Article
Neurosciences
Lotte Sypre, Jean-Baptiste Durand, Koen Nelissen
Summary: Neurophysiological investigations have shown that the primate insula is involved in a wide range of functions, but its complex organization remains unclear. In this study, task-based and resting-state fMRI were used to examine the functional specialization and integration of sensory and motor information in the macaque insula. The results suggest that the insula is functionally specialized, with different regions processing ingestive/taste/distaste, grasping-related sensorimotor, vestibular, and social information. Resting-state analyses also support the functional specialization and integration of the insula, with distinct connectivity gradients observed across the anterio-posterior extent.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Amanda Rodriguez, Jonathan Chiao, Gretchen Spencer
Summary: This study aimed to characterize vestibular-evoked myogenic potential responses in children and young adults with sports-related concussion (SRC) histories compared to a healthy control group, and to correlate these characteristics with SRC/sport history outcomes. Results showed significantly reduced oVEMP responses and peak-to-peak amplitudes in children and young adults with SRC, as well as greater asymmetries in amplitude response between ears. Factors such as the frequency of SRCs sustained throughout a lifetime, number of contact sports played, and duration of playing contact sports were found to correlate with poorer VEMP response characteristics.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sarah Hosli, Dominik Straumann
Summary: The study indicates that the relationships among oVEMPs, SVV, and BCR in assessing utricular function are complex, with no correlation between oVEMP and SVV, and a high correlation between SVV and BCR.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Bahaaeddin Attaallah, Pierre Petitet, Elista Slavkova, Vicky Turner, Youssuf Saleh, Sanjay G. Manohar, Masud Husain
Summary: With an increasingly ageing global population, more people are presenting with concerns about their cognitive function, but not all have an underlying neurodegenerative diagnosis. Subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) is a common condition describing self-reported deficits in cognition without objective evidence of cognitive impairment. Many individuals with SCI suffer from depression and anxiety, which have been hypothesised to account for their cognitive complaints. Despite this association between SCI and affective features, the cognitive and brain mechanisms underlying SCI are poorly understood.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lien Van Laer, Ann Hallemans, Vincent Van Rompaey, Claudia De Valck, Paul van de Heyning, Luc Vereeck
Summary: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 66 patients who underwent VS resection. It was found that patients with chronic dizziness after surgery had lower levels of physical activity and worse balance performance. Multiple regression analysis showed that physical activity level and balance performance significantly predicted the DHI score at 6 months.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
Jin Liu, Hui Leng
Summary: This study aimed to compare the results of the head impulse paradigm (HIMP) and the suppression head impulse paradigm (SHIMP) in patients with acute vestibular neuritis (AVN), as well as to analyze the correlation between HIMP, SHIMP parameters, and the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) score. The study also investigated the factors affecting short-term recovery in AVN patients. The findings showed that both HIMP and SHIMP can assess vestibular function and recovery, but SHIMP is more accurate for evaluating subjective vertigo. The T-0-SHIMP anti-compensatory saccades (%) can be a useful index for short-term recovery evaluation.
EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
I. P. Hannigan, S. M. Rosengren, G. K. Bharathy, M. Prasad, M. S. Welgampola, S. R. D. Watson
Summary: The study found that patients with vestibular migraine have higher nystagmus slow-phase velocity and subjective symptoms during caloric testing compared to patients with other vestibular disorders. Combining objective and subjective measures can provide better differentiation of vestibular migraine from Meniere's disease.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Nariman Utegaliyev, Christoph von Castell, Heiko Hecht
Summary: The experiments demonstrate that the contraction of subjective time during balancing tasks with closed eyes is most likely of vestibular origin.
FRONTIERS IN INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Federica M. Raciti, Yasniary Morales, Hillary A. Snapp, Suhrud M. Rajguru
Summary: This study established a standardized rodent model of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) and characterized its neural basis, important features, and validation for interpretation and assessment of vestibular function. The results provide a replicable and reliable setup and test protocol for future studies on vestibular dysfunctions and therapeutics.
FRONTIERS IN INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Raymond P. Viviano, Jessica S. Damoiseaux
Summary: This study found that individuals with greater subjective cognitive decline showed a larger decrease in connectivity between components of the default mode network and an increase in connectivity between salience and default mode network components. These changes in functional connectivity were observed in the absence of changes in cognitive performance.
ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Patrick A. Forbes, Annie Kwan, Diana E. Mitchell, Jean-Sebastien Blouin, Kathleen E. Cullen
Summary: Noninvasive electrical stimulation of the vestibular system (GVS) is a popular tool with various applications, but assumptions about the neural mechanisms underlying GVS have not been directly tested. This study shows that GVS is encoded by vestibular afferents with nonlinear dynamics that differ from current models. GVS produces asymmetric activation and eye movement responses, and the nonlinear neural response leads to a directional bias in the net population response. These findings advance our understanding of GVS and suggest that nonlinear encoding is common in neural processing.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Anna Duong, Julian Quabs, Aaron Kucyi, Zoe Lusk, Vivek Buch, Svenja Caspers, Josef Parvizi
Summary: The functional organization of the human insular cortex at the microstructural level remains partially understood. However, a multimodal approach combining electrical stimulation and EEG recordings has provided insights into the role of different microstructural areas in conscious experience and sensory perception. The findings highlight the importance of finegrained cytoarchitectonic parcellations in understanding the functions of the human insula.
Article
Neurosciences
Helen S. Cohen, Haleh Sangi-Haghpeykar, Michael W. Plankey
Summary: This study aimed to test the validity of the dizziness and balance questions used in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and their ability to predict performance on objective tests of the vestibular system. The results showed that questionnaire responses changed between test 1 and test 2 and differed between males and females. The sensitivity and specificity of all questions were low. Therefore, caution should be exercised when interpreting questionnaire-based epidemiologic studies.
JOURNAL OF VESTIBULAR RESEARCH-EQUILIBRIUM & ORIENTATION
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
S. Parker Singleton, Julie B. B. Wang, Michael Mithoefer, Colleen Hanlon, Mark S. S. George, Annie Mithoefer, Oliver Mithoefer, Allison R. R. Coker, Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Amy Emerson, Rick Doblin, Amy Kuceyeski
Summary: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) has shown promise in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, there have been no neuroimaging studies investigating the neural impact of MDMA-AT in PTSD patients.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Weitao Jiang, Zihan Wang, Shijie Xiao, Dingxuan Zeng, Zhuli Wu, Cheng Peng, Fangyi Chen
Summary: By using infrared optical stimulation, we measured the evoked potential in mouse vestibular system and found a significant association between the potential and vestibular function integrity.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Barbara La Scaleia, Francesco Lacquaniti, Myrka Zago
Summary: Small-amplitude motion perturbations of the whole body can improve vestibular perception and enhance the recognition of motion direction. This effect may be attributed to stochastic resonance mechanisms, as the stochastic oscillations of the body can increase the probability of recognizing subthreshold vestibular signals.
Article
Neurosciences
Margit M. Bach, Coen S. Zandvoort, Germana Cappellini, Yury Ivanenko, Francesco Lacquaniti, Andreas Daffertshofer, Nadia Dominici
Summary: This study tracked the development of walking and running in two typically developing children over a period of nearly three years. The findings showed that the maturity of running pattern varied between the two children, with some demonstrating mature running on the basis of adult patterns, while others did not reach maturity. Interestingly, mature running alternated with episodes of immature running within sessions. Additionally, analysis of muscle synergies revealed that the participant who did not reach mature running had more differences in muscle contraction when compared to adults than the other child.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Simone Ranaldi, Cristiano De Marchis, Mariano Serrao, Alberto Ranavolo, Francesco Draicchio, Francesco Lacquaniti, Silvia Conforto
Summary: The characterization of both limbs' behaviour in prosthetic gait is crucial for improving prosthetic components and increasing the biomechanical capability of trans-femoral amputees. This study proposes the planar covariation law of lower limb elevation angles as a compact description of prosthetic gait. The results show consistent patterns of the planar covariation law in prostheses users, indicating its significant biomechanical meaning and potential for guiding prosthetic device control mechanisms based on relevant kinematic quantities.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Aaron Trinidade, Veronica Cabreira, Joel A. Goebel, Jeffrey P. Staab, Diego Kaski, Jon Stone
Summary: This study systematically reviewed the literature on predictors of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) following peripheral vestibular insults and found that anxiety, dependent personality traits, autonomic arousal, visual dependence, and increased body vigilance following precipitating events were the most important predictors of chronic dizziness.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Maura Mezzetti, Colleen P. Ryan, Priscilla Balestrucci, Francesco Lacquaniti, Alessandro Moscatelli
Summary: The aim of this article is to reconsider hierarchical models in a Bayesian framework, which have seldom been applied in the analysis of psychometric functions. The main advantage of using Bayesian models is the reduction of parameter uncertainty through the combination of prior knowledge and experimental data. The Bayesian hierarchical model, implemented using JAGS and rjags, provides a promising and powerful method for analyzing psychometric functions.
FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Germana Cappellini, Francesca Sylos-Labini, Priscilla Avaltroni, Arthur H. H. Dewolf, Carla Assenza, Daniela Morelli, Francesco Lacquaniti, Yury Ivanenko
Summary: This article discusses the adaptive adjustments and developmental deficits in gait control in children with cerebral palsy when changing locomotion direction. The results show significant differences between children with CP and typically developing children in this task, highlighting the potential use of sideways locomotion as a rehabilitation protocol to improve gait performance.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Francesco Lacquaniti, Barbara La Scaleia, Myrka Zago
Summary: Noise is a ubiquitous random disturbance in the external environment and the nervous system, which can either degrade or improve information processing and performance depending on the context. Various sources of noise have different effects on the neural processing of self-motion signals and resulting perceptual responses. The precision of individual vestibular neurons in encoding head motion is worse than behavioral precision, but neural population codes match behavioral precision. Vestibular thresholds reflect the contribution of intrinsic and extrinsic noise to perception and tend to deteriorate with age.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Iole Indovina, Alberto Cacciola, Sergio Delle Monache, Demetrio Milardi, Francesco Lacquaniti, Nicola Toschi, Jerome Cochereau, Gianfranco Bosco
Summary: This study investigated the neural correlates of agoraphobia by comparing the pre- and post-surgery connectivities in the vestibular network of a patient who developed agoraphobia after surgical removal of a glioma. The results showed overall disconnection in the vestibular network after surgery, but functional connectivity analysis revealed a reorganization of the network, indicating altered processing of visuo-vestibular-spatial information that leads to agoraphobia symptoms.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Irina Y. Dolinskaya, Irina A. Solopova, Dmitry S. Zhvansky, Damiana Rubeca, Francesca Sylos-Labini, Francesco Lacquaniti, Yury Ivanenko
Summary: This study investigates the early manifestations of muscle tone in preterm infants and compared them to full-term infants. The results suggest a reduction in sensorimotor responses to muscle lengthening and shortening, indicating a decrease in excitability and the development of appropriate muscle tone during the first year of life. The alterations in responses observed in preterm infants primarily occur in the early months, possibly reflecting changes in the excitability of the sensorimotor networks.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Laura Duque, Ivan Garza, Gregory D. Cascino, Jeffrey P. Staab
Summary: This study, through a systematic review and case series, found an association between FND-seizures and migraine, and suggested that migraine prophylaxis may reduce the frequency of FND-seizures. Further research is needed to validate these findings.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Review
Otorhinolaryngology
Alfonso Scarpa, Pasquale Viola, Massimo Ralli, Federico Maria Gioacchini, Giovanni Salzano, Arianna Di Stadio, Claudia Cassandro, Giuseppe Chiarella, Filippo Ricciardiello, Pietro De Luca, Francesco Antonio Salzano, Emilio Avallone
Summary: Post-operative radiotherapy significantly improves local control in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma, but there is no statistically significant increase in survival at 5 and 10 years. High-quality research is needed to clarify the indications for post-operative radiotherapy and improve patient stratification.
EUROPEAN ARCHIVES OF OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biology
Francesco Lacquaniti, Barbara La Scaleia, Myrka Zago
PHYSICS OF LIFE REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
Davide Pisani, Federico Maria Gioacchini, Giuseppe Chiarella, Alessia Astorina, Filippo Ricciardiello, Alfonso Scarpa, Massimo Re, Pasquale Viola
Summary: Vestibular Schwannoma is the most common tumor in the Ponto Cerebellar Angle and has a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. There have been multiple management proposals and improvements in diagnostic capacity in recent decades. While the preservation of facial and auditory function used to be the primary objective, attention to vestibular symptoms, which strongly affect quality of life, is still inadequate. Although many authors have provided guidance on management strategies, a universally recognized guideline is still lacking. This article provides an overview of the disease and evaluates the advancements in treatment proposals over the past twenty years, identifying their strengths and weaknesses.
AUDIOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Surgery
Emilio Avallone, Pietro De Luca, Pasquale Viola, Massimo Ralli, Federico Maria Gioacchini, Giuseppe Chiarella, Filippo Ricciardiello, Claudia Cassandro, Giovanni Salzano, Thomas Lenarz, Francesco Antonio Salzano, Alfonso Scarpa
Summary: The aim of this review was to assess the correlation between air-bone gap and vestibular aqueduct size in enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome. A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted, screening published international articles in English from 2000 to 2022. Data regarding hearing assessment and imaging investigation were extracted from enrolled participants. Five articles, involving a total of 349 patients, were included in the analysis. The results showed mixed findings, with two studies showing a positive correlation, one showing a trend, and two showing no correlation. Further high-quality studies with standardized outcome measures are needed to clarify this relationship.
INDIAN JOURNAL OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY AND HEAD & NECK SURGERY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Federico Maria Gioacchini, Davide Pisani, Pasquale Viola, Alessia Astorina, Alfonso Scarpa, Fernanda Asprella Libonati, Michele Tulli, Massimo Re, Giuseppe Chiarella
Summary: There is a potential relationship between diabetes and hearing loss, with diabetic patients being more susceptible to sensorineural hearing loss and sudden sensorineural hearing loss. However, due to the difficulty of finding populations free from confounding factors, it is challenging to reach definitive conclusions on the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. Further laboratory studies are needed to clarify the specific pathological mechanisms underlying the damage caused by diabetes to the auditory system and explore the potential of pharmacological management in mitigating the pathophysiological effects.
MEDICINA-LITHUANIA
(2023)