Altered spontaneous activity in the frontal gyrus in dry eye: a resting-state functional MRI study

AbstractThis study investigated neurologic changes in patients with dry eye (DE) by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and to used regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis to clarify the relationship between these changes and clinical features of DE. A total of 28 patients with DE and 28 matched healthy control (HC) subjects (10 males and 18 females in each group) were enrolled. fMRI scans were performed in both groups. We carried out ReHo analysis to assess differences in neural activity between the 2 groups, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the performance of ReHo values of specific brain areas in distinguishing DE patients from HCs. The relationship between average ReHo values and clinical characteristics was assessed by correlation analysis. ReHo values of the middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, and superior frontal gyrus were significantly lower in DE patients compared to HCs. The ROC analysis showed that ReHo value had high accuracy in distinguishing between DE patients and HCs (P < 0.0001). The ReHo values of the middle frontal gyrus and dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus were correlated to disease duration (P < 0.05). Symptoms of ocular surface injury in DE patients are associated with dysfunction in specific brain regions, which may underlie the cognitive impairment, psychiatric symptoms, and depressive mood observed in DE patients. The decreased ReHo values of some brain gyri in this study may provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and determination of treatment efficacy.

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Investigation of changes in the activity and function of dry eye-associated brain regions using the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations(ALFF)method

Bioscience Reports ◽

10.1042/bsr20210941 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Tie Sun ◽

Hui-Ye Shu ◽

Jie-Li Wu ◽

Ting Su ◽

Yu-Ji Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dry Eye ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Middle Frontal Gyrus ◽

Brain Areas ◽

Spontaneous Brain Activity ◽

Frequency Fluctuations

Objective: The local characteristics of spontaneous brain activity in patients with dry eye (DE) and its relationship with clinical characteristics were evaluated using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) method. Methods: A total of 27 patients with DE (10 males and 17 females) and 28 healthy controls (HCs) (10 males and 18 females) were recruited, matched according to sex, age, weight, and height, classified into the DE and HC groups, and examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Spontaneous brain activity changes were recorded using ALFF technology. Data were recorded and plotted on the receiver operating characteristic curve, reflecting changes in activity in different brain areas. Finally, Pearson correlation analysis was used to calculate the potential relationship between spontaneous brain activity abnormalities in multiple brain regions and clinical features in patients with DE. GraphPad Prism 8 (GraphPad Software, Inc.) was used to analyze the linear correlation between the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and ALFF value. Results: Compared with HCs, the ALFF values of patients with DE were decreased in the right middle frontal gyrus/right inferior orbitofrontal cortex, left triangle inferior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and right superior frontal gyrus. In contrast, the ALFF value of patients with DE was increased in the left calcarine. Conclusion: There are significant fluctuations in the ALFF value of specific brain regions in patients with DE versus HCs. This corroborates previous evidence showing that the symptoms of ocular surface damage in patients with DE are related to dysfunction in specific brain areas.

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Brain networks underlying the processing of sound symbolism related to softness perception

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-86328-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ryo Kitada ◽

Jinhwan Kwon ◽

Ryuichi Doizaki ◽

Eri Nakagawa ◽

Tsubasa Tanigawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Sensory Modality ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Sound Symbolism ◽

Matching Task ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Superior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Symbolic Information ◽

Object Properties ◽

Imaging Experiment

AbstractUnlike the assumption of modern linguistics, there is non-arbitrary association between sound and meaning in sound symbolic words. Neuroimaging studies have suggested the unique contribution of the superior temporal sulcus to the processing of sound symbolism. However, because these findings are limited to the mapping between sound symbolism and visually presented objects, the processing of sound symbolic information may also involve the sensory-modality dependent mechanisms. Here, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment to test whether the brain regions engaged in the tactile processing of object properties are also involved in mapping sound symbolic information with tactually perceived object properties. Thirty-two healthy subjects conducted a matching task in which they judged the congruency between softness perceived by touch and softness associated with sound symbolic words. Congruency effect was observed in the orbitofrontal cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, insula, medial superior frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, and cerebellum. This effect in the insula and medial superior frontal gyri was overlapped with softness-related activity that was separately measured in the same subjects in the tactile experiment. These results indicate that the insula and medial superior frontal gyrus play a role in processing sound symbolic information and relating it to the tactile softness information.

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Cascade process mediated by left hippocampus and left superior frontal gyrus affects relationship between aging and cognitive dysfunction

BMC Neuroscience ◽

10.1186/s12868-021-00680-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yumika Kokudai ◽

Motoyasu Honma ◽

Yuri Masaoka ◽

Masaki Yoshida ◽

Haruko Sugiyama ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Path Analysis ◽

Cognitive Dysfunction ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽

Cascade Process ◽

Superior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Wide Range ◽

Left Hippocampus ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background Cognitive function declines with age and has been shown to be associated with atrophy in some brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex. However, the details of the relationship between aging and cognitive dysfunction are not well understood. Methods Across a wide range of ages (24- to 85-years-old), this research measured the gray matter volume of structural magnetic resonance imaging data in 39 participants, while some brain regions were set as mediator variables to assess the cascade process between aging and cognitive dysfunction in a path analysis. Results Path analysis showed that age affected the left hippocampus, thereby directly affecting the left superior frontal gyrus. Furthermore, the gyrus directly affected higher order flexibility and maintenance abilities calculated as in the Wisconsin card sorting test, and the two abilities affected the assessment of general cognitive function. Conclusion Our finding suggests that a cascade process mediated by the left hippocampus and left superior frontal gyrus is involved in the relationship between aging and cognitive dysfunction.

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Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations on Alzheimer’s disease with depression: evidence from resting-state fMRI

General Psychiatry ◽

10.1136/gpsych-2019-100147 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. e100147

Author(s):

Yuzhu Mu ◽

Yumei Li ◽

Qi Zhang ◽

Zhongxiang Ding ◽

Mei Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Resting State ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Middle Frontal Gyrus ◽

Left Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Superior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Frequency Fluctuations ◽

Left Middle

BackgroundThe prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) comorbid with depression is common. However, the mechanisms of AD with depression remain unclear.AimsTo investigate the regional alterations of brain activity of AD with depression in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).Methods154 patients with AD who met the inclusion criteria were recruited from the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital from October 2014 to October 2016. According to whether the core symptoms of depression were present, patients were divided into two groups, 22 patients with AD with depression (AD-D) and 52 patients with AD without depression (AD-nD). The amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) was compared between two groups by performing independent-samples t-test.ResultsCompared with the AD-D group, increased ALFF values in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus and left inferior frontal gyrus were observed in the AD-nD group. The brain activity in the AD-nD group in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus and the left inferior frontal gyrus was higher than the AD-D group.ConclusionsResting-state brain functional alterations may be closely bound up with the pathophysiologic features of patients with AD with depressive symptoms.

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Cascade process mediated by left hippocampus and left superior frontal gyrus affects relationship between aging and cognitive dysfunction

10.21203/rs.3.rs-844058/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yumika Kokudai ◽

Motoyasu Honma ◽

Yuri Masaoka ◽

Masaki Yoshida ◽

Haruko Sugiyama ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Dysfunction ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽

Cascade Process ◽

Superior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Wide Range ◽

Left Hippocampus ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background: Cognitive function declines with age and has been shown to be associated with atrophy in some brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex. However, the details of the relationship between aging and cognitive dysfunction are not well understood.Methods: Across a wide range of ages (24- to 85-years-old), this research measured the gray matter volume of structural magnetic resonance imaging data in 39 participants, while some brain regions were set as mediator variables to assess the cascade process between aging and cognitive dysfunction in a path analysis.Results: Path analysis showed that age affected the left hippocampus, thereby directly affecting the left superior frontal gyrus. Furthermore, the gyrus directly affected higher order flexibility and maintenance abilities calculated as assessed in the Wisconsin card sorting test, and the two abilities affected an assessment of general cognitive function. Conclusion: Our finding suggests that a cascade process mediated by the left hippocampus and left superior frontal gyrus is involved in the relationship between aging and cognitive dysfunction.

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Decreased Functional Connectivity Between the Right Precuneus and Middle Frontal Gyrus Is Related to Attentional Decline Following Acute Sleep Deprivation

Frontiers in Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnins.2020.530257 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

Author(s):

Bozhi Li ◽

Liwei Zhang ◽

Ying Zhang ◽

Yang Chen ◽

Jiaxi Peng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Sleep Deprivation ◽

Resting State ◽

Specific Effect ◽

Region Of Interest ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Middle Frontal Gyrus ◽

Acute Sleep Deprivation ◽

The Right ◽

The Relationship

ObjectivesAcute sleep deprivation (SD) seriously affects cognitive functions, such as attention, memory, and response inhibition. Previous neuroimaging studies have demonstrated a close relationship between the functional activities of the precuneus (PC) and the function of alert attention. However, the specific effect of the PC on attention decline after acute SD has not been elucidated. In this study, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the relationship between the changes of the PC functional connectivity and alertness decline after total SD.MethodsThirty healthy, right-handed adult men participated in the experiment. Alert attention and functional connectivity were assessed by the Psychomotor Vigilance Test and a resting-state fMRI scan before and after total SD. The region of interest to region of interest (“ROI-to-ROI”) correlation was employed to analyze the relationship between the PC and other brain regions after acute SD.ResultsParticipants showed decreased alert attention after total SD. In addition, SD induced decreased functional connectivity between the right PC and the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the decreased PC functional connectivity and alertness decline after total SD.ConclusionOur findings suggest that the interruption of the connection between the right PC and the right MFG is related to the observed decline in alert attention after acute SD. These results provide evidence further elucidating the cognitive impairment model of SD.

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Inferior Frontal Gyrus-Based Resting-State Functional Connectivity and Medium Dispositional Use of Reappraisal Strategy

Frontiers in Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnins.2021.681859 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Wenjuan Li ◽

Ke Xie ◽

Ronald K. Ngetich ◽

Junjun Zhang ◽

Zhenlan Jin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Resting State ◽

Parietal Lobe ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Cingulate Cortex ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

The Relationship

The previous neuroimaging functional connectivity analyses have indicated that the association between the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and other brain regions results in better emotion regulation in reappraisal tasks. However, no study has explored the relationship between IFG-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and the dispositional use of reappraisal strategy. Therefore, the present study examined the potential associations between rsFC patterns of both left and right IFG and dispositional reappraisal use. One hundred healthy participants completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acquisition. An approach of the seed-based rsFC analysis was recruited to estimate the functional connectivity maps of bilateral IFG with other brain regions, and the reappraisal scores from the ERQ were then correlated with the functional maps. Our findings showed that IFG-based rsFC was positively correlated with dispositional reappraisal only in the range of 4 to 5.5 points [medium reappraisal group (MRG)]. Specifically, medium dispositional reappraisal was positively correlated with rsFC between left/right IFG and bilateral temporal gyrus. Besides, medium dispositional reappraisal was positively correlated with rsFC between left IFG and bilateral superior parietal lobe (SPL), middle cingulate cortex (MCC), and right insula, as well as between right IFG and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In conclusion, these results indicate that bilateral IFG plays an important role in the medium use of the reappraisal strategy.

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When tension is exciting: an EEG exploration of excitement in music

10.1101/637983 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Amelia Turrell ◽

Andrea R Halpern ◽

Amir-Homayoun Javadi

Keyword(s):

Strong Correlation ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Middle Frontal Gyrus ◽

Source Reconstruction ◽

Eeg Data ◽

Continuous Eeg ◽

Before And After

AbstractMusic powerfully affects people’s emotions. In particular, moments of tension and deviation in musical features, including frequency, pitch, and rhythm (known as a Drop), are associated with positive emotions. However, the neuro-correlates of Drops emotive effects have never been explored. Thirty-six participants listened to music pieces containing a Drop, while undergoing continuous EEG, and rated felt excitement. Source reconstruction of EEG data showed significantly different activity in five brain regions before and after Drops: pre- and post-central gyri (PreCG and PostCG), and precuneus (PCUN) were more active before Drops and the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and middle frontal gyrus (MFG) were more active after Drops. Importantly, activity in the IFG and MFG showed a strong correlation with subjective excitement ratings during Drop apprehension. These results suggest expectancy is important to the induction of musical emotions, in agreement with the ITPRA theory. Specifically, when Drops are expected but do not occur immediately, moderate tension is induced. Strong positive emotions then ensue when expected deviations finally occur, due to contrastive valence. This is reflected in significant brain activity for regions associated with high arousing, pleasurable emotions, such as excitement.

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Brain Imaging Study on the Pathogenesis of Depression & Therapeutic Effect of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Psychiatry Investigation ◽

10.30773/pi.2020.0041 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (7) ◽

pp. 688-694

Author(s):

Qi Meng ◽

Aixia Zhang ◽

Xiaohua Cao ◽

Ning Sun ◽

Xinrong Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gray Matter ◽

Serotonin Reuptake ◽

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ◽

Roc Analysis ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Selective Serotonin ◽

Study Results ◽

Medial Frontal Gyrus ◽

The Right

Objective Predefining the most effective treatment for patients with depressive disorders remains a problem. We will examine the differential brain regions of gray matter (GM) in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and the relationship between changes in their volume and the efficacy of early antidepressant treatment using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods 159 never-medicated patients with first-episode MDD and 53 normal control subjects (NCs) were enrolled. The brains were scanned by MRI and measured with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) at baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)s, and the non-responder group and responder group were obtained. The patients were analyzed by voxel-based morphological (VBM) and SPSS software. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed for the difference between the responder group and the non-responder group in the differential brain regions, and Pearson correlations were computed between volume size and HAMD score reduction rate.Results Smaller GM volume of the right superior temporal gyrus (STG), and the orbital parts of the right medial frontal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus were observed in MDD versus the NCs. The non-responder group demonstrated a significant volume reduction at the right STG compared with the responders, but no corresponding change in orbital part of right medial frontal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus. ROC analysis showed that Accuracy=71.2%. There was a positive correlation between the STG gray matter volume and the HAMD-17 score reduction rate (r=0.347, p=0.002).Conclusion The study results confirmed the local changes in brain structure in MDD and may initially predict the early treatment response produced by SSRIs as antidepressants.

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Relationship between Thyroglobulin and Tumor Detectabilily with Thallium-201 in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Nuklearmedizin ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1632238 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 39 (01) ◽

pp. 10-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. P. Müller ◽

Ch. Reiners ◽

A. Bockisch ◽

Katja Brandt-Mainz

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Differentiated Thyroid Cancer ◽

Roc Analysis ◽

Tsh Suppression ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Test Specificity ◽

The Relationship ◽

Tumor Scintigraphy ◽

Tsh Stimulation

Summary Aim: Tumor scintigraphy with 201-TICI is an established diagnostic method in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer. We investigated the relationship between thyroglobulin (Tg) level and tumor detectability. Subject and methods: We analyzed the scans of 122 patients (66 patients with proven tumor). The patient population was divided into groups with Tg above (N = 33) and below (N = 33) 5 ng/ml under TSH suppression or above (N = 33) and below (N = 33) 50 ng/ml under TSH stimulation. Tumor detectability was compared by ROC-analysis (True-Positive-Fraction test, specificity 90%). Results: There was no significant difference (sensitivity 75% versus 64%; p = 0.55) for patients above and below 5 ng/ml under TSH suppression and a just significant difference (sensitivity 80% versus 58%; p = 0.04) for patients above and below 50 ng/ml under TSH stimulation. In 18 patients from our sample with tumor, Tg under TSH suppression was negative, but 201-TICI-scan was able to detect tumor in 12 patients. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate only a moderate dependence of tumor detectability on Tg level, probably without significant clinical relevance. Even in patients with slight Tg elevation 201-TICI scintigraphy is justified.

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