Left Medial Frontal Lobe Research Articles

Gray matter volume in women with the BRCA mutation with and without ovarian removal: evidence for increased risk of late-life Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Ovarian removal prior to spontaneous/natural menopause (SM) is associated with increased risk of late life dementias including Alzheimer's disease. This increased risk may be related to the sudden and early loss of endogenous estradiol. Women with breast cancer gene mutations (BRCAm) are counseled to undergo oophorectomy prior to SM to significantly reduce their risk of developing breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers. There is limited evidence of the neurological effects of ovarian removal prior to the age of SM showing women without the BRCAm had cortical thinning in medial temporal lobe structures. A second study in women with BRCAm and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) noted changes in cognition. The present, cross-sectional study examined whole-brain differences in gray matter (GM) volume using high-resolution, quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in women with BRCAm and intact ovaries (BRCA-preBSO [study cohort with BRCA mutation prior to oophorectomy]; n = 9) and after surgery with (BSO + estradiol-based therapy [ERT]; n = 10) and without (BSO; n = 10) postsurgical estradiol hormone therapy compared with age-matched women (age-matched controls; n = 10) with their ovaries. The BRCA-preBSO and BSO groups showed significantly lower GM volume in the left medial temporal and frontal lobe structures. BSO + ERT exhibited few areas of lower GM volume compared with age-matched controls. Novel to this study, we also observed that all three BRCAm groups exhibited significantly higher GM volume compared with age-matched controls, suggesting continued plasticity. The present study provides evidence, through lower GM volume, to support both the possibility that the BRCAm, alone, and early life BSO may play a role in increasing the risk for late-life dementia. At least for BRCAm with BSO, postsurgical ERT seems to ameliorate GM losses.

Investigating amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation and possible links with cognitive impairment in childhood and adolescence onset schizophrenia: a correlation study.

Cognitive impairment (CI) is a distinctive characteristic of schizophrenia, with evidence suggesting that childhood and adolescence onset schizophrenia (CAOS), representing severe but rare forms of schizophrenia, share continuity with adult-onset conditions. While relationships between altered brain function and CI have been identified in adults with schizophrenia, the extent of brain function abnormalities in CAOS remains largely unknown. In this study, we employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to investigate functional alterations in brain areas among patients with CAOS. To assess CI across multiple cognitive domains, we utilized the Stroop Color and Word Tests (SCWT) and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) tests. Our objective was to explore the associations between functional CI and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) levels in these patients. We enrolled 50 patients diagnosed with CAOS and 33 healthy controls (HCs) matched for sex and age. Cognitive functions were assessed using the MCCB and SCWT methods. Rs-fMRI data were acquired using gradient-echo echo-planar imaging sequences. Voxel-based ALFF group maps were compared through two-sample t-tests in SPM8. Subsequently, correlation analyses were conducted to identify associations between ALFF levels and cognitive scores. In comparison to HCs, patients exhibited significantly increased ALFF levels in the right fusiform gyrus, frontal lobe, and caudate, as well as the left frontal lobe and caudate. Conversely, reduced ALFF levels were observed in the temporal and left medial frontal lobes. Significant differences were identified between HCs and patients in terms of total cognitive scores, ALFF levels, and domain scores. All test scores were decreased, except for TMA. Correlation analyses between ALFF levels and cognitive functions in patients with CAOS differed from those in HCs. Pearson correlation analyses revealed positive associations between Brief Visuospatial Memory Test - Revised (BVMT-R) scores and ALFF levels in the left medial frontal gyrus. Digital Span Test (DST) scores were negatively correlated with ALFF levels in the right caudate, and Maze Test values were negatively correlated with levels in the left caudate. However, Pearson correlation analyses in HCs indicated that color and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT-R) scores positively correlated with ALFF levels in the left frontal lobe, while color-word and symbol coding scores negatively correlated with levels in the right caudate. Altered ALFF levels in the brain may be linked to cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with CAOS. We highlighted the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and provide imaging evidence that could potentially aid in the diagnosis of CAOS.

Enhanced mind-matter interactions following rTMS induced frontal lobe inhibition

A major barrier to acceptance of psi is that effects are small and hard to replicate. To address this issue, we developed a novel neurobiological model to study this controversial phenomenon based upon the concept that the brain may act as a psi-inhibitory filter. Our previous research in individuals with frontal lobe damage suggests that this filter includes the left medial middle frontal region. We report our findings in healthy participants with rTMS induced reversible brain lesions. In support of our a priori hypothesis, we found a significant psi effect following rTMS inhibition of the left medial middle frontal lobe. This significant effect was found using a post hoc weighting procedure aligned with our overarching hypothesis. This suggests that the brain may inhibit psi and that individuals with neurological or reversible rTMS induced frontal lesions may comprise an enriched sample for detection and replication of this controversial phenomenon. Our findings are potentially transformative for the way we view interactions between the brain and seemingly random events.

H - 29 Delivering Culturally Sensitive Neuropsychological Assessment Feedback: a Case Study of Atypical Neurosyphilis.

To demonstrate the neuropsychological correlates of atypical neurosyphilis and the importance of delivering assessment results in a culturally sensitive manner. The patient was a 52-year-old African American male with 12years of education who was raised in a rural, southern town and worked as a delivery driver. He was hospitalized after three weeks of altered mental status, memory loss, and seizures. Electroencephalography (EEG) showed left lateralized periodic discharges. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hyperintensities in the left hippocampus and amygdala consistent with limbic encephalitis. Cerebrospinal fluid studies revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis and hypoglycorrhachia. Rapid plasma regain and venereal disease tests were positive for syphilis in serum and CSF. He was initially treated with empiric antibiotics and antiseizures medications with modest improvement. His mental status improved after penicillin treatment, and he was discharged after 14days. Repeat MRI showed cortical atrophy in the left medial frontal lobe and left hippocampus. The patient demonstrated executive dysfunction (e.g., set-loss and source memory errors) and poor performance across verbal and visual memory tasks. He also demonstrated an inaccurate understanding of the possible causes of his illness. Feedback was delivered across two sessions: one session to discuss test results and a second session with the patient and his wife to discuss syphilis as a sexually transmitted infection and address the historical context of syphilis among African American men. Neurosyphilis can present as limbic encephalitis and can mimic autoimmune encephalitis and other infectious diseases. Tailoring assessment feedback to a patient's sociocultural context is vital for encouraging continued treatment.

AGR - 3 Epilepsy Surgical Planning in a Patient with Co-Morbid Multiple Sclerosis and Seizures.

Research increasingly points to historically unappreciated cortical effects of multiple sclerosis (MS), with two-fold elevated risk of seizures. Nevertheless, epilepsy only occurs in 2-5% of cases. We present a 42-year-old, right-handed, woman with epilepsy and MS under consideration for epilepsy surgery. Epilepsy and MS were diagnosed concurrently at age 31; seizures were the presenting symptom. Despite infrequent MS flares, seizures are weekly-to-monthly focal aware, focal unaware and focal-to-bilateral, starting with right head version, dysarthria, and spinning, followed by secondary generalization, at times occurring in clusters. Brain MRI revealed bilateral MS lesions including in left medial-frontal lobe and left hippocampus (Figure 1). Phase I EEG suggested left-lateralized seizures with broad frontotemporal evolution and rapid bifrontal synchrony. Interictal PET was unrevealing. fMRI determined left-hemisphere language dominance. Neuropsychological evaluation (NPE) was ordered to estimate cognitive risks of left-sided surgery. NPE revealed relatively intact language and verbal learning/memory with exceptionally low visual learning/memory. Visuospatial skills were below average to exceptionally low. Although motor dexterity was exceptionally low bilaterally, her left-hand was markedly slower. Executive functioning, processing speed, and sustained attention were exceptionally low. Risk stratification drew upon traditional epilepsy surgery outcomes, as only 2 cases of epilepsy surgery in vastly different MS patients have been published. NPE suggested high functional adequacy of the left hemisphere with low functional reserve of the right hemisphere. Due to paradoxical findings across structural/functional brain imaging, EEG, and NPE, with unclear effects/implications of MS, cautions were raised about surgery. Stereo-EEG and magnetoencephalography were recommended/ordered to determine the safest surgical option.

Epithelioid Glioblastoma in A 15-Year-Old Boy: A Rare Case Report

Epithelioid glioblastoma (E-GBM), one of the rarest intrusive forms of Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), was consigned in the World Health Organization (WHO) categorization of the Central nervous system (CNS) in the year 2016. The current article reports a rare epithelioid glioblastoma described for its histomorphological character and clinical finding for its medical rarity. The present case deals with a 15-year-old boy complaining of headaches and multiple episodes of vomiting. The investigatory procedures revealed hypo-intense multiple lesions in the left medial frontal lobe extending to a Sylvian fissure. The case is being discussed to distinguish the development of secondary glioblastomas, which usually occur due to pre-existing lesions, which were not present in our discussed case. The patient had come from a rural background with no previous investigations, ophthalmological examination revealed the presence of bilateral papilledema, and the hematological reports were within normal range. The patient was managed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), which depicted a multifocal tumor. Further left fronto temporal craniotomy and ablation of the lesion were done. The surgical procedure upshot divulged that the patient was conscious with improved right side weakness but a remnant motor aphasia, but within a short span, he could walk with support. The incidence of E-GBM that too in adolescent children is minuscule, and due to its poor prognosis, it's very crucial to acknowledge the attributable features of epithelioid glioblastoma, inclusive of functional outset, neuro-imaging, and the hazards of surgical measures.

Verbal fluency functional magnetic resonance imaging detects anti-seizure effects and affective side effects of perampanel in people with focal epilepsy.

Perampanel, a noncompetitive antagonist of the postsynaptic a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic (AMPA) receptor, is effective for controlling focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures but is also known to increase feelings of anger. Using statistical parametric mapping-derived measures of activation and task-modulated functional connectivity (psychophysiologic interaction), we investigated 14 people with focal epilepsy who had verbal fluency functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) twice, before and after the add-on treatment of perampanel. For comparison, we included 28 people with epilepsy, propensity-matched for clinical characteristics, who had two scans but no change in anti-seizure medication (ASM) regimen in-between. After commencing perampanel, individuals had higher task-related activations in left orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), fewer task-related activations in the subcortical regions including the left thalamus and left caudate, and lower task-related thalamocaudate and caudate-subtantial nigra connectivity. Decreased task-related connectivity is observed between the left OFC and precuneus and left medial frontal lobe. Our results highlight the brain regions associated with the beneficiary therapeutic effects on focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (thalamus and caudate) but also the undesired affective side effects of perampanel with increased anger and aggression (OFC).

Neural correlates of affective theory of mind in medication-free nonsuicidal self-injury: An fMRI study.

Emerging evidence indicates that emotion processing deficits are associated with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, limited attention has been paid to the socio-affective functions of NSSI. In this study, we aimed to investigate the affective theory of mind (ToM) in medication-free individuals engaging in NSSI at both behavioral and neural levels. Twenty-eight individuals (mean age = 22.96 years) who engaged in NSSI and 38 age-, sex-, and IQ-matched controls (mean age = 22.79 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test” (RMET). All participants also completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI). Although we did not find significant group differences in the RMET performance, the NSSI group, relative to the controls, exhibited significantly greater left medial superior frontal lobe activation and decreased right angular gyrus activation than did the control group. Reduced right angular gyrus activity was related to higher DERS and TAS scores across all participants. Our findings provide new evidence for aberrant neural processing of affective ToM in self-injurers. Future studies in developing intervention protocols for NSSI should focus on the multifaceted phases of socio-affective processing.

Neurobiological evidence of sexual dimorphism in limbic circuitry of US Veterans

BackgroundFemale Veterans are an increasing patient population in the Department of Veterans Affairs and may have distinct clinical and neurobiological features compared to males. MethodsNineteen female and 19 male Veterans who met diagnostic criteria for depression/posttraumatic stress disorder (MDD/PTSD) completed diagnostic interviews, symptom measures, and resting-state neuroimaging. Participants completed clinical measures of mood and aggression in addition to magnetic resonance imaging on a 3.0 Tesla Siemens scanner. ResultsFemales showed increased functional connectivity between the left and right basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the left and right cerebellar and occipital lobes. Sex differences also were evident in the relationship between affective and clinical symptoms with BLA connectivity. Females showed a correlation between revenge planning and decreased connectivity between the left BLA and left occipital lobe and also a correlation between aggression and decreased connectivity between the right BLA and right mid cingulate, right and left medial frontal lobe, and right frontal lobe. Males evidenced a relationship between increased depressive symptoms and increased connectivity between the left BLA and right and left occipital lobe, left calcarine, and other areas associated with visual memory and processing, and interpretation of sensory information. Additionally, males reported higher levels of physical aggression and revenge planning compared to females. LimitationsThis study included neuroimaging and self-report clinical measures. Further studies will benefit from multimodal measures, including behavioral measures of aggression. ConclusionsResults suggest that male Veterans report more aggression than females and symptoms of aggression and mood are differentially related to BLA connectivity by sex.

Influence of Mild White Matter Lesions on Voxel-based Morphometry

Purpose:The aim of this study was to investigate whether the detectability of brain volume change in voxel-based morphometry (VBM) with gray matter images is affected by mild white matter lesions (MWLs).Methods:Three-dimensional T1-weighted images (3D-T1WIs) of 11 healthy subjects were obtained using a 3T MR scanner. We initially created 3D-T1WIs with focal cortical atrophy simulated cortical atrophy in left amygdala (type A) and the left medial frontal lobe (type B) from control 3D-T1WIs. Next, the following three types of MWL images were created: type A + 1L and type B + 1L images, only one white matter lesion; type A + 4L and type B + 4L images, four white matter lesions at distant positions; and type A + 4L* and type B + 4L* images, four white matter lesions at clustered positions. Comparisons between the control group and the other groups were performed with VBM using segmented gray matter images.Results:The gray matter volume was significantly lower in the type A group than in the control group, and similar results were observed in the type A + 1L, type A + 4L, and type A + 4L* groups. Additionally, the gray matter volume was significantly lower in the type B group than in the control group, and similar results were observed in the type B + 1L, type B + 4L, and type B + 4L* groups, but the cluster size in type B + 4L* was smaller than that in type B.Conclusion:Our study showed that the detectability of brain volume change in VBM with gray matter images was not decreased by MWLs as lacunar infarctions. Therefore, we think that group comparisons with VBM should be analyzed by groups including and excluding subjects with MWLs, respectively.

Voxel-based analysis and multivariate pattern analysis of diffusion tensor imaging study in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

This study aimed to investigate brain white matter (WM) changes and their relationship to cognition in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (anti-NMDA) receptor encephalitis. Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) was used to explore brain regions that play an important role in classification. Fifteen patients and fifteen controls underwent Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and diffusion tensor imaging. Based on fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) for MVPA classification, the weights of each brain region were calculated. Compared with the controls, the patients showed an FA reduction in right middle temporal gyrus, left middle cerebellar peduncle, right praecuneus, and an MD increase in left medial temporal gyrus and left frontal lobe. The MoCA score for patients was lower than controls, especially in executive function, fluency, delayed recall and visual perception items. The FA value of right praecuneus was positively correlated with total MoCA score and fluency score. The MD of left frontal lobe was negatively correlated with total MoCA score, and MD of the left medial temporal gyrus was positively correlated with delayed recall. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of classification based on FA were 70%, 60% and 80%, respectively. Based on MD, they were each 80%. The brain regions with large weights from FA and MD overlap in temporal lobe, cerebellum and hippocampus. These results suggest that WM changes are associated with cognitive deficits. MVPA based on FA and MD has good classification ability. Our study may provide new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of residual cognitive deficits.

B-03 Neurocognitive Outcome from Anaplastic Astrocytoma: A Case Study of Neural Compensation

Abstract Objective Anaplastic astrocytoma is a rare malignant brain tumor occurring in adults aged 30 to 50, with an incidence of 5 to 8 people per 100,000. Cognitive dysfunction is a complication after tumor resection, resulting from neurotrauma of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. Neural compensation and neuroplasticity can allow intact cognitive functioning after brain resection in brain areas expected to be impacted by the neurotrauma. Method The current case study is a 45-year-old female post -resection for dendritic cell vaccine clinical trial followed by adjuvant radiation of an anaplastic astrocytoma of the frontal lobe. MRI of the brain post right frontal craniotomy was indicative of extra-axial fluid communicating with the anterior aspect of the right lateral ventricle, hemosiderin along the medial resection margin, and T2/FLAIR signal abnormality in the left medial and right inferior frontal lobes. Results Test data revealed intact global cognitive functioning (WAIS-IV; FSIQ = 101 SS), with below expected performance on verbal comprehension (WAIS-IV; VCI = 98 SS). Consistent with the area of resection, she had impairments in visuoconstruction and executive functioning specific to mental generativity. However, performances with regard to math achievement were intact (WIAT; Math Problem Solving = 110 SS; Numerical Operations = 104 SS), despite significant neurotrauma to the prefrontal cortex. She also produced left lateralized fine motor weakness. Conclusions Accommodations for work, outpatient therapies, and psychotherapy were recommended. This case enhances the understanding of neurocognitive performance after neurotrauma involving tumor resection and radiation treatment in rare malignant brain tumor, and highlights the impact of neural compensation after resection.

First report of intracranial epidermoid cyst infection and brain abscess caused by Salmonella Paratyphi A

We report the first case of brain abscess caused by Salmonella Paratyphi A in a young immunocompetent boy with an intracranial epidermoid cyst. A 10-year-old boy presented with gradual onset of headache, progressively increasing over one month duration. The patient was diagnosed with a benign intracranial epidermoid cyst involving the left anterior cranial fossa insinuating to left medial frontal lobe due the initial presentation, and repeat magnetic resonance Imaging taken after two weeks during to worsening of headache revealed pyogenic infection of the epidermoid cyst. The drained pus showed plenty of polymorphonuclear cells with thin Gram-negative bacilli on Gram staining and culture revealed the growth of S. Paratyphi A, which was confirmed by VITEK 2 compact system and serotyping. The isolate was susceptible to Ampicillin, Cotrimoxazole, Ciprofloxacin, Ceftriaxone and Tetracycline. The patient was successfully managed initially with empirical intravenous Meropenem for two weeks and then deescalated to oral Cefixime and Ciprofloxacin. There were no focal neurological deficits while the patient was discharged with advice on antibiotic continuation for two weeks.

Semantic Intrusions and Failure to Recover From Semantic Interference in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Relationship to Amyloid and Cortical Thickness.

Accumulating evidence indicates that the failure to recover from the effects of proactive semantic interference [frPSI] represents an early cognitive manifestation of preclinical Alzheimer's disease. A limitation of this novel paradigm has been a singular focus on the number of targets correctly recalled, without examining co-occurring semantic intrusions [SI] that may highlight specific breakdowns in memory. We focused on SI and their relationship to amyloid load and regional cortical thickness among persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Thirty-three elders diagnosed with aMCI underwent F-18 florbetaben amyloid PET scanning with MRI scans of the brain. We measured the correlation of SI elicited on cued recall trials of the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning [LASSI-L] with mean cortical amyloid load and regional cortical thickness in AD prone regions. SI on measures sensitive to frPSI was related to greater total amyloid load and lower overall cortical thickness [CTh]. In particular, SI were highly associated with reduced CTh in the left entorhinal cortex [r=-.71; p<.001] and left medial orbital frontal lobe [r=-.64; p<.001]; together accounting for 66% of the explained variability in regression models. Semantic intrusions on measures susceptible to frPSI related to greater brain amyloid load and lower cortical thickness. These findings further support the hypothesis that frPSI, as expressed by the percentage of intrusions, may be a cognitive marker of initial neurodegeneration and may serve as an early and distinguishing test for preclinical AD that may be used in primary care or clinical trial settings.

The Association among Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity, Mentalization, and Psychopathology in a Nonclinical Sample: An eLORETA Study

Aims: We investigated default mode network (DMN) electroencephalography (EEG) functional connectivity differences between individuals with self-reported high mentalization capability and low psychopathological symptoms, versus participants with mentalization impairments and high psychopathological symptoms. Methods: Forty-nine students (35 women) with a mean age of 22.92 ± 2.53 years were administered the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ) and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Five minutes of EEG during resting state were also recorded for each participant. DMN functional connectivity analyses were conducted by means of the exact Low Resolution Electric Tomography software (eLORETA). Results: Compared to the individuals with high mentalization capability and lower self-reported psychopathological symptoms, participants with mentalization impairments and high psychopathological symptoms showed a decrease of EEG beta connectivity between: (i) the right and left medial frontal lobe, and (ii) the left medial frontal lobe and the right anterior cingulate cortex. Furthermore, while MZQ total score was positively associated with DMN network connections (i.e., right and left medial frontal lobes), several psychopathological symptoms (i.e., interpersonal sensitivity, depression, and psychoticism) were negatively associated with DMN connectivity. Conclusion: Our results may reflect a top-down emotion regulation deficit which is associated with both internalizing and externalizing behavior problems.

Structural brain abnormalities in early onset psychosis: results from the norment eop cohort

IntroductionCortical brain abnormalities are frequently observed in adults with psychotic disorders, but few studies have investigated adolescents with early-onset psychosis (EOP). A previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study from the NORMENT group in Norway, found widespread cortical thinning and smaller subcortical volumes in adult patients with psychotic disorders, particularly schizophrenia, compared to healthy controls.MethodsParticipants from the ongoing NORMENT adolescent EOP-study, 30 patients (age: 13.3–18.3 years, mean age: 16.5, 66% female) and 45 healthy adolescents (age: 13.6–18.8 years, mean age: 16.2, 58% female), underwent 3 T MRI on the same scanner. Surface-based morphometric analyses were performed using FreeSurfer version 5.3.0. Group differences in vertex-wise cortical volume, thickness and surface area were investigated by fitting general linear models at each vertex on the surface. Age, sex and group were entered as covariates, and a non-parametric cluster-wise correction method for multiple comparisons was applied and cluster-forming and cluster-wise threshold set at 0.05.ResultsPreliminary results show thinner cortex in the left medial frontal lobe and smaller surface area in the left temporoparietal junction in EOP patients compared to healthy controls after correction for multiple comparisons.ConclusionSurface-based analysis is sensitive to alterations in cortical morphology in an adolescent EOP sample. The regions exhibiting reduced cortical thickness and area in EOP overlap with findings in an adult psychosis sample. Large-scale studies are warranted to better identify the pattern of abnormalities and clarify effects of age, diagnosis and medication.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Empathy correlates with insula and cingulate cortex activity during encoding but not enactment of manual imitation

Event Abstract Back to Event Empathy correlates with insula and cingulate cortex activity during encoding but not enactment of manual imitation Lieke Braadbaart1*, Justin Williams2 and Gordon Waiter1 1 University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre, United Kingdom 2 University of Aberdeen, Clinical Research Centre, United Kingdom Imitation is thought to be closely related to empathy, as both processes involve simulation and interpretation of another's intentions, yet it is not known what neural mechanisms might mediate this relationship. Adaptation of a touchscreen to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) environment enabled us to investigate how empathic ability relates to neural activation during kinematic imitation. 18 participants were asked to draw shapes based on videos of a model drawing, without seeing the actual shape. During functional MRI, videos were shown with either the model drawing (Imitate) or a dot tracing out the same shape (Ghost), and participants drew on an MRI-compatible touchscreen with their finger to copy the shape and speed being demonstrated. They also completed the Empathy Quotient (EQ; Baron-Cohen, 2004). Overall, EQ correlated positively with brain activity during Imitate > Ghost in right frontal gyrus, insula, medial temporal gyrus and putamen. After separating instances where participants were watching from those where they were drawing, it was further found that EQ correlated positively with Imitate-Drawing > Ghost-Drawing in the right hippocampus only, but much more extensively with Imitate-Watching > Ghost-Watching in the bilateral insula, anterior cingulate, left medial frontal lobe, calcarine sulcus, midcingulate, superior temporal lobe and right caudate. EQ was not correlated to imitative performance, eliminating the possibility of this being a mediating factor. When encoding a model's manual action with the goal to imitate it, people with greater empathic abilities make greater use of areas traditionally associated with empathic emotional responses. This is in contrast with the enactment component of imitation whereby only memory is implicated in the relationship. These findings suggest that the link between manual imitation and empathy is best explained by action perception activating viscero-motor mechanisms in more empathic individuals rather than a simulation mechanism. Keywords: Empathy, simulation, functional MRI, kinematics, encoding, manual imitation, touchscreen technology Conference: XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 27 Jul - 31 Jul, 2014. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Emotional and Social Processes Citation: Braadbaart L, Williams J and Waiter G (2015). Empathy correlates with insula and cingulate cortex activity during encoding but not enactment of manual imitation. Conference Abstract: XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2015.217.00089 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 19 Feb 2015; Published Online: 24 Apr 2015. * Correspondence: Ms. Lieke Braadbaart, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre, Aberdeen, United Kingdom, l.braadbaart@abdn.ac.uk Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Lieke Braadbaart Justin Williams Gordon Waiter Google Lieke Braadbaart Justin Williams Gordon Waiter Google Scholar Lieke Braadbaart Justin Williams Gordon Waiter PubMed Lieke Braadbaart Justin Williams Gordon Waiter Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Pattern of cerebral hyperperfusion in Alzheimer&amp;#39;s disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment using voxel-based analysis of 3D arterial spin-labeling imaging: initial experience

PurposeA three-dimensional (3D) continuous pulse arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique was used to investigate cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and age- and sex-matched healthy controls.Materials and methodsThree groups were recruited for comparison, 24 AD patients, 17 MCI patients, and 21 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Three-dimensional ASL scans covering the entire brain were acquired with a 3.0 T magnetic resonance scanner. Spatial processing was performed with statistical parametric mapping 8. A second-level one-way analysis of variance analysis (threshold at P<0.05) was performed on the preprocessed ASL data. An average whole-brain CBF for each subject was also included as group-level covariates for the perfusion data, to control for individual CBF variations.ResultsSignificantly increased CBF was detected in bilateral frontal lobes and right temporal subgyral regions in aMCI compared with controls. When comparing AD with aMCI, the major hyperperfusion regions were the right limbic lobe and basal ganglia regions, including the putamen, caudate, lentiform nucleus, and thalamus, and hypoperfusion was found in the left medial frontal lobe, parietal cortex, the right middle temporo-occipital lobe, and particularly, the left anterior cingulate gyrus. We also found decreased CBF in the bilateral temporo-parieto-occipital cortices and left limbic lobe in AD patients, relative to the control group. aMCI subjects showed decreased blood flow in the left occipital lobe, bilateral inferior temporal cortex, and right middle temporal cortex.ConclusionOur results indicated that ASL provided useful perfusion information in AD disease and may be used as an appealing alternative for further pathologic and neuropsychological studies, especially of compensatory mechanisms for cerebral hypoperfusion.

The effect of object processing in content-dependent source memory

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested that the study condition of an item influences how the item is encoded. However, it is still unclear whether subsequent source memory effects are dependent upon stimulus content when the item and context are unitized. The present fMRI study investigated the effect of encoding activity sensitive to stimulus content in source memory via unitization. In the scanner, participants were instructed to integrate a study item, an object in either a word or a picture form, with perceptual context into a single image.ResultsSubsequent source memory effects independent of stimulus content were identified in the left lateral frontal and parietal regions, bilateral fusiform areas, and the left perirhinal cortex extending to the anterior hippocampus. Content-dependent subsequent source memory effects were found only with words in the left medial frontal lobe, the ventral visual stream, and bilateral parahippocampal regions. Further, neural activity for source memory with words extensively overlapped with the region where pictures were preferentially processed than words, including the left mid-occipital cortex and the right parahippocampal cortex.ConclusionsThese results indicate that words that were accurately remembered with correct contextual information were processed more like pictures mediated by integrated imagery operation, compared to words that were recognized with incorrect context. In contrast, such processing did not discriminate subsequent source memory with pictures. Taken together, these findings suggest that unitization supports source memory for both words and pictures and that the requirement of the study task interacts with the nature of stimulus content in unitized source encoding.

Does excessive play of violent first-person-shooter-video-games dampen brain activity in response to emotional stimuli?

The present case–control study investigated the processing of emotional pictures in excessive first-person-shooter-video-players and control persons. All participants of the fMRI experiment were confronted with pictures from four categories including pleasant, unpleasant, neutral content and pictures from the first-person-shooter-video-game ‘Counterstrike’. Compared to controls, gamers showed a significantly lower activation of the left lateral medial frontal lobe while processing negative emotions. Another interesting finding of the study represents the higher activation of frontal and temporal brain areas in gamers when processing screen-shots from the first-person-shooter-video-game ‘Counterstrike’. Higher brain activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex could represent a protection mechanism against experiencing negative emotions by down-regulating limbic brain activity. Due to a frequent confrontation with violent scenes, the first-person-shooter-video-gamers might have habituated to the effects of unpleasant stimuli resulting in lower brain activation. Individual differences in brain activations of the contrast Counterstrike>neutral pictures potentially resemble the activation of action-scripts related to the video-game.