Evaluate Brain Activity Research Articles

Erratum] Brain Imaging and neurostimulation in health and disorders: status report

INTRODUCTION: Despite being considered least important for clinical practice in the pyramid of evidence for recommendations, sometimes scientists' expert opinions could help to better understand the summarization of updated publications. OBJECTIVE: To provide a major summarized update about brain imaging and stimulation of the nervous system in health and disease. METHODS: Comprehensive review developed by experts in each subarea of knowledge in neuroimaging and non-invasive stimulation of the nervous system. A team of researchers and clinic experts was invited to present an update on their area of expertise. RESULTS: In basics on brain imaging techniques, we approach general and quantitative electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and experimental paradigms in brain imaging studies. Were included associations between transcranial magnetic stimulation and electromyography, electroencephalography, and functional near-infrared stimulation to evaluate brain activity. Furthermore, we showed several actualized central and peripheral neuromodulation techniques. And finally, we presented different clinical and performance uses of non-invasive neuromodulation. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is a major summarized and concentrated update about brain imaging and stimulation that can benefit neuroscience researchers and clinicians from different levels of experience.

Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio as an Indicator of Brain Activity Changes in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Resting-State fMRI Study.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for alterations in brain function. However, detecting early-stage symptoms and structural changes remains challenging, potentially leading to delayed treatment. In our study, we aimed to investigate spontaneous brain activity changes in CKD patients using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Additionally, we explored the correlation between common biomarkers reflecting CKD severity and brain activity. We recruited a cohort of 22 non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients and 22 controls for resting-state fMRI scans. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFFs) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were calculated to evaluate brain activity. Regression analysis was conducted to explore the correlations between biomarkers reflecting the severity of CKD and brain activity. CKD patients exhibited reduced z-scored ALFF (zALFF) and mean ALFF (mALFF) in the bilateral putamen, right caudate nucleus, left anterior cingulate, and right precuneus. Changes in bilateral putamen were also found in smCohe-ReHo and szCohe-ReHo analyses. Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR), and serum albumin levels were associated with attenuated putamen activity. Non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients had changes in zALFF, mALFF, smCohe-ReHo, and szCohe-ReHo values in specific brain regions, especially bilateral putamen. UACR, UPCR, and serum albumin levels are associated with putamen activity attenuation in rs-fMRI.

Elevated correlations in cardiac–neural dynamics: An impact of mantra meditation on stress alleviation

Mantra meditation is a widely practiced technique with a demonstrated ability to promote relaxation and alleviate stress. This study aims to evaluate the impact of regular mantra meditation practice on electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns and heart rate variability (HRV) in young adults grappling with increased stress levels. Furthermore, the study explored possible correlations between these two physiological markers. Thirty-eight participants practiced mantra meditation for eight weeks, and their EEG and HRV were recorded before and after. The pre-post analysis evaluated brain activity and autonomic nervous system regulation alterations by examining EEG and HRV in the time, frequency, and nonlinear domains. Data analysis revealed significant correlations between EEG patterns and HRV indices following mantra meditation, suggesting a potential interconnection between neural and cardiovascular regulation. A notable increase in Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) and Standard Deviation of NN intervals (SDNN) within HRV, along with a decrease in Heart Rate (HR) and Stress Index (SI) and an increase in EEG alpha and theta power, accompanied by a reduction in their ratio, was observed. Three pivotal correlations consistently increased during eight weeks: Alpha/Theta Ratio (ATR) with Low-Frequency/High-Frequency Ratio (LHR), ATR with SD2/SD1 Ratio (SDR), and Relaxation Index (RI) with Stress Index (SI). After eight weeks, these correlations attained statistical significance, optimizing the balance between calmness and vigilance, boosting parasympathetic activity, and reducing chaos between the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems. The study elucidates the scientific mechanisms of mantra meditation, enriching research on its stress-reducing effects and emphasizing mental and physical well-being.

Effects of acute administration of 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol in mouse models of seizures

Epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures, presents a substantial challenge in approximately one-third of cases exhibiting resistance to conventional pharmacological treatments. This study investigated the effect of 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol, a phenolic compound derived from various natural sources, in different models of induced seizures and its impact on animal electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings. Adult male Swiss albino mice were pre-treated (i.p.) with a dose curve of 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg), its vehicle (Tween), or standard antiepileptic drug (Diazepam; or Phenytoin). Subsequently, the mice were subjected to different seizure-inducing models – pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA), pilocarpine (PILO), or maximal electroshock seizure (MES). EEG analysis was performed on other animals surgically implanted with electrodes to evaluate brain activity. Significant results revealed that animals treated with 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol exhibited increased latency to the first myoclonic jerk in the PTZ and PILO models; prolonged latency to the first tonic-clonic seizure in the PTZ, 3-MPA, and PILO models; reduced total duration of tonic-clonic seizures in the PTZ and PILO models; decreased intensity of convulsive seizures in the PTZ and 3-MPA models; and diminished mortality in the 3-MPA, PILO, and MES models. EEG analysis indicated an increase in the percentage of total power attributed to beta waves following 4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol administration. Notably, the substance protected from behavioral and electrographic seizures in the PTZ model, preventing increases in the average amplitude of recording signals while also inducing an increase in the participation of theta and gamma waves. These findings suggest promising outcomes for the tested phenolic compound across diverse pre-clinical seizure models, highlighting the need for further comprehensive studies to elucidate its underlying mechanisms and validate its clinical relevance in epilepsy management.

Efficacy of smartphone application-based multi-domain cognitive training in older adults without dementia

BackgroundAs the population ages and the prevalence of dementia increases, there is a growing emphasis on the importance of cognitive training to prevent dementia. A smartphone application-based cognitive training software program, BeauBrain Trainer (BBT), has been developed to provide better access to cognitive training for older adults. Numerous studies have revealed the effectiveness of cognitive training using a cognitive assessment tool. However, relatively few studies have evaluated brain activation using brain imaging as a result of improved cognitive function.MethodsAll participants were required to download the BBT, an Android-based application for cognitive training, onto their own smartphone or tablet computer and to engage in cognitive training at home. Older adults without dementia were enrolled in this study, including 51 participants in the intervention group and 50 participants in the control group. The BBT comprised a set of 12 cognitive tasks, including two tasks in each of the following six cognitive domains: attention, language, calculation, visuospatial function, memory, and frontal/executive function. Each cognitive task was divided into four blocks based on its level of difficulty. A 16-week cognitive training was designed to carry out cognitive tasks using a total of 48 blocks (12 tasks × 4 levels) for at least 1.5 h per day, 5 days per week. All participants in the intervention group were given BBT tasks that gradually increased in difficulty level, which they submitted through a smartphone application daily for 16 weeks. The researchers monitored the participants’ task performance records on the website and encouraged participants to engage in cognitive training through regular contact. This study was conducted to investigate the improvement in cognitive function and the activation pattern of the frontal cortex in older adults participating in smartphone application-based cognitive training. The cognitive assessment tool was the BeauBrain cognitive screening test (CST), a tablet-based computerized cognitive screening test. The activation pattern of the frontal cortex was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Additionally, this study aimed to determine the positive effects of cognitive training on everyday functioning and psychological states using a questionnaire.ResultsOf 101 participants, 85 older adults without dementia (84.1%) who completed the study protocol were included in the statistical analysis. There were 41 participants (80.3%) in the intervention group and 44 participants (88.0%) in the control group. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the cognitive scores over a 16-week period between the intervention and control groups. According to the CST results, the intervention group exhibited a statistically significant increase in the language subtest scores, specifically the phonemic word fluency test, compared to those of the control group. The fNIRS results revealed greater activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during the STROOP incongruent task in the intervention group than did the control group. However, the effectiveness of cognitive training was not observed across a variety of rating scales, including everyday functioning, depression, self-efficacy, attention, and subjective memory complaints.ConclusionThis study revealed that a smartphone-based cognitive training application led to improvements in phonemic generative naming ability and activation of the prefrontal cortex in older adults without dementia. This study is meaningful because it confirmed that cognitive training is partially effective in enhancing frontal lobe function. It also provided information on the brain mechanisms related to the effects of cognitive training using fNIRS.

Brain Imaging and neurostimulation in health and disorders: status report

INTRODUCTION: Despite being considered least important for clinical practice in the pyramid of evidence for recommendations, sometimes scientists' expert opinions could help to better understand the summarization of updated publications. OBJECTIVE: To provide a major summarized update about brain imaging and stimulation of the nervous system in health and disease. METHODS: Comprehensive review developed by experts in each subarea of knowledge in neuroimaging and non-invasive stimulation of the nervous system. A team of researchers and clinic experts was invited to present an update on their area of expertise. RESULTS: In basics on brain imaging techniques, we approach general and quantitative electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and experimental paradigms in brain imaging studies. Were included associations between transcranial magnetic stimulation and electromyography, electroencephalography, and functional near-infrared stimulation to evaluate brain activity. Furthermore, we showed several actualized central and peripheral neuromodulation techniques. And finally, we presented different clinical and performance uses of non-invasive neuromodulation. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is a major summarized and concentrated update about brain imaging and stimulation that can benefit neuroscience researchers and clinicians from different levels of experience.

Brain activity in response to food images in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia

BackgroundFunctional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are caused and exacerbated by consumption of fatty foods. However, no study has evaluated brain activity in response to food images in patients with disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI). This study aimed to compare food preference and brain activity when viewing food images between patients with DGBI and healthy controls.MethodsFD and IBS were diagnosed using the ROME IV criteria. Food preference was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Brain activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in response to food images was investigated using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).ResultsForty-one patients were enrolled, including 25 with DGBI. The mean VAS scores for all foods (controls vs. FD vs. IBS: 69.1 ± 3.3 vs. 54.8 ± 3.8 vs. 62.8 ± 3.7, p = 0.02), including fatty foods (78.1 ± 5.4 vs. 43.4 ± 6.3 vs. 64.7 ± 6.1, p < 0.01), were the lowest in patients with FD among all groups. Patients with FD had significantly higher brain activity in the left PFC than those with IBS and healthy controls (mean z-scores in controls vs. FD vs. IBS: − 0.077 ± 0.03 vs. 0.125 ± 0.04 vs. − 0.002 ± 0.03, p < 0.001).ConclusionsPatients with DGBI, particularly those with FD, disliked fatty foods. The brain activity in patients with DGBI differed from that in healthy controls. Increased activity in the PFC of patients with FD was confirmed.

EEG seizure detection: concepts, techniques, challenges, and future trends.

A central nervous system disorder is usually referred to as epilepsy. In epilepsy brain activity becomes abnormal, leading to times of abnormal behavior or seizures, and at times loss of awareness. Consequently, epilepsy patients face problems in daily life due to precautions they must take to adapt to this condition, particularly when they use heavy equipment, e.g., vehicle derivation. Epilepsy studies rely primarily on electroencephalography (EEG) signals to evaluate brain activity during seizures. It is troublesome and time-consuming to manually decide the location of seizures in EEG signals. The automatic detection framework is one of the principal tools to help doctors and patients take appropriate precautions. This paper reviews the epilepsy mentality disorder and the types of seizure, preprocessing operations that are performed on EEG data, a generally extracted feature from the signal, and a detailed view on classification procedures used in this problem and provide insights on the difficulties and future research directions in this innovative theme. Therefore, this paper presents a review of work on recent methods for the epileptic seizure process along with providing perspectives and concepts to researchers to present an automated EEG-based epileptic seizure detection system using IoT and machine learning classifiers for remote patient monitoring in the context of smart healthcare systems. Finally, challenges and open research points in EEG seizure detection are investigated.

Impact of acute open-skill exercise on inhibitory control and brain activation: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

There is a growing body of literature demonstrating that a single bout of exercise benefits executive cognitive function. While the acute effect of closed-skill exercises like walking, running, and cycling has been well investigated, it is less clear how open-skill exercise impacts executive function and brain activation. Therefore, we compared the acute effects of an open-skill exercise on inhibitory control and brain activation with those of a closed-skill exercise using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twenty-four young right-hand dominant adults (9 women) completed three interventions: badminton, running, and a seated rest control condition for 10 min each. The intensities of badminton and running were comparable. During each intervention, oxygen uptake and heart rate were monitored. A Stroop task composed of neutral and incongruent conditions was administrated before and after each intervention. An fNIRS system recorded hemodynamics in the prefrontal cortex to evaluate brain activation during the Stroop task. Performance on the Stroop task was significantly improved after badminton, specifically in the incongruent condition relative to in the neutral condition. On the other hand, neither running nor seated rest affected performance in the Stroop task. The fNIRS measures indicated that badminton and running had no significant influence on brain activation. These results show that a single bout of open-skill exercise enhances inhibitory control without increasing brain activation compared to closed-skill exercise, suggesting that an acute open-skill exercise induces neural efficiency.

Role of the amygdala-medial orbitofrontal relationship in odor recognition in the elderly.

In patients with mild cognitive impairment, pathological changes begin in the amygdala (AMG) and hippocampus (HI), especially in the parahippocampal gyrus and entorhinal cortex (ENT). These areas play an important role in olfactory detection and recognition. It is important to understand how subtle signs of olfactory disability relate to the functions of the above-mentioned regions, as well as the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). In this study, we evaluated brain activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), performed during the presentation of olfactory stimuli (classified as "normal odors" not inducing memory retrieval), and investigated the relationships of the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal with olfactory detection and recognition abilities in healthy elderly subjects. Twenty-four healthy elderly subjects underwent fMRI during olfaction, and raw mean BOLD signals were extracted from regions of interest, including bilateral regions (AMG, HI, parahippocampus, and ENT) and orbitofrontal subregions (frontal inferior OFC, frontal medial OFC, frontal middle OFC, and frontal superior OFC). Multiple regression and path analyses were conducted to understand the roles of these areas in olfactory detection and recognition. Activation of the left AMG had the greatest impact on olfactory detection and recognition, while the ENT, parahippocampus, and HI acted as a support system for AMG activation. Less activation of the right frontal medial OFC was associated with good olfactory recognition. These findings improve our understanding of the roles of limbic and prefrontal regions in olfactory awareness and identification in elderly individuals. Functional decline of the ENT and parahippocampus crucially impacts olfactory recognition. However, AMG function may compensate for deficits through connections with frontal regions.

The impact of anxiety on the cognitive function of informal Parkinson's disease caregiver: Evidence from task-based and resting-state fNIRS.

Informal Parkinson’s disease (PD) caregivers are considered to experience high levels of caregiver burden, negatively affecting the health of caregivers. However, few studies explored the relationship between anxiety in caregiver burden and cognitive function in informal PD caregivers. Although, no study has even investigated the neural mechanisms underlying this connection. This study aimed to conduct comprehensive cognitive and clinical assessments and evaluate brain activity from task-based state and resting-state using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). A total of ten informal PD caregivers and 15 matched, healthy, non-caregivers were recruited. Comprehensive cognitive and clinical assessments were conducted to evaluate five cognitive domains and mental states. Neural activity induced by verbal fluency task (VFT) and brain connectivity during resting state were monitored, and their correlations with the neuropsychological and clinical tests were explored. Our results showed that compared to non-caregiver, an informal PD caregiver exhibited no difference in most cognitive domains of function but performed better in attentional function, along with higher levels of anxiety. Decreased activation over prefrontal regions during VFT and hypo-connectivity within the frontoparietal network (FPN) and between default mode network (DMN) and FPN in the resting state were confirmed in this study as a result of the negative effects of anxiety on the brain. Furthermore, Spearman’s correlation found that neural activity in FPN during task-based state and resting state was negatively correlated with the severity of anxiety. These findings indicate that despite normal or even better cognitive function, informal PD caregivers have impaired brain function, and this deficit in neural activity was related to anxiety.

Sensorimotor Activities and Their Functional Connectivity Elicited by Robot-Assisted Passive Movements of Lower Limbs

Robot-assisted body movements are a useful approach for the rehabilitation of motor dysfunction. Various robots based on end-effector or exoskeleton type have been proposed. However, the effect of these robots on brain activity during assistive lower limb movements remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated brain activity results among robot-assisted passive movements, voluntary active movements, and kinesthetic motor imagery. We measured and compared the brain activities of 21 young, healthy individuals during three experimental conditions associated with lower limb movements (active, passive, and imagery conditions) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Our results showed that although different brain areas with significant activity were observed among the conditions, the temporal patterns of the activity in each recording channel and the spatial patterns of functional connectivity showed high similarity between robot-assisted passive movements and voluntary active movements. Conversely, the robot-assisted passive movements did not show any similarity to motor imagery. Overall, these findings suggest that the robotic assistive approach is useful for activating not only afferent processes associated with sensory feedback processing but also motor control-related efferent processes.

Brain Activity During Experimental Knee Pain and Its Relationship With Kinesiophobia in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain: A Preliminary Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Investigation.

The etiology of patellofemoral pain has remained elusive, potentially due to an incomplete understanding of how pain, motor control, and kinesiophobia disrupt central nervous system functioning. To directly evaluate brain activity during experimental knee pain and its relationship to kinesiophobia in patients with patellofemoral pain. Cross-sectional. Young females clinically diagnosed with patellofemoral pain (n = 14; 14.4 [3.3]y; body mass index = 22.4 [3.8]; height = 1.61 [0.1]m; body mass = 58.4 [12.7]kg). A modified Clarke test (experimental pain condition with noxious induction via patella pressure and quadriceps contraction) was administered to the nondominant knee (to minimize limb dominance confounds) of patients during brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acquisition. Patients also completed a quadriceps contraction without application of external pressure (control contraction). Kinesiophobia was measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. The fMRI analyses assessed brain activation during the modified Clarke test and control contraction and assessed relationships between task-induced brain activity and kinesiophobia. Standard processing for neuroimaging and appropriate cluster-wise statistical thresholds to determine significance were applied to the fMRI data (z > 3.1, P < .05). The fMRI revealed widespread neural activation in the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes, and cerebellum during the modified Clarke test (all zs > 4.4, all Ps < .04), whereas neural activation was localized primarily to frontal and cerebellar regions during the control contraction test (all zs > 4.4, all Ps < .01). Greater kinesiophobia was positively associated with greater activity in the cerebello-frontal network for the modified Clarke test (all zs > 5.0, all Ps < .01), but no relationships between kinesiophobia and brain activity were observed for the control contraction test (all zs < 3.1, all Ps > .05). Our novel experimental knee pain condition was associated with alterations in central nociceptive processing. These findings may provide novel complementary pathways for targeted restoration of patient function.

Preliminary Report on the Train the Brain Project, Part I: Sensorimotor Neural Correlates of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk Biomechanics.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury commonly occurs via noncontact motor coordination errors that result in excessive multiplanar loading during athletic movements. Preventing motor coordination errors requires neural sensorimotor integration activity to support knee-joint neuromuscular control, but the underlying neural mechanisms driving injury-risk motor control are not well understood. To evaluate brain activity differences for knee sensorimotor control between athletes with high or low injury-risk mechanics. Case-control study. Research laboratory. Of 38 female high school soccer players screened, 10 were selected for analysis based on magnetic resonance imaging compliance, injury-risk classification via 3-dimensional biomechanics during a drop vertical jump, and matching criteria to complete neuroimaging during knee motor tasks. Peak knee-abduction moment during landing was used for group allocation into the high (≥21.74 newton meters [Nm], n = 9) or low (≤10.6 Nm, n = 11) injury-risk classification (n = 11 uncategorized, n = 7 who were not compliant with magnetic resonance imaging). Ten participants (5 high risk, 5 low risk) with adequate data were matched and compared across 2 neuroimaging paradigms: unilateral knee-joint control and unilateral multijoint leg press against resistance. Athletes with high injury-risk biomechanics had less neural activity in 1 sensory-motor cluster for isolated knee-joint control (precuneus, peak Z score = 4.14, P ≤ .01, 788 voxels) and greater brain activity for the multijoint leg press in 2 cognitive-motor clusters: the frontal cortex (peak Z score = 4.71, P < .01, 1602 voxels) and posterior cingulate gyrus (peak Z score = 4.43, P < .01, 725 voxels) relative to the low injury-risk group. The high injury-risk group's lower relative engagement of neural sensory resources controlling the knee joint may elevate demand on cognitive motor resources to control loaded multijoint action. The neural activity profile in the high injury-risk group may manifest as a breakdown in neuromuscular coordination, resulting in elevated knee-abduction moments during landing.

Perceived stress and rejection associated with functional network strength during memory retrieval in adolescents

ABSTRACT The brain undergoes substantial structural and functional remodeling during adolescence, including alterations in memory-processing regions influenced by stress. This study evaluated brain activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during spatial memory performance using a virtual Morris water task (MWT) and examined the associations between default mode network (DMN) activation, task performance, and perceived stress and rejection. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired at 3 Tesla from 59 (34 female) adolescents (13–14 years). The NIH Emotion Toolbox was used to measure perceived stress and rejection. During the MWT, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex showed greater activation during memory retrieval relative to motor performance. Templates of brain functional networks from the Human Connectome Project study were used to extract individual participants’ brain network activation strengths for the retrieval > motor contrast for two sub-networks of the default mode network: medial temporal lobe (MTL-DMN) and dorsomedial prefrontal (dMPFC-DMN). For the MTL-DMN sub-network only, activation was significantly associated with worse MWT performance (p = .008) and greater perceived stress (p = .008) and perceived rejection (p = .002). Further, MWT performance was negatively associated with perceived rejection (p = .007). These findings suggest that perceived stress and rejection are related to engagement of MTL-DMN during spatial memory and that engagement of this network impacts performance. These findings also demonstrate the utility of examining task-related network activation strength to identify the impact of perceived stress and rejection on large-scale brain network functioning during adolescence.

Neuroimaging Study Investigating the Supraspinal Control of Lower Urinary Tract Function in Man With Orthotopic Ileal Neobladder

Introduction: Recent studies employing functional imaging methodology have revealed reference brain regions of urinary tract function, namely, the midbrain periaqueductal gray matter, thalamus, and cingulate and prefrontal cortices. The orthotopic ileal neobladder is a desirable method for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy, but its supraspinal control remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate brain activity while maintaining urinary urgency and voluntary urinary control in male subjects with ileal orthotopic neobladders by performing functional MRI (fMRI) during a block design experiment.Materials and Methods: Patients were recruited at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of the Sun Yat-sen University from October 2017 to May 2019. Two tasks were performed during fMRI scanning: (1) repeated infusion and withdrawal of sterile saline solution into and out of the neobladder to simulate urgency; and (2) repeated contraction of the pelvic floor muscle with a full neobladder to induce inhibition of micturition since the subjects were asked not to urinate. The obtained data were visualized and statistically analyzed.Results: Sixteen subjects were recruited in the study, and data were obtained from 10 subjects: mean age 60.1 years, average postoperative time 20.2 months, and daytime continence rate 100%. The parahippocampus, frontal lobe, vermis, and anterior cingulate cortex were activated with large bladder volumes, and the thalamus and caudate nucleus were deactivated during voluntary urinary control.Conclusion: A complex supraspinal program is involved during ileal orthotopic neobladder control, which is significantly different from that with normal bladders, in which the original intestine visceral volume sensation is preserved.

Differences in Student Brain Activation from Digital Learning Based on Risk of Digital Media Addiction.

Although digital media usage is prevalent among middle school students, the safety of digital media-based learning activities for students at risk of digital media addiction is unknown. The goal of this study was to evaluate the differences in students’ brain activity in relation to their risk of digital media addiction. The study was quasi-experimental, with a pre- to post-test control group design. The study participants included 83 middle school students who were engaged in digital learning. We measured their brainwaves to evaluate brain activity using a PolyG-I (LAXTHA Inc.). We found no statistically significant differences in the location of the attention index between the two groups before and after digital learning. However, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in the P3, P4, and F4 locations of the relaxation index. These results indicate that students at risk of digital media addiction may experience learning difficulties. These results can be used to guide healthcare professionals in developing digital learning programs that are safe for students and to also verify the effects of these programs.

New Treatment Strategy Using Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Post-Stroke Aphasia.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for post-stroke aphasia (PSA) has been suggested to promote improvement of language function when used in combination with rehabilitation. However, many challenges remain. In some reports examined by category of language function, only naming has good evidence of improvement, and the improvement effect on other language modalities is low. Therefore, it is necessary to establish methods that contribute to the improvement of language functions other than naming. Therapeutic methods for PSA based on the mechanism of rTMS are mainly inhibitory stimulation methods for language homologous areas. However, the mechanisms of these methods are controversial when inferred from the process of recovery of language function. Low-frequency rTMS applied to the right hemisphere has been shown to be effective in the chronic phase of PSA, but recent studies of the recovery process of language function indicate that this method is unclear. Therefore, it has been suggested that evaluating brain activity using neuroimaging contributes to confirming the effect of rTMS on PSA and the elucidation of the mechanism of functional improvement. In addition, neuroimaging-based stimulation methods (imaging-based rTMS) may lead to further improvements in language function. Few studies have examined neuroimaging and imaging-based rTMS in PSA, and further research is required. In addition, the stimulation site and stimulation parameters of rTMS are likely to depend on the time from onset to intervention. However, there are no reports of studies in patients between 90 and 180 days after onset. Therefore, research during this period is required. New stimulation methods, such as multiple target methods and the latest neuroimaging methods, may contribute to the establishment of new knowledge and new treatment methods in this field.

Task-based fMRI study on neural activity of internet gaming addiction among Malaysian adolescents: A stroop color task

Background: Gaming can be very entertaining and through it, gamers are able to develop skills. However, it also may result in one’s getting too obsessed with video games regardless of any circumstances. Unnoticed, it may develop an Internet gaming disorder (IGD). This study aimed to investigate the neural activation involved in cognitive flexibility using fMRI that being triggered by the Stroop color task among Malaysian youngsters and its correlation with designated psychological disorders. Methods: A total of 37 participants (IGD = 19, Control = 18) were recruited to partake in this study. The division of participants according to the cut-off point of IAT and IGDS9-SF. Data were analyzed using MATLAB 8.5 (R2015a) and Statistical Parametric Mapping 12 (SPM 12) to evaluate brain activation. Results: This study found that IGD groups experience hyperactivation in the occipital and parietal lobes especially in the inferior occipital gyrus IOG and inferior parietal gyrus (IPG) but a hypoactivation on the frontal lobe. There a significant mean difference for the right IOG and left supplementary motor area (SMA) between the IGD and control groups at p &lt;0.025 after, Bonferroni correction. A significant correlation was found (p &lt; 0.006; Bonferroni correction) between cerebellum 45 right and stress behavior, r = 0.65. Conclusion: These results indicated that individuals with IGD tend to have the rampant yet favorable ability in attention and recognition regulation but deterioration in reward processing. These findings provide a deeper understanding in developing appropriate guidelines and interventions to treat the Internet gaming addicts community, especially in the Malaysian population.

MP22-03 COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE CORRELATES WITH BRAIN ACTIVATION IN WOMEN WITH URGENCY URINARY INCONTINENCE

You have accessJournal of UrologyImaging/Radiology: Uroradiology II (MP22)1 Sep 2021MP22-03 COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE CORRELATES WITH BRAIN ACTIVATION IN WOMEN WITH URGENCY URINARY INCONTINENCE Rachel High, Zhaoyue Shi, Jill M. Danford, Erin T. Bird, Thomas J. Kuehl, Christof Karmonik, and Rose Khavari Rachel HighRachel High More articles by this author , Zhaoyue ShiZhaoyue Shi More articles by this author , Jill M. DanfordJill M. Danford More articles by this author , Erin T. BirdErin T. Bird More articles by this author , Thomas J. KuehlThomas J. Kuehl More articles by this author , Christof KarmonikChristof Karmonik More articles by this author , and Rose KhavariRose Khavari More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002013.03AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) and cognitive impairment increase with age. Some studies indicate UI may be an early symptom of ongoing neurodegeneration. Brain activation studies of healthy and cognitively impaired adults have found correlations between brain activation and cognitive performance. There are no studies to evaluate brain activation in women with UUI screened for cognitive impairment. This study examines whether clinical cognitive scores correlate with brain activation patterns in women with UUI not undergoing therapy. METHODS: This is an observational cohort study of functional MRI (fMRI) and cognitive and urinary clinical data from women with UUI and therapy naive. Women aged ≥50 years completed symptom questionnaires and a modified Auditory Verbal Learning test. Subjects with incomplete bladder emptying, moderate-severe depression or anxiety, screening assessment positive for cognitive impairment, and pelvic floor therapy or UUI medications within the last 6 months were excluded. Learning over trials (LOT), short term retention (STR), long term retention (LTR), recognition % correct (Rc%) scores which were scaled for age-correction were calculated. Data was transformed into MNI 152 space for whole brain voxel-wise analysis. A fMRI activation map was created from which areas of significant activation were identified (students t-test p<0.05). Correlation coefficients were calculated for the T-statistics of each region with cognitive scores. Significant (p<0.05) correlations were reported for each region & respective LOT, STR, LTR, and Rc% scores. RESULTS: Images were obtained in twelve women with a median (IQR) age of 64 (55,68) years. Bladder diaries showed median (IQR) daily: 10 (9,10) urgency episodes, 11 (9,12) voids, and 5 (3, 5) leaks with urgency. Activation of regions involved in memory encoding and retrieval, including the hippocampus, inversely correlated with multiple cognitive testing domains (Table). Activity in the insula, cingulate gyrus, and prefrontal cortex did not correlate with cognitive scores. CONCLUSIONS: In women with UUI, performance on learning, recall, and recognition tasks negatively correlates with activation in regions involved in episodic memory. Source of Funding: International Urogynecological Association Clinical Research Grant and Baylor Scott & White Health Department of Women's Health. Dr. Rose Khavari is partially supported by K23DK118209 through NIDDK © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e391-e391 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Rachel High More articles by this author Zhaoyue Shi More articles by this author Jill M. Danford More articles by this author Erin T. Bird More articles by this author Thomas J. Kuehl More articles by this author Christof Karmonik More articles by this author Rose Khavari More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...