Chinese and Western Musical Training Impacts the Circuit in Auditory and Reward Systems

Previous studies have provided evidence about the brain plasticity effects of musical training, however, the issue of how expertise in music styles induced by Chinese or Western musical training affects neuroplasticity and reward responses has been less considered, especially for subjects of Chinese origin. In this work, 16 musicians who trained in the Western music style (Western-trained musicians) and 18 musicians who trained in the Chinese music style (Chinese-trained musicians) were recruited as the musician group for the experiment, while 15 non-musicians were recruited as the control group. Using a paradigm that consisted of listening to Chinese and Western music and measurements using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology, we found that Chinese-trained musicians activated the bilateral superior temporal gyrus (STG) when listening to music, while Western-trained musicians activated the left STG. In addition, under the condition of listening to music with Chinese style, Chinese-trained musicians have a stronger functional connection in the circuit of the auditory and reward system than Western-trained musicians. The finding is opposite under the condition of listening to music with Western style. Interestingly, it seems that the circuit of Chinese-trained musicians is partial to the right STG, while Western-trained musicians show the opposite, i.e., a tendency toward the left STG. The influence of different music styles on experienced musicians is reflected by the functional activities and connections between the auditory system and the reward system. This outcome indicates that training in Chinese music style or Western music style affects the strategies of musicians when listening to music. Musical characteristics such as rhythm, melody and cultural attributes play an important role in this process. These findings, which provide evidence for functional neuroplasticity based on musical training, can enrich our insights into the musical brain.

Download Full-text

Hypoconnectivity networks in schizophrenia patients: a voxelwise meta-analysis of rs-fMRI

10.21203/rs.3.rs-918263/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Silvia Ruiz-Torras ◽

Oscar Fernández-Vazquez ◽

Cristina Cañete-Massé ◽

Maribel Peró-Cebollero ◽

Joan Guàrdia-Olmos

Keyword(s):

Brain Connectivity ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽

Interesting Case ◽

Control Group ◽

Precentral Gyrus ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Health States ◽

The Right ◽

Work Done

Abstract In the last few years, the field of brain connectivity has focused on identifying biomarkers to describe different health states and to discriminate between patients and healthy controls through the characterization of brain networks. A particularly interesting case, because of the symptoms' severity, is the work done with samples of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This meta-analysis aims to identify connectivity networks with different activation patterns between people diagnosed with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Therefore, we collected primary studies exploring whole brain connectivity by functional magnetic resonance imaging at rest in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy people. Thus, we identified 25 high-quality studies that included a total of 1285 people with schizophrenia and 1279 healthy controls. The results indicate hypoactivation in the right precentral gyrus and in the left superior temporal gyrus of people with schizophrenia compared with the control group. These regions have been linked to deficits in gesticulation and the experience of auditory hallucinations in people with schizophrenia. A study of heterogeneity demonstrated that the effect size was influenced by the sample size and type of analysis. These results imply new contributions to the knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment of schizophrenia both clinically and in research.

Download Full-text

On the Better Performance of Pianists with Motor Imagery-Based Brain-Computer Interface Systems

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s20164452 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (16) ◽

pp. 4452 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

José-Vicente Riquelme-Ros ◽

Germán Rodríguez-Bermúdez ◽

Ignacio Rodríguez-Rodríguez ◽

José-Víctor Rodríguez ◽

José-María Molina-García-Pardo

Keyword(s):

Motor Imagery ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Brain Computer Interface ◽

Musical Training ◽

Machine Learning Algorithms ◽

Computer Interface ◽

Control Group ◽

Eeg Signals ◽

Linear Discriminant ◽

Electrical Brain Activity

Motor imagery (MI)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) systems detect electrical brain activity patterns through electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to forecast user intention while performing movement imagination tasks. As the microscopic details of individuals’ brains are directly shaped by their rich experiences, musicians can develop certain neurological characteristics, such as improved brain plasticity, following extensive musical training. Specifically, the advanced bimanual motor coordination that pianists exhibit means that they may interact more effectively with BCI systems than their non-musically trained counterparts; this could lead to personalized BCI strategies according to the users’ previously detected skills. This work assessed the performance of pianists as they interacted with an MI-based BCI system and compared it with that of a control group. The Common Spatial Patterns (CSP) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) machine learning algorithms were applied to the EEG signals for feature extraction and classification, respectively. The results revealed that the pianists achieved a higher level of BCI control by means of MI during the final trial (74.69%) compared to the control group (63.13%). The outcome indicates that musical training could enhance the performance of individuals using BCI systems.

Download Full-text

Effects of Spontaneous Neural Activity during Learning Football Juggling—A Randomized Control Trial

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11094079 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 4079

Author(s):

Dandan Chen ◽

Min Liu ◽

Sebastian Klich ◽

Lina Zhu ◽

Xiaoxiao Dong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neural Activity ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Control Group ◽

Spontaneous Neural Activity ◽

Motion Learning ◽

Randomized Control ◽

The Right ◽

New Evidence ◽

The Relationship ◽

The Brain

To establish the characteristics of spontaneous neural activity during learning football juggling. We used fMRI to see which parts of the brain were changed by learning football juggling. Through recruitment, 111 college students (37 females and 74 males) were selected and randomly divided into football juggling (FJ) (n = 68, 23 females and 45 males) and a control group (CON) (n = 43, 14 females and 29 males). The FJ group learned football juggling 70 times, while CON had regular study sessions at the same time. Static functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure the dynamic changes of spontaneous nerve activity during learning football juggling. The result shows that the ALFF value in the right cerebellum 8 area was significantly higher than that before the 70 times of learning football juggling. The present study provides initial evidence that learning football juggling 70 times effectively increased the level of spontaneous neural activity in the cerebellum region. These promising findings provide new evidence to fully reveal the relationship between motion learning and brain plasticity.

Download Full-text

Right superior temporal gyrus volume in adolescents with a history of suicide attempt

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.114.151316 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 206 (4) ◽

pp. 339-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Lisa A. Pan ◽

Lisa Ramos ◽

AnnaMaria Segreti ◽

David A. Brent ◽

Mary L. Phillips

Keyword(s):

Suicide Attempt ◽

Emotion Processing ◽

Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽

Control Group ◽

Grey Matter Volume ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Structural Differences ◽

Healthy Control ◽

History Of ◽

The Right

SummaryThe extent to which observed differences in emotion processing and regulation neural circuitry in adolescents with a history of suicide attempt are paralleled by structural differences is unknown. We measured brain cortical thickness and grey- and white-matter volumes in 100 adolescents: 28 with a history of suicide attempt and major depressive disorder (MDD); 31 with a history of MDD but no suicide attempt; and a healthy control group (n = 41). The first group compared with controls showed reduction in grey-matter volume in the right superior temporal gyrus (BA38), a region important for social emotion processing.

Download Full-text

A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study of the Brain of University Students Majoring in Music and Nonmusic Disciplines

Behavioural Neurology ◽

10.1155/2015/274919 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kanako Sato ◽

Eiji Kirino ◽

Shoji Tanaka

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Musical Training ◽

Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽

Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Voxel Based Morphometry ◽

Middle Occipital Gyrus ◽

The Right ◽

The Brain

The brain changes flexibly due to various experiences during the developmental stages of life. Previous voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies have shown volumetric differences between musicians and nonmusicians in several brain regions including the superior temporal gyrus, sensorimotor areas, and superior parietal cortex. However, the reported brain regions depend on the study and are not necessarily consistent. By VBM, we investigated the effect of musical training on the brain structure by comparing university students majoring in music with those majoring in nonmusic disciplines. All participants were right-handed healthy Japanese females. We divided the nonmusic students into two groups and therefore examined three groups: music expert (ME), music hobby (MH), and nonmusic (NM) group. VBM showed that the ME group had the largest gray matter volumes in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG; BA 44), left middle occipital gyrus (BA 18), and bilateral lingual gyrus. These differences are considered to be caused by neuroplasticity during long and continuous musical training periods because the MH group showed intermediate volumes in these regions.

Download Full-text

Correlation of Metabolic Risk Factors with Sessile Serrated Lesions

Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases ◽

10.15403/jgld-507 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 175-179

Author(s):

Melania Macarie ◽

Simona Bataga ◽

Simona Mocan ◽

Monica Pantea ◽

Razvan Opaschi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Interval Cancer ◽

Metabolic Risk Factors ◽

Control Group ◽

Anatomical Site ◽

Metabolic Risk ◽

Right Colon ◽

Serrated Lesions ◽

The Right

Background and Aims: The importance of sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma has been recently established. These are supposed to cause the so-called “interval cancer”, having a rapidly progressive growth and being difficult to detect and to obtain an endoscopic complete resection. We aimed to establish the most important metabolic risk factors for sessile serrated lesions. Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study, on a series of 2918 consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Târgu-Mureș, Romania between 1 st of January 2015-31 th of December 2017. In order to evaluate the metabolic risk factors for polyps’ development, enrolled participants were stratified in two groups, a study group, 33 patients with SSLs lesions, and a control group, 138 patients with adenomatous polyps, selected by systematic sampling for age and anatomical site. Independent variables investigated were: gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, arterial hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia, nonalcoholic liver disease. Results: For SSLs the most common encountered localization was the right colon in 30.55% of cases. By comparative bivariate analysis between SSLs group and control group, it was observed that hypertension (p=0.03, OR 2.33, 95 %CI 1.03-5.24), obesity (p=0.03, OR 2.61, 95 %CI 1.08-6.30), hyperuricemia (p=0.04, OR 2.72, 95 %CI 1.28-7.55), high cholesterol (p=0.002, OR 3.42; 95 %CI 1.48-7.87), and high triglycerides level (p=0.0006, OR 5.75; 95 %CI 1.92-17.2) were statistically associated with SSLs development. By multivariate analysis hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia retained statistical significance. Conclusions: Our study showed that the highest prevalence of SSLs was in the right colon and hypertension and increased triglycerides levels were associated with the risk of SSLs development. These risk factors are easy to detect in clinical practice and may help identifying groups with high risk for colorectal cancer, where screening is recommended.

Download Full-text

Early Predictive Biochemical, Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Markers for Cardiac Damage in Patients with Pulmonic Silicosis

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.19.1.6852 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 63-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Venera Cristina Dinescu ◽

Ileana Puiu ◽

Sorin Nicolae Dinescu ◽

Diana Rodica Tudorascu ◽

Elena Catalina Bica ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Disease ◽

Right Ventricle ◽

Control Group ◽

Cardiac Damage ◽

Right Heart ◽

Pulmonary Heart Disease ◽

Upper Limit ◽

Echocardiographic Parameters ◽

The Right ◽

Chronic Pulmonary Heart Disease

The aim of this study was to identify correlations between electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes in patients with silicosis prior to the occurrence of chronic pulmonary heart disease. We conducted a prospective, descriptive, analytical study, in which we included a group of 67 patients consecutively admitted to the Health Promotion and Occupational Medicine Clinic between December 2016 and January 2018, aged 47 to 78 years.There was a biochemical and electrocardiographic evaluation for each patient as well as a right ventricle echocardiographic evaluation (diameters, volumes, function). A control group, including 25 patients with benign minor diseases that required a cardiologist consultation, was also used. From the electrocardiographic point of view, slight changes were observed regarding the waves of electrical activity of the right ventricle. Taking into account the degree of ventilatory dysfunction (depending on FEV1), changes in right heart echocardiographic parameters were identified. Thus, in what the most important right ventricular parameters, including the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) or the RV index of myocardial performance (RVMPI) were concerned, values at the upper limit of normality were recorded in most patients with moderate and severe ventilatory dysfunction. Values of echocardiographic parameters of the right heart at the upper limit of normality, correlated with the degree of ventilatory dysfunction, are early markers for cardiovascular damage in patients with pulmonary silicosis prior to the occurrence of chronic pulmonary heart disease also known ascor pulmonale.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Ovaries in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome using Shear Wave Elastography

Current Medical Imaging Formerly Current Medical Imaging Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573405615666190114150538 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. 578-583

Author(s):

Aysegul Altunkeser ◽

Zeynep Ozturk Inal ◽

Nahide Baran

Keyword(s):

Shear Wave ◽

Large Scale ◽

Polycystic Ovary ◽

Shear Wave Elastography ◽

Left Ovary ◽

Control Group ◽

Tissue Elasticity ◽

Group I ◽

Pcos Group ◽

The Right

Background: Shear wave electrography (SWE) is a novel non-invasive imaging technique which demonstrate tissue elasticity. Recent research evaluating the elasticity properties of normal and pathological tissues emphasize the diagnostic importance of this technique. Aims: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized by menstrual irregularity, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic overgrowth, may cause infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the elasticity of ovaries in patients with PCOS using SWE. Methods: 66 patients diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria (PCOS = group I) and 72 patients with non-PCOS (Control = group II), were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were recorded. Ovarian elasticity was assessed in all patients with SWE, and speed values were obtained from the ovaries. The elasticity of the ovaries was compared between the two groups. Results: While there were statistically significant differences between the groups in body mass index (BMI), right and left ovarian volumes, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels (p<0.05), no significant differences were found between groups I and II in the velocity (for the right ovary 3.89±1.81 vs. 2.93±0.72, p=0.301; for the left ovary 2.88±0.65 vs. 2.95±0.80, p=0.577) and elastography (for the right ovary 36.62±17.78 vs. 36.79±14.32, p=0.3952; for the left ovary 36.56±14.15 vs. 36.26±15.10, p=0.903) values, respectively. Conclusion: We could not obtain different velocity and elastography values from the ovaries of the patients with PCOS using SWE. Therefore, further large-scale studies are needed to elucidate this issue.

Download Full-text

Hand Preference and Performance in Basketball Tasks

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16224336 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (22) ◽

pp. 4336 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emanuela Gualdi-Russo ◽

Natascia Rinaldo ◽

Alba Pasini ◽

Luciana Zaccagni

Keyword(s):

Professional Training ◽

Factor Model ◽

Hand Preference ◽

Control Group ◽

Basketball Players ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Left Hand ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

And Performance ◽

The Right

The aims of this study were to develop and validate an instrument to quantitatively assess the handedness of basketballers in basketball tasks (Basketball Handedness Inventory, BaHI) and to compare it with their handedness in daily activities by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI). The participants were 111 basketballers and 40 controls. All subjects completed the EHI and only basketballers filled in the BaHI. To validate the BaHI, a voluntary subsample of basketballers repeated the BaHI. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor model. Our results show that: (i) Handedness score (R) in daily actions did not differ between basketball players (R by EHI = 69.3 ± 44.6) and the control group (R by EHI = 64.5 ± 58.6); (ii) basketballers more frequently favored performing certain sport tasks with the left hand or mixed hands (as highlighted by R by BaHI = 50.1 ± 47.1), although their choice was primarily the right hand in everyday gestures; and (iii) this preference was especially true for athletes at the highest levels of performance (R by BaHI of A1 league = 38.6 ± 58.3) and for those playing in selected roles (point guard’s R = 29.4 ± 67.4). Our findings suggest that professional training induces handedness changes in basketball tasks. The BaHI provides a valid and reliable measure of the skilled hand in basketball. This will allow coaches to assess mastery of the ball according to the hand used by the athlete in the different tasks and roles.

Download Full-text

EXPRESS: Altering the rehabilitation environment to improve stroke survivor activity (AREISSA): a Phase II trial.

International Journal of Stroke ◽

10.1177/17474930211006999 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174749302110069

Author(s):

Heidi Janssen ◽

Louise Ada ◽

Sandy Middleton ◽

Michael Pollack ◽

Michael Nilsson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Events ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Social Activity ◽

Stroke Survivor ◽

Group Differences ◽

Control Group ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

Clinical Trial Registration

Background: Environmental enrichment involves organisation of the environment and provision of equipment to facilitate engagement in physical, cognitive and social activity. In animals with stroke, it promotes brain plasticity and recovery. Aims: To assess the feasibility and safety of a patient-driven model of environmental enrichment incorporating access to communal and individual environmental enrichment. Methods: A non-randomised cluster trial with blinded measurement involving people with stroke (n=193) in 4 rehabilitation units was carried out. Feasibility was operationalised as activity 10 days after admission to rehabilitation and availability of environmental enrichment. Safety was measured as falls and serious adverse events. Benefit was measured as clinical outcomes at 3 months, by an assessor blinded to group. Results: The experimental group (n=91) spent 7% (95% CI -14 to 0) less time inactive, 9% (95% CI 0 to 19) more time physically, and 6% (95% CI 2 to 10) more time socially active than the control group (n=102). Communal environmental enrichment was available 100% of the time, but individual environmental enrichment was rarely within reach (24%) or sight (39%). There were no between-group differences in serious adverse events or falls at discharge or 3 months nor in clinical outcomes at 3 months. Conclusions: This patient-driven model of environmental enrichment was feasible and safe. However, the very modest increase in activity by people with stroke, and the lack of benefit in clinical outcomes 3 months after stroke do not provide justification for an efficacy trial. Clinical Trial Registration: ANZCTR 12613000796785 Words: 245

Download Full-text