Emotions and the Right Hemisphere: Editorial

The hypothesis assuming that the right hemisphere may play a critical role in emotional processing was raised by clinical data which showed that patients with right brain lesions often show abnormal patterns of emotional behavior [...]

Air Pollution Associated with Cognitive Decline by the Mediating Effects of Sleep Cycle Disruption and Changes in Brain Structure in Adults

The effects of air pollution on sleep and dementia remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of air pollution on cognitive function as mediated by the sleep cycle. A cross-sectional study design was conducted to recruit 4866 subjects on which PSG had been performed. Fifty of them were further given a cognitive function evaluation by the MMSE and CASI as well as brain images by CT and MRI. Associations of 1-year air pollution parameters with sleep parameters, cognitive function, and brain structure were examined. We observed that O3 was associated with a decrease in arousal, an increase in the N1 stage, and a decrease in the N2 stage of sleep. NO2 was associated with an increase in the N1 stage, a decrease in the N2 stage, and an increase in REM. PM2.5 was associated with a decrease in the N1 stage, increases in the N2 and N3 stages, and a decrease in REM. The N1 and N2 stages were associated with cognitive decline, but REM was associated with an increase in cognitive function. The N1 stage was a mediator of the effects of PM2.5 on the concentration domain of the MMSE. O3 was associated with an increase in the pars orbitalis volume of the left brain. NO2 was associated with increases in the rostral middle frontal volume, supramarginal gyrus volume, and transverse temporal volume of the left brain, and the pars opercularis volume of the right brain. PM2.5 was associated with increases in the pars triangularis volume of the left brain and the fusiform thickness of the right brain. In conclusion, we observed that air pollution was associated with cognitive decline by mediating effects on the sleep cycle with changes in the brain structure in controlling executive, learning, and language functions in adults.

Sequential neural activity in sensorimotor area and mirror neural system for graded mirror therapy with imagined hand movements

BACKGROUND: Graded motor imagery (GMI) therapy is a neural rehabilitative physiotherapy that has been shown to alleviate the severity of complex regional pain syndrome, phantom limb pain and disability. OBJECTIVE: To identify neural networks associated with the use of graded mirror therapy (MT) while imagining hand movements. METHODS: We made a block-design functional magnetic resonance imaging study of MT included three experiments: (1) immobile unimanual MT (IU-MT), in which the right hand flexed and made a fist, which then remained immobile; (2) mobilization unimanual MT (MU-MT), in which the right hand performed a flexion-extension movement; and (3) mobilization bimanual MT (MB-MT), in which both hands performed a flexion-extension movement. When subjects started their hand movements, they gazed at the mirror and imagined the same movement behind the mirror. RESULTS: We discovered that the sensorimotor area of the left brain, superior temporal gyrus/middle temporal gyrus (STG/MTG) of the right brain and visual areas were activated by IU-MT. In MU-MT, only the STG/MTG was activated. Furthermore, MB-UT mostly activated the sensorimotor area and STG of the right brain. However, there were no brain areas activated by MU-MT compared with IU-MT or MB-MT; however, MB-MT activated more motor areas than IU-MT. Importantly, we determined that the level of mirror imagery was negatively correlated with signals in the mirror neuron system (MNS) and positively related with the signals in the sensorimotor areas. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that graded MT might be a sequential therapeutic program that can enhance the sensorimotor cortex. The MNS might have an initiating role in graded MT. Thus, there is the possibility that graded MT is a helpful treatment strategy for the rehabilitation of dysfunctional patients.

Influence of MRI on Diagnostic Efficacy and Satisfaction of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Objective. To inquire into the influence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the diagnostic efficacy and satisfaction of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods. This study included 42 healthy people (control group) and 66 patients with AD (AD group). The hippocampus volume, temporal sulcus spacing, left-right brain diameter, brain lobe volume, hippocampal height, temporal horn width, lateral fissure width, and degree of leukoaraiosis were all measured using an MRI scan. After diagnosis, the satisfaction of patients in both arms was investigated and the satisfaction degree was recorded. Results. Compared with the control group, the left and right hippocampal volumes and hippocampal height of AD patients were smaller, while the temporal sulcus spacing, temporal horn width, lateral fissure width, and left-right brain diameter were remarkably higher. A statistical difference was present in the degree of leukoaraiosis between the two arms. The frontal and temporal lobe volumes of AD patients were notably lower while the volumes of parietal and occipital lobes were similar, versus the control group. The total satisfaction was 83.33% in the control group and 86.36% in the AD group, with no statistical difference between the two arms. Conclusions. MRI can effectively mine the brain information of AD patients with a high patient satisfaction, which has potential value in clinical application.

Christian Faith View On Mid-Brain Activation System And Its Impact On The Spirituality Of Children Aged 6 To 12 Years Old In Surabaya

God created humans as the most special creation compared to His other creations. Human intelligence is caused by one organ which, although small in size, has a very vital role, namely the brain. Advances in knowledge and technology have encouraged scientists to try solving the mysteries of the brain. Many studies have focused on the right brain and left brain, or to balance the right brain and left brain. But in recent years, there has been a training/self-development institute who stated that they had found a way to balance the right and left brain, namely by activating the midbrain. This midbrain activation method is aimed at children aged 5-15 years because it is considered that children at this age are more easily activated in a very short time through a computer.The method used in writing this work is a Literature Study that contains various information on matters related to the topic of discussion. In addition to using literature, writing will be complemented by field research, using a Check List to interview respondents. The research approach used are qualitative and quantitative approach. A The qualitative approach obtains data regarding respondent's experiences. This writing has the aim of finding ( knowing ) whether the Midbrain Activation system is in accordance with God's Word or against God's Word; to open the horizons of parents, congregations and even readers of this paper, especially those with children, so that they can be more careful in choosing training for their children.