Left Middle Occipital Gyrus Research Articles

Neural Basis of Pain Empathy Dysregulations in Mental Disorders: A Preregistered Neuroimaging Meta-Analysis

BackgroundPain empathy represents a fundamental building block of several social functions, which have been demonstrated to be impaired across various mental disorders by accumulating evidence from case-control functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. However, it remains unclear whether the dysregulations are underpinned by robust neural alterations across mental disorders. MethodsThis study utilized coordinate-based meta-analyses to quantitatively determine robust markers of altered pain empathy across mental disorders. To support the interpretation of the findings, exploratory network-level and behavioral meta-analyses were conducted. ResultsQuantitative analysis of 11 case-control functional magnetic resonance imaging studies with data from 296 patients and 229 control participants revealed that patients with mental disorders exhibited increased pain empathic reactivity in the left anterior cingulate gyrus, adjacent medial prefrontal cortex, and right middle temporal gyrus but decreased activity in the left cerebellum IV/V and left middle occipital gyrus compared with control participants. The hyperactive regions showed network-level interactions with the core default mode network and were associated with affective and social cognitive domains. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that pain empathic alterations across mental disorders are underpinned by excessive empathic reactivity in brain systems involved in empathic distress and social processes, highlighting a shared therapeutic target to normalize basal social dysfunctions in mental disorders.

The influence of traditional Chinese exercise on brain function compared with other sports: A meta-analysis on functional neuroimaging studies

Traditional Chinese Exercise (TCE) has been shown to improve quality of life, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a highly used method for investigating its mechanism. However, there is currently a lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses focusing on TCE-related brain changes. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting a meta-analysis on brain changes of TCE with fMRI technology. We searched relevant studies published until February 2024. Independent researchers conducted literature screening, quality assessment, and clinical and neuroimaging data extraction. Focis were filtered from eligible studies, and meta-analysis was performed using seed-based d mapping. Twenty-three studies involving 1182 participants were included in this study. The result found that longitudinal TCE increased brain activity in the left anterior cingulate gyri, right fusiform gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus and left frontal superior compared with other exercises or healthcare. Subgroup analysis showed that the brain activity in the right superior frontal gyrus dorsolateral; right cortico-spinal projections; corpus callosum; right inferior network; right gyrus rectus; left middle occipital gyrus were decreased after TCE compared to other exercise among healthy participants. The right median cingulate gyri was increased after Baduanjin (one of the TCE) compared to other exercise; the left precentral gyrus activity was increased after Tai chi chuan (TCC) practice compared to other exercise. The brain activity in the right insula, right supplementary motor area, and left anterior thalamic were significantly increased after long-time TCC exercise. TCE effectively improved the cognitive level of the subjects. Among them, the MoCA score increased, but Memory Quotient was not improved. Research results indicate that TCE have specific neuromodulatory effects, and different TCE have different neuromodulatory patterns.

Effects of computerized working memory training on neuroplasticity in healthy individuals: A combined neuroimaging and neurotransmitter study

Working memory (WM) is an essential cognitive function that underpins various higher-order cognitive processes. Improving WM capacity through targeted training interventions has emergered as a potential approach for enhancing cognitive abilities. The present study employed an 8-week regimen of computerized WM training (WMT) to investigate its effect on neuroplasticity in healthy individuals, utilizing neuroimaging data gathered both before and after the training. The key metrics assessed included the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), voxel-based morphometry (VBM), and the spatial distribution correlations of neurotransmitter. The results indicated that post-training, compared to baseline, there was a reduction in ALFF in the medial superior frontal gyrus and an elevation in ALFF in the left middle occipital gyrus within the training group. In comparison to the control group, the training group also exhibited decreased ALFF in the anterior cingulate cortex, angular gyrus, and superior parietal lobule, along with increased ALFF in the postcentral gyrus post-training. VBM analysis revealed a significant increase in gray matter volume (GMV) in the right dorsal superior frontal gyrus after the training period, compared to the initial baseline measurement. Furthermore, the training group showed GMV increases in the dorsal superior frontal gyrus, Rolandic operculum, precentral gyrus, and postcentral gyrus when compared to the control group. In addition, significant associations were identifed between neuroimaging measurements (AFLL and VBM) and the spatial patterns of neurotransmitters such as serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), providing insights into the underlying neurochemical processes. These findings clarify the neuroplastic changes caused by WMT, offering a deeper understanding of brain plasticity and highlighting the potential advantages of cognitive training interventions.

Self-compassion, self-referential caudate circuitry, and adolescent suicide ideation

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth, and depression is a strong proximal predictor of adolescent suicide. It is important to identify psychological factors that may protect against suicide ideation in depressed adolescents. Self-compassion may be such a factor. Converging evidence indicates the inverse association between self-compassion and suicide ideation, but the neural mechanisms underlying their link remain unknown. Because self-referential caudate activity is associated with both self-compassion and suicide ideation, its functional connectivity might explain their relationship. In this study, we examined the relationship between self-compassion and caudate functional connectivity during self-appraisals, a typical self-referential paradigm, and their associations with suicide ideation in both depressed and healthy youth. In the scanner, 79 depressed youth and 36 healthy controls evaluated, from various perspectives, whether phrases they heard were self-descriptive. Self-compassion and suicide ideation were rated with self-report and interview-based measures. We found that self-compassion was associated with stronger left caudate functional connectivity with bilateral posterior superior temporal sulcus/temporoparietal junction, the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), and the left middle occipital gyrus during positive versus negative self-appraisals. Stronger left caudate connectivity with the left MTG explained the association between higher self-compassion and lower suicide ideation, even controlling for non-suicide ideation depression severity, anxiety severity, and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior. The findings suggest that the left caudate to MTG connectivity during positive versus negative self-referential processing could be a biomarker to be targeted by neural stimulation interventions for reducing suicide ideation in depressed youth, combined with self-compassion interventions.

Constipation is associated with emotional and cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A clinical and brain functional study

ObjectiveConstipation frequently occurs in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and may be related to cognitive and emotional disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical and brain functional characteristics of patients with PD presenting with constipation. MethodsThe motor and non-motor symptoms of patients with PD were evaluated, and a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) study was conducted based on propensity score matching. Alterations in brain function were analyzed using regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC). ResultsCompared with patients without constipation (PD-NC group), patients with constipation (PD-C group) had more serious motor and non-motor symptoms (including cognitive and emotional disorders along with visual hallucinations). Further, emotional and cognitive disorders were correlated with the occurrence of constipation in patients with PD. Compared with the PD-NC group, the PD-C group showed a reduced ReHo of the right insula and bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), increased ReHo of the left postcentral gyrus, and enhanced FC between the right OFC and the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and middle occipital gyrus (MOG). Additionally, the activity of the OFC and insula was significantly correlated with the constipation, mood, and cognitive levels of patients with PD. ConclusionsConstipation in patients with PD is closely related to emotional and cognitive impairments, abnormal activity and FC of brain regions such as the right insula and bilateral OFC may play an important role in this.

Resting-State Brain Function Alteration in Colorectal Cancer Patients.

To investigate the abnormal pattern of altered functional activity in the brain and the neuroimaging mechanisms underlying the cognitive impairment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) via resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). CRC patients (n = 56) and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 50) were studied. The participants underwent rs-fMRI scans and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), degree centrality (DC), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and MoCA scores, were calculated for participants. The scores of executives, visuospatial, memory, language and attention were lower in CRC patients. ReHo and ALFF values in the left postcentral gyrus, ReHo values in the right postcentral gyrus, ALFF and DC values in the left middle occipital gyrus, ReHo and DC values in the right lingual gyrus, DC values in the right angular gyrus and precuneus, and ALFF values in the left middle temporal gyrus decreased conspicuously in the CRC patients. CRC patients have abnormal resting state function, mainly in the brain areas involved in cognitive function. The overlapping brain regions with abnormal functional indicators are in the middle occipital gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and lingual gyrus. This study reveals the potential biological pathways involved in brain impairment and neurocognitive decline in patients with CRC.

Resting-state functional connectivity of the occipital cortex in different subtypes of Parkinson's disease.

To examine whether functional connectivity (FC) of the occipital gyrus differs between patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) motor subtypes and healthy controls (HCs). We enrolled 30 PD patients exhibiting tremor dominance (TD), 43 PD patients with postural instability and gait disturbance (PIGD), and 42 HCs. The occipital gyrus was partitioned into six areas of interest, as seed points, via the Anatomical Automatic Labeling template to compare the FC of the three groups and analyze the relationship of FC with clinical scales. Compared with the PIGD group, the TD group showed increased FC between the left superior occipital gyrus (SOG.L) and right median cingulate and paracingulate gyri (DCG.R)/right paracentral lobule/bilateral inferior parietal, but supramarginal and angular gyri; the left middle occipital gyrus (MOG.L) and left posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG.L); the MOG.R and SOG.L/right calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex/DCG.R/PCG.L/right cuneus; the left inferior occipital gyrus (IOG.L) and right caudate nucleus; and the IOG.R and PCG.L. Differentiated FC between the occipital gyrus and other brain areas within the PD motor subtypes, which may serve as neural markers to distinguish between patients with TD and PIGD PD.

Abnormal functional connectivity of the putamen in obsessive-compulsive disorder

The putamen has been proposed to play a critical role in the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The primary objective of this study was to examine the resting-state regional activity and functional connectivity patterns of the putamen in individuals diagnosed with OCD. To achieve this, we employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to collect data from a sample of 45 OCD patients and 53 healthy control participants. We aimed to use the regional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analysis to generate the ROI masks of the putamen and then conduct the whole brain functional connectivity of the putamen in individuals with OCD. Compared to controls, the OCD group demonstrated decreased ALFF in bilateral putamen. The right putamen also displayed decreased FC with the left putamen extending to the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), bilateral precuneus extending to calcarine, the right middle occipital cortex extending to the right middle temporal cortex, and the left middle occipital gyrus. The decreased connectivity between the right putamen and the left IFG was negatively correlated with Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) Obsession Scores. This study aimed to reveal the putamen changes in resting-state activity and connectivity in OCD patients, highlighting the significance of aberrant ALFF/FC of the putamen is a key characteristic of OCD.

Distance-related functional reorganization predicts motor outcome in stroke patients

BackgroundAnalyzing distance-dependent functional connectivity density (FCD) yields valuable insights into patterns of brain activity. Nevertheless, whether alterations of FCD in non-acute stroke patients are associated with the anatomical distance between brain regions remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the distance-related functional reorganization in non-acute stroke patients following left and right hemisphere subcortical lesions, and its relationship with clinical assessments.MethodsIn this study, we used resting-state fMRI to calculate distance-dependent (i.e., short- and long-range) FCD in 25 left subcortical stroke (LSS) patients, 22 right subcortical stroke (RSS) patients, and 39 well-matched healthy controls (HCs). Then, we compared FCD differences among the three groups and assessed the correlation between FCD alterations and paralyzed motor function using linear regression analysis.ResultsOur findings demonstrated that the left inferior frontal gyrus displayed distance-independent FCD changes, while the bilateral supplementary motor area, cerebellum, and left middle occipital gyrus exhibited distance-dependent FCD alterations in two patient subgroups compared with HCs. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between increased FCD in the bilateral supplementary motor area and the motor function of lower limbs, and a negative correlation between increased FCD in the left inferior frontal gyrus and the motor function of both upper and lower limbs across all stroke patients. These associations were validated by using a longitudinal dataset.ConclusionsThe FCD in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices shows distance-related changes in non-acute stroke patients with motor dysfunction, which may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting motor outcomes after stroke. These findings enhance our comprehension of the neurobiological mechanisms driving non-acute stroke.Trial registrationAll data used in the present study were obtained from a research trial registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT05648552, registered 05 December 2022, starting from 01 January 2022).

Brain functional specialization and cooperation in Alzheimer's disease.

Cerebral specialization and interhemispheric cooperation are two vital features of the human brain. Their dysfunction may be associated with disease progression in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is featured as progressive cognitive degeneration and asymmetric neuropathology. This study aimed to examine and define two inherent properties of hemispheric function in patients with AD by utilizing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Sixty-four clinically diagnosed AD patients and 52 age- and sex-matched cognitively normal subjects were recruited and underwent MRI and clinical evaluation. We calculated and compared brain specialization (autonomy index, AI) and interhemispheric cooperation (connectivity between functionally homotopic voxels, CFH). In comparison to healthy controls, patients with AD exhibited enhanced AI in the left middle occipital gyrus. This increase in specialization can be attributed to reduced functional connectivity in the contralateral region, such as the right temporal lobe. The CFH of the bilateral precuneus and prefrontal areas was significantly decreased in AD patients compared to controls. Imaging-cognitive correlation analysis indicated that the CFH of the right prefrontal cortex was marginally positively related to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score in patients and the Auditory Verbal Learning Test score. Moreover, taking abnormal AI and CFH values as features, support vector machine-based classification achieved good accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve by leave-one-out cross-validation. This study suggests that individuals with AD have abnormal cerebral specialization and interhemispheric cooperation. This provides new insights for further elucidation of the pathological mechanisms of AD.

Lower synaptic density and its association with cognitive dysfunction in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

BackgroundUnderstanding synaptic alteration in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is crucial for elucidating its pathological mechanisms, but in vivo research on this topic remains limited.AimsThis study aimed to identify the synaptic density...

Neurofunctional changes related to methamphetamine and sexual cues in methamphetamine dependence from short- to long-term abstinence.

Abuse of methamphetamine has aroused concern worldwide. Stimulant use and sexual behaviours have been linked in behavioural and epidemiological studies. Although methamphetamine-related neurofunctional differences are reported in previous studies, only few studies have examined neurofunctional changes related to methamphetamine and sexual cues in methamphetamine dependence from short- to long-term abstinence. Neurofunctional changes were measured using a cue-reactivity task involving methamphetamine, sexual, and neutral cues in 20 methamphetamine abusers who were evaluated after a short- (1 week to 3 months) and long-term (10-15 months) abstinence. Five brain regions mainly involved in the occipital lobe and the parietal lobe were found with the group-by-condition interaction. Region-of-interest analyses found higher sexual-cue-related activation than other two activations in all five brain regions in the long-term methamphetamine abstinence group while no group differences were found. Negative relationships between motor impulsivity and methamphetamine- or sexual-cue-related activations in the left middle occipital gyrus, the superior parietal gyrus and the right angular gyrus were found. The findings suggested that methamphetamine abstinence may change the neural response of methamphetamine abusers to methamphetamine and sexual cues, and the neurofunction of the five brain regions reported in this study may partly recover with long-term methamphetamine abstinence. Given the use and relapse of methamphetamine for sexual purposes, the findings of this study may have particular clinical relevance.

Amygdala structural and functional reorganization as an indicator of affective dysfunction in patients with tinnitus.

The aim of this study was to systematically investigate structural and functional alterations in amygdala subregions using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with tinnitus with or without affective dysfunction. Sixty patients with persistent tinnitus and 40 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Based on a questionnaire assessment, 26 and 34 patients were categorized into the tinnitus patients with affective dysfunction (TPAD) and tinnitus patients without affective dysfunction (TPWAD) groups, respectively. MRI-based measurements of gray matter volume, fractional anisotropy (FA), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), degree centrality (DC), and functional connectivity (FC) were conducted within 14 amygdala subregions for intergroup comparisons. Associations between the MRI properties and clinical characteristics were estimated via partial correlation analyses. Compared with that of the HCs, the TPAD and TPWAD groups exhibited significant structural and functional changes, including white matter integrity (WMI), fALFF, ReHo, DC, and FC alterations, with more pronounced WMI changes in the TPAD group, predominantly within the left auxiliary basal or basomedial nucleus (AB/BM), right central nucleus, right lateral nuclei (dorsal portion), and left lateral nuclei (ventral portion containing basolateral portions). Moreover, the TPAD group exhibited decreased FC between the left AB/BM and left middle occipital gyrus and right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), left basal nucleus and right SFG, and right lateral nuclei (intermediate portion) and right SFG. In combination, these amygdalar alterations exhibited a sensitivity of 65.4% and specificity of 96.9% in predicting affective dysfunction in patients with tinnitus. Although similar structural and functional amygdala remodeling were observed in the TPAD and TPWAD groups, the changes were more pronounced in the TPAD group. These changes mainly involved alterations in functionality and white matter microstructure in various amygdala subregions; in combination, these changes could serve as an imaging-based predictor of emotional disorders in patients with tinnitus.

Exome functional risk score and brain connectivity can predict social adaptability outcome of children with autism spectrum disorder in 4 years' follow up.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder emerging in early childhood, with heterogeneous clinical outcomes across individuals. This study aims to recognize neuroimaging genetic factors associated with outcomes of ASD after a 4-year follow-up. A total of 104 ASD children were included in this study; they underwent clinical assessments, MRI data acquisition, and the whole exome sequencing (WES). Exome functional risk score (EFRS) was calculated based on WES; and two modalities of brain connectivity were constructed based on MRI data, that is functional connectivity (FC) for functional MRI (fMRI), and individual differential structural covariance network (IDSCN) for structural MRI (sMRI), to explore the neuroimaging genetic biomarker of outcomes of ASD children. Regression analysis found EFRS predicts social adaptability at the 4-year follow-up (Y = -0.013X + 9.29, p = 0.003). We identified 19 pairs of FC associated with autism symptoms severity at follow-up, 10 pairs of FC and 4 pairs of IDSCN associated with social adaptability at follow-up, and 10 pairs of FC associated with ASD EFRS by support vector regression (SVR). Related brain regions with prognostic predictive effects are mainly distributed in superior frontal gyrus, occipital cortex, temporal cortex, parietal cortex, paracentral lobule, pallidum, and amygdala for FC, and temporal cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus for IDSCN. Mediation model showed that ASD EFRS affects the social communication of ASD children through the mediation of FC between left middle occipital gyrus and left pallidum (RMSEA=0.126, CMIN=80.66, DF=42, p< 0.001, CFI=0.867, AIC=152). Our findings underscore that both EFRS and brain connectivity can predict social adaptability, and that brain connectivity serving as mediator in the relationship of EFRS and behaviors of ASD, suggesting the intervention targets in the future clinical application.

Evaluation of Visual Cortex Activity Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Primary Open Angle and Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma: A Pilot Study.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to assess visual cortical activity in patients with primary open angle (POAG) and primary angle closure (PACG) glaucomas. There was decreased activity in the visual cortex of glaucoma patients correlating with the severity of glaucoma. To evaluate visual cortex activity using fNIRS in POAG and PACG compared with healthy controls. A total of 30 POAGs, 31 PACGs, and 30 healthy aged-matched controls from a single centre were recruited in this cross-sectional observational pilot study with purposive sampling. The POAG and PACG groups were age-matched but were not matched for disease severity at recruitment. All participants underwent fNIRS testing using a multichannel continuous-wave near-infrared system NIRSport 8×7 device (NIRx Medizintechnik GmbH). The visual cortex activity was evaluated in terms of the maximum amplitude of change in oxyhemoglobin (OxyHb) concentration over 10 seconds, and a comparison was done among 3 groups. Both POAG and PACG groups were combined (termed as glaucoma group) to assess the relationship of visual cortical activity with disease severity (by visual field defect (mean deviation) and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness). All participants showed the characteristic response of increased OxyHb and decreased deoxyhemoglobin during stimulus presentation. The maximum amplitude of change in OxyHb concentration over 10 seconds was significantly lower in both POAG and PACG groups compared with control in the right and left middle occipital gyri ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between PACG and POAG. Importantly, there was a negative correlation between the visual cortex activity with the visual field defects (mean deviation; P < 0.05) and a positive correlation with retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in the glaucoma group ( P < 0.05). In patients with glaucoma, a reduction in visual cortical activity was observed, which may be indicative of neuronal degeneration occurring in the occipital cortex. Disease severity in glaucoma appears to be closely correlated with visual cortex activity. fNIRS can serve as a useful neuroimaging modality for assessing the hemodynamic and neurodegenerative changes in glaucoma.

Decreased Cerebral Perfusion in Chronic Migraine: A Voxel-based Cerebral Blood Flow Analysis Using 3D Pseudo-continuous Arterial Spin Labeling.

A contrast agent-free approach would be preferable to the frequently used invasive approaches for evaluating cerebral perfusion in chronic migraineurs (CM). In this work, non-invasive quantitative volumetric perfusion imaging was used to evaluate alterations in cerebral perfusion in CM. We used conventional brain structural imaging sequences and 3D pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (3D PCASL) to examine thirteen CM patients and fifteen normal controls (NCs). The entire brain gray matter underwent voxel-based analysis, and the cerebral blood flow (CBF) values of the altered positive areas were retrieved to look into the clinical variables' significant correlation. Brain regions with the decreased perfusion were located in the left postcentral gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, left superior parietal lobule, left medial segment of superior frontal gyrus, and right orbital part of the inferior frontal gyrus. White matter fibers with decreased perfusion were located in bilateral superior longitudinal tracts, superior corona radiata, external capsules, anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule, anterior corona radiata, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and right corticospinal tract. However, the correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between the CBF value of the above positive brain regions with clinical variables (p > 0.05). The current study provided more useful information to comprehend the pathophysiology of CM and revealed a new insight into the neural mechanism of CM from the pattern of cerebral hypoperfusion.

The increased effective connectivity from left middle occipital gyrus to right medial septum/diagonal bands in AD patients after donepezil intervention.

Donepezil enhances the function of cholinergic nerves by increasing the concentration of acetylcholine, thereby improving clinical symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the neural mechanisms of how donepezil modulates the effective connectivity (EC) network of cholinergic system in AD patients remain unknown. We speculated that the effective network of the cholinergic system changes in AD patients after donepezil intervention. We employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and Granger causality analysis approach to explore changes in the effective connectivity network of the basal forebrain in AD patients before and after donepezil intervention. This study included 32 participants, including 16 healthy controls (HCs) and 16 AD patients. In a 3T MRI scanner, the 16 AD patients were scanned before and after the donepezil intervention. To compare EC differences between the three groups of participants, ANOVA and post-hoc t-tests analysis were employed. Compared to baseline status, AD patients after donepezil intervention had an increased EC from left middle occipital gyrus to right medial septum/diagonal bands. Compared to HCs, AD patients after donepezil intervention had an increased EC from right inferior frontal gyrus/orbit part to right medial septum/diagonal bands, AD patients before donepezil intervention had a reduced EC from right precuneus to right medial septum/diagonal bands. A significant positive correlation was found between EC values in right precuneus and Mini-Mental State Examination in pre-intervention AD patients (r = 0.7338, p = 0.0012). Our study showed that effective connectivity of brain regions associated with the default mode network in the cholinergic pathway was enhanced after donepezil intervention. The results of this study will help us to better understand the neural mechanisms of donepezil intervention in AD and to find clinical targets for intervention.

Alterations of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with antidepressants treatment for major depressive disorder

We investigated the neuroimaging changes and clinical efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with antidepressants in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. We scanned 35 patients with MDD and 27 healthy controls (HC) with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after treatment. We analyzed amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and the correlation with clinical variables. The rate of significant efficacy after treatment was higher in the combination treatment group than in the antidepressant group, although not statistically significant. At baseline, ALFF increased in the left middle temporal, brain stem, and left cerebellum and decreased in the right anterior cingulate (ACC), right orbital frontal cortex (OFC), and right caudate. ALFF increased in the left fusiform and decreased in the right lingual gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, and left superior occipital gyrus after antidepressants. ALFF increased in the right ACC, right OFC, and right rectus after combination treatment. ALFF changes in the right ACC/OFC were negatively correlated with HAMD changes. After treatment, abnormal activity in some brain regions normalized, but these regions differed between the two treatment groups. rTMS combined with antidepressants therapy may improve MDD symptoms by improving neuronal activity levels in the right ACC and right OFC.

How three-dimensional sketching environments affect spatial thinking: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of virtual reality.

Designers rely on sketching to visualize and refine their initial ideas, and virtual reality (VR) tools now facilitate sketching in immersive 3D environments. However, little research has been conducted on the differences in the visual and spatial processes involved in 3D versus 2D sketching and their effects on cognition. This study investigated potential differences in spatial and visual functions related to the use of 3D versus 2D sketching media by analyzing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. We recruited 20 healthy, right-handed students from the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture with at least three years of experience in freehand landscape drawing. Using an Oculus Quest VR headset controller and a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil, we tested participants individually with 3D and 2D sketching, respectively. When comparing 2D and 3D sketches, our fMRI results revealed significant differences in the activation of several brain regions, including the right middle temporal gyrus, both sides of the parietal lobe, and the left middle occipital gyrus. We also compared different sketching conditions, such as lines, geometrical objects (cube), and naturalistic objects (perspective view of a tree), and found significant differences in the spatial and visual recognition of brain areas that support visual recognition, composition, and spatial perception. This finding suggests that 3D sketching environments, such as VR, may activate more visual-spatial functions during sketching compared to 2D environments. The result highlights the potential of immersive sketching environments for design-related processes and spatial thinking.

The neurofunctional basis of human aggression varies by levels of femininity

ABSTRACT Aggression can be categorized into reactive aggression (RA) and proactive aggression (PA) based on their underlying motivations. However, previous research has rarely identified the relationship between femininity and RA/PA, and there is a lack of understanding regarding the femininity-related neurofunctional basis of these aggressive behaviors. Thus, this study first examined the relationships between femininity and aggression, then explored the aggression-by-femininity interactions on the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations using resting-state fMRI among 705 university participants (mean age = 19.14 ± 0.99). The behavioral data indicated that femininity was more negatively associated with RA and PA when masculinity was controlled for. Additionally, the neural data revealed that femininity-specific relationships of RA in the left middle occipital gyrus (i.e. individuals with low femininity had positive relationships between RA and the left middle occipital gyrus, whereas those with high femininity had negative relationships) as well as of PA in the left middle frontal gyrus (i.e. individuals with high femininity showed significant negative relationships, whereas those with low femininity did not exhibit significant relationships). These findings reflect that individuals with varying levels of femininity exhibit distinct neural bases when expressing different subtypes of aggression, which are associated with societal expectations of gender.