Article
Clinical Neurology
Zhengwei Chen, Lijie Xiao, Haiyan Liu, Qingxiu Zhang, Quan Wang, You Lv, Yujia Zhai, Jun Zhang, Shanshan Dong, Xiue Wei, Liangqun Rong
Summary: VM patients exhibited altered functional connectivity between the thalamus and brain regions involved in pain, vestibular and visual processing. Specifically, there was reduced connectivity in thalamo-pain and thalamo-vestibular pathways, while enhanced connectivity in the thalamo-visual pathway. These findings suggest specific alterations in brain connectivity in VM patients that are related to their clinical features.
Article
Clinical Neurology
William C. Palmer, Brenna A. Cholerton, Cyrus P. Zabetian, Thomas J. Montine, Thomas J. Grabowski, Swati Rane
Summary: The study found significant differences in cerebello-cortical functional connectivity between PD patients and normal controls, particularly in the somatomotor network. Cognitive function was found to be associated with connectivity of the cerebellar SMN and dorsal attention network. Altered cerebellar connectivity with frontoparietal and default mode networks was also correlated with the severity of motor function in PD.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Gianluca Coppola, Antonio Di Renzo, Emanuele Tinelli, Barbara Petolicchio, Vincenzo Parisi, Mariano Serrao, Camillo Porcaro, Marco Fiorelli, Francesca Caramia, Jean Schoenen, Vittorio Di Piero, Francesco Pierelli
Summary: The study found differences in resting-state functional connectivity in patients with different types of aura-related migraines, with these differences related to the microstructure of the thalamus. MA+ patients showed lower microstructural metrics correlated with DMN connectivity strength. While MA patients did not differ significantly from HCs in microstructural metrics, they lacked the same correlation with DAS connectivity as seen in HCs.
JOURNAL OF HEADACHE AND PAIN
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Patricia Pais-Roldan, Seong Dae Yun, Nicola Palomero-Gallagher, N. Jon Shah
Summary: Recent laminar-fMRI studies have improved understanding of cortical responses in sub-systems, however, the laminar component of resting-state networks has been less studied. Using EPIK, this study found that the default mode network (DMN) connectivity in humans is primarily supported by intermediate and superficial layers of the cortex, with different cortical depths used for communication in different networks. The study also observed changes in laminar connectivity profiles and low-frequency fluctuations during motor tasks, suggesting potential diagnostic value for psychiatric disorders.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Nicholas S. Card, Omar A. Gharbawie
Summary: Resting state fMRI with high contrast and resolution can reveal cortical connectivity with columnar granularity. Comparisons with microstimulation-evoked activation and anatomical connections demonstrate a high correspondence in connectivity patterns. The fidelity of functional connectivity maps to cortical connections indicates that granular details of network organization are embedded in resting state signals. Intrinsic signal optical imaging provides a bridge between fMRI and invasive approaches, allowing high-resolution mapping of cortical networks in living animals.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Christian Thaler, Qiyuan Tian, Max Wintermark, Pejman Ghanouni, Casey H. H. Halpern, Jaimie M. M. Henderson, Raag D. D. Airan, Michael Zeineh, Maged Goubran, Christoph Leuze, Jens Fiehler, Kim Butts Pauly, Jennifer A. McNab
Summary: This study detected microstructural changes within the CTCT after tcMRgFUS treatment and found a correlation between these changes and lesion-tract overlap, which helps to elucidate the treatment mechanism and improve targeting strategies.
BRAIN CONNECTIVITY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Vito A. G. Ricigliano, Matteo Tonietto, Raffaele Palladino, Emilie Poirion, Alberto De Luca, Francesca Branzoli, Geraldine Bera, Elisabeth Maillart, Bruno Stankoff, Benedetta Bodini
Summary: The study demonstrates that reduced thalamic ADC(tCr) is associated with damage to thalamo-cortical tracts in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, indicating a correlation between pathological changes in thalamic energy metabolism and structural degeneration of connected fibers.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Zachary Fernandez, Norman Scheel, Joshua H. Baker, David C. Zhu
Summary: The study compared the effects of different rest conditions on cortical resting-state networks and found that watching a movie led to global connectivity changes and should be avoided as a rest condition. Connectivity changes were observed in some subnetworks with more external stimulation leading to greater changes in functional connectivity during rs-fMRI.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Daniel Vereb, Marton Attila Kovacs, Szabolcs Antal, Krisztian Kocsis, Nikoletta Szabo, Balint Kincses, Bence Bozsik, Peter Farago, Eszter Toth, Andras Kiraly, Peter Klivenyi, Denes Zadori, Zsigmond Tamas Kincses
Summary: This study investigates functional connectivity modulation during a visuospatial attention task in patients with Parkinson's disease. The findings suggest that task-related networks function differently in these patients in association with motor symptoms, while impaired modulation of visual and default-mode network connectivity was not correlated with motor function.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Zhong S. Zheng, Martin M. Monti
Summary: Recent research suggests that the traditional models for understanding loss and recovery of consciousness following brain injury need to be updated to include the role of the external globus pallidus (GPe). In addition, the study reveals the actual patterns of GPe and internal globus pallidus (GPi) connectivity within large-scale cortico-thalamo-cortical circuits.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Cui Ping Mao, Georgia Wilson, Jin Cao, Nathaniel Meshberg, Yiting Huang, Jian Kong
Summary: This study used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (functional connectivity) to analyze the anatomical and functional integrity of the thalamosensorimotor pathway in chronic low back pain (cLBP). The results showed increased anatomical connectivity of the left thalamo-motor pathway and altered resting-state functional connectivity of bilateral thalamo-motor/somatosensory pathways in cLBP patients.
Article
Neurosciences
Jinpeng Niu, Zihao Zheng, Ziqi Wang, Longchun Xu, Qingmin Meng, Xiaotong Zhang, Liangfeng Kuang, Shigang Wang, Li Dong, Jianfeng Qiu, Qing Jiao, Weifang Cao
Summary: Recent studies have demonstrated age-related changes in the functional interactions between the thalamus and cerebral cortices, and these changes are associated with decreased fluid intelligence.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Dan Zhu, Tengfei Yuan, Junfeng Gao, Qiang Xu, Kaizhong Xue, Wenshuang Zhu, Jie Tang, Feng Liu, Junping Wang, Chunshui Yu
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between functional network centrality and gene expression, finding that the spatial distribution of FCS is modulated by a set of genes associated with ion channels, axon guidance, and synaptic transmission. The identified FCS-related genes are preferentially expressed in cortical neurons and young adulthood, and enriched in various neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Validation and robustness analyses support the reliability of the results.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Zhenliang Xiong, Chong Tian, Xianchun Zeng, Jie Huang, Rongpin Wang
Summary: The human brain exhibits intrinsic organized functional connectivity networks during rest and task states. Tasks enhance coactivity within common networks, activate only partial intrinsic networks, and recruit additional intrinsic networks to perform the task.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xiaomei Liu, Xianghong Xu, Cunnan Mao, Peng Zhang, Qing Zhang, Lanlan Jiang, Yuyin Yang, Jianhua Ma, Lei Ye, Kok-Onn Lee, Jindan Wu, Zhijian Yao
Summary: The present study explored changes in thalamo-cortical functional connectivity (FC) of patients with painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) using resting-state functional MRI, finding increased FC in the left thalamus, right angular gyrus, and occipital gyrus among PDN patients compared to those without pain. This increased connectivity may be a central pathophysiological mechanism for PDN.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kevin A. Davies, Ella Cooper, Valerie Voon, Jeremy Tibble, Mara Cercignani, Neil A. Harrison
Summary: Patients receiving IFN-α treatment for Hepatitis-C showed significant increase in depressive symptoms at 4 weeks, whereas those receiving anti-TNF therapy for inflammatory arthritis exhibited marked improvement in depressive symptoms at 24 hours and 12 weeks. The study found that both IFN-α and anti-TNF significantly modulated amygdala reactivity, with IFN-α enhancing right amygdala responses to sad faces and anti-TNF decreasing right amygdala reactivity.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Laura Bonanni, Davide Moretti, Alberto Benussi, Laura Ferri, Mirella Russo, Claudia Carrarini, Filomena Barbone, Dario Arnaldi, Nicola Walter Falasca, Giacomo Koch, Annachiara Cagnin, Flavio Nobili, Claudio Babiloni, Barbara Borroni, Alessandro Padovani, Marco Onofrj, Raffaella Franciotti
Summary: The study found significant changes in functional cortical connectivity in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) during the course of the diseases, with hyperconnectivity in the early stages disappearing during follow-up.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Marina Diomedi, Alessandro Rocco, Chiara Giuseppina Bonomi, Alfredo Paolo Mascolo, Vincenzo De Lucia, Federico Marrama, Fabrizio Sallustio, Giacomo Koch, Alessandro Martorana
Summary: The study found that measures of hypoperfusion in patients with Alzheimer's disease varied along the AD continuum, and hypoperfusion was inversely correlated with CSF amyloid beta 42 levels.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Margherita Fabbri, Federico Natale, Carlo Alberto Artusi, Alberto Romagnolo, Marco Bozzali, Giovanni Giulietti, Isabel Guimaraes, Mario Giorgio Rizzone, Anna Accornero, Leonardo Lopiano, Maurizio Zibetti
Summary: In a pilot cross-sectional study, STN-DBS patients with low speech intelligibility benefited from a 30PW stimulation trial at a higher amplitude. The beneficial effect of 30PW on speech clarity was confirmed by both automatic analysis and patients' perception, indicating potential for improved application of recent DBS hardware advances.
PARKINSONISM & RELATED DISORDERS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Behavioral Sciences
Sara Leddy, Mara Cercignani, Laura Serra, Marco Bozzali
Summary: Research in social cognitive neuroscience aims to understand the neurobiology underlying social behaviors, and individuals with myotonic dystrophy may have difficulties in social cognitive function, highlighting the need for further research and management.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Federico Piazza, Marco Bozzali, Giovanni Morana, Bruno Ferrero, Mario Giorgio Rizzone, Carlo Alberto Artusi, Mattia Parisi, Alice Robert, Gabriele Imbalzano, Alberto Romagnolo, Maurizio Zibetti, Leonardo Lopiano
Summary: This case report highlights a patient with mild COVID-19 presenting with neurological symptoms, including sixth cranial nerve palsy and early diffuse leukoencephalopathy, successfully treated with intravenous methylprednisolone. Early recognition and prompt management of neurological symptoms in COVID-19 cases are crucial for ensuring improvement or complete recovery.
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Elias Paolo Casula, Gaetano Tieri, Lorenzo Rocchi, Rachele Pezzetta, Michele Maiella, Enea Francesco Pavone, Salvatore Maria Aglioti, Giacomo Koch
Summary: Immersive virtual reality can lead to a strong feeling of embodiment over artificial body parts, but the neural mechanisms behind this phenomenon are not yet fully understood. By tracking real-time brain dynamics, researchers found that observing virtual body parts is associated with a rapid decrease in cortical activity in the hand region of the primary motor cortex, as well as rapid changes in activity within a fronto-parietal circuit. These findings suggest that changes in bodily representations are supported by dynamic interactions within a highly plastic network.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Gail A. Robinson, Priscilla Tjokrowijoto, Amelia Ceslis, Vivien Biggs, Marco Bozzali, David G. Walker
Summary: The study finds that fluency tasks are sensitive to correct response numbers and errors (including perseverations and rule-breaks), with patients with frontal damage showing the highest error rates. There is a right frontal effect for perseverative errors when retrieving known items and rule-break errors when creating novel responses. Left lateral effects are specific to phonemic word and meaningless gesture fluency.
Article
Neurosciences
Barbara Spano, Maria G. Lombardi, Massimo De Tollis, Maria A. Szczepanska, Claudia Ricci, Alice Manzo, Simone Giuli, Lorenzo Polidori, Ivo A. Griffini, Fulvia Adriano, Carlo Caltagirone, Roberta Annicchiarico
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy of an advanced dual-task motor-cognitive rehabilitation program on fall risks in vulnerable older persons with chronic cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). The results showed that the rehabilitation program significantly improved patients' walking balance, gait, walking speed, and fear of falling, while reducing the risk of falls. Moreover, simultaneous motor-cognitive training was found to be more effective than sequential training.
Article
Neurosciences
Lucia Mencarelli, Lucia Monti, Sara Romanella, Francesco Neri, Giacomo Koch, Ricardo Salvador, Giulio Ruffini, Giulia Sprugnoli, Simone Rossi, Emiliano Santarnecchi
Summary: This study found that stimulating the left and right DLPFC with 40 Hz tACS can increase blood oxygenation level-dependent activity in the targeted DLPFCs and surrounding areas according to biophysical modeling. However, off-target effects on visual cortices, SMA, left subgenual cingulate, and right superior temporal gyrus were also observed.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Giacomo Koch, Elias Paolo Casula, Sonia Bonni, Ilaria Borghi, Martina Assogna, Marilena Minei, Maria Concetta Pellicciari, Caterina Motta, Alessia D'Acunto, Francesco Porrazzini, Michele Maiella, Clarissa Ferrari, Carlo Caltagirone, Emiliano Santarnecchi, Marco Bozzali, Alessandro Martorana
Summary: In a 24-week trial, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the precuneus was found to slow down cognitive and functional decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that targeting the default mode network could be a novel therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease patients.
Article
Neurosciences
Barbara Spano, Massimo De Tollis, Sara Taglieri, Alice Manzo, Claudia Ricci, Maria G. Lombardi, Lorenzo Polidori, Ivo A. Griffini, Marta Aloisi, Vincenzo Vinicola, Rita Formisano, Carlo Caltagirone, Roberta Annicchiarico
Summary: Recent research has found that a dual-task cognitive rehabilitation program is an effective method for improving gait and reducing the risk of falls in patients with various neurological diseases.
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Giacomo Koch, Alessandro Martorana
Article
Clinical Neurology
Matilde Bruno, Chiara Giuseppina Bonomi, Francesco Ricci, Martina Gaia Di Donna, Nicola Biagio Mercuri, Giacomo Koch, Alessandro Martorana, Caterina Motta
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between BBB permeability and neuroinflammation in AD patients. The findings suggest that different neuroinflammatory profiles can be associated with different levels of BBB permeability in AD.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Micol Avenali, Roberta Zangaglia, Giada Cuconato, Ilaria Palmieri, Alberto Albanese, Carlo Alberto Artusi, Marco Bozzali, Giovanna Calandra-Buonaura, Francesco Cavallieri, Roberto Cilia, Antoniangela Cocco, Filippo Cogiamanian, Fabiana Colucci, Pietro Cortelli, Alessio Di Fonzo, Roberto Eleopra, Giulia Giannini, Alberto Imarisio, Gabriele Imbalzano, Claudia Ledda, Leonardo Lopiano, Maria Chiara Malaguti, Francesca Mameli, Raffaella Minardi, Pierfrancesco Mitrotti, Edoardo Monfrini, Francesca Spagnolo, Cristina Tassorelli, Francesca Valentino, Franco Valzania, Claudio Pacchetti, Enza Maria Valente, PARKNET Study Gp
Summary: This study evaluated the long-term impact of GBA variants in a large Italian DBS-PD cohort and supported the role of DBS surgery as a valid therapeutic strategy in GBA-PD, with long-term benefit on motor performance and ICD. Despite the selective worsening of cognitive scores since 3 years post-DBS, the majority of GBA-PD had not developed dementia at 5-year follow-up.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2023)