Cerebral Activation Patterns Research Articles

The Impact of Sports Participation on College Students' Learning Outcomes: A Mixed Methods Study based on Multiple Campuses

Plato said: In order for humans to have a successful life, God provides two channels-education and sports. We are increasingly seeing that these two channels are complementary and indispensable. Modern neuroscience research shows that sports can have beneficial effects on brain structure and function, epigenetic regulation of brain tissue, cerebral cortex activity patterns and learning-related psychological factors, thereby improving students' cognitive abilities and academic performance. This study aims to explore the multifaceted effects of sports participation on college students' learning outcomes. A mixed research method was used to collect data in three different types of universities, including a questionnaire survey of 500 students and in-depth interviews with 20 students and 10 faculty members. Quantitative analysis showed that moderate sports participation was significantly related to better academic performance, higher mental health and stronger time management skills. However, excessive participation in physical activities may have a negative impact on study time. Qualitative data further revealed how sport participation enhanced students' self-confidence, teamwork and stress management skills. The study also found that the impact of sports participation varies depending on students' personal backgrounds and the characteristics of their universities. Based on the research results, this article puts forward practical suggestions to promote the balanced development of college students, providing a basis for higher education institutions to formulate relevant policies.

Study protocol: Cerebral characterization of sensory gating in disconnected dreaming states during propofol anesthesia using fMRI.

Disconnected consciousness describes a state in which subjective experience (i.e., consciousness) becomes isolated from the external world. It appears frequently during sleep or sedation, when subjective experiences remain vivid but are unaffected by external stimuli. Traditional methods of differentiating connected and disconnected consciousness, such as relying on behavioral responsiveness or on post-anesthesia reports, have demonstrated limited accuracy: unresponsiveness has been shown to not necessarily equate to unconsciousness and amnesic effects of anesthesia and sleep can impair explicit recollection of events occurred during sleep/sedation. Due to these methodological challenges, our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying sensory disconnection remains limited. To overcome these methodological challenges, we employ a distinctive strategy by combining a serial awakening paradigm with auditory stimulation during mild propofol sedation. While under sedation, participants are systematically exposed to auditory stimuli and questioned about their subjective experience (to assess consciousness) and their awareness of the sounds (to evaluate connectedness/disconnectedness from the environment). The data collected through interviews are used to categorize participants into connected and disconnected consciousness states. This method circumvents the requirement for responsiveness in assessing consciousness and mitigates amnesic effects of anesthesia as participants are questioned while still under sedation. Functional MRI data are concurrently collected to investigate cerebral activity patterns during connected and disconnected states, to elucidate sensory disconnection neural gating mechanisms. We examine whether this gating mechanism resides at the thalamic level or results from disruptions in information propagation to higher cortices. Furthermore, we explore the potential role of slow-wave activity (SWA) in inducing disconnected consciousness by quantifying high-frequency BOLD oscillations, a known correlate of slow-wave activity. This study represents a notable advancement in the investigation of sensory disconnection. The serial awakening paradigm effectively mitigates amnesic effects by collecting reports immediately after regaining responsiveness, while still under sedation. Ultimately, this research holds the potential to understand how sensory gating is achieved at the neural level. These biomarkers might be relevant for the development of sensitive anesthesia monitoring to avoid intraoperative connected consciousness and for the assessment of patients suffering from pathologically reduced consciousness. European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT), identifier 2020-003524-17.

Cerebral activation caused by dental sounds: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Dental drilling sounds can induce anxiety in some patients. This study aimed to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess the relationship between dental fear and auditory stimuli. Thirty-four right-handed individuals (21 women and 13 men; average age, 31.2 years) were selected. The level of dental fear was assessed using the dental fear survey (DFS). Based on a threshold DFS score > 52, participants were categorized into two groups: dental fear (DF) group (n = 12) and control group (n = 22). Two types of stimuli were presented in a single session: dental and neutral sounds. Cerebral activation during the presentation of these sounds was evaluated using contrast-enhanced blood oxygenation level-dependent fMRI. In the DF group, dental sounds induced significantly stronger activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus and left caudate nucleus (one-sample t test, P < 0.001). In contrast, in the control group, significantly stronger activation was observed in the bilateral Heschl’s gyri and left middle frontal gyrus (one-sample t test, P < 0.001). Additionally, a two-sample t test revealed that dental sounds induced a significantly stronger activation in the left caudate nucleus in the DF group than in the control group (P < 0.005). These findings suggest that the cerebral activation pattern in individuals with DF differs from that in controls. Increased activation of subcortical regions may be associated with sound memory during dental treatment.

Neuroimaging, wearable sensors, and blood-based biomarkers reveal hyperacute changes in the brain after sub-concussive impacts

Impacts in mixed martial arts (MMA) have been studied mainly in regard to the long-term effects of concussions. However, repetitive sub-concussive head impacts at the hyperacute phase (minutes after impact), are not understood. The head experiences rapid acceleration similar to a concussion, but without clinical symptoms. We utilize portable neuroimaging technology – transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) – to estimate the extent of pre- and post-differences following contact and non-contact sparring sessions in nine MMA athletes. In addition, the extent of changes in neurofilament light (NfL) protein biomarker concentrations, and neurocognitive/balance parameters were determined following impacts. Athletes were instrumented with sensor-based mouth guards to record head kinematics. TCD and fNIRS results demonstrated significantly increased blood flow velocity (p = 0.01) as well as prefrontal (p = 0.01) and motor cortex (p = 0.04) oxygenation, only following the contact sparring sessions. This increase after contact was correlated with the cumulative angular acceleration experienced during impacts (p = 0.01). In addition, the NfL biomarker demonstrated positive correlations with angular acceleration (p = 0.03), and maximum principal and fiber strain (p = 0.01). On average athletes experienced 23.9 ± 2.9 g peak linear acceleration, 10.29 ± 1.1 rad/s peak angular velocity, and 1,502.3 ± 532.3 rad/s2 angular acceleration. Balance parameters were significantly increased following contact sparring for medial-lateral (ML) center of mass (COM) sway, and ML ankle angle (p = 0.01), illustrating worsened balance. These combined results reveal significant changes in brain hemodynamics and neurophysiological parameters that occur immediately after sub-concussive impacts and suggest that the physical impact to the head plays an important role in these changes. Statement of significance: Brain injuries sustained during sport participation have received much attention since it is a common occurrence among participants. Although protective technologies have been developed over the years, the mechanism of injury is still unclear. There is less focus on the repetitive exposure to sub-concussive impacts on the functional integrity of the brain. Sub-concussive impacts are defined as a lesser impact force resulting in acceleration of the head without symptoms of concussion. Diminished neurocognitive performance has been associated with increased sparring exposure in amateur MMA/boxers suggesting that repeated sub-concussive blows may be just as harmful. However, no one has studied the potential effect of repeated sub-concussive head impacts at the hyperacute level defined as within minutes after impact. We apply novel mobile sensing tools such as head impact sensors and portable neuroimaging devices that allow us to examine possible physiological effects taking place within minutes of sub-concussive impacts which are generally transient, and have not been captured before due to limitations with clinical imaging. Based on previous studies, we developed a protocol to test real-world sub-concussive head impact effects on cerebral blood flow and activation patterns and demonstrate that significant changes can be observed immediately after impacts occur, which could lead to improved monitoring and management of injury risk in sport participation.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on upper limb motor function with stroke: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy pilot study

BackgroundTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) emerges as a promising neuromodulatory technique. However, taVNS uses left ear stimulation in stroke survivors with either left or right hemiparesis. Understanding its influence on the cortical responses is pivotal for optimizing post-stroke rehabilitation protocols.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study was to elucidate the influence of taVNS on cortical responses in stroke patients presenting with either left or right hemiparesis and to discern its potential ramifications for upper limb rehabilitative processes.MethodsWe employed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to ascertain patterns of cerebral activation in stroke patients as they engaged in a “block transfer” task. Additionally, the Lateralization Index (LI) was utilized to quantify the lateralization dynamics of cerebral functions.ResultsIn patients exhibiting left-side hemiplegia, there was a notable increase in activation within the pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex (PMC-SMC) of the unaffected hemisphere as well as in the left Broca area. Conversely, those with right-side hemiplegia displayed heightened activation in the affected primary somatosensory cortex (PSC) region following treatment.Significantly, taVNS markedly amplified cerebral activation, with a pronounced impact on the left motor cortical network across both cohorts. Intriguingly, the LI showcased consistency, suggesting a harmonized enhancement across both compromised and uncompromised cerebral regions.ConclusionTaVNS can significantly bolster the activation within compromised cerebral territories, particularly within the left motor cortical domain, without destabilizing cerebral lateralization. TaVNS could play a pivotal role in enhancing upper limb functional restoration post-stroke through precise neuromodulatory and neuroplastic interventions.

Learning to be inventive in the face of statistics: A positive reappraisal intervention for statistics anxiety

Background and objectivesThe burden of statistics anxiety on students calls for effective interventions. This study investigated whether a cognitive reappraisal training designed to stimulate the generation of positive re-interpretations may yield behavioral changes in anxiety measures and changes in cerebral activation patterns reflecting the activation of approach/avoidance motivational tendencies (frontal EEG alpha asymmetry response). MethodsThree groups of female psychology students (n = 45) with statistics anxiety were tested. Two groups received a guided, two-week reappraisal training with either statistics-anxiety or general anxiety situations; the control group received no intervention. ResultsBoth training groups significantly increased their amount of positive re-interpretations from pre-to post-test compared to the control group. Increased habitual use of reappraisal in statistics situations and significant EEG changes reflecting more approach-oriented coping with anxiety occurred in the statistics-anxiety training group only. No changes in statistics anxiety and statistics attitudes were observed, suggesting that the training effects, though corroborated through neurophysiological changes, did not sufficiently translate to improving students’ deep-rooted anxiety. LimitationsEffects, though robust and following the same pattern, were observed in a small sample. ConclusionsOur findings delineate a promising expandable approach for helping students’ cope with statistics anxiety in a healthier way.

Decoupling brain activations of muscle-caused activations and mental intention-cause activations using the general linear model: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

Integrating a brain-computer interface into a lower-limb medical rehabilitation assistive device can enhance rehabilitation efficiency. The latest research in the field focuses on the decoding performance of different motions. However, the difference between muscle-caused primitive activation and mental intention-caused activation has not been fully investigated. Thus, our study tried to decouple these two kinds of cerebral activation using a general linear model (GLM). Nine healthy and right-handed subjects were recruited for a two-section experiment. They were asked to extend or flex their knees while seated in the first section of the experiment or standing in the second section. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) was adopted to monitor their hemodynamic changes. Two groups of paradigms (one for circle-wise analysis, the other for full-section analysis) were constructed from the experimental paradigm. Each group consisted of three (the first intention, the second intention, and the muscle activation). The constructed paradigms were fed to the Balloon model for six desired hemodynamic responses (dHRFs). The regressor of GLM consisted of three dHRFs and the corresponding motion artifacts and drifts. The simulated physiological noises were included in the structured background matrix. The results showed that all subjects had similar cerebral activation patterns for the intention to extend or flex knees. The activation during musclecaused activation was less intense than that caused by both intentions. This finding can help further research on more efficient motion intention detection and the possibility of multiple motions decoding.

Neuropsychological Activations and Networks While Performing Visual and Kinesthetic Motor Imagery.

This study aimed to answer the questions 'What are the neural networks and mechanisms involved in visual and kinesthetic motor imagery?', and 'Is part of cognitive processing included during visual and kinesthetic motor imagery?' by investigating the neurophysiological networks and activations during visual and kinesthetic motor imagery using motor imagery tasks (golf putting). The experiment was conducted with 19 healthy adults. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to examine neural activations and networks during visual and kinesthetic motor imagery using golf putting tasks. The findings of the analysis on cerebral activation patterns based on the two distinct types of motor imagery indicate that the posterior lobe, occipital lobe, and limbic lobe exhibited activation, and the right hemisphere was activated during the process of visual motor imagery. The activation of the temporal lobe and the parietal lobe were observed during the process of kinesthetic motor imagery. This study revealed that visual motor imagery elicited stronger activation in the right frontal lobe, whereas kinesthetic motor imagery resulted in greater activation in the left frontal lobe. It seems that kinesthetic motor imagery activates the primary somatosensory cortex (BA 2), the secondary somatosensory cortex (BA 5 and 7), and the temporal lobe areas and induces human sensibility. The present investigation evinced that the neural network and the regions of the brain that are activated exhibit variability contingent on the category of motor imagery.

Newer indications for neuromonitoring in critically ill neonates.

Continuous neuromonitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit allows for bedside assessment of brain oxygenation and perfusion as well as cerebral function and seizure identification. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) reflects the balance between oxygen delivery and consumption, and use of multisite monitoring of regional oxygenation provides organ-specific assessment of perfusion. With understanding of the underlying principles of NIRS as well as the physiologic factors which impact oxygenation and perfusion of the brain, kidneys and bowel, changes in neonatal physiology can be more easily recognized by bedside providers, allowing for appropriate, targeted interventions. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) allows continuous bedside evaluation of cerebral background activity patterns indicative of the level of cerebral function as well as identification of seizure activity. Normal background patterns are reassuring while abnormal background patterns indicate abnormal brain function. Combining brain monitoring information together with continuous vital sign monitoring (blood pressure, pulse oximetry, heart rate and temperature) at the bedside may be described as multi-modality monitoring and facilitates understanding of physiology. We describe 10 cases in critically ill neonates that demonstrate how comprehensive multimodal monitoring provided greater recognition of the hemodynamic status and its impact on cerebral oxygenation and cerebral function thereby informing treatment decisions. We anticipate that there are numerous other uses of NIRS as well as NIRS in conjunction with aEEG which are yet to be reported.

Inhibitory control in young adult women with fetal alcohol syndrome: Findings from a pilot functional magnetic resonanceimaging study.

Executive dysfunction, especially impaired inhibitory control, is a common finding in individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Previous research has mostly focused on neural correlates of inhibitory deficits in children and adolescents. We investigated inhibitory functions and underlying cerebral activation patterns in young adult women with FAS. Task performance and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were acquired during a Go/NoGo (GNG) inhibition task in 19 young adult women with FAS and 19 healthy female control subjects. Whole-brain activation and task performance analyses were supplemented by region of interest (ROI) analyses of fMRI data within a predefined cognitive control network (CCN). Task performance did not differ significantly between groups on errors of commission, associated with inhibitory control. Similarly, overall activation within the preselected ROIs did not differ significantly between groups for the main inhibitory contrast NoGo > Go. However, whole-brain analyses revealed activation differences in the FAS group when compared to controls under inhibitory conditions. This included hyperactivations in the left inferior frontal, superior temporal, and supramarginal gyri in the FAS group. Likewise, lateralization tendencies toward right-hemispheric ROIs were weaker in FAS subjects. In contrast to comparable inhibitory performance, attention-related errors of omission were significantly higher in the FAS group. Correspondingly, FAS subjects had lower activity in attention-related temporal and parietal areas. The known alterations of inhibitory functions associated with prenatal alcohol exposure in children and adolescents were not seen in this adult sample. However, differential brain activity was observed, reflecting potential compensatory mechanisms. Secondary results suggest that there is impaired attentional control in young adult women with FAS.

What are the neural correlates of dissociative amnesia? A systematic review of the functional neuroimaging literature.

Dissociative amnesia is an emblematic psychiatric condition in which patients experience massive memory loss ranging from focal to global amnesia. This condition remains poorly understood and this review aims to investigate the neuroanatomical feature of this disease. We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature available on PubMed, up to December 1, 2022, using a combination of keywords referring to dissociative amnesia. We included every scientific report involving patients undergoing a functional imaging procedure. Twenty-two studies met our inclusion criteria (gathering 49 patients). Only one was a controlled study with a large sample. The other 21 were case reports and case series. In resting state, neuroimaging studies mostly showed a hypo-activated right inferolateral prefrontal cortex, associated with limbic hypoactivity and lesser activation of the hippocampal and para-hippocampal structures. The patients also presented abnormal patterns of cerebral activation when performing memory tasks. When testing recognition of memories from the amnestic period, patients showed increased activation across temporal areas (hippocampal and para-hippocampal gyri) and the limbic network. When trying to recollect memories from an amnestic period compared to a non-amnestic period, patients failed to activate these structures efficiently. Most of these patterns tended to return to normal when symptoms resolved. This review identified a paucity of controlled studies in the field of dissociative amnesia neuroimaging, which restricts the extrapolation of results. Patients with dissociative amnesia present a broad prefronto-temporo-limbic network dysfunction. Some of the brain areas implicated in this network might represent potential targets for innovative treatments.

Two‐phase classification: ANN and A‐SVM classifiers on motor imagery BCI

AbstractBrain–Computer Interfaces (BCIs) based on Electroencephalograms (EEG) monitor mental activity with the ultimate objective of allowing people to communicate with computers only via their thoughts. Users must create precise cerebral activity patterns that the system uses as control signals to do this. A common activity used to elicit such signals is Motor Imagery (MI), in which certain signals are created in the sensorimotor cortex while imagining the movements. The three phases of the traditional EEG–BCI processing pipeline are preprocessing, feature extraction, and classification. We provide categorization advances and track performance gains in 4‐class MI‐based BCIs. In this study, 4‐class MI events are produced via an illusory elevation of the left hand, right hand, feet, and tongue. Finally, a two‐phase classification technique is provided with ANN classifiers being used in the first phase to discriminate between different pair‐wise MI tasks. Secondly, an adaptive SVM classifier is used to assess the user's end task based on the weighted outputs of the classifiers. An adaptive classifier is one technique to maintain consistency in performance, reduce training time, and eliminate non‐stationaries, all of which are required for efficient BCI performance. The suggested approach outperformed conventional two‐stage classification algorithms on MI data, according to experimental findings. The average classification accuracy of this technique is 96% for datasets BCI competition IV 2a. This is a 4% improvement over the comparison approach.

Hyperactivity of the default mode network in schizophrenia and free energy: A dialogue between Freudian theory of psychosis and neuroscience.

The economic conceptualization of Freudian metapsychology, based on an energetics model of the psyche's workings, offers remarkable commonalities with some recent discoveries in neuroscience, notably in the field of neuroenergetics. The pattern of cerebral activity at resting state and the identification of a default mode network (DMN), a network of areas whose activity is detectable at baseline conditions by neuroimaging techniques, offers a promising field of research in the dialogue between psychoanalysis and neuroscience. In this article we study one significant clinical application of this interdisciplinary dialogue by looking at the role of the DMN in the psychopathology of schizophrenia. Anomalies in the functioning of the DMN have been observed in schizophrenia. Studies have evidenced the existence of hyperactivity in this network in schizophrenia patients, particularly among those for whom a positive symptomatology is dominant. These data are particularly interesting when considered from the perspective of the psychoanalytic understanding of the positive symptoms of psychosis, most notably the Freudian hypothesis of delusions as an "attempt at recovery." Combining the data from research in neuroimaging of schizophrenia patients with the Freudian hypothesis, we propose considering the hyperactivity of the DMN as a consequence of a process of massive reassociation of traces occurring in schizophrenia. This is a process that may constitute an attempt at minimizing the excess of free energy present in psychosis. Modern models of active inference and the free energy principle (FEP) may shed some light on these processes.

Decreased Hemodynamic Responses in Left Parietal Lobule and Left Inferior Parietal Lobule in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study.

The brain activation patterns of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are still unclear and they involve multiple brain regions. Most previous studies have focused on abnormal activation in the frontal and temporal lobes, with few investigating the entire brain. To identify and compare the changes in cerebral hemodynamics and abnormal activation patterns in the entire brain of MCI patients and healthy older adults. Patients with MCI (n = 22) and healthy controls (HC, n = 34) matched by age, education levels, sex, and mental state were enrolled. They performed the same letter and category verbal fluency test (VFT) tasks while their behavioral performance and global cerebral hemodynamics were analyzed. The performance during the category VFT task was significantly better than that during the letter VFT task across all participants (HC: correct: p < 0.001; intrusions: p < 0.001; MCI: correct: p < 0.001; intrusions: p < 0.001). The number of correct words during the letter and category VFT tasks was significantly higher in the HC group than in the MCI group (p < 0.001). The deoxygenated-hemoglobin (HbR) concentrations in the left parietal lobule (p = 0.022) and left inferior parietal lobule (p = 0.034) were significantly different during the category VFT task. The differences between HC and MCI groups were greater in the category task. The HbR concentration was more sensitive for the category VFT task and concentration changes in the left parietal lobule and left inferior parietal lobule may be useful for clinical screening and application; thus, they deserve more attention.

Kessler Foundation Strategy-Based Training to Enhance Memory (KF-STEM™): Study protocol for a single site double-blind randomized, clinical trial in Multiple Sclerosis

New learning and memory impairments are common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and negatively impact everyday life, including occupational and social functioning. Despite the demand for learning and memory treatments, few cognitive rehabilitation protocols are supported by Class I research evidence, limiting the degree to which effective treatments may be utilized with persons with MS. The present double-blind, placebo controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT) examines the efficacy of an 8-session cognitive rehabilitation protocol encompassing training in the application of three strategies with the strongest empirical evidence (self-generation, spaced learning and retrieval practice) to treat impaired learning and memory in persons with MS, Kessler Foundation Strategy-based Training to Enhance Memory (KF-STEM™).A sample of 120 participants with clinically definite MS who have impairments in new learning and memory will be enrolled. Outcomes will be assessed via three mechanisms, an Assessment of Global Functioning, which examines everyday functioning and quality of life, a Neuropsychological Evaluation to examine objective cognitive performance, and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to examine the impact of treatment on patterns of cerebral activation. We will additionally evaluate the longer-term efficacy of KF-STEM™ on everyday functioning and neuropsychological assessment through a 6-month follow-up evaluation and evaluate the impact of booster sessions in maintaining the treatment effect over time. The methodologically rigorous design of the current study will provide Class I evidence for the KF-STEM™ treatment protocol for persons with MS.

Math Skills: a New Look from Functional Data Analysis.

Mental calculations involve various areas of the brain. The frontal, parietal and temporal lobes of the left hemisphere have a principal role in the completion of this typology of tasks. Their level of activation varies based on the mathematical competence and attentiveness of the subject under examination and the perceived difficulty of the task. Recent literature often investigates patterns of cerebral activity through fMRI, which is an expensive technique. In this scenario, EEGs represent a more straightforward and cheaper way to collect information regarding brain activity. In this work, we propose an EEG based method to detect differences in the cerebral activation level of people characterized by different abilities in carrying out the same arithmetical task. Our approach consists in the extraction of the activation level of a given region starting from the EEG acquired during resting state and during the completion of a subtraction task. We then analyze these data through Functional Data Analysis, a statistical technique that allows operating on biomedical signals as if they were functions. The application of this technique allowed for the detection of distinct cerebral patterns among the two groups and, more specifically, highlighted the presence of higher levels of activation in the parietal lobe in the population characterized by a lower performance.

Classifying Disorders of Consciousness: Past, Present, and Future.

With the advent of advanced analytical methods applied to functional neuroimaging and neurophysiological data, cerebral conditions have been defined that challenge the established classification of disorders of consciousness. A subset of brain-damaged patients has been identified who cannot carry out motor commands, but who exhibit patterns of cerebral activation during mental imagery tasks that are indistinguishable from those in healthy controls. This condition, termed "cognitive motor dissociation," has overturned many assumptions regarding the detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and care of patients with brain injury. Three factors are likely to influence efforts to improve the classification of disorders of consciousness in the near future: the types of data that will become available to characterize brain states, the modeling paradigms utilized for data analysis, and the ability to implement classification schemes in the clinical setting. Here we review past achievements, present states, and future projections for the classification of impaired consciousness and responsiveness.

Brain 18-FDG-PET patterns in early breast cancer subtypes: Relationship with headache.

e12560 Background: Brain metabolic response on 18F-fuorodeoxiglucose(FDG)-PET in breast cancer (BC) patients is not routinely investigated, although several bidirectional relationships have been described between BC (and BC therapies) and brain functions. For example, common forms of headaches, as migraine (Mi) and tension-type headache (TTH), seem to be oddly distributed among BC subtypes and possibly influence the outcome. Methods: We recruited patients with early BC referring to IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Demographic data, BC characteristics and headache diagnosis were recorded, through detailed interview and instrumental investigation. Ki67 was considered high if above 20%. All patients underwent dedicated 18F-FDG PET scan for the evaluation of brain metabolism. Semiquantitative image analysis was performed using Cortex ID software (GE), comparing patient’s scan with a control group by the means of Z-score. The difference between patients’ subgroups were assessed using One-way ANOVA model. Results: Twenty-three patients were recruited. The median age was 52.5±10.8 years; 65.2% were postmenopausal, 30% premenopausal, and one patient perimenopausal. Ten patients were diagnosed as triple-negative BC, 6 as HER2-positive and 7 as Luminal B/HER2+. Nearly 70% (16/23) of patients had high Ki67 values. All patients had ECOG PS 0. Ten patients were diagnosed with TTH, 9 with migraine of whom two with aura, and four patients had no headache. Eleven patients had active headache at the moment of the study. At the whole brain level, we found a significant increase of brain metabolism in the left hemisphere of BC patients with high Ki-67 (p=0.007). Moreover, the same result was found in parietal cortex and in general associative areas bilaterally. Instead, HER-2 positive BC patient showed a reduced metabolism in right temporal cortex compared to HER-2 negative (p=0.04). Grading and other tumor characteristics did not influence FDG-PET uptake. BC patients with TTH had a reduced activity in right medial frontal lobe compared with migraine patients (p=0.01). Those with an active headache had increased activity in posterior cingulate and reduced activity in visual networks (p=0.03). Conclusions: Although exploratory, this study suggests that BC subtypes could present different metabolic pattern of cerebral activity, particularly in dominant hemisphere and associative areas. The high prevalence of headache in our sample does not affect the above pattern, but it is associated with an altered activation in other networks, mainly cingulate and visual cortex, which are well-known areas involved in primary headache.

The effect of anxiety on mathematical thinking: An fMRI study on 12th-grade students

During adolescence, anxiety may rise more significantly due to factors such as academic achievement and has a negative impact on learning and thinking skills. Adolescents with higher levels of math anxiety need more time to analyse and repress or miss the solutions when they are presented with even the simplest arithmetic problems. fMRI is being used for investigating cognitive processes such as learning, memory, and creativity and emotional states such as anxiety. However, there is a lack of research focusing on fMRI studies on the relationships between anxiety and brain functions in adolescence. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between anxiety and mathematical thinking capabilities of the 12th-grade students in Turkey. Initially, 68 12th-grade students were surveyed by state-trait anxiety inventory and perceived stress scale. Participants who were in the highest 20 % (n1 = 9) and the lowest 20 % (n2 = 14) groups (n = 23) were selected for the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. The modifications of participants’ cerebral activation patterns were monitored via a 3 T MRI scanner while solving six mathematics questions. Subsequently, the data were analysed to reveal how anxiety levels correlate with brain activations and academic achievement. Activity in the frontal cortex of all participants increased during the use of mathematical skills. However, a significantly higher level of increment –intensively in the right frontal cortex- was detected on the participants with high anxiety. No statistically significant difference was observed between academic achievements and anxiety levels of the subjects.

BACON: A tool for reverse inference in brain activation and alteration.

Over the past decades, powerful MRI‐based methods have been developed, which yield both voxel‐based maps of the brain activity and anatomical variation related to different conditions. With regard to functional or structural MRI data, forward inferences try to determine which areas are involved given a mental function or a brain disorder. A major drawback of forward inference is its lack of specificity, as it suggests the involvement of brain areas that are not specific for the process/condition under investigation. Therefore, a different approach is needed to determine to what extent a given pattern of cerebral activation or alteration is specifically associated with a mental function or brain pathology. In this study, we present a new tool called BACON (Bayes fACtor mOdeliNg) for performing reverse inference both with functional and structural neuroimaging data. BACON implements the Bayes' factor and uses the activation likelihood estimation derived‐maps to obtain posterior probability distributions on the evidence of specificity with regard to a particular mental function or brain pathology.