Executive Control Network Research Articles

Static and dynamic interactions within the triple-network model in stroke patients with multidomain cognitive impairments

BackgroundInternal capsule strokes often result in multidomain cognitive impairments across memory, attention, and executive function, typically due to disruptions in brain network connectivity. Our study examines these impairments by analyzing interactions within the triple-network model, focusing on both static and dynamic aspects. MethodsWe collected resting-state fMRI data from 62 left (CI_L) and 56 right (CI_R) internal capsule stroke patients, along with 57 healthy controls (HC). Using independent component analysis to extract the default mode (DMN), executive control (ECN), and salience networks (SAN), we conducted static and dynamic functional network connectivity analyses (DFNC) to identify differences between stroke patients and controls. For DFNC, we used k-means clustering to focus on temporal properties and multilayer network analysis to examine integration and modularity Q, where integration represents dynamic interactions between networks, and modularity Q measures how well the network is divided into distinct modules. We then calculated the correlations between SFNC/DFNC properties with significant inter-group differences and cognitive scales. ResultsCompared to HC, both CI_L and CI_R patients showed increased static FCs between SAN and DMN and decreased dynamic interactions between ECN and other networks. CI_R patients also had heightened static FCs between SAN and ECN and maintained a state with strongly positive FNCs across all networks in the triple-network model. Additionally, CI_R patients displayed decreased modularity Q. ConclusionThese findings highlight that stroke can result in the disruption of static and dynamic interactions in the triple network model, aiding our understanding of the neuropathological basis for multidomain cognitive deficits after internal capsule stroke.

Altered functional connectivity of insular subregions in subjective cognitive decline.

Recent research has highlighted the insula as a critical hub in human brain networks and the most susceptible region to subjective cognitive decline (SCD). However, the changes in functional connectivity of insular subregions in SCD patients remain poorly understood. The present study aims to clarify the altered functional connectivity patterns within insular subregions in individuals with SCD using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). In this study, we collected rs-fMRI data from 30 patients with SCD and 28 healthy controls (HCs). By defining three subregions of the insula, we mapped whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC). We identified several distinct RSFC patterns of the insular subregions. Specifically, for positive connectivity, three cognitive-related RSFC patterns were identified within the insula, suggesting anterior-to-posterior functional subdivisions: (1) a dorsal anterior zone of the insula that shows RSFC with the executive control network (ECN); (2) a ventral anterior zone of the insula that shows functional connectivity with the salience network (SN); and (3) a posterior zone along the insula that shows functional connectivity with the sensorimotor network (SMN). Compared to the controls, patients with SCD exhibited increased positive RSFC to the sub-region of the insula, demonstrating compensatory plasticity. Furthermore, these abnormal insular subregion RSFCs are closely correlated with cognitive performance in the SCD patients. Our findings suggest that different insular subregions exhibit distinct patterns of RSFC with various functional networks, which are affected differently in patients with SCD.

Network connectivity underlying information processing speed in children: Application of a pediatric brain tumor survivor injury model

Elucidating how adaptive and maladaptive changes to the structural connectivity of brain networks influences neural synchrony, and how this structure–function coupling impacts cognition is an important question in human neuroscience. This study assesses these links in the default mode and executive control networks during resting state, a visual-motor task, and through computational modeling in the developing brain and in acquired brain injuries. Pediatric brain tumor survivors were used as an injury model as they are known to exhibit cognitive deficits, structural connectivity compromise, and perturbations in neural communication. Focusing on information processing speed to assess cognitive performance, we demonstrate that during the presence and absence of specific task demands, structural connectivity of these critical brain networks directly influences neural communication and information processing speed, and white matter compromise has an indirect adverse impact on reaction time via perturbed neural synchrony. Further, when our experimentally acquired structural connectomes simulated neural activity, the resulting functional simulations aligned with our empirical results and accurately predicted cognitive group differences. Overall, our synergistic findings further our understanding of the neural underpinnings of cognition and when it is perturbed. Further establishing alterations in structural–functional coupling as biomarkers of cognitive impairments could facilitate early intervention and monitoring of these deficits.

Mental Workload and Prefrontal Brain Activity During Silent Reading Task in University Students with Problematic Smartphone Use.

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is common among young people and linked to poor academic performance. However, how PSU affects learning processes remains unclear. This study investigated the influence of auditory cue stimulation during a reading task on the mental workload and prefrontal brain activity of young individuals with PSU. Sixteen university students with PSU and 14 healthy controls (HC) performed a silent reading task, during which fake notification sounds were introduced. Their mental workload was assessed using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and prefrontal brain activity was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results of the NASA-TLX suggest that the PSU group experienced greater frustration than the HC group. The fNIRS results showed that in the right medial prefrontal region of the HC group, O2Hb levels increased following cue stimulation, whereas no change was observed in the PSU group. Moreover, in the HC group, HHb levels in the left lateral prefrontal region decreased after cue stimulation. The findings of the present study demonstrate that university students with PSU experience frustration and exhibit deactivation in the prefrontal regions associated with the executive control network during silent reading in realistic learning situations.

Depressed patients with childhood maltreatment display altered intra- and inter-network resting state functional connectivity

BackgroundChildhood maltreatment (CM) is a major risk factor for the development of major depressive disorder (MDD). To gain more knowledge on how adverse childhood experiences influence the development of brain architecture, we studied functional connectivity (FC) alterations of neural networks of depressed patients with, or without the history of CM. MethodsDepressed patients with severe childhood maltreatment (n = 18), MDD patients without maltreatment (n = 19), and matched healthy controls (n = 20) were examined with resting state functional MRI. History of maltreatment was assessed with the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Intra- and inter-network FC alterations were evaluated using FMRIB Software Library and CONN toolbox. ResultsWe found numerous intra- and inter-network FC alterations between the maltreated and the non-maltreated patients. Intra-network FC differences were found in the default mode, visual and auditory networks, and cerebellum. Network modelling revealed several inter-network FC alterations connecting the default mode network with the executive control, salience and cerebellar networks. Increased inter-network FC was found in maltreated patients between the sensory-motor and visual, cerebellar, default mode and salience networks. LimitationsRelatively small sample size, cross-sectional design, and retrospective self-report questionnaire to assess adverse childhood experiences. ConclusionsOur findings confirm that severely maltreated depressed patients display numerous alterations of intra- and inter-network FC strengths, not only in their fronto-limbic circuits, but also in sensory-motor, visual, auditory, and cerebellar networks. These functional alterations may explain that maltreated individuals typically display altered perception and are prone to develop functional neurological symptom disorder (conversion disorder) in adulthood.

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging: an analysis of the connectivity of brain large-scale networks

Objective: To assess the possibilities of various methods for analyzing the functional integration of large-scale brain neural networks in healthy subjects according to functional MRI resting state.Material and methods. Functional MRI at rest was performed on 28 healthy male subjects aged 27.4 ± 5.1 years, without bad habits and craniocerebral injuries. A functional evaluation of large-scale neural networks included in the triple network model was carried out: default mode network, salience network, executive control network.Results. The analysis of independent components made it possible to fully identify the default mode network and the salience network, however, the executive control network were partially identified, and this mainly concerned structures with a bilateral location. Graph analysis has identified structures of greatest value for neurofunctional research. Almost all structures that have the highest graph indicators are related to the executive control network. The results of the Roi-analysis showed the interaction between all large-scale networks, which indicates their joint work in providing important brain functions. It was also determined that in healthy people, all structures within large-scale networks are functionally interconnected.Conclusion. Different methods of resting functional MRI data analysis reveal different aspects of connectivity in the brain, completely different principles are involved in the processing of each method, and the final quantification parameters also vary depending on the preferred method. Currently, there is no single method that in itself would be considered the standard of analysis. Applying multiple methods to the same dataset can produce more informative results.

Functional Brain Networks of Minor and Well-Structured Major Hallucinations in Parkinson's Disease.

Minor hallucinations (mHs) and well-structured major hallucinations (MHs) are common symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) psychosis. To investigate the resting-state networks (RSNs) in patients with PD without hallucinations (PD-nH), with mH (PD-mH), and with MH (PD-MH). A total of 73 patients with PD were enrolled (27 PD-nH, 23 PD-mH, and 23 PD-MH). Using seed-based functional connectivity analyses, we investigated the RSNs supposedly related to hallucinations in PD: the default mode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), dorsal attention network (DAN), ventral attention network (VAN), and visual network (VN). We compared the cognitive function and RSN connectivity among the three groups. In addition, we performed a seed-to-seed analysis to examine the inter-network connectivity within each group using the corresponding RSN seeds. PD-MH group had lower test scores for attention and visuospatial functions compared with those in the other groups. The connectivity of the right intracalcarine cortex within the DAN was lower in the PD-MH group than in the others. The PD-mH and PD-MH groups showed higher connectivity in the left orbitofrontal cortex within DMN compared with the PD-nH group, whereas the connectivity was lower in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) within ECN, precuneus cortex within VAN, right middle temporal gyrus and precuneus cortex within DAN, and left MFG within VN. The PD-mH and PD-MH groups showed different inter-network connectivity between the five RSNs, especially regarding DAN connectivity. DAN dysfunction may be a key factor in the progression from mH to MH in patients with PD. © 2023 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Investigating cognitive reserve, symptom resolution and brain connectivity in mild traumatic brain injury

BackgroundA proportion of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) suffer long-term consequences, and the reasons behind this are still poorly understood. One factor that may affect outcomes is cognitive reserve, which is the brain's ability to maintain cognitive function despite injury. It is often assessed through educational level or premorbid IQ tests. This study aimed to explore whether there were differences in post-concussion symptoms and symptom resolution between patients with mTBI and minor orthopedic injuries one week and three months after injury. Additional aims were to explore the relationship between cognitive reserve and outcome, as well as functional connectivity according to resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).MethodFifteen patients with mTBI and 15 controls with minor orthopedic injuries were recruited from the emergency department. Assessments, including Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire (RPQ), neuropsychological testing, and rs-fMRI scans, were conducted on average 7 days (SD = 2) and 122 days (SD = 51) after injury.ResultsAt the first time point, significantly higher rates of post-concussion symptoms (U = 40.0, p = 0.003), state fatigue (U = 56.5, p = 0.014), and fatigability (U = 58.5, p = 0.025) were observed among the mTBI group than among the controls. However, after three months, only the difference in post-concussion symptoms remained significant (U = 27.0, p = 0.003). Improvement in post-concussion symptoms was found to be significantly correlated with cognitive reserve, but only in the mTBI group (Spearman’s rho = -0.579, p = .038). Differences in the trajectory of recovery were also observed for fatigability between the two groups (U = 36.5, p = 0.015). Moreover, functional connectivity differences in the frontoparietal network were observed between the groups, and for mTBI patients, functional connectivity differences in an executive control network were observed over time.ConclusionThe findings of this pilot study suggest that mTBI, compared to minor orthopedic trauma, is associated to both functional connectivity changes in the brain and concussion-related symptoms. While there is improvement in these symptoms over time, a small subgroup with lower cognitive reserve appears to experience more persistent and possibly worsening symptoms over time. This, however, needs to be validated in larger studies.Trial registrationNCT05593172. Retrospectively registered.

Functional connectivity patterns in parosmia

ObjectiveParosmia is a qualitative olfactory dysfunction presenting as “distorted odor perception” in presence of an odor source. Aim of this study was to use resting state functional connectivity to gain more information on the alteration of olfactory processing at the level of the central nervous system level.MethodsA cross sectional study was performed in 145 patients with parosmia (age range 20–76 years; 90 women). Presence and degree of parosmia was diagnosed on the basis of standardized questionnaires. Participants also received olfactory testing using the “Sniffin’ Sticks”. Then they underwent resting state scans using a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner while fixating on a cross.ResultsWhole brain analyses revealed reduced functional connectivity in salience as well as executive control networks. Region of interest-based analyses also supported reduced functional connectivity measures between primary and secondary olfactory eloquent areas (temporal pole, supramarginal gyrus and right orbitofrontal cortex; dorso-lateral pre-frontal cortex and the right piriform cortex).ConclusionsParticipants with parosmia exhibited a reduced information flow between memory, decision making centers, and primary and secondary olfactory areas.

I know why the caged bird sings: Distress tolerant individuals show greater resting state connectivity between ventromedial prefrontal cortex and right amygdala as a function of higher vagal tone

BackgroundIntolerance to psychological distress is associated with various forms of psychopathology, ranging from addiction to mood disturbance. The capacity to withstand aversive affective states is often explained by individual differences in cardiovagal tone as well as resting state connectivity of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), a region involved in the regulation of emotions and cardio-autonomic tone. However, it is unclear which brain regions involved in distress tolerance show greater resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) as a function of resting heart rate variability (HRV). MethodsOne-hundred and twenty-six adults, aged 20 to 83.5 years, were selected from a lifespan cohort at the Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample. Participants' distress tolerance levels were assessed based upon performance on the Behavioral Indicator of Resiliency to Distress (BIRD) task. Artifact-free resting-state functional brain scans collected during separate sessions were used. While inside the scanner, a pulse oximeter was used to record beat-to-beat intervals to derive high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV). The relationship between HF-HRV and vmPFC to whole brain functional connectivity was compared between distress tolerant (BIRD completers) and distress intolerant (BIRD non-completers). ResultsGroups did not differ in their history of psychiatric diagnosis. Higher resting HF-HRV was associated with longer total time spent on the BIRD task for the entire sample (r = 0.255, p = 0.004). After controlling for age, gender, body mass index, head motion, and gray matter volume. Distress tolerant individuals showed greater rsFC (p < 0.005 (uncorrected), k = 20) between the vmPFC and default-mode network (DMN) hubs including posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus, medial temporal lobes, and the parahippocampal cortex. As a function of higher resting HF-HRV greater vmPFC connectivity was observed with sub-threshold regions in the right amygdala and left anterior prefrontal cortex, with the former passing small volume correction, in distress tolerant versus distress intolerant individuals. ConclusionIn a lifespan sample of community-dwelling adults, distress tolerant individuals showed greater vmPFC connectivity with anterior and posterior hubs of the DMN compared to distress intolerant individuals. As a function of greater HF-HRV, distress tolerant individuals evidenced greater vmPFC with salience and executive control network hubs. These findings are consistent with deficits in neural resource allocation within a triple network resting amongst persons exhibiting behavioral intolerance to psychological distress.

MRI‐Based Water Exchange Rate Across the Blood‐Brain‐Barrier is Associated with Diffusion MRI Free Water in Older Adults

AbstractBackgroundThe blood brain barrier (BBB) tightly regulates the clearance of waste from the central nervous system. Changes in BBB function may disrupt such clearance mechanisms, resulting in increased waste and unrestricted fluid, or free water (FW), which can be measured using diffusion‐weighted imaging. Here, we explored whether MRI‐based BBB water exchange rate (kw; measure of BBB function) is associated with FW within white matter tracts connecting the executive control network (ECN). We further explored whether FW within the ECN would likewise be associated with executive function performance.MethodFifty‐three older adults (ages 65‐85) without dementia were scanned using a 3‐Tesla MRI Siemens Magnetom Prisma with a 64‐channel head coil. A 3D gradient‐and‐spin‐echo diffusion‐prepared arterial spin labeling (DP‐ASL) sequence and a 126‐direction main diffusion MRI sequence using 4 b‐values (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 s/mm2) were acquired. Each participant’s mean kw values averaged over the entire brain were calculated from the DP‐ASL data. FW maps were calculated, registered to FMRIB space, and skeletonized using FSL’s tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS). Skeletonized FW values were averaged across the white matter tracts connecting the ECN using a previously defined fMRI template. All participants completed the cognitive assessment from the Uniform Data Set Version 3 within one year of the scan date. Executive function was assessed for each participant based on a composite measure including digit span backwards and trails making part B test minus part A. A multivariate linear regression model first tested the association between whole brain kw values (predictor) and FW in the ECN as the dependent variable. A second multivariate linear regression model then tested the association between FW in the ECN (predictor) and EF performance as the dependent variable. Models controlled for age and sex.ResultsWhole brain kw values were negatively associated with FW in the ECN (r = ‐0.338, p = 0.031). FW in the ECN was negatively associated with EF performance (r = ‐0.318, p = 0.024).ConclusionOur results suggest that BBB dysfunction is associated with free water in large‐scale cognitive networks. Subsequent free water changes in these networks are linked with associated decreases in cognitive performance.

Aβ accumulation associated with executive function decline and tau accumulation associated with memory decline in cognitively normal older people

AbstractBackgroundThe early accumulation of Aß and tau in cognitively‐normal people is predictive of future cognitive decline. It has been difficult, however, to disentangle their effects. Aß and tau target distinct regions in early stages. Frontal‐parietal regions are among the first to show Aß accumulation and are important for executive control. Temporal regions, especially the medial temporal lobe, are early sites where tau accumulates and are critical for memory. Their differential vulnerability to Aß and tau allows us to examine whether there are specific pathology‐cognitive associations, where faster decline in memory, beyond its expected level based on executive function, may be related to tau accumulation, and that faster executive function decline may be related to Aß accumulation.Method78 cognitively‐normal older adults from the Berkeley Aging Cohort Study underwent longitudinal 11C‐Pittsburgh compound‐B (PiB) PET, 18F‐flortaucipir (FTP) PET, and cognitive assessments of executive function and memory (Fig‐1A). We used linear mixed‐effects models to estimate longitudinal change in Aß (Fig‐1B), temporal tau (Fig‐1C), executive function (Fig‐1D), and memory (Fig‐1E). We focused on within‐individual variability in cognitive decline in different domains and computed two cognitive decline residual scores (executive function controlling for memory, Fig‐2A; memory controlling for executive function, Fig‐2B) to represent domain‐specific performance decline.ResultAß accumulation across wide‐spread regions, especially frontal/parietal cortex, was associated with faster executive function decline, but not memory, even after controlling for meta‐temporal tau change (Fig‐3A). On the other hand, temporal tau accumulation, especially in the medial temporal regions, was related to faster memory decline, but not executive function, even after controlling for global Aß change (Fig‐3B). Using raw cognitive slopes, instead of residual scores, yielded stronger associations with both pathologies but reduced the ability to detect specific pathology‐cognition relationships.ConclusionWe found evidence supporting specific associations between accumulating pathology and domain‐specific cognitive decline. The “Aß‐executive function, tau‐memory” association may reflect specific vulnerabilities in the executive control network and the memory network to different pathology, leading to cognitive decline in different domains. The variability of cognitive decline within the same individual across different domains provides unique information and may be used as behavioral markers for specific pathology.

Aβ accumulation associated with executive function decline and tau accumulation associated with memory decline in cognitively normal older people

AbstractBackgroundThe early accumulation of Aβ and tau in cognitively‐normal people is predictive of future cognitive decline. It has been difficult, however, to disentangle their effects. Aβ and tau target distinct regions in early stages. Frontal‐parietal regions are among the first to show Aβ accumulation and are important for executive control. Temporal regions, especially the medial temporal lobe, are early sites where tau accumulates and are critical for memory. Their differential vulnerability to Aβ and tau allows us to examine whether there are specific pathology‐cognitive associations, where faster decline in memory, beyond its expected level based on executive function, may be related to tau accumulation, and that faster executive function decline may be related to Aβ accumulation.Method78 cognitively‐normal older adults from the Berkeley Aging Cohort Study underwent longitudinal 11C‐Pittsburgh compound‐B (PiB) PET, 18F‐flortaucipir (FTP) PET, and cognitive assessments of executive function and memory (Fig‐1A). We used linear mixed‐effects models to estimate longitudinal change in Aβ (Fig‐1B), temporal tau (Fig‐1C), executive function (Fig‐1D), and memory (Fig‐1E). We focused on within‐individual variability in cognitive decline in different domains and computed two cognitive decline residual scores (executive function controlling for memory, Fig‐2A; memory controlling for executive function, Fig‐2B) to represent domain‐specific performance decline.ResultAβ accumulation across wide‐spread regions, especially frontal/parietal cortex, was associated with faster executive function decline, but not memory, even after controlling for meta‐temporal tau change (Fig‐3A). On the other hand, temporal tau accumulation, especially in the medial temporal regions, was related to faster memory decline, but not executive function, even after controlling for global Aβ change (Fig‐3B). Using raw cognitive slopes, instead of residual scores, yielded stronger associations with both pathologies but reduced the ability to detect specific pathology‐cognition relationships.ConclusionWe found evidence supporting specific associations between accumulating pathology and domain‐specific cognitive decline. The “Aβ‐executive function, tau‐memory” association may reflect specific vulnerabilities in the executive control network and the memory network to different pathology, leading to cognitive decline in different domains. The variability of cognitive decline within the same individual across different domains provides unique information and may be used as behavioral markers for specific pathology.

Associations between ruminative brooding and white matter change amongst healthy middle‐aged and older adults

AbstractBackgroundRepetitive Negative Thinking (RNT) includes negative thoughts about the future (worry) and past (ruminative brooding). RNT has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology (Marchant et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2020;16(7)) and different patterns of functional connectivity of the triple network of attention, namely, the default mode, executive control and anterior salience networks (Solé‐Padullés et al. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022;14). However, the association between RNT and white matter microstructure is unclear (Demnitz‐King et al. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2021;316) and no existing studies have examined this association longitudinally among non‐clinical adults.MethodHealthy adults (age range: 50‐70, 51.2% women) from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative (Cattaneo et al. Front Aging Neurosci. 2018 11;10) completed the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ), Rumination Response Scale (RRS), and Penn‐State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) at baseline to measure RNT levels. Participants underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with T1 and T2‐weighted acquisitions to assess volume of white matter hypointensities (WMH) at baseline (N = 588) and two years later (N = 425). Change in WMH was computed taking into account time interval between scans. Stepwise linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate associations between change in WMH and baseline age, sex, PTQ, PSWQ and RRS subscale scores (brooding, reflection and depression).ResultBaseline age (t = 3.71, p&lt;0.0001) and brooding (t = 2.82, p = 0.005) were associated with increased WMH across scans (see partial regression plots, Fig 1A/B). No cross‐sectional associations were observed between volume of WMH and RNT‐related variables.ConclusionBrooding was associated with increase of WMH in healthy adults. Brooding, a maladaptive form of emotion regulation, enhances repetitive focus on one’s distress and is associated with altered connectivity of attentional networks and greater asymmetry of the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus in depressed adults (Pisner et al. Neuroimage Clin. 2019;24). Our results are of importance considering that: WMH correlate with CSF‐amyloid in cognitively unimpaired older adults (Wei et al. Brain Behav. 2019;9(12)) and this is the first longitudinal study focusing on white matter change as related to psychological variables linked to cognitive decline and AD‐related pathology. The putative impact of psychological factors on brain integrity can be detected even at sub‐clinical levels and in earlier stages within the dementia continuum.

Regional cerebral metabolism alterations and functional connectivity in individuals with opioid use disorder: An integrated resting-state PET/fMRI study

Individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) have been reported to show abnormal brain metabolism and impaired coupling among brain networks such as the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SN), and executive control network (ECN). However, the characteristics of brain glucose metabolism and its related functions in the brain networks in individuals with OUD remain unknown. Thirty-six individuals with OUD and thirty matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited in this integrated positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) study. Differences in glucose metabolism were analyzed by using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), and the corresponding coupling characteristics of the individuals with OUD were also analyzed. The individuals with OUD showed widespread bilateral hypometabolism in the middle temporal gyrus (MTG), superior temporal gyrus, angular gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, inferior parietal lobe, Rolandic operculum, and left insula, but obvious hypermetabolism in the brainstem and left cerebellum. Meanwhile, in individuals with OUD, the hypometabolism of right MTG which is included in the DMN was accompanied by decreased coupling with the left superior frontal gyrus and right superior parietal gyrus which are included in the ECN. Furthermore, individuals with OUD showed a positive correlation between the duration of heroin use and glucose metabolism of the left MTG. The individuals with OUD were characterized by widespread bilateral hypometabolism in the temporal and parietal regions but obvious hypermetabolism in the brainstem and left cerebellum. The results suggest that the hypometabolism in the temporal and parietal regions might be related to DMN dysfunction and the hypermetabolism in the brainstem and left cerebellum may be compensate for other brain regions showing hypometabolism. In particular, hypometabolism in the self-referential-related DMN regions in OUD might attenuate their relationships with the inhibitory-control-related ECN regions. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating the metabolic and functional profiles of the right MTG in future studies on the treatment of OUD.

Gray matter structural covariance networks patterns associated with autopsy-confirmed LATE-NC compared to Alzheimer's disease pathology

BackgroundCases with the limbic-predominant age-related TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and mixed AD+TDP-43 pathology (AD+LATE-NC) share similar symptoms, which makes it a challenge for accurate diagnosis. Exploring the patterns of gray matter structural covariance networks (SCNs) in these three types may help to clarify the underlying mechanism and provide a basis for clinical interventions. MethodsWe included ante-mortem MRI data of 10 LATE-NC, 39 CE, and 25 CE+LATE-NC from the ADNI autopsy sample. We used four regions of interest (left posterior cingulate cortex, right entorhinal cortex, frontoinsular and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) to anchor the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SN), and executive control network (ECN). Finally, we assessed the SCN alternations using a multi-regression model-based linear-interaction analysis. ResultsCases with autopsy-confirmed LATE-NC and AD showed increased structural associations involving DMN, ECN, and SN. Cases with AD+LATE-NC showed increased structural association within DMN while decreased structural association between DMN and ECN. The volume of peak clusters showed significant associations with cognition and AD pathology. ConclusionsThis study showed different SCN patterns in the cases with LATE-NC, AD, and AD+LATE-NC, and indicated the network disconnection mechanism underlying these three neuropathological progressions. Further, SCN may serve as an effective biomarker to distinguish between different types of dementia.

Reduced Intra- and Inter-Network Functional Connectivity Identified in Patients with Tinnitus with and without Hearing Loss

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate differences in the intra- and inter-network functional connectivity (FC) of the brain using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) in patients with tinnitus, with (T + H) or without hearing loss (T). Methods: We performed rs-fMRI on 82 participants (21 T, 32 T + H, and 29 healthy controls). An independent component analysis (ICA) was performed to obtain the resting-state networks (RSNs) and calculate the differences in FC. Moreover, we investigated the relationships between networks using functional network connectivity analysis. Results: We identified nine major RSNs, including the auditory network; default mode network; executive control network (ECN), including the right frontoparietal network and left frontoparietal network (LFPN); somatomotor network (SMN); dorsal attention network; ventral attention network; salience network (SN); and visual network (VN). These RSNs were extracted in all groups using ICA. Compared with that in the control group, we observed reduced FC between the LFPN and VN in the T group and between the LFPN and SN in the T + H group. The inter-network connectivity analysis revealed decreased network interactions in the SMN (IC 22)-ECN (IC 2), SMN (IC 22)-VN (IC 8), and VN (IC 14)-SN (IC 3) connections in the T + H group, compared with the healthy control group. Furthermore, we observed significantly decreased network interactions in the SMN (IC 22)-VN (IC 8) in the T group. Conclusions: Our results indicated abnormalities within the brain networks of the T and T + H groups, including the SMN, ECN, and VN, compared with the control group. Furthermore, both T and T + H groups demonstrated reduced FC between the LFPN, VN, and SMN. There were no significant differences between the T and the T + H groups. Furthermore, we observed reduced FC between the right olfactory cortex and the orbital part of the right middle frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, and right triangular part of the inferior frontal gyrus within the T and T + H groups. Thus, disruptions in brain regions responsible for attention, stimulus monitoring, and auditory orientation contribute to tinnitus generation.

Language comprehension and cognitive orientation switching in Brocas syndrome and Parkinsons disease

This paper reviews researches on sentence comprehension deficits and the cognitive orientation switching abilities in two neurological disorders Brocas aphasia and Parkinsons disease (PD). Both patient groups exhibit challenges in sentence comprehension. Individuals with Brocas aphasia show reduced lexical activation and struggle with processing syntactic information when comprehending sentences. While they may retain some comprehension abilities, complex grammatical processing is significantly hindered. In PD, sentence comprehension deficits arise from disruptions in attention, executive control, and action-language networks in the brain which are critical for integrating linguistic information. Regarding cognitive orientation switching, patients with both Brocas aphasia and PD demonstrate impairments, likely due to dysfunction in frontal brain regions that enable flexibility in thinking. Broca's patients struggle with changing response strategies, while PD patients have difficulty learning new classification rules and are challenged by distractions. There is evidence that reduced cognitive switching abilities can interfere with effective syntactic processing during sentence comprehension. The review highlights neurological underpinnings and manifestations of comprehension and cognitive flexibility deficits in these two disorders. Further research can provide greater insight into the nuanced interactions between language and domain-general cognition.

Mindfulness-based therapy improves brain functional network reconfiguration efficiency

Mindfulness-based interventions are showing increasing promise as a treatment for psychological disorders, with improvements in cognition and emotion regulation after intervention. Understanding the changes in functional brain activity and neural plasticity that underlie these benefits from mindfulness interventions is thus of interest in current neuroimaging research. Previous studies have found functional brain changes during resting and task states to be associated with mindfulness both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, particularly in the executive control, default mode and salience networks. However, limited research has combined information from rest and task to study mindfulness-related functional changes in the brain, particularly in the context of intervention studies with active controls. Recent work has found that the reconfiguration efficiency of brain activity patterns between rest and task states is behaviorally relevant in healthy young adults. Thus, we applied this measure to investigate how mindfulness intervention changed functional reconfiguration between rest and a breath-counting task in elderly participants with self-reported sleep difficulties. Improving on previous longitudinal designs, we compared the intervention effects of a mindfulness-based therapy to an active control (sleep hygiene) intervention. We found that mindfulness intervention improved self-reported mindfulness measures and brain functional reconfiguration efficiency in the executive control, default mode and salience networks, though the brain and behavioral changes were not associated with each other. Our findings suggest that neuroplasticity may be induced through regular mindfulness practice, thus bringing the intrinsic functional configuration in participants’ brains closer to a state required for mindful awareness.

Effects of a single bout of mobile action video game play on attentional networks

Background Video game play has been linked to a range of cognitive advantages, and investigations in this domain have predominantly utilized cross-sectional designs or long-term training paradigms. Nevertheless, the specific effects of engaging in a single bout of video game play remain poorly understood. Consequently, the objective of this study is to examine the influence of a single session of mobile action video game (MAVG) play on attentional networks among college students. Methods Seventy-two nonvideo game players were assigned randomly into an MAVG and a control game group. Participants in the MAVG group engaged in a 60-minute session of an action video game played on mobile phones, while the control group played a mobile card game for the same duration. All participants completed the attentional network test (ANT), which assesses alerting, orienting, and executive control network efficiencies, before and after the intervention. Results The MAVG group had significantly improved alerting network efficiency following the intervention, compared to before (p &lt; 0.05); the control game group did not. Neither executive control network efficiency nor orienting network efficiency were found to be improved by the intervention. Conclusion The present data demonstrated that a single bout of MAVG play can improve alerting network efficiency selectively in young-adult college students. MAVGs may be useful for promoting attentional function with the advantages of being accessible virtually any time and anywhere.