Front Integr Neurosci [JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Distractor anticipation during working memory is associated with theta and beta oscillations across spatial scales.
Jung DY, Sahoo BC, Snyder AC
Front Integr Neurosci · 2025 · PMID 40196759 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Anticipating distractors during working memory maintenance is critical to reduce their disruptive effects. In this study, we aimed to identify the oscillatory correlates of this process across different spa...
INTRODUCTION: Anticipating distractors during working memory maintenance is critical to reduce their disruptive effects. In this study, we aimed to identify the oscillatory correlates of this process across different spatial scales of neural activity. METHODS: We simultaneously recorded local field potentials (LFP) from the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) and electroencephalograms (EEG) from the scalp of monkeys performing a modified memory-guided saccade (MGS) task. The monkeys were required to remember the location of a target visual stimulus while anticipating distracting visual stimulus, flashed at 50% probability during the delay period. RESULTS: We found significant theta-band activity across spatial scales during anticipation of a distractor, closely linked with underlying working memory dynamics, through decoding and cross-temporal generalization analyses. EEG particularly reflected reactivation of memory around the anticipated time of a distractor, even in the absence of stimuli. During this anticipated time, beta-band activity exhibited transiently enhanced intrahemispheric communication between the LPFC and occipitoparietal brain areas. These oscillatory phenomena were observed only when the monkeys successfully performed the task, implicating their possible functional role in mitigating anticipated distractors. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate that distractor anticipation recruits multiple oscillatory processes across the brain during working memory maintenance, with a key activity observed predominantly in the theta and beta bands.
Investigating the psychophysiological effects of NaiKan Therapy: salivary oxytocin and cortisol release.
Qian M, Wang M, Song S … +8 more , Xia H, Huang R, Yuan Q, Zhu Z, Wei H, Chen M, Ma Q, Zhang H
Front Integr Neurosci · 2025 · PMID 40070797 · Full text
NaiKan Therapy, a method of self-reflection and introspection, has garnered considerable interest for its psychological benefits. However, its physiological impacts, particularly on hormonal regulation, remain underexplo...
NaiKan Therapy, a method of self-reflection and introspection, has garnered considerable interest for its psychological benefits. However, its physiological impacts, particularly on hormonal regulation, remain underexplored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of NaiKan Therapy on salivary oxytocin and cortisol release, shedding light on the psychophysiological mechanisms underlying this introspective practice. Sixty participants underwent Naikan Therapy sessions over five consecutive days, during which salivary samples were collected at multiple time points. Salivary oxytocin and cortisol levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Our results revealed significant increases in salivary oxytocin levels following NaiKan Therapy, suggesting a potential role of this practice in enhancing social bonding and emotional regulation. Conversely, salivary cortisol levels exhibited a decrease post-therapy, indicating a reduction in stress reactivity. These findings provide novel insights into the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying NaiKan Therapy and highlight its potential as a holistic approach to improving mental wellbeing. Further research exploring the long-term effects of NaiKan Therapy and its implications for clinical practice is warranted.
Phase slips extracted from derivatives of EEG data provide a deeper insight into the formation of cortical phase transitions.
Ramon C, Gargiulo P
Front Integr Neurosci · 2025 · PMID 40070796 · Full text
The phase slips are generally extracted from the EEG using Hilbert transforms but could also be extracted from the derivatives of EEG, providing additional information about the formation of cortical phase transitions. W...
The phase slips are generally extracted from the EEG using Hilbert transforms but could also be extracted from the derivatives of EEG, providing additional information about the formation of cortical phase transitions. We examined this from the 30 s long, 256-channel resting state, eyes open EEG data of a 30-year-old male subject. The phase slip rates, PSR1 from EEG, PSR2 from the first-order derivative of EEG, and PSR3 from the second-order derivative of EEG, respectively, were extracted. The study was performed in the alpha (7-12 Hz) band only. The spatiotemporal plots of the EEG and phase slip rates over a 3.0 s period with a 0.5 s resolution were made with a montage layout of the 256 electrode positions. The spatiotemporal patterns of EEG and its derivatives exhibited shifting activity from posterior visual areas to the central and frontal regions over the 3.0 s period. The PSR1, PSR2, and PSR3 activity areas were different from the EEG and were distributed in larger areas as compared with the EEG and its derivatives. Also, the PSR2 and PSR3 activity areas and magnitudes were significantly different as compared with the PSR1 alone. This was also confirmed ( < 0.01) by the one-way ANOVA analysis of the means of PSR1, PSR2, and PSR3. These results show that PSR2 and PSR3 carry additional information that could potentially be biomarkers for studying the rate of formation of phase slips and the related cortical activity from the derivatives of EEG data.
From non-human to human primates: a translational approach to enhancing resection, safety, and indications in glioma surgery while preserving sensorimotor abilities.
Gambaretti M, Viganò L, Gallo M … +10 more , Pratelli G, Sciortino T, Gay L, Conti Nibali M, Gallotti AL, Tariciotti L, Mattioli L, Bello L, Cerri G, Rossi M
Front Integr Neurosci · 2025 · PMID 40008262 · Full text
Since the pivotal studies of neurophysiologists in the early 20th century, research on brain functions in non-human primates has provided valuable insights into the neural mechanisms subserving neurological function. By...
Since the pivotal studies of neurophysiologists in the early 20th century, research on brain functions in non-human primates has provided valuable insights into the neural mechanisms subserving neurological function. By using data acquired on non-human primates as a reference, important progress in knowledge of the human brain and its functions has been achieved. The translational impact allowed by this scientific effort must be recognized in the implementation of the current surgical techniques particularly in support of the neurosurgical approach to brain tumors. In the surgical treatment of brain tumors, the ability to maximally extend the resection allows an improvement in overall survival, progression-free survival, and quality of life of patients. The main goal, and, at the same time, the main challenge, of oncological neurological surgery is to avoid permanent neurological deficit while reaching maximal resection, particularly when the tumor infiltrates the neural network subserving motor functions. Brain mapping techniques were developed using neurophysiological probes to identify the areas and tracts subserving sensorimotor function, ensuring their preservation during the resection. During the last 20 years, starting from the classical "Penfield" technique, brain mapping has been progressively implemented. Among the major advancements was the introduction of high-frequency direct electrical stimulation. Its refinement, along with the complementary use of low-frequency stimulation, allowed a further refinement of stimulation protocols. In this narrative review, we propose an analysis of the process through which the knowledge acquired through experiments on non-human primates influenced and changed the current approach to neurosurgical procedures. We then describe the main brain mapping techniques used in the resection of tumors located within sensorimotor circuits. We also detail how these techniques allowed the acquisition of new data on the properties of areas and tracts underlying sensorimotor control, in turn fostering the design of new tools to navigate within cortical and subcortical areas, that were before deemed to be "sacred and untouchable."
On growth and form of animal behavior.
Golani I, Kafkafi N
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39967809 · Full text
In this study we propose an architecture () for the growth and form of behavior in vertebrates and arthropods. We show in what sense behavior is an extension of anatomy. Then we show that movement-based behavior shares l...
In this study we propose an architecture () for the growth and form of behavior in vertebrates and arthropods. We show in what sense behavior is an extension of anatomy. Then we show that movement-based behavior shares linearity and modularity with the skeletal body plan, and with the Hox genes; that it mirrors the geometry of the physical environment; and that it reveals the animal's understanding of the animate and physical situation, with implications for perception, attention, emotion, and primordial cognition. First we define the primitives of movement in relational terms, as in comparative anatomy, yielding homological primitives. Then we define modules, generative rules and the architectural plan of behavior in terms of these primitives. In this way we expose the homology of behaviors, and establish a rigorous trans-phyletic comparative discipline of the morphogenesis of movement-based behavior. In morphogenesis, behavior builds up and narrows incessantly according to strict geometric rules. The same rules apply in moment-to-moment behavior, in ontogenesis, and partly also in phylogenesis. We demonstrate these rules in development, in neurological recovery, with drugs (dopamine-stimulated striatal modulation), in stressful situations, in locomotor behavior, and partly also in human pathology. The buildup of movement culminates in free, undistracted, exuberant behavior. It is observed in play, in superior animals during agonistic interactions, and in humans in higher states of functioning. Geometrization promotes the study of genetics, anatomy, and behavior within one and the same discipline. The geometrical portrays both already evolved dimensions, and prospective dimensional constraints on evolutionary behavioral innovations.
Unlocking autism's complexity: the e Initiative's path to comprehensive motor function analysis.
Good AP, Horn E
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39906124 · Full text
The long-standing practice of using manualized inventories and observational assessments to diagnose and track motor function in autism overlooks critical data invisible to the naked eye. This subjective approach can int...
The long-standing practice of using manualized inventories and observational assessments to diagnose and track motor function in autism overlooks critical data invisible to the naked eye. This subjective approach can introduce biases and hinder the translation of research into clinical applications that rely on objective markers of brain-body connections. Meanwhile, we are experiencing a digital healthcare revolution, marked by innovations in the collection and analysis of electronic health records, personal genomes, and diverse physiological measurements. Advanced technologies, including current wearable devices, integrate both active and passive (sensor-based) data collection, providing a more comprehensive view of human health. Despite advances in sensors, wearables, algorithms, machine learning, and agentic AI, autism research remains siloed, with many tools inaccessible to affected families and care teams. There is a pressing need to merge these technological advances and expedite their translation into accessible, scalable tools and solutions to diversify scientific understanding. In response, this Perspective introduces the Initiative, a coalition spearheaded by the nonprofit 2 m Foundation, composed of self-advocates, families, clinicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors who aim to advance and refine the measurement of movement in autism. will make motor screenings more dynamic and longitudinal while supporting continuous assessment of targeted interventions. By fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, seeks to accelerate the integration of the expanding knowledge base into widespread practice. Deep, longitudinal, multi-modal profiling of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder offers an opportunity to address gaps in current data and methods, enabling new avenues of inquiry and a more comprehensive understanding of this complex, heterogeneous condition.
From behavioral synchrony to language and beyond.
Eulau K, Hirsh-Pasek K
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39723335 · Full text
Decades of research on joint attention, coordinated joint engagement, and social contingency identify caregiver-child interaction in infancy as a foundation for language. These patterns of early behavioral synchrony cont...
Decades of research on joint attention, coordinated joint engagement, and social contingency identify caregiver-child interaction in infancy as a foundation for language. These patterns of early behavioral synchrony contribute to the structure and connectivity of the brain in the temporoparietal regions typically associated with language skills. Thus, children attune to their communication partner and subsequently build cognitive skills directly relating to comprehension and production of language, literacy skills, and beyond. This has yielded marked interest in measuring this contingent, synchronous social behavior neurally. Neurological measures of early social interactions between caregiver and child have become a hotbed for research. In this paper, we review that research and suggest that these early neural couplings between adults and children lay the foundation for a broader cognitive system that includes attention, problem solving, and executive function skills. This review describes the role of behavioral synchrony in language development, asks what the relationship is between neural synchrony and language growth, and how neural synchrony may play a role in the development of a broader cognitive system founded in a socially-gated brain. We address the known neural correlates of these processes with an emphasis on work that examines the tight temporal contingency between communicative partners during these rich social interactions, with a focus on EEG and fNIRS and brief survey of MRI and MEG.
Onset timing of letter processing in auditory and visual sensory cortices.
Raij T, Lin FH, Letham B … +5 more , Lankinen K, Nayak T, Witzel T, Hämäläinen M, Ahveninen J
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39610979 · Full text
Here, we report onset latencies for multisensory processing of letters in the primary auditory and visual sensory cortices. Healthy adults were presented with 300-ms visual and/or auditory letters (uppercase Roman alphab...
Here, we report onset latencies for multisensory processing of letters in the primary auditory and visual sensory cortices. Healthy adults were presented with 300-ms visual and/or auditory letters (uppercase Roman alphabet and the corresponding auditory letter names in English). Magnetoencephalography (MEG) evoked response generators were extracted from the auditory and visual sensory cortices for both within-modality and cross-sensory activations; these locations were mainly consistent with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) results in the same subjects. In the primary auditory cortices (Heschl's gyri) activity to auditory stimuli commenced at 25 ms and to visual stimuli at 65 ms (median values). In the primary visual cortex (Calcarine fissure) the activations started at 48 ms to visual and at 62 ms to auditory stimuli. This timing pattern suggests that the origins of the cross-sensory activations may be in the primary sensory cortices of the opposite modality, with conduction delays (from one sensory cortex to another) of 17-37 ms. Audiovisual interactions for letters started at 125 ms in the auditory and at 133 ms in the visual cortex (60-71 ms after inputs from both modalities converged). Multivariate pattern analysis suggested similar latency differences between the sensory cortices. Combined with our earlier findings for simpler stimuli (noise bursts and checkerboards), these results suggest that primary sensory cortices participate in early cross-modal and interaction processes similarly for different stimulus materials, but previously learned audiovisual associations and stimulus complexity may delay the start of the audiovisual interaction stage.
Editorial: Emotions in neuroscience: fundamentals and new discoveries.
Silani G, Aglioti SM, Perani D
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39411706 · Full text
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Online eurythmy therapy for cancer-related fatigue: a prospective repeated-measures observational study exploring fatigue, stress, and mindfulness.
Timm E, Ko YM, Hundhammer T … +2 more , Berlowitz I, Wolf U
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39364432 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Cancer is a debilitating disease with an often chronic course. One of the most taxing and prevalent sequelae in this context is cancer-related fatigue (CRF) resulting from the disease and/or associated trea...
INTRODUCTION: Cancer is a debilitating disease with an often chronic course. One of the most taxing and prevalent sequelae in this context is cancer-related fatigue (CRF) resulting from the disease and/or associated treatments. Over the last years mindfulness-based interventions such as eurythmy therapy (ERYT), a mindful-movement therapy from anthroposophic medicine, have emerged as promising adjunct therapies in oncology. This prospective study investigated an online implementation of ERYT for CRF using a single arm repeated-measures design based on two consecutive studies. METHOD: Study 1 consisted of an initial assessment before, during, after, and at follow up of a 6-week online ERYT-based program in a mixed sample of = 165 adults with or without cancer diagnosis. Study 2 involved a similar design with an adapted 8-week online ERYT-based program in a sample of = 125 adults who had been diagnosed with cancer. Outcomes were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue, Perceived Stress Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and Insomnia Severity Index (for Study 1 all, for Study 2 only the former three). We additionally performed an exploratory analysis regarding practice frequency and duration. Data were analyzed using Linear Mixed-Effect Models per outcome; ANOVA was used for practice times. RESULTS: For Study 1, mixed-effects model estimates showed no significant effect on fatigue, but pointed to significantly improved emotional and physical well-being, reduced stress, as well as increased mindfulness (mixed subjects). Functional and social well-being or sleep quality did not change significantly. Study 2 model estimates on the other hand showed significantly improved CRF in conjunction with the ERYT-based online intervention, as well as improved stress and mindfulness scores (cancer-diagnosed subjects). CONCLUSION: Taken together, while our results should be interpreted with caution given the single-arm design and relatively high dropout, they suggest online ERYT may be associated with a reduction in fatigue for individuals diagnosed with cancer, an increase in mindfulness, and benefits for stress and certain well-being indicators. The online group format is advantageous in view of affordability and accessibility, the latter being particularly relevant for individuals who due to high symptom severity cannot leave their homes. Randomized-controlled studies will be needed to confirm these findings.
Differences in brain connectivity between older adults practicing Tai Chi and Water Aerobics: a case-control study.
Port AP, Paulo AJM, de Azevedo Neto RM … +4 more , Lacerda SS, Radvany J, Santaella DF, Kozasa EH
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39323912 · Full text
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the neural mechanisms that differentiate mind-body practices from aerobic physical activities and elucidate their effects on cognition and healthy aging. We examined functional...
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the neural mechanisms that differentiate mind-body practices from aerobic physical activities and elucidate their effects on cognition and healthy aging. We examined functional brain connectivity in older adults (age > 60) without pre-existing uncontrolled chronic diseases, comparing Tai Chi with Water Aerobics practitioners. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, case-control fMRI study involving two strictly matched groups ( = 32) based on gender, age, education, and years of practice. Seed-to-voxel analysis was performed using the Salience, and Frontoparietal Networks as seed regions in Stroop Word-Color and N-Back tasks and Resting State. RESULTS: During Resting State condition and using Salience network as a seed, Tai Chi group exhibited a stronger correlation between Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Insular Cortex areas (regions related to interoceptive awareness, cognitive control and motor organization of subjective aspects of experience). In N-Back task and using Salience network as seed, Tai Chi group showed increased correlation between Left Supramarginal Gyrus and various cerebellar regions (related to memory, attention, cognitive processing, sensorimotor control and cognitive flexibility). In Stroop task, using Salience network as seed, Tai Chi group showed enhanced correlation between Left Rostral Prefrontal Cortex and Right Occipital Pole, and Right Lateral Occipital Cortex (areas associated with sustained attention, prospective memory, mediate attention between external stimuli and internal intention). Additionally, in Stroop task, using Frontoparietal network as seed, Water Aerobics group exhibited a stronger correlation between Left Posterior Parietal Lobe (specialized in word meaning, representing motor actions, motor planning directed to objects, and general perception) and different cerebellar regions (linked to object mirroring). CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence of differences in functional connectivity between older adults who have received training in a mind-body practice (Tai Chi) or in an aerobic physical activity (Water Aerobics) when performing attentional and working memory tasks, as well as during resting state.
Intermittent hypoxic training - derived exosomes in stroke rehabilitation.
Ryou MG, Burton S
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39323911 · Full text
Ischemic stroke is the fourth leading cause of adult disability in the US, and it is a huge social burden all over the world. However, the efficient treatment of ischemic stroke is not available. An apparent reason for f...
Ischemic stroke is the fourth leading cause of adult disability in the US, and it is a huge social burden all over the world. However, the efficient treatment of ischemic stroke is not available. An apparent reason for failing to find or develop an intervention for ischemic stroke is contributed to the tight blood-brain barrier (BBB). The unique characteristics of exosomes that can traverse BBB have been highlighted among researchers investigating interventions for ischemic stroke conditions. Additionally, intermittent hypoxic training has been considered a potential intervention in the treatment or rehabilitation process of ischemic stroke patients. In this mini-review, we are going to review the possibility of applying exosomes produced by a subject who does intermittent hypoxic conditioning in a treatment program for ischemic stroke.
Prenatal tobacco and alcohol exposure, white matter microstructure, and early language skills in toddlers from a South African birth cohort.
Scholten C, Ghasoub M, Geeraert B … +11 more , Joshi S, Wedderburn CJ, Roos A, Subramoney S, Hoffman N, Narr K, Woods R, Zar HJ, Stein DJ, Donald K, Lebel C
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39286039 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Tobacco and alcohol are the two most common substances used during pregnancy, and both can disrupt neurodevelopment, resulting in cognitive and behavioral deficits including language difficulties. Previous...
INTRODUCTION: Tobacco and alcohol are the two most common substances used during pregnancy, and both can disrupt neurodevelopment, resulting in cognitive and behavioral deficits including language difficulties. Previous studies show that children with prenatal substance exposure exhibit microstructural alterations in major white matter pathways, though few studies have investigated the impact of prenatal substance exposure on white matter microstructure and language skills during the toddler years. METHODS: In this study, 93 children (34 exposed to alcohol and/or tobacco) aged 23 years from the Drakenstein Child Health Study, South Africa, completed Expressive and Receptive Communication assessments from the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III) and underwent diffusion MRI scans. Diffusion images were preprocessed, and 11 major white matter tracts were isolated. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were extracted for each white matter tract. Linear regression was used to examine differences between the tobacco/alcohol exposed group and unexposed controls for FA, MD, and language scores, as well as relationships between brain metrics and language. There were no significant group differences in language scores or FA. RESULTS: Children with alcohol or tobacco exposure had lower average MD in the splenium of the corpus callosum compared to unexposed controls. Significant interactions between prenatal substance exposure and language scores were seen in 7 tracts but did not survive multiple comparisons correction. DISCUSSION: Our findings show that prenatal alcohol and/or tobacco exposure appear to alter the relationship between white matter microstructure and early language skills in this population of toddlers, potentially laying the basis of language deficits observed later in older children with prenatal substance exposure, which may have implications for learning and interventions.
Pain, mindfulness, and placebo: a systematic review.
Lopes A, Sampaio R, Tavares I
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39267814 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Pain is a complex phenomenon influenced by psychosocial variables, including the placebo effect. The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for pain has been demonstrated in experimental st...
INTRODUCTION: Pain is a complex phenomenon influenced by psychosocial variables, including the placebo effect. The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for pain has been demonstrated in experimental studies and systematic reviews, but the mechanisms of action are only starting to be established. Whether the expectations of individuals experiencing pain can be manipulated during MBIs remains to be systematically evaluated, and what role placebo effects might play remains to be explored. METHODS: To evaluate the literature analyzing placebo effects in MBIs for pain, we performed a systematic review based on searches conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases. Our search revealed a total of 272 studies, of which only 19 studies were included (10 acute pain and nine chronic pain), considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria related to expectations and placebo effects. RESULTS: From the 19 included studies, six measured placebo effects only in relation to the pharmacological intervention used in the study and not to an MBI. DISCUSSION: The results of the few studies that focused on the placebo effects of the MBIs indicate that placebo and expectations play a role in the MBIs' effects on pain. Although expectations and placebo effects are frequently discussed in the context of mindfulness and pain research, these results show that these factors are still not routinely considered in experimental designs. However, the results of the few studies included in this systematic review highlight a clear role for placebo and expectancy effects in the overall effects of MBIs for both acute and chronic pain, suggesting that routine measurement and further consideration in future studies are warranted. Additional research in this fascinating and challenging field is necessary to fully understand the connection between MBIs, placebo/expectations, and their effects on pain relief.
Editorial: Mechanisms and models of musculoskeletal pain and nonpharmacological treatment, volume II.
Reed WR, Gudavalli MR, Martins DF
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39253527 · Full text
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Ultra-overt therapy: a novel medical approach centered on patient consciousness.
Shirbache K, Liaghat A, Saeifar S … +4 more , Nezameslami A, Shirbacheh A, Nasri H, Namazi H
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39220208 · Full text
Within the realms of human and artificial intelligence, the concepts of consciousness and comprehension are fundamental distinctions. In the clinical sphere, patient awareness regarding medication and its physiological p...
Within the realms of human and artificial intelligence, the concepts of consciousness and comprehension are fundamental distinctions. In the clinical sphere, patient awareness regarding medication and its physiological processes plays a crucial role in determining drug efficacy and outcomes. This article introduces a novel perspective on prescription practices termed "Ultra-Overt Therapy" (UOT). A review of current supporting evidence was conducted through a non-systematic search in PubMed and Google Scholar, focusing on concepts such as the "mind-body relationship," "placebo response," "neuroscience," and "complementary medicine." Our findings, rooted in the mechanisms of the "placebo effect," the intricacies of "intersubjective therapy," the potency of "interoceptive awareness," and other domains of medical science, suggest that UOT holds theoretical promise. Future research endeavors focusing on these areas may elucidate the global impact of this method on medical treatment and patient care.
Prenatal low-dose Bisphenol A exposure impacts cortical development via cAMP-PKA-CREB pathway in offspring.
Jiang C, Guan J, Tang X … +6 more , Zhang Y, Li X, Li Y, Chen Z, Zhang J, Li JD
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39170668 · Full text
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used plasticizer known to cause various disorders. Despite a global reduction in the use of BPA-containing products, prenatal exposure to low-dose BPA, even those below established safety li...
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used plasticizer known to cause various disorders. Despite a global reduction in the use of BPA-containing products, prenatal exposure to low-dose BPA, even those below established safety limits, has been linked to neurological and behavioral deficits in childhood. The precise mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In the present study, we observed a significant increase in the number of cortical neurons in offspring born to dams exposed to low-dose BPA during pregnancy. We also found that this prenatal exposure to low-dose BPA led to increased proliferation but reduced migration of cortical neurons. Transcriptomic analysis via RNA sequencing revealed an aberrant activation of the cAMP-PKA-CREB pathway in offspring exposed to BPA. The use of H89, a selective PKA inhibitor, effectively rescued the deficits in both proliferation and migration of cortical neurons. Furthermore, offspring from dams exposed to low-dose BPA exhibited manic-like behaviors, including hyperactivity, anti-depressant-like responses, and reduced anxiety. While H89 normalized hyperactivity, it didn't affect the other behavioral changes. These results suggest that the overactivation of PKA plays a causative role in BPA-induced changes in neuronal development. Our data also indicate that manic-like behaviors induced by prenatal low-dose BPA exposure may be influenced by both altered neuronal development and abnormal PKA signaling in adulthood.
Association of chronotype with language and episodic memory processing in children: implications for brain structure.
Yamashita M, Shou Q, Mizuno Y
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39170667 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Chronotype refers to individual preference in circadian cycles and is associated with psychiatric problems. It is mainly classified into early (those who prefer to be active in the morning and sleep and wak...
INTRODUCTION: Chronotype refers to individual preference in circadian cycles and is associated with psychiatric problems. It is mainly classified into early (those who prefer to be active in the morning and sleep and wake up early) and late (those who prefer to be active in the evening and sleep and wake up late) chronotypes. Although previous research has demonstrated associations between chronotype and cognitive function and brain structure in adults, little is known regarding these associations in children. Here, we aimed to investigate the relationship between chronotype and cognitive function in children. Moreover, based on the significant association between chronotype and specific cognitive functions, we extracted regions-of-interest (ROI) and examined the association between chronotype and ROI volumes. METHODS: Data from 4,493 children (mean age of 143.06 months) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study were obtained, wherein chronotype (mid-sleep time on free days corrected for sleep debt on school days) was assessed by the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. Subsequently, the associations between chronotype, cognitive function, and ROI volumes were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Behaviorally, chronotype was negatively associated with vocabulary knowledge, reading skills, and episodic memory performance. Based on these associations, the ROI analysis focused on language-related and episodic memory-related areas revealed a negative association between chronotype and left precentral gyrus and right posterior cingulate cortex volumes. Furthermore, the precentral gyrus volume was positively associated with vocabulary knowledge and reading skills, while the posterior cingulate cortex volume was positively associated with episodic memory performance. DISCUSSION: These results suggest that children with late chronotype have lower language comprehension and episodic memory and smaller brain volumes in the left precentral gyrus and right posterior cingulate cortex associated with these cognitive functions.
Voluntary wheel running access produces opposite effects in male and female rats on both palatable diet consumption and associated ventral striatal opioid- and dopamine-related gene expression.
Kocum CG, Cam Y, Shay DA … +7 more , Schweizer TA, Konrad ER, Houska TK, Sardina CA, Schachtman TR, Vieira-Potter VJ, Will MJ
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39131599 · Full text
The relationship between physical activity levels and feeding behaviors has been a focus of preclinical research for decades, yet this interaction has only recently been explored for potential sex differences. The aim of...
The relationship between physical activity levels and feeding behaviors has been a focus of preclinical research for decades, yet this interaction has only recently been explored for potential sex differences. The aim of the present study was to isolate sex-dependent effects of voluntary wheel running (RUN) vs. sedentary locked wheel (SED) home cage conditions on palatability-driven feeding behavior using a 2-diet choice task between standard chow and a high-fat diet. The sex-dependent effects of physical activity on feeding behavior were examined following a within-subject novel reversal design of physical activity conditions (i.e., RUN > SED > RUN), to assess temporal sensitivity of the interaction. Following the final 2 weeks of reestablished and sustained RUN vs. SED conditions in separate groups of both males and females, reward-related opioid and dopamine gene expression within the nucleus accumbens (Acb) brain region were analyzed. Results demonstrated that the initial RUN > SED transition led to sex-dependent effects of SED condition, as males increased, and females decreased their high fat consumption, compared to their respective high fat consumption during previous RUN condition phase. Following reintroduction to the RUN condition, males decreased, and females increased their high fat consumption, compared to their separate SED control group. Last, sex-dependent shifts in ventral striatal opioid- and dopamine-related gene expression were observed to parallel the behavioral effects. The major findings of the study reveal that SED and RUN home cage conditions shift palatability-driven feeding in the opposite direction for males and females, these effects are sensitive to reversal, and these sex-dependent feeding behaviors track sex-dependent changes to critical reward-related gene expression patterns in the Acb. Considering the present high rates of sedentary behavior and obesity, furthering our understanding of the interaction between physical activity (or lack thereof) and feeding behavior should be a priority, especially in the context of these divergent sex-dependent outcomes.
Electrophysiological responses to appetitive and consummatory behavior in the rostral nucleus tractus solitarius in awake, unrestrained rats.
Pilato SA, O'Connell FP, Victor JD … +1 more , Di Lorenzo PM
Front Integr Neurosci · 2024 · PMID 39082054 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: As the intermediate nucleus in the brainstem receiving information from the tongue and transmitting information upstream, the rostral portion of the nucleus tractus solitarius (rNTS) is most often described...
INTRODUCTION: As the intermediate nucleus in the brainstem receiving information from the tongue and transmitting information upstream, the rostral portion of the nucleus tractus solitarius (rNTS) is most often described as a "taste relay". Although recent evidence implicates the caudal NTS in a broad neural circuit involved in regulating ingestion, there is little information about how cells in the rNTS respond when an animal is eating solid food. METHODS: Single cells in the rNTS were recorded in awake, unrestrained rats as they explored and ate solid foods (Eating paradigm) chosen to correspond to the basic taste qualities: milk chocolate for sweet, salted peanuts for salty, Granny Smith apples for sour and broccoli for bitter. A subset of cells was also recorded as the animal licked exemplars of the five basic taste qualities: sucrose, NaCl, citric acid, quinine and MSG (Lick paradigm). RESULTS: Most cells were excited by exploration of a food-filled well, sometimes responding prior to contact with the food. In contrast, cells that were excited by food well exploration became significantly less active while the animal was eating the food. Most cells were broadly tuned across foods, and those cells that were recorded in both the Lick and Eating paradigms showed little correspondence in their tuning across paradigms. DISCUSSION: The preponderance of robust responses to the appetitive versus the consummatory phase of ingestion suggests that multimodal convergence onto cells in the rNTS may be used in decision making about ingestion.
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