Exercise Promotes Neuroplasticity in Both Healthy and Depressed Brains: An fMRI Pilot Study

Memory impairments are a frequently reported cognitive symptom in people suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) and often persist despite antidepressant therapy. Neuroimaging studies have identified abnormal hippocampal activity during memory processes in MDD. Exercise as an ad-on treatment for MDD is a promising therapeutic strategy shown to improve mood, cognitive function, and neural structure and function. To advance our understanding of how exercise impacts neural function in MDD, we must also understand how exercise impacts healthy individuals without MDD. This pilot study used a subsequent memory paradigm to investigate the effects of an eight-week exercise intervention on hippocampal function in low-active healthy (n=8) and low-active MDD (n=8) individuals. Results showed a marked improvement in depression scores for the MDD group (p<0.0001) and no change in memory performance for either group (p>0.05). Functional imaging results showed a marginally significant decrease in hippocampal activity in both groups following the exercise intervention. Our whole brain analysis collapsed across groups revealed a similar deactivation pattern across several memory-associated regions. These results suggest that exercise may enhance neural efficiency in low-fit individuals while still resulting in a substantially greater mood effect for those suffering from MDD. This trial is registered with clinical trials.govNCT03191994.

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Culture Wires the Brain

Perspectives on Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/1745691610374591 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 391-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 87

Author(s):

Denise C. Park ◽

Chih-Mao Huang

Keyword(s):

Brain Structure ◽

Cultural Psychology ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Neural Function ◽

Limited Evidence ◽

Neural Structure ◽

Cultural Experiences ◽

Brain Structure And Function ◽

And Function ◽

The Brain

There is clear evidence that sustained experiences may affect both brain structure and function. Thus, it is quite reasonable to posit that sustained exposure to a set of cultural experiences and behavioral practices will affect neural structure and function. The burgeoning field of cultural psychology has often demonstrated the subtle differences in the way individuals process information—differences that appear to be a product of cultural experiences. We review evidence that the collectivistic and individualistic biases of East Asian and Western cultures, respectively, affect neural structure and function. We conclude that there is limited evidence that cultural experiences affect brain structure and considerably more evidence that neural function is affected by culture, particularly activations in ventral visual cortex—areas associated with perceptual processing.

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Hippocampal activation is associated with longitudinal amyloid accumulation and cognitive decline

eLife ◽

10.7554/elife.22978 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Stephanie L Leal ◽

Susan M Landau ◽

Rachel K Bell ◽

William J Jagust

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Decline ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Memory Task ◽

Synaptic Activity ◽

Longitudinal Change ◽

Neural Function ◽

Amyloid Accumulation ◽

Hippocampal Activity ◽

Proposed Model ◽

Amyloid Aβ

The amyloid hypothesis suggests that beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition leads to alterations in neural function and ultimately to cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. However, factors that underlie Aβ deposition are incompletely understood. One proposed model suggests that synaptic activity leads to increased Aβ deposition. More specifically, hyperactivity in the hippocampus may be detrimental and could be one factor that drives Aβ deposition. To test this model, we examined the relationship between hippocampal activity during a memory task using fMRI and subsequent longitudinal change in Aβ using PIB-PET imaging in cognitively normal older adults. We found that greater hippocampal activation at baseline was associated with increased Aβ accumulation. Furthermore, increasing Aβ accumulation mediated the influence of hippocampal activation on declining memory performance, demonstrating a crucial role of Aβ in linking hippocampal activation and memory. These findings support a model linking increased hippocampal activation to subsequent Aβ deposition and cognitive decline.

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Development of Neural Structure and Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Potential Implications for Learning Language

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology ◽

10.1044/2020_ajslp-19-00209 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 1783-1797

Author(s):

Kelly L. Coburn ◽

Diane L. Williams

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Language Development ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Language Intervention ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Autistic Children ◽

Neural Structure ◽

Complex Information ◽

And Function

Purpose Neurodevelopmental processes that begin during gestation and continue throughout childhood typically support language development. Understanding these processes can help us to understand the disruptions to language that occur in neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method For this tutorial, we conducted a focused literature review on typical postnatal brain development and structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetoencephalography, and electroencephalography studies of the neurodevelopmental differences that occur in ASD. We then integrated this knowledge with the literature on evidence-based speech-language intervention practices for autistic children. Results In ASD, structural differences include altered patterns of cortical growth and myelination. Functional differences occur at all brain levels, from lateralization of cortical functions to the rhythmic activations of single neurons. Neuronal oscillations, in particular, could help explain disrupted language development by elucidating the timing differences that contribute to altered functional connectivity, complex information processing, and speech parsing. Findings related to implicit statistical learning, explicit task learning, multisensory integration, and reinforcement in ASD are also discussed. Conclusions Consideration of the neural differences in autistic children provides additional scientific support for current recommended language intervention practices. Recommendations consistent with these neurological findings include the use of short, simple utterances; repetition of syntactic structures using varied vocabulary; pause time; visual supports; and individualized sensory modifications.

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