Brain Activity Research Articles

Pre-choice midbrain fluctuations affect self-control in food choice: A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study.

Recent studies have shown that spontaneous pre-stimulus fluctuations in brain activity affect higher-order cognitive processes, including risky decision-making, cognitive flexibility, and aesthetic judgments. However, there is currently no direct evidence to suggest that pre-choice activity influences value-based decisions that require self-control. We examined the impact of fluctuations in pre-choice activity in key regions of the reward system on self-control in food choice. In the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner, 49 participants made 120 food choices that required self-control in high and low working memory load conditions. The task was designed to ensure that participants were cognitively engaged and not thinking about upcoming choices. We defined self-control success as choosing a food item that was healthier over one that was tastier. The brain regions of interest (ROIs) were the ventral tegmental area (VTA), putamen, nucleus accumbens (NAc), and caudate nucleus. For each participant and condition, we calculated the mean activity in the 3-s interval preceding the presentation of food stimuli in successful and failed self-control trials. These activities were then used as predictors of self-control success in a fixed-effects logistic regression model. The results indicate that increased pre-choice VTA activity was linked to a higher probability of self-control success in a subsequent food-choice task within the low-load condition, but not in the high-load condition. We posit that pre-choice fluctuations in VTA activity change the reference point for immediate (taste) reward evaluation, which may explain our finding. This suggests that the neural context of decisions may be a key factor influencing human behavior.

The neural mechanisms of race priming in American politics

Abstract What are the psychological mechanisms of racial “dog whistles” in American politics? Literature on race priming in American politics argues when race is primed implicitly, racial biases influence political evaluations, but when race is made salient, individuals can use controlled processing to inhibit automatic biases and abide by egalitarian norms. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these processes have yet to be examined directly. In a 2 × 2 within-groups experiment using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examine these neural mechanisms. We find brain areas associated with conflict detection, evaluative processing, and controlled processing are more active when race is primed explicitly rather than implicitly, as expected, although we do not find substantial brain activation associated with automatic responses to be more active during implicit than explicit primes. Results are discussed in terms of understanding how racial cues influence political evaluations while considering America’s ever-changing racial norms.

18F]FDG Brain Imaging Assessment in Preclinical Acute and Chronic Stress Models Using Statistical Parametric Mapping

Previous studies have used [18F]FDG as a biomarker for depression, anxiety, or chronic stress in cancer patients1,2. However, they lack specific brain patterns and assessment in preclinical models, limiting their translational potential. Hence, we set out to establish preclinical [18F]FDG brain PET as a method to evaluate stress in vivo. Lean C57BL/6J mice were exposed to acute and chronic cooling, restraint, and surgical stress. Obese mice were on a high-fat diet for eight weeks and exposed to cooling and restraint stress. [18F]FDG was injected into fasted animals under brief isoflurane anesthesia via the tail vein. Following a 60-minute distribution phase during acute stress or one day after stress exposure (chronic), animals underwent static μPET/CT scans (Siemens® Inveon). Brain images were spatially normalized, and intensity normalization was performed using proportional and histogram-based scaling3 with PMOD (V. 3.8). Normalized images were analyzed using a brain atlas (M. Mirrione) to extract regional SUV and statistical parametric mapping (SPM12) for voxel-wise comparison. Overall, in lean mice, total brain [18F]FDG-uptake was significantly reduced across all stress models except for acute restraint, whereas total uptake was unaffected in obese mice. Subsequent brain atlas analysis of lean mice revealed changes in regional uptake for all stressors except for chronic cooling, while obese mice were affected by only acute and chronic restraint. Using SPM, we validated stress-specific hypo- and hypermetabolic areas in the brains of lean mice upon acute cooling, acute and chronic restraint, and surgery and in obese mice after chronic restraint (see Figure). We also identified overlapping areas in the brain stem and hypothalamus region following acute cooling and surgery, possibly due to post-surgical hypothermia. Our findings show that static [18F]FDG-imaging is a valuable tool for noninvasively assessing brain activity in a multitude of stress models and a suitable translational tool for stress research in mice. Please click on the 'PDF' for the full abstract!

Investigating the effect of template head models on Event-Related Potential source localization: a simulation and real-data study.

Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) are valuable for studying brain activity with millisecond-level temporal resolution. While the temporal resolution of this technique is excellent, the spatial resolution is limited. Source localization aims to identify the brain regions generating the EEG data, thus increasing the spatial resolution, but its accuracy depends heavily on the head model used. This study compares the performance of subject-specific and template-based head models in both simulated and real-world ERP localization tasks. Simulated data mimicking realistic ERPs was created to evaluate the impact of head model choice systematically, after which subject-specific and template-based head models were used for the reconstruction of the data. The different modeling approaches were also applied to a face recognition dataset. The results indicate that the template models capture the simulated activity less accurately, producing more spurious sources and identifying less true sources correctly. Furthermore, the results show that while creating more accurate and detailed head models is beneficial for the localization accuracy when using subject-specific head models, this is less the case for template head models. The main N170 source of the face recognition dataset was correctly localized to the fusiform gyrus, a known face processing area, using the subject-specific models. Apart from the fusiform gyrus, the template models also reconstructed several other sources, illustrating the localization inaccuracies. While template models allow researchers to investigate the neural generators of ERP components when no subject-specific MRIs are available, it could lead to misinterpretations. Therefore, it is important to consider a priori knowledge and hypotheses when interpreting results obtained with template head models, acknowledging potential localization errors.

Spontaneous movement synchrony as an exogenous source for interbrain synchronization in cooperative learning.

Learning through cooperation with conspecifics-'cooperative learning'-is critical to cultural evolution and survival. Recent progress has established that interbrain synchronization (IBS) between individuals predicts success in cooperative learning. However, the likely sources of IBS during learning interactions remain poorly understood. To address this dearth of knowledge, we tested whether movement synchrony serves as an exogenous factor that drives IBS, taking an embodiment perspective. We formed dyads of individuals with varying levels of prior knowledge (high-high (HH), high-low (HL), low-low (LL) dyads) and instructed them to collaboratively analyse an ancient Chinese poem. During the task, we simultaneously recorded their brain activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy and filmed the entire experiment to parse interpersonal movement synchrony using the computer-vision motion energy analysis. Interestingly, the homogeneous groups (HH and/or LL) exhibited stronger movement synchrony and IBS compared with the heterogeneous group. Importantly, mediation analysis revealed that spontaneous and synchronized body movements between individuals contribute to IBS, hence facilitating learning. This study therefore fills a critical gap in our understanding of how interpersonal transmission of information between individual brains, associated with behavioural entrainment, shapes social learning. This article is part of the theme issue 'Minds in movement: embodied cognition in the age of artificial intelligence'.

Connector hubs in semantic network contribute to creative thinking.

Semantic memory offers a rich repository of raw materials (e.g., various concepts and connections between concepts) for creative thinking, represented as a semantic network. Similar to other networks, the semantic network exhibits a modular structure characterized by modules with dense internal connections and sparse connections between them. This organizational principle facilitates the routine storage and retrieval of information but may impede creativity. The present study investigated the effect of hub concepts with varying connection patterns on creative thinking from the perspective of a modular structured semantic network. By analyzing a large-scale semantic network, connector hubs (C-hubs) and provincial hubs (P-hubs) were identified based on their intra- and intermodule connections. These hubs were used as cue words in the alternative uses task, a widely used measure of creative thinking. Across four experiments, behavioral and neural evidence indicated that C-hubs facilitate the generation of more novel and remote ideas compared to P-hubs. However, this effect is predominantly observed in the early stage of the creative thinking process, involving changes in brain activation and functional connectivity in core regions of the default mode network and the frontoparietal network, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, angular gyrus, and precuneus. Neural findings suggest that the superior performance of C-hubs relies on stronger interactions between automatic spreading activation, controlled semantic retrieval, and attentional regulation of salient information. These results provide insight into how concepts with varying semantic connection patterns facilitate and constrain different stages of the creative thinking process through the modular structure of semantic network. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effect of closed-loop vibration stimulation on sleep quality for poor sleepers.

Recent studies have investigated the autonomic modulation method using closed-loop vibration stimulation (CLVS) as a novel strategy for enhancing sleep quality. This study aimed to explore the effects of CLVS on sleep quality, autonomic regulation, and brain activity in individuals with poor sleep quality. Twenty-seven participants with poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index >5) underwent two experimental sessions using polysomnography and a questionnaire, one with CLVS (STIM) and the other without (SHAM). Sleep macrostructure analysis first showed that CLVS significantly reduced the total time, proportion, and average duration of waking after sleep onset. These beneficial effects were paralleled by significantly increased self-reported sleep quality. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the normalized high-frequency (nHF) and electroencephalography relative powers of delta activity during N3 sleep under STIM. Additionally, coherence analysis between nHF and delta activity revealed strengthened coupling between cortical and cardiac oscillations. This study demonstrated that CLVS significantly improves sleep quality in individuals with poor sleep quality by enhancing both subjective and objective measures. These findings suggest that CLVS has the potential to be a practical, noninvasive tool for enhancing sleep quality in individuals with sleep disturbances, offering an effective alternative to pharmacological treatments.

Multiple Brain Activation Patterns for the Same Perceptual Decision-Making Task.

Meaningful variation in internal states that impacts cognition and behavior remains challenging to discover and characterize. Here we leveraged trial-to-trial fluctuations in the brain-wide signal recorded using functional MRI to test if distinct sets of brain regions are activated on different trials when accomplishing the same task. Across three different perceptual decision-making experiments, we estimated the brain activations for each trial. We then clustered the trials based on their similarity using modularity-maximization, a data-driven classification method. In each experiment, we found multiple distinct but stable subtypes of trials, suggesting that the same task can be accomplished in the presence of widely varying brain activation patterns. Surprisingly, in all experiments, one of the subtypes exhibited strong activation in the default mode network, which is typically thought to decrease in activity during tasks that require externally focused attention. The remaining subtypes were characterized by activations in different task-positive areas. The default mode network subtype was characterized by behavioral signatures that were similar to the other subtypes exhibiting activation with task-positive regions. These findings demonstrate that the same perceptual decision-making task is accomplished through multiple brain activation patterns.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Treatment Reduces Variability in Brain Function in Schizophrenia: Data From a Double-Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial.

There is increasing awareness of interindividual variability in brain function, with potentially major implications for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) efficacy. We perform a secondary analysis using data from a double-blind randomized controlled 4-week trial of 20 Hz active versus sham rTMS to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during a working memory task in participants with schizophrenia. We hypothesized that rTMS would change local functional activity and variability in the active group compared with sham. 83 participants were randomized in the original trial, and offered neuroimaging pre- and post-treatment. Of those who successfully completed both scans (n = 57), rigorous quality control left n = 42 (active/sham: n = 19/23), who were included in this analysis. Working memory-evoked activity during an N-Back (3-Back vs 1-Back) task was contrasted. Changes in local brain activity were examined from an 8mm ROI around the rTMS coordinates. Individual variability was examined as the mean correlational distance (MCD) in brain activity pattern from each participant to others within the same group. We observed an increase in task-evoked left DLPFC activity in the active group compared with sham (F1,36 = 5.83, False Discovery Rate (FDR))-corrected P = .04). Although whole-brain activation patterns were similar in both groups, active rTMS reduced the MCD in activation pattern compared with sham (F1,36 = 32.57, P < .0001). Reduction in MCD was associated with improvements in attention performance (F1,16 = 14.82, P = .0014, uncorrected). Active rTMS to DLPFC reduces individual variability of brain function in people with schizophrenia. Given that individual variability is typically higher in schizophrenia patients compared with controls, such reduction may "normalize" brain function during higher-order cognitive processing.

Associative memory in alcohol-related contexts: An fMRI study with young binge drinkers.

Alcohol-related cues are known to influence craving levels, a hallmark of alcohol misuse. Binge drinking (BD), a pattern of heavy alcohol use, has been associated with cognitive and neurofunctional alterations, including alcohol attentional bias, memory impairments, as well as disrupted activity in prefrontal- and reward-related regions. However, literature is yet to explore how memories associated with alcohol-related cues are processed by BDs, and how the recall of this information may influence their reward processing. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study aimed to investigate the neurofunctional signatures of BD during an associative memory task. In all, 36 university students, 20 BDs and 16 alcohol abstainers, were asked to memorize neutral objects paired with either alcohol or non-alcohol-related contexts. Subsequently, neutral stimuli were presented, and participants were asked to classify them as being previously paired with alcohol- or non-alcohol-related contexts. While behavioral performance was similar in both groups, during the recall of alcohol-related cues, BDs showed increased brain activation in two clusters including the thalamus, globus pallidus and dorsal striatum, and cerebellum and occipital fusiform gyrus, respectively. These findings suggest that BDs display augmented brain activity in areas responsible for mental imagery and reward processing when trying to recall alcohol-related cues, which might ultimately contribute to alcohol craving, even without being directly exposed to an alcohol-related context. These results highlight the importance of considering how alcohol-related contexts may influence alcohol-seeking behavior and, consequently, the maintenance or increase in alcohol use.

EEG differences in competitive female gymnastics, soccer, and esports athletes between resting states with eyes closed and open.

Athletes heavily rely on visual perception for performance. This study delves into electroencephalographic (EEG) brain activity among gymnastics, soccer, and esports athletes during resting states with eyes closed (REC) and open (REO) and compares differences in EEG alpha power from REC to REO (∆ EC-EO Alpha) across athlete groups. Forty-two female participants, including 14 from each athletic discipline, underwent two 5-minute EEG recordings, first during REC and then during REO conditions. Absolute EEG power was analyzed for delta (δ), theta (θ), alpha (α), and beta (β) frequency bands across various brain regions, and ∆ EC-EO Alpha values were computed. During REC, soccer players exhibited heightened α power at the midline frontopolar (Fpz) and β power at the midline occipital (Oz). Conversely, during REO, soccer players displayed increased δ power at Fpz and midline frontal (Fz) and reduced α power at the midline central (Cz) compared to gymnasts, along with elevated θ power at Fpz. Esports athletes demonstrated higher δ power and decreased α power at Fpz and Cz compared to gymnasts. Gymnasts exhibited distinct cortical activation patterns characterized by lower ∆ EC-EO Alpha at multiple electrode sites. These findings highlight sport-specific cortical activation patterns linked to visual attention among athletes. Understanding these neural adaptations could refine training methods and enhance performance outcomes in sports.

Exploring the combined impact of color and editing on emotional perception in authentic films: Insights from behavioral and neuroimaging experiments

Film color and editing are crucial elements in filmmaking, posing significant questions about their effective use in eliciting emotional responses from viewers. While prior research has explored the impacts of color and editing independently, their combined effect remains largely unexplored, leaving the open question of how these elements together affect emotional perception. This study investigates the combined impact of film color and editing on emotion perception, utilizing both subjective behavioral scales and objective functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. It employs two experiments with a two-factor design to assess the interactions between film color (colored and black-and-white) and film editing (fearful, neutral, and happy levels) on emotional perceptions. Under the direction of a professional filmmaker, a series of film sequences was created for six experimental conditions. In Experiment 1, 117 participants watched the film sequences and subjectively rated the emotional valence of the neutral face in the sequence, uncovering a significant interaction effect between film color and editing on the valence rating of the neutral face. In Experiment 2, 67 participants watched similar film sequences in an MRI scanner to analyze their brain activation patterns. Distinct activations were identified in regions including the insula, anterior cingulate cortices (ACC), and middle frontal gyrus, where a region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of the left ACC revealed an interaction effect on neural responses. These results underscore the integral role of color and editing in influencing viewers’ emotion perception using two types of measurements. This research provides novel insights into the behavioral and neural responses to filmmaking elements that underpin film reception and offers practical implications for filmmakers, encouraging a more holistic approach to considering color and editing to further enrich the audience’s emotional experiences at the pre-production stage of filmmaking.

High‐Resolution Cortical Dipole Imaging Using EEG Data Measured with a Small Number of Electrodes Based on the International 10–20 System

Cortical dipole imaging is a common technique utilized to visualize the electrical activity in the brain. However, this technique requires ~100 electrodes from a spatial resolution perspective, resulting in a long preparation time and a heavy burden on the subject. According to the international 10–20 system for recording electroencephalogram signals, 19 electrodes are placed on the scalp of the subject. In this study, high‐resolution cortical dipole imaging using the international 10–20 system was investigated for daily applications. The potential at any position on the scalp was interpolated using multiple regression analysis, and optimum parameter estimation was conducted using the proposed method. The simulation and experimental results suggest that the proposed interpolation method is effective for high‐resolution brain activity imaging when using a limited number of electrodes. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

The brain's "dark energy" puzzle upgraded: [18F]FDG uptake, delivery and phosphorylation, and their coupling with resting-state brain activity.

The brain's resting-state energy consumption is expected to be mainly driven by spontaneous activity. In our previous work, we extracted a wide range of features from resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI), and used them to predict [18F]FDG PET SUVR as a proxy of glucose metabolism. Here, we expanded upon our previous effort by estimating [18F]FDG kinetic parameters according to Sokoloff's model, i.e., (irreversible uptake rate), (delivery), (phosphorylation), in a large healthy control group. The parameters' spatial distribution was described at a high spatial resolution. We showed that while is the least redundant, there are relevant differences between and (occipital cortices, cerebellum and thalamus). Using multilevel modeling, we investigated how much of the regional variability of [18F]FDG parameters could be explained by a combination of rs-fMRI variables only, or with the addition of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2), estimated from 15O PET data. We found that combining rs-fMRI and CMRO2 led to satisfactory prediction of individual variance (45%). Although more difficult to describe, and were both most sensitive to local rs-fMRI variables, while was sensitive to CMRO2. This work represents the most comprehensive assessment to date of the complex functional and metabolic underpinnings of brain glucose consumption.

An exploratory study of functional brain activity associated with gross motor function improvement in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

ABSTRACT Purpose Identify relations of gross motor function and primary motor cortex (M1) functional activity pre and post gross motor interventions for children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Methods Thirteen children with UCP completed a gross motor intervention. Pre/post-intervention functional MRI outcomes included the laterality index (LI), activation volume, and spatial overlap of M1 activation during active ankle dorsiflexion. Advanced gross motor function (Challenge) was assessed pre/post-intervention, and 2–6 months later. Bivariate correlations and linear regression assessed relations between neuroimaging and motor function. Results Mean pre-intervention M1 activity was contralateral during dominant (LI = +0.85, SD 0.21) but variable during the affected (LI = +0.43, SD 0.57) ankle dorsiflexion. Changes in motor function and neuroimaging outcomes were not significantly associated. However, smaller affected ankle activation and less spatial overlap between ankle activations pre-intervention predicted Challenge improvements post-intervention (adjusted R2 = 0.74, p = .001.) Conclusions This exploratory study identified pre-intervention neuroimaging predictors of post-intervention improvements in advanced gross motor function.

CSF complement proteins are elevated in prodromal to moderate Alzheimer's disease patients and are not altered by the anti-tau antibody semorinemab.

Growing evidence suggests a role for neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated complement pathway activity in AD patient cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and evaluated its modulation by the anti-tau antibody semorinemab. Immunoassays were applied to measure CSF complement proteins C4, factor B (FB), C3 and their cleavage fragments C4a, C3a, and factor Bb (Bb) in AD patients and a separate cognitively unimpaired (CU) cohort. All measured CSF complement proteins were increased in AD versus CU subjects, with C4a displaying the most robust increase. Finally, semorinemab did not have a significant pharmacodynamic effect on CSF complement proteins. Elevated levels of CSF C4a, C4, C3a, C3, Bb, and FB are consistent with complement activation in AD brains. Despite showing a reduction in CSF soluble tau species, semorinemab did not impact complement protein levels or activity. Further studies are needed to determine the value of complement proteins as neuroinflammation biomarkers in AD. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) complement proteins C4a, C3a, Bb, C4, C3, and factor B levels were increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients compared to a separate cognitively unimpaired (CU) cohort. Baseline CSF complement protein levels were correlated with neuro-axonal degeneration and glial activation biomarkers in AD patients. The investigational anti-tau antibody semorinemab did not impact CSF complement protein levels or activity relative to the placebo arm.

A New Plant Active Polysaccharide from Nicotiana Improves the Lead-Led Impairment of Spatial Memory in Mice by Modulating the Gut Microbiota and IL-6.

Active polysaccharides from plants are broadly applied in the food and health industry. The purpose of this study is to identify a new plant active polysaccharide and to investigate its role in modulating spatial memory. Ultrasonics and DEAE-52 chromatography were used to separate and purify the plant active polysaccharide (PAP). Mice were exposed to 100 ppm of lead acetate from birth to 7 weeks old to establish the memory impairment model. PAPs with concentrations of 200 or 400 ppm were fed to the subject mice each day after weaning in a spatiotemporally separated fashion. At the end of the intervention, mice were examined using the Morris water maze test, microbiome sequencing, cytokine profiling and protein analysis. The derived active polysaccharide was constituted by β-anomeric carbon, indicating a new form of PAP. The PAP significantly ameliorates the memory impairment caused by postnatal lead exposure, as evidenced by the preferred coverage of the test mouse in the hidden platform, demonstrating salient neuroregulatory activity. In terms of the gut microbiome in response to PAP treatment, it was found that the 400 ppm PAP reversed the gut dysbiosis, producing a comparable structure to the intact animals, represented by the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Muribaculum, Desulfovibrio, etc. For cytokines, the PAP reversed the plasma levels of IL-6, suggesting an anti-inflammatory trend in the context of proinflammation caused by lead invasion. By injecting an IL-6 antagonist, Tocilizumab, into the deficient mice, the spatial memory was significantly repaired, which demonstrates the central roles of IL-6 in mediating the positive effect of the PAP. Finally, a histone modification mark, H3K27me3, was found to be potent in responding to the signals conveyed by the PAP. The PAP could improve the memory deficits by remodeling the gut-brain axis centered at the microbiota and IL-6, which is regarded as an important cytokine-modulating brain activity. This is an intriguing instance linking neuromodulation with the active polysaccharide, shedding light on the innovative applications of plant polysaccharides due to the scarcity of similar phenotypic connections.

Heterogenous brain activations across individuals localize to a common network.

Task functional magnetic resonance imaging research has generally shielded away from studying individuals due to the low reproducibility. Here, we propose that heterogeneous brain activations across individuals localize to a common network. To test this hypothesis, we use working memory (WM) as our example. First, we showed that discrete-brain-based reproducibility of brain activation during WM across individuals was low. Then, we used activation network mapping (ANM) technique to identify each individual's brain network of WM and found that network-based reproducibility was rather high. Prediction analyses using machine learning algorithms indicated that individual WM networks identified via ANM can predict WM behavioral performance. This predictive ability even outperformed that of brain activations. Our study provides a new explanation on the low reproducibility of brain activations across individuals. The results suggest that ANM can be used to identify individual brain networks of cognitive processes, thus promising broad potential applications.

6953 Bridging the Gender Gap: Sexually Dimorphic Brain Responses in Distressing Low Sexual Desire

Abstract Disclosure: J. Tsoutsouki: None. N. Ertl: None. E.G. Mills: None. M.B. Wall: None. L. Thurston: None. L. Yang: None. S. Suladze: None. T. Hunjan: None. M. Phylactou: None. B. Patel: None. J. Howard: None. A. Abbara: None. D. Golmeier: None. A.N. Comninos: None. W.S. Dhillo: None. Background: Distressing low sexual desire, termed Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), affects 10% of women and 8% of men. The established ‘top-down’ neurofunctional model of HSDD in women suggests that in response to erotic cues, excessive activation of higher-level cognitive brain regions (involved in introspection/self-monitoring) suppresses lower-level sexual brain centres, thereby impeding normal sexual function. By contrast, the neurodysfunction in men with HSDD remains to be fully characterised and crucially unlike in women, there are currently no licensed therapies. Herein, we report the first direct comparison of the neural bases of HSDD in women and men. Methods: 32 premenopausal women with HSDD [mean age±SD (y) 29.2±6.7] and 32 men with HSDD [age 37.9±8.6] underwent a task-based functional MRI (fMRI) measuring sexual brain activity during erotic versus control (exercise) videos. Participants completed psychometric questionnaires before and after the fMRI scan, providing functional relevance for the brain activity changes. Results: Women displayed significantly greater activation in higher-level cortical regions (e.g. inferior frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus) and lower-level limbic brain regions (e.g. amygdala, striatum, thalamus) in response to erotic videos, compared to the men. Lower activation in lower-limbic sexual regions in women correlated with more severe HSDD, which along with a hyperactivation in the inferior-frontal gyrus relative to the men, supports the ‘top-down’ mechanism underlying HSDD in women. By contrast, men exhibited lower activation in both higher-cortical and lower-limbic regions, but greater activation than the women in the visual cortex in response to erotic videos. Hence, a heightened sensitivity to visual erotic cues in men might not be effectively relayed to the limbic system. In women only, hypothalamic hyperactivation in response to erotic videos correlated with ‘increased heartbeat’ (r=0.5, P=0.001), and ‘tingling all over’ (r=0.6, P&amp;lt;0.001), while higher striatal activation correlated with feeling more ‘stimulated’ (r=0.4, P=0.001) and ‘genital tingling’ (r=0.6, P&amp;lt;0.001) on the psychometric questionnaires. Crucially, these findings were specific to erotic stimuli as no differences were identified in the control comparison (exercise&amp;gt;baseline contrast). Discussion: This is the first study to directly compare the neural bases of distressing low sexual desire in women and men. While supporting the ‘top-down’ mechanism of HSDD in women, it suggests a different neurodysfunctional process in men with HSDD, highlighting a potential functional disconnection between sensory/attention and sexual centres. Our findings have key clinical implications as they identify a sexual dimorphism in the neural bases of low sexual desire relevant to the escalating development of therapeutics for patients with HSDD. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Automated EEG-based language detection using directed quantum pattern technique

Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals contain complex useful information about brain activities. These EEG signals are noisy, highly varying and nonstationary in nature. Hence, extracting meaningful information from these signals is challenging. The existing machine learning systems struggle to capture the minute changes from the signals and yield high performance.This study introduces a novel quantum-inspired feature extraction technique called Directed Quantum Pattern (DQP), designed to address these challenges by using a lattice structure to capture directional binary features. These directions (paths) are computed using a maximum function providing a dynamic and adaptive feature representation.This paper presents a novel DQP-LangNet developed using DQP for automated classification of two- languages using EEG signals. We have proposed a hybrid approach, combining DQP, statistical features, and multi-level discrete wavelet transform (MDWT) to extract salient features similar to the deep learning approach. The EEG dataset consisting of 14 channels, produces 7 feature vectors per channel, yielding 98 feature vectors. Neighborhood component analysis and Chi-square (Chi2) feature selection approaches generated 196 feature vectors.In addition to the innovative feature extraction a new classification structure called “t” is proposed k-nearest neighbor (tkNN) and support vector machine (tSVM) classifiers are employed. Using the proposed tkNN and tSVM classifiers, 392 (=196×2) classifier-based outcomes are obtained. To further improve classification performance, we applied the iterative majority voting (IMV) technique to automatically select the best result.Our DQP-based model achieved a classification accuracy of 95.68 %using EEG language dataset with leave-one-subject-out (LOSO) cross-validation strategy. Also, an explainable feature engineering (XFE) structure of DQP-LangNet is employed to obtain channel-specific explainable results. Our proposed DQP-LangNet model can be employed for other applications in neuroscience.