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Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral... Feb 2024All experiences preserved within episodic memory contain information on the space and time of events. The hippocampus is the main brain region involved in processing... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
All experiences preserved within episodic memory contain information on the space and time of events. The hippocampus is the main brain region involved in processing spatial and temporal information for incorporation within episodic memory representations. However, the other brain regions involved in the encoding and retrieval of spatial and temporal information within episodic memory are unclear, because a systematic review of related studies is lacking and the findings are scattered. The present study was designed to integrate the results of functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography studies by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide converging evidence. In particular, we focused on identifying the brain regions involved in the retrieval of spatial and temporal information. We identified a spatial retrieval network consisting of the inferior temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, angular gyrus, and precuneus. Temporal context retrieval was supported by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Thus, the retrieval of spatial and temporal information is supported by different brain regions, highlighting their different natures within episodic memory.
Topics: Humans; Memory, Episodic; Brain Mapping; Brain; Temporal Lobe; Parietal Lobe; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mental Recall
PubMed: 38030912
DOI: 10.3758/s13415-023-01140-1 -
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Dec 2023Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) has the potential to shed light on how childhood abuse and neglect relates to negative psychiatric outcomes. However, a... (Review)
Review
Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) has the potential to shed light on how childhood abuse and neglect relates to negative psychiatric outcomes. However, a comprehensive review of the impact of childhood maltreatment on the brain's resting state functional organization has not yet been undertaken. We systematically searched rsFC studies in children and youth exposed to maltreatment. Nineteen studies (total n = 3079) met our inclusion criteria. Two consistent findings were observed. Childhood maltreatment was linked to reduced connectivity between the anterior insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, and with widespread heightened amygdala connectivity with key structures in the salience, default mode, and prefrontal regulatory networks. Other brain regions showing altered connectivity included the ventral anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. These patterns of altered functional connectivity associated with maltreatment exposure were independent of symptoms, yet comparable to those seen in individuals with overt clinical disorder. Summative findings indicate that rsFC alterations associated with maltreatment experience are related to poor cognitive and social functioning and are prognostic of future symptoms. In conclusion, maltreatment is associated with altered rsFC in emotional reactivity, regulation, learning, and salience detection brain circuits. This indicates patterns of recalibration of putative mechanisms implicated in maladaptive developmental outcomes.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Child; Brain; Amygdala; Brain Mapping; Gyrus Cinguli; Child Abuse; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 37952287
DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101322 -
Brain Sciences Sep 2023Traumatic brain injury, cardiac arrest, intracerebral hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke may cause disorders of consciousness (DoC). Repetitive transcranial magnetic... (Review)
Review
Traumatic brain injury, cardiac arrest, intracerebral hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke may cause disorders of consciousness (DoC). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been used to promote the recovery of disorders of consciousness (DoC) patients. In this meta-analysis, we examined whether rTMS can relieve DoC patient symptoms. We searched through journal articles indexed in PubMed, the Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library until 20 April 2023. We assessed whether studies used rTMS as an intervention and reported the pre- and post-rTMS coma recovery scale-revised (CRS-R) scores. A total of 207 patients from seven trials were included. rTMS significantly improved the recovery degree of patients; the weighted mean difference (WMD) of the change in the CRS-R score was 1.89 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.39-2.39; < 0.00001) in comparison with controls. The subgroup analysis showed a significant improvement in CRS-R scores in rTMS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (WMD = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.55-2.92; < 0.00001; = 31%) and the primary motor cortex (WMD = 1.63; 95% CI: 0.69-2.57; = 0.0007; = 14%). Twenty-hertz rTMS significantly improved CRS-R scores in patients with DoC (WMD = 1.61; 95% CI: 0.39-2.83; = 0.010; = 31%). Furthermore, CRS-R scores in rTMS over 20 sessions significantly improved (WMD = 1.75; 95% CI: 0.95-2.55; < 0.0001; = 12%). rTMS improved the symptoms of DoC patients; however, the available evidence remains limited and inadequate.
PubMed: 37891731
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101362 -
Brain and Behavior Dec 2023Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex and heterogeneous mental health condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event. Clinical trials have... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex and heterogeneous mental health condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event. Clinical trials have used alternative pharmacological agents to treat PTSD, but their associated neural correlates remain unclear. The present systematic review aims to summarize the changes in brain function associated with the use of these alternative pharmacological agents in PTSD.
METHODS
Clinical trials using functional magnetic resonance imaging, either at rest or during the performance of tasks, were included if they compared the effects of alternative pharmacological agents between PTSD patients and either trauma-exposed controls or never-exposed healthy controls.
RESULTS
Sixteen studies were included, of which 11 used intranasal oxytocin, 2 used hydrocortisone, and 3 used delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Oxytocin administration was associated with the normalization of functional connectivity between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala as well as enhanced the function of brain regions specifically involved in emotion processing (e.g., amygdala), working memory (e.g., dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), and reward (e.g., putamen). Hydrocortisone did not influence brain function at rest or during the performance of an autobiographical memory task, whereas THC was associated with the reduction of the amygdala and increased medial prefrontal cortex activation.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review identified preliminary evidence for normalizing brain function after the use of alternative pharmacological agents. Importantly, sex-specific differences were noted, in particular when using oxytocin, that will require further investigation.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Brain; Emotions; Hydrocortisone; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Oxytocin; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Clinical Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37864378
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3292 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Sep 2023Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique also used as a non-pharmacological intervention against cognitive... (Review)
Review
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique also used as a non-pharmacological intervention against cognitive impairment. The purpose of the present review was to summarize what is currently known about the effectiveness of rTMS intervention on different cognitive domains in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to address potential neuromodulation approaches in combination with electroencephalography (EEG) and neuroimaging, especially functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this systematic review, we consulted three main databases (PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus), and Google Scholar was selected for the gray literature search. The PRISMA flowchart drove the studies' inclusion. The selection process ensured that only high-quality studies were included; after removing duplicate papers, explicit ratings were given based on the quality classification as high (A), moderate (B), or low (C), considering factors such as risks of bias, inaccuracies, inconsistencies, lack of direction, and publication bias. Seven full-text articles fulfilled the stated inclusion, reporting five double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled studies, a case study, and a randomized crossover trial. The results of the reviewed studies suggested that rTMS in MCI patients is safe and effective for enhancing cognitive functions, thus making it a potential therapeutic approach for MCI patients. Changes in functional connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) after targeted rTMS could represent a valuable indicator of treatment response. Finally, high-frequency rTMS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been shown to significantly enhance cognitive functions, such as executive performance, together with the increase of functional connectivity within frontoparietal networks. The main limitations were the number of included studies and the exclusion of studies using intermittent theta-burst stimulation, used in studies on Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, neuroimaging techniques in combination with rTMS have been shown to be useful for future network-based, fMRI-guided therapeutic approaches.
PubMed: 37834834
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12196190 -
Social Cognitive and Affective... Oct 2023In recent decades, a substantial volume of work has examined the neural mechanisms of cognitive reappraisal. Distancing and reinterpretation are two frequently used... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
In recent decades, a substantial volume of work has examined the neural mechanisms of cognitive reappraisal. Distancing and reinterpretation are two frequently used tactics through which reappraisal can be implemented. Theoretical frameworks and prior evidence have suggested that the specific tactic through which one employs reappraisal entails differential neural and psychological mechanisms. Thus, we were motivated to assess the neural mechanisms of this distinction by examining the overlap and differentiation exhibited by the neural correlates of distancing (specifically via objective appraisal) and reinterpretation. We analyzed 32 published functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in healthy adults using multilevel kernel density analysis. Results showed that distancing relative to reinterpretation uniquely recruited right bilateral dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) and left posterior parietal cortex, previously associated with mentalizing, selective attention and working memory. Reinterpretation relative to distancing uniquely recruited left bilateral ventrolateral PFC (VLPFC), previously associated with response selection and inhibition. Further, distancing relative to reinterpretation was associated with greater prevalence of bilateral amygdala attenuation during reappraisal. Finally, a behavioral meta-analysis showed efficacy for both reappraisal tactics. These results are consistent with prior theoretical models for the functional neural architecture of reappraisal via distancing and reinterpretation and suggest potential future applications in region-of-interest specification and neural network analysis in studies focusing on specific reappraisal tactics.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Emotions; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Parietal Lobe; Amygdala; Attention; Brain Mapping; Cognition
PubMed: 37757486
DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsad050 -
Schizophrenia (Heidelberg, Germany) Sep 2023This systematic review aimed to review neuroimaging studies comparing clozapine-resistant schizophrenia patients with clozapine-responding patients, and with first-line... (Review)
Review
This systematic review aimed to review neuroimaging studies comparing clozapine-resistant schizophrenia patients with clozapine-responding patients, and with first-line antipsychotic responding (FLR) patients. A total of 19 studies including 6 longitudinal studies were identified. Imaging techniques comprised computerized tomography (CT, n = 3), structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, n = 7), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS, n = 5), functional MRI (n = 1), single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT, n = 3) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI, n = 1). The most consistent finding was hypo-frontality in the clozapine-resistant group compared with the clozapine-responding group with possible differences in frontal-striatal-basal ganglia circuitry as well as the GABA level between the two treatment-resistant groups. Additional statistically significant findings were reported when comparing clozapine-resistant patients with the FLR group, including lower cortical thickness and brain volume of multiple brain regions as well as lower Glx/Cr level in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Both treatment-resistant groups were found to have extensive differences in neurobiological features in comparison with the FLR group. Overall results suggested treatment-resistant schizophrenia is likely to be a neurobiological distinct type of the illness. Clozapine-resistant and clozapine-responding schizophrenia are likely to have both shared and distinct neurobiological features. However, conclusions from existing studies are limited, and future multi-center collaborative studies are required with a consensus clinical definition of patient samples, multimodal imaging tools, and longitudinal study designs.
PubMed: 37752161
DOI: 10.1038/s41537-023-00392-7 -
Biological Psychiatry Mar 2024Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) treatments have gained considerable attention as potential therapeutic intervention for psychiatric disorders. The identification of... (Review)
Review
Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) treatments have gained considerable attention as potential therapeutic intervention for psychiatric disorders. The identification of reliable biomarkers for predicting clinical response to NIBS has been a major focus of research in recent years. Neuroimaging techniques, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have been used to identify potential biomarkers that could predict response to NIBS. However, identifying clinically actionable brain biomarkers requires robustness. In this systematic review, we aimed to summarize the current state of brain biomarker research for NIBS in depression, focusing only on well-powered studies (N ≥ 88) and/or studies that aimed at independently replicating previous findings, either successfully or unsuccessfully. A total of 220 studies were initially identified, of which 18 MRI studies and 18 EEG studies met the inclusion criteria. All focused on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in depression. After reviewing the included studies, we found the following MRI and EEG biomarkers to be most robust: 1) functional MRI-based functional connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, 2) functional MRI-based network connectivity, 3) task-induced EEG frontal-midline theta, and 4) EEG individual alpha frequency. Future prospective studies should further investigate the clinical actionability of these specific EEG and MRI biomarkers to bring biomarkers closer to clinical reality.
Topics: Humans; Prefrontal Cortex; Depression; Prospective Studies; Brain; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Electroencephalography
PubMed: 37734515
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.09.009 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023Intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), which is a form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), can produce 600 pulses to the left dorsolateral...
Efficacy and safety of intermittent theta burst stimulation versus high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for patients with treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
Intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), which is a form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), can produce 600 pulses to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in a stimulation time of just over 3 min. The objective of this systematic review was to compare the safety and efficacy of iTBS and high-frequency (≥ 5 Hz) rTMS (HF-rTMS) for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
METHODS
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy and safety of iTBS and HF-rTMS were identified by searching English and Chinese databases. The primary outcomes were study-defined response and remission.
RESULTS
Two RCTs ( = 474) investigating the efficacy and safety of adjunctive iTBS ( = 239) versus HF-rTMS ( = 235) for adult patients with TRD met the inclusion criteria. Among the two included studies (Jadad score = 5), all were classified as high quality. No group differences were found regarding the overall rates of response (iTBS group: 48.0% versus HF-rTMS group: 45.5%) and remission (iTBS group: 30.0% versus HF-rTMS group: 25.2%; all > 0.05). The rates of discontinuation and adverse events such as headache were similar between the two groups (all > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
The antidepressant effects and safety of iTBS and HF-rTMS appeared to be similar for patients with TRD, although additional RCTs with rigorous methodology are needed.
PubMed: 37583841
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1244289 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2023Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive intervention that holds promise for improving cognitive function in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD)....
INTRODUCTION
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive intervention that holds promise for improving cognitive function in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the effectiveness of this therapy and the optimal TMS parameters has not reached a consensus. The purpose of the meta-analysis was to systematically discern the effectiveness of different components of TMS protocols on cognitive improvement in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD.
METHODS
The meta-analysis was preregistered on Prospero (registration number: CRD42022345482). PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library databases were used to search, screen and identify eligible studies with the following keywords: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation OR TMS OR theta burst stimulation AND Alzheimer OR Alzheimers OR Alzheimer's OR mild cognitive impairment OR MCI. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of participants with accepted standardized diagnostic criteria were searched by two authors independently. The risk of bias was assessed using an adapted Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the random-effects models. Subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the influential factors.
RESULTS
A total of 21 studies and 25 trials were included in this meta-analysis. The findings revealed a significant overall cognition improvement of real stimulation compared with sham stimulation (short-term effects: SMD, 0.91; 95% CI 0.44-1.38; < 0.01; long-lasting effects: SMD, 0.91; 95% CI 0.27-1.55; < 0.01). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral cerebellums, as well as moderate frequency stimulation (5 Hz and 10 Hz) on mild and moderate cognitive impairment patients, were more effective than other TMS protocols. However, the additional application of cognitive training showed no significant improvement.
CONCLUSION
Cognitive improvement effect of TMS was demonstrated in MCI and AD patients in both short-term assessment and long-lasting outcomes, and the efficiency of TMS is affected by the stimulation frequency, stimulation site, and participant characteristics. Further RCTs are needed to validate the findings of our subgroup analysis.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022345482, identifier: CRD42022345482.
PubMed: 37528850
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1209205