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Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2019There is an urgent need for a meta-analysis that characterizes the brain states of major depression disorder (MDD) patients and potentially provides reliable...
There is an urgent need for a meta-analysis that characterizes the brain states of major depression disorder (MDD) patients and potentially provides reliable biomarkers, because heterogeneity in the results of resting-state functional neuroimaging has been observed between studies, with some patients not showing the consistent changes, or even opposite patterns. Thus, we evaluated consistent regional brain activity alterations in medication-naive patients with first-episode unipolar MDD and compared the results with those in healthy controls (HCs). A systematic database search was conducted (in PubMed, Ovid, and Web of Knowledge) between January 1984 and July 2016 to select resting-state functional activity studies with a voxel-wise analysis in MDD. We used anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping to perform a whole-brain meta-analysis, comparing functional alterations between first-episode medication-naive unipolar MDD patients and HCs by integrating the studies. In addition, subgroup meta-analysis was conducted to control for the MRI analysis method. Moreover, the meta-regression analyses were performed to examine the potential effects of mean age, education duration, illness duration, and severity of depressive symptoms. A total of 12 studies were included, comparing 313 MDD patients with 283 HCs. The pooled and subgroup meta-analysis found that the MDD patients showed hyperactivity in the left parahippocampal gyrus, left supplementary motor area, left amygdala, left hippocampus, and left middle frontal gyrus (MFG; orbital part), and hypoactivity in the left lingual gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, right cuneus cortex, right MFG (orbital part), and left cerebellum. In the meta-regression analyses, the mean illness duration was positively associated with hyper-activation in the left parahippocampal gyrus and hypoactivation in the hemispheric lobule IV/V of the left cerebellum. This meta-analysis indicated that MDD patients had significant and robust resting-state brain activity alteration in amygdala, left hippocampus and other regions, which implicated this finding in the pathophysiology of cognitive and emotional impairment in MDD patients.
PubMed: 31133831
DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00089 -
The International Journal of... Apr 2023Aberrant striatal responses to reward anticipation have been observed in schizophrenia. However, it is unclear whether these dysfunctions predate the onset of psychosis... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Aberrant striatal responses to reward anticipation have been observed in schizophrenia. However, it is unclear whether these dysfunctions predate the onset of psychosis and whether reward anticipation is impaired in individuals at clinical high risk for schizophrenia (CHR).
METHODS
To examine the neural correlates of monetary anticipation in the prodromal phase of schizophrenia, we performed a whole-brain meta-analysis of 13 functional neuroimaging studies that compared reward anticipation signals between CHR individuals and healthy controls (HC). Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect) were systematically searched from January 1, 2000, to May 1, 2022.
RESULTS
Thirteen whole-brain functional magnetic resonance imaging studies including 318 CHR individuals and 426 HC were identified through comprehensive literature searches. Relative to HC, CHR individuals showed increased brain responses in the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex and decreased activation in the mesolimbic circuit, including the putamen, parahippocampal gyrus, insula, cerebellum, and supramarginal gyrus, during reward anticipation.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings in the CHR group confirmed the existence of abnormal motivational-related activation during reward anticipation, thus demonstrating the pathophysiological characteristics of the risk populations. These results have the potential to lead to the early identification and more accurate prediction of subsequent psychosis as well as a deeper understanding of the neurobiology of high-risk state of psychotic disorder.
Topics: Humans; Schizophrenia; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Anticipation, Psychological; Brain; Reward
PubMed: 36893068
DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyad009 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2021The findings of many neuroimaging studies in patients with first-episode major depressive disorder (MDD), and even those of previous meta-analysis, are divergent. To...
The findings of many neuroimaging studies in patients with first-episode major depressive disorder (MDD), and even those of previous meta-analysis, are divergent. To quantitatively integrate these studies, we performed a meta-analysis of gray matter volumes using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). We performed a comprehensive literature search for relevant studies and traced the references up to May 1, 2021 to select the VBM studies between first-episode MDD and healthy controls (HC). A quantitative meta-analysis of VBM studies on first-episode MDD was performed using the Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI) method, which allows a familywise error rate (FWE) correction for multiple comparisons of the results. Meta-regression was used to explore the effects of demographics and clinical characteristics. Nineteen studies, with 22 datasets comprising 619 first-episode MDD and 707 HC, were included. The pooled and subgroup meta-analysis showed robust gray matter reductions in the left insula, the bilateral parahippocampal gyrus extending into the bilateral hippocampus, the right gyrus rectus extending into the right striatum, the right superior frontal gyrus (dorsolateral part), the left superior frontal gyrus (medial part) and the left superior parietal gyrus. Meta-regression analyses showed that higher HDRS scores were significantly more likely to present reduced gray matter volumes in the right amygdala, and the mean age of MDD patients in each study was negatively correlated with reduced gray matter in the left insula. The present meta-analysis revealed that structural abnormalities in the fronto-striatal-limbic and fronto-parietal networks are essential characteristics in first-episode MDD patients, which may become a potential target for clinical intervention.
PubMed: 34276443
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.671348 -
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2021Changes in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) have provided stronger evidence for the...
Altered Patterns of Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations and Fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations Between Amnestic and Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment: An ALE-Based Comparative Meta-Analysis.
Changes in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) have provided stronger evidence for the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment. Whether the altered patterns of ALFF and fALFF differ in amnestic cognitive impairment (aMCI) and vascular mild cognitive impairment (vMCI) is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore the ALFF/fALFF changes in the two diseases and to further explore whether they contribute to the diagnosis and differentiation of these diseases. We searched PubMed, Ovid, and Web of Science databases for articles on studies using the ALFF/fALFF method in patients with aMCI and vMCI. Based on the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) method, connectivity modeling based on coordinate meta-analysis and functional meta-analysis was carried out. Compared with healthy controls (HCs), patients with aMCI showed increased ALFF/fALFF in the bilateral parahippocampal gyrus/hippocampus (PHG/HG), right amygdala, right cerebellum anterior lobe (CAL), left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), left cerebrum temporal lobe sub-gyral, left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG), and left cerebrum limbic lobe uncus. Meanwhile, decreased ALFF/fALFF values were also revealed in the bilateral precuneus (PCUN), bilateral cuneus (CUN), and bilateral posterior cingulate (PC) in patients with aMCI. Compared with HCs, patients with vMCI predominantly showed decreased ALFF/fALFF in the bilateral CUN, left PCUN, left PC, and right cingulate gyrus (CG). The present findings suggest that ALFF and fALFF displayed remarkable altered patterns between aMCI and vMCI when compared with HCs. Thus, the findings of this study may serve as a reliable tool for distinguishing aMCI from vMCI, which may help understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of these diseases.
PubMed: 34531735
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.711023 -
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2019It has been argued that prosocial behaviors and momentary rewards activate similar reward systems. However, a recent theoretical hypothesis encourages a fundamentally...
It has been argued that prosocial behaviors and momentary rewards activate similar reward systems. However, a recent theoretical hypothesis encourages a fundamentally different view. Specifically, the social heuristic hypothesis posits that individuals internalize prosocial behaviors that are advantageous in their daily social life. These advantageous behaviors are fundamentally different from tangible and immediate reward. Our objectives are to test a hypothesis that these advantageous prosocial behaviors are so critical to survival that it is necessary to have a neural system in the brain that leads people to maintain repeated social interactions. These neural systems are different from the computations of rewards because prosocial behaviors are not advantageous if only considering the computations of rewards. To deepen the understanding of the neural systems of prosocial behaviors and reward, we conducted activation likelihood estimation (ALE) to examine brain activation in prosocial behaviors and reward tasks. Prosocial behaviors specifically activated distinct brain systems to a greater degree than reward. These systems were implicated in the processing of social behaviors and included the insula, temporal lobe, and superior temporal gyrus. By contrast, reward specifically activated the lentiform nucleus, thalamus, caudate nucleus, parahippocampal gyrus, and anterior cingulate cortex, which are associated with the brain reward system. These findings suggest that prosocial behaviors are different from reward and involve specific brain mechanisms.
PubMed: 31474844
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00276 -
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2022It is widely known that exercise improves inhibitory control; however, the mechanisms behind the cognitive improvement remain unclear. This study analyzes the extant...
It is widely known that exercise improves inhibitory control; however, the mechanisms behind the cognitive improvement remain unclear. This study analyzes the extant literature on the neuronal effects of exercise on inhibitory control functions. We searched four online databases (Pubmed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) for relevant peer-reviewed studies to identify eligible studies published before September 1, 2021. Among the 4,090 candidate studies identified, 14 meet the inclusion criteria, and the results of 397 participants in these 14 studies are subsequently analyzed. We quantify the neural effects on the entire brain by using GingerALE software and identify 10 clusters of exercise-induced neuronal with either increases/decreases in the superior temporal gyrus (BA 22), precuneus (BA 7), superior frontal gyrus (BA 10), cuneus (BA 19), precuneus (BA 19), caudate, posterior cingulate (BA 19), middle temporal gyrus (B 37), parahippocampal gyrus (BA 30), precentral gyrus (BA 6). Meta-analytic coactivation map (MACM) showed that multiple functional networks overlap with brain regions with activation likelihood estimation (ALE) results. We propose the effect of exercise on neural activity is related to inhibitory control in the extended frontoparietal, default mode network (DMN), visual network, and other pathways. These results provide preliminary evidence of the neural effects of exercise on inhibitory control.
PubMed: 35814955
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.891095 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2022Gray matter volume (GMV) alteration in specific brain regions has been widely regarded as one of the most important neuroplasticity features in chronic pain patients...
BACKGROUND
Gray matter volume (GMV) alteration in specific brain regions has been widely regarded as one of the most important neuroplasticity features in chronic pain patients with depressive symptoms (CP-D). However, the consistent and significant results were still lacking. Thus, further exploration was suggested to be performed.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to comprehensively collect the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies on GMV alteration between CP-D and healthy controls (HCs). And a systemic review and meta-analysis were made to explore the characteristic brain regions in chronic pain and depression comorbidity.
METHODS
Search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases updated to July 13, 2021. The altered GMV between CP-D and HCs in VBM studies was included in this meta-analysis. In total, 18 studies (20 datasets) and 1320 participants (520 patients and 800 HCs) were included. The significant coordinate information (, , ) reported in standard space and the effect size (value or -score) were extracted and analyzed by anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping (AES-SDM) 5.15 software.
RESULTS
According to the main analysis results, CP-D showed significant and consistent increased GMV in the left hippocampus (HIP. L) and decreased GMV in the medial part of the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG. L, BA 10) compared to HCs. Subgroup analysis showed significant decreased GMV in the medial orbital part of SFG.R (BA 10) in neuropathic pain, as well as significant increased GMV in the right parahippocampal gyrus (PHG.R, BA 35), left hippocampus (HIP.L, BA 20), and right middle frontal gyrus (MFG.R) in musculoskeletal pain. Furthermore, meta-regression showed a positive relationship between the decreased GMV in the medial part of SFG.L and the percentage of female patients.
CONCLUSION
GMV abnormality in specific brain areas (e.g., HIP.L and SFG) was robust and reproducible, which could be significantly involved in this comorbidity disease. The findings in this study may be a valuable reference for future research.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
[www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/].
PubMed: 35733934
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.826759 -
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2022With advancing age, individuals experience a gradual decline in recollection, the ability to retrieve personal experiences accompanied by details, such as temporal and...
With advancing age, individuals experience a gradual decline in recollection, the ability to retrieve personal experiences accompanied by details, such as temporal and spatial contextual information. Numerous studies have identified several brain regions that exhibit age-related activation differences during recollection tasks. More recently, an increasing number of studies have provided evidence regarding how brain connectivity among the regions supporting recollection contributes to the explanation of recollection deficits in aging. However, brain connectivity evidence has not been examined jointly to provide an integrative view of how these new findings have improved our knowledge of the neurofunctional changes underlying the recollection deficits associated with aging. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies that employed one of the numerous methods available for analyzing brain connectivity in older adults. Only studies that applied connectivity analysis to data recorded during episodic recollection tasks, either during encoding or retrieval, were assessed. First, the different brain connectivity analysis methods and the information conveyed were briefly described. Then, the brain connectivity findings from the different studies were described and discussed to provide an integrative point of view of how these findings explain the decline in recollection associated with aging. The studies reviewed provide evidence that the hippocampus consistently decreased its connectivity with the parahippocampal gyrus and the posterior cingulate cortex, essential regions of the recollection network, in older adults relative to young adults. In addition, older adults exhibited increased connectivity between the hippocampus and several widespread regions compared to young adults. The increased connectivity was interpreted as brain intensification recourse to overcome recollection decay. Additionally, suggestions for future research in the field are outlined.
PubMed: 36389073
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1012870 -
Asian Journal of Psychiatry Apr 2019Hoarding is a disorder characterized by excessive acquisition and persistent difficulty in discarding possessions. The behaviour has adverse emotional, physical, social,...
BACKGROUND
Hoarding is a disorder characterized by excessive acquisition and persistent difficulty in discarding possessions. The behaviour has adverse emotional, physical, social, financial, and legal outcomes for the person with the disorder and family members, and might pose a significant public health problem. Hoarding has been included as a distinct disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth edition (DSM-5). The prevalence of hoarding disorder is approximately 2-6% globally. The current state of the evidence does not offer clear understanding of the causes of hoarding behaviours. A systematic review of the extant literature was carried out to determine the possible causal factors of hoarding behaviours.
METHODS
This review is conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines. The following electronic databases: Medline through Ovid, EMBASE and PsycINFO were searched for relevant articles published between January 2000 and November 2018. Only articles published in English language were included. Two reviewers independently scrutinized the studies and included them in this review.
RESULTS
Our search strategy returned a total of 396 references. Preliminary findings suggest that individuals with hoarding behaviours may have a genetic susceptibility; abnormal neural activity in the fronto-temporal, para-hippocampal gyrus and insular parts of the brain has also been identified. Traumatic life experiences have also been posited to predispose individuals to hoard.
CONCLUSION
Although the understanding of hoarding disorder hasgrown in recent years, greater efforts are still needed to clarify the etiology and mechanisms of hoarding disorder as these may help in planning of more holistic interventions to treat the problem.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Female; Hoarding Disorder; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Young Adult
PubMed: 31003207
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.04.001 -
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2021Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional state between normal aging and dementia disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD). The disruption of the...
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional state between normal aging and dementia disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD). The disruption of the default mode network (DMN) is often considered to be a potential biomarker for the progression from MCI to AD. The purpose of this study was to assess MRI-specific changes of DMN in MCI patients by elucidating the convergence of brain regions with abnormal DMN function. We systematically searched PubMed, Ovid, and Web of science for relevant articles. We identified neuroimaging studies by using amplitude of low frequency fluctuation /fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF/fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity (FC) in MCI patients. Based on the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) algorithm, we carried out connectivity modeling of coordination-based meta-analysis and functional meta-analysis. In total, this meta-analysis includes 39 articles on functional neuroimaging studies. Using computer software analysis, we discovered that DMN changes in patients with MCI mainly occur in bilateral inferior frontal lobe, right medial frontal lobe, left inferior parietal lobe, bilateral precuneus, bilateral temporal lobe, and parahippocampal gyrus (PHG). Herein, we confirmed the presence of DMN-specific damage in MCI, which is helpful in revealing pathology of MCI and further explore mechanisms of conversion from MCI to AD. Therefore, we provide a new specific target and direction for delaying conversion from MCI to AD.
PubMed: 34675797
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.708687