Brain Sciences

15 pages, 2126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Early Hemorrhagic Transformation after Reperfusion Therapy in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: Analysis of Risk Factors and Predictors

by Aida Iancu, Florina Buleu, Dana Simona Chita, Adrian Tutelca, Raluca Tudor and Silviu Brad

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050840 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2477

Abstract

Background: The standard reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is considered to be thrombolysis, but its application is limited by the high risk of hemorrhagic transformation (HT). This study aimed to analyze risk factors and predictors of early HT after reperfusion [...] Read more.

Background: The standard reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is considered to be thrombolysis, but its application is limited by the high risk of hemorrhagic transformation (HT). This study aimed to analyze risk factors and predictors of early HT after reperfusion therapy (intravenous thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy). Material and methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke who developed HT in the first 24 h after receiving rtPA thrombolysis or performing mechanical thrombectomy were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into two groups, respectively, the early-HT group and the without-early-HT group based on cranial computed tomography performed at 24 h, regardless of the type of hemorrhagic transformation. Results: A total of 211 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study. Among these patients, 20.37% (n = 43; age: median 70.00 years; 51.2% males) had early HT. Multivariate analysis of independent risk factors associated with early HT found that male gender increased the risk by 2.7-fold, the presence of baseline high blood pressure by 2.4-fold, and high glycemic values by 1.2-fold. Higher values of NIHSS at 24 h increased the risk of hemorrhagic transformation by 1.18-fold, while higher values of ASPECTS at 24 h decreased the risk of hemorrhagic transformation by 0.6-fold. Conclusions: In our study, male gender, baseline high blood pressure, and high glycemic values, along with higher values of NIHSS were associated with the increased risk of early HT. Furthermore, the identification of early-HT predictors is critical in patients with AIS for the clinical outcome after reperfusion therapy. Predictive models to be used in the future to select more careful patients with a low risk of early HT need to be developed in order to minimize the impact of HT associated with reperfusion techniques. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Neurorehabilitation)

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8 pages, 3456 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

A Case of Craniocervical Junction Arteriovenous Fistulas with a Brainstem Mass Lesion on Imaging: Case Report and Literature Review

by Zheng Peng, Yunfeng Wang, Cong Pang, Xiaojian Li, Zong Zhuang, Wei Li and Chunhua Hang

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 839; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050839 - 22 May 2023

Viewed by 1228

Abstract

Intracranial mass lesions occur within the cranial cavity, and their etiology is diverse. Although tumors and hemorrhagic diseases are the common causes, some rarer etiologies, such as vascular malformations, might also present with intracranial mass lesion manifestations. Such lesions are easily misdiagnosed due [...] Read more.

Intracranial mass lesions occur within the cranial cavity, and their etiology is diverse. Although tumors and hemorrhagic diseases are the common causes, some rarer etiologies, such as vascular malformations, might also present with intracranial mass lesion manifestations. Such lesions are easily misdiagnosed due to the lack of manifestations of the primary disease. The treatment involves a detailed examination and differential diagnosis of the etiology and clinical manifestations. On 26 October 2022, a patient with craniocervical junction arteriovenous fistulas (CCJAVFs) was admitted to Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. Imaging examinations showed a brainstem mass lesion, and the patient was initially diagnosed with a brainstem tumor. After a thorough preoperative discussion and a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination, the patient was diagnosed with CCJAVF. The patient was cured using interventional treatment, and an invasive craniotomy was not required. During diagnosis and treatment, the cause of the disease might not be apparent. Thus, a comprehensive preoperative examination is very important, and physicians need to conduct the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the etiology based on the examination to administer precise treatment and reduce unnecessary operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy)

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16 pages, 2743 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Functional Connectivity of Hippocampal Subregions in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea after Six Months of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment

by Ling Huang, Haijun Li, Yongqiang Shu, Kunyao Li, Wei Xie, Yaping Zeng, Ting Long, Li Zeng, Xiang Liu and Dechang Peng

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050838 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1341

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the structural and functional impairments of hippocampal subregions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are related to cognitive impairment. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment can improve the clinical symptoms of OSA. Therefore, this study aimed to [...] Read more.

Previous studies have shown that the structural and functional impairments of hippocampal subregions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are related to cognitive impairment. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment can improve the clinical symptoms of OSA. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate functional connectivity (FC) changes in hippocampal subregions of patients with OSA after six months of CPAP treatment (post-CPAP) and its relationship with neurocognitive function. We collected and analyzed baseline (pre-CPAP) and post-CPAP data from 20 patients with OSA, including sleep monitoring, clinical evaluation, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The results showed that compared with pre-CPAP OSA patients, the FC between the right anterior hippocampal gyrus and multiple brain regions, and between the left anterior hippocampal gyrus and posterior central gyrus were reduced in post-CPAP OSA patients. By contrast, the FC between the left middle hippocampus and the left precentral gyrus was increased. The changes in FC in these brain regions were closely related to cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, our findings suggest that CPAP treatment can effectively change the FC patterns of hippocampal subregions in patients with OSA, facilitating a better understanding of the neural mechanisms of cognitive function improvement, and emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment of OSA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deep Research of EEG/fMRI Application in Cognition and Consciousness)

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14 pages, 544 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anti-Disturbance of Scale-Free Spiking Neural Network against Impulse Noise

by Lei Guo, Minxin Guo, Youxi Wu and Guizhi Xu

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050837 - 22 May 2023

Viewed by 980

Abstract

The bio-brain presents robustness function to external stimulus through its self-adaptive regulation and neural information processing. Drawing from the advantages of the bio-brain to investigate the robustness function of a spiking neural network (SNN) is conducive to the advance of brain-like intelligence. However, [...] Read more.

The bio-brain presents robustness function to external stimulus through its self-adaptive regulation and neural information processing. Drawing from the advantages of the bio-brain to investigate the robustness function of a spiking neural network (SNN) is conducive to the advance of brain-like intelligence. However, the current brain-like model is insufficient in biological rationality. In addition, its evaluation method for anti-disturbance performance is inadequate. To explore the self-adaptive regulation performance of a brain-like model with more biological rationality under external noise, a scale-free spiking neural network(SFSNN) is constructed in this study. Then, the anti-disturbance ability of the SFSNN against impulse noise is investigated, and the anti-disturbance mechanism is further discussed. Our simulation results indicate that: (i) our SFSNN has anti-disturbance ability against impulse noise, and the high-clustering SFSNN outperforms the low-clustering SFSNN in terms of anti-disturbance performance. (ii) The neural information processing in the SFSNN under external noise is clarified, which is a dynamic chain effect of the neuron firing, the synaptic weight, and the topological characteristic. (iii) Our discussion hints that an intrinsic factor of the anti-disturbance ability is the synaptic plasticity, and the network topology is a factor that affects the anti-disturbance ability at the level of performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Collection on Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience)

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19 pages, 3586 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Association of Peripheral Inflammatory Biomarkers and Growth Factors Levels with Sex, Therapy and Other Clinical Factors in Schizophrenia and Patient Stratification Based on These Data

by Evgeny A. Ermakov, Mark M. Melamud, Anastasiia S. Boiko, Daria A. Kamaeva, Svetlana A. Ivanova, Georgy A. Nevinsky and Valentina N. Buneva

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050836 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1389

Abstract

Multiple lines of evidence are known to confirm the pro-inflammatory state of some patients with schizophrenia and the involvement of inflammatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of psychosis. The concentration of peripheral biomarkers is associated with the severity of inflammation and can be used [...] Read more.

Multiple lines of evidence are known to confirm the pro-inflammatory state of some patients with schizophrenia and the involvement of inflammatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of psychosis. The concentration of peripheral biomarkers is associated with the severity of inflammation and can be used for patient stratification. Here, we analyzed changes in serum concentrations of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-21, APRIL, BAFF, PBEF/Visfatin, IFN-α, and TNF-α) and growth/neurotrophic factors (GM-CSF, NRG1-β1, NGF-β, and GDNF) in patients with schizophrenia in an exacerbation phase. IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, BAFF, IFN-α, GM-CSF, NRG1-β1, and GDNF increased but TNF-α and NGF-β decreased in schizophrenia compared to healthy individuals. Subgroup analysis revealed the effect of sex, prevalent symptoms, and type of antipsychotic therapy on biomarker levels. Females, patients with predominantly negative symptoms, and those taking atypical antipsychotics had a more pro-inflammatory phenotype. Using cluster analysis, we classified participants into “high” and “low inflammation” subgroups. However, no differences were found in the clinical data of patients in these subgroups. Nevertheless, more patients (17% to 25.5%) than healthy donors (8.6% to 14.3%) had evidence of a pro-inflammatory condition depending on the clustering approach used. Such patients may benefit from personalized anti-inflammatory therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatric Diseases)

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11 pages, 1540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Risk Factors for White Matter Hyperintensity in Older Adults without Stroke

by Kai Zheng, Zheng Wang, Xi Chen, Jiajie Chen, Yu Fu and Qin Chen

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050835 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1945

Abstract

Background: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is prevalent in older adults aged 60 and above. A large proportion of people with WMH have not experienced stroke and little has been reported in the literature. Methods: The case data of patients aged ≥60 years without [...] Read more.

Background: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is prevalent in older adults aged 60 and above. A large proportion of people with WMH have not experienced stroke and little has been reported in the literature. Methods: The case data of patients aged ≥60 years without stroke in Wuhan Tongji Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. It was a cross-sectional study. Univariate analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze independent risk factors for WMH. The severity of WMH was assessed using the Fazekas scores. The participants with WMH were divided into periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PWMH) group and deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) group, then the risk factors of WMH severity were explored separately. Results: Eventually, 655 patients were included; among the patients, 574 (87.6%) were diagnosed with WMH. Binary logistic regression showed that age and hypertension were associated with the prevalence of WMH. Ordinal logistic regression showed that age, homocysteine, and proteinuria were associated with the severity of WMH. Age and proteinuria were associated with the severity of PWMH. Age and proteinuria were associated with the severity of DWMH. Conclusions: The present study showed that in patients aged ≥60 years without stroke, age and hypertension were independent risk factors for the prevalence of WMH; while the increasing of age, homocysteine, and proteinuria were associated with greater WMH burden. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Neuropathology)

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29 pages, 13361 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Different Types of Survey-Based Environmental Representations: Egocentric vs. Allocentric Cognitive Maps

by Maria Kozhevnikov and Jyotika Puri

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 834; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050834 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1502

Abstract

The goal of the current study was to show the existence of distinct types of survey-based environmental representations, egocentric and allocentric, and provide experimental evidence that they are formed by different types of navigational strategies, path integration and map-based navigation, respectively. After traversing [...] Read more.

The goal of the current study was to show the existence of distinct types of survey-based environmental representations, egocentric and allocentric, and provide experimental evidence that they are formed by different types of navigational strategies, path integration and map-based navigation, respectively. After traversing an unfamiliar route, participants were either disoriented and asked to point to non-visible landmarks encountered on the route (Experiment 1) or presented with a secondary spatial working memory task while determining the spatial locations of objects on the route (Experiment 2). The results demonstrate a double dissociation between the navigational strategies underlying the formation of allocentric and egocentric survey-based representation. Specifically, only the individuals who generated egocentric survey-based representations of the route were affected by disorientation, suggesting they relied primarily on a path integration strategy combined with landmark/scene processing at each route segment. In contrast, only allocentric-survey mappers were affected by the secondary spatial working memory task, suggesting their use of map-based navigation. This research is the first to show that path integration, in conjunction with egocentric landmark processing, is a distinct standalone navigational strategy underpinning the formation of a unique type of environmental representation—the egocentric survey-based representation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Contribution of Internal and External Factors to Human Spatial Navigation)

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Graphical abstract

16 pages, 5063 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increased Interpersonal Brain Synchronization in Romantic Couples Is Associated with Higher Honesty: An fNIRS Hyperscanning Study

by Chong Shao, Xuecheng Zhang, You Wu, Wenhai Zhang and Binghai Sun

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 833; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050833 - 21 May 2023

Viewed by 2317

Abstract

Previous studies on the brain–brain interaction of deception have shown different patterns of interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) between different genders. However, the brain–brain mechanisms in the cross-sex composition need to be better understood. Furthermore, there needs to be more discussion about how relationships [...] Read more.

Previous studies on the brain–brain interaction of deception have shown different patterns of interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) between different genders. However, the brain–brain mechanisms in the cross-sex composition need to be better understood. Furthermore, there needs to be more discussion about how relationships (e.g., romantic couples vs. strangers) affect the brain–brain mechanism under interactive deception. To elaborate on these issues, we used the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based hyperscanning approach to simultaneously measure interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) in romantic couples (heterosexual) and cross-sex stranger dyads during the sender–receiver game. The behavioral results found that the deception rate of males was lower than that of females, and romantic couples were deceived less than strangers. Significantly increased IBS was observed in the frontopolar cortex (FPC) and right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) of the romantic couple group. Moreover, the IBS is negatively correlated with the deception rate. No significantly increased IBS was observed in cross-sex stranger dyads. The result corroborated the lower deception of males and romantic couples in cross-sex interactions. Furthermore, IBS in the PFC and rTPJ was the underlying dual-brain neural basis for supporting honesty in romantic couples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in Cognitive Neuroscience, Social Neuroscience, Neuromanagement, and Neuroengineering)

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11 pages, 968 KiB

Open AccessReview

Brain State Relays Self-Processing and Heartbeat-Evoked Cortical Responses

by Ying Huang, Musi Xie, Yunhe Liu, Xinyu Zhang, Liubei Jiang, Han Bao, Pengmin Qin and Junrong Han

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 832; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050832 - 21 May 2023

Viewed by 1844

Abstract

The self has been proposed to be grounded in interoceptive processing, with heartbeat-evoked cortical activity as a neurophysiological marker of this processing. However, inconsistent findings have been reported on the relationship between heartbeat-evoked cortical responses and self-processing (including exteroceptive- and mental-self-processing). In this [...] Read more.

The self has been proposed to be grounded in interoceptive processing, with heartbeat-evoked cortical activity as a neurophysiological marker of this processing. However, inconsistent findings have been reported on the relationship between heartbeat-evoked cortical responses and self-processing (including exteroceptive- and mental-self-processing). In this review, we examine previous research on the association between self-processing and heartbeat-evoked cortical responses and highlight the divergent temporal-spatial characteristics and brain regions involved. We propose that the brain state relays the interaction between self-processing and heartbeat-evoked cortical responses and thus accounts for the inconsistency. The brain state, spontaneous brain activity which highly and continuously changes in a nonrandom way, serves as the foundation upon which the brain functions and was proposed as a point in an extremely high-dimensional space. To elucidate our assumption, we provide reviews on the interactions between dimensions of brain state with both self-processing and heartbeat-evoked cortical responses. These interactions suggest the relay of self-processing and heartbeat-evoked cortical responses by brain state. Finally, we discuss possible approaches to investigate whether and how the brain state impacts the self-heart interaction. Full article

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12 pages, 1637 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Brain Activities Show There Is Nothing Like a Real Friend in Contrast to Influencers and Other Celebrities

by Peter Walla, Dimitrios Külzer, Annika Leeb, Lena Moidl and Stefan Kalt

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050831 - 21 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3828

Abstract

Especially for young people, influencers and other celebrities followed on social media evoke affective closeness that in their young minds seems real even though it is fake. Such fake friendships are potentially problematic because of their felt reality on the consumer side while [...] Read more.

Especially for young people, influencers and other celebrities followed on social media evoke affective closeness that in their young minds seems real even though it is fake. Such fake friendships are potentially problematic because of their felt reality on the consumer side while lacking any inversely felt true closeness. The question arises if the unilateral friendship of a social media user is equal or at least similar to real reciprocal friendship. Instead of asking social media users for explicit responses (conscious deliberation), the present exploratory study aimed to answer this question with the help of brain imaging technology. Thirty young participants were first invited to provide individual lists including (i) twenty names of their most followed and loved influencers or other celebrities (fake friend names), (ii) twenty names of loved real friends and relatives (real friend names) as well as (iii) twenty names they do not feel any closeness to (no friend names). They then came to the Freud CanBeLab (Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience and Behavior Lab) where they were shown their selected names in a random sequence (two rounds), while their brain activities were recorded via electroencephalography (EEG) and later calculated into event-related potentials (ERPs). We found short (ca. 100 ms) left frontal brain activity starting at around 250 ms post-stimulus to process real friend and no friend names similarly, while both ERPs differed from those elicited by fake friend names. This is followed by a longer effect (ca. 400 ms), where left and right frontal and temporoparietal ERPs also differed between fake and real friend names, but at this later processing stage, no friend names elicited similar brain activities to fake friend names in those regions. In general, real friend names elicited the most negative going brain potentials (interpreted as highest brain activation levels). These exploratory findings represent objective empirical evidence that the human brain clearly distinguishes between influencers or other celebrities and close people out of real life even though subjective feelings of closeness and trust can be similar. In summary, brain imaging shows there is nothing like a real friend. The findings of this study might be seen as a starting point for future studies using ERPs to investigate social media impact and topics such as fake friendship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience)

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23 pages, 6789 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Brief History of Stereotactic Atlases: Their Evolution and Importance in Stereotactic Neurosurgery

by Alfredo Conti, Nicola Maria Gambadauro, Paolo Mantovani, Canio Pietro Picciano, Vittoria Rosetti, Marcello Magnani, Sebastiano Lucerna, Constantin Tuleasca, Pietro Cortelli and Giulia Giannini

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 830; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050830 - 21 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1934

Abstract

Following the recent acquisition of unprecedented anatomical details through state-of-the-art neuroimaging, stereotactic procedures such as microelectrode recording (MER) or deep brain stimulation (DBS) can now rely on direct and accurately individualized topographic targeting. Nevertheless, both modern brain atlases derived from appropriate histological techniques [...] Read more.

Following the recent acquisition of unprecedented anatomical details through state-of-the-art neuroimaging, stereotactic procedures such as microelectrode recording (MER) or deep brain stimulation (DBS) can now rely on direct and accurately individualized topographic targeting. Nevertheless, both modern brain atlases derived from appropriate histological techniques involving post-mortem studies of human brain tissue and the methods based on neuroimaging and functional information represent a valuable tool to avoid targeting errors due to imaging artifacts or insufficient anatomical details. Hence, they have thus far been considered a reference guide for functional neurosurgical procedures by neuroscientists and neurosurgeons. In fact, brain atlases, ranging from the ones based on histology and histochemistry to the probabilistic ones grounded on data derived from large clinical databases, are the result of a long and inspiring journey made possible thanks to genial intuitions of great minds in the field of neurosurgery and to the technical advancement of neuroimaging and computational science. The aim of this text is to review the principal characteristics highlighting the milestones of their evolution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Invasive and Non-invasive Brain Stimulation in Movement Disorders)

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7 pages, 938 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Application of Original Therapy for Stimulation of Oral Areas Innervated by the Trigeminal Nerve in a Child with Beckwith–Wiedemann Syndrome

by Wioletta Pawlukowska, Michał Patalan, Ewelina Bagińska, Maria Giżewska and Marta Masztalewicz

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050829 - 21 May 2023

Viewed by 1070

Abstract

About 90% of children diagnosed with classic BWS have macroglossia, and 40% of them are submitted to surgical tongue reduction. The purpose of our article is to present a case study of a 5-month-old child with BWS who was treated with an original [...] Read more.

About 90% of children diagnosed with classic BWS have macroglossia, and 40% of them are submitted to surgical tongue reduction. The purpose of our article is to present a case study of a 5-month-old child with BWS who was treated with an original therapy for stimulation of oral areas innervated by the trigeminal nerve. The therapy included stimulation of the upper and lower lip and muscles of the floor of the mouth. The treatment was provided by a therapist once a week. In addition, the child was stimulated every day at home by his mother. After 3 months, a significant improvement in oral alignment and function was achieved. Preliminary observations of therapy application for stimulation regions innervated by the trigeminal nerve in children with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome seem promising. The original therapy for stimulation of oral areas innervated by the trigeminal nerve is a good alternative to existing methods of surgical tongue reduction in children with BWS and macroglossia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Craniofacial and Oral Neurosciences)

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12 pages, 5183 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Lumbosacral Nerve Roots in Patients with Type 2 Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging

by He Chen, Yanyan Xu, Wei Wang, Ruifen Deng, Zhaoqing Li, Sheng Xie and Jinsong Jiao

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050828 - 21 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1238

Abstract

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has found clinical applications in the evaluation of the central nervous system and has been extensively used to image peripheral neuropathy. However, few studies have focused on lumbosacral nerve root fiber damage in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). The [...] Read more.

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has found clinical applications in the evaluation of the central nervous system and has been extensively used to image peripheral neuropathy. However, few studies have focused on lumbosacral nerve root fiber damage in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). The aim of the study was to evaluate whether DTI of the lumbosacral nerve roots can be used to detect DPN. Methods: Thirty-two type 2 diabetic patients with DPN and thirty healthy controls (HCs) were investigated with a 3T MRI scanner. DTI with tractography of the L4, L5, and S1 nerve roots was performed. Anatomical fusion with the axial T2 sequences was used to provide correlating anatomical information. Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured from tractography images and compared between groups. Diagnostic value was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to explore the correlation between DTI parameters and clinical data and the nerve conduction study (NCS) in the DPN group. Results: In the DPN group, FA was decreased (p < 0.001) and ADC was increased (p < 0.001) compared with the values of the HC group. FA displayed the best diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.716. ADC was positively correlated with HbA1c level (r = 0.379, p = 0.024) in the DPN group. Conclusions: DTI of lumbosacral nerve roots demonstrates appreciable diagnostic accuracy in patients with DPN. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Neurotechnology and Neuroimaging)

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23 pages, 748 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Pineal Abnormalities in Psychosis and Mood Disorders: A Systematic Review

by Satyam Chauhan, Andrei Barbanta, Ulrich Ettinger and Veena Kumari

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 827; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050827 - 20 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2013

Abstract

The pineal gland (PG) is a small interhemispheric brain structure that influences human physiology in many ways, most importantly via secretion of the hormone melatonin which is known to regulate sleep and wakefulness. Here, we systematically reviewed existing neuroimaging studies of PG structure, [...] Read more.

The pineal gland (PG) is a small interhemispheric brain structure that influences human physiology in many ways, most importantly via secretion of the hormone melatonin which is known to regulate sleep and wakefulness. Here, we systematically reviewed existing neuroimaging studies of PG structure, and/or melatonin release (MLT) in psychosis and mood disorders. Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched (on 3 February 2023), yielding 36 studies (8 PG volume, 24 MLT). The findings showed smaller-than-normal PG volume in people with schizophrenia, regardless of symptom severity and illness stage; and smaller-than-normal PG volume in major depression, with some indication of this being present only in certain subgroups, or in those with high scores on the ‘loss of interest’ symptom. There was considerable evidence of lower-than-normal MLT as well as aberrant MLT secretion pattern in schizophrenia. A similar picture, though less consistent than that seen in schizophrenia, emerged in major depression and bipolar disorder, with some evidence of a transient lowering of MLT following the initiation of certain antidepressants in drug-withdrawn patients. Overall, PG and MLT aberrations appear to represent transdiagnostic biomarkers for psychosis and mood disorders, but further work is needed to establish their clinical correlates and treatment implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatric Diseases)

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16 pages, 2144 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Down-Regulation of Tinnitus Negative Valence via Concurrent HD-tDCS and PEI Technique: A Pilot Study

by Zahra Vaziri, Carlos E. G. Salmon, Iman Ghodratitoostani, Antonio Carlos dos Santos, Miguel A. Hyppolito, Alexandre C. B. Delbem and João P. Leite

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050826 - 19 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1522

Abstract

Around 30% of the general population experience subjective tinnitus, characterized by conscious attended awareness perception of sound without an external source. Clinical distress tinnitus is more than just experiencing a phantom sound, as it can be highly disruptive and debilitating, leading those affected [...] Read more.

Around 30% of the general population experience subjective tinnitus, characterized by conscious attended awareness perception of sound without an external source. Clinical distress tinnitus is more than just experiencing a phantom sound, as it can be highly disruptive and debilitating, leading those affected to seek clinical help. Effective tinnitus treatments are crucial for psychological well-being, but our limited understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms and a lack of a universal cure necessitate further treatment development. In light of the neurofunctional tinnitus model predictions and transcranial electrical stimulation, we conducted an open-label, single-arm, pilot study that utilized high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) concurrent with positive emotion induction (PEI) techniques for ten consecutive sessions to down-regulate tinnitus negative valence in patients with clinical distress tinnitus. We acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans of 12 tinnitus patients (7 females, mean age = 51.25 ± 12.90 years) before and after the intervention to examine resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) alterations in specific seed regions. The results showed reduced rsFC at post-intervention between the attention and emotion processing regions as follows: (1) bilateral amygdala and left superior parietal lobule (SPL), (2) left amygdala and right SPL, (3) bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and bilateral pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), and (4) left dlPFC and bilateral pgACC (FWE corrected p < 0.05). Furthermore, the post-intervention tinnitus handicap inventory scores were significantly lower than the pre-intervention scores (p < 0.05). We concluded that concurrent HD-tDCS and PEI might be effective in reducing tinnitus negative valence, thus alleviating tinnitus distress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Brain, Hearing and Tinnitus Science)

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16 pages, 1840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Test-Retest Reliability of Resting Brain Small-World Network Properties across Different Data Processing and Modeling Strategies

by Qianying Wu, Hui Lei, Tianxin Mao, Yao Deng, Xiaocui Zhang, Yali Jiang, Xue Zhong, John A. Detre, Jianghong Liu and Hengyi Rao

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050825 - 19 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1409

Abstract

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with graph theoretical modeling has been increasingly applied for assessing whole brain network topological organization, yet its reproducibility remains controversial. In this study, we acquired three repeated resting-state fMRI scans from 16 healthy controls during a strictly [...] Read more.

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with graph theoretical modeling has been increasingly applied for assessing whole brain network topological organization, yet its reproducibility remains controversial. In this study, we acquired three repeated resting-state fMRI scans from 16 healthy controls during a strictly controlled in-laboratory study and examined the test-retest reliability of seven global and three nodal brain network metrics using different data processing and modeling strategies. Among the global network metrics, the characteristic path length exhibited the highest reliability, whereas the network small-worldness performed the poorest. Nodal efficiency was the most reliable nodal metric, whereas betweenness centrality showed the lowest reliability. Weighted global network metrics provided better reliability than binary metrics, and reliability from the AAL90 atlas outweighed those from the Power264 parcellation. Although global signal regression had no consistent effects on the reliability of global network metrics, it slightly impaired the reliability of nodal metrics. These findings provide important implications for the future utility of graph theoretical modeling in brain network analyses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognition, Emotion, and Behavior)

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13 pages, 1519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of MTT Heterogeneity of Perfusion CT Imaging in the Early Brain Injury Phase: An Insight into aSAH Pathopysiology

by Björn B. Hofmann, Igor Fischer, Daniel M. Donaldson, Yousef Abusabha, Cihat Karadag, Sajjad Muhammad, Kerim Beseoglu, Daniel Hänggi, Bernd Turowski, Christian Rubbert, Jan F. Cornelius and Marcel A. Kamp

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 824; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050824 - 19 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1324

Abstract

The concept of early brain injury (EBI) is based on the assumption of a global reduction in brain perfusion following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, the heterogeneity of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging in EBI has not yet been investigated. In contrast, increased [...] Read more.

The concept of early brain injury (EBI) is based on the assumption of a global reduction in brain perfusion following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, the heterogeneity of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging in EBI has not yet been investigated. In contrast, increased mean transit time (MTT) heterogeneity, a possible marker of microvascular perfusion heterogeneity, in the delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) phase has recently been associated with a poor neurological outcome after aSAH. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the heterogeneity of early CTP imaging in the EBI phase is an independent predictor of the neurological outcome after aSAH. We retrospectively analyzed the heterogeneity of the MTT using the coefficient of variation (cvMTT) in early CTP scans (within 24 h after ictus) of 124 aSAH patients. Both linear and logistic regression were used to model the mRS outcome, which were treated as numerical and dichotomized values, respectively. Linear regression was used to investigate the linear dependency between the variables. No significant difference in cvMTT between the patients with and those without EVD could be observed (p = 0.69). We found no correlation between cvMTT in early CTP imaging and initial modified Fisher (p = 0.07) and WFNS grades (p = 0.23). The cvMTT in early perfusion imaging did not correlate significantly with the 6-month mRS for the entire study population (p = 0.15) or for any of the subgroups (without EVD: p = 0.21; with EVD: p = 0.3). In conclusion, microvascular perfusion heterogeneity, assessed by the heterogeneity of MTT in early CTP imaging, does not appear to be an independent predictor of the neurological outcome 6 months after aSAH. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Neurotechnology and Neuroimaging)

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12 pages, 1577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Kullback–Leibler Divergence of Sleep-Wake Patterns Related with Depressive Severity in Patients with Epilepsy

by Mingsu Liu, Jian Jiang, Yu Feng, Yang Cai, Jing Ding and Xin Wang

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 823; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050823 - 19 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1074

Abstract

(1) Objective: Whether abnormal sleep-wake rhythms were associated with depressive symptoms in patents with epilepsy had remained unclear. Our study aimed to establish relative entropy for the assessment of sleep-wake patterns and to explore the relationship between this index and the severity of [...] Read more.

(1) Objective: Whether abnormal sleep-wake rhythms were associated with depressive symptoms in patents with epilepsy had remained unclear. Our study aimed to establish relative entropy for the assessment of sleep-wake patterns and to explore the relationship between this index and the severity of depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy. (2) Methods: We recorded long-term scalp electroencephalograms (EEGs) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD-17) questionnaire scores from 64 patients with epilepsy. Patients with HAMD-17 scores of 0–7 points were defined as the non-depressive group, while patients with scores of 8 or higher were defined as the depression group. Sleep stages were firstly classified based on EEG data. We then quantified sleep-wake rhythm variations in brain activity using the Kullback–Leibler divergence (KLD) of daytime wakefulness and nighttime sleep. The KLD at different frequency bands in each brain region was analyzed between the depression and non-depression groups. (3) Results: Of the 64 patients with epilepsy included in our study, 32 had depressive symptoms. It was found that patients with depression had significantly decreased KLD for high-frequency oscillations in most brain areas, especially the frontal lobe. A detailed analysis was conducted in the right frontal region (F4) because of the significant difference in the high-frequency band. We found that the KLDs at the gamma bands were significantly decreased in the depression groups compared to the non-depression group (KLD_D = 0.35 ± 0.05, KLD_ND = 0.57 ± 0.05, p = 0.009). A negative correlation was displayed between the KLD of gamma band oscillation and HAMD-17 score (r = −0.29, p = 0.02). (4) Conclusions: Sleep-wake rhythms can be assessed using the KLD index calculated from long-term scalp EEGs. Moreover, the KLD of high-frequency bands had a negative correlation with HAMD-17 scores in patients with epilepsy, which indicates a close relationship between abnormal sleep-wake patterns and depressive symptoms in patients with epilepsy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience)

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25 pages, 2202 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Patient Journey of Schizophrenia in Mental Health Services: Results from a Co-Designed Survey by Clinicians, Expert Patients and Caregivers

by Mauro Emilio Percudani, Rosaria Iardino, Matteo Porcellana, Jacopo Lisoni, Luisa Brogonzoli, Stefano Barlati and Antonio Vita

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 822; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050822 - 19 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1391

Abstract

Background: The Patient Journey Project aims to collect real-world experiences on schizophrenia management in clinical practice throughout all the phases of the disorder, highlighting virtuous paths, challenges and unmet needs. Methods: A 60-item survey was co-designed with all the stakeholders (clinicians, expert patients [...] Read more.

Background: The Patient Journey Project aims to collect real-world experiences on schizophrenia management in clinical practice throughout all the phases of the disorder, highlighting virtuous paths, challenges and unmet needs. Methods: A 60-item survey was co-designed with all the stakeholders (clinicians, expert patients and caregivers) involved in the patient’s journey, focusing on three areas: early detection and management, acute phase management and long-term management/continuity of care. For each statement, the respondents expressed their consensus on the importance and the degree of implementation in clinical practice. The respondents included heads of the Mental Health Services (MHSs) in the Lombardy region, Italy. Results: For early diagnosis and management, a strong consensus was found; however, the implementation degree was moderate-to-good. For acute phase management, a strong consensus and a good level of implementation were found. For long-term management/continuity of care, a strong consensus was found, but the implementation level was slightly above the cut-off, with 44.4% of the statements being rated as only moderately implemented. Overall, the survey showed a strong consensus and a good level of implementation. Conclusions: The survey offered an updated evaluation of the priority intervention areas for MHSs and highlighted the current limitations. Particularly, early phases and chronicity management should be further implemented to improve the patient journey of schizophrenia patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatric Diseases)

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15 pages, 967 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Retrospective Analysis of the Psychological Predictors of Public Health Support in Bulgarians at the Beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic

by Kristina Stoyanova, Drozdstoy Stoyanov and Angel M. Dzhambov

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050821 - 19 May 2023

Viewed by 1062

Abstract

The earliest critical context of the pandemic, preceding the first real epidemiological wave of contagion in Bulgaria, was examined using a socio-affective perspective. A retrospective and agnostic analytical approach was adopted. Our goal was to identify traits and trends that explain public health [...] Read more.

The earliest critical context of the pandemic, preceding the first real epidemiological wave of contagion in Bulgaria, was examined using a socio-affective perspective. A retrospective and agnostic analytical approach was adopted. Our goal was to identify traits and trends that explain public health support (PHS) of Bulgarians during the first two months of the declared state of emergency. We investigated a set of variables with a unified method within an international scientific network named the International Collaboration on Social & Moral Psychology of COVID-19 (ICSMP) in April and May 2020. A total of 733 Bulgarians participated in the study (67.3% females), with an average age of 31.8 years (SD = 11.66). Conspiracy Theories Beliefs were a significant predictor of lower PHS. Psychological Well-Being was significantly associated with Physical Contact and Anti-Corona Policy Support. Physical Contact was significantly predicted by fewer Conspiracy Theories Beliefs, higher Collective Narcissism, Open-mindedness, higher Trait Self-Control, Moral Identity, Risk Perception and Psychological Well-Being. Physical Hygiene compliance was predicted by fewer Conspiracy Theories Beliefs, Collective Narcissism, Morality-as-Cooperation, Moral Identity and Psychological Well-Being. The results revealed two polar trends of support and non-support of public health policies. The contribution of this study is in providing evidence for the affective polarization and phenomenology of (non)precarity during the outbreak of the pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychiatry and Neurosciences in the COVID-19 Era: Current Status and Future Perspectives)

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19 pages, 3838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Automatic Seizure Detection and Prediction Based on Brain Connectivity Features and a CNNs Meet Transformers Classifier

by Ziwei Tian, Bingliang Hu, Yang Si and Quan Wang

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 820; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050820 - 18 May 2023

Viewed by 1471

Abstract

(1) Background: Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes repeated seizures. Since electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns differ in different states (inter-ictal, pre-ictal, and ictal), a seizure can be detected and predicted by extracting various features. However, the brain connectivity network, a two-dimensional feature, is [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes repeated seizures. Since electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns differ in different states (inter-ictal, pre-ictal, and ictal), a seizure can be detected and predicted by extracting various features. However, the brain connectivity network, a two-dimensional feature, is rarely studied. We aim to investigate its effectiveness for seizure detection and prediction. (2) Methods: Two time-window lengths, five frequency bands, and five connectivity measures were used to extract image-like features, which were fed into a support vector machine for the subject-specific model (SSM) and a convolutional neural networks meet transformers (CMT) classifier for the subject-independent model (SIM) and cross-subject model (CSM). Finally, feature selection and efficiency analyses were conducted. (3) Results: The classification results on the CHB-MIT dataset showed that a long window indicated better performance. The best detection accuracies of SSM, SIM, and CSM were 100.00, 99.98, and 99.27%, respectively. The highest prediction accuracies were 99.72, 99.38, and 86.17%, respectively. In addition, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Phase Lock Value connectivity in the β and γ bands showed good performance and high efficiency. (4) Conclusions: The proposed brain connectivity features showed good reliability and practical value for automatic seizure detection and prediction, which expects to develop portable real-time monitoring equipment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Neurotechnology and Neuroimaging)

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4 pages, 222 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Virtual Reality Applications in Neurorehabilitation: Current Panorama and Challenges

by Francisco Nieto-Escamez, Irene Cortés-Pérez, Esteban Obrero-Gaitán and Augusto Fusco

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 819; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050819 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1620

Abstract

Central Nervous System Diseases are a leading cause of disability worldwide, posing significant social and economic burdens for patients, their families, caregivers, and society as a whole [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virtual Reality Applications in Neurorehabilitation)

10 pages, 2624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sleep Duration on Workdays Is Correlated with Subjective Workload and Subjective Impact of High Workload on Sleep in Young Healthy Adults

by Charlotte von Gall, Thomas Muth and Peter Angerer

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050818 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2263

Abstract

Psychosocial stress is widespread worldwide and particularly affects young adults. There is a close and bidirectional relationship between sleep quality and mental health. Sleep duration, which is an important feature of sleep quality, shows both intra-individual variations and inter-individual differences. Internal clocks control [...] Read more.

Psychosocial stress is widespread worldwide and particularly affects young adults. There is a close and bidirectional relationship between sleep quality and mental health. Sleep duration, which is an important feature of sleep quality, shows both intra-individual variations and inter-individual differences. Internal clocks control individual sleep timing, which, in turn, defines the chronotype. On workdays, however, the end and duration of sleep are largely limited by external factors, such as alarm clocks, especially in later chronotypes. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a relationship between sleep timing and duration on workdays and measures for psychosocial stress, such as anxiety and depression; subjective workload; and the subjective impact of a high workload on sleep. We used a combination of Fitbit wearable actigraphy data and a questionnaire survey of young, healthy medical students and calculated correlations between the respective variables. We found that a shorter sleep duration on workdays is associated with a higher subjective workload and a higher subjective impact of a high workload on sleep, which, in turn, are associated with higher measures of anxiety and depression. Our study contributes to understanding the importance of sleep timing/duration and their regularity on weekdays for subjectively perceived psychosocial stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience)

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16 pages, 2850 KiB

Open AccessReview

From Theory to Practice: Implementing the WHO 2021 Classification of Adult Diffuse Gliomas in Neuropathology Diagnosis

by Karina Chornenka Martin, Crystal Ma and Stephen Yip

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 817; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050817 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1759

Abstract

Diffuse gliomas are the most common type of primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasm to affect the adult population. The diagnosis of adult diffuse gliomas is dependent upon the integration of morphological features of the tumour with its underlying molecular alterations, and the [...] Read more.

Diffuse gliomas are the most common type of primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasm to affect the adult population. The diagnosis of adult diffuse gliomas is dependent upon the integration of morphological features of the tumour with its underlying molecular alterations, and the integrative diagnosis has become of increased importance in the fifth edition of the WHO classification of CNS neoplasms (WHO CNS5). The three major diagnostic entities of adult diffuse gliomas are as follows: (1) astrocytoma, IDH-mutant; (2) oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted; and (3) glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype. The aim of this review is to summarize the pathophysiology, pathology, molecular characteristics, and major diagnostic updates encountered in WHO CNS5 of adult diffuse gliomas. Finally, the application of implementing the necessary molecular tests for diagnostic workup of these entities in the pathology laboratory setting is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Tumors and Nervous System Tumors)

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17 pages, 6672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Inhibitor in Early Brain Injury of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Mice

by Zhong-Hua Zhang, Xiao-Ming Zhou and Xin Zhang

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 816; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050816 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1608

Abstract

Clinically, early brain injury (EBI), which refers to the acute injuries to the whole brain in the phase of the first 72 h following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), is intensely investigated to improve neurological and psychological function. Additionally, it will be meaningful to explore [...] Read more.

Clinically, early brain injury (EBI), which refers to the acute injuries to the whole brain in the phase of the first 72 h following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), is intensely investigated to improve neurological and psychological function. Additionally, it will be meaningful to explore new therapeutic approaches for EBI treatment to improve the prognosis of patients with SAH. To investigate the underlying neuroprotection mechanism in vitro, the Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitor (PTP1B-IN-1) was put in primary neurons induced by OxyHb to observe neuroapoptosis, neuroinflammation, and ER stress. Then, one hundred forty male mice were subjected to Experiment two and Experiment three. The mice in the SAH24h + PTP1B-IN-1 group were given an intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg PTP1B-IN-1 30 min before anesthesia. SAH grade, neurological score, brain water content, Western blot, PCR, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were performed to observe the underlying neuroprotection mechanism in vivo. Overall, this study suggests that PTP1B-IN-1 could ameliorate neuroapoptosis, neuroinflammation, and ER stress in vitro and in vivo by regulating the IRS-2/AKT signaling pathway, suggesting that PTP1B-IN-1 may be a candidate drug for the treatment of early brain injury after SAH. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery)

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35 pages, 2969 KiB

Open AccessReview

Shared Mechanisms of GABAergic and Opioidergic Transmission Regulate Corticolimbic Reward Systems and Cognitive Aspects of Motivational Behaviors

by Oveis Hosseinzadeh Sahafi, Maryam Sardari, Sakineh Alijanpour and Ameneh Rezayof

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050815 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3700

Abstract

The functional interplay between the corticolimbic GABAergic and opioidergic systems plays a crucial role in regulating the reward system and cognitive aspects of motivational behaviors leading to the development of addictive behaviors and disorders. This review provides a summary of the shared mechanisms [...] Read more.

The functional interplay between the corticolimbic GABAergic and opioidergic systems plays a crucial role in regulating the reward system and cognitive aspects of motivational behaviors leading to the development of addictive behaviors and disorders. This review provides a summary of the shared mechanisms of GABAergic and opioidergic transmission, which modulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons located in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the central hub of the reward mechanisms. This review comprehensively covers the neuroanatomical and neurobiological aspects of corticolimbic inhibitory neurons that express opioid receptors, which act as modulators of corticolimbic GABAergic transmission. The presence of opioid and GABA receptors on the same neurons allows for the modulation of the activity of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area, which plays a key role in the reward mechanisms of the brain. This colocalization of receptors and their immunochemical markers can provide a comprehensive understanding for clinicians and researchers, revealing the neuronal circuits that contribute to the reward system. Moreover, this review highlights the importance of GABAergic transmission-induced neuroplasticity under the modulation of opioid receptors. It discusses their interactive role in reinforcement learning, network oscillation, aversive behaviors, and local feedback or feedforward inhibitions in reward mechanisms. Understanding the shared mechanisms of these systems may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches for addiction, reward-related disorders, and drug-induced cognitive impairment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diversity of GABAergic Neurons)

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24 pages, 1658 KiB

Open AccessOpinion

Patients with Disorders of Consciousness: Are They Nonconscious, Unconscious, or Subconscious? Expanding the Discussion

by Andrew A. Fingelkurts and Alexander A. Fingelkurts

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 814; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050814 - 17 May 2023

Viewed by 2760

Abstract

Unprecedented advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) have given rise to ethical questions about how to recognize and respect autonomy and a sense of agency of the personhood when those capacities are themselves disordered, as they [...] Read more.

Unprecedented advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) have given rise to ethical questions about how to recognize and respect autonomy and a sense of agency of the personhood when those capacities are themselves disordered, as they typically are in patients with DoC. At the intersection of these questions rests the distinction between consciousness and unconsciousness. Indeed, evaluations of consciousness levels and capacity for recovery have a significant impact on decisions regarding whether to discontinue or prolong life-sustaining therapy for DoC patients. However, in the unconsciousness domain, there is the confusing array of terms that are regularly used interchangeably, making it quite challenging to comprehend what unconsciousness is and how it might be empirically grounded. In this opinion paper, we will provide a brief overview of the state of the field of unconsciousness and show how a rapidly evolving electroencephalogram (EEG) neuroimaging technique may offer empirical, theoretical, and practical tools to approach unconsciousness and to improve our ability to distinguish consciousness from unconsciousness and also nonconsciousness with greater precision, particularly in cases that are borderline (as is typical in patients with DoC). Furthermore, we will provide a clear description of three distant notions of (un)consciousness (unconsciousness, nonconsciousness, and subconsciousness) and discuss how they relate to the experiential selfhood which is essential for comprehending the moral significance of what makes life worth living. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of the Art in Disorders of Consciousness)

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36 pages, 3304 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Evidence of Chaos in Electroencephalogram Signatures of Human Performance: A Systematic Review

by Shaida Kargarnovin, Christopher Hernandez, Farzad V. Farahani and Waldemar Karwowski

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 813; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050813 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1724

Abstract

(1) Background: Chaos, a feature of nonlinear dynamical systems, is well suited for exploring biological time series, such as heart rates, respiratory records, and particularly electroencephalograms. The primary purpose of this article is to review recent studies using chaos theory and nonlinear dynamical [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Chaos, a feature of nonlinear dynamical systems, is well suited for exploring biological time series, such as heart rates, respiratory records, and particularly electroencephalograms. The primary purpose of this article is to review recent studies using chaos theory and nonlinear dynamical methods to analyze human performance in different brain processes. (2) Methods: Several studies have examined chaos theory and related analytical tools for describing brain dynamics. The present study provides an in-depth analysis of the computational methods that have been proposed to uncover brain dynamics. (3) Results: The evidence from 55 articles suggests that cognitive function is more frequently assessed than other brain functions in studies using chaos theory. The most frequently used techniques for analyzing chaos include the correlation dimension and fractal analysis. Approximate, Kolmogorov and sample entropy account for the largest proportion of entropy algorithms in the reviewed studies. (4) Conclusions: This review provides insights into the notion of the brain as a chaotic system and the successful use of nonlinear methods in neuroscience studies. Additional studies of brain dynamics would aid in improving our understanding of human cognitive performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Computational Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics)

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14 pages, 311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of COVID-19-Associated Fear, Stress and Level of Social Support in Development of Suicidality in Patients Diagnosed with Affective and Stress-Induced Psychiatric Disorders during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Comparative Analysis

by Dusan Kuljancic, Mina Cvjetkovic Bosnjak, Djendji Siladji, Darko Hinic, Dunja Veskovic, Nebojsa Janjic, Dragana Ratkovic, Olga Zivanovic, Vesna Vasic and Branislav Sakic

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 812; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050812 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1210

Abstract

Only a few studies seem to address suicidality as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in persons previously affected by psychiatric disorders. The relationship between fear and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the level of social support and suicidality in patients [...] Read more.

Only a few studies seem to address suicidality as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in persons previously affected by psychiatric disorders. The relationship between fear and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the level of social support and suicidality in patients diagnosed with affective and stress-induced psychiatric disorders prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated. This study was observational and involved 100 participants. The examined period was from April 2020 to April 2022. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Oslo Social Support Scale 3 (OSSS-3) and general psychiatric interviews were used to obtain data. A statistically significant relationship between the impact of COVID-19-related distress on the occurrence of suicidality and the year of the pandemic χ²(2, N = 100) = 8.347, p = 0.015 was observed. No statistically significant correlation was found between suicidal behavior, stress intensity, fear and the score on the social support scale (p > 0.05). Fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic can only be seen as a contributor to suicidality. Overall, social support does not always act protectively. Previously stressful experiences such as wars, poverty and natural disasters seem to play a significant role in the resilience to each new public health crisis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatric Diseases)

17 pages, 2235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Semantic Bimodal Presentation Differentially Slows Working Memory Retrieval

by Jia Cheng, Jingjing Li, Aijun Wang and Ming Zhang

Brain Sci. 2023, 13(5), 811; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13050811 - 17 May 2023

Viewed by 1207

Abstract

Although evidence has shown that working memory (WM) can be differentially affected by the multisensory congruency of different visual and auditory stimuli, it remains unclear whether different multisensory congruency about concrete and abstract words could impact further WM retrieval. By manipulating the attention [...] Read more.

Although evidence has shown that working memory (WM) can be differentially affected by the multisensory congruency of different visual and auditory stimuli, it remains unclear whether different multisensory congruency about concrete and abstract words could impact further WM retrieval. By manipulating the attention focus toward different matching conditions of visual and auditory word characteristics in a 2-back paradigm, the present study revealed that for the characteristically incongruent condition under the auditory retrieval condition, the response to abstract words was faster than that to concrete words, indicating that auditory abstract words are not affected by visual representation, while auditory concrete words are. Alternatively, for concrete words under the visual retrieval condition, WM retrieval was faster in the characteristically incongruent condition than in the characteristically congruent condition, indicating that visual representation formed by auditory concrete words may interfere with WM retrieval of visual concrete words. The present findings demonstrated that concrete words in multisensory conditions may be too aggressively encoded with other visual representations, which would inadvertently slow WM retrieval. However, abstract words seem to suppress interference better, showing better WM performance than concrete words in the multisensory condition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Behavioral Neuroscience)

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