Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chris B. Martin, Bryan Hong, Rachel N. Newsome, Katarina Savel, Melissa E. Meade, Andrew Xia, Christopher J. Honey, Morgan D. Barense
Summary: The act of remembering everyday experiences affects our perception of the world, future thinking, and self-perception. However, the ability to recall specific details and relive the past tends to decline with age. To address this, a smartphone application called HippoCamera was developed to help older adults enhance their episodic memory. By repeatedly reactivating memories of real-world events, participants experienced improved recollection and more positive emotions. These benefits were observed shortly after the intervention and even after a 3-month delay.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Anni Richter, Joram Soch, Jasmin M. Kizilirmak, Larissa Fischer, Hartmut Schutze, Anne Assmann, Gusalija Behnisch, Hannah Feldhoff, Lea Knopf, Matthias Raschick, Annika Schult, Constanze I. Seidenbecher, Renat Yakupov, Emrah Duezel, Bjorn H. Schott
Summary: In this study, we investigated the associations between two single-value scores and brain function and cognitive changes in middle-aged and older adults. The results showed that these scores were related to memory recall performance and one of the scores also correlated with brain gray matter and other neuropsychological measures. This suggests that single-value scores of memory-related fMRI provide valuable information about network dysfunction in individuals and age-related cognitive decline.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Joram Soch, Anni Richter, Hartmut Schuetze, Jasmin M. Kizilirmak, Anne Assmann, Gusalija Behnisch, Hannah Feldhoff, Larissa Fischer, Julius Heil, Lea Knopf, Christian Merkel, Matthias Raschick, Clara-Johanna Schietke, Annika Schult, Constanze Seidenbecher, Renat Yakupov, Gabriel Ziegler, Jens Wiltfang, Emrah Duezel, Bjoern H. Schott
Summary: As older adults, especially those at risk for dementia, show declines in memory performance, fMRI can be used to detect alterations in memory network activity. The FADE and FADE-SAME scores are developed as potential biomarkers for successful aging and are correlated with behavioral measures of cognitive aging.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Michael Freedberg
Summary: The relationship between hippocampal and caudate connectivity strength and episodic memory is unclear. Lower caudate network dominance in bilateral thalamic regions is associated with worse episodic memory. Age-related differences in caudate network dominance in the pallidum and putamen are also associated with worse episodic memory performance, but through their shared variance with age. There is no evidence that hippocampal network dominance is related to episodic memory performance.
Article
Neurosciences
Paul F. Hill, Sarah E. Seger, Hye Bin Yoo, Danielle R. King, Bradley C. Lega, Michael D. Rugg, David X. Wang
Summary: The study found that the neurophysiological correlates of the BOLD signal differ between different brain regions, with a negative correlation between BOLD signal and high gamma SMEs in the hippocampus, and a positive correlation in the neocortex.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Neal W. Morton, Ellen L. Zippi, Alison R. Preston
Summary: In this study, fMRI was used to track the reactivation and suppression of individual related memories during encoding of overlapping events. The results showed that reactivation of semantic knowledge related to a prior event in the posterior medial prefrontal cortex (pmPFC) supported memory integration, while the anterior hippocampus (aHPC) formed integrated representations combining the semantic features of overlapping events. Additionally, interactions between ventrolateral PFC and anterior mPFC were found to modulate aHPC integration on a trial-by-trial basis, with suppression of item-specific memory representations in anterior mPFC inhibiting hippocampal integration.
Article
Neurosciences
Christian Baeuchl, Franka Gloeckner, Christoph Koch, Johannes Petzold, Nicolas W. Schuck, Michael N. Smolka, Shu-Chen Li
Summary: The aging process leads to changes in spatial navigation behavior, with older adults relying more on proximal location cues instead of environmental boundaries. Deficient dopaminergic modulation may contribute to errors during spatial navigation in older adults. Administering levodopa in young and older adults affected brain responses and memory retrieval differently, with older adults showing upregulation in the medial temporal lobe and brainstem. While L-DOPA had no effect on older adults' overall memory performance, it improved spatial memory and increased boundary processing in some individuals.
Article
Neurosciences
Maryam Noroozian, Reza Kormi-Nouri, Lars Nyberg, Jonas Persson
Summary: This study investigated the impact of motor involvement ability on brain structure during memory encoding. Results showed that individuals with low or declining ability to benefit from motor involvement during memory encoding had smaller gray matter volume in regions critical for memory and motor functions, as well as altered white matter integrity. Furthermore, the type of dopamine-regulating genes was also associated with motor involvement ability.
Article
Biology
Corey Fernandez, Jiefeng Jiang, Shao-Fang Wang, Hannah Lee Choi, Anthony D. Wagner, Chris Baker
Summary: As we learn, dynamic memory processes help us build structured knowledge that allows us to navigate and achieve goals. Recent research suggests that both differentiation and integration mechanisms contribute to the formation of structured knowledge, and their variability affects navigation efficiency.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Kirolos Ibrahim, Ilana J. Bennett
Summary: This study found that hippocampal microstructure uniquely contributes to age-related differences in episodic memory and suggests that volume and diffusion capture distinct neurobiological properties of hippocampal gray matter.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Mingzhu Hou, Erin D. Horne, Marianne de Chastelaine, Michael D. Rugg
Summary: Age-related decline in episodic memory is partly due to the reduced general processing resources in older adults. However, the effects of divided attention on associative information retrieval and representation seem to be minimal.
Article
Neurosciences
Joram Soch, Anni Richter, Hartmut Schuetze, Jasmin M. Kizilirmak, Anne Assmann, Lea Knopf, Matthias Raschick, Annika Schult, Anne Maass, Gabriel Ziegler, Alan Richardson-Klavehn, Emrah Duezel, Bjorn H. Schott
Summary: Subsequent memory paradigms separate brain responses based on memory performance during later retrieval, with fMRI typically showing activations in certain brain structures. This study suggests that using parametric models, especially with non-linear transformations of memory confidence ratings, can better explain fMRI signal variance during encoding, providing a framework for improving models of encoding-related activations and applying them to memory-impaired individuals.
Review
Neurosciences
Bingsen Xiong, Changming Chen, Yanqiu Tian, Shouwen Zhang, Chao Liu, Tanya M. Evans, Guillen Fernandez, Jianhui Wu, Shaozheng Qin
Summary: The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is a crucial point in the healthy cortisol circadian rhythm, preparing the brain for challenges and promoting neurocognitive efficiency. Studies have found a causal link between CAR and its proactive role in optimizing functional brain networks.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Malte Kobelt, Verena R. Sommer, Attila Keresztes, Markus Werkle-Bergner, Myriam C. Sander
Summary: The distinctiveness of neural information representation is crucial for successful memory performance, and declines with advancing age, especially at the level of item representations. Successful memory performance relies on high item stability, which is greater in younger compared to older adults.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Jamie Snytte, Can Fenerci, Sricharana Rajagopal, Camille Beaudoin, Kiera Hooper, Signy Sheldon, Rosanna K. Olsen, M. Natasha Rajah
Summary: This study investigated how medial temporal lobe (MTL) structure mediates age-related differences in performance on spatial and temporal context memory tasks in healthy adults. The results revealed associations between volume of different MTL regions and memory task performance, with the posterior hippocampus volume fully mediating the relationship between age and spatial context memory performance.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Carina Zoellner, Nicole Klein, Sen Cheng, Ricarda Schubotz, Nikolai Axmacher, Oliver T. Wolf
Summary: Retrieved memories of past events are often inaccurate. The scenario construction model suggests that only the main information of an event is stored in memory and missing details are constructed using semantic information. This study used virtual reality to provide behavioral evidence for semantic construction and introduced new memory tests. The findings support the predictions of the scenario construction model.
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Eike K. Buabang, Yannick Boddez, Oliver T. Wolf, Agnes Moors
Summary: People are more likely to engage in suboptimal behaviors under stress, such as overeating and short-sighted financial decision-making. Traditional dual-process models suggest that stress impairs goal-directed behavior, leading to reliance on habitual behavior. However, a conceptual replication study found that stressed participants were sensitive to outcome values when the outcomes became aversive, suggesting that suboptimal behavior under stress may not always be habitual.
BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alina Sprenger-Svacina, Johannes Haensch, Kilian Weiss, Nils Grosse Hokamp, David Maintz, Marc Schlamann, Gereon R. Fink, Natalie Schloss, Kai Laukamp, Gilbert Wunderlich, Helmar C. Lehmann, Thorsten Lichtenstein
Summary: This study evaluated the utility of a multi-parametric MRI protocol to detect loss of spinal motor neurons and subsequent muscle damage in adult SMA patients. The results showed that water T-2 mapping and Dixon-based PDFF estimation can distinguish between SMA patients and controls.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Melanie Filser, Axel Buchner, Gereon Rudolf Fink, Stefan M. Gold, Iris-Katharina Penner
Summary: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at increased risk of experiencing mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. However, there is limited knowledge about the assessment and association of these affective symptoms in MS. Further research is needed to improve diagnosis and care.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Martin K. R. Svacina, Alina Sprenger-Svacina, Anastasia Tsakmaklis, Alina M. Rueb, Ines Klein, Hauke Wuestenberg, Gereon R. Fink, Helmar C. Lehmann, Maria J. G. T. Vehreschild, Fedja Farowski
Summary: This study found that the gut microbiome of CIDP patients has increased diversity and enrichment of Firmicutes, which produce short-chain fatty acids. However, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) administration did not have a short-term impact on the gut microbiome in CIDP patients.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neuroimaging
Nina N. Kleineberg, Claudia C. Schmidt, Monika K. Richter, Katharina Bolte, Natalie Schloss, Gereon R. Fink, Peter H. Weiss
Summary: Previous studies on left hemisphere stroke patients found effector-specific differences in imitation performance and differences between meaningless and meaningful gestures. The current study investigated the impact of gesture meaning on lesion correlates of effector-specific imitation deficits in a large sample of sub-acute left hemisphere stroke patients. The results revealed significant interactions between the effector used for imitation and the meaning of the imitated gesture. Lesion-symptom mapping analyses identified brain regions associated with impaired imitation, regardless of the effector or gesture meaning. The findings highlight the importance of considering gesture meaning in assessments of apraxia.
NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Anja Schaffrath, Sophia Schleyken, Aline Seger, Hannah Jergas, Pelin Ozduzenciler, Marlene Pils, Lara Bloemeke, Anneliese Cousin, Johannes Willbold, Tuyen Bujnicki, Oliver Bannach, Gereon R. Fink, Dieter Willbold, Michael Sommerauer, Michael T. Barbe, Gultekin Tamguney
Summary: This study used surface-based fluorescence intensity distribution analysis (sFIDA) to detect and quantify single particles of alpha-synuclein aggregates in stool samples of 94 PD patients, 72 isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) patients, and 51 healthy controls. The results showed significantly elevated concentrations of alpha-synuclein aggregates in stool samples of iRBD patients compared to controls (p = 0.024) or PD patients (p < 0.001). The study suggests that measuring alpha-synuclein aggregates in stool using the sFIDA assay could support the diagnosis of prodromal synucleinopathies.
NPJ PARKINSONS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Felix Kohle, Marie Madlener, Emanuel F. Bruno, Gereon R. Fink, Volker Limmroth, Lothar Burghaus, Michael P. Malter
Summary: This study revealed that most patients with status epilepticus (SE) were not effectively treated with benzodiazepines (BZDs) according to current guidelines. Sufficient dosing of BZDs was found to be beneficial for patients with generalised convulsive SE, but not for other types of SE. Treatment decisions guided by the semiology of SE are crucial, and further evidence is urgently needed for the management of non-generalised convulsive SE.
SEIZURE-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPILEPSY
(2023)
Correction
Health Policy & Services
Kim Dillen, Yasemin Goereci, Veronika Dunkl, Anne Muller, Gereon R. Fink, Raymond Voltz, Mevhibe Hocaoglu, Clemens Warnke, Heidrun Golla
PALLIATIVE & SUPPORTIVE CARE
(2023)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Kim Dillen, Yasemin Goereci, Veronika Dunkl, Anne Mueller, Gereon R. Fink, Raymond Voltz, Mevhibe Hocaoglu, Clemens Warnke, Heidrun Golla
Summary: This study culturally adapted and translated the IPOS Neuro-S8 into German and evaluated its face and content validity. The results showed that the German version of the IPOS Neuro-S8 has demonstrated face and content validity and captures relevant symptoms of neurological patients needing palliative care. The next step is to investigate its psychometric properties, including construct and criterion validity.
PALLIATIVE & SUPPORTIVE CARE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Norbert Galldiks, Nathalie L. Albert, Michael Wollring, Jan-Michael Werner, Philipp Lohmann, Javier E. Villanueva-Meyer, Gereon R. Fink, Karl-Josef Langen, Joerg-Christian Tonn
Summary: In patients with meningioma, anatomical imaging using MRI or CT is the main method for diagnosis and treatment planning. However, these imaging modalities have limitations in accurately delineating meningioma, especially in cases of trans-osseus growth and tumors with complex geometry, as well as differentiating post-therapeutic changes from relapse. PET imaging, which provides metabolic and cellular information, is being increasingly used to complement anatomical imaging and improve the clinical management of meningioma patients.
NEURO-ONCOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Stephanie Antons, Kjell Buesche, Lukas Mallon, Oliver T. Wolf, Martin Diers, Matthias Brand
Summary: The problematic use of pornography (PPU) is a phenotype of compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Stress plays a central role in dysregulated behaviors, acting as both a cause and consequence. A study involving 99 heterosexual males found that early childhood trauma, chronic stress, acute stress responses, emotion regulation strategies, and coping were associated with PPU symptoms. Alterations in neural stress circuits resulting from childhood trauma and chronic stress may interact with reward and executive control circuits. Coping with acute, chronic, and past stressors should be incorporated into treatment approaches.
SEXUAL HEALTH & COMPULSIVITY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Theresa Paul, Valerie M. Wiemer, Lukas Hensel, Matthew Cieslak, Caroline Tscherpel, Christian Grefkes, Scott T. Grafton, Gereon R. Fink, Lukas J. Volz
Summary: This study used diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) and a novel compartment-wise analysis approach to investigate the structural connectivity between bilateral cortical core motor regions in chronic stroke patients. The results showed that the structural connectivity between these regions is associated with both basal and complex motor control. Specifically, the recovery of basal motor control may be supported by an alternative pathway through the contralesional primary motor cortex (M1) and non-crossing fibers of the contralesional corticospinal tract (CST). These findings help explain conflicting interpretations of the functional role of the contralesional M1 and suggest the potential of cortico-cortical structural connectivity as a biomarker for motor recovery post-stroke.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Joshua N. Strelow, Till A. Dembek, Juan C. Baldermann, Pablo Andrade, Gereon R. Fink, Veerle Visser-Vandewalle, Michael T. Barbe
Summary: This study aimed to assess the utility of low beta-band suppression as a tool for contact selection in STN-DBS for PD. The results showed that the degree of low beta-band suppression correlated with the clinical efficacy of the respective stimulation contact, indicating its potential as a reliable tool for contact selection in STN-DBS.
PARKINSONISM & RELATED DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lukas Hensel, Aline Seger, Ezequiel Farrher, Anna K. Bonkhoff, N. Jon Shah, Gereon R. Fink, Christian Grefkes, Michael Sommerauer, Christopher E. J. Doppler
Summary: This study found that the motor response in Parkinson's disease patients is related to the temporal dynamics of corticostriatal functional connectivity. Patients with high response spent more time in a regionally integrated state, while low responders showed lower functional connectivity between the anterior midcingulate cortex/dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and putamen during a more segregated state, which was correlated with the motor response.
PARKINSONISM & RELATED DISORDERS
(2023)