Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chizuko Hamada, Toshikazu Kawagoe, Masahiro Takamura, Atsushi Nagai, Shuhei Yamaguchi, Keiichi Onoda
Summary: This study used resting-state functional MRI to investigate changes in the frontal-striatal circuit in elderly individuals with apathy. The findings suggest that alterations in functional connectivity balance among different frontal-striatum circuits contribute to apathy in the elderly. Specifically, reduced connectivity between the ventral and dorsal regions of the striatum was observed in the apathy group.
Article
Clinical Neurology
John R. Sheets, Robert G. Briggs, Isabella M. Young, Michael Y. Bai, Yueh-Hsin Lin, Anujan Poologaindran, Andrew K. Conner, Christen M. O'Neal, Cordell M. Baker, Chad A. Glenn, Michael E. Sughrue
Summary: This study utilized fMRI studies to establish a neuroanatomical model, describing the structural connectivity of the SMA outside of the motor network, and identified four left hemisphere regions of the SMA. Consistent interconnections between these areas were found, as well as connections to other brain regions.
JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Melina Engelhardt, Giulia Kern, Jari Karhu, Thomas Picht
Summary: The aim of this study was to develop a repetitive nTMS protocol for non-invasive functional mapping of SMA and assure the effects are caused by SMA activation. The study found that stimulation of SMA led to a significant reduction in finger taps and less accurate performance in other tasks compared to M1 stimulation. These error maps can aid preoperative diagnostics in patients with SMA related lesions.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Florian Lammers-Lietz, Norman Zacharias, Rudolf Moergeli, Claudia D. Spies, Georg Winterer
Summary: The dysfunctional cortical networks involved in higher cognitive control of motion are associated with postoperative transitions between frailty stages. The pre-SMA may be a target for preventing frailty.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Zhishuai Jin, Sizhu Huyang, Lichen Jiang, Yajun Yan, Ming Xu, Jinyu Wang, Qixiong Li, Daxing Wu
Summary: The study revealed that individuals with congenital amusia exhibit increased interhemispheric functional connectivity in the posterior part of the default mode network, particularly in the posterior superior temporal gyrus and posterior cingulate cortex, which were negatively correlated with music perception ability. These findings suggest that the immature state of the default mode network may serve as a reliable neural marker for amusia.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Mark L. C. M. Bruurmijn, Mathijs Raemaekers, Mariana P. Branco, Nick F. Ramsey, Mariska J. Vansteensel
Summary: There is evidence suggesting the importance of the contralateral sensorimotor areas in movement generation, but the exact role of the ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex in unilateral movement control remains unclear. High-field fMRI data showed hand movement representation in the ipsilateral sensorimotor hand area, supporting the notion of transcallosal integrative processes for optimal coordination of hand movements.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
John Thomas, Dixit Sharma, Sounak Mohanta, Neeraj Jain
Summary: Information processing in the brain is mediated through a complex functional network architecture, with different nodes integrating and segregating themselves on various timescales. Our study identified distinct networks in the somatosensory area 3b, showing different correlation patterns among face, hand, and medial representations in macaque monkeys and humans. The results suggest that different body part representations in area 3b have independent functional networks, reflecting differences in the behavioral use of those body parts.
Article
Neurosciences
Sophia Bakola, Kathleen J. Burman, Sylwia Bednarek, Jonathan M. Chan, Natalia Jermakow, Katrina H. Worthy, Piotr Majka, Marcello G. P. Rosa
Summary: The study investigated cortical projections to the caudomedial frontal cortex in marmosets, revealing differences in labeled neurons distribution within different areas of 6M, suggesting homologues of SMA and pre-SMA. This indicates that marmosets can be valuable models for studying movement planning and control due to conservation of cortical motor control circuit in simian primates.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jacob S. Young, Andrew J. Gogos, Alexander A. Aabedi, Ramin A. Morshed, Matheus P. Pereira, Samuel Lashof-Regas, Ziba Mansoori, Tracy Luks, Shawn L. Hervey-Jumper, Javier E. Villanueva-Meyer, Mitchel S. Berger
Summary: This study aimed to identify which patients with SMA gliomas would develop a postoperative SMA syndrome. The results showed that more extensive resections involving the posterior SMA region and posterior cingulate gyrus increased the likelihood of postoperative SMA syndrome.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mehmet Salih Tuncer, Lucius S. Fekonja, Stefanie Ott, Andreas Pfnuer, Anna-Gila Karbe, Melina Engelhardt, Katharina Faust, Thomas Picht, Jan Coburger, Lasse Duehrsen, Peter Vajkoczy, Julia Onken
Summary: This study investigates network-based predictors for postoperative SMA syndrome in glioma patients. The results show that disconnection of callosal fibers is associated with prolonged symptom duration and long-term motor deficits.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2023)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Machiko Ohbayashi
Summary: Learning and executing sequential movements is essential in voluntary motor behavior, with performance improving over time through repetitive practice. The process of how the brain binds elementary movements into meaningful actions is of much interest and involves a distributed network throughout the brain. Understanding the unique contributions of different cortical motor areas in this process is the current challenge.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Toshi Nakajima, Ryosuke Hosaka, Hajime Mushiake
Summary: The study found that PMd and pre-SMA play different roles in controlling motor sequences. PMd tends to control actions that lead to rewards, while pre-SMA coordinates actions in a sequence by integrating temporal orders.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zongpai Zhang, Wen-Ming Luh, Wenna Duan, Grace D. Zhou, George Weinschenk, Adam K. Anderson, Weiying Dai
Summary: The study investigated the changes in brain resting-state functional connectivity following a 2-month focused attention meditation practice. It found that focused attention meditation can enhance connectivity within and between brain networks, especially the default mode network (DMN) and the dorsal attention network (DAN).
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yujie Zhang, Junneng Shao, Xinyi Wang, Cong Pei, Shuqiang Zhang, Zhijian Yao, Qing Lu
Summary: This study found that antidepressant treatment partially recovers the local function of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in regulating emotion by detecting common subregional targets of depression impairment and antidepressant effects. Additionally, changes in fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) in the compensative ACC subregion and its connectivity with the cingulo-opercular control network (CON) may partly compensate for cognitive deficits.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Etsuko Imabayashi, Kenji Ishii, Jun Toyohara, Kei Wagatsuma, Muneyuki Sakata, Tetsuro Tago, Kenji Ishibashi, Narumi Kojima, Noriyuki Kohda, Aya M. Tokumaru, Hunkyung Kim
Summary: Neurodegenerative changes in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may present treatment opportunities, and the interaction between clinical stage and amyloid PET positivity on cerebral atrophy has been observed. The study found that amyloid-positive CN participants had larger R_L-MedT-Atrophy-scores than amyloid-negative CN participants, suggesting that amyloid deposition may lead to left-right differences in the medial temporal area.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Eleonora Ficiara, Silvia Boschi, Shoeb Ansari, Federico D'Agata, Ornella Abollino, Paola Caroppo, Giuseppe Di Fede, Antonio Indaco, Innocenzo Rainero, Caterina Guiot
Summary: Iron may play an important role in different stages of dementia, with its dysregulation potentially linked to disease progression. The study results support the potential role of iron and biomarkers in the pathophysiology and progression of dementia.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Tommaso Costa, Jordi Manuello, Mario Ferraro, Donato Liloia, Andrea Nani, Peter T. Fox, Jack Lancaster, Franco Cauda
Summary: This study introduces a new tool called BACON for reverse inference in functional and structural neuroimaging data, aiming to determine the extent of association between patterns of cerebral activation or alteration and specific mental functions or brain pathologies. BACON utilizes Bayes' factor and activation likelihood estimation derived-maps to obtain posterior probability distributions on evidence of specificity concerning a particular mental function or brain pathology.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Lorenzo Mancuso, Sara Cavuoti-Cabanillas, Donato Liloia, Jordi Manuello, Giulia Buzi, Franco Cauda, Tommaso Costa
Summary: Recent developments in network neuroscience suggest that the default mode network (DMN) should be reconsidered. Traditionally seen as a unified network associated with the resting state, new research indicates that the DMN can be divided into multiple subsystems with different functions. A meta-analysis of experimental paradigms activating the DMN revealed a gradient from internal to external functions, with activation in lateral cortices being associated with more external tasks. The findings also suggest that the intrinsic-extrinsic opposition may be better understood as a continuous scale rather than a dichotomy.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Experimental
Pietro Sarasso, Marco Neppi-Modona, Nicola Rosaia, Pasqualina Perna, Paolo Barbieri, Elena Del Fante, Raffaella Ricci, Katiuscia Sacco, Irene Ronga
Summary: Neurocomputational models suggest aesthetic appreciation may act as a hedonic feedback on successful perceptual learning, which was supported by EEG responses showing larger MMN for more appreciated musical intervals correlated with Bayesian surprise. This indicates a positive correlation between aesthetic appreciation and EEG indexes of perceptual learning, potentially signaling the nervous system to seek informationally profitable stimuli.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY-GENERAL
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Katiuscia Sacco, Irene Ronga, Pasqualina Perna, Alessandro Cicerale, Elena Del Fante, Pietro Sarasso, Giuliano Carlo Geminiani
Summary: The study demonstrates that virtual navigation can enhance the ability to form allocentric representations and spatial memory. The preliminary neuroimaging and behavioral results suggest that this training activates brain circuits involved in higher-order mechanisms of information encoding, triggering the activation of broader cognitive processes and reducing the working load on memory circuits.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alessandro Cicerale, Enrico Blanzieri, Katiuscia Sacco
Summary: Prospect theory suggests that individuals' decision-making attitudes are influenced by cognitive biases, and are prone to change in the presence of global challenging events. This study replicated previous research and found significant increase in risk aversion during uncertain times. The authors suggest that this phenomenon can be explained by the effects of stress on decision making.
Article
Psychology, Mathematical
Pietro Sarasso, Paolo Barbieri, Elena Del Fante, Ludovico Bechis, Marco Neppi-Modona, Katiuscia Sacco, Irene Ronga
Summary: This study demonstrates that listening to preferred music can enhance perceptual learning and redirect attention to the environment through modulation of alpha oscillatory activity. These findings have important implications for fields such as education, neurorehabilitation, and therapy.
PSYCHONOMIC BULLETIN & REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Chiara Bonelli, Lorenzo Mancuso, Jordi Manuello, Donato Liloia, Tommaso Costa, Franco Cauda
Summary: This study investigated homotopic connectivity in the brains of women and men. The results revealed that females exhibit stronger interhemispheric co-activation, suggesting that the female brain is less lateralized and more integrated than that of males. In contrast, males show less intense but more extensive co-activation, with some local differences appearing. This argues for a multidimensional view of sex brain differences and suggests that more complex models should be used to approach the issue.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Donato Liloia, Annachiara Crocetta, Franco Cauda, Sergio Duca, Tommaso Costa, Jordi Manuello
Summary: This replication study aimed to investigate the shared neural correlates between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. The results showed a limited overlap between the two conditions, with no significant effect found for dyslexia. Studies on gray matter alteration associated with ADHD and dyslexia often yield conflicting results. Therefore, further research is needed to reach a consensus on the patterns of gray matter alteration.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Donato Liloia, Jordi Manuello, Tommaso Costa, Roberto Keller, Andrea Nani, Franco Cauda
Summary: Despite decades of neuroimaging research, the comprehensive characterization of short-range functional connectivity in ASD remains a challenge. The general local over-connectivity theory suggests a generalized local over-connectivity in ASD, but empirical evidence is lacking. Our meta-analysis revealed functional under-connectivity in specific brain regions, inconsistent with the hypothesis of generalized local over-connectivity in ASD. Confirming these findings could provide valuable insights into ASD pathophysiology.
EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pietro Sarasso, Irene Ronga, Elena Del Fante, Paolo Barbieri, Irene Lozzi, Nicola Rosaia, Alessandro Cicerale, Marco Neppi-Modona, Katiuscia Sacco
Summary: This study examines the effects of physical and virtual co-presence of others on explicit and implicit learning. It reveals that only physical co-presence is effective in potentiating learning dynamics, improving memorization performances, and enhancing implicit learning indexes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Proceedings Paper
Computer Science, Information Systems
Claudia Ferraris, Giuseppe Pettiti, Gianluca Amprimo, Debora Desideri, Roberto Pratola, Katiuscia Sacco, Irene Ronga, Guido Coppo, Danilo Soprani, Jacopo Barbagallo, Santina Antinoro, Paolo Ariano, Luigi Privitera
Summary: Telemedicine and e-health services play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability of the health system, particularly in monitoring and rehabilitating elderly population and patients with neurological diseases. Solutions based on Information and Communication Technologies can support new patient care and disease management strategies.
2022 27TH IEEE SYMPOSIUM ON COMPUTERS AND COMMUNICATIONS (IEEE ISCC 2022)
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Carlo Ceruti, Alessandro Cicerale, Matteo Diano, Mattia Sibona, Caterina Guiot, Giovanna Motta, Chiara Crespi, Anna Gualerzi, Fabio Lanfranco, Mauro Bergui, Federico D'Agata
Summary: Previous studies have shown that there are sex-related differences in brain activation when individuals observe their own bodies and faces. However, a comprehensive paradigm examining multiple aspects of embodied self-identity is lacking. In this study, we used fMRI to investigate the differences in brain activation between males and females during the observation of body silhouettes, morphed faces, and dynamic transformations. Our results revealed differential sexual activations in areas linked to self-identity and the ability to attribute mental states. These findings support previous research and highlight the need for further exploration with a larger sample size.
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Biomedical
E. Ficiara, F. D'Agata, S. Cattaldo, L. Priano, A. Mauro, C. Guiot
Summary: Iron accumulation in the brain is considered to be central in inducing oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases. This study proposed a mathematical model to simulate iron trafficking in the brain, with sensitivity analysis used to identify key parameters affecting the transport of iron across brain barriers.
2021 43RD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY SOCIETY (EMBC)
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Mathematical
Pietro Sarasso, Pasqualina Perna, Paolo Barbieri, Marco Neppi-Modona, Katiuscia Sacco, Irene Ronga
Summary: Through two experiments, it was found that individuals have better memorization of music chords that they subjectively prefer, and there is a correlation between subjective aesthetic judgments of music intervals and brain signals, providing evidence for implicit learning dynamics.
PSYCHONOMIC BULLETIN & REVIEW
(2021)
