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Neural Regeneration Research May 2022Acupuncture has been shown to be effective on alcohol use disorder. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. To investigate the effects of Shenmen...
Acupuncture has been shown to be effective on alcohol use disorder. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. To investigate the effects of Shenmen (HT7) acupoint on brain activation induced by cue-elicited alcohol craving, 30 right-handed healthy light to moderate alcohol drinkers were recruited from the community. They were randomly assigned to undergo acupuncture either at HT7 (experimental acupoint, n = 15) or Jingqu (LU8, control acupoint, n = 15) acupoints. This randomized controlled study was performed in Daegu Haany University and Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Republic of Korea. Recruitment and data collection were conducted from December 2018 to May 2019. The results showed that after acupuncture at HT7 acupoint, the activation of orbitofrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was greatly increased, while the activation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was obviously reduced, and subject's craving for alcohol was reduced when he/she seeing alcohol-related video clips involving various alcohols (beer, wine, or soju) or drinking scenarios. Acupuncture at HT7 more greatly reduced subject's alcohol cravings than acupuncture at LU8 acupoint. These findings suggest that acupuncture can improve the self-control of mild to moderate social drinkers through the activation of the orbitofrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, thereby reducing the craving for alcohol. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Daegu Haany University Korean Medicine Hospital, Republic of Korea (approval No. DHUMC-D-18026-PRO-02) on November 30, 2018.
PubMed: 34558533
DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.324849 -
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) Feb 2021Age-related differences in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) structure and function have each been linked to working memory. However, few studies have integrated...
Age-related differences in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) structure and function have each been linked to working memory. However, few studies have integrated multimodal imaging to simultaneously investigate relationships among structure, function, and cognition. We aimed to clarify how specifically DLPFC structure and function contribute to working memory in healthy older adults. In total, 138 participants aged 65-88 underwent 3 T neuroimaging and were divided into higher and lower groups based on a median split of in-scanner n-back task performance. Three a priori spherical DLPFC regions of interest (ROIs) were used to quantify blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal and FreeSurfer-derived surface area, cortical thickness, and white matter volume. Binary logistic regressions adjusting for age, sex, education, and scanner type revealed that greater left and right DLPFC BOLD signal predicted the probability of higher performing group membership (P values<.05). Binary logistic regressions also adjusting for total intracranial volume revealed left DLPFC surface area that significantly predicted the probability of being in the higher performing group (P = 0.017). The left DLPFC BOLD signal and surface area were not significantly associated and did not significantly interact to predict group membership (P values>.05). Importantly, this suggests BOLD signal and surface area may independently contribute to working memory performance in healthy older adults.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brain Mapping; Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Memory, Short-Term
PubMed: 33188384
DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa322 -
PloS One 2024Mental fatigue is an early and enduring symptom in persons with autoimmune disease particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). Neuromodulation has emerged as a potential...
INTRODUCTION
Mental fatigue is an early and enduring symptom in persons with autoimmune disease particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). Neuromodulation has emerged as a potential treatment although optimal cortical targets have yet to be determined. We aimed to examine cortical hemodynamic responses within bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and frontopolar areas during single and dual cognitive tasks in persons with MS-related fatigue compared to matched controls.
METHODS
We recruited persons (15 MS and 12 age- and sex-matched controls) who did not have physical or cognitive impairment and were free from depressive symptoms. Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) registered hemodynamic responses during the tasks. We calculated oxyhemoglobin peak, time-to-peak, coherence between channels (a potential marker of neurovascular coupling) and functional connectivity (z-score).
RESULTS
In MS, dlPFC demonstrated disrupted hemodynamic coherence during both single and dual tasks, as evidenced by non-significant and negative correlations between fNIRS channels. In MS, reduced coherence occurred in left dorsolateral PFC during the single task but occurred bilaterally as the task became more challenging. Functional connectivity was lower during dual compared to single tasks in the right dorsolateral PFC in both groups. Lower z-score was related to greater feelings of fatigue. Peak and time-to-peak hemodynamic response did not differ between groups or tasks.
CONCLUSIONS
Hemodynamic responses were inconsistent and disrupted in people with MS experiencing mental fatigue, which worsened as the task became more challenging. Our findings point to dlPFC, but not frontopolar areas, as a potential target for neuromodulation to treat cognitive fatigue.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Adult; Multiple Sclerosis; Hemodynamics; Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex; Cognition; Middle Aged; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; Fatigue; Case-Control Studies; Mental Fatigue; Prefrontal Cortex
PubMed: 38837991
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303211 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) for male patients and it is considered to be associated with different causes...
INTRODUCTION
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) for male patients and it is considered to be associated with different causes including hyperglicemia-induced vascular endothelial cell damages. However, the possible central neural mechanisms shared by these two diseases remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the changes of brain activity and their relationships with the clinical characteristics in patients with diabetic ED.
METHODS
The data of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were acquired in 31 T2DM patients with ED (DM-ED) and 31 matched healthy controls (HCs). The whole-brain regional homogeneity (ReHo) values were calculated and compared between groups. In addition, correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between brain regions with altered ReHo values and clinical characteristics in the patient group.
RESULTS
The DM-ED group exhibited increased ReHo values in the right middle frontal gyrus (orbital part) and decreased ReHo values in the left superior frontal gyrus (dorsolateral), paracentral lobule, precuneus and bilateral supplementary motor area when compared with the HCs group. Moreover, significantly negative correlations were found between ReHo values of the left superior frontal gyrus (dorsolateral) and IIEF-5 scores, as well as the level of HbA1c in the DM-ED group.
CONCLUSION
The altered spontaneous brain activity in cognitive-related regions revealed by ReHo values might provide new insights into the neurological pathophysiology underlying DM-ED and serve as potential neuroimaging biomarkers for detecting and evaluating ED in diabetes patients.
Topics: Brain; Brain Mapping; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Erectile Dysfunction; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male
PubMed: 35937825
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.817523 -
BMC Neurology Jan 2021Dorsolateral medullary infarction is a typical cerebral infarction which is characterized by Wallenberg's syndrome. Neurotrophic keratopathy is an uncommon consequence...
BACKGROUND
Dorsolateral medullary infarction is a typical cerebral infarction which is characterized by Wallenberg's syndrome. Neurotrophic keratopathy is an uncommon consequence of dorsolateral medullary infarction. At present, the protocol is aimed to study the dynamic changes in corneal innervation and the ocular surface environment after dorsolateral medullary infarction.
METHODS
This study will involve consecutive data from all medical records of patients within 7 days of acute dorsolateral medullary infarction onset at the Departments of Neurology from 10 collaborating stroke centers. Eligible patients will mainly be characterized based on detailed physical examinations, multimodal imaging, and corneal related examinations and patients will be followed-up for 2 years. Neurotrophic keratopathy after dorsolateral medullary infarction is the primary endpoint. The dynamic histological corneal innervation and ocular surface environment after dorsolateral medullary infarction will be observed during the follow-up period.
DISCUSSION
This multicentric, prospective registry is the first to identify and characterize the dynamic changes of corneal innervation and the ocular surface environment after acute dorsolateral medullary infarction. The significance of the study is to emphasize that the curative effect is based on the doctors' identification of the disease in the earliest stage before irreversible damage occurs to the cornea.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
The registry was registered ( ChiCTR-OPC-17,011,625 ) on June 11, 2017.
Topics: Adult; Cerebral Infarction; Corneal Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Medulla Oblongata; Middle Aged; Registries
PubMed: 33435910
DOI: 10.1186/s12883-020-02030-6 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2023Trust plays an important role in the human economy and people's social lives. Trust is affected by various factors and is related to many brain regions, such as the...
Trust plays an important role in the human economy and people's social lives. Trust is affected by various factors and is related to many brain regions, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, few studies have focused on the impact of the DLPFC on trust through transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), although abundant psychology and neuroscience studies have theoretically discussed the possible link between DLPFC activity and trust. In the present study, we aimed to provide evidence of a causal relationship between the rDLPFC and trust behavior by conducting multiple rounds of the classical trust game and applying tDCS over the rDLPFC. We found that overall, anodal stimulation increased trust compared with cathodal stimulation and sham stimulation, while the results in different stages were not completely the same. Our work indicates a causal relationship between rDLPFC excitability and trust behavior and provides a new direction for future research.
PubMed: 37811320
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1213580 -
The Journal of Neuroscience : the... Mar 2022The shift in control from dorsomedial to dorsolateral striatum during skill and habit formation has been well established, but whether striatal subregions orchestrate...
The shift in control from dorsomedial to dorsolateral striatum during skill and habit formation has been well established, but whether striatal subregions orchestrate this shift cooperatively or competitively remains unclear. Cortical inputs have also been implicated in the shift toward automaticity, but it is unknown whether they mirror their downstream striatal targets across this transition. We addressed these questions using a five step heterogeneous action sequencing task in male rats that is optimally performed by automated chains of actions. By optimizing automatic habitual responding, we discovered that loss of function in the dorsomedial striatum accelerated sequence acquisition. In contrast, loss of function in the dorsolateral striatum impeded acquisition of sequencing, demonstrating functional opposition within the striatum. Unexpectedly, the mPFC was not involved; however, the lateral orbitofrontal cortex was critical. These results shift current theories about striatal control of behavior to a model of competitive opposition, where the dorsomedial striatum interferes with the development of dorsolateral-striatum dependent behavior. We provide the most direct evidence to date that the dorsomedial and dorsolateral striatum compete for control in the acquisition of habitual action sequences. The dorsolateral striatum was critical for sequencing behavior, but loss of dorsomedial striatum function enhanced acquisition. In addition, we found that the mPFC was not required for the formation of automated actions. Using a task that optimizes habitual responding, we demonstrate that the arbitration of dorsomedial and dorsolateral control is not modulated by medial prefrontal cortical activity. However, we find evidence for the role of the lateral orbitofrontal cortex in action sequencing. These results have implications for our understanding of how habits and skills form.
Topics: Animals; Corpus Striatum; Gray Matter; Habits; Male; Neostriatum; Rats
PubMed: 35086903
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1907-21.2022 -
Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral... Jun 2023Signals related to uncertainty are frequently observed in regions of the cognitive control network, including anterior cingulate/medial prefrontal cortex (ACC/mPFC),...
Signals related to uncertainty are frequently observed in regions of the cognitive control network, including anterior cingulate/medial prefrontal cortex (ACC/mPFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and anterior insular cortex. Uncertainty generally refers to conditions in which decision variables may assume multiple possible values and can arise at multiple points in the perception-action cycle, including sensory input, inferred states of the environment, and the consequences of actions. These sources of uncertainty are frequently correlated: noisy input can lead to unreliable estimates of the state of the environment, with consequential influences on action selection. Given this correlation amongst various sources of uncertainty, dissociating the neural structures underlying their estimation presents an ongoing issue: a region associated with uncertainty related to outcomes may estimate outcome uncertainty itself, or it may reflect a cascade effect of state uncertainty on outcome estimates. In this study, we derive signals of state and outcome uncertainty from mathematical models of risk and observe regions in the cognitive control network whose activity is best explained by signals related to state uncertainty (anterior insula), outcome uncertainty (dlPFC), as well as regions that appear to integrate the two (ACC/mPFC).
Topics: Humans; Uncertainty; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Prefrontal Cortex; Gyrus Cinguli; Cognition
PubMed: 37058212
DOI: 10.3758/s13415-023-01091-7 -
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2017Cognitive deficits are a core and disabling feature of psychotic disorders, specifically schizophrenia. Current treatments for impaired cognition in schizophrenia remain... (Review)
Review
Cognitive deficits are a core and disabling feature of psychotic disorders, specifically schizophrenia. Current treatments for impaired cognition in schizophrenia remain insufficient. Recent research suggests transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex can potentiate cognitive improvements in healthy individuals and those with psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia. However, this burgeoning literature has not been quantitatively evaluated. Through a literature search and quantitative review, we identified 194 papers on tDCS, psychosis, and cognition. Selection criteria included pre/post design and sham control to achieve specific sham-adjusted effect sizes. The 6 retained studies all address schizophrenia populations and include single and repeated stimulation, as well as within and between subject designs. Small positive effects were found for anodal stimulation on behavioral measures of attention and working memory, with tentative findings for cognitive ability and memory. Cathodal stimulation yielded a small positive effect on behaviorally measured cognitive ability. Neurophysiological measures of attention showed a small to medium down-modulation effect for anodal stimulation. Implications of these findings and guidelines for future research are discussed. As revealed by this report, due to the paucity of data available, much remains unknown regarding the clinical efficacy of tDCS in schizophrenia.
PubMed: 28210217
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00044 -
Biological Psychiatry Sep 2022Schizophrenia is associated with reduced numbers of spines and dendrites from layer III of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the layer that houses the... (Review)
Review
Schizophrenia is associated with reduced numbers of spines and dendrites from layer III of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the layer that houses the recurrent excitatory microcircuits that subserve working memory and abstract thought. Why are these synapses so vulnerable, while synapses in deeper or more superficial layers are little affected? This review describes the special molecular properties that govern layer III neurotransmission and neuromodulation in the primate dlPFC and how they may render these circuits particularly vulnerable to genetic and environmental insults. These properties include a reliance on NMDA receptor rather than AMPA receptor neurotransmission; cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) magnification of calcium signaling near the glutamatergic synapse of dendritic spines; and potassium channels opened by cAMP/PKA (protein kinase A) signaling that dynamically alter network strength, with built-in mechanisms to take dlPFC "offline" during stress. A variety of genetic and/or environmental insults can lead to the same phenotype of weakened layer III connectivity, in which mechanisms that normally strengthen connectivity are impaired and those that normally weaken connectivity are intensified. Inflammatory mechanisms, such as increased kynurenic acid and glutamate carboxypeptidase II expression, are especially detrimental to layer III dlPFC neurotransmission and modulation, mimicking genetic insults. The combination of genetic and inflammatory insults may cross the threshold into pathology.
Topics: Animals; Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex; Memory, Short-Term; Prefrontal Cortex; Schizophrenia; Synapses
PubMed: 35305820
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.02.003