Editorial Material
Behavioral Sciences
Matteo Esposito, Marco Tamietto, Giuliano Carlo Geminiani, Alessia Celeghin
Summary: Recent studies indicate a primary role of the basal ganglia in extracting stimulus-value regularities and managing visual stimulus selection once sensory-motor associations are formed. In Parkinson's Disease, visuospatial attention deficits observed since the early stages may result from the cognitive system losing the ability to translate high-level processing into stable sensorimotor memories.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Marcia Radanovic, Victor N. Almeida
Summary: The review discusses the role of subcortical structures in language processing, highlighting debates on different theoretical frameworks for non-thalamic and thalamic aphasia. Recent findings point to cortical hypoperfusion as a potential cause for non-thalamic aphasias and emphasize the role of specific thalamic nuclei in language disturbances. Neuroimaging studies are paving the way for further exploration of subcortical aphasias, with new methods such as tractography and connectivity studies expected to expand our understanding in this area.
CURRENT NEUROLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Maria P. Mogavero, Domenico M. Mezzapesa, Mariantonietta Savarese, Lourdes M. DelRosso, Giuseppe Lanza, Raffaele Ferri
Summary: The study found significant volumetric reduction in the left amygdala and left globus pallidus in RLS patients, as well as large surface morphological alterations affecting the amygdala bilaterally.
Article
Neurosciences
Adam Gordon-Fennell, Garret D. Stuber
Summary: Studies have revealed generalizable findings across molecularly defined cell types in areas of the basal forebrain and anterior hypothalamus. Optogenetic stimulation of GABAergic neurons in these brain regions drives reward, while optogenetic stimulation of glutamatergic neurons in these regions drives aversion.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yunan Wu, Pierre Besson, Emanuel A. Azcona, S. Kathleen Bandt, Todd B. Parrish, Hans C. Breiter, Aggelos K. Katsaggelos
Summary: The relationship between brain structure and cognitive function is complex, and differences between childhood and adulthood are not well understood. A novel graph convolutional neural network was developed to analyze brain morphology and predict fluid intelligence (Gf). The study found that the morphology of certain brain structures, such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens, along with cortical regions, consistently drove the prediction of Gf. This suggests a significant reframing of the relationship between brain morphology and cognitive function.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Bart E. K. S. Swinnen, Arthur W. Buijink, Dan Pina-Fuentes, Rob M. A. de Bie, Martijn Beudel
Summary: This article provides an extensive overview of the current state and potential of subcortical sensing, particularly in the treatment of movement disorders. It also discusses the barriers and future directions for the clinical implementation of this technology.
Article
Neurosciences
Hyeon-Man Baek
Summary: The pathology of Parkinson's disease involves dopaminergic neuron death in the substantia nigra, gradually affecting basal ganglia pathways due to decreased dopamine transport. Diffusion MRI has been used to diagnose PD by evaluating white matter connectivity in certain brain areas. This study employed Lead-DBS to automatically segment subcortical structures in human connectome project data, reducing reliance on manual segmentation for improved consistency. The Lead-connectome pipeline was applied to investigate differences in diffusion measures between 3T and 7T data acquisition protocols, revealing significant variations in fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity values in different regions.
Article
Neurosciences
Shigeru Ogata, Yuta Miyamoto, Naoki Shigematsu, Shigeyuki Esumi, Takaichi Fukuda
Summary: The study demonstrates the presence of a novel type of GABAergic neurons in the most caudal part of the striatum in male mice. These neurons have large somata and extend long dendrites towards adjoining regions, receiving inputs from MSNs in close proximity and facilitating prompt disinhibition in response to auditory stimuli.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Fabian Hirsch, Afra Wohlschlaeger
Summary: This study investigates the impact of subcortical structures on the topological features of cortical networks using a multivariable approach and graph-theoretic tools. The results show that the overall architecture of cortical networks becomes more integrated after accounting for subcortical influences. Specifically, "transmodal" systems become more connected with the rest of the network while "unimodal" networks show the opposite effect. These findings provide new insights into the interplay between subcortex and cortical networks.
Article
Neuroimaging
Maeri Yamamoto, Epifanio Bagarinao, Masanori Shimamoto, Tetsuya Iidaka, Norio Ozaki
Summary: The study identified significant alterations in brain connectivity in patients with schizophrenia, particularly affecting connections with the basal ganglia and high visual networks. Connector hubs in the cerebellum and subcortical regions play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, with FCOR potentially serving as a clinical biomarker for the disorder.
NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Susan F. Sonnenschein, Ashley C. Parr, Bart Larsen, Finnegan J. Calabro, William Foran, Shaun M. Eack, Beatriz Luna, Deepak K. Sarpal
Summary: This study used a proxy measure to examine brain iron in the basal ganglia and thalamic structures of individuals with chronic schizophrenia. The results showed iron accumulation in the thalamus, which may serve as a potential marker of illness. Age-related iron accumulation in the basal ganglia and prominent sex differences in the caudate and thalamus were also observed.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Liangjun Chen, Ya Wang, Zhengwang Wu, Yue Shan, Tengfei Li, Sheng-Che Hung, Lei Xing, Hongtu Zhu, Li Wang, Weili Lin, Gang Li
Summary: This study investigates the volumetric development and surface area expansion of six subcortical structures during the first two postnatal years. The results show that each structure undergoes rapid nonlinear growth after birth, which slows down at a structure-specific age. Additionally, there are positive associations between certain subcortical structures and language learning as well as fine motor skills.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kei Oyama, Yukiko Hori, Yuji Nagai, Naohisa Miyakawa, Koki Mimura, Toshiyuki Hirabayashi, Ken-ichi Inoue, Tetsuya Suhara, Masahiko Takada, Makoto Higuchi, Takafumi Minamimoto
Summary: The researchers found distinct roles of prefronto-subcortical pathways in working memory and decision-making by using chemogenetic intervention, providing a new technical approach for dissecting cognitive neural circuits in primates.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Vinzenz Fleischer, Dumitru Ciolac, Gabriel Gonzalez-Escamilla, Matthias Grothe, Sebastian Strauss, Lara S. Molina Galindo, Angela Radetz, Anke Salmen, Carsten Lukas, Luisa Klotz, Sven G. Meuth, Antonios Bayas, Friedemann Paul, Hans-Peter Hartung, Christoph Heesen, Martin Stangel, Brigitte Wildemann, Florian Then Bergh, Bjoern Tackenberg, Tania Kuempfel, Uwe K. Zettl, Matthias Knop, Hayrettin Tumani, Heinz Wiendl, Ralf Gold, Stefan Bittner, Frauke Zipp, Sergiu Groppa, Muthuraman Muthuraman
Summary: This study investigated the predictive value of subcortical gray matter volumes for fatigue severity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that volumes of the caudate, putamen, pallidum, and pons were predictive factors for fatigue severity, and subcortical structures such as the putamen and pons played a central role in the brain network of patients with fatigue worsening. These findings suggest an early involvement of specific brain regions in the development of fatigue in MS.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Beatriz Ruiz-Saez, Manuela Martin-Bejarano Garcia, Ana Martinez de Aragon, Mario Gil-Correa, Helena Melero, Norberto Antonio Malpica, Santiago Jimenez de Ory, Berta Zamora, Sara Guillen, Pablo Rojo, Lola Falcon-Neyra, Alberto Alvarez, Pilar Fernandez, Maria Luisa Lorente-Jareno, Jose Tomas Ramos, Talia Sainz, Carlos Velo, Maria Luisa Navarro, Maria Isabel Gonzalez-Tome
Summary: Brain atrophy has been observed in perinatally HIV-infected patients despite treatment, indicating potential neurological consequences of the infection. This study aimed to evaluate cortical thickness and subcortical gray matter volumes in PHIV patients and found thinner cortices and lower subcortical GM volumes in certain brain regions compared to HIV-negative controls. While no differences were found in neuropsychological performance or psychopathological symptoms, neuroimaging revealed structural alterations in PHIV patients. More research is needed to understand the impact of HIV on brain structure and identify potential risk and protective factors in these patients.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Sofia Aguilar-Lacasana, Natalia Vilor-Tejedor, Philip R. Jansen, Monica Lopez-Vicente, Mariona Bustamante, Miguel Burgaleta, Jordi Sunyer, Silvia Alemany
Summary: This study aims to investigate the genetic overlap between ADHD and ASD and the relationship with cognitive measures of working memory and attention performance among schoolchildren. The results show that a higher polygenic risk for ADHD is associated with lower working memory performance at baseline, but does not affect the subsequent cognitive development over time. However, the association between ASD polygenic risk and improved verbal working memory over time is not significant after multiple testing correction.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Javier Santonja, Kenia Martinez, Francisco J. Roman, Sergio Escorial, M. Angeles Quiroga, Juan Alvarez-Linera, Yasser Iturria-Medina, Emiliano Santarnecchi, Roberto Colom
Summary: Research shows that general cognitive ability is related to brain resilience in connectivity, with individuals of high cognitive ability demonstrating greater network integrity and sensitivity to targeted and random attacks in the structural brain networks.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carlos Marchena-Giraldez, Jorge Acebes-Sanchez, Francisco J. Roman, Miriam Granado-Peinado
Summary: Emotional intelligence is linked to sports performance, but it is important to consider the emotions of other team members. The study validated the WEIP-S tool in measuring EI in sports, with confirmatory factor analysis showing the original four-factor structure is suitable. The study represents progress in using specific scales to measure EI in the sports context.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jordi Julvez, Monica Lopez-Vincente, Charline Warembourg, Lea Maitre, Claire Philippat, Kristine B. Gutzkow, Monica Guxens, Jorunn Evandt, Sandra Andrusaityte, Miguel Burgaleta, Maribel Casas, Leda Chatzi, Montserrat de Castro, David Donaire-Gonzalez, Regina Grazuleviciene, Carles Hernandez-Ferrer, Barbara Heude, Rosie Mceachan, Mark Mon-Williams, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Oliver Robinson, Amrit K. Sakhi, Nuria Sebastian-Galles, Remy Slama, Jordi Sunyer, Ibon Tamayo-Uria, Cathrine Thomsen, Jose Urquiza, Marina Vafeiadi, John Wright, Xavier Basagana, Martine Vrijheid
Summary: This study systematically analyzed data from 1298 mother-child pairs and found that unfavorable child nutrition, crowded housing, indoor air pollution, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke were adversely associated with cognitive function. Unexpected associations were also observed in the study, possibly due to factors like confounding and reverse causality.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Javier Santonja, Francisco J. Roman, Kenia Martinez, Sergio Escorial, Juan Alvarez-Linera, Jesus Privado, Ma Angeles Quiroga, Emiliano Santarnecchi, Yasser Iturria-Medina, Roberto Colom
Summary: The discrepancy between biological age and chronological age can indicate delayed or accelerated biological aging. Body and brain health are correlated and predict aging outcomes associated with physical and mental fitness. Early life cognitive abilities are negatively correlated with older brain age in midlife, suggesting an influence on accelerated aging in adulthood.
Article
Pediatrics
Jordi Julvez, Florence Gignac, Silvia Fernandez-Barres, Dora Romaguera, Aleix Sala-Vila, Otavio T. Ranzani, Cecilia Persavento, Anna Delgado, Albert Carol, Jaume Torrent, Judith Gonzalez, Eduard Roso, Jose Barrera-Gomez, Monica Lopez-Vicente, Raquel Garcia-Esteban, Olivier Boucher, Joan Forns, Miguel Burgaleta, Nuria Sebastian, Josefina Canals, Victoria Arija, Xavier Basagana, Emilio Ros, Joan Vendrell, Jordi Salas-Salvado, Jordi Sunyer
Summary: The WALNUTs study investigates the impact of walnut consumption on neuropsychological and socio-emotional development in adolescents, aiming to provide insights for nutritional public health recommendations targeting teenagers.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
John Protzko, Roberto Colom
Summary: Different models can explain the positive manifold, indicating the underdetermination of theory by data. Statistical fit indices may not effectively distinguish between theories, thus strict tests and further evidence are needed. Focal cortical lesions provide evidence for necessary causal connections in competing models.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Incera-Fernandez, Francisco J. Roman, Manuel Gamez-Guadix
Summary: Findings show that sexualized drug use is not uncommon among heterosexual individuals, with no significant differences between men and women in engaging in SDU. Men are more likely to use certain substances and have more sexual partners, while SDU is associated with having more sexual partners, engaging in penetrative sex without a condom, sexually transmitted infections, and symptoms of depression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Emiliano Bruner, Roberto Colom
Summary: Attention plays a crucial role in intelligence and has undergone significant changes during human evolution. Paleontological and archaeological evidence sheds light on the evolution of the attention system in the human genus, highlighting its correlation with cultural and cognitive changes.
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Lucia Beltran-Garrayo, Esther Mercado-Garrido, Francisco Javier Roman, Marta Rojo, Ana Rosa Sepulveda
Summary: This study validated a shortened Spanish version of the BESAA as a reliable instrument for assessing body esteem among Spanish-speaking adolescents.
CHILD & YOUTH CARE FORUM
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Montserrat Rodriguez, Jesus Privado, Sergio Escorial, Francisco J. Roman
Summary: The objective of this research is to adapt and validate the Big Five OPERAS Personality Scale in Chilean university population. The results indicate good internal validity and convergent validity. The scale shows medium-high correlations with resilience, self-efficacy, and academic stress, and low correlations with motivation. Test scores for both sexes are provided.
REVISTA IBEROAMERICANA DE DIAGNOSTICO Y EVALUACION-E AVALIACAO PSICOLOGICA
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Roberto Colom, Luis F. Garcia, Pei Chun Shih, Francisco J. Abad
Summary: Generational intelligence test score gains have been documented worldwide in the twentieth century, but recent evidence suggests these increases are now leveling off in some regions. A study comparing two cohorts of university freshmen in 1991 and 2022 found a global gain of 3.5 IQ points but also changes at the test level. The 2022 cohort outperformed the 1991 cohort on certain cognitive abilities, while the reverse was true for other abilities.
Article
Psychiatry
Ana Rosa Sepulveda, Tatiana Lacruz, Santos Solano, Marta Rojo, Francisco J. Roman, Miriam Blanco
Summary: The study empirically tested Hemmingsson's theoretical model, showing that emotional distress in children can lead to loss of control eating, while family environment and parental emotional distress play important roles in influencing the emotional distress and subsequent weight gain in children.
EATING AND WEIGHT DISORDERS-STUDIES ON ANOREXIA BULIMIA AND OBESITY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Manuel Gamez-Guadix, Francisco J. Roman, Estibaliz Mateos, Patricia de Santiesteban
Summary: The study found that adolescents have misconceptions about online child grooming, such as not recognizing it as a form of sexual harassment and that male adolescents can also be victims. Implementing preventive programs can increase adolescents' knowledge level and help reduce the occurrence of online child grooming.
BEHAVIORAL PSYCHOLOGY-PSICOLOGIA CONDUCTUAL
(2021)