scholarly journals The expectant brain: Being pregnant causes changes in brain morphology in the early postpartum period

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Chechko ◽  
Juergen Dukart ◽  
Svetlana Tchaikovski ◽  
Christian Enzensberger ◽  
Irene Neuner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Cortical Thinning ◽  
Nulliparous Women ◽  
Maternal Brain ◽  
Multiparous Women ◽  
The Right

There is growing evidence that pregnancy may have a significant impact on the maternal brain, causing changes in its structure. However, the patterns of these changes have not yet been systematically investigated. Using voxel-based (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM), we compared a group of healthy primiparous women (n = 40) with healthy multiparous mothers (n = 37) as well as nulliparous women (n = 40). Compared to the nulliparous women, the young mothers showed decreases in gray matter volume in the bilateral hippocampus/amygdala, the orbitofrontal cortex/subgenual prefrontal area, the right superior temporal gyrus, the right insula, and the cerebellum. However, these pregnancy-related changes in brain structure did not predict the quality of mother-infant attachment at either 3 or 12 weeks postpartum, nor were they more pronounced among the multiparous women. SBM analyses showed significant cortical thinning especially in the frontal and parietal cortices, with the parietal cortical thinning likely potentiated by multiple pregnancies. We conclude, therefore, that the widespread morphological changes seen in the brain shortly after childbirth reflect substantial neuroplasticity. Also, the experience of pregnancy alone may not be the underlying cause of the adaptations for mothering and caregiving. As regards the exact biological function of the changes in brain morphology as well as the long-term effect of pregnancy on the maternal brain, further longitudinal research with larger cohorts will be needed to draw any definitive conclusions.

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 Neuroanatomical correlates of reality monitoring in patients with schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélanie Perret ◽  
Layla Lavallé ◽  
Frédéric Haesebaert ◽  
Marie-Françoise Suaud-Chagny ◽  
Jérôme Brunelin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Auditory Hallucinations ◽  
Reality Monitoring ◽  
Angular Gyrus ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Monitoring Task ◽  
Monitoring Accuracy ◽  
The Right

Abstract Background Reality-monitoring process enables to discriminate memories of internally generated information from memories of externally derived information. Studies have reported impaired reality-monitoring abilities in schizophrenia patients with auditory hallucinations (AHs), specifically with an exacerbated externalization bias, as well as alterations in neural activity within frontotemporoparietal areas. In healthy subjects, impaired reality-monitoring abilities have been associated with reduction of the paracingulate sulcus (PCS). The current study aimed to identify neuroanatomical correlates of reality monitoring in patients with schizophrenia. Methods Thirty-five patients with schizophrenia and AHs underwent a reality-monitoring task and a 3D anatomical MRI scan at 1.5 T. PCS lengths were measured separately for each hemisphere, and whole-brain voxel-based morphometry analyses were performed using the Computational Anatomy Toolbox (version 12.6) to evaluate the gray-matter volume (GMV). Partial correlation analyses were used to investigate the relationship between reality-monitoring and neuroanatomical outcomes (PCS length and GMV), with age and intracranial volume as covariates. Results The right PCS length was positively correlated with reality-monitoring accuracy (Spearman’s ρ = 0.431, p = 0.012) and negatively with the externalization bias (Spearman’s ρ = −0.379, p = 0.029). Reality-monitoring accuracy was positively correlated with GMV in the right angular gyrus, whereas externalization bias was negatively correlated with GMV in the left supramarginal gyrus/superior temporal gyrus, in the right lingual gyrus and in the bilateral inferior temporal/fusiform gyri (voxel-level p < 0.001 and cluster-level p < 0.05, FDR-corrected). Conclusions Reduced reality-monitoring abilities were significantly associated with shorter right PCS and reduced GMV in temporal and parietal regions of the reality-monitoring network in schizophrenia patients with AHs.

scholarly journals Altered Gray Matter Volume, Functional Connectivity, and Degree Centrality in Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Feng ◽  
Yifan Li ◽  
Xin Tan ◽  
Yi Liang ◽  
Xiaomeng Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Degree Centrality ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
The Right ◽  
Heschl Gyrus

Background: Structural and functional brain alterations that underlie cognitive decline have been observed in elderly adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, whether these alterations can be observed in patients with early-onset T2DM remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to describe the abnormalities in brain volume and functional patterns in patients with early-onset T2DM in the present study.Methods: We enrolled 20 patients with early-onset T2DM and 20 healthy controls (HCs). Changes in brain volume were assessed using voxel-based morphology (VBM), while changes in brain function were assessed using degree centrality (DC) and functional connectivity (FC).Results: Compared to HCs, patients with early-onset T2DM exhibited gray matter reductions in the left orbital superior, middle, and inferior frontal gyri as well as the right superior frontal gyrus. The gray matter reductions in the right superior frontal gyrus were negatively associated with the urine albumin to creatinine ratio. Furthermore, increased DC values were observed in the left superior temporal gyrus, left Heschl gyrus, and left hippocampus in patients with early-onset T2DM. An FC analysis of these regions revealed elevated connectivity in the right precuneus, left inferior parietal gyrus, left Heschl gyrus, bilateral post-central gyrus, bilateral insula, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, and bilateral medial and paracingulate gyrus. Furthermore, the FC of the hubs to the superior temporal gyrus, insula, and Heschl gyrus was increased and positively correlated with trail making test-B.Conclusion: Decreased local gray matter volume and increased DC and FC may represent the neurobiological mechanism underlying cognitive dysfunction in patients with early-onset T2DM.

scholarly journals Viewing pictures triggers rapid morphological enlargement in the human visual cortex

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.N.T. Månsson ◽  
D.S. Cortes ◽  
A. Manzouri ◽  
S. Hau ◽  
H. Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Everyday Clinical Practice ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Fixation Cross ◽  
Passive Viewing ◽  
Anatomical Images

AbstractBrain morphology change over the course of weeks, days, and hours, and can be detected by non-invasive structural magnetic resonance imaging. Rapid morphological changes at scanning has yet not been investigated. In a randomized within-group study, high-resolution anatomical images were acquired during passive viewing of pictures or a fixation cross. Forty-seven individuals gray matter volume and cortical thickness were investigated, and both measures increased in the visual cortex while viewing pictures relative to a fixation cross. Thus, brain morphology enlargements were detected in less than 263 seconds. Neuroplasticity is a far more dynamic process than previously shown, suggesting that individuals’ current mental state affects indices of brain morphology. This needs to be taken into account in future morphology studies and in everyday clinical practice.

scholarly journals Structural and Functional Deficits in Patients with Poststroke Dementia: A Multimodal MRI Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Huaying Cai ◽  
Zhiyong Zhao ◽  
Linhui Ni ◽  
Guocan Han ◽  
Xingyue Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Roc Curve ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Roc Curve Analysis ◽  
Poststroke Dementia ◽  
The Right

Although many neuroimaging studies have reported structural and functional abnormalities in the brains of patients with cognitive impairments following stroke, little is known about the pattern of such brain reorganization in poststroke dementia (PSD). The present study was aimed at investigating alterations in spontaneous brain activity and gray matter volume (GMV) in PSD patients. We collected T1-weighted and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 20 PSD patients, 24 poststroke nondementia (PSND) patients, and 21 well-matched normal controls (NCs). We compared the differences among the groups in GMV and the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF). Then, we evaluated the relationship between these brain measures and cognitive assessments and explored the possible distinguisher for PSD by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. PSD patients showed smaller GMV in the right superior temporal gyrus and lower fALFF values in the right inferior frontal gyrus than both PSND patients and NCs, but such differences were not observed between PSND patients and NCs. Moreover, GMV in the left medial prefrontal cortex showed a significant positive correlation with the Mini-Cog assessment in PSD patients, and GMV in the left CPL displayed the highest area under the ROC curve among all the features for classifying PSD versus PSND patients. Our findings suggest that PSD patients show dementia-specific structural and functional alteration patterns, which may help elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PSD.

scholarly journals Gray matter volume alterations in patients with strabismus and amblyopia: voxel-based morphometry study

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Su ◽  
Pei-Wen Zhu ◽  
Biao Li ◽  
Wen-Qing Shi ◽  
Qi Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Curve Analysis ◽  
Parahippocampal Gyrus ◽  
Voxel Based Morphometry ◽  
Roc Curve Analysis ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Right

AbstractThis study proposes the use of the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) technique to investigate structural alterations of the cerebral cortex in patients with strabismus and amblyopia (SA). Sixteen patients with SA and sixteen healthy controls (HCs) underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Original whole brain images were analyzed using the VBM method. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between mean gray matter volume (GMV) and clinical manifestations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to classify the mean GMV values of the SA group and HCs. Compared with the HCs, GMV values in the SA group showed a significant difference in the right superior temporal gyrus, posterior and anterior lobes of the cerebellum, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, and left anterior cingulate cortex. The mean GMV value in the right superior temporal gyrus, posterior and anterior lobes of the cerebellum, and bilateral parahippocampal gyrus were negatively correlated with the angle of strabismus. The ROC curve analysis of each cerebral region confirmed the accuracy of the area under the curve. Patients with SA have reduced GMV values in some brain regions. These findings might help to reveal the potential pathogenesis of SA and its relationship with the atrophy of specific regions of the brain.

scholarly journals Long-term association of pregnancy and maternal brain structure: the Rotterdam Study

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jurate Aleknaviciute ◽  
Tavia E. Evans ◽  
Elif Aribas ◽  
Merel W. de Vries ◽  
Eric A. P. Steegers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Rotterdam Study ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Maternal Brain

AbstractThe peripartum period is the highest risk interval for the onset or exacerbation of psychiatric illness in women’s lives. Notably, pregnancy and childbirth have been associated with short-term structural and functional changes in the maternal human brain. Yet the long-term effects of pregnancy on maternal brain structure remain unknown. We investigated a large population-based cohort to examine the association between parity and brain structure. In total, 2,835 women (mean age 65.2 years; all free from dementia, stroke, and cortical brain infarcts) from the Rotterdam Study underwent magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 T) between 2005 and 2015. Associations of parity with global and lobar brain tissue volumes, white matter microstructure, and markers of vascular brain disease were examined using regression models. We found that parity was associated with a larger global gray matter volume (β = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.09–0.19), a finding that persisted following adjustment for sociodemographic factors. A non-significant dose-dependent relationship was observed between a higher number of childbirths and larger gray matter volume. The gray matter volume association with parity was globally proportional across lobes. No associations were found regarding white matter volume or integrity, nor with markers of cerebral small vessel disease. The current findings suggest that pregnancy and childbirth are associated with robust long-term changes in brain structure involving a larger global gray matter volume that persists for decades. Future studies are warranted to further investigate the mechanism and physiological relevance of these differences in brain morphology.

scholarly journals Provocation and prediction of visual peripersonal neglect-like symptoms in preoperative planning and during awake brain surgery

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktória Tamás ◽  
Gabriella Sebestyén ◽  
Szilvia Anett Nagy ◽  
Péter Zsolt Horváth ◽  
Ákos Mérei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preoperative Planning ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Parietal Area ◽  
Routine Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Visuospatial Functions ◽  
The Right

AbstractNeglect is a severe neuropsychological/neurological deficit that usually develops due to lesions of the posterior inferior parietal area of the right hemisphere and is characterized by a lack of attention to the left side. Our case is a proven right-handed, 30-year-old female patient with a low-grade glioma, which was located in the temporo-opercular region and also in the superior temporal gyrus of the right hemisphere. Upon presurgical planning, the motor, language, and visuospatial functions were mapped. In order to achieve this, the protocol for routine magnetic resonance imaging and navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation has been expanded, accordingly.

Prolonged interpregnancy interval: how does it impact the length of second stage of labor?

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 811-818
Author(s):  
Nicole B. Kurata ◽  
Keith K. Ogasawara ◽  
Kathryn L. Pedula ◽  
William A. Goh
Keyword(s):  
Perinatal Outcomes ◽  
Kaiser Permanente ◽  
Second Stage Of Labor ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Labor Duration ◽  
Nulliparous Women ◽  
Multiparous Women ◽  
Comparison Groups ◽  
Maternal And Neonatal Outcomes ◽  
Interpregnancy Intervals

AbstractObjectivesShort interpregnancy intervals (IPI) have been linked to multiple adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, but less is known about prolonged IPI, including its relationship with labor progression. The objective of the study was to investigate whether prolonged IPIs are associated with longer second stages of labor.MethodsA perinatal database from Kaiser Permanente Hawaii was used to identify 442 women with a prolonged IPI ≥60 months. Four hundred forty two nulliparous and 442 multiparous women with an IPI 18–59 months were selected as comparison groups. The primary outcome was second stage of labor duration. Perinatal outcomes were compared between these groups.ResultsThe median (IQR) second stage of labor duration was 76 (38–141) min in nulliparous women, 15 (9–28) min in multiparous women, and 18 (10–38) min in women with a prolonged IPI (p<0.0001). Pairwise comparisons revealed significantly different second stage duration in the nulliparous group compared to both the multiparous and prolonged IPI groups, but no difference between the multiparous and prolonged IPI groups. There was a significant association with the length of the IPI; median duration 30 (12–61) min for IPI ≥120 months vs. 15 (9–27) min for IPI 18–59 months and 16 (9–31) min for IPI 60–119 months (p=0.0014).ConclusionsThe second stage of labor did not differ in women with a prolonged IPI compared to normal multiparous women. Women with an IPI ≥120 months had a significantly longer second stage vs. those with a shorter IPI. These findings provide a better understanding of labor progression in pregnancies with a prolonged IPI.

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.

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