Left Medial Superior Frontal Gyrus Research Articles

Deficit of Cross-Frequency Integration in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease: A Multilayer Network Approach.

BackgroundStudies at specific frequencies have shown abnormalities in brain functional networks among mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Previous studies have failed to take into account the possibility that optimal cognitive integration requires interactions between different frequency bands.PurposeTo study whether there is abnormal cross‐frequency integration in patients' brains during disease progression.Study TypeRetrospective.PopulationForty‐six normal control (NC), 85 patients with MCI, and 31 patients with AD.Field Strength/Sequence3T.AssessmentMultilayer network models were constructed for NC, MCI, and AD, and multilayer participation coefficient (MPC) was used to study the changes of the interlayer relationship in the course of disease development. In addition, MPC and an overlapping degree were combined to classify nodes in the network, and the role of key nodes in the interlayer interaction was mainly observed. Finally, the correlation between multilayer network measures and cognitive function was investigated.Statistical TestsPearson chi‐squared two‐tailed test, one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA), nonparametric Spearman correlation coefficient r, and the false discovery rate.ResultsThe MPC of the network decreased significantly in MCI (P < 0.05) and AD (P < 0.05). The number of intralayer nodes increased significantly (MCI [P < 0.05], AD [P < 0.05]) and the number of interlayer nodes decreased significantly. Centrality loss between frequencies of a large number of hub nodes, among which the damaged hub nodes included the left hippocampus, left precuneus, right precuneus, left posterior cingulate gyrus, left precentral gyrus, right precentral gyrus, left medial superior frontal gyrus, and right postcentral gyrus. MPC was significantly associated with memory impairment in patients (AD [Spearman's r = 0.526, P < 0.05], MCI [Spearman's r = 0.229, P < 0.05]), and these related regions included damaged hub nodes in patients.Data ConclusionIn the multilayer networks of patients, there was an obvious deficit in cross‐frequency integration and the hub nodes were preferentially damaged. Moreover, these vulnerable hubs are associated with patients' cognitive scores.Level of Evidence1Technical Efficacy Stage3

Male sexual orientation, gender nonconformity, and neural activity during mental rotations: an fMRI study

The cross-sex shift hypothesis predicts that gay men should perform more like heterosexual women on important neurocognitive tasks on which men score higher than women, such as mental rotation. Studies also suggest sex differences exist in the neural correlates of mental rotation. However, no studies have taken sexual orientation into account or considered within-group variation attributable to recalled gender nonconformity (a developmental trait reliably associated with human nonheterosexuality). We quantified the neural correlates of mental rotation by comparing two groups of gay men, gender conforming (n = 23) and gender nonconforming (n = 23), to gender conforming heterosexual men (n = 22) and women (n = 22). We observed a sex difference between heterosexual men and women in the premotor cortex/supplementary motor cortex and left medial superior frontal gyrus. We also observed a sex difference as well as a cross-sex shift in gay men who recalled being gender nonconforming as children in the right superior frontal gyrus, right angular gyrus, right amygdala/parahippocampal gyrus, and bilaterally in the middle temporal gyrus and precuneus. Thus, cross-sex shifts may be associated with underlying developmental factors which are associated with sexual orientation (such as gender nonconformity). The results also suggest that gay men should not be studied as a homogenous group.

Dysfunction in superior frontal gyrus associated with diphasic dyskinesia in Parkinson\u2019s disease

Alterations in brain function in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with diphasic dyskinesia have not been investigated. We aimed to explore the alterations in regional brain function. Each of 53 levodopa (LD)-treated PD patients had two resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans in the same morning, before and after taking LD. The regional homogeneity (ReHo) approach was used to reveal local synchronization changes. Two-way factorial repeated measures analysis of covariance, with group as a between-subject factor and LD effect as a within-subject factor, was performed to explore the two main effects and interaction. Interactive analysis was used to show outcomes that combined disease status and LD effect. Spearman’s correlations were used to detect associations between interactive brain regions and severity of dyskinetic symptoms, assessed by the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UDyRS) scores, along with moderation analyses. There was no significant difference in the main group effect analysis. Significantly different clusters obtained from main LD effect analysis were in left caudate nucleus and putamen. ReHo values decreased in the caudate nucleus and increased in the putamen during the ON state after taking LD. Interaction between group and LD effect was found in left medial superior frontal gyrus (mSFG), where there were the lowest ReHo values, and was negatively correlated with UDyRS scores in the diphasic dyskinetic group during the ON state. The relationship was independent of LD dose. Abnormal local synchronization in the mSFG is closely associated with the development of diphasic dyskinesia in PD patients.

Grey matter volume and structural covariance associated with schizotypy

In this study, we applied brain grey matter volume and structural covariance methods on T1 weighted images to delineate potential structural brain changes in individuals with high schizotypy, who were defined as healthy individuals scoring in the top tenth percentile of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Eighty-seven college students with high schizotypy and 122 controls were recruited in China. Differences in grey matter volume and volume covariance between the two groups, and correlations of grey matter volume with SPQ scores in the high schizotypy group were examined. We found that individuals with high schizotypy had decreased grey matter volume at the left medial superior frontal gyrus (medsFG) extending towards the superior frontal gyrus, decreased structural covariance within the right medsFG, between the right superior frontal gyrus (sFG), the right superior temporal gyrus and the right anterior insula; and increased structural covariance between the caudate and the right inferior temporal gyrus. Correlation analysis revealed that grey matter volume of the left middle temporal pole and the right sFG correlated positively with the SPQ total scores, volume of the bilateral cerebellum 9 sub-region correlated negatively with the SPQ cognitive-perceptual sub-scale scores, volume of the bilateral striatum correlated positively with the SPQ interpersonal sub-scale scores, and volume of the bilateral superior temporal pole correlated positively with the SPQ disorganization sub-scale scores in the high schizotypy group. These results highlight important grey matter structural changes in the medsFG in individuals with high schizotypy.

Left hemispheric \u03b1 band cerebral oscillatory changes correlate with verbal memory

Event-related synchronisation (ERS) and event-related desynchronisation (ERD) have been observed via magnetoencephalography (MEG) in the language-dominant hemisphere. However, the relationship between ERS/ERD and clinical language indices is unclear. Therefore, the present study evaluated brain activity utilising MEG during a verb generation task in 36 subjects and determined ERS/ERD power values in θ, α, β, low γ and high γ frequency bands. To measure clinical language indices, we adopted Wechsler Memory Scale-revised. We observed ERD in the α band from the bilateral occipital to the left central brain region, in the β band from the bilateral occipital to the left frontal region and in the low γ band a high-power signal in the left frontal region. We also observed ERS in the θ band in bilateral frontal region and in the high γ band in bilateral occipital region. Furthermore, we found a significant negative correlation between α-band ERD power at the left postcentral gyrus and medial superior frontal gyrus and verbal memory score (correlation coefficients = − 0.574 and − 0.597, respectively). These results suggest that individuals with lower linguistic memory have less desynchronised α-band ERD power and α-band ERD power in the left hemisphere may be a neurophysiological biomarker for verbal memory.

Cerebral blood flow alterations in hemodialysis patients with and without restless legs syndrome: an arterial spin labeling study.

Hemodialysis with restless legs syndrome (HD-RLS) is associated with alterations in neuronal function, the blood-brain barrier and iron deposition, thus affecting cerebral metabolism and perfusion. This study utilized three-dimensional arterial spin labeling (ASL) to identify HD-RLS-related perfusion patterns and potential relationships with disease severity. Twenty-six HD-RLS patients, 30 hemodialysis patients without restless legs syndrome (HD-nRLS) and 30 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls were included in this study. One-way analysis of covariance and post hoc analyses were used to assess differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) values, demographics and clinical data among the three groups. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted between altered CBF values in the HD-RLS group and clinical data. Compared with HD-nRLS patients, HD-RLS patients showed increased CBF in the right primary motor cortex (false discovery rate [FDR]-corrected P < 0.05). Compared with the normal controls, both HD subgroups (i.e., those with and without RLS) exhibited consistent CBF changes, including increased CBF in the left medial superior frontal gyrus and bilateral thalamus and decreased CBF in the left insular cortices (FDR-corrected P < 0.05). This abnormal hyperperfusion in the sensorimotor cortex and basal ganglia provides evidence for a sensory processing disorder in RLS that may be involved in the pathogenesis of RLS in HD patients.

The Anterior-posterior Functional Connectivity Disconnection in the Elderly with Subjective Memory Impairment and Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Subjective Memory Impairment (SMI) may tremendously increase the risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The full understanding of the neuromechanism of SMI will shed light on the early intervention of AD. In the current study, 23 Healthy Controls (HC), 22 SMI subjects and 24 amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) subjects underwent the comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. The difference in the connectivity of the Default Mode Network (DMN) and Functional Connectivity (FC) from the Region of Interest (ROI) to the whole brain were compared, respectively. The results showed that HC and SMI subjects had significantly higher connectivity in the region of the precuneus area compared to aMCI subjects. However, from this region to the whole brain, SMI and aMCI subjects had significant FC decrease in the right anterior cingulum, left superior frontal and left medial superior frontal gyrus compared to HC. In addition, this FC change was significantly correlated with the cognitive function decline in participants. Our study indicated that SMI subjects had relatively intact DMN connectivity but impaired FC between the anterior and posterior brain. The findings suggest that long-distance FC is more vulnerable than the short ones in the people with SMI.

Atrophic Corpus Callosum Associated with Altered Functional Asymmetry in Major Depressive Disorder.

PurposeImpairments in intra- and inter-hemispheric information transfer circuits have been reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the specific anomalous connection (intra- and/or inter-hemispheric) and hemisphere (left and/or right) in which this connection plays a more dominant role in the pathogenic mechanism underlying MDD are still poorly understood.Patients and MethodsStructural magnetic resonance imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were performed in 33 patients with MDD and 33 healthy controls. The intra- and inter-hemispheric functional connectivity (FC) strength in the default mode network areas and volume of the callosal subregions were computed using independent samples t-tests. The partial correlations between the volumes and FCs were also computed.ResultsThe patients with MDD had smaller volumes in the genu of the corpus callosum than the controls. The intrahemispheric FCs of the bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus, left precuneus, left medial superior frontal gyrus, left medial orbitofrontal gyrus, left angular gyrus and left middle temporal gyrus, and interhemispheric FCs of the bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus in the patients with MDD were lower than those in the controls. Moreover, the intrahemispheric FCs of the precuneus and interhemispheric FCs of middle frontal gyrus, orbital middle frontal gyrus, and anterior cingulate gyrus in the patients with MDD showed right-lateralized asymmetry, which were opposite from the asymmetry patterns observed in the controls. The functional asymmetry of the anterior cingulate gyrus was correlated with the volume of the genu of the corpus callosum and disease duration.ConclusionThese findings provide robust evidence that intra- and inter-hemispheric disconnections are involved in MDD, and that functional disruptions in the left hemisphere may be more relevant to the pathophysiology of MDD. Furthermore, imbalanced interhemispheric exchanges may contribute to the anatomical deficits in the corpus callosum in patients with MDD.

Shared gray matter alterations in individuals with diverse behavioral addictions: A voxel-wise meta-analysis.

Background and aimsNumerous studies on behavioral addictions (BAs) have reported gray matter (GM) alterations in multiple brain regions by using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). However, findings are poorly replicated and it remains elusive whether distinct addictive behaviors are underpinned by shared abnormalities. In this meta-analysis, we integrated VBM studies on different BAs to investigate common GM abnormalities in individuals with BAs.MethodsWe performed a systematic search up to January 2019 in several databases for VBM studies investigating GM differences between individuals with BAs and healthy controls. The reference lists of included studies and high-quality reviews were investigated manually. Anisotropic effect-size signed differential mapping was applied in this meta-analysis.ResultsTwenty studies including 505 individuals with BAs and 564 healthy controls met the inclusion criteria. Compared with healthy controls, individuals with BAs showed GM atrophy in the left anterior cingulate (extending to the left medial superior frontal gyrus and bilateral orbitofrontal gyrus), right putamen and right supplementary motor area. Subgroup analysis found heterogeneity in gender and subtypes of BAs. Meta-regression revealed that GM decreases in the left anterior cingulate and right supplementary motor area were positively correlated with addictive severity. Higher impulsivity was associated with smaller volume of the left anterior cingulate.Discussion and conclusionsOur findings on BAs were mainly derived from internet gaming disorder (IGD) and pathological gambling (PG) studies, preliminarily suggesting that GM atrophy in the prefrontal and striatal areas might be a common structural biomarker of BAs.

Altered regional gray matter volume in Chinese female patients with bulimia nervosa.

BackgroundBulimia nervosa (BN) is a psychiatric disorder with unclear pathophysiology. Several studies have associated BN with structural and functional changes in the brain, but findings have been inconsistent. Here we explored this potential association in a small group of Chinese women with BN.MethodsThis retrospective study examined 34 women with BN and 34 age-matched healthy controls, all of whom underwent T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Voxel-based morphometry was carried out to explore alterations in regional grey matter volume (GMV) that may be associated with BN.ResultsThe BN group showed smaller GMV in the left medial superior frontal gyrus (SFGmed.L), right superior temporal gyrus (STG.R), right median cingulate and paracingulate gyri (DCG.R), left median cingulate and paracingulate gyri (DCG.L) and left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (SFGdor.L). No regions showing GMV increases in BN were identified. The GMV reduction did not correlate with body mass index, duration of illness, or patients’ self-esteem or overall self-evaluation. GMV reduction correlated negatively with age in the SFGmed. L (r = − 0.516, P < 0.005), DCG. R (r = − 0.556, P < 0.005), DCG. L (r = − 0.576, P < 0.05) and SFGdor. L (r = − 0.576, P < 0.005).ConclusionsWomen with BN show reduced GMV in several brain regions, but it is difficult to know whether these changes are the result of BN pathology or of binge-eating and compensatory behavior. These changes may be associated with impaired inhibitory control, body dissatisfaction and emotion dysregulation.

Study on neuropathological mechanisms of primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis in children using cerebral resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging

Primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) is a heterogeneous disorder, which remains a difficult condition to manage due to lack of knowledge on the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Here we investigated the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of PMNE with functional MRI (fMRI), combining the amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and seed-based functional connectivity (seed-based FC) analyses. Compared to the control group, PMNE group showed decreased ALFF value in the left medial orbital superior frontal gyrus (Frontal_Med_Orb_L), and increased ReHo value in the left superior occipital gyrus (Occipital_Sup_L). With left thalamus as the seed, PMNE group showed significantly decreased functional connectivity to the left medial superior frontal gyrus (Frontal_Sup_Medial_L). We conclude that these abnormal brain activities are probably important neuropathological mechanisms of PMNE in children. Furthermore, this study facilitated the understanding of underlying pathogenesis of PMNE and may provide an objective basis for the effective treatment.

Disrupted brain functional hub and causal connectivity in acute mild traumatic brain injury.

There have been an increasing number of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reports on brain abnormalities in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) at different phases. However, the neural bases and cognitive impairment after acute mTBI are unclear. This study aimed to identify brain functional hubs and connectivity abnormalities in acute mTBI patients and their correlations with deficits in cognitive performance. Within seven days after brain injury, mTBI patients (n=55) and age-, sex-, and educational -matched healthy controls (HCs) (n=41) underwent resting-state fMRI scans and cognitive assessments. We derived functional connectivity (FC) strength of the whole-brain network using degree centrality (DC) and performed Granger causality analysis (GCA) to analyze causal connectivity patterns in acute mTBI. Compared with HCs, acute mTBI patients had significantly decreased network centrality in the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG). Additionally, acute mTBI showed decreased inflows from the left MFG to bilateral middle temporal gyrus (MTG), left medial superior frontal gyrus (mSFG), and left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Correlation analyses revealed that changes in network centrality and causal connectivity were associated with deficits in cognitive performance in mTBI. Our findings may help to provide a new perspective for understanding the neuropathophysiological mechanism of acute cognitive impairment after mTBI.

Altered spontaneous brain activity in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

BackgroundObsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is one of the most prevalent personality disorders in general population. However, neural mechanisms underlying OCPD remain elusive. The aim of this study is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine whether OCPD patients will exhibit altered spontaneous brain activity as compared to healthy controls (HC). MethodsResting-state fMRI data were acquired in 37 OCPD patients and 37 matched HC. Amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) were calculated and compared between the two groups. Correlation analysis was performed between regional ALFF values and OCPD severity scores. ResultsSignificant group differences in regional ALFF were found in multiple brain regions. Compared to HCs, OCPD subjects had increased ALFF in bilateral caudate, left precuneus, left insula, and left medial superior frontal gyrus, and decreased ALFF in the right fusiform gyrus and left lingual gyrus. The ALFF values in the left precuneus correlated with OCPD severity scores. LimitationsWe excluded patients with comorbidity and did not conduct cognitive function assessments. Our findings are also limited to cross-sectional analysis. ConclusionsOCPD patients exhibit altered spontaneous neural activity as compared to healthy controls in multiple brain regions, which may reflect different characteristic symptoms of OCPD pathophysiology, including cognitive inflexibility, excessive self-control, lower empathy, and visual attention bias.

A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of exercise addiction

Objective: To investigate the brain activities of exercise addiction (EA) group people with the task-functional magnetic resonance image (task-fMRI). Methods: A total of 29 exercise addicts (addiction group, average age 46±4 years) and 26 non-exercise addicts (control group, average age 46±6 years) matched by sex, age, average education level and sports dependence degree were selected by using exercise addiction index (EAI) through questionnaires to members of Jiangsu Local Fitness and Long-distance Running Association between January 2018 and June 2018. The participants were scanned with fMRI while watching sports pictures or non-sports pictures. The brain responses of the two groups under two stimulation tasks were analyzed and compared. Results: Compared with the control group, while watching sports pictures, the right fusiform gyrus (MNI:x=30, y=-87, z=0), left posterior central gyrus (MNI:x=-51, y=-21, z=54), left medial superior frontal gyrus (MNI:x=-9, y=54, z=30), and right middle occipital gyrus (MNI:x=42, y=-72, z=36) were significantly inhibited in the addiction group (t-test, all P<0.05). When watching non-sports pictures, the addictive group showed the left superior frontal gyrus (MNI:x=-12, y=54, z=30), left middle frontal gyrus (MNI:x=-30, y=18, z=45), right inferior frontal gyrus (MNI:x=42, y=33, z=-12), right occipital gyrus (MNI:x=42, y=-72, z=36), and they were more significantly inhibited than the control group (t-test, all P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared to the control group, the EA group shows significant brain inhibition with visual stimulation, particularly with non-sports pictures.

Searchlight classification based on Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuation and functional connectivity in individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms

ABSTRACTIntroductionInvestigating obsessive-compulsive symptoms in subclinical populations provides a useful framework for understanding the early development of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. The present study aimed to apply searchlight classification analysis on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data to identify potential brain markers in subclinical individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms.MethodsIn this observational study, 40 college students with high obsessive-compulsive symptom scores and 40 with low obsessive-compulsive symptom scores were recruited from universities in China. We conducted searchlight classification and comparison analysis between the two groups based on Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuation (ALFF), fraction ALFF (fALFF) and resting-state functional connectivity using searchlight classification.ResultsWe found that the highest accuracy rate in differentiating between the two groups was 85.00%. Significant discriminating features included the ALFF of the left medial superior frontal gyrus and the functional connectivity between the right thalamus and the bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus, and the right putamen, as well as the functional connectivity between the left caudate and the right insula.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the specific and distinguishing brain functional abnormalities associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Abnormal intrinsic functional activity in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a resting-state fMRI study.

PurposeWe employed resting-state fMRI analyses to reveal central functional reorganization in the brains of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and to provide complementary evidence of cortex reorganization in these patients.Patients and methodsWe obtained Fisher’s z transformation amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (zALFF) and Fisher’s z transformation regional homogeneity (zReHo) measurements from 33 patients with CSM and 33 healthy controls (HC) and used the brain regions with significant alterations in the zALFF or zReHo values as seed regions. Then, we calculated Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the resting-state time courses of each seed and the time series of the rest of the brain. Lastly, we computed correlations between the altered zALFF, zReHo, and functional connectivity with Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores, Neck Disability Index score, and the duration of symptoms in patients with CSM.ResultszALFF and zReHo values were increased in the left medial superior frontal gyrus (lSFGmed) and left supramarginal gyrus (lSMG) in patients with CSM compared with those in the HC group. Selecting lSFGmed as the seed, we observed increased functional connectivity between it and the left postcentral gyrus (lPoCG) and left rolandic operculum and decreased functional connectivity with the right medial superior frontal gyrus in patients with CSM. In addition, there was a significant increase in the functional connectivity between the lSMG (seed) and the left calcarine and lPoCG in patients with CSM. However, we did not find any significant correlation between the resting-state findings and the clinical performance of patients with CSM.ConclusionThese observed intrinsic functional changes in the patients with CSM may be related to functional reorganization and reflect the innate cortical plasticity in patients with CSM. Notably, the increased connectivity between the lPoCG and the two seed ROIs indicates the adaptive changes in patients with CSM. These findings provide complementary evidence of cortex reorganization in CSM.

Functional network connectivity changes in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A resting-state fMRI study

The study aimed to investigate the pathologic mechanism of functional brain regions in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients through making comparisons of normal and ADHD children from the perspective of the network nodes of brain network and the intensity of functional connection between bilateral of hemispheres by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Thirty-five ADHD and forty-two children were examined by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. Data analysis was done via the degree centrality (DC) and voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) approaches. Compared with healthy subjects, the ADHD group exhibited significantly decreased DC values in the right posterior cingulate gyrus, left medial superior frontal gyrus, right inferior parietal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus and right superior frontal gyrus. Children with ADHD also exhibited some areas with increased DC values compared with healthy children. These regions included the cerebellar anterior lobe, right middle occipital cortex, left middle cingulate gyrus and right middle cingulate gyrus. VMHC analysis all revealed positive activation in a range of brain regions when comparing ADHD and normal children, suggesting that the VMHC scores of children with ADHD were higher in the bilateral superior frontal lobe, bilateral middle occipital lobe, and bilateral cerebellar anterior lobes. This work provides a new approach for examining the neural mechanisms underlying ADHD, demonstrating that the DC and VMHC methods enabled more comprehensive analysis that can be cross-checked.

The Relationship between Biological Motion-Based Visual Consciousness and Attention: An Electroencephalograph Study

Understanding and predicting the intentions of others through limb movements are vital to social interaction. The processing of biological motion is unique from the processing of motion of inanimate objects. Presently, there is controversy over whether visual consciousness of biological motion is regulated by visual attention. In addition, the neural mechanisms involved in biological motion-related visual awareness are not known. In the current study, the relationship between visual awareness (aware vs unaware), represented by a point-light walker and biological-motion-based attention, manipulated by a difference in congruence (congruent, incongruent) between the direction of a pre-cue and that of biological motion was explored. The neural mechanisms involved in processing the stimuli were explored through electroencephalography. Both early (50–150 ms, 100–200 ms, and 174–226 ms after target presentation) and late (350–550 ms after target presentation) awareness-related neural processings were observed during a biological motion-based congruency task. Early processing was localized to occipital–parietal regions, such as the left postcentral gyrus, the left middle occipital gyrus, and the right precentral gyrus. In the 174–226-ms window, the activity in the occipital region was gradually replaced by activity in the parietal and frontal regions. Late processing was localized to frontal–parietal regions, such as the right dorsal superior frontal gyrus, the left medial superior frontal gyrus, and the occipito-temporal regions. Congruency-related processing occurred in the 246–260-ms window and was localized to the right superior occipital gyrus. In summary, due to its complexity, biological motion awareness has a unique neural basis.

Aberrant gray matter volumes and functional connectivity in adolescent patients with ADHD.

Altered gray matter (GM) volumes and functional connectivity (FC) happens in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients and the intelligence quotient (IQ) of ADHD patients is generally lower than healthy subjects, while few studies have focused on the association among the three. To investigate the abnormal changes of GM volumes and FC in ADHD patients compared with typically-developing control (TD-C), as well as the association between the changes and IQ. Case control. 36 ADHD patients and 36 TD-C, aged 8-17. 3.0T/single shot echo planar imaging (EPI). Preprocessing of fMRI data and seed-based FC calculation using DPABI4.0, and VBM was performed by CAT12. Comparison between groups of smoothed GM volumes was performed using two-sample t-test within SPM 12, age and total intracranial volume (TIV) were returned as covariates. Comparison between groups of FCs was performed using a two-sample t-test within RESTplus; age was returned as a covariate. False discovery rate (FDR)-corrected and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Compared with TD-C, reduced GM volumes occurred in the left superior frontal gyrus (t = -3.61, P < 0.001), right middle frontal gyrus (t = -3.97, P < 0.001), left middle cingulum (t = -3.93, P < 0.001), and left cuneus (t = -4.42, P < 0.001). Decreased FC was found between the left precuneus and left middle cingulum (t = -5.86, P < 0.001), left middle temporal gyrus, and left superior frontal gyrus (t = -5.67, P < 0.001), as well as left medial superior frontal gyrus and left superior frontal gyrus (t = -6.73, P < 0.001). The results confirmed that FCs between the regions with declined GM volumes and others were altered in ADHD patients. We speculated that abnormal changes of GM volume and FC maybe used as an imaging metric of ADHD. 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 4 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:719-726.

The influence of rs1360780 polymorphism of FK506-binding protein 5 gene on the brain regional homogeneity of resting state fMRI in patients with major depressive disorder

Objective To explore the influence of rs1360780 T risk allele of FK506-binding protein 5 (FKBP5) gene on the brain function under resting-state and its association with clinical symptoms as well as immune function in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods Totally 147 MDD patients and 61 gender-, age-, and education-matched healthy controls were scanned with 3.0T MRI Scanner and genotyped. The peripheral serum immunoglobulin and complement were measured. The main effect of the disease, the genotype and their interaction effects were analyzed using regional homogeneity (ReHo) by two-way ANOVA. Abnormal brain activity was identified in T risk allele carriers of rs1360780 and non-risk CC individuals in MDD using post hoc analyses. Correlation analyses were performed between ReHo values of significant brain regions and the total score, five-factor scores of Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD-17), serum levels of immunoglobulin and plasma complement component in MDD patients. Results (1)The results of 2×2 ANOVA showed the interaction effects located in the left opercular part of inferior frontal gyrus (MNI: x, y, z=-42, 6, 9; F=10.83), right opercular part of inferior frontal gyrus (MNI: x, y, z=30, 6, 33; F=15.05), left medial superior frontal gyrus (MNI: x, y, z=-9, 54, 0; F=9.17) and left pallidum (MNI: x, y, z=-12, 6, -6; F=11.37) (Alphasim corrected, P<0.05). (2)In post-hoc analyses for the main effect of genotype, T+ carriers with MDD showed increased ReHo values in the right opercular part of inferior frontal gyrus (MNI: x, y, z=60, 12, 6; t=2.88) compared with CC carriers; for the effect of disease-by-genotype interaction, T+ carriers with MDD showed increased ReHo values in the right opercular part of inferior frontal gyrus (MNI: x, y, z=30, 6, 33; t=2.96) and decreased ReHo values in the left orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus (MNI: x, y, z=-21, 9, -18; t=-3.21) (Alphasim corrected, P<0.05) in contrast to CC carriers.(3)Pearson's correlation showed that the average ReHo values of the right opercular part of inferior frontal gyrus negatively correlated with the content of immunoglobulin G (r=-0.528, P=0.0016, Bonferroni corrected) and positively correlated with anxiety/somatization factor score (r=0.421, P<0.001, Bonferroni corrected) in T+ carriers with MDD. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that rs1360780 T-risk allele of FKBP5 gene is involved in the changes of local neural activity in the right opercular part of inferior frontal gyrus of depressed patients and could potentially indicate a neuropathological mechanism of anxiety somatic symptoms and immune dysfunction in depression. Key words: Depression; FK506-binding protein 5; Gene-imaging; Regional homogeneity; Immune function