Article
Biology
Zhenni Wang, Shihao Lou, Xiao Ma, Hui Guo, Yan Liu, Wenjing Chen, Dating Lin, Yupeng Yang
Summary: This study found that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a crucial role in both the training and maintenance processes of visual perceptual learning (VPL). By recording the calcium activity of mPFC pyramidal neurons, distinct ON and OFF neural ensembles were identified, which may encode different cognitive information. Additionally, the mPFC was found to recruit more reward-related components during VPL.
Article
Cell Biology
Christian M. Wood, Laith Alexander, Johan Alsio, Andrea M. Santangelo, Lauren McIver, Gemma J. Cockcroft, Angela C. Roberts
Summary: Poor outcomes are common in anxiety and depression, thus understanding the neural circuits underlying symptoms and treatment responses is important. By using a chemogenetics strategy involving designer receptors and drugs, the scACC-25 neural circuits related to anhedonia and anxiety in marmosets were identified. Targeting these circuits with the fast-acting antidepressant ketamine may lead to new treatment strategies.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Justin M. Fine, David J. -N. Maisson, Seng Bum Michael Yoo, Tyler V. Cash-Padgett, Maya Zhe Wang, Jan Zimmermann, Benjamin Y. Hayden
Summary: An important question in neuroeconomics is how the brain represents the value of offers in a way that allows for comparison while preserving the details that influence value. This study examined neuronal responses in male macaques and found that there was no overlap in neural coding between risky and safe options, even when the options had identical subjective values. However, these regions were linked through a linear transform of their encodings, allowing for comparison of different types of options.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Youngsun T. Cho, Flora Moujaes, Charles H. Schleifer, Martina Starc, Jie Lisa Ji, Nicole Santamauro, Brendan Adkinson, Antonija Kolobaric, Morgan Flynn, John H. Krystal, John D. Murray, Grega Repovs, Alan Anticevic
Summary: This study investigated how reward and loss impact spatial working memory precision and neural circuits in human subjects. The results showed that both reward and loss improved spatial working memory precision, with specific regions like precentral sulcus and intraparietal sulcus having increased BOLD signal related to better working memory precision. Conversely, areas straddling executive networks displayed decreased BOLD signal during incentivized working memory.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chia-Wei Li, Carol Yeh-Yun Lin, Ting-Ting Chang, Nai-Shing Yen, Danchi Tan
Summary: Managers face risks in explorative decision-making, and those who excel at it have better motivational characteristics. The study found that in the low-performance group, BAS/BIS were associated with brain activation during explorative decision-making, providing implications for management development.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonah K. Mittelstadt, Patrick O. Kanold
Summary: Auditory cortical neurons in the primary auditory cortex (A1) can modify their response profiles based on external factors. It is believed that these modifications are driven by top-down inputs from the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), although the exact function of OFC projections to A1 during auditory tasks remains unknown. In this study, we used two-photon calcium imaging to observe the activity of putative OFC terminals in A1 of mice under passive conditions and during a tone detection task. We found that the activity of the OFC terminals in A1 is modulated by behavioral activity and varies depending on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in both passive and active conditions. Our results suggest that OFC projections in A1 play a role in auditory processing under various auditory conditions.
Article
Biology
David S. Jacobs, Madeleine C. Allen, Junchol Park, Bita Moghaddam
Summary: This study developed a novel model for anxiety during motivated behavior and found that neuronal activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) represents the relationship between action and punishment risk. Additionally, the study suggests that diazepam may have anxiolytic properties.
Article
Neurosciences
Miriam Wandres, Simone Pfarr, Botond Molnar, Ursula Schoellkopf, Maria Ercsey-Ravasz, Wolfgang H. Sommer, Christoph Koerber
Summary: This study explores how cue-reward associations form memories in the brain's reward system, particularly through training rats to self-administer alcohol or sweet saccharin solution. By analyzing reward-specific co-activation patterns across brain regions, the research reveals that memory representation involves differential co-activation of local neuronal ensembles.
Article
Neurosciences
Samuel D. McDougle, Ian C. Ballard, Beth Baribault, Sonia J. Bishop, Anne G. E. Collins
Summary: This study found that novel rewards can act as substitutes for rewards during instrumental learning, generating reward-like signals in dopaminergic circuits. Furthermore, prefrontal correlates of executive control may play a role in shaping flexible responses in reward circuits. The interaction between high-level representations in prefrontal cortex and low-level responses in subcortical reward circuits support learning from novel outcomes.
Article
Neurosciences
Xiaoyu Ma, Charles Zheng, Yenho Chen, Francisco Pereira, Zheng Li
Summary: The ability to perceive and locate spatial environments is crucial for animal survival. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been implicated in spatially related behaviors, but its properties and how it is influenced by animal behavior are not well-defined. This study found that the population activity of mPFC neurons can predict animal locations, and this coding accuracy is higher in tasks involving working memory and reward-seeking.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hua Tang, Ramon Bartolo, Bruno B. Averbeck
Summary: This study revealed the spatio-temporal distribution of information in the prefrontal cortex, uncovering task-specific signal flows and indicating anatomical segregation followed by rapid integration of information within the LPFC.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Rawan AlSubaie, Ryan W. S. Wee, Anne Ritoux, Karyna Mishchanchuk, Jessica Passlack, Daniel Regester, Andrew F. MacAskill
Summary: Projections from the basal amygdala to the ventral hippocampus provide information about rewarding or threatening stimuli to support appropriate behavior. These projections consist of both excitatory and inhibitory inputs that control the activity of downstream neurons, ultimately affecting goal-directed behavior.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bin A. Wang, Maike Veismann, Abhishek Banerjee, Burkhard Pleger
Summary: The study reveals that the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) interacts with the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) to guide flexible tactile learning in humans. The OFC has transient responses to unexpected outcomes, while the S1 is persistently engaged during re-learning. These findings suggest that the OFC contributes to dynamically updating representations in sensory areas through top-down signals to implement computations critical for adaptive behavior.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Lakshman N. C. Chakravarthula, Srikanth Padmala
Summary: Reward and emotion are closely related, and our understanding of their interactions in the human brain is limited. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the effects of negative emotion on reward outcome processing. The findings suggest that negative emotion modulates reward processing in the ventro-medial prefrontal cortex.
SOCIAL COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ellen P. Woon, Laura M. Butkovich, Arianna A. Peluso, Aziz Elbasheir, Kian Taylor, Shannon L. Gourley
Summary: We have discovered a connection between the ventral hippocampus and the medial orbitofrontal cortex that plays an important role in the updating of value memories, and this connection is mediated by the neuroplasticity-associated neurotrophin receptor TrkB.
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Sander De Bock, Toon Ampe, Marco Rossini, Bruno Tassignon, Dirk Lefeber, Carlos Rodriguez-Guerrero, Bart Roelands, Joost Geeroms, Romain Meeusen, Kevin De Pauw
Summary: Physical fatigue affects task performance during overhead work, but the support provided by the occupational passive shoulder exoskeleton (PSE) can mitigate changes in shoulder joint kinematics and muscle activity, reducing the negative effects of fatigue.
APPLIED ERGONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
B. Tassignon, A. Radwan, J. Blommaert, L. Stas, S. D. Allard, F. De Ridder, E. De Waele, L. C. Bulnes, N. Hoornaert, P. Lacor, E. Lathouwers, R. Mertens, M. Naeyaert, H. Raeymaekers, L. Seyler, A. M. Van Binst, L. Van Imschoot, L. Van Liedekerke, J. Van Schependom, P. Van Schuerbeek, M. Vandekerckhove, R. Meeusen, S. Sunaert, G. Nagels, J. De Mey, K. De Pauw
Summary: This study evaluated the whole-brain structural connectivity and cognitive performance of COVID-19 survivors through brain scans and cognitive tests. The results showed that the adverse effects of COVID-19 on brain functioning and structure decrease over time. However, future research with larger sample sizes, matched control groups, and longer follow-up periods is needed to confirm these findings.
EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Elke Lathouwers, Jean-Pierre Baeyens, Bruno Tassignon, Felipe Gomez, Pierre Cherelle, Romain Meeusen, Bram Vanderborght, Kevin De Pauw
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the mechanical ankle-foot prosthesis (Talaris Demonstrator) during level walking by mapping coordination patterns based on the sagittal continuous relative phase (CRP). The results suggest a potential advantage of the TD over the individual's current prosthesis.
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ONLINE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arnau Dillen, Fakhreddine Ghaffari, Olivier Romain, Bram Vanderborght, Uros Marusic, Sidney Grospretre, Ann Nowe, Romain Meeusen, Kevin De Pauw
Summary: Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can enable individuals to interact with devices based on their brain activity. However, the high costs associated with research-grade electroencephalogram (EEG) acquisition devices make them impractical for everyday use. This study demonstrates that decoding movement intention from a limited number of sensors is feasible, opening up the possibility of using commercial sensor devices for BCI control.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Renee Govaerts, Sander De Bock, Lara Stas, Ilias El Makrini, Jelle Habay, Jeroen Van Cutsem, Bart Roelands, Bram Vanderborght, Romain Meeusen, Kevin De Pauw
Summary: This study investigated the impact of mental fatigue on work performance and movement duration. When mentally fatigued and using a lower back exoskeleton, movement duration significantly increased, suggesting a significant interaction between the exoskeleton and one's psychobiological state. These findings indicate a potential negative effect on production efficiency and call for further research into cognitive aspects of work performance and human-exoskeleton interaction.
APPLIED ERGONOMICS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ampe Toon, Stephen Bailey, Bart Roelands
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elke Lathouwers, Ahmed Radwan, Jeroen Blommaert, Lara Stas, Bruno Tassignon, Sabine D. Allard, Filip De Ridder, Elisabeth De Waele, Nicole Hoornaert, Patrick Lacor, Rembert Mertens, Maarten Naeyaert, Hubert Raeymaekers, Lucie Seyler, Anne-Marie Vanbinst, Lien Van Liedekerke, Jeroen Van Schependom, Peter Van Schuerbeek, Steven Provyn, Bart Roelands, Marie Vandekerckhove, Romain Meeusen, Stefan Sunaert, Guy Nagels, Johan De Mey, Kevin De Pauw
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elke Lathouwers, Ahmed Radwan, Jeroen Blommaert, Lara Stas, Bruno Tassignon, Sabine D. Allard, F. De Ridder, E. De Waele, N. Hoornaert, P. Lacor, R. Mertens, Maarten Naeyaert, Hubert Raeymaekers, Lucie Seyler, A. M. Vanbinst, Lien Van Liedekerke, Jeroen Van Schependom, Peter Van Schuerbeek, Steven Provyn, Bart Roelands, Marie Vandekerckhove, R. Meeusen, Stefan Sunaert, G. Nagels, J. De Mey, Kevin De Pauw
Summary: COVID-19 can have negative impacts on the quality of life and induce neurological sequelae. This study reveals differences in structural brain connectivity and cognitive performance between former hospitalised COVID-19 patients and healthy controls.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Arnau Dillen, Fakhreddine Ghaffari, Olivier Romain, Bram Vanderborght, Romain Meeusen, Bart Roelands, Kevin De Pauw
Summary: Brain-computer interfaces can be used to operate devices by detecting a person's intention from their brain activity. Traditionally, a sufficient number of sensors is needed to reliably identify motor imagery (MI) from EEG signals. However, this study found no significant difference in decoding accuracy when using fewer sensors.
2023 11TH INTERNATIONAL IEEE/EMBS CONFERENCE ON NEURAL ENGINEERING, NER
(2023)
Letter
Sport Sciences
Rafael L. Kons, Lucas B. R. Orssatto, Jonathan Ache-Dias, Kevin De Pauw, Romain Meeusen, Gabriel S. Trajano, Juliano Dal Pupo, Daniele Detanico
SPORTS MEDICINE-OPEN
(2023)
Review
Sport Sciences
Jelle Habay, Robin Uylenbroeck, Ruben Van Droogenbroeck, Jonas De Wachter, Matthias Proost, Bruno Tassignon, Kevin De Pauw, Romain Meeusen, Nathalie Pattyn, Jeroen Van Cutsem, Bart Roelands
Summary: This review examines the individual differences in the effects of mental fatigue on whole-body endurance performance and identifies the lack of consensus on the individual features responsible for these differences.
SPORTS MEDICINE-OPEN
(2023)
Review
Sport Sciences
Rafael L. L. Kons, Lucas B. R. Orssatto, Jonathan Ache-Dias, Kevin De Pauw, Romain Meeusen, Gabriel S. Trajano, Juliano Dal Pupo, Daniele Detanico
Summary: This systematic umbrella review examined 29 meta-analyses on the effects of plyometric training. The findings suggest that plyometric training has positive effects on physical fitness and sports performance. However, caution is needed due to the lack of studies with control groups.
SPORTS MEDICINE-OPEN
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Computer Science, Cybernetics
Mohamed Irfan Mohamed Refai, Saivimal Sridar, Renee Govaerts, Giorgia Chini, Tiwana Varrecchia, Simona Del Ferraro, Tiziana Falcone, Sander De Bock, Vincenzo Molinaro, Shirley A. Elprama, An Jacobs, Alberto Ranavolo, Kevin De Pauw, Herman van der Kooij, Massimo Sartori
Summary: This study describes a novel soft active exosuit and evaluates its impact on both physiological and subjective measures during lifting tasks. The results show that the exosuit reduces task load and decreases muscle activity and metabolic costs for some users.
2023 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REHABILITATION ROBOTICS, ICORR
(2023)
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Maria E. C. Ferreira, Dalton Lima-Junior, Heloiana Faro, Bart Roelands, Leonardo S. Fortes
Summary: The study investigated the acute effects of cognitive effort and auditory distraction on inhibitory control, subjective mental fatigue, MOT skills, and HRV in professional soccer players during a prolonged endurance session, followed by a 24-hour follow-up evaluation. The findings showed that cognitive effort impaired inhibitory control and increased mental fatigue, but did not significantly impact MOT skills and HRV in the players.
PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT AND EXERCISE
(2024)