Exploring the Neuroplastic Effects of Biofeedback Training on Smokers

Smoking and stress cooccur in different stages of a nicotine addiction cycle, affecting brain function and showing additive impact on different physiological responses. Resting-state functional connectivity has shown potential in identifying these alterations. Nicotine addiction has been associated with detrimental effects on functional integrity of the central nervous system, including the organization of resting-state networks. Prolonged stress may result in enhanced activation of the default mode network (DMN). Considering that biofeedback has shown promise in alleviating physiological manifestations of stress, we aimed to explore the possible neuroplastic effects of biofeedback training on smokers. Clinical, behavioral, and neurophysiological (resting-state EEG) data were collected from twenty-seven subjects before and after five sessions of skin temperature training. DMN functional cortical connectivity was investigated. While clinical status remained unaltered, the degree of nicotine dependence and psychiatric symptoms were significantly improved. Significant changes in DMN organization and network properties were not observed, except for a significant increase of information flow from the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and right temporal pole cortex towards other DMN components. Biofeedback aiming at stress alleviation in smokers could play a protective role against maladaptive plasticity of connectivity. Multiple sessions, individualized interventions and more suitable methods to promote brain plasticity, such as neurofeedback training, should be considered.

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Impact of self-designed Ningxin Anshen Decoction on the resting-state network functional connectivity in patients with mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorders: a Clinical Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17931 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Wenjing He ◽

Hang Xiong ◽

Jiangshan Fang ◽

Hao Gu ◽

Rongjuan Guo

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Resting State ◽

The Self ◽

Control Group ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Before And After ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorders ◽

Hamilton Anxiety Scale ◽

The Right

BACKGROUND Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a persistent chronic excessive anxiety that is hard to control. Our previous study indicated that self-designed Ningxin Anshen Formula (NXAS) was effective to improve the symptoms and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) of mild to moderate GAD patients. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the imapct of self-designed NXAS on the resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in patients with mild to moderate GAD and explore the potential mechanisms. METHODS A total of 61 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate GAD were recruited and divided into two groups: NXAS group (n=31) and placebo group (n=30). Before and after treatment, the RSFC was examined by resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), the anxiety was assessed with HAMA, and the independent component analysis (ICA) was used to analyze the resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC). The correlation between HAMA score and abnormal RSFC was further evaluated. RESULTS The default mode network (DMN) showed evident RSFC interaction in the PCUN in both groups before and after therapy. The salience network (SN) showed obvious RSFC interaction in the bilateral gyrus frontalis inferiors and bilateral gyri temporalis superiors before and after therapy. In the NXAS group, the RSFC interction reduced significantly in the left gyrus frontalis inferior, but remained unchanged in the right gyrus frontalis inferior and bilateral gyri temporalis superiors after therapy. In the control group, the RSFC interaction increased dramatically after treatment. In addition, the abnormal RSFC had no relationship with HAMA score. CONCLUSIONS The self-designed NXAS can increase the RSFC in the PUCN on DMN and reduce RSFC in the orbIFG.L on SN to exert anti-anxiety effect. CLINICALTRIAL The study was registered on the Clinical Trials (NO. ChiCTR-OCC-12002329).

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Sex Differences in Re-experiencing Symptoms Between Husbands and Wives Who Lost Their Only Child in China: A Resting-State Functional Connectivity Study of Hippocampal Subfields

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnhum.2021.655044 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Yifeng Luo ◽

Yu Liu ◽

Zhao Qing ◽

Li Zhang ◽

Yifei Weng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Resting State ◽

Protective Role ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Only Child ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Neural Basis ◽

Hippocampal Subfields ◽

The Right

Background: Losing one’s only child may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), of which re-experiencing is the core symptom. However, neuroimaging studies of sex differences in re-experiencing in the context of the trauma of losing one’s only child and PTSD are scarce; comparisons of the functional networks from the hippocampal subfields to the thalamus might clarify the neural basis.Methods: Thirty couples without any psychiatric disorder who lost their only child (non-PTSD group), 55 patients with PTSD, and 50 normal controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The functional connectivity (FC) from the hippocampal subregions to the thalamus and the correlations of FC with re-experiencing symptoms were analyzed within and between the sexes.Results: Compared with husbands without PTSD, wives without PTSD had higher re-experiencing symptoms and weaker FC between the right hippocampal cornu ammonis 3 (RCA3) and the right thalamus (RT; RCA3-RT). Moreover, only the correlation between the RCA3-RT FC and re-experiencing in wives without PTSD was significant. Among the three groups, only the RCA3-RT FC in female subjects was markedly different. Additionally, the RCA3-RT FC in wives without PTSD was remarkably lower relative to female patients with PTSD.Conclusion: Wives without PTSD who lost their only child had worse re-experiencing symptoms relative to their husbands, which was associated with the FC alteration between the hippocampal subregions and the thalamus. Importantly, the low level of the RCA3-RT FC may play a potentially protective role against the development of PTSD in wives who have lost their only child.

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Resting-state Functional Connectivity of the Right Temporoparietal Junction Relates to Belief Updating and Reorienting during Spatial Attention

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_01543 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 1130-1141

Author(s):

Anne-Sophie Käsbauer ◽

Paola Mengotti ◽

Gereon R. Fink ◽

Simone Vossel

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Cognitive Processing ◽

Resting State ◽

Prior Information ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Belief Updating ◽

Temporoparietal Junction ◽

Right Temporoparietal Junction ◽

The Right

Although multiple studies characterized the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ), little is known about the link between rTPJ rsFC and cognitive functions. Given a putative involvement of rTPJ in both reorienting of attention and the updating of probabilistic beliefs, this study characterized the relationship between rsFC of rTPJ with dorsal and ventral attention systems and these two cognitive processes. Twenty-three healthy young participants performed a modified location-cueing paradigm with true and false prior information about the percentage of cue validity to assess belief updating and attentional reorienting. Resting-state fMRI was recorded before and after the task. Seed-based correlation analysis was employed, and correlations of each behavioral parameter with rsFC before the task, as well as with changes in rsFC after the task, were assessed in an ROI-based approach. Weaker rsFC between rTPJ and right intraparietal sulcus before the task was associated with relatively faster updating of the belief that the cue will be valid after false prior information. Moreover, relatively faster belief updating, as well as faster reorienting, were related to an increase in the interhemispheric rsFC between rTPJ and left TPJ after the task. These findings are in line with task-based connectivity studies on related attentional functions and extend results from stroke patients demonstrating the importance of interhemispheric parietal interactions for behavioral performance. The present results not only highlight the essential role of parietal rsFC for attentional functions but also suggest that cognitive processing during a task changes connectivity patterns in a performance-dependent manner.

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Botulinum toxin injection changes resting state cerebellar connectivity in cervical dystonia

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-87088-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Pavel Hok ◽

Lenka Hvizdošová ◽

Pavel Otruba ◽

Michaela Kaiserová ◽

Markéta Trnečková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Mri ◽

Resting State ◽

Cervical Dystonia ◽

Botulinum Neurotoxin ◽

Botulinum Toxin Injection ◽

Clinical Severity ◽

Before And After ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

Using Data ◽

The Right

AbstractIn cervical dystonia, functional MRI (fMRI) evidence indicates changes in several resting state networks, which revert in part following the botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT) therapy. Recently, the involvement of the cerebellum in dystonia has gained attention. The aim of our study was to compare connectivity between cerebellar subdivisions and the rest of the brain before and after BoNT treatment. Seventeen patients with cervical dystonia indicated for treatment with BoNT were enrolled (14 female, aged 50.2 ± 8.5 years, range 38–63 years). Clinical and fMRI examinations were carried out before and 4 weeks after BoNT injection. Clinical severity was evaluated using TWSTRS. Functional MRI data were acquired on a 1.5 T scanner during 8 min rest. Seed-based functional connectivity analysis was performed using data extracted from atlas-defined cerebellar areas in both datasets. Clinical scores demonstrated satisfactory BoNT effect. After treatment, connectivity decreased between the vermis lobule VIIIa and the left dorsal mesial frontal cortex. Positive correlations between the connectivity differences and the clinical improvement were detected for the right lobule VI, right crus II, vermis VIIIb and the right lobule IX. Our data provide evidence for modulation of cerebello-cortical connectivity resulting from successful treatment by botulinum neurotoxin.

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Resting State Functional Connectivity Predicts Future Changes in Sedentary Behavior

10.1101/2021.01.26.428161 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Timothy P. Morris ◽

Aaron Kucyi ◽

Sheeba Arnold Anteraper ◽

Maiya Rachel Geddes ◽

Alfonso Nieto-Castañon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Resting State ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Supplementary Motor Area ◽

Anterior Insula ◽

Motor Area ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

Sedentary Behaviors ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

The Right

AbstractInformation about a person’s available energy resources is integrated in daily behavioral choices that weigh motor costs against expected rewards. It has been posited that humans have an innate attraction towards effort minimization and that executive control is required to overcome this prepotent disposition. With sedentary behaviors increasing at the cost of millions of dollars spent in health care and productivity losses due to physical inactivity-related deaths, understanding the predictors of sedentary behaviors will improve future intervention development and precision medicine approaches. In 64 healthy older adults participating in a 6-month aerobic exercise intervention, we use neuroimaging (resting state functional connectivity), baseline measures of executive function and accelerometer measures of time spent sedentary to predict future changes in objectively measured time spent sedentary in daily life. Using cross-validation and bootstrap resampling, our results demonstrate that functional connectivity between 1) the anterior cingulate cortex and the supplementary motor area and 2) the right anterior insula and the left temporoparietal/temporooccipital junction, predict changes in time spent sedentary, whereas baseline cognitive, behavioral and demographic measures do not. Previous research has shown activation in and between the anterior cingulate and supplementary motor area as well as in the right anterior insula during effort avoidance and tasks that integrate motor costs and reward benefits in effort-based decision making. Our results add important knowledge toward understanding mechanistic associations underlying complex sedentary behaviors.

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Altered hypothalamus functional connectivity with limbic system in fibromyalgia and the modulation effect of intervention

10.21203/rs.2.20627/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jian Kong ◽

Yiting Huang ◽

Jiao Liu ◽

Siyi Yu ◽

Ming Cheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Limbic System ◽

Resting State ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Effective Connectivity ◽

Resting State Fmri ◽

Trial Registration ◽

Modulation Effect ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Before And After

Abstract Background: This study aims to investigate the resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) changes of the hypothalamus in Fibromyalgia patients and the modulation effect of effective treatments. Methods: Fibromyalgia patients and matched healthy controls (HC’s) were recruited. Resting state fMRI data were collected from fibromyalgia patients before and after a 12-week Tai Chi intervention and once from HC’s. Results: Data analysis showed that fibromyalgia patients displayed significantly decreased medial hypothalamus (MH) rsFC with the thalamus and amygdala when compared to HC’s at baseline. After the intervention, fibromyalgia patients showed increased (normalized) MH rsFC in the thalamus and amygdala. Effective connectivity analysis showed disrupted MH and thalamus interaction in fibromyalgia, which nonetheless could be partially restored by Tai Chi. Conclusions: Elucidating the role of the diencephalon and limbic system in the pathophysiology and development of fibromyalgia may facilitate the development of new treatment methods for this prevalent disorder. Trial registration: Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02407665. Registered 3 April 2015 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02407665

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Altered amygdala-based functional connectivity in individuals with attenuated psychosis syndrome and first-episode schizophrenia

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-74771-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Woo-Sung Kim ◽

Guangfan Shen ◽

Congcong Liu ◽

Nam-In Kang ◽

Keon-Hak Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Resting State ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

First Episode ◽

Frontal Pole ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Significant Group ◽

Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome ◽

The Right ◽

First Episode Schizophrenia

Abstract Altered resting-state functional connectivity (FC) of the amygdala (AMY) has been demonstrated to be implicated in schizophrenia (SZ) and attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS). Specifically, no prior work has investigated FC in individuals with APS using subregions of the AMY as seed regions of interest. The present study examined AMY subregion-based FC in individuals with APS and first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and healthy controls (HCs). The resting state FC maps of the three AMY subregions were computed and compared across the three groups. Correlation analysis was also performed to examine the relationship between the Z-values of regions showing significant group differences and symptom rating scores. Individuals with APS showed hyperconnectivity between the right centromedial AMY (CMA) and left frontal pole cortex (FPC) and between the laterobasal AMY and brain stem and right inferior lateral occipital cortex compared to HCs. Patients with FES showed hyperconnectivity between the right superficial AMY and left occipital pole cortex and between the left CMA and left thalamus compared to the APS and HCs respectively. A negative relationship was observed between the connectivity strength of the CMA with the FPC and negative-others score of the Brief Core Schema Scales in the APS group. We observed different altered FC with subregions of the AMY in individuals with APS and FES compared to HCs. These results shed light on the pathogenetic mechanisms underpinning the development of APS and SZ.

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Initial Evidence for Brain Plasticity Following a Digital Therapeutic Intervention for Depression

Chronic Stress ◽

10.1177/2470547019877880 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 247054701987788

Author(s):

Megan M. Hoch ◽

Gaelle E. Doucet ◽

Dominik A. Moser ◽

Won Hee Lee ◽

Katherine A. Collins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Major Depressive Disorder ◽

Depressive Disorder ◽

Resting State ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Memory Task ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Emotional Faces ◽

Task Training

Background Digital therapeutics such as cognitive–emotional training have begun to show promise for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Available clinical trial data suggest that monotherapy with cognitive–emotional training using the Emotional Faces Memory Task is beneficial in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Emotional Faces Memory Task training for major depressive disorder is associated with changes in brain connectivity and whether changes in connectivity parameters are related to symptomatic improvement. Methods Fourteen major depressive disorder patients received Emotional Faces Memory Task training as monotherapy over a six-week period. Patients were scanned at baseline and posttreatment to identify changes in resting-state functional connectivity and effective connectivity during emotional working memory processing. Results Compared to baseline, patients showed posttreatment reduced connectivity within resting-state networks involved in self-referential and salience processing and greater integration across the functional connectome at rest. Moreover, we observed a posttreatment increase in the Emotional Faces Memory Task-induced modulation of connectivity between cortical control and limbic brain regions, which was associated with clinical improvement. Discussion These findings provide initial evidence that cognitive–emotional training may be associated with changes in short-term plasticity of brain networks implicated in major depressive disorder. Conclusion Our findings pave the way for the principled design of large clinical and neuroimaging studies.

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Altered habenula resting state functional connectivity in deprived veteran tobacco smokers: A pilot study

Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic ◽

10.1521/bumc_2020_84_02 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 21-34

Author(s):

Cassandra Jennings ◽

Savannah Gosnell ◽

Kaylah N. Curtis ◽

Thomas Kosten ◽

Ramiro Salas

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Tobacco Smoking ◽

Resting State ◽

Nicotine Withdrawal ◽

Frontal Pole ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Tobacco Withdrawal ◽

Lingual Gyrus ◽

The Right

This study aimed to examine habenular resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) abnormalities in tobacco-smoking veterans. The authors explored RSFC in sated smokers (n = 3D 18), overnight deprived smokers (n = 3D 13), and nonsmoker controls (n = 3D 26). Seed-to-voxel analysis was used to explore RSFC in the habenula. Compared to sated smokers, deprived smokers demonstrated higher RSFC between the right habenula and two clusters of voxels: one in the right fusiform gyrus, and one in the left lingual gyrus. To study nicotine withdrawal, the authors used the Shiffman-Jarvik Withdrawal Questionnaire (SJWQ) score as a regressor and found higher RSFC between the right habenula and the left frontal pole in deprived compared to sated smokers. Right habenula RSFC distinguished between sated and deprived smokers and differentiated between sated and deprived smokers when using SJWQ as a regressor, suggesting a habenular role in tobacco withdrawal.

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Think Hard or Think Smart: Network Reconfigurations After Divergent Thinking Associate With Creativity Performance

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnhum.2020.571118 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

Author(s):

Hong-Yi Wu ◽

Bo-Cheng Kuo ◽

Chih-Mao Huang ◽

Pei-Jung Tsai ◽

Ai-Ling Hsu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Resting State ◽

Divergent Thinking ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Dynamic Reconfiguration ◽

Angular Gyrus ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Creative Achievement ◽

Before And After ◽

Network Organizations ◽

Creative Group

Evidence suggests divergent thinking is the cognitive basis of creative thoughts. Neuroimaging literature using resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) has revealed network reorganizations during divergent thinking. Recent studies have revealed the changes of network organizations when performing creativity tasks, but such brain reconfigurations may be prolonged after task and be modulated by the trait of creativity. To investigate the dynamic reconfiguration, 40 young participants were recruited to perform consecutive Alternative Uses Tasks (AUTs) for divergent thinking and two resting-state scans (before and after AUT) were used for mapping the brain reorganizations after AUT. We split participants into high- and low-creative groups based on creative achievement questionnaire (CAQ) and targeted on reconfigurations of the two brain networks: (1) default-mode network (DMN) and (2) the network seeded at the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) because the between-group difference of AUT-induced brain activation located at the left IFG. The changes of post-AUT RSFCs (DMN and IFGN) indicated the prolonged effect of divergent thinking. More specifically, the alterations of RSFCIFG−AG and RSFCIFG−IPL (AG: angular gyrus, IPG: inferior parietal lobule) in the high-creative group had positive relationship with their AUT performances (originality and fluency), but not found in the low-creative group. Furthermore, the RSFC changes of DMN did not present significant relationships with AUT performances. The findings not only confirmed the possibility of brain dynamic reconfiguration following divergent thinking, but also suggested the distinct IFGN reconfiguration between individuals with different creativity levels.

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