scholarly journals Daily and Intermittent Smoking Decrease Gray Matter Volume and Concentrations of Glutamate, Creatine, Myo-Inositol and N-acetylaspartate in the Prefrontal Cortex

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Faulkner ◽  
Susanna Lucini Paioni ◽  
Petya Kozhuharova ◽  
Natasza Orlov ◽  
David J. Lythgoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Structural Mri ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
The Right

AbstractCigarette smoking is still the largest contributor to disease and death worldwide. Successful cessation is hindered by decreases in prefrontal glutamate concentrations and gray matter volume due to daily smoking. Because non-daily, intermittent smoking also contributes greatly to disease and death, understanding whether infrequent tobacco use is associated with reductions in prefrontal glutamate concentrations and gray matter volume may aid public health. Eighty-five young participants (41 non-smokers, 24 intermittent smokers, 20 daily smokers, mean age ~23 years old), underwent 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the medial prefrontal cortex, as well as structural MRI to determine whole-brain gray matter volume. Compared to non-smokers, both daily and intermittent smokers exhibited lower concentrations of glutamate, creatine, N-acetylaspartate and myo-inositol in the medial prefrontal cortex, and lower gray matter volume in the right inferior frontal gyrus; these measures of prefrontal metabolites and structure did not differ between daily and intermittent smokers. Finally, medial prefrontal metabolite concentrations and right inferior frontal gray matter volume were positively correlated, but these relationships were not influenced by smoking status. This study provides the first evidence that both daily and intermittent smoking are associated with low concentrations of glutamate, creatine, N-acetylaspartate and myo-inositol, and low gray matter volume in the prefrontal cortex. Future tobacco cessation efforts should not ignore potential deleterious effects of intermittent smoking by considering only daily smokers. Finally, because low glutamate concentrations hinder cessation, treatments that can normalize tonic levels of prefrontal glutamate, such as N-acetylcysteine, may help intermittent and daily smokers to quit.

scholarly journals 0307 Gray Matter Volume Correlates of Psychomotor Vigilance Speed During Sleep Deprivation

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A116-A116
Author(s):  
C E Meinhausen ◽  
J R Vanuk ◽  
M A Grandner ◽  
W D Killgore
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Sleep Loss ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
The Right ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance

Abstract Introduction Sleep deprivation has often been associated with decreased cognitive control, including deficits in the ability to sustain attention. Psychomotor vigilance speed slows following a period of fatigue, and can lead to disastrous results in daily life. In order to determine the brain areas correlated with reduced psychomotor vigilance speed, as a result of diminished sleep, a voxel-based morphometry analysis was performed prior to a period of monitored sleep deprivation. The mean speed of response time during the final 17 hours of a 29-hour sleep deprivation was then measured with the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), a reaction-timed task that measures the speed participants respond to a visual stimulus. Methods 45 healthy individuals (male=23 female=22) between the ages of 20-43 years (M=25.4 SD=5.6) participated in the study. Structural neuroimaging data were collected using a T3 magnetic resonance imaging scanner following a typical night’s sleep. Mean PVT speed was monitored with an hourly 10-minute PVT assessment during a monitored overnight sleep deprivation session. Speed was defined as the reciprocal of reaction time (1/RT). Results PVT speed was negatively correlated with grey matter volume (P<.05 FWE-corrected) in the prefrontal cortex, specifically the right posterior inferior frontal gyrus (p=.030; MNI coordinates = 36, 12, 26). Conclusion Our findings indicate that gray matter within the right posterior inferior frontal gyrus is greater in individuals who are more vulnerable to slowing of PVT responses during an overnight period of sleep deprivation. These findings suggest that inter-individual differences in the ability to sustain psychomotor vigilance during sleep loss may be related to increased gray matter in the right lateral prefrontal cortex and could have implications for understanding the neurobiological substrates of vulnerability and resilience to sleep loss. Support  

scholarly journals 0315 Gray Matter Volume of the Rostral Medial Prefrontal Cortex is Associated with Resilience to Mood Decline During Overnight Sleep Deprivation

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A119-A119
Author(s):  
I Anlap ◽  
E Taylor ◽  
M A Grandner ◽  
W D Killgore
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Cluster Threshold ◽  
Subjective Alertness

Abstract Introduction Vulnerability to sleep deprivation (SD) has been attributed to inter-individual trait-like differences in the ability to sustain vigilance and subjective alertness, which may have distinct neurobiological substrates. We have previously shown that reduced suppression of the Default Mode Network (DMN) during a cognitive task was predictive of global vulnerability to SD. However, little is known about vulnerability to mood decrements during SD and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), we assessed structural differences in gray matter volume (GMV) of a region of the anterior DMN, the medial prefrontal cortex and its association with self-reported mood during 29 hours of SD. Methods 45 healthy participants (23 male; Ages 20-43) underwent 3T structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Within 4 days, participants underwent an overnight SD session (29 hours awake total) which included hourly mood assessments with several visual analog mood scales (VAMS) assessing positive and negative affect. Hourly VAMS data were converted into a comparative metric of percent worsening of mood scores from 19:00 until noon the next day. These scores were averaged to determine a “mood resilience” score, with higher scores indicating greater mood sustainment. Using SPM12, the mean mood resilience scores were correlated with whole-brain gray matter volume, restricted to the medial prefrontal cortex, p<.05, FWE corrected, with a cluster threshold of 137 voxels. Results Overnight mood resilience was significantly correlated with greater grey matter volume in right rostral medial prefrontal cortex (p<.05, corrected; k=137). Conclusion Individuals with greater gray matter volume within a circumscribed region of the right medial prefrontal cortex demonstrated greater resilience to mood degradation over 29 hours of continuous wakefulness. This same region of the brain has been shown to be critical for the passive maintenance of emotions. We speculate that greater GMV could protect against mood decline by better sustaining emotional state during SD. Support Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Young Faculty Award: DARPA-12-12-11-YFA11-FP-029

scholarly journals Rajyoga Meditation Experience Induces Enhanced Positive Thoughts and Alters Gray Matter Volume of Brain Regions: A Cross-sectional Study

Mindfulness ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh Babu M G ◽  
Rajagopal Kadavigere ◽  
Prakashini Koteshwara ◽  
Brijesh Sathian ◽  
Kiranmai S. Rai
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter ◽  
Morphometric Analysis ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Structural Mri ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Volume Changes ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Left Posterior ◽  
Meditation Experience ◽  
The Right

Abstract Objectives Many studies on various meditation types have reported regional gray matter volume changes using voxel-based morphometric analysis of structural MRI, but there are no studies done on structural MRI of Rajyoga meditators. The objective of the present study is to analyze and compare gray matter volume changes of brain regions in meditators and non-meditators and further study the effects of meditation experience on alterations in various brain regions. These regions were then correlated and compared to positive thought scores of participants. Methods Forty participants in each group (closely matched for age, gender, and handedness) were selected after obtaining their informed consent, and voxel-based morphometric analysis was carried out using their structural MRI scans. Results On voxel-wise comparison of the brain scans, meditators were observed to have significantly higher global gray matter volume and significant regional gray matter volume increases in the right superior frontal gyrus, left inferior orbitofrontal cortex, left inferior parietal gyrus, left posterior cerebellum, left middle temporal gyrus, bilateral precuneus, and cuneus. Additionally, long-term meditators particularly had significantly higher positive thinking scores compared to non-meditators. On multiple regression analysis, gray matter volume of the left superior parietal gyrus and left inferior parietal gyrus had a positive association, whereas the left posterior cerebellum had a negative association with hours of meditation experience. With the positive thoughts score, a significant relationship was found in the right superior temporal gyrus in meditators. Conclusions These findings indicate that Rajyoga meditation experience/practice enhances gray matter volume of specific brain regions and positive thoughts.

scholarly journals Individual Differences in Human Path Integration Abilities Correlate with Gray Matter Volume in Retrosplenial Cortex, Hippocampus, and Medial Prefrontal Cortex

eNeuro ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. ENEURO.0346-16.2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R. Chrastil ◽  
Katherine R. Sherrill ◽  
Irem Aselcioglu ◽  
Michael E. Hasselmo ◽  
Chantal E. Stern
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Path Integration ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Retrosplenial Cortex ◽  
Matter Volume

scholarly journals Relationship Between Depression, Prefrontal Creatine and Gray Matter Volume

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Faulkner ◽  
Susanna Lucini Paioni ◽  
Petya Kozhuharova ◽  
Natasza Orlov ◽  
David J. Lythgoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Clinical Depression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Whole Brain ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Matter Volume

AbstractBackgroundDepression and low mood are leading contributors to disability worldwide. Research indicates that clinical depression may be associated with low creatine concentrations in the brain and low prefrontal gray matter volume. Because sub-clinical depression also contributes to difficulties in day-to-day life, understanding the neural mechanisms of depressive symptoms in all individuals, even at a sub-clinical level, may aid public health.MethodsEighty-four young adult participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) to quantify severity of depression, anxiety and stress, and underwent 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the medial prefrontal cortex and structural MRI to determine whole-brain gray matter volume.Results/OutcomesDASS depression scores were negatively associated with A) concentrations of creatine (but not other metabolites) in the prefrontal cortex, and B) with gray matter volume in the right superior medial frontal gyrus. Medial prefrontal creatine concentrations and right superior medial frontal gray matter volume were positively correlated. DASS anxiety and DASS stress scores were not related to prefrontal metabolite concentrations or whole-brain gray matter volume.Conclusions/InterpretationsThis study provides preliminary evidence from a representative group of individuals who exhibit a range of depression levels, that prefrontal creatine and gray matter volume are negatively associated with depression. While future research is needed to fully understand this relationship, these results provide support for previous findings which indicate that increasing creatine concentrations in the prefrontal cortex may improve mood and wellbeing.Declaration of Interest/FundingThis research was partly funded by a British Academy/Leverhulme Trust Research Grant, awarded to PA.

The gray matter volume of the right insula mediates the relationship between symptoms of depression/anxiety and sleep quality among college students

2019 ◽  
pp. 135910531986997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huazhan Yin ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Dan Li ◽  
Lu Xiao ◽  
Mei Cheng
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Relationship

This study investigated the neuroanatomical basis of the association between depression/anxiety and sleep quality among 370 college students. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between sleep quality and depression/anxiety. Moreover, mediation results showed that the gray matter volume of the right insula mediated the relationship between depression/anxiety and sleep quality, which suggested that depression/anxiety may affect sleep quality through the right insula volume. These findings confirmed a strong link between sleep quality and depression/anxiety, while highlighting the volumetric variation in the right insula associated with emotional processing, which may play a critical role in improving sleep quality.

scholarly journals Attentional bias to threat and gray mater volume morphology in high anxious individuals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Carlson ◽  
Lin Fang
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Parietal Cortex ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Posterior Parietal Cortex ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Posterior Parietal ◽  
The Right

AbstractIn a sample of highly anxious individuals, the relationship between gray matter volume brain morphology and attentional bias to threat was assessed. Participants performed a dot-probe task of attentional bias to threat and gray matter volume was acquired from whole brain structural T1-weighted MRI scans. The results replicate previous findings in unselected samples that elevated attentional bias to threat is linked to greater gray matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex, middle frontal gyrus, and striatum. In addition, we provide novel evidence that elevated attentional bias to threat is associated with greater gray matter volume in the right posterior parietal cortex, cerebellum, and other distributed regions. Lastly, exploratory analyses provide initial evidence that distinct sub-regions of the right posterior parietal cortex may contribute to attentional bias in a sex-specific manner. Our results illuminate how differences in gray matter volume morphology relate to attentional bias to threat in anxious individuals. This knowledge could inform neurocognitive models of anxiety-related attentional bias to threat and targets of neuroplasticity in anxiety interventions such as attention bias modification.

scholarly journals Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging reveals alterations of sensorimotor circuits in restless legs syndrome

SLEEP ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ambra Stefani ◽  
Thomas Mitterling ◽  
Anna Heidbreder ◽  
Ruth Steiger ◽  
Christian Kremser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Disease Duration ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Iron Storage ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
The Right

Abstract Study Objectives Integrated information on brain microstructural integrity and iron storage and its impact on the morphometric profile is not available in restless legs syndrome (RLS). We applied multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion tensor imaging, the transverse relaxation rate (R2*), a marker for iron storage, as well as gray and white matter volume measures to characterize RLS-related MRI signal distribution patterns and to analyze their associations with clinical parameters. Methods Eighty-seven patients with RLS (mean age 51, range 20–72 years; disease duration, mean 13 years, range 1–46 years, of those untreated n = 30) and 87 healthy control subjects, individually matched for age and gender, were investigated with multimodal 3T MRI. Results Volume of the white matter compartment adjacent to the post- and precentral cortex and fractional anisotropy (FA) of the frontopontine tract were both significantly reduced in RLS compared to healthy controls, and these alterations were associated with disease duration (r = 0.25, p = 0.025 and r = 0.23, p = 0.037, respectively). Corresponding gray matter volume increases of the right primary motor cortex in RLS (p < 0.001) were negatively correlated with the right FA signal of the frontopontine tract (r = −0.22; p < 0.05). Iron content evaluated with R2* was reduced in the putamen as well as in temporal and occipital compartments of the RLS cohort compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Conclusions Multimodal MRI identified progressing white matter decline of key somatosensory circuits that may underlie the perception of sensory leg discomfort. Increases of gray matter volume of the premotor cortex are likely to be a consequence of functional neuronal reorganization.

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