Lingual Gyrus Research Articles

Superior temporal gyrus and cerebellar loops predict nonsuicidal self-injury in major depressive disorder patients by multimodal neuroimaging

In major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common comorbidity, and it is important to clarify the underlying neurobiology. Here, we investigated the association of NSSI with brain function and structure in MDD patients. A total of 260 MDD patients and 132 healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional T1-weighted structural scans. NSSI behaviour was assessed through interviews. Voxel-based morphometry analysis (VBM), regional homogeneity analysis (ReHo), functional connectome topology properties and network-based statistics were used to detect the differences in neuroimaging characteristics. Finally, the random forest method was used to evaluate whether these factors could predict NSSI in MDD. Compared with HCs, MDD patients with a history of NSSI showed significant right putamen grey matter volume (GMV), right superior orbital frontal cortex ReHo, left pallidum degree centrality, and putamen-centre function network differences. Compared to MDD subjects without NSSI, those with past NSSI showed significant right superior temporal gyrus (STG) GMV, right lingual gyrus ReHo, sigma and global efficiency, and cerebellum-centre function network differences. The right STG GMV and cerebellum-centre function network were more important than other factors in predicting NSSI behaviour in MDD. MDD patients with a history of NSSI have dysregulated spontaneous brain activity and structure in regions related to emotions, pain regulation, and the somatosensory system. Importantly, right STG GMV and cerebellar loops may play important roles in NSSI in MDD patients.

Multi-label classification of Alzheimer's disease stages from resting-state fMRI-based correlation connectivity data and deep learning

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative condition that gradually impairs cognitive abilities. Recently, various neuroimaging modalities and machine learning methods have surfaced to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Resting-state fMRI is a neuroimaging modality that has been widely utilized to study brain activity related to neurodegenerative diseases. In literature, the previous studies are limited to the binary classification of Alzheimer's disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. The application of computer-aided diagnosis for the numerous advancing phases of Alzheimer's disease, on the other hand, remains understudied. This research analyzes and presents methods for multi-label classification of six Alzheimer's stages using rs-fMRI and deep learning. The proposed model solves the multi-class classification problem by extracting the brain's functional connectivity networks from rs-fMRI data and employing two deep learning approaches, Stacked Sparse Autoencoder and Brain Connectivity Graph Convolutional Network. The suggested models' results were assessed using the k-fold cross-validation approach, and an average accuracy of 77.13% and 84.03% was reached for multi-label classification using Stacked Sparse Autoencoders and Brain Connectivity Based Convolutional Network, respectively. An analysis of brain regions was also performed by using the network's learned weights, leading to the conclusion that the precentral gyrus, frontal gyrus, lingual gyrus, and supplementary motor area are the significant brain regions of interest.

Neuropsychological, Metabolic, and Connectivity Underpinnings of Semantic Interference Deficits Using the LASSI-L.

LASSI-L is a novel neuropsychological test specifically designed for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on semantic interference. To examine the cognitive and neural underpinnings of the failure to recover from proactive semantic and retroactive semantic interference. One hundred and fifty-five patients consulting for memory loss were included. Patients underwent neuropsychological assessment, including the LASSI-L, and FDG-PET imaging. They were categorized as subjective memory complaints (SMC) (n=32), pre-mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD (Pre-MCI) (n=39), MCI due to AD (MCI-AD) (n=71), and MCI without evidence of neurodegeneration (MCI-NN) (n=13). Voxel-based brain mapping and metabolic network connectivity analyses were conducted. A significant group effect was found for all the LASSI-L scores. LASSI-L scores measuring failure to recover from proactive semantic interference and retroactive semantic interference were predicted by other neuropsychological tests with a precision of 64.1 and 44.8%. The LASSI-L scores were associated with brain metabolism in the bilateral precuneus, superior, middle and inferior temporal gyri, fusiform, angular, superior and inferior parietal lobule, superior, middle and inferior occipital gyri, lingual gyrus, and posterior cingulate. Connectivity analysis revealed a decrease of node degree and centrality in posterior cingulate in patients showing frPSI. Episodic memory dysfunction and the involvement of the medial temporal lobe, precuneus and posterior cingulate constitute the basis of the failure to recover from proactive semantic interference and retroactive semantic interference. These findings support the role of the LASSI-L in the detection, monitoring and outcome prediction during the early stages of AD.

Altered functional connectivity between primary motor cortex subregions and the whole brain in patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury.

To investigate the reorganizations of gray matter volume (GMV) in each subregion of primary motor cortex (M1) after incomplete cervical cord injury (ICCI) and to explore the differences in functional connectivity (FC) between the M1 subregions and the whole brain, and further to disclose the potential value of each M1 subregion in motor function rehabilitation of ICCI patients. Eighteen ICCI patients and eighteen age- and gender- matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited in this study. The 3D high-resolution T1-weighted structural images and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) of all subjects were obtained using a 3.0 Tesla MRI system. Based on the Human Brainnetome Atlas, the structural and functional changes of M1 subregions (including A4hf, A6cdl, A4ul, A4t, A4tl, A6cvl) in ICCI patients were analyzed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and seed-based FC, respectively. Compared with HCs, no structural changes in the M1 subregions of ICCI patients was detected. However, when compared with HCs, ICCI patients exhibited decreased FC in visual related areas (lingual gyrus, fusiform gyrus) and sensorimotor related areas (primary sensorimotor cortex) when the seeds were located in bilateral A4hf, A4ul, and decreased FC in visual related areas (lingual gyrus, fusiform gyrus) and cognitive related areas (temporal pole) when the seed was located in the left A4t. Moreover, when the seeds were located in the bilateral A6cdl, decreased FC in visual related areas (lingual gyrus, fusiform gyrus, calcarine gyrus) was also observed. Our findings demonstrated that each of the M1 regions had diverse FC reorganizations, which may provide a theoretical basis for the selection of precise stimulation targets, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tCDS), meanwhile, our results may reveal the possible mechanism of visual feedback and cognitive training to promote motor rehabilitation.

Functional changes of the prefrontal cortex, insula, caudate and associated cognitive impairment (chemobrain) in NSCLC patients receiving different chemotherapy regimen.

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI), termed "chemobrain", is highly prevalent in cancer patients following the administration of chemotherapeutic agents. However, the potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CICI remain unknown. This study aimed to explore the functional changes of the brain and associated cognitive impairment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving different chemotherapy regimen. A total of 49 NSCLC patients (25 patients receiving pemetrexed plus carboplatin chemotherapy (PeCC) and 24 patients receiving paclitaxel plus carboplatin chemotherapy (PaCC)) and 61 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scanning, as well as cognitive function tests including Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog). Brain functional activities were measured by regional homogeneity (ReHo) values, which were calculated and compared between groups. In addition, the associations between ReHo values of changed brain regions and scores of cognitive scales were evaluated. NSCLC patients showed decreased scores of MMSE, MoCA and FACT-Cog and decreased ReHo values in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus (medial), middle frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus (orbital part) and increased ReHo values in the bilateral insula and caudate. Compared with HCs, patients receiving PeCC demonstrated decreased ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyrus (dorsolateral), left superior frontal gyrus (medial orbital), middle frontal gyrus, insula and rectus gyrus while patients receiving PaCC presented increased ReHo values in the right rolandic operculum, left insula and right caudate. Compared with patients receiving PaCC, patients receiving PeCC had decreased ReHo values in the left superior frontal gyrus (orbital part), middle frontal gyrus and increased ReHo values in the left inferior temporal gyrus, lingual gyrus. Moreover, positive relationships were found between ReHo values of the left and right superior frontal gyrus (medial) and the total scores of FACT-Cog in the patient group. The findings provided evidences that carboplatin-based chemotherapy could cause CICI accompanied by functional changes in the prefrontal cortex, insula, caudate. These might be the pathophysiological basis for CICI of NSCLC patients and were affected by the differences of chemotherapeutic agent administration through different biological mechanisms.

Badania morfometryczne oparte o pomiar voksela (Voxel Based Morphometry) u nastolatków z zaburzeniami ze spektrum autyzmu

Goal: to evaluate changes in the grey matter volume using the VBM method in a group of adolescents with ASD, who met the criteria for Asperger's Syndrome. Material and methods: Morphometric evaluations based on Voxel Based Morphometry (VBM) were performed on 37 male adolescents aged 12 to 19 (M = 14.3 ± 2.0), with autism spectrum disorders, who met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for Asperger's Syndrome and 15 neurotypical adolescents matched by age. Significance was set at p<0.007 without FWE correction and p<0.05 with FWE correction. Results: the decrease in the volume of the grey matter was observed in ASD group including the pre- and postcentral gyrus, the superior and middle frontal gyrus, the inferior and superior parietal lobule, the praecuneus, the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex, the fusiform gyrus, the parahippocampal gyrus, the lingual gyrus, the middle occipital region, the cuneus and the angular gyrus, the regions of calcarine sulcus and the cerebellum. The majority of changes was localized bilaterally. Conclusions: the decrease in the volume of grey matter observed in ASD group can be related functionally with the characteristics of deficits observed in autism spectrum disorders which highlights the role of abnormal organization of numerous CNS structures in the genesis of symptoms observed in cognitive and behavioural domains.

Inherent regional brain activity changes in male obstructive sleep apnea with mild cognitive impairment: A resting-state magnetic resonance study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep disorder worldwide. Previous studies have shown that OSA patients are often accompanied by cognitive function loss, and the underlying neurophysiological mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed to determine whether there are differences in regional homogeneity (Reho) and functional connectivity (FC) across the brain between OSA patients with MCI (OSA-MCI) and those without MCI (OSA-nMCI) and whether such differences can be used to distinguish the two groups. Resting state magnetic resonance data were collected from 48 OSA-MCI patients and 47 OSA-nMCI patients. The brain regions with significant differences in Reho and FC between the two groups were identified, and the Reho and FC features were combined with machine learning methods for classification. Compared with OSA-nMCI patients, OSA-MCI patients showed significantly lower Reho in bilateral lingual gyrus and left superior temporal gyrus. OSA-MCI patients also showed significantly lower FC between the bilateral lingual gyrus and bilateral cuneus, left superior temporal gyrus and left middle temporal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and bilateral posterior cingulate/calcarine/cerebellar anterior lobe. Based on Reho and FC features, logistic regression classification accuracy was 0.87; sensitivity, 0.70; specificity, 0.89; and area under the curve, 0.85. Correlation analysis showed that MoCA scale score in OSA patients was significant positive correlation sleep efficiency and negatively correlation with neck circumference. In conclusion, our results showed that the OSA-MCI group showed decreased Reho and FC in specific brain regions compared with the OSA-nMCI group, which may help to understand the underlying neuroimaging mechanism of OSA leading to cognitive dysfunction and may serve as a potential biomarker to distinguish whether OSA is accompanied by cognitive impairment.

Resting-State Functional Connectivity Impairment in Patients with Major Depressive Episode.

This study aims to develop new approaches to characterize brain networks to potentially contribute to a better understanding of mechanisms involved in depression. We recruited 90 subjects: 49 healthy controls (HC) and 41 patients with a major depressive episode (MDE). All subjects underwent clinical evaluation and functional resting-state MRI. The data were processed investigating functional connectivity network measures across the two groups using Brain Connectivity Toolbox. The statistical inferences were developed at a functional network level, using a false discovery rate method. Linear discriminant analysis was used to differentiate between the two groups. Significant differences in functional connectivity (FC) between depressed patients vs. healthy controls was demonstrated, with brain regions including the lingual gyrus, cerebellum, midcingulate cortex and thalamus more prominent in healthy subjects as compared to depression where the orbitofrontal cortex emerged as a key node. Linear discriminant analysis demonstrated that full-connectivity matrices were the most precise in differentiating between depression vs. health subjects. The study provides supportive evidence for impaired functional connectivity networks in MDE patients.

Cortical and subcortical grey matter correlates of psychopathic traits in a Japanese community sample of young adults: sex and configurations of factors' level matter!

While neuroimaging research has examined the structural brain correlates of psychopathy predominantly in clinical/forensic male samples from western countries, much less is known about those correlates in non-western community samples. Here, structural magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed using voxel- and surface-based morphometry to investigate the neuroanatomical correlates of psychopathic traits in a mixed-sex sample of 97 well-functioning Japanese adults (45 males, 21-39 years; M = 27, SD = 5.3). Psychopathic traits were assessed using the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (SRP-SF; 4th Edition). Multiple regression analysis showed greater Factor 1 scores were associated with higher gyrification in the lingual gyrus, and gray matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala/hippocampus border. Total psychopathy and Factor 1 scores interacted with sex to, respectively, predict cortical thickness in the precuneus and gyrification in the superior temporal gyrus. Finally, Factor 1 and Factor 2 traits interacted to predict gyrification in the posterior cingulate cortex. These preliminary data suggest that, while there may be commonalities in the loci of structural brain correlates of psychopathic traits in clinical/forensic and community samples, the nature of that association might be different (i.e. positive) and may vary according to sex and configurations of factors' level.

Abnormal regional homogeneity and functional connectivity in major depressive disorder patients with long-term remission: An exploratory study

This study was the first to explore whether abnormal spontaneous neuronal activities exist in patients in the long-term remission stage of major depressive disorder (MDD). We recruited 34 MDD patients (PTs) and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was employed to scan all subjects’ brain regions, and independent two-sample t-test was used for regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC) analysis. Compared with the HCs, the ReHo of PTs increased in the right superior frontal gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus, and decreased in the right anterior and collateral cingulate gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule. The cingulate gyrus as a mask showed that FC of the cingulate gyrus with the bilateral lingual gyrus and the right middle temporal gyrus decreased, and FC with the left supper frontal gyrus increased. The correlation analysis revealed no significant correlation between the abnormal ReHo and HAMD-24 scores in PTs. The ReHo of inferior parietal lobule and the duration of remission were positively correlated. We concluded that the spontaneous neuronal activities might be disrupted in MDD patients in the long-term remission stage. Our findings provided new reasons for MDD relapse.

Gray matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities in Parkinson's disease: A voxel-based morphometry study.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity among other symptoms. With a 70% cumulative prevalence of dementia in PD, cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms are frequent. In this study, we looked at anatomical brain differences between groups of patients and controls. A total of 138 people with PD were compared to 64 age-matched healthy people using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). VBM is a fully automated technique that allows for the identification of regional differences in gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) allowing for an objective comparison of brains of different groups of people. We used statistical parametric mapping for image processing and statistical analysis. In comparison to controls, PD patients had lower GM volumes in the left middle cingulate, left lingual gyrus, right calcarine and left fusiform gyrus, also PD patients indicated lower WM volumes in the right middle cingulate, left lingual gyrus, right calcarine, and left inferior occipital gyrus. Moreover, PD patients group demonstrated higher CSF in the left caudate compared to the controls. Physical fragility and cognitive impairments in PD may be detected more easily if anatomical abnormalities to the cingulate gyrus, occipital lobe and the level of CSF in the caudate are identified. Thus, our findings shed light on the role of the brain in PD and may aid in a better understanding of the events that occur in PD patients.

The human brain networks mediating the vestibular sensation of self-motion

Vestibular Agnosia - where peripheral vestibular activation triggers the usual reflex nystagmus response but with attenuated or no self-motion perception - is found in brain disease with disrupted cortical network functioning, e.g. traumatic brain injury (TBI) or neurodegeneration (Parkinson's Disease). Patients with acute focal hemispheric lesions (e.g. stroke) do not manifest vestibular agnosia. Thus, brain network mapping techniques, e.g. resting state functional MRI (rsfMRI), are needed to interrogate functional brain networks mediating vestibular agnosia. Hence, we prospectively recruited 39 acute TBI patients with preserved peripheral vestibular function and obtained self-motion perceptual thresholds during passive yaw rotations in the dark and additionally acquired whole-brain rsfMRI in the acute phase. Following quality-control checks, 26 patient scans were analyzed. Using self-motion perceptual thresholds from a matched healthy control group, 11 acute TBI patients were classified as having vestibular agnosia versus 15 with normal self-motion perception thresholds. Using independent component analysis on the rsfMRI data, we found altered functional connectivity in bilateral lingual gyrus and temporo-occipital fusiform cortex in the vestibular agnosia patients. Moreover, regions of interest analyses showed both inter-hemispheric and intra-hemispheric network disruption in vestibular agnosia. In conclusion, our results show that vestibular agnosia is mediated by bilateral anterior and posterior network dysfunction and reveal the distributed brain mechanisms mediating vestibular self-motion perception.

Trait related aberrant connectivity in clinically stable patients with schizophrenia: A seed based resting state fMRI study

Aberrant resting-state connectivity within and between the Default Mode Network, the Executive Control Network, and the Salience Network is well-established in schizophrenia. Meta-analyses have identified that bilateral lingual gyrus is as the only region showing hyperactivity in schizophrenia and there are reports of increased connectivity between the lingual gyrus and other brain regions in schizophrenia. It is not clear whether these abnormalities represent state or trait markers of the illness, i.e., if they are only present during the acute phase of the illness (state) or if they reflect a predisposition to schizophrenia (trait). In this study, we used a seed-based functional connectivity analysis to investigate brain networks in schizophrenia patients who are in the stable phase of their illness and assess functional connectivity using seeds in the lingual gyrus, the posterior cingulate, the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the right anterior insula (rAI) and the right orbital frontoinsula. Twenty patients with schizophrenia in a stable phase of their illness (as defined by the course of illness and Signs and Symptoms of Psychotic Illness (SSPI) scores) and 20 age and sex-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI). Data was analysed using the Data Processing Assistant for Resting-State fMRI Advanced Edition (DPARSFA) V3.1 (http://rfmri.org/DPARSF) and the statistical parametric mapping software 8 (SPM8). Compared with healthy controls, patients with schizophrenia showed increased connectivity between the left lingual gyrus and the middle frontal gyrus, and the cingulate cortex. Lingual gyrus hyper-connectivity may be a stable trait neuroimaging marker for schizophrenia. Our findings suggest that aberrant connectivity in major resting-state networks may not be present after the acute illness has stabilised.

Brain structure in autoimmune Addison's disease.

Long-term disturbances in cortisol levels might affect brain structure in individuals with autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD). This study investigated gray and white matter brain structure in a cohort of young adults with AAD. T1- and diffusion-weighted images were acquired for 52 individuals with AAD and 70 healthy controls, aged 19-43years, using magnetic resonance imaging. Groups were compared on cortical thickness, surface area, cortical gray matter volume, subcortical volume (FreeSurfer), and white matter microstructure (FSL tract-based spatial statistics). Individuals with AAD had 4.3% smaller total brain volume. Correcting for head size, we did not find any regional structural differences, apart from reduced volume of the right superior parietal cortex in males with AAD. Within the patient group, a higher glucocorticoid (GC) replacement dose was associated with smaller total brain volume and smaller volume of the left lingual gyrus, left rostral anterior cingulate cortex, and right supramarginal gyrus. With the exception of smaller total brain volume and potential sensitivity of the parietal cortex to GC disturbances in men, brain structure seems relatively unaffected in young adults with AAD. However, the association between GC replacement dose and reduced brain volume may be reason for concern and requires follow-up study.

Neural activity changes in first-episode, drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder after transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation treatment: A resting-state fMRI study.

IntroductionMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a disease with prominent individual, medical, and economic impacts. Drug therapy and other treatment methods (such as Electroconvulsive therapy) may induce treatment-resistance and have associated side effects including loss of memory, decrease of reaction time, and residual symptoms. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a novel and non-invasive treatment approach which stimulates brain structures with no side-effects. However, it remains little understood whether and how the neural activation is modulated by taVNS in MDD patients. Herein, we used the regional homogeneity (ReHo) to investigate the brain activity in first-episode, drug-naïve MDD patients after taVNS treatment.Materials and methodsTwenty-two first-episode, drug-naïve MDD patients were enrolled in the study. These patients received the first taVNS treatment at the baseline time, and underwent resting-state MRI scanning twice, before and after taVNS. All the patients then received taVNS treatments for 4 weeks. The severity of depression was assessed by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) at the baseline time and after 4-week’s treatment. Pearson analysis was used to assess the correlation between alterations of ReHo and changes of the HAMD scores. Two patients were excluded due to excessive head movement, two patients lack clinical data in the fourth week, thus, imaging analysis was performed in 20 patients, while correlation analysis between clinical and imaging data was performed in only 18 patients.ResultsThere were significant differences in the ReHo values in first-episode, drug-naïve MDD patients between pre- or post- taVNS. The primary finding is that the patients exhibited a significantly lower ReHo in the left/right median cingulate cortex, the left precentral gyrus, the left postcentral gyrus, the right calcarine cortex, the left supplementary motor area, the left paracentral lobule, and the right lingual gyrus. Pearson analysis revealed a positive correlation between changes of ReHo in the right median cingulate cortex/the left supplementary motor area and changes of HAMD scores after taVNS.ConclusionThe decreased ReHo were found after taVNS. The sensorimotor, limbic and visual-related brain regions may play an important role in understanding the underlying neural mechanisms and be the target brain regions in the further therapy.

Evaluation of the Effects of R-CHOP Chemotherapy on Brain Glucose Metabolism in Patients with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma: A Baseline, Interim, and End-of-Treatment PET/CT Study.

Background: To investigate the effect of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy on brain glucose metabolism in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods: Seventy-two patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL underwent FDG PET/CT brain and whole-body scans at baseline (PET0), in the interim of chemotherapy (PET2), and at the end (PET6) of chemotherapy. All three brain scans of each patient were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping software. Results: Compared with the PET0 scan, the PET2 and PET6 scans revealed a significantly higher glucose metabolism throughout the whole brain, with the PET6 scan revealing a higher metabolism than the PET2 scan. Patients with a complete response (CR) displayed decreased glucose metabolism in the lingual gyrus and increased glucose metabolism in the pons after chemotherapy compared with the findings in patients with partial responses or progressive disease. Conclusions: Brain glucose metabolism was affected by R-CHOP treatment throughout the entire chemotherapy protocol.

Gray matter reduction in bilateral insula mediating adverse psychiatric effects of body mass index in schizophrenia

BackgroundBoth schizophrenia (SZ) and overweight/obesity (OWB) have shown some structural alterations in similar brain regions. As higher body mass index (BMI) often contributes to worse psychiatric outcomes in SZ, this study was designed to examine the effects of OWB on gray matter volume (GMV) in patients with SZ.MethodsTwo hundred fifty subjects were included and stratified into four groups (n = 69, SZ patients with OWB, SZ-OWB; n = 74, SZ patients with normal weight, SZ-NW; n = 54, healthy controls with OWB, HC-OWB; and n = 53, HC with NW, HC-NW). All participants were scanned using high-resolution T1-weighted sequence. The whole-brain voxel-based morphometry was applied to examine the GMV alterations, and a 2 × 2 full factorial analysis of variance was performed to identify the main effects of diagnosis (SZ vs HC), BMI (NW vs OWB) factors, and their interactions. Further, the post hoc analysis was conducted to compare the pairwise differences in GMV alterations.ResultsThe main effects of diagnosis were located in right hippocampus, bilateral insula, rectus, median cingulate/paracingulate gyri and thalamus (SZ < HC); while the main effects of BMI were displayed in right amygdala, left hippocampus, bilateral insula, left lingual gyrus, and right superior temporal gyrus (OWB < NW). There were no significant diagnosis-by-BMI interaction effects in the present study, but the results showed that both SZ and OWB were additively associated with lower GMV in bilateral insula. Moreover, mediation analyses revealed the indirect effect of BMI on negative symptom via GMV reduction in bilateral insula.ConclusionThis study further supports that higher BMI is associated with lower GMV, which may increase the risk of unfavourable disease courses in SZ.

Altered regional homogeneity and functional connectivity of brain activity in young HIV-infected patients with asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment.

ObjectiveAsymptomatic neurocognitive impairment (ANI) is a predominant form of cognitive impairment in young HIV-infected patients. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying this disorder have not been clarified. We aimed to evaluate the altered patterns of functional brain activity in young HIV-infected patients with ANI by quantifying regional homogeneity (ReHo) and region of interest (ROI)-based functional connectivity (FC).MethodsThe experiment involved 44 young HIV-infected patients with ANI and 47 well-matched healthy controls (HCs) undergoing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and neurocognitive tests. Reho alterations were first explored between the ANI group and HC groups. Subsequently, regions showing differences in ReHo were defined as ROIs for FC analysis. Finally, the correlation of ReHo and FC with cognitive function and clinical variables was assessed.ResultsCompared with HCs, ANI patients had a significant ReHo decrease in the right lingual gyrus (LING. R), right superior occipital gyrus (SOG. R), left superior occipital gyrus (SOG. L), left middle occipital gyrus (MOG. L), right middle frontal gyrus (MFG. R), cerebellar vermis, ReHo enhancement in the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG. L), and left insula (INS L). The ANI patients showed increased FC between the LING. R and MOG. L compared to HC. For ANI patients, verbal and language scores were negatively correlated with increased mean ReHo values in the MFG.L. Increased mean ReHo values in the INS. L was positively correlated with disease duration—the mean ReHo values in the LING. R was positively correlated with the abstraction and executive function scores. Increased FC between the LING. R and MOG. L was positively correlated with verbal and language performance.ConclusionThe results suggest that the visual network might be the most vulnerable area of brain function in young HIV-infected patients with ANI. The middle frontal gyrus, cerebellar vermis, and insula also play an important role in asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment. The regional homogeneity and functional connectivity of these regions have compound alterations, which may be related to the course of the disease and neurocognitive function. These neuroimaging findings will help us understand the characteristics of brain network modifications in young HIV-infected patients with ANI.

Brain morphometric abnormalities and their associations with affective symptoms in males with methamphetamine use disorder during abstinence.

BackgroundMethamphetamine (METH) use induces neurotoxic effects in brain structures and affective symptoms that persist during abstinence. However, the brain morphometry of individuals with METH use disorder (MUD) remains unclear, as well as their associations with affective symptoms during abstinence.MethodsForty-eight abstinent males with MUD and 66 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Cortical thickness, surface area, volume, local gyrification index (LGI), and subcortical volume were obtained with FreeSurfer software. Brain morphometry differences between groups and their associations with affective symptoms and drug abuse history within the males with MUD were examined, with intracranial volume, age, and years of education as covariates.ResultsCompared with the HCs, the individuals with MUD showed a significantly higher LGI in the right cuneus gyrus, left lingual gyrus, bilateral supramarginal gyrus, right inferior parietal gyrus (IPG), and right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (clusterwise p < 0.05, Monte Carlo-corrected), as well as a smaller volume of the left nucleus accumbens (NAcc) (p < 0.05, FDR-corrected). However, there were no significant group differences in cortical thickness, area or volume. In addition, the LGI in the right IPG was positively associatedwith the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms in MUDs (p < 0.05, FDR-corrected).ConclusionBrain morphometric abnormalities in abstinent males with MUD were characterized by hypergyrification across multiple mid-posterior brain regions anda smaller volume of the left NAcc.Gyrification of the right IPG may be a potential neural substrate underlying the affective symptoms experienced by MUDs during abstinence.

Brain responses to the vicarious facilitation of pain by facial expressions of pain and fear.

Observing pain in others facilitates self-pain in the observer. Vicarious pain facilitation mechanisms are poorly understood. We scanned 21 subjects while they observed pain, fear and neutral dynamic facial expressions. In 33% of the trials, a noxious electrical stimulus was delivered. The nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) and pain ratings were recorded. Both pain and fear expressions increased self-pain ratings (fear > pain) and the NFR amplitude. Enhanced response to self-pain following pain and fear observation involves brain regions including the insula (INS) (pain > fear in anterior part), amygdala, mid-cingulate cortex (MCC), paracentral lobule, precuneus, supplementary motor area and pre-central gyrus. These results are consistent with the motivational priming account where vicarious pain facilitation involves a global enhancement of pain-related responses by negatively valenced stimuli. However, a psychophysiological interaction analysis centered on the left INS revealed increased functional connectivity with the aMCC in response to the painful stimulus following pain observation compared to fear. The opposite connectivity pattern (fear > pain) was observed in the fusiform gyrus, cerebellum (I-IV), lingual gyrus and thalamus, suggesting that pain and fear expressions influence pain-evoked brain responses differentially. Distinctive connectivity patterns demonstrate a stronger effect of pain observation in the cingulo-insular network, which may reflect partly overlapping networks underlying the representation of pain in self and others.