Time Course of Activity in Itch-Related Brain Regions: A Combined MEG–fMRI Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 2657-2666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideki Mochizuki ◽  
Koji Inui ◽  
Hiroki C. Tanabe ◽  
Lisa F. Akiyama ◽  
Naofumi Otsuru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Functional Neuroimaging ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Posterior Part ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Magnetic Response ◽  
Temporal Aspect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Brain Processing

Functional neuroimaging studies have identified itch-related brain regions. However, no study has investigated the temporal aspect of itch-related brain processing. Here this issue was investigated using electrically evoked itch in ten healthy adults. Itch stimuli were applied to the left wrist and brain activity was measured using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In the MEG experiment, the magnetic responses evoked by the itch stimuli were observed in the contralateral and ipsilateral frontotemporal regions. The dipoles associated with the magnetic responses were mainly located in the contralateral (nine subjects) and ipsilateral (eight subjects) secondary somatosensory cortex (SII)/insula, which were also activated by the itch stimuli in the fMRI experiment. We also observed an itch-related magnetic response in the posterior part of the centroparietal region in six subjects. MEG and fMRI data showed that the magnetic response in this region was mainly associated with itch-related activation of the precuneus. The latency was significantly longer in the ipsilateral than that in the contralateral SII/insula, suggesting the difference to be associated with transmission in the callosal fibers. The timing of activation of the precuneus was between those of the contralateral and ipsilateral SII/insula. Other sources were located in the premotor, primary motor, and anterior cingulate cortices (one subject each). This study is the first to demonstrate part of the time course of itch-related brain processing. Combining methods with high temporal and spatial resolution (e.g., MEG and fMRI) would be useful to investigate the temporal aspect of the brain mechanism of itch.

scholarly journals Lower neural value signaling in the prefrontal cortex is related to childhood family income and depressive symptomatology during adolescence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther E. Palacios-Barrios ◽  
Jamie L. Hanson ◽  
Kelly R. Barry ◽  
Dustin Albert ◽  
Stuart F. White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Adolescent Depression ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Reward Learning ◽  
The Difference

AbstractLower family income during childhood is related to increased rates of adolescent depression, though the specific mechanisms are poorly understood. Evidence suggests that individuals with depression demonstrate hypoactivation in brain regions involved in reward learning and decision-making processes (e.g., portions of the prefrontal cortex). Separately, lower family income has been associated with neural alterations in similar regions. We examined associations between family income, depression, and brain activity during a reward learning and decision-making fMRI task in a sample of adolescents (full n=94; usable n=78; mean age=15.4 years). We identified neural regions representing 1) expected value (EV), the learned subjective value of an object, and 2) prediction error, the difference between EV and the actual outcome received. Regions of interest related to reward learning were examined in connection to childhood family income and parent-reported adolescent depressive symptoms. As hypothesized, lower activity in the subgenual anterior cingulate (sACC) for EV in response to approach stimuli was associated with lower childhood family income, as well as greater symptoms of depression measured one-year after the neuroimaging session. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that lower early family income leads to disruptions in reward and decision-making brain circuitry, which leads to adolescent depression.

The Neural Basis of Successful Word Reading in Aphasia

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 514-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara B. Pillay ◽  
William L. Gross ◽  
William W. Graves ◽  
Colin Humphries ◽  
Diane S. Book ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Word Reading ◽  
Functional Neuroimaging ◽  
Semantic Network ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Angular Gyrus ◽  
Bold Signal ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Successful Performance

Understanding the neural basis of recovery from stroke is a major research goal. Many functional neuroimaging studies have identified changes in brain activity in people with aphasia, but it is unclear whether these changes truly support successful performance or merely reflect increased task difficulty. We addressed this problem by examining differences in brain activity associated with correct and incorrect responses on an overt reading task. On the basis of previous proposals that semantic retrieval can assist pronunciation of written words, we hypothesized that recruitment of semantic areas would be greater on successful trials. Participants were 21 patients with left-hemisphere stroke with phonologic retrieval deficits. They read words aloud during an event-related fMRI paradigm. BOLD signals obtained during correct and incorrect trials were contrasted to highlight brain activity specific to successful trials. Successful word reading was associated with higher BOLD signal in the left angular gyrus. In contrast, BOLD signal in bilateral posterior inferior frontal cortex, SMA, and anterior cingulate cortex was greater on incorrect trials. These data show for the first time the brain regions where neural activity is correlated specifically with successful performance in people with aphasia. The angular gyrus is a key node in the semantic network, consistent with the hypothesis that additional recruitment of the semantic system contributes to successful word production when phonologic retrieval is impaired. Higher activity in other brain regions during incorrect trials likely reflects secondary engagement of attention, working memory, and error monitoring processes when phonologic retrieval is unsuccessful.

Comparative analysis of changes of bioelectrical activity of the brain during the neutral touch and during the performance of the myofascial release technique

2018 ◽  
pp. 46-55
Author(s):  
A. F. Belyaev ◽  
G. E. Piskunova
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Direct Action ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Therapeutic Touch ◽  
Bioelectrical Activity ◽  
Therapeutic Action ◽  
Osteopathic Treatment ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Multiparameter Analysis

Introduction. One of the main tools of an osteopath are soft tissue techniques, which have a number of particular qualities such as minimization of force and duration of indirect techniques with an emphasis on muscle and ligamentous structures; combination of gestures, tendency to maximal relaxation and exclusion of direct action on pathological symptoms such as tension, overtone and pain. Minimization of the force applied during the performance of soft tissue techniques often invites a question whether there are differences between the usual touch and the therapeutic touch of an osteopath.Goal of research - to reveal the changes in the bioelectrical activity of the cerebral cortex arising in the process of osteopathic treatment in order to prove its specifi city in comparison with nonspecifi c tactile stimulation (neutral touch).Materials and methods. 75 people were examined with the use of multiparameter analysis of multichannel EEG in different times. 25 patients were clinically healthy adults, whereas 50 patients had signs of somatic dysfunctions.Results. Computer encephalography permits to perceive the difference between the neutral touch and the therapeutic action. An identifi cation reaction is a response to the neutral touch (changes in brain bioelectrical activity with an increase in statistically signifi cant connections in the temporal lobes), whereas the therapeutic action provokes the state of purposeful brain activity during still point (intensifi cation of frontooccipital interactions).Conclusions. Osteopathic action causes additional tension in the processing of incoming information, which requires participation of different brain regions, including interhemispheric mechanisms associated with analysis, maintenance of attention and regulation of targeted activities.

scholarly journals Peripheral arterial stiffness during electrocutaneous stimulation is positively correlated with pain-related brain activity and subjective pain intensity: an fMRI study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshio Tsuji ◽  
Fumiya Arikuni ◽  
Takafumi Sasaoka ◽  
Shin Suyama ◽  
Takashi Akiyoshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arterial Stiffness ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Electrocutaneous Stimulation ◽  
Pain Matrix ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
Subjective Pain ◽  
Peripheral Arterial

AbstractBrain activity associated with pain perception has been revealed by numerous PET and fMRI studies over the past few decades. These findings helped to establish the concept of the pain matrix, which is the distributed brain networks that demonstrate pain-specific cortical activities. We previously found that peripheral arterial stiffness $${\beta }_{\text{art}}$$ β art responds to pain intensity, which is estimated from electrocardiography, continuous sphygmomanometer, and photo-plethysmography. However, it remains unclear whether and to what extent $${\beta }_{\text{art}}$$ β art aligns with pain matrix brain activity. In this fMRI study, 22 participants received different intensities of pain stimuli. We identified brain regions in which the blood oxygen level-dependent signal covaried with $${\beta }_{\text{art}}$$ β art using parametric modulation analysis. Among the identified brain regions, the lateral and medial prefrontal cortex and ventral and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex were consistent with the pain matrix. We found moderate correlations between the average activities in these regions and $${\beta }_{\text{art}}$$ β art (r = 0.47, p < 0.001). $${\beta }_{\text{art}}$$ β art was also significantly correlated with self-reported pain intensity (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) and applied pain intensity (r = 0.43, p < 0.001). Our results indicate that $${\beta }_{\text{art}}$$ β art is positively correlated with pain-related brain activity and subjective pain intensity. This study may thus represent a basis for adopting peripheral arterial stiffness as an objective pain evaluation metric.

Acetaminophen Reduces Social Pain

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 931-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Nathan DeWall ◽  
Geoff MacDonald ◽  
Gregory D. Webster ◽  
Carrie L. Masten ◽  
Roy F. Baumeister ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Social Rejection ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Physical Pain ◽  
Social Pain ◽  
Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Pain, whether caused by physical injury or social rejection, is an inevitable part of life. These two types of pain—physical and social—may rely on some of the same behavioral and neural mechanisms that register pain-related affect. To the extent that these pain processes overlap, acetaminophen, a physical pain suppressant that acts through central (rather than peripheral) neural mechanisms, may also reduce behavioral and neural responses to social rejection. In two experiments, participants took acetaminophen or placebo daily for 3 weeks. Doses of acetaminophen reduced reports of social pain on a daily basis (Experiment 1). We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure participants’ brain activity (Experiment 2), and found that acetaminophen reduced neural responses to social rejection in brain regions previously associated with distress caused by social pain and the affective component of physical pain (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula). Thus, acetaminophen reduces behavioral and neural responses associated with the pain of social rejection, demonstrating substantial overlap between social and physical pain.

scholarly journals Neuronal Substrates Underlying Performance Variability in Well-Trained Skillful Motor Task in Humans

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuaki Mizuguchi ◽  
Shintaro Uehara ◽  
Satoshi Hirose ◽  
Shinji Yamamoto ◽  
Eiichi Naito
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Motor Skill ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Cerebellar Hemisphere ◽  
Intensive Training ◽  
Performance Variability ◽  
The Right

Motor performance fluctuates trial by trial even in a well-trained motor skill. Here we show neural substrates underlying such behavioral fluctuation in humans. We first scanned brain activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging while healthy participants repeatedly performed a 10 s skillful sequential finger-tapping task. Before starting the experiment, the participants had completed intensive training. We evaluated task performance per trial (number of correct sequences in 10 s) and depicted brain regions where the activity changes in association with the fluctuation of the task performance across trials. We found that the activity in a broader range of frontoparietocerebellar network, including the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate and anterior insular cortices, and left cerebellar hemisphere, was negatively correlated with the task performance. We further showed in another transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) experiment that task performance deteriorated, when we applied anodal tDCS to the right DLPFC. These results indicate that fluctuation of brain activity in the nonmotor frontoparietocerebellar network may underlie trial-by-trial performance variability even in a well-trained motor skill, and its neuromodulation with tDCS may affect the task performance.

Abstract WMP117: Regional Homogeneity Changes In Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack: A Resting-state Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Guo ◽  
Ning Chen ◽  
Muke Zhou ◽  
Pian Wang ◽  
Li He
Keyword(s):  
Transient Ischemic Attack ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Imaging Study ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Regional Homogeneity ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Ischemic Attack

Background: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) can increase the risk of some neurologic dysfunctions, of which the mechanism remains unclear. Resting-state functional MRI (rfMRI) is suggested to be a valuable tool to study the relation between spontaneous brain activity and behavioral performance. However, little is known about whether the local synchronization of spontaneous neural activity is altered in TIA patients. The purpose of this study is to detect differences in regional spontaneous activities throughout the whole brain between TIAs and normal controls. Methods: Twenty one TIA patients suffered an ischemic event in the right hemisphere and 21 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. All subjects were investigated using cognitive tests and rfMRI. The regional homogeneity (ReHo) was calculate and compared between two groups. Then a correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationship between ReHo values of brain regions showing abnormal resting-state properties and clinical variables in TIA group. Results: Compared with controls, TIA patients exhibited decreased ReHo in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), right inferior prefrontal gyrus, right ventral anterior cingulate cortex and right dorsal posterior cingular cortex. Moreover, the mean ReHo in right DLPFC and right inferior prefrontal gyrus were significantly correlated with MoCA in TIA patients. Conclusions: Neural activity in the resting state is changed in patients with TIA. The positive correlation between regional homogeneity of rfMRI and cognition suggests that ReHo may be a promising tool to better our understanding of the neurobiological consequences of TIA.

Differences in network centrality between high and low myopia: a voxel-level degree centrality study

2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (10) ◽  
pp. 1388-1397
Author(s):  
Yi Cheng ◽  
Li Yan ◽  
Liqun Hu ◽  
Hongyun Wu ◽  
Xin Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Activity ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Anterior Lobe ◽  
Parahippocampal Gyrus ◽  
Functional Networks ◽  
Degree Centrality ◽  
Left Caudate ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Right

Background Previous studies have linked high myopia (HM) to brain activity, and the difference between HM and low myopia (LM) can be assessed. Purpose To study the differences in functional networks of brain activity between HM and LM by the voxel-level degree centrality (DC) method. Material and Methods Twenty-eight patients with HM (10 men, 18 women), 18 patients with LM (4 men, 14 women), and 59 healthy controls (27 men, 32 women) were enrolled in this study. The voxel-level DC method was used to assess spontaneous brain activity. Correlation analysis was used to explore the change of average DC value in different brain regions, in order to analyze differences in brain activity between HM and LM. Results DC values of the right cerebellum anterior lobe/brainstem, right parahippocampal gyrus, and left caudate in HM patients were significantly higher than those in LM patients ( P < 0.05). In contrast, DC values of the left medial frontal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and left inferior parietal lobule were significantly lower in patients with HM ( P < 0.05). However, there was no correlation between behavior and average DC values in different brain regions ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Different changes in brain regions between HM and LM may indicate differences in neural mechanisms between HM and LM. DC values could be useful as biomarkers for differences in brain activity between patients with HM and LM. This study provides a new method to assess differences in functional networks of brain activity between patients with HM and LM.

scholarly journals Functional neuroimaging of psychiatric disorders: exploring hidden behaviour

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. FLETCHER
Keyword(s):  
Functional Neuroimaging ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Cognitive Strategies ◽  
Healthy Person ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Task Demands ◽  
Unrealistic Expectation ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Function Mapping

From the outset, people have had high expectations of functional neuroimaging. Many will have been disappointed. After roughly a decade of widespread use, even an enthusiastic advocate must be diffident about the impact of the two most frequently used techniques – positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) – upon clinical psychiatry. Perhaps this disappointment arises from an unrealistic expectation of what these techniques are able to tell us about the workings of the normal and the disordered brain. Anyone who hoped for intricate and unambiguous region-to-function mapping was always going to be disappointed. This expectation presupposes, among other things, a thorough understanding of the cognitive functions that are to be mapped onto the brain regions. This understanding, however, while developing, is still rudimentary. Mapping disorder along comparable lines is even more complex since it demands two levels of understanding. The first is of the healthy region-to-function mapping, the second of the disordered region-to-function mapping, which immediately demands a consideration of the nature of the function in the disordered state. After all, someone with schizophrenia, when confronted with a psychological task, might tackle it in a very different way, in terms of the cognitive strategies used, from a healthy person confronted with the same task. The observation that brain activity differs across the two individuals would only be interpretable insofar as one thoroughly understood the processes that each individual invoked in response to the task demands.

Auditory verbal hallucinations: neuroimaging and treatment

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Bohlken ◽  
K. Hugdahl ◽  
I. E. C. Sommer
Keyword(s):  
Functional Neuroimaging ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Auditory Verbal Hallucinations ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Control Functions

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are a frequently occurring phenomenon in the general population and are considered a psychotic symptom when presented in the context of a psychiatric disorder. Neuroimaging literature has shown that AVH are subserved by a variety of alterations in brain structure and function, which primarily concentrate around brain regions associated with the processing of auditory verbal stimuli and with executive control functions. However, the direction of association between AVH and brain function remains equivocal in certain research areas and needs to be carefully reviewed and interpreted. When AVH have significant impact on daily functioning, several efficacious treatments can be attempted such as antipsychotic medication, brain stimulation and cognitive–behavioural therapy. Interestingly, the neural correlates of these treatments largely overlap with brain regions involved in AVH. This suggests that the efficacy of treatment corresponds to a normalization of AVH-related brain activity. In this selected review, we give a compact yet comprehensive overview of the structural and functional neuroimaging literature on AVH, with a special focus on the neural correlates of efficacious treatment.

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