prior to, during, and after intravenous administration of DMT, and, separately, placebo. EKG data was used to derive continuous heart rate; fMRI data was preprocessed to derive individual dynamic activity matrices, reflecting the similarity of brain activity in time, and community detection algorithms were applied on these matrices to identify brain activity substates. We identified a brain substate occurring immediately after DMT injection, characterized by increased superior temporal lobe activity, and hippocampal and medial parietal deactivations under DMT. Superior temporal lobe hyperactivity correlated with the intensity of the auditory distortions, while hippocampus and medial parietal cortex hypoactivity correlated with scores of meaningfulness of the experience. During this first post-injection substate, increased heart rate under DMT correlated negatively with the meaningfulness of the experience and positively with hippocampus/medial parietal deactivation. These results suggest a chain of influence linking sympathetic regulation to hippocampal and medial parietal deactivations under DMT, which combined may contribute to positive mental health outcomes related to self-referential processing following psychedelic administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Pasquini
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Alexander J. Simon
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Courtney L. Gallen
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Hannes Kettner
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, W12 0NN London, UK
| | - Leor Roseman
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, W12 0NN London, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Robin L. Carhart-Harris
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, W12 0NN London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Christopher Timmermann
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, W12 0NN London, UK
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Hsu WY, Zanto T, Park JE, Gazzaley A, Bove RM. Effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation on cognitive function in people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 80:105090. [PMID: 37925960 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is a core symptom that profoundly impacts the lives of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Since the existing disease modifying therapies can only stabilize, but not actively treat, cognition in PwMS, there is an unmet need to expand approaches to treat these cognitive symptoms. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) permits frequency-specific entrainment of neural oscillations intrinsic to cognitive activity. However, the effects of the tACS on cognitive function in PwMS have not yet been assessed. We aimed to evaluate the potential efficacy of applying frontal theta-tACS to improve information processing speed in PwMS. METHODS 60 PwMS with cognitive complaints were enrolled in a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial with three stimulation groups: 2 mA, 1 mA, or sham control. A single session of theta-tACS was applied while participants were engaged in a cognitive program which has shown to improve processing speed in PwMS. tACS effects were examined by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Tolerability, side effects and acceptability were measured. RESULTS 1 mA groups had a significantly higher SDMT score after stimulation compared to their pre-stimulation score, 2 mA group showed a marginally significant improvement of their SDMT score, while the SDMT score in the sham group did not change. Overall, 49% of the stimulation group participants showed a clinically meaningful SDMT improvement (4+-point increase). CONCLUSION tACS is a well-tolerated, non-pharmacological intervention. Based on the positive effects observed in the current study of a single session of tACS applied during cognitive engagement, the effects of repeated tACS on cognitive function in PwMS merit further research. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04466228.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Hsu
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Theodore Zanto
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jee Eun Park
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Riley M Bove
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1651 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Jones KT, Gallen CL, Ostrand AE, Rojas JC, Wais P, Rini J, Chan B, Lago AL, Boxer A, Zhao M, Gazzaley A, Zanto TP. Gamma neuromodulation improves episodic memory and its associated network in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 129:72-88. [PMID: 37276822 PMCID: PMC10583532 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a predementia stage of Alzheimer's disease associated with dysfunctional episodic memory and limited treatment options. We aimed to characterize feasibility, clinical, and biomarker effects of noninvasive neurostimulation for aMCI. 13 individuals with aMCI received eight 60-minute sessions of 40-Hz (gamma) transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) targeting regions related to episodic memory processing. Feasibility, episodic memory, and plasma Alzheimer's disease biomarkers were assessed. Neuroplastic changes were characterized by resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) and neuronal excitatory/inhibitory balance. Gamma tACS was feasible and aMCI participants demonstrated improvement in multiple metrics of episodic memory, but no changes in biomarkers. Improvements in episodic memory were most pronounced in participants who had the highest modeled tACS-induced electric fields and exhibited the greatest changes in RSFC. Increased RSFC was also associated with greater hippocampal excitability and higher baseline white matter integrity. This study highlights initial feasibility and the potential of gamma tACS to rescue episodic memory in an aMCI population by modulating connectivity and excitability within an episodic memory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin T Jones
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
| | - Courtney L Gallen
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Avery E Ostrand
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Julio C Rojas
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Peter Wais
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - James Rini
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Brandon Chan
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Argentina Lario Lago
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Adam Boxer
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Min Zhao
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Vision Science and Dermatology, Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
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Younger JW, O’Laughlin KD, Anguera JA, Bunge SA, Ferrer EE, Hoeft F, McCandliss BD, Mishra J, Rosenberg-Lee M, Gazzaley A, Uncapher MR. Better together: novel methods for measuring and modeling development of executive function diversity while accounting for unity. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1195013. [PMID: 37554411 PMCID: PMC10405287 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1195013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Executive functions (EFs) are linked to positive outcomes across the lifespan. Yet, methodological challenges have prevented precise understanding of the developmental trajectory of their organization. METHODS We introduce novel methods to address challenges for both measuring and modeling EFs using an accelerated longitudinal design with a large, diverse sample of students in middle childhood (N = 1,286; ages 8 to 14). We used eight adaptive assessments hypothesized to measure three EFs, working memory, context monitoring, and interference resolution. We deployed adaptive assessments to equate EF challenge across ages and a data-driven, network analytic approach to reveal the evolving diversity of EFs while simultaneously accounting for their unity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Using this methodological paradigm shift brought new precision and clarity to the development of these EFs, showing these eight tasks are organized into three stable components by age 10, but refinement of composition of these components continues through at least age 14.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Wise Younger
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Kristine D. O’Laughlin
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joaquin A. Anguera
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Silvia A. Bunge
- Department of Psychology & Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Emilio E. Ferrer
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Fumiko Hoeft
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychological Sciences and Brain Imaging Research Center (BIRC), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Bruce D. McCandliss
- Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jyoti Mishra
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Neural Engineering & Translation Labs, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | | | - Adam Gazzaley
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Melina R. Uncapher
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Advanced Education Research and Development Fund, Oakland, CA, United States
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Simon AJ, Gallen CL, Ziegler DA, Mishra J, Marco EJ, Anguera JA, Gazzaley A. Quantifying attention span across the lifespan. Front Cognit 2023; 2:1207428. [PMID: 37920687 PMCID: PMC10621754 DOI: 10.3389/fcogn.2023.1207428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Studies examining sustained attention abilities typically utilize metrics that quantify performance on vigilance tasks, such as response time and response time variability. However, approaches that assess the duration that an individual can maintain their attention over time are lacking. Methods Here we developed an objective attention span metric that quantified the maximum amount of time that a participant continuously maintained an optimal "in the zone" sustained attention state while performing a continuous performance task. Results In a population of 262 individuals aged 7-85, we showed that attention span was longer in young adults than in children and older adults. Furthermore, declines in attention span over time during task engagement were related to clinical symptoms of inattention in children. Discussion These results suggest that quantifying attention span is a unique and meaningful method of assessing sustained attention across the lifespan and in populations with inattention symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Simon
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Courtney L. Gallen
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - David A. Ziegler
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jyoti Mishra
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Elysa J. Marco
- Department of Neurodevelopmental Medicine, Cortica Healthcare, San Rafael, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joaquin A. Anguera
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Gallen CL, Schachtner JN, Anguera-Singla R, Anguera JA, Gazzaley A. Influence of game features on attention in adults. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1123306. [PMID: 37228349 PMCID: PMC10203248 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1123306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The incorporation of game features into cognitive tasks can inform us about the influence of reward and motivation on attention. Continuous performance tasks (CPTs), designed to assess attention abilities, are examples of cognitive tasks that have been targeted for the addition of game features. However, previous results have been mixed regarding how game elements affect attention abilities and task performance. Methods Here, we studied if there were factors that predict which individuals exhibit changes in attention from game features added to a CPT. Participants (N = 94, aged 21-71) played a traditional CPT and a game CPT with identical mechanics, but featured engaging game elements (aesthetics, storyline, competition, feedback, and reward). Results We first found corroborating evidence that game features have mixed effects on attention performance: most attention metrics of interest exhibited no overall difference between the traditional and game CPT, while game elements reduced performance for a few metrics. Importantly, we also found that specific behavioral and demographic profiles predicted individual differences in performance on the game CPT compared to the traditional CPT. Those with more attention difficulties (ADHD symptoms), more reward responsiveness, and younger adults performed better on the game CPT while, conversely, those with fewer ADHD symptoms, less reward responsiveness, and older adults performed better on the traditional CPT. Discussion These findings provide insights into how game features can influence attention in different individuals and have important implications for the use of game elements in cognitive tasks and training interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney L. Gallen
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jessica N. Schachtner
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Roger Anguera-Singla
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joaquin A. Anguera
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Jones KT, Ostrand AE, Gazzaley A, Zanto TP. Enhancing cognitive control in amnestic mild cognitive impairment via at-home non-invasive neuromodulation in a randomized trial. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7435. [PMID: 37156876 PMCID: PMC10167304 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34582-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with multi-domain amnestic mild cognitive impairment (md-aMCI) have an elevated risk of dementia and need interventions that may retain or remediate cognitive function. In a feasibility pilot study, 30 older adults aged 60-80 years with md-aMCI were randomized to 8 sessions of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with simultaneous cognitive control training (CCT). The intervention took place within the participant's home without direct researcher assistance. Half of the participants received prefrontal theta tACS during CCT and the other half received control tACS. We observed high tolerability and adherence for at-home tACS + CCT. Within 1-week, only those who received theta tACS exhibited improved attentional abilities. Neuromodulation is feasible for in-home settings, which can be conducted by the patient, thereby enabling treatment in difficult to reach populations. TACS with CCT may facilitate cognitive control abilities in md-aMCI, but research in a larger population is needed to validate efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin T Jones
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Sandler Neurosciences Center, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Avery E Ostrand
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco, 675 18th St, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Ln, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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Nandi B, Ostrand A, Johnson V, Ford TJ, Gazzaley A, Zanto TP. Musical Training Facilitates Exogenous Temporal Attention via Delta Phase Entrainment within a Sensorimotor Network. J Neurosci 2023; 43:3365-3378. [PMID: 36977585 PMCID: PMC10162458 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0220-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporal orienting of attention plays an important role in our day-to-day lives and can use timing information from exogenous or endogenous sources. Yet, it is unclear what neural mechanisms give rise to temporal attention, and it is debated whether both exogenous and endogenous forms of temporal attention share a common neural source. Here, older adult nonmusicians (N = 47, 24 female) were randomized to undergo 8 weeks of either rhythm training, which places demands on exogenous temporal attention, or word search training as a control. The goal was to assess (1) the neural basis of exogenous temporal attention and (2) whether training-induced improvements in exogenous temporal attention can transfer to enhanced endogenous temporal attention abilities, thereby providing support for a common neural mechanism of temporal attention. Before and after training, exogenous temporal attention was assessed using a rhythmic synchronization paradigm, whereas endogenous temporal attention was evaluated via a temporally cued visual discrimination task. Results showed that rhythm training improved performance on the exogenous temporal attention task, which was associated with increased intertrial coherence within the δ (1-4 Hz) band as assessed by EEG recordings. Source localization revealed increased δ-band intertrial coherence arose from a sensorimotor network, including premotor cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, postcentral gyrus, and the inferior parietal lobule. Despite these improvements in exogenous temporal attention, such benefits were not transferred to endogenous attentional ability. These results support the notion that exogenous and endogenous temporal attention uses independent neural sources, with exogenous temporal attention relying on the precise timing of δ band oscillations within a sensorimotor network.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Allocating attention to specific points in time is known as temporal attention, and may arise from external (exogenous) or internal (endogenous) sources. Despite its importance to our daily lives, it is unclear how the brain gives rise to temporal attention and whether exogenous- or endogenous-based sources for temporal attention rely on shared brain regions. Here, we demonstrate that musical rhythm training improves exogenous temporal attention, which was associated with more consistent timing of neural activity in sensory and motor processing brain regions. However, these benefits did not extend to endogenous temporal attention, indicating that temporal attention relies on different brain regions depending on the source of timing information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijurika Nandi
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Avery Ostrand
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Vinith Johnson
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Tiffany J Ford
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
- Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
- Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
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Anguera JA, Rowe MA, Volponi JJ, Elkurdi M, Jurigova B, Simon AJ, Anguera-Singla R, Gallen CL, Gazzaley A, Marco EJ. Author Correction: Enhancing attention in children using an integrated cognitive-physical videogame: A pilot study. NPJ Digit Med 2023; 6:71. [PMID: 37186002 PMCID: PMC10130012 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00826-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J A Anguera
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
| | - M A Rowe
- Department of Neurodevelopmental Medicine, Cortica Healthcare, San Rafael, USA
| | - J J Volponi
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - M Elkurdi
- Department of Neurodevelopmental Medicine, Cortica Healthcare, San Rafael, USA
| | - B Jurigova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - A J Simon
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - R Anguera-Singla
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - C L Gallen
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - A Gazzaley
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - E J Marco
- Department of Neurodevelopmental Medicine, Cortica Healthcare, San Rafael, USA
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12
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Anguera JA, Rowe MA, Volponi JJ, Elkurdi M, Jurigova B, Simon AJ, Anguera-Singla R, Gallen CL, Gazzaley A, Marco EJ. Enhancing attention in children using an integrated cognitive-physical videogame: A pilot study. NPJ Digit Med 2023; 6:65. [PMID: 37046040 PMCID: PMC10097690 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00812-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Inattention can negatively impact several aspects of a child's life, including at home and school. Cognitive and physical interventions are two promising non-pharmaceutical approaches used to enhance attention abilities, with combined approaches often being marketed to teachers, therapists, and parents typically without research validation. Here, we assessed the feasibility of incorporating an integrated, cognitive-physical, closed-loop video game (body-brain trainer or 'BBT') as an after-school program, and also evaluated if there were attention benefits following its use. Twenty-two children (7-12 years of age) with a range of attention abilities were recruited to participate in this proof of concept, single-arm, longitudinal study (24 sessions over 8 weeks, ~30 min/day). We interrogated attention abilities through a parent survey of their child's behaviors, in addition to objective performance-based and neural measures of attention. Here we observed 95% compliance as well as, significant improvements on the parent-based reports of inattention and on cognitive tests and neural measures of attention that were comparable in scale to previous work. Exploratory measures of other cognitive control abilities and physical fitness also showed similar improvement, with exploratory evaluation of retained benefits on the primary attention-related outcomes being present 1-year later. Lastly, there was no correlation between the baseline parent-rated inattention score and the improvement on the primary task-based measures of attention, suggesting that intervention-based benefits were not solely attained by those who stood the most to gain. These pilot findings warrant future research to replicate and extend these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Anguera
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
| | - M A Rowe
- Department of Neurodevelopmental Medicine, Cortica Healthcare, San Rafael, USA
| | - J J Volponi
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - M Elkurdi
- Department of Neurodevelopmental Medicine, Cortica Healthcare, San Rafael, USA
| | - B Jurigova
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - A J Simon
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - R Anguera-Singla
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - C L Gallen
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - A Gazzaley
- Neuroscape Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - E J Marco
- Department of Neurodevelopmental Medicine, Cortica Healthcare, San Rafael, USA
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Hsu WY, Anguera JA, Rizzo A, Campusano R, Chiaravalloti ND, DeLuca J, Gazzaley A, Bove RM. A virtual reality program to assess cognitive function in multiple sclerosis: A pilot study. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1139316. [PMID: 37007676 PMCID: PMC10060881 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1139316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive impairment is a debilitating symptom in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Most of the neuropsychological tasks have little resemblance to everyday life. There is a need for ecologically valid tools for assessing cognition in real-life functional contexts in MS. One potential solution would involve the use of virtual reality (VR) to exert finer control over the task presentation environment; however, VR studies in the MS population are scarce.Objectives: To explore the utility and feasibility of a VR program for cognitive assessment in MS.Methods: A VR classroom embedded with a continuous performance task (CPT) was assessed in 10 non-MS adults and 10 people with MS with low cognitive functioning. Participants performed the CPT with distractors (i.e., WD) and without distractors (i.e., ND). The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test—II (CVLT-II), and a feedback survey on the VR program was administered.Results: People with MS exhibited greater reaction time variability (RTV) compared to non-MS participants, and greater RTV in both WD and ND conditions was associated with lower SDMT.Conclusions: VR tools warrant further research to determine their value as an ecologically valid platform for assessing cognition and everyday functioning in people with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Hsu
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joaquin A. Anguera
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Albert Rizzo
- Institute for Creative Studies, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Richard Campusano
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Nancy D. Chiaravalloti
- Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, NJ, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - John DeLuca
- Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, NJ, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Riley M. Bove
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Carhart-Harris RL, Chandaria S, Erritzoe DE, Gazzaley A, Girn M, Kettner H, Mediano PAM, Nutt DJ, Rosas FE, Roseman L, Timmermann C, Weiss B, Zeifman RJ, Friston KJ. Canalization and plasticity in psychopathology. Neuropharmacology 2023; 226:109398. [PMID: 36584883 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
This theoretical article revives a classical bridging construct, canalization, to describe a new model of a general factor of psychopathology. To achieve this, we have distinguished between two types of plasticity, an early one that we call 'TEMP' for 'Temperature or Entropy Mediated Plasticity', and another, we call 'canalization', which is close to Hebbian plasticity. These two forms of plasticity can be most easily distinguished by their relationship to 'precision' or inverse variance; TEMP relates to increased model variance or decreased precision, whereas the opposite is true for canalization. TEMP also subsumes increased learning rate, (Ising) temperature and entropy. Dictionary definitions of 'plasticity' describe it as the property of being easily shaped or molded; TEMP is the better match for this. Importantly, we propose that 'pathological' phenotypes develop via mechanisms of canalization or increased model precision, as a defensive response to adversity and associated distress or dysphoria. Our model states that canalization entrenches in psychopathology, narrowing the phenotypic state-space as the agent develops expertise in their pathology. We suggest that TEMP - combined with gently guiding psychological support - can counter canalization. We address questions of whether and when canalization is adaptive versus maladaptive, furnish our model with references to basic and human neuroscience, and offer concrete experiments and measures to test its main hypotheses and implications. This article is part of the Special Issue on "National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series".
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Carhart-Harris
- Psychedelics Division - Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA; Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK.
| | - S Chandaria
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK; Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford, UK; Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London, UK
| | - D E Erritzoe
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK; CNWL-Imperial Psychopharmacology and Psychedelic Research Clinic (CIPPRS), UK
| | - A Gazzaley
- Psychedelics Division - Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - M Girn
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - H Kettner
- Psychedelics Division - Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, USA; Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK
| | - P A M Mediano
- Department of Computing, Imperial College London, London, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - D J Nutt
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK
| | - F E Rosas
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK; Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford, UK; Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, UK; Centre for Complexity Science, Imperial College London, UK
| | - L Roseman
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK; CNWL-Imperial Psychopharmacology and Psychedelic Research Clinic (CIPPRS), UK
| | - C Timmermann
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK; CNWL-Imperial Psychopharmacology and Psychedelic Research Clinic (CIPPRS), UK
| | - B Weiss
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK; CNWL-Imperial Psychopharmacology and Psychedelic Research Clinic (CIPPRS), UK
| | - R J Zeifman
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, UK; NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
| | - K J Friston
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, UK
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15
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Gallen CL, Schaerlaeken S, Younger JW, Anguera JA, Gazzaley A. Contribution of sustained attention abilities to real-world academic skills in children. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2673. [PMID: 36792755 PMCID: PMC9932079 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29427-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Sustained attention is a critical cognitive ability that improves over the course of development and predicts important real-world outcomes, such as academic achievement. However, the majority of work demonstrating links between sustained attention and academic skills has been conducted in lab-based settings that lack the ecological validity of a more naturalistic environment, like school. Further, most studies focus on targeted academic measures of specific sub-skills and have not fully examined whether this relationship generalizes to broad measures of academic achievement that are used for important, real-world, academic advancement decisions, such as standardized test scores. To address this gap, we examined the role of sustained attention in predicting targeted and broad assessments of academic abilities, where all skills were assessed in group-based environments in schools. In a sample of over 700 students aged 9-14, we showed that attention was positively related to performance on targeted assessments (math fluency and reading comprehension), as well as broad academic measures (statewide standardized test scores). Moreover, we found that attention was more predictive of targeted math sub-skills compared to assessments of broad math abilities, but was equally predictive of reading for both types of measures. Our findings add to our understanding of how sustained attention is linked to academic skills assessed in more 'real-world', naturalistic school environments and have important implications for designing tools to support student's academic success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney L. Gallen
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Simon Schaerlaeken
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Jessica W. Younger
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | | | - Joaquin A. Anguera
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA. .,Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA. .,Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
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16
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Velasquez AG, Yankulova JK, White NA, Gazzaley A, Morsella E. Involuntary refreshing of mental representations. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2023; 232:103819. [PMID: 36571895 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Laboratory tasks have revealed that mental representations (e.g., mental imagery) can enter consciousness in a manner that is involuntary, reliable, and insuppressible. These effects illuminate the capacities of involuntary processes as well as the function of voluntary, conscious processing. The Reflexive Imagery Task was developed a decade ago to investigate these involuntary effects systematically. Can refreshing yield such involuntary effects? Refreshing is the reactivating in mind of a mental representation that was activated moments ago. It is associated with mental rehearsal and executive function. We investigated whether a mental representation (subvocalization of an object name) can arise in consciousness involuntarily after a delayed interval, when the relevant stimulus is no longer present, and in response to a cue. In Experiment 1, participants were instructed not to refresh a previously presented (6 s before) stimulus in response to a cue. Involuntary refreshing occurred on a substantive proportion (0.56) of the trials. Experiment 2 replicated and extended this finding (proportion of the trials = 0.53) with a refreshing task that was more challenging than that of Experiment 1. Our findings suggest that mental representations arising from processes such as refreshing can occur involuntarily. We discuss the theoretical implications of this conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony G Velasquez
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States of America
| | - Jessica K Yankulova
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States of America
| | - Nathan A White
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States of America
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America; Departments of Psychiatry and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Ezequiel Morsella
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States of America; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America.
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17
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Arioli M, Rini J, Anguera-Singla R, Gazzaley A, Wais PE. Validation of At-Home Application of a Digital Cognitive Screener for Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:907496. [PMID: 35847674 PMCID: PMC9283580 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.907496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Standardized neuropsychological assessments of older adults are important for both clinical diagnosis and biobehavioral research. Over decades, in-person testing has been the basis for population normative values that rank cognitive performance by demographic status. Most recently, digital tools have enabled remote data collection for cognitive measures, which offers the significant promise to extend the basis for normative values to be more inclusive of a larger cross section of the older population. We developed a Remote Characterization Module (RCM), using a speech-to-text interface, as a novel digital tool to administer an at-home, 25-min cognitive screener that mimics eight standardized neuropsychological measures. Forty cognitively healthy participants were recruited from a longitudinal aging research cohort, and they performed the same measures of memory, attention, verbal fluency and set-shifting in both in-clinic paper-and-pencil (PAP) and at-home RCM versions. The results showed small differences, if any, for how participants performed on in-person and remote versions in five of eight tasks. Critically, robust correlations between their PAP and RCM scores across participants support the finding that remote, digital testing can provide a reliable assessment tool for rapid and remote screening of healthy older adults’ cognitive performance in several key domains. The implications for digital cognitive screeners are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Arioli
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - James Rini
- Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Roger Anguera-Singla
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Peter E. Wais
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Peter E. Wais,
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18
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Ziegler DA, Anguera JA, Gallen CL, Hsu WY, Wais PE, Gazzaley A. Leveraging technology to personalize cognitive enhancement methods in aging. Nat Aging 2022; 2:475-483. [PMID: 35873177 PMCID: PMC9302894 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00237-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
As population aging advances at an increasing rate, efforts to help people maintain or improve cognitive function late in life are critical. Although some studies have shown promise, the question of whether cognitive training is an effective tool for improving general cognitive ability remains incompletely explored, and study results to date have been inconsistent. Most approaches to cognitive enhancement in older adults have taken a 'one size fits all' tack, as opposed to tailoring interventions to the specific needs of individuals. In this Perspective, we argue that modern technology has the potential to enable large-scale trials of public health interventions to enhance cognition in older adults in a personalized manner. Technology-based cognitive interventions that rely on closed-loop systems can be tailored to individuals in real time and have the potential for global testing, extending their reach to large and diverse populations of older adults. We propose that the future of cognitive enhancement in older adults will rely on harnessing new technologies in scientifically informed ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Ziegler
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Correspondence should be addressed to David A. Ziegler or Adam Gazzaley. ;
| | - Joaquin A. Anguera
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Courtney L. Gallen
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wan-Yu Hsu
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Peter E. Wais
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Correspondence should be addressed to David A. Ziegler or Adam Gazzaley. ;
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19
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Jones KT, Smith CC, Gazzaley A, Zanto TP. Research outside the laboratory: Longitudinal at-home neurostimulation. Behav Brain Res 2022; 428:113894. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Carhart-Harris RL, Wagner AC, Agrawal M, Kettner H, Rosenbaum JF, Gazzaley A, Nutt DJ, Erritzoe D. Can pragmatic research, real-world data and digital technologies aid the development of psychedelic medicine? J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:6-11. [PMID: 33888025 PMCID: PMC8801625 DOI: 10.1177/02698811211008567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Favourable regulatory assessments, liberal policy changes, new research centres and substantial commercial investment signal that psychedelic therapy is making a major comeback. Positive findings from modern trials are catalysing developments, but it is questionable whether current confirmatory trials are sufficient for advancing our understanding of safety and best practice. Here we suggest supplementing traditional confirmatory trials with pragmatic trials, real-world data initiatives and digital health solutions to better support the discovery of optimal and personalised treatment protocols and parameters. These recommendations are intended to help support the development of safe, effective and cost-efficient psychedelic therapy, which, given its history, is vulnerable to excesses of hype and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin L Carhart-Harris
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, UK,Robin L Carhart-Harris, Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, London W12 0NN, UK.
| | - Anne C Wagner
- Remedy, Toronto, Canada,Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Manish Agrawal
- Maryland Oncology and Hematology, Rockville, USA,Aquilino Cancer Center, Rockville, USA
| | - Hannes Kettner
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Adam Gazzaley
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - David J Nutt
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David Erritzoe
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
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21
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Hsu WY, Rowles W, Anguera JA, Anderson A, Younger JW, Friedman S, Gazzaley A, Bove R. Assessing Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis With Digital Tools: Observational Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e25748. [PMID: 34967751 PMCID: PMC8759021 DOI: 10.2196/25748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the most prevalent symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it is difficult to include cognitive assessment as part of MS standard care since the comprehensive neuropsychological examinations are usually time-consuming and extensive. Objective To improve access to CI assessment, we evaluated the feasibility and potential assessment sensitivity of a tablet-based cognitive battery in patients with MS. Methods In total, 53 participants with MS (24 [45%] with CI and 29 [55%] without CI) and 24 non-MS participants were assessed with a tablet-based cognitive battery (Adaptive Cognitive Evaluation [ACE]) and standard cognitive measures, including the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). Associations between performance in ACE and the SDMT/PASAT were explored, with group comparisons to evaluate whether ACE modules can capture group-level differences. Results Correlations between performance in ACE and the SDMT (R=–0.57, P<.001), as well as PASAT (R=–0.39, P=.01), were observed. Compared to non-MS and non-CI MS groups, the CI MS group showed a slower reaction time (CI MS vs non-MS: P<.001; CI MS vs non-CI MS: P=.004) and a higher attention cost (CI MS vs non-MS: P=.02; CI MS vs non-CI MS: P<.001). Conclusions These results provide preliminary evidence that ACE, a tablet-based cognitive assessment battery, provides modules that could potentially serve as a digital cognitive assessment for people with MS. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03569618; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03569618
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Hsu
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - William Rowles
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joaquin A Anguera
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Annika Anderson
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jessica W Younger
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Samuel Friedman
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Riley Bove
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
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22
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Li G, McGill M, Brewster S, Chen CP, Anguera JA, Gazzaley A, Pollick F. Multimodal Biosensing for Vestibular Network-Based Cybersickness Detection. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2021; 26:2469-2480. [PMID: 34882567 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2021.3134024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to induce cybersickness (CS), which impedes CS-susceptible VR users from the benefit of emerging VR applications. To better detect CS, the current study investigated whether/how the newly proposed human vestibular network (HVN) is involved in flagship consumer VR-induced CS by simultaneously recording autonomic physiological signals as well as neural signals generated in sensorimotor and cognitive domains. The VR stimuli were made up of one or two moderate CS-inducing entertaining task(s) as well as a mild CS-inducing cognitive task implemented before and after the moderate CS task(s). Results not only showed that CS impaired cognitive control ability, represented by the degree of attentional engagement, but also revealed that combined indicators from all three HVN domains could together establish the best regression relationship with CS ratings. More importantly, we found that every HVN domain had its unique advantage with the dynamic changes in CS severity and time. These results provide evidence for involvement of the HVN in CS and indicate the necessity of HVN-based CS detection.
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23
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Velasquez AG, Gazzaley A, Toyoda H, Ziegler DA, Morsella E. The Generation of Involuntary Mental Imagery in an Ecologically-Valid Task. Front Psychol 2021; 12:759685. [PMID: 34744937 PMCID: PMC8570302 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.759685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Laboratory tasks (e.g., the flanker task) reveal that incidental stimuli (e.g., distractors) can reliably trigger involuntary conscious imagery. Can such involuntary effects, involving competing representations, arise during dual-task conditions? Another concern about these laboratory tasks is whether such effects arise in highly ecologically-valid conditions. For example, do these effects arise from tasks involving dynamic stimuli (e.g., simulations of semi-automated driving experiences)? The data from our experiment suggest that the answer to our two questions is yes. Subjects were presented with video footage of the kinds of events that one would observe if one were seated in the driver's seat of a semi-automated vehicle. Before being presented with this video footage, subjects had been trained to respond to street signs according to laboratory techniques that cause stimulus-elicited involuntary imagery. After training, in the Respond condition, subjects responded to the signs; in the Suppress condition, subjects were instructed to not respond to the signs in the video footage. Subjects in the Suppress condition reported involuntary imagery on a substantive proportion of the trials. Such involuntary effects arose even under dual-task conditions (while performing the n-back task or psychomotor vigilance task). The present laboratory task has implications for semi-automated driving, because the safe interaction between driver and vehicle requires that the communicative signals from vehicle to driver be effective at activating the appropriate cognitions and behavioral inclinations. In addition, our data from the dual-task conditions provide constraints for theoretical models of cognitive resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony G Velasquez
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Departments of Psychiatry and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Heishiro Toyoda
- Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - David A Ziegler
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Ezequiel Morsella
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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24
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Zanto T, Jones K, Smith C, Gazzaley A. Feasibility of at-home tACS to facilitate cognitive control. Brain Stimul 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.10.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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25
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Zanto TP, Jones KT, Ostrand AE, Hsu WY, Campusano R, Gazzaley A. Individual differences in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology predict effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation. Brain Stimul 2021; 14:1317-1329. [PMID: 34481095 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noninvasive transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) research has been plagued with inconsistent effects. Recent work has suggested neuroanatomical and neurophysiological variability may alter tES efficacy. However, direct evidence is limited. OBJECTIVE We have previously replicated effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on improving multitasking ability in young adults. Here, we attempt to assess whether these stimulation parameters have comparable effects in older adults (aged 60-80 years), which is a population known to have greater variability in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. It is hypothesized that this variability in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology will be predictive of tACS efficacy. METHODS We conducted a pre-registered study where tACS was applied above the prefrontal cortex (between electrodes F3-F4) while participants were engaged in multitasking. Participants were randomized to receive either 6-Hz (theta) tACS for 26.67 min daily for three days (80 min total; Long Exposure Theta group), 6-Hz tACS for 5.33 min daily (16-min total; Short Exposure Theta group), or 1-Hz tACS for 26.67 min (80 min total; Control group). To account for neuroanatomy, magnetic resonance imaging data was used to form individualized models of the tACS-induced electric field (EF) within the brain. To account for neurophysiology, electroencephalography data was used to identify individual peak theta frequency. RESULTS Results indicated that only in the Long Theta group, performance change was correlated with modeled EF and peak theta frequency. Together, modeled EF and peak theta frequency accounted for 54%-65% of the variance in tACS-related performance improvements, which sustained for a month. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate the importance of individual differences in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology in tACS research and help account for inconsistent effects across studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Kevin T Jones
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Avery E Ostrand
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wan-Yu Hsu
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Richard Campusano
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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26
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Coulanges L, Abreu-Mendoza RA, Varma S, Uncapher MR, Gazzaley A, Anguera J, Rosenberg-Lee M. Linking inhibitory control to math achievement via comparison of conflicting decimal numbers. Cognition 2021; 214:104767. [PMID: 34120094 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between executive functions (EF) and academic achievement is well-established, but leveraging this insight to improve educational outcomes remains elusive. Here, we propose a framework for relating the role of specific EF on specific precursor skills that support later academic learning. Starting from the premise that executive functions contribute to general math skills both directly - supporting the execution of problem solving strategies - and indirectly - supporting the acquisition of precursor mathematical content, we hypothesize that the contribution of domain-general EF capacities to precursor skills that support later learning can help explain relations between EF and overall math skills. We test this hypothesis by examining whether the contribution of inhibitory control on general math knowledge can be explained by inhibition's contribution to processing rational number pairs that conflict with individual's prior whole number knowledge. In 97 college students (79 female, age = 20.58 years), we collected three measures of EF: working memory (backwards spatial span), inhibition (color-word Stroop) and cognitive flexibility (task switching), and timed and untimed standardized measures of math achievement. Our target precursor skill was a decimals comparison task where correct responses were inconsistent with prior whole number knowledge (e.g., 0.27 vs. 0.9). Participants performed worse on these trials relative to the consistent decimals pairs (e.g., 0.2 vs. 0.87). Individual differences in the Stroop task predicted performance on inconsistent decimal comparisons, which in turn predicted general math achievement. With respect to relating inhibitory control to math achievement, Stroop performance was an independent predictor of achievement after accounting for age, working memory and cognitive flexibility, but decimal performance mediated this relationship. Finally, we found inconsistent decimals performance mediated the relationship of inhibition with rational number performance, but not other advanced mathematical concepts. These results pinpoint the specific contribution of inhibitory control to rational number understanding, and more broadly are consistent with the hypothesis that acquisition of foundational mathematical content can explain the relationships between executive functions and academic outcomes, making them promising targets for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sashank Varma
- School of Interactive Computing and School of Psychology, Georgia Tech, USA
| | - Melina R Uncapher
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Joaquin Anguera
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Miriam Rosenberg-Lee
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Newark, USA; Behavioral Neural Sciences Graduate Program, Rutgers University, Newark, USA.
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27
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Hsu WY, Cheng CH, Zanto TP, Gazzaley A, Bove RM. Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cognition, Mood, Pain, and Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Neurol 2021; 12:626113. [PMID: 33763014 PMCID: PMC7982804 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.626113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognition, mood disturbance, pain, and fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Methods: A literature search was performed on articles published between January 1990 and May 2020 in Pubmed, Medline, and Web of Science using the following keywords and their abbreviation in combinations: multiple sclerosis and transcranial direct current stimulation. Mean effect size (ES) and 95% confidence interval were calculated for each domain of interest. Results: Seventeen articles with a total of 383 PwMS were included in this analysis. For cognition, a strong effect size was found for the trial administering the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (ES: 1.15), whereas trials applying the Attention Network Test showed a negative effect size of −0.49. Moderate to strong effect sizes were observed for mood disturbance (mean ES: 0.92), pain (mean ES: 0.59), and fatigue (mean ES: 0.60). Further subgroup analyses for MS-related fatigue showed that both high and low intensities of stimulation lead to nearly the same degree of favorable effects. More pronounced effects were observed in studies administering the Fatigue Severity Scale compared with studies using other fatigue measures such as the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale. Conclusion: These results provide preliminary evidence that tDCS has a favorable effect on cognitive processing speed, mood disturbance, pain, and fatigue in MS. However, the effects on cognition and fatigue vary based on the specific assessment used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Hsu
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Chia-Hsiung Cheng
- Department of Occupational Therapy and Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Neural Dynamics (BIND Lab), Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Riley M Bove
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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28
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Anguera JA, Schachtner JN, Simon AJ, Volponi J, Javed S, Gallen CL, Gazzaley A. Long-term maintenance of multitasking abilities following video game training in older adults. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 103:22-30. [PMID: 33789209 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The use of cognitive interventions to remediate deficient cognitive functions, or to enhance or preserve intact cognitive abilities, has been explored for some time, especially in older adults. However, few studies have investigated the long-term persistence of any positive benefits, with none examining whether changes in functional brain activity persist several years later. Here, we assessed whether enhanced cognitive abilities and potential underlying neural changes attained via the use of a custom-made video game (NeuroRacer) played by older adults (60-85 years old) continued to be elevated beyond control participants 6 years later. The NeuroRacer group continued to show reduced multitasking costs beyond control participants, with a neural signature of cognitive control, midline frontal theta power, also continuing to show heightened activity. However, previously evidenced performance benefits that had extended to untrained cognitive control abilities (i.e., enhanced sustained attention and working memory) did not persist, highlighting sustainability limitations. These findings continue to demonstrate the robust plasticity of the prefrontal cognitive control system in the aging brain, a potential neural mechanism underlying enhanced performance over time, and the possible long-term impact that digital therapeutics can have.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquin A Anguera
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Jessica N Schachtner
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexander J Simon
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Volponi
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Samirah Javed
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Courtney L Gallen
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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29
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Bréchet L, Ziegler DA, Simon AJ, Brunet D, Gazzaley A, Michel CM. Reconfiguration of Electroencephalography Microstate Networks after Breath-Focused, Digital Meditation Training. Brain Connect 2021; 11:146-155. [PMID: 33403921 PMCID: PMC7984939 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2020.0848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustained attention and working memory were improved in young adults after they engaged in a recently developed, closed-loop, digital meditation practice. Whether this type of meditation also has a sustained effect on dominant resting-state networks is currently unknown. In this study, we examined the resting brain states before and after a period of breath-focused, digital meditation training versus placebo using an electroencephalography (EEG) microstate approach. We found topographical changes in postmeditation rest, compared with baseline rest, selectively for participants who were actively involved in the meditation training and not in participants who engaged with an active, expectancy-match, placebo control paradigm. Our results suggest a reorganization of brain network connectivity after 6 weeks of intensive meditation training in brain areas, mainly including the right insula, the superior temporal gyrus, the superior parietal lobule, and the superior frontal gyrus bilaterally. These findings provide an opening for the development of a novel noninvasive treatment of neuropathological states by low-cost, breath-focused, digital meditation practice, which can be monitored by the EEG microstate approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Bréchet
- Functional Brain Mapping Laboratory, Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David A. Ziegler
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Alexander J. Simon
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Denis Brunet
- Functional Brain Mapping Laboratory, Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Christoph M. Michel
- Functional Brain Mapping Laboratory, Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Lausanne, Switzerland
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Abstract
Therapeutic interventions have not yet been shown to demonstrate restorative effects for declining long-term memory (LTM) that affects many healthy older adults. We developed a virtual reality (VR) spatial wayfinding game (Labyrinth-VR) as a cognitive intervention with the hypothesis that it could improve detailed, high-fidelity LTM capability. Spatial navigation tasks have been used as a means to achieve environmental enrichment via exposure to and learning about novel and complex information. Engagement has been shown to enhance learning and has been linked to the vitality of the LTM system in the brain. In the current study, 48 older adults (mean age 68.7 ± 6.4 years) with average cognitive abilities for their age were randomly assigned to 12 h of computer game play over four weeks in either the Labyrinth-VR or placebo control game arms. Promptly before and after each participant's treatment regimen, high-fidelity LTM outcome measures were tested to assess mnemonic discrimination and other memory measures. The results showed a post-treatment gain in high-fidelity LTM capability for the Labyrinth-VR arm, relative to placebo, which reached the levels attained by younger adults in another experiment. This novel finding demonstrates generalization of benefits from the VR wayfinding game to important, and untrained, LTM capabilities. These cognitive results are discussed in the light of relevant research for hippocampal-dependent memory functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E Wais
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, UCSF-MC0444, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Melissa Arioli
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, UCSF-MC0444, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Roger Anguera-Singla
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, UCSF-MC0444, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscape and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, UCSF-MC0444, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
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31
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Hsu WY, Rowles W, Anguera JA, Zhao C, Anderson A, Alexander A, Sacco S, Henry R, Gazzaley A, Bove R. Correction: Application of an Adaptive, Digital, Game-Based Approach for Cognitive Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis: Observational Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e27440. [PMID: 33502997 PMCID: PMC7875698 DOI: 10.2196/27440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Hsu
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - William Rowles
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joaquin A Anguera
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Chao Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Annika Anderson
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Amber Alexander
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Simone Sacco
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Roland Henry
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Riley Bove
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Hsu WY, Rowles W, Anguera J, Zhao C, Anderson A, Alexander A, Sacco S, Henry R, Gazzaley A, Bove R. Application of an Adaptive, Digital, Game-Based Approach for Cognitive Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis: Observational Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e24356. [PMID: 33470940 PMCID: PMC7840186 DOI: 10.2196/24356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cognitive impairment is one of the most debilitating manifestations of multiple sclerosis. Currently, the assessment of cognition relies on a time-consuming and extensive neuropsychological examination, which is only available in some centers. Objective To enable simpler, more accessible cognitive screening, we sought to determine the feasibility and potential assessment sensitivity of an unsupervised, adaptive, video game–based digital therapeutic to assess cognition in multiple sclerosis. Methods A total of 100 people with multiple sclerosis (33 with cognitive impairment and 67 without cognitive impairment) and 24 adults without multiple sclerosis were tested with the tablet game (EVO Monitor) and standard measures, including the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (which included the Symbol Digit Modalities Test [SDMT]) and Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite 4 (which included the Timed 25-Foot Walk test). Patients with multiple sclerosis also underwent neurological evaluations and contributed recent structural magnetic resonance imaging scans. Group differences in EVO Monitor performance and the association between EVO Monitor performance and standard measures were investigated. Results Participants with multiple sclerosis and cognitive impairment showed worse performance in EVO Monitor compared with participants without multiple sclerosis (P=.01) and participants with multiple sclerosis without cognitive impairment (all P<.002). Regression analyses indicated that participants with a lower SDMT score showed lower performance in EVO Monitor (r=0.52, P<.001). Further exploratory analyses revealed associations between performance in EVO Monitor and walking speed (r=–0.45, P<.001) as well as brain volumetric data (left thalamic volume: r=0.47, P<.001; right thalamic volume: r=0.39, P=.002; left rostral middle frontal volume: r=0.28, P=.03; right rostral middle frontal volume: r=0.27, P=.03). Conclusions These findings suggest that EVO Monitor, an unsupervised, video game–based digital program integrated with adaptive mechanics, is a clinically valuable approach to measuring cognitive performance in patients with multiple sclerosis. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03569618; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03569618
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yu Hsu
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - William Rowles
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joaquin Anguera
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Chao Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Annika Anderson
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Amber Alexander
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Simone Sacco
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Roland Henry
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Riley Bove
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Weng HY, Ikeda MP, Lewis-Peacock JA, Chao MT, Fullwiley D, Goldman V, Skinner S, Duncan LG, Gazzaley A, Hecht FM. Corrigendum: Toward a Compassionate Intersectional Neuroscience: Increasing Diversity and Equity in Contemplative Neuroscience. Front Psychol 2021; 11:631816. [PMID: 33488490 PMCID: PMC7815759 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.631816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Helen Y Weng
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Maria T Chao
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Duana Fullwiley
- Department of Anthropology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Vierka Goldman
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Sasha Skinner
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Larissa G Duncan
- School of Human Ecology and Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Frederick M Hecht
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Weng HY, Ikeda MP, Lewis-Peacock JA, Chao MT, Fullwiley D, Goldman V, Skinner S, Duncan LG, Gazzaley A, Hecht FM. Toward a Compassionate Intersectional Neuroscience: Increasing Diversity and Equity in Contemplative Neuroscience. Front Psychol 2020; 11:573134. [PMID: 33329215 PMCID: PMC7711109 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.573134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mindfulness and compassion meditation are thought to cultivate prosocial behavior. However, the lack of diverse representation within both scientific and participant populations in contemplative neuroscience may limit generalizability and translation of prior findings. To address these issues, we propose a research framework called Intersectional Neuroscience which adapts research procedures to be more inclusive of under-represented groups. Intersectional Neuroscience builds inclusive processes into research design using two main approaches: 1) community engagement with diverse participants, and 2) individualized multivariate neuroscience methods to accommodate neural diversity. We tested the feasibility of this framework in partnership with a diverse U.S. meditation center (East Bay Meditation Center, Oakland, CA). Using focus group and community feedback, we adapted functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) screening and recruitment procedures to be inclusive of participants from various under-represented groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, gender and sexual minorities, people with disabilities, neuropsychiatric disorders, and/or lower income. Using person-centered screening and study materials, we recruited and scanned 15 diverse meditators (80% racial/ethnic minorities, 53% gender and sexual minorities). The participants completed the EMBODY task - which applies individualized machine learning algorithms to fMRI data - to identify mental states during breath-focused meditation, a basic skill that stabilizes attention to support interoception and compassion. All 15 meditators' unique brain patterns were recognized by machine learning algorithms significantly above chance levels. These individualized brain patterns were used to decode the internal focus of attention throughout a 10-min breath-focused meditation period, specific to each meditator. These data were used to compile individual-level attention profiles during meditation, such as the percentage time attending to the breath, mind wandering, or engaging in self-referential processing. This study provides feasibility of employing an intersectional neuroscience approach to include diverse participants and develop individualized neural metrics of meditation practice. Through inclusion of more under-represented groups while developing reciprocal partnerships, intersectional neuroscience turns the research process into an embodied form of social action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Y Weng
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Maria T Chao
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Duana Fullwiley
- Department of Anthropology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Vierka Goldman
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Sasha Skinner
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Larissa G Duncan
- School of Human Ecology and Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Frederick M Hecht
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Weng HY, Lewis-Peacock JA, Hecht FM, Uncapher MR, Ziegler DA, Farb NAS, Goldman V, Skinner S, Duncan LG, Chao MT, Gazzaley A. Focus on the Breath: Brain Decoding Reveals Internal States of Attention During Meditation. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:336. [PMID: 33005138 PMCID: PMC7483757 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Meditation practices are often used to cultivate interoception or internally-oriented attention to bodily sensations, which may improve health via cognitive and emotional regulation of bodily signals. However, it remains unclear how meditation impacts internal attention (IA) states due to lack of measurement tools that can objectively assess mental states during meditation practice itself, and produce time estimates of internal focus at individual or group levels. To address these measurement gaps, we tested the feasibility of applying multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) to single-subject fMRI data to: (1) learn and recognize internal attentional states relevant for meditation during a directed IA task; and (2) decode or estimate the presence of those IA states during an independent meditation session. Within a mixed sample of experienced meditators and novice controls (N = 16), we first used MVPA to develop single-subject brain classifiers for five modes of attention during an IA task in which subjects were specifically instructed to engage in one of five states [i.e., meditation-related states: breath attention, mind wandering (MW), and self-referential processing, and control states: attention to feet and sounds]. Using standard cross-validation procedures, MVPA classifiers were trained in five of six IA blocks for each subject, and predictive accuracy was tested on the independent sixth block (iterated until all volumes were tested, N = 2,160). Across participants, all five IA states were significantly recognized well above chance (>41% vs. 20% chance). At the individual level, IA states were recognized in most participants (87.5%), suggesting that recognition of IA neural patterns may be generalizable for most participants, particularly experienced meditators. Next, for those who showed accurate IA neural patterns, the originally trained classifiers were applied to a separate meditation run (10-min) to make an inference about the percentage time engaged in each IA state (breath attention, MW, or self-referential processing). Preliminary group-level analyses demonstrated that during meditation practice, participants spent more time attending to breath compared to MW or self-referential processing. This paradigm established the feasibility of using MVPA classifiers to objectively assess mental states during meditation at the participant level, which holds promise for improved measurement of internal attention states cultivated by meditation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Y Weng
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Frederick M Hecht
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Melina R Uncapher
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - David A Ziegler
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Norman A S Farb
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Veronica Goldman
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Sasha Skinner
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Larissa G Duncan
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- School of Human Ecology and Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Maria T Chao
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Neuroscape Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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36
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Zanto TP, Liu H, Pan P, Gazzaley A. Temporal attention is not affected by working memory load. Cortex 2020; 130:351-361. [PMID: 32738582 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Temporal attention refers to the ability to orient attention in time, which serves to enhance performance such as target detection and discrimination and is a fundamental component of cognitive function. Although some research indicates that temporal attention ability is affected by working memory updating, it is unclear whether temporal attention is also affected by the availability of working memory stores. To address this, participants were presented a dual-task paradigm requiring zero, three, or six digits to be held in working memory while engaged in a temporally cued visual discrimination task. Results show that working memory load did not differentially affect the ability to benefit from predictive temporal cues during the visual discrimination task. This indicates that temporal attention is not affected by available working memory stores. Interestingly, posterior beta band (12-30 Hz) activity was differentially modulated by temporal attention and working memory load, such that it decreased prior to expected targets and increased with load. Analysis across participants indicated that those individuals who exhibited greater temporal attention-based modulation of beta activity (i.e., predictive < neutrally cued) displayed improved discrimination performance, but also yielded lowered working memory accuracy. Thus, the ability to benefit from temporal attention processes while multitasking comes at the cost of lowered secondary task performance. Together, these results indicate that available working memory stores do not affect temporal attention ability. Rather, limitations in divided attention ability result in a performance cost that prioritizes one task over another, which may be indexed by beta band activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Helen Liu
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Peter Pan
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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37
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Abstract
Abstract
Some evidence suggests that experiencing a given scenario using virtual reality (VR) may engage greater attentional resources than experiencing the same scenario on a 2D computer monitor. However, the underlying neural processes associated with these VR-related effects, especially those pertaining to current consumer-friendly head-mounted displays of virtual reality (HMD-VR), remain unclear. Here, two experiments were conducted to compare task performance and EEG-based neural metrics captured during a perceptual discrimination task presented on two different viewing platforms. Forty participants (20–25 years old) completed this task using both an HMD-VR and traditional computer monitor in a within-group, randomized design. Although Experiment I (n = 20) was solely behavioral in design, Experiment II (n = 20) utilized combined EEG recordings to interrogate the neural correlates underlying potential performance differences across platforms. These experiments revealed that (1) there was no significant difference in the amount of arousal measured between platforms and (2) selective attention abilities in HMD-VR environment were enhanced from both a behavioral and neural perspective. These findings suggest that the allocation of attentional resources in HMD-VR may be superior to approaches more typically used to assess these abilities (e.g., desktop/laptop/tablet computers with 2D screens).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Li
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
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Johnson V, Hsu WY, Ostrand AE, Gazzaley A, Zanto TP. Multimodal sensory integration: Diminishing returns in rhythmic synchronization. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 2020; 46:1077-1087. [PMID: 32730071 DOI: 10.1037/xhp0000833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Synchronizing movements with events in the surrounding environment is a ubiquitous aspect of behavior. Experiments studying multimodal integration and rhythmic synchronization tend to focus on how bimodal (e.g., audio-visual) stimuli enhances synchronization performance (i.e., reduced variability) compared with synchronization with its unimodal constituents. As such, it is unclear whether trimodal (i.e., audio-visual-tactile) stimuli may yield additional performance benefits. To address this, we developed a multimodal sensorimotor synchronization assessment that incorporates audio, visual, and vibrotactile stimuli. Results replicate performance improvements with bimodal compared with unimodal stimuli. However, trimodal stimuli yields less, or in some cases no advantage compared with bimodal stimuli. These results demonstrate that in this case, increasing the amount of sensory information beyond bimodal stimuli yields little or no additional performance benefits. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Bove R, Rowles W, Zhao C, Anderson A, Friedman S, Langdon D, Alexander A, Sacco S, Henry R, Gazzaley A, Feinstein A, Anguera JA. A novel in-home digital treatment to improve processing speed in people with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study. Mult Scler 2020; 27:778-789. [PMID: 32584155 DOI: 10.1177/1352458520930371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess whether a videogame-like digital treatment is superior to a control in improving processing speed in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS Adults with MS and baseline Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) z-scores between -2 and 0 were enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. After completing a baseline in-clinic evaluation (Visit 1), they were randomized to complete an in-home, tablet-based videogame-like digital treatment (AKL-T03) or control word game (AKL-T09) for up to 25 minutes/day, 5 days/week, for 6 weeks. A repeat in-clinic evaluation occurred at 6 weeks (Visit 2), and again 8 weeks later to determine persistence of effects (Visit 3). The pre-specified primary outcome was change in SDMT score between Visits 1 and 2. RESULTS SDMT increased at Visit 2 for participants randomized to both AKL-T03 (p < 0.001) and AKL-T09 (p = 0.024). These respective mean improvements were +6.10 and +3.55 (comparison p = 0.21). At Visit 3, 70% of participants randomized to AKL-T03 maintained a clinically meaningful 4+-point increase in SDMT above their baseline, compared with 37% for AKL-T09 (p = 0.038). CONCLUSION This in-home digital intervention resulted in substantial and durable improvements in processing speed. A larger randomized controlled clinical trial is planned. TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under "NCT03569618," https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03569618.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley Bove
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - William Rowles
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Chao Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Annika Anderson
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Samuel Friedman
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Amber Alexander
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Simone Sacco
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Roland Henry
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anthony Feinstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada/Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joaquin A Anguera
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Abstract
Healthy aging is associated with a multitude of structural changes in the brain. These physical age-related changes are accompanied by increased variability in neural activity of all kinds, and this increased variability, collectively referred to as "neural noise," is argued to contribute to age-related cognitive decline. In this study, we examine the relationship between two particular types of neural noise in aging. We recorded scalp EEG from younger (20-30 years old) and older (60-70 years old) adults performing a spatial visual discrimination task. First, we used the 1/f-like exponent of the EEG power spectrum, a putative marker of neural noise, to assess baseline shifts toward a noisier state in aging. Next, we examined age-related decreases in the trial-by-trial consistency of visual stimulus processing. Finally, we examined to what extent these two age-related noise markers are related, hypothesizing that greater baseline noise would increase the variability of stimulus-evoked responses. We found that visual cortical baseline noise was higher in older adults, and the consistency of older adults' oscillatory alpha (8-12 Hz) phase responses to visual targets was also lower than that of younger adults. Crucially, older adults with the highest levels of baseline noise also had the least consistent alpha phase responses, whereas younger adults with more consistent phase responses achieved better behavioral performance. These results establish a link between tonic neural noise and stimulus-associated neural variability in aging. Moreover, they suggest that tonic age-related increases in baseline noise might diminish sensory processing and, as a result, subsequent cognitive performance.
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Gardner K, Walker EB, Li Y, Gazzaley A, Morsella E. Involuntary attentional shifts as a function of set and processing fluency. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2020; 203:103009. [PMID: 31982777 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2020.103009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In laboratory tasks, involuntary cognitions of various kinds (e.g., mental imagery) have been elicited by external stimuli. These effects reveal, among other things, the capacities of involuntary processes. In most cases, these cognitions do not require, for their generation, executive functions such as a shift in selective attention. In Experiment 1, subjects were presented with a clock of 12 words in the stead of numbers and were instructed to focus on the center of the screen and to not count the number of letters of a word at a certain location. Involuntary counting of the critical word occurred on 39% of the trials. This effect requires an involuntary shift of attention. Experiment 2, involving Chinese ideographs, concerned the effect of stimulus fidelity and processing fluency. Native English speakers and a separate group of subjects who could read Chinese ideographs were presented with an array similar to that of Experiment 1 and instructed to not read any of the words. Some words were easy to read (e.g., regular Chinese words and English words), and some words were more difficult to read (e.g., Chinese "loan" words and English pseudowords). For the subjects who could read Chinese ideographs, more involuntary reading occurred for regular ideographs than for loan words. For the Native English speakers, comparable effects were found with the English stimuli. Together, these studies reveal that attentional phenomena of this kind can be influenced involuntarily and systematically through external control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn Gardner
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States of America
| | - Erica B Walker
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States of America
| | - Yanming Li
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States of America
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America; Departments of Psychiatry and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Ezequiel Morsella
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States of America; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America.
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42
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Abstract
The exponential rise in use of mobile consumer electronics has presented a great potential for research to be conducted remotely, with participants numbering several orders of magnitude greater than a typical research paradigm. Here, we attempt to demonstrate the validity and reliability of using a consumer game-engine to create software presented on a mobile tablet to assess sensorimotor synchronization, a proxy of rhythmic ability. Our goal was to ascertain whether previously observed research results can be replicated, rather than assess whether a mobile tablet achieves comparable performance to a desktop computer. To achieve this, younger (aged 18–35 years) and older (aged 60–80 years) adult musicians and non-musicians were recruited to play a custom-designed sensorimotor synchronization assessment on a mobile tablet in a controlled laboratory environment. To assess reliability, participants performed the assessment twice, separated by a week, and an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated. Results supported the validity of this approach to assessing rhythmic abilities by replicating previously observed results. Specifically, musicians performed better than non-musicians, and younger adults performed better than older adults. Participants also performed best when the tempo was in the range of previously-identified preferred tempos, when the stimuli included both audio and visual information, and when synchronizing on-beat compared to off-beat or continuation (self-paced) synchronization. Additionally, high ICC values (>0.75) suggested excellent test–retest reliability. Together, these results support the notion that consumer electronics running software built with a game engine may serve as a valuable resource for remote, mobile-based data collection of rhythmic abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Namita T Padgaonkar
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Alex Nourishad
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, New York, NY, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology and Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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43
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Cushing D, Gazzaley A, Morsella E. Involuntary mental rotation and visuospatial imagery from external control. Conscious Cogn 2019; 75:102809. [PMID: 31522028 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2019.102809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The Reflexive Imagery Task (RIT) was developed to investigate the entry into consciousness of involuntary imagery. Subjects are presented with objects and instructed to not think of the names of the objects. Involuntary subvocalizations arise on many trials. RIT effects reveal the capacities of involuntary processing. These cognitions do not require symbol manipulation. Can mental rotation and visuospatial imagery, too, arise in this involuntary manner? In the mental rotation task, subjects were first taught to mentally rotate two-dimensional objects. Subjects were then instructed to not mentally rotate objects. In the chess task, subjects were taught how to move in their minds objects in specified ways, much as one could imagine how chess pieces move on a chessboard. Subjects were then instructed to not have such visuospatial imagery. For both tasks, involuntary imagery occurred on a substantial proportion of trials, revealing that symbol manipulation can be influenced involuntarily through external control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donish Cushing
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Departments of Psychiatry and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, United States
| | - Ezequiel Morsella
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, United States; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, United States.
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Ziegler DA, Simon AJ, Gallen CL, Skinner S, Janowich JR, Volponi JJ, Rolle CE, Mishra J, Kornfield J, Anguera JA, Gazzaley A. Closed-loop digital meditation improves sustained attention in young adults. Nat Hum Behav 2019; 3:746-757. [PMID: 31160812 PMCID: PMC7534732 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0611-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Attention is a fundamental cognitive process that is critical for essentially all aspects of higher-order cognition and real-world activities. Younger generations have deeply embraced information technology and multitasking in their personal lives, school and the workplace, creating myriad challenges to their attention. While improving sustained attention in healthy young adults would be beneficial, enhancing this ability has proven notoriously difficult in this age group. Here we show that 6 weeks of engagement with a meditation-inspired, closed-loop software program (MediTrain) delivered on mobile devices led to gains in both sustained attention and working memory in healthy young adults. These improvements were associated with positive changes in key neural signatures of attentional control (frontal theta inter-trial coherence and parietal P3b latency), as measured by electroencephalography. Our findings suggest the utility of delivering aspects of the ancient practice of focused-attention meditation in a modern, technology-based approach and its benefits on enhancing sustained attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Ziegler
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Alexander J Simon
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Courtney L Gallen
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sasha Skinner
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Joshua J Volponi
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Camarin E Rolle
- Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jyoti Mishra
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Joaquin A Anguera
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Weill Institute for Neurosciences & Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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45
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Thompson C, Larkin B, Volponi J, Simon A, Anguera J, Gazzaley A. Maximal Oxygen Uptake Responders Versus Non-responders Show Differing Cognitive Responses to Movement-based Video Game Training. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2019. [DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000563040.18168.5e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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46
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Brandes-Aitken A, Anguera JA, Chang YS, Demopoulos C, Owen JP, Gazzaley A, Mukherjee P, Marco EJ. White Matter Microstructure Associations of Cognitive and Visuomotor Control in Children: A Sensory Processing Perspective. Front Integr Neurosci 2019; 12:65. [PMID: 30692921 PMCID: PMC6339953 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2018.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Recent evidence suggests that co-occurring deficits in cognitive control and visuomotor control are common to many neurodevelopmental disorders. Specifically, children with sensory processing dysfunction (SPD), a condition characterized by sensory hyper/hypo-sensitivity, show varying degrees of overlapping attention and visuomotor challenges. In this study, we assess associations between cognitive and visuomotor control abilities among children with and without SPD. In this same context, we also examined the common and unique diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tracts that may support the overlap of cognitive control and visuomotor control. Method: We collected cognitive control and visuomotor control behavioral measures as well as DTI data in 37 children with SPD and 25 typically developing controls (TDCs). We constructed regressions to assess for associations between behavioral performance and mean fractional anisotropy (FA) in selected regions of interest (ROIs). Results: We observed an association between behavioral performance on cognitive control and visuomotor control. Further, our findings indicated that FA in the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC), the anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), and the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) are associated with both cognitive control and visuomotor control, while FA in the superior corona radiata (SCR) uniquely correlate with cognitive control performance and FA in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) and the cerebral peduncle (CP) tract uniquely correlate with visuomotor control performance. Conclusions: These findings suggest that children who demonstrate lower cognitive control are also more likely to demonstrate lower visuomotor control, and vice-versa, regardless of clinical cohort assignment. The overlapping neural tracts, which correlate with both cognitive and visuomotor control suggest a possible common neural mechanism supporting both control-based processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Brandes-Aitken
- Neuroscape Center, Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, Physiology, Radiology, and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joaquin A Anguera
- Neuroscape Center, Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, Physiology, Radiology, and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Yi-Shin Chang
- Neuroscape Center, Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, Physiology, Radiology, and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Carly Demopoulos
- Neuroscape Center, Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, Physiology, Radiology, and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Julia P Owen
- Neuroscape Center, Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, Physiology, Radiology, and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Neuroscape Center, Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, Physiology, Radiology, and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Pratik Mukherjee
- Neuroscape Center, Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, Physiology, Radiology, and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Elysa J Marco
- Neuroscape Center, Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics, Physiology, Radiology, and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Abstract
Healthy aging is associated with numerous deficits in cognitive function, which have been attributed to changes within the prefrontal cortex (PFC). This chapter summarizes some of the most prominent cognitive changes associated with age-related alterations in the anatomy and physiology of the PFC. Specifically, aging of the PFC results in deficient aspects of cognitive control, including sustained attention, selective attention, inhibitory control, working memory, and multitasking abilities. Yet, not all cognitive functions associated with the PFC exhibit age-related declines, such as arithmetic, comprehension, emotion perception, and emotional control. Moreover, not all older adults exhibit declines in cognition. Multiple life-course and lifestyle factors, as well as genetics, play a role in the trajectory of cognitive performance across the life span. Thus many adults retain cognitive function well into advanced age. Moreover, the brain remains plastic throughout life and there is increasing evidence that most age-related declines in cognition can be remediated by various methods such as physical exercise, cognitive training, or noninvasive brain stimulation. Overall, because cognitive aging is associated with numerous life-course and lifestyle factors, successful aging likely begins in early life, while maintaining cognition or remediating declines is a life-long process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore P Zanto
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Neuroscape, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.
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48
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Hsu WY, Zanto TP, Gazzaley A. Parametric effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation on multitasking performance. Brain Stimul 2019; 12:73-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Bove RM, Rush G, Zhao C, Rowles W, Garcha P, Morrissey J, Schembri A, Alailima T, Langdon D, Possin K, Gazzaley A, Feinstein A, Anguera J. A Videogame-Based Digital Therapeutic to Improve Processing Speed in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Feasibility Study. Neurol Ther 2018; 8:135-145. [PMID: 30506301 PMCID: PMC6534643 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-018-0121-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Self-administered in-home digital therapeutics could expand access to cognitive rehabilitation for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), over half of whom experience cognitive impairment (CI). However, feasibility in an MS population must be clarified. This study was conducted to assess the feasibility of deploying a videogame-like digital treatment for CI in MS, including initial efficacy and barriers to adherence. Methods In this pilot study, 21 participants with MS completed an in-clinic baseline neurological evaluation. Cognitive tests included paper-and-pencil Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis [BICAMS—which included the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)] and other unsupervised tablet-based tests (including Match: an unsupervised test of executive functions and processing speed, developed at UCSF; and the Cogstate MS Battery). Participants then completed an in-home, tablet-based, videogame-like investigational digital treatment (Project: EVO™) for 25 min daily, 5 days weekly, for 4 weeks. This was followed by a repeat in-clinic evaluation. Results Of the 21 participants (mean [standard deviation, SD] age 53.8 [11.6] years, median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 2.5 [SD 2.0, IQR [2–3.5]]) enrolled to use the digital therapeutic at home (mean [SD] SDMT z score: − 0.21 [1.16]), 18 completed the study, during which they completed an average of 19.7 days (median [SD]: 20.5 [8.4]). Overall, 78% of these 18 participants completed 75% of prescribed days (i.e., at least 15), and 50% completed all 20 days or more. Over the 4-week period, scores of processing speed improved significantly (based on one-sided t test), including SDMT (p = 0.003) and Match (p = 0.006). The Cogstate DET test (psychomotor function) also increased (p = 0.006). Mean increase in SDMT was 3.6 points. Male sex, not being employed, and higher baseline anxiety all were significantly associated with greater improvement in SDMT over the 4-week period. Interestingly, lower baseline cognitive scores were associated with greater number of sessions completed (e.g., SDMT: p = 0.003, R2 = 0.44). Adjusting for employment, a proxy for time available, did not significantly improve the model fit. Discussion Deploying an in-home digital tool to improve processing speed in MS is feasible, and shows preliminary efficacy. A larger, randomized controlled clinical trial is ongoing. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s40120-018-0121-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley M Bove
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
| | - Gillian Rush
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Chao Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - William Rowles
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Priya Garcha
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - John Morrissey
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | | | | | | | - Katherine Possin
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Anthony Feinstein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joaquin Anguera
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for the Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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50
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Wais PE, Montgomery O, Stark CEL, Gazzaley A. Evidence of a Causal Role for mid-Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex Based Functional Networks in Retrieving High-Fidelity Memory. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14877. [PMID: 30291280 PMCID: PMC6173692 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33164-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional neuroimaging studies have implicated regions of both ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and angular gyrus in processes associated with retrieving goal-relevant information, which increases the fidelity and richness of long-term memory (LTM). To further investigate the roles of these cortical regions as nodes in functional networks with memory regions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL), we used fMRI-guided, 1 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to perturb normal neuronal function. The aim was to test the causal roles of left mid-VLPFC and left angular gyrus (AG) in MTL-VLPFC-parietal networks that have been associated with high-fidelity memory retrieval. rTMS treatments were administered immediately before blocks in an old/new recognition test, which was based on a mnemonic similarity task requiring discrimination of previously studied pictures of common objects. Capability for mnemonic discrimination was evaluated after each of three conditions: placebo control (rTMS at somatosensory cortex), mid-VLPFC target (rTMS at left pars triangularis) and parietal target (rTMS at left AG). The results showed the effect of rTMS perturbation of mid-VLPFC diminished subsequent discrimination-based memory performance, relative to placebo control, and no significant effect of perturbation of AG. These findings show a causal role for functional networks with left mid-VLPFC in high-fidelity retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E Wais
- Department of Neurology & Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
| | - Olivia Montgomery
- Department of Neurology & Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Craig E L Stark
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory & Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Adam Gazzaley
- Department of Neurology & Neuroscape, University of California, San Francisco, USA.,Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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