Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giorgia Targa, Francesca Mottarlini, Beatrice Rizzi, Damiana Leo, Lucia Caffino, Fabio Fumagalli
Summary: Dopamine overactivity reduces the translation and localization of cortical AMPA receptors through altered vesicular sorting. The decreased expression of anchoring proteins and structural markers indicates synaptic instability. Hyperdopaminergia significantly alters the homeostatic plasticity of AMPA receptors, leading to a destabilized and depotentiated AMPA-mediated glutamatergic neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hana Ujcikova, Dagoberto Robles, Xu Yue, Petr Svoboda, Yeon Sun Lee, Edita Navratilova
Summary: This study reveals extensive time-dependent modifications of protein expression in the rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) under a chronic neuropathic pain state, which may underlie the evolution of pain characterized by early compensatory mechanisms and later aberrant mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Sidney Yap, Jessica Luki, Christopher C. Hanstock, Peter Seres, Tami Shandro, Sarah E. C. Hanstock, Alynna Lirette, Huaying (Helen) Zhao, Katherine J. Aitchison, Jean-Michel Le Melledo
Summary: The study found that perimenopause is associated with decreases in MPFC Glu levels, which may contribute to the increased risk of experiencing depression during this period. Further research should focus on assessing MPFC Glu levels in perimenopausal women suffering from MD.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Sonja Chu, Cendri Hutcherson, Rutsuko Ito, Andy C. H. Lee
Summary: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) and medial temporal lobe (MTL) contribute differently to resolving conflict information and uncertainty during approach-avoidance decisions. The PFC may adjust response caution and evidence strength towards each choice, involving the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, while the MTL contributes to evidence generation, particularly through the hippocampus. These findings suggest unique contributions of MTL and PFC regions in arbitrating approach-avoidance conflict.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Cardenas, Alexander Papadogiannis, Eugene Dimitrov
Summary: Our study revealed that injection of CFA induced inflammatory pain leading to decreased thermal thresholds in both male and female mice. However, only male mice showed anxiety-like behavior and cognitive deficits, while females were unaffected. Additionally, our findings suggest that dysregulation of the top-down control of locus ceruleus's activity by the medial prefrontal cortex may contribute to sex differences in cognitive effects associated with inflammatory pain.
Article
Biology
Bogdan Feliks Kania, Danuta Wronska, Izabela Szpregiel, Urszula Bracha
Summary: The study examined the impact of glutamic acid on excitatory neurotransmitter release, finding differential effects on catecholamines released from the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus. When under stress, the hypothalamus plays a key role in regulating stress responses.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Melissa C. Knouse, Anna G. McGrath, Andre U. Deutschmann, Matthew T. Rich, Lia J. Zallar, Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha, Lisa A. Briand
Summary: This article investigates the sex differences in glutamatergic transmission within the medial prefrontal cortex, finding higher levels of glutamatergic transmission in females. This provides important evidence for the development of sex-specific pharmacotherapies for psychiatric diseases.
BIOLOGY OF SEX DIFFERENCES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Geoffrey W. Diehl, A. David Redish
Summary: Decision-making requires different aspects of information and involves multiple cognitive processes. The rodent medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is believed to play a central role in these abilities. Previous studies on mPFC function have yielded controversial results, but this study with rats performing an economic decision task revealed four distinct functional domains within mPFC, closely related to anatomical subregions. Dorsal mPFC regions were more involved in processing active decisions, while ventral regions were more engaged in motivational factors.
Article
Neurosciences
Adrienne C. Loewke, Adelaide R. Minerva, Alexandra B. Nelson, Anatol C. Kreitzer, Lisa A. Gunaydin
Summary: The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) plays a key role in controlling defensive behavior through specific top-down projections. The dmPFC-amygdala projection is involved in reflexive fear behavior, while the dmPFC-striatum projection regulates anxious avoidance behavior. These findings provide important insights into the neural mechanisms underlying anxiety disorders.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Hiroshi Kuniishi, Yuko Nakatake, Masayuki Sekiguchi, Mitsuhiko Yamada
Summary: Early-life social isolation is associated with social and emotional problems in adulthood. The present study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying how social deprivation impairs social and emotional development through the disruption of information processing in the OFC-BLA pathway. The results suggest that distinct postsynaptic changes in the mOFC-BLA and lOFC-BLA synapses contribute separately to abnormalities in social and emotional development.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Christina M. Mecca, Dongman Chao, Guoliang Yu, Yin Feng, Ian Segel, Zhiyong Zhang, Dianise M. Rodriguez-Garcia, Christopher P. Pawela, Cecilia J. Hillard, Quinn H. Hogan, Bin Pan
Summary: The study showed that alterations in endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are related to the development of depression after pain in rats with traumatic neuropathy (SNI). This suggests a potential mechanism for pain-induced depression involving excessive release of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and loss of CB1R function leading to excessive GABA release in the mPFC.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Xiaoxuan Zhang, Xin Li, Wei Wang, Yuxin Zhang, Zhihao Gong, Yuan Peng, Jingxiang Wu, Xingji You
Summary: This study found that the STING pathway may activate M1 microglia in the mPFC, promoting cancer-induced bone pain. The use of the STING inhibitor C-176 effectively alleviated cancer-induced bone pain and pain-related anxiety. In addition, C-176 reversed LPS-induced M1 polarization. The findings provide a new direction for the treatment of cancer-induced bone pain.
Article
Neurosciences
Paula Kaanders, Hamed Nili, Jill X. O'Reilly, Laurence Hunt
Summary: In this study using fMRI, researchers investigate the neural basis of information sampling in economic choice. The activity of the medial frontal cortex (MFC) was found to predict further information sampling, while a distributed network of regions across the prefrontal cortex encoded key features of the sampled information.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Shunsuke Kawanabe, Masayoshi Mori, Hiroyoshi Harada, Yusuke Murata, Kenji Ohe, Munechika Enjoji
Summary: Early-life social isolation in male Wistar rats causes emotional and cognitive dysregulation, including increased aggression, anxiety, and decreased neuron excitability in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Our study investigated the changes in the mPFC noradrenergic system induced by social isolation, and found increased protein levels of the alpha 1 adrenergic receptor, tyrosine hydroxylase, and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase in socially isolated rats. Activation of the alpha 1 adrenergic receptor pathway may contribute to the emotional and cognitive regulation impairments observed in social isolation. Targeting this pathway could be a potential therapeutic strategy for psychiatric disorders with similar features.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mahya Moradi Sirchi, Sahel Motaghi, Narges Sadat Hosseininasab, Mehdi Abbasnejad, Saeed Esmaili-Mahani, Gholamreza Sepehri
Summary: This study investigated the impact of aging on the gene expression of GAD67 (Gad1) in the ventral hippocampus (v Hip) and medial prefrontal cortex (m PC) of fear-potentiated rats. The results showed that fear-potentiated rats had significantly higher Gad1 expression compared to control and innate fear rats. Age may also play a role in modulating Gad1 expression.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Chelsea N. Cunningham, Luke C. Jenkins, Wei-Ju Chang, James H. McAuley, Siobhan M. Schabrun
Summary: This study investigated the reliability of SEP measures in response to non-noxious stimulation of the paraspinal muscles. The results showed that latency had poor relative reliability but good absolute reliability, while area had good relative and absolute reliability except for the N-150 component. Perceptual threshold and stimulation intensity were not reliable over time.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Luke C. Jenkins, Wei-Ju Chang, Valentina Buscemi, Matthew Liston, Peter Humburg, Michael Nicholas, Thomas Graven-Nielsen, Paul W. Hodges, James H. McAuley, Siobhan M. Schabrun
Summary: This study aims to identify neurobiological and psychological risk factors for the development of chronic low back pain. Factors such as medical history, age, and emotional state have a significant impact on the development of chronic low back pain. Neurobiological risk factors explain an additional 15% of the variance in pain intensity at 6 months.
Article
Orthopedics
Benedict M. Wand, Aidan G. Cashin, James H. McAuley, Matthew K. Bagg, Gemma M. Orange, G. Lorimer Moseley
Summary: This article describes a model for understanding the complexity of chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) by integrating modifiable factors across the biopsychosocial spectrum. The model suggests that individuals with chronic LBP hold strong and relatively unchangeable internal models of a damaged, fragile, and unhealthy back, and that information supporting these models is more credible and accessible than conflicting information. The article proposes a treatment framework aimed at changing these internal models to view the back as healthy, adaptable, and fit for purpose, while providing precise and trustworthy evidence to support this view and minimizing conflicting information.
Article
Rheumatology
Edel T. O'Hagan, Aidan G. G. Cashin, Rodrigo R. N. Rizzo, Hayley B. B. Leake, Pauline Zahara, Matthew K. K. Bagg, Benedict M. M. Wand, James H. H. McAuley
Summary: This study developed and tested the feasibility of a booster intervention delivered remotely to supplement the benefits from a complex intervention for chronic low back pain. The intervention was perceived to be beneficial by participants and clinicians, demonstrating its potential effectiveness.
MUSCULOSKELETAL CARE
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
A. L. Peek, T. J. Rebbeck, A. M. Leaver, S. L. Foster, K. M. Refshauge, N. A. Puts, G. Oeltzschner, MRS Expert Panel
Summary: The aim of this guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations for using MEGA-PRESS to measure GABA levels. This widely used method at 3T is challenging and has a low signal-to-noise ratio. The guideline, developed by experts in MRS and guideline development, includes 23 recommendations across six domains and has been reviewed and approved by a panel of world leaders in MRS.
ANALYTICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Catie Chun Wan Lai, Simon Boag
Summary: Recent research suggests that a diet promoting gut health, such as consumption of fermented food and high intake of dietary fiber, is relevant in the treatment and prevention of depression. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between diet, physical health, and depression using a nationally representative sample.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Aidan G. Cashin, Britt Elin Oiestad, Fiona Aanesen, Kjersti Storheim, Alexander Tingulstad, Tarjei Langseth Rysstad, Hopin Lee, James H. McAuley, Gail Sowden, Gwenllian Wynne-Jones, Anne Therese Tveter, Margreth Grotle
Summary: This study investigated the effects of two vocational interventions on reducing sickness absence in workers with musculoskeletal conditions, and explored the mediating role of return to work expectancy and workability. The results showed that changing an individual's expectation of returning to work can significantly reduce sickness absence days.
OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jun Cao, Iain Ball, Peter Humburg, Socrates Dokos, Caroline Rae
Summary: Magnetic resonance electrical properties tomography (MREPT) is a promising imaging technique for noninvasively measuring tissue conductivity and permittivity. This study investigated the repeatability of conductivity measurements using phase-based MREPT and the impact of compressed SENSE (CS) and RF shimming on measurement precision. The results showed that conductivity measurements using CS with bFFE phase were more repeatable and precise than those using TSE. RF shimming with better field mapping further improved the precision of the conductivity measures.
PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Nell Norman-Nott, Negin Hesam-Shariati, Chelsey R. Wilks, Jessica Schroeder, Jina Suh, Nancy E. Briggs, James H. McAuley, Yann Quide, Sylvia M. Gustin
Summary: This study aims to examine the efficacy of internet-delivered DBT skills training for chronic pain (iDBT-Pain) in reducing emotion dysregulation for individuals with chronic pain. The study will also explore the impact of iDBT-Pain on pain intensity and other related factors.
JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Edel T. O'Hagan, Aidan G. Cashin, Markus Huebscher, Saad Mohammad Alsaadi, Sylvia Gustin, James H. McAuley
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between sleep quality and next-day pain intensity in individuals with low back pain. The results showed that better self-reported sleep quality or a higher proportion of time spent in slow-wave sleep (SWS) was associated with lower next-day pain intensity. However, after adjusting for confounding factors, this relationship became non-significant.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Katleho Limakatso, Aidan G. G. Cashin, Sam Williams, Jack Devonshire, Romy Parker, James H. H. McAuley
Summary: This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of Graded Motor Imagery (GMI) therapy for reducing Phantom Limb Pain (PLP) and disability in amputees. The findings suggest that GMI and mirror therapy may be effective for reducing PLP, but the evidence is limited and of low certainty. Rigorous, high-quality trials are needed to further support these findings.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PAIN-REVUE CANADIENNE DE LA DOULEUR
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Brian V. Y. Chow, Catherine Morgan, Caroline Rae, David I. Warton, Iona Novak, Suzanne Davies, Ann Lancaster, Gordana C. Popovic, Rodrigo R. N. Rizzo, Claudia Y. Rizzo, Maria Kyriagis, Robert D. Herbert, Bart Bolsterlee
Summary: This study used MRI and artificial intelligence methods to investigate the synchronous growth of human lower leg muscles. The findings showed that the muscles in the lower leg do not grow synchronously, with faster growth in infancy and before the age of 5. This finding is important for early detection of abnormal growth and targeted interventions for muscle-related conditions.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Orthopedics
Mitchell T. Gibbs, Jill A. Hayden, Aidan G. Cashin, Brishna Shah, Yannick L. Gilanyi, Andrew Natoli, Grant Holmes, Rachel Ogilvie, Amanda D. Hagstrom, James H. McAuley, Paul W. Marshall, Matthew D. Jones
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the proportion of exercise interventions tested in clinical trials for chronic low back pain (CLBP) that meet the World Health Organisation's (WHO) physical activity guidelines. A secondary analysis of the 2021 Cochrane review of exercise therapy for CLBP was performed, and the results showed that few interventions meet the WHO guidelines, indicating a lack of broader impact on health outcomes.
Article
Psychology, Experimental
Kayley L. Zielinski-Nicolson, Natalie Roberts, Simon Boag
Summary: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is an alternative state of consciousness characterized by changes in affect, feelings of relaxation, and tingling sensations on the body. Online videos designed to stimulate ASMR in viewers have become increasingly popular. This study investigated the relationship between a mentally flexible cognitive style and ASMR propensity, finding that while a mentally flexible mindset did not show overall support, factors such as transliminality, emotional contagion susceptibility, positive schizotypal traits, and roleplaying ability significantly predicted ASMR propensity. These findings suggest that ASMR propensity is related to multiple cognitive styles involving enhanced imagination and perceptual ability, rather than solely mental flexibility.
CONSCIOUSNESS AND COGNITION
(2023)