To explore the mediating role of serum uric acid (SUA) in the relationship between the acclimatization/adaptation index (AAI) and the transition probability of electroencephalographic (EEG) Microstate D within cognitive control networks under hypoxic conditions at 3,650 m. A total of 173 high-altitude residents in Lhasa were recruited. Their peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), hematocrit (HCT), and SUA levels were measured, and resting-state EEG data were recorded. AAI was calculated, and the transition probability of Microstate D was analyzed. Correlation analyses and bootstrap methods were employed to examine the mediating effect of SUA. AAI was significantly negatively correlated with SUA, and the maladaptive group exhibited significantly higher SUA levels. SUA mediated the relationship between AAI and the outward transition probabilities from Microstate D to Microstates A and C, but no significant mediating effect was found for inward transition probabilities. Under high-altitude hypoxic environments, SUA serves as a key mediator through which AAI modulates the outward transitions of Microstate D. Regulating SUA levels and enhancing AAI may play a crucial role in preserving cognitive control network function in high-altitude populations.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an established therapeutic intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions, yet its neurobiological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. While prevailing models emphasize cognitive processes such as working memory taxation and memory reconsolidation, these accounts may not fully explain the durability and generalization of therapeutic effects. Here, we propose a hypothesis in which bilateral rhythmic stimulation associated with EMDR modulates neuroimmune interactions through state-dependent changes in autonomic balance and meningeal lymphatic dynamics. Within this framework, regulatory T cells are conceptualized as contributors to baseline neuroimmune tone, influencing microglial activation states, synaptic stability, and network-level regulation. By integrating findings from autonomic physiology, lymphatic biology, and neuroimmunology, this hypothesis generates testable predictions linking behavioral interventions to sustained neural and behavioral outcomes. The model is intended to guide future experimental investigation rather than assert definitive causal pathways.

Anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) stabilize the body before voluntary movement. Although present early in life, their refinement continues into adolescence, especially during complex balance tasks. This study examined developmental differences in APA control between typically developing children (9-12 years) and young adults (19-25 years) during a self-initiated Can Placement Task (CPT). Thirty children and twenty-two adults performed the CPT while standing on one leg. The task was divided into five phases (quiet stance, stooping, can transfer, straightening up, stabilization). Center of pressure (COP) displacement and velocity in anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions and vertical ground reaction force (GRF) on the can were measured using dual force platforms. Both discrete outcomes and Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) were analyzed. No differences were observed in static balance (Phase I). In dynamic phases, adults showed larger backward COP shifts during stooping, higher normalized COP velocity, and reduced reliance on the can for support compared with children. Children exhibited slower COP adjustments and higher GRF on the can, indicating greater use of external support. SPM revealed group differences mainly during stooping and straightening phases. Adults' faster COP control likely reflects efficient feedforward strategies, while children adopted more conservative, stability-oriented approaches. Children aged 9-12 years can generate APAs but remain less efficient in adapting them to task demands. Phase-specific and SPM analyses revealed subtle developmental differences not evident in static balance. The CPT provides a sensitive framework for assessing postural control and may guide age-appropriate clinical interventions.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) stands out as a promising therapeutic alternative for the management of chronic pain, but there is still controversy regarding its efficacy and safety, given the diversity of protocols and populations evaluated. To critically review the available literature on the use of PBM in adults with chronic pain conditions, synthesizing the evidence on analgesic and functional effects, impact on quality of life, and safety profile. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, LILACS, and MEDLINE, including articles published between September 2015 and September 2025. Randomized clinical trials that compared PBM protocols to placebo, sham, or conventional care were selected. The outcomes investigated included pain intensity (primary), function, quality of life, and occurrence of adverse events (secondary). Fourteen studies were included, covering populations with fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathies, orofacial pain, and musculoskeletal pain. Most trials demonstrated significant pain reduction with PBM, particularly in fibromyalgia and neuropathy. In some studies, functional gains and improved quality of life were observed. The incidence of adverse events was low, reinforcing the method's safety, although the heterogeneity of technical parameters compromises the standardization of results. PBM has analgesic potential and a safe profile for managing chronic pain, especially in cases difficult to control with conventional therapies. However, the variability of clinical parameters and limited follow-up still hinder more comprehensive recommendations. Additional multicenter studies with standardized protocols are needed to consolidate clinical guidelines. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251140711, Identifier: CRD420251140711.

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy is a complex disorder with heterogeneous clinical manifestations that often complicate its clinical diagnosis. We report the first documented case of a 52-year-old woman harboring a novel and rare genotypic combination: the m.10158T>C point mutation together with a 12.8-kb large-scale mtDNA deletion. After a protracted diagnostic course involving multiple prior misdiagnoses, the definitive diagnosis was ultimately established through integrated genetic, histopathological, and neuroimaging evaluation. This case underscores both the diagnostic challenges in mitochondrial disorders and the critical need for systematic differentiation from common neurological mimics such as encephalitis and stroke.

Many skills necessary to perform activities of daily living require individuals to think and move at the same time; otherwise known as cognitive-motor integration (CMI). An upper extremity CMI task has shown how CMI performance changes with age, neurotrauma, and sport experience; however, the majority of movements required for activities of daily living extend beyond the upper extremity. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to compare a full-body balance-related CMI task with the validated upper extremity task. Twenty-nine young healthy adults [24.3 ± 5.1 years (SD); 12 females] completed 2 CMI tasks to assess upper extremity CMI and full-body CMI. In general, both CMI tasks varied in difficulty, ranging from congruent interactions with targets, to incongruent interactions which included visual feedback reversal (requiring increased CMI). Performance in both tasks were quantified using reaction time (RT), movement time (MT), and normalized path length (nPL). An interaction effect of task and condition was found for MT [F(1,28) = 9.344, p = 0.005] and nPL [F(1,28) = 12.766, p = 0.001], with larger increases across conditions in the full-body task compared to the upper extremity task. For the upper extremity task, sex predicted RT, where males had quicker RTs than females (unstandardized B = –78.968, p = 0.038). For the full-body task, MT and nPL were predicted by age and sport experience, respectively; where younger age resulted in faster MTs (unstandardized B = 235.546, p = 0.009), and more sport experience led to less variable nPLs (unstandardized B = –3.802, p = 0.005). Lastly, the full-body task found that sport experience was moderated by sex (unstandardized B = 203.650, p = 0.014), where only females saw decreases in MT with increasing sport experience. The full-body CMI task provides a more comprehensive analysis of sensory, motor, and cognitive contributions to coordination tasks. An isolated upper extremity task may be limited in its ability to extract meaningful information that could contribute to difficulties in performing activities of daily living. Future work could utilize this task in clinical populations with the potential to uncover differences that might not be apparent in standard assessment protocols.

Background and objectiveHigh-intensity noise exposure is a well-established risk factor for auditory dysfunction; however, its effects on the vestibular system remain poorly understood. This is an important question due to the anatomical proximity and shared vulnerability of cochlear and vestibular structures. This study aims to determine the longitudinal effects of prolonged low-frequency noise (LFN) exposure at two different sound intensities (110- and 120-dB SPL) on vestibular function in Sprague-Dawley rats using behavioral and electrophysiological assessments.Materials and methodsAdult male Sprague-Dawley rats (3-months-old) were exposed to LFN (0.5–4.0 kHz) at either 110- or 120-dB SPL for 6 h and monitored over 21 days. Cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs), auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), and balance-related behaviors were evaluated at baseline and different times after exposure.ResultsExposure to 120 dB SPL resulted in significant and permanent vestibular dysfunction, evidenced by elevated cVEMP thresholds and reduced cVEMP P1-N1 suprathreshold amplitudes. These parameters partially recovered over 21 days but did not return to baseline levels. As expected for this noise exposure, large ABR thresholds increases and peak I amplitudes reductions were observed. In addition, behavioral tests showed impaired motor coordination over 21 days. In contrast, 110 dB SPL exposure only caused temporary cVEMP P1-N1 amplitude decreases and much smaller ABR threshold increases.ConclusionThese results show that, similar to the auditory system, LFN exposure has an intensity-dependent effect on vestibular function and highlight the importance of including vestibular evaluations for a comprehensive assessment of noise-induced health conditions.

The Somato-Psychic Pathway (SPP) is proposed as a universal ontogenetic developmental trajectory through which somatic structural–functional integrity and autonomic regulation shape the emergence and stability of the mind under both physiological and pathological conditions. Integrating insights from developmental neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and clinical neurodevelopment, SPP conceptualizes mental functions as interpretive extensions of bodily and autonomic states rather than as their primary generators. The framework delineates a developmentally constrained directional sequence beginning with somatic organization, proceeding through proprioceptive and interoceptive accuracy, and culminating in autonomic regulation, emotional stability, and cognitive–social maturation. Disruption of this trajectory—most prominently through axial dysfunction, distorted joint–muscle–fascial proprioception, persistent low-grade nociceptive drive, or direct mechanical influences on peripheral autonomic structures—is proposed to lead to Somato-Psychic Autonomic Dysregulation (SPAD), a state characterized by chronically reduced autonomic flexibility and heightened threat responsivity. Prolonged operation of the pathway in this pathological mode gives rise to the clinical phenotype termed Somato-Psychic Syndrome (SPS). The SPP framework emerged from longitudinal clinical observation of disrupted and restituted developmental trajectories, providing a unique ontogenetic perspective on the directionality of neurodevelopmental regulation. By integrating the somatic, autonomic, emotional, and cognitive domains into a single regulatory continuum, SPP offers a biologically grounded model with implications for understanding childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and guiding future therapeutic strategies.

Brain damage (BD) caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or neurodegenerative conditions often results in persistent cognitive, motor, and emotional impairments. Music-based interventions (MI) have been explored as adjunctive rehabilitation strategies; however, the evidence remains fragmented. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesize available research on the effects of MI on functional recovery following BD, due to acquired brain injury (ABI), including both TBI and non-TBI. From a total of 868 publications screened in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov, 90 were included, of which 41 met the criteria for quantitative evaluation and meta-analysis, to assess the state-of-the-art of research on music and BD in the fields of neuropsychology and cognitive sciences. The reviewed studies span a range of methodologies, including randomized controlled trials and qualitative research, and incorporate diverse MI strategies, such as active music-making, structured listening, and improvisational techniques. The findings indicate that music supports recovery across motor, cognitive, and, albeit to a lesser extent, communicative and psychosocial domains. The findings suggest beneficial effects of MI, particularly in gait function (z = 3.46, P < 0.01), upper extremity function (z = 6.11, P < 0.01; UEF), communication (z = 3.21, P < 0.01), cognitive rehabilitation (z = 3.29, P < 0.01), and emotional, behavioral, and social outcomes (z = 2.35, P = 0.02); notably, these effects were often supported by consistent statistical significance across multiple subgroup analyses (e.g., gait, UEF). This study highlights the therapeutic potential of music in neurorehabilitation and supports its integration into multidisciplinary treatment programs. Despite these promising findings, methodological heterogeneity, small sample sizes, and short intervention durations limit the generalizability of results. The evidence suggests that music may modulate key neurobiological pathways in BD, supporting its integration into evidence-based neurorehabilitation programs.