Non-invasive brain microcurrent stimulation therapy of long-COVID-19 reduces vascular dysregulation and improves visual and cognitive impairment

Background: An effective treatment is needed for long-COVID patients which suffer from symptoms of vision and/or cognition impairment such as impaired attention, memory, language comprehension, or fatigue. Objective: Because COVID-19infection causes reduced blood flow which may cause neuronal inactivation, we explored if neuromodulation with non-invasive brain stimulation with microcurrent (NIBS), known to enhance blood flow and neuronal synchronization, can reduce these symptoms. Methods: Two female long-COVID patients were treated for 10–13 days with alternating current stimulation of the eyes and brain. While one patient (age 40) was infected with the SARS CoV-2 virus, the other (age 72) developed symptoms following AstraZeneca vaccination. Before and after therapy, cognition was assessed subjectively by interview and visual field using perimetry. One patient was also tested with a cognitive test battery and with a retinal dynamic vascular analyser (DVA), a surrogate marker of vascular dysregulation in the brain. Results: In both patients NIBS markedly improved cognition and partially reversed visual field loss within 3–4 days. Cognitive tests in one patient confirmed recovery of up to 40–60% in cognitive subfunctions with perimetry results showing stable and visual field recovery even during follow-up. DVA showed that NIBS reduced vascular dysregulation by normalizing vessel dynamics (dilation/constriction), with particularly noticeable changes in the peripheral veins and arteries. Conclusions: NIBS was effective in improving visual and cognitive deficits in two confirmed SARS-COV-2 patients. Because recovery of function was associated with restoration of vascular autoregulation, we propose that (i) hypometabolic, “silent” neurons are the likely biological cause of long-COVID associated visual and cognitive deficits, and (ii) reoxygenation of these “silent” neurons provides the basis of neurological recovery. Controlled trials are now needed to confirm these observations.

Behavioural and Neurochemical Consequences of MDMA Self-Administration in Rats

<p>Rationale: Over the past few decades, MDMA has been shown to produce persistent detrimental effects. Animal models have been developed to investigate the effects of self-administered drugs on brain and behaviour, but only a limited number of studies have investigated effects of MDMA. Objectives: The present thesis sought to determine the effects of MDMA self-administration on working memory and tissue levels of 5HT in rats. The role of the 5HT₁ₐ autoreceptor in MDMA-produced deficits in tissue levels of 5HT was also evaluated using neurochemical and behavioural assays. Methods: Rats self-administered a total of 165mg/kg MDMA, and were then tested in the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) task 1 week or 9 weeks following the last session of MDMA self-administration. Tissue levels of 5HT were measured in separate groups of rats, following self-administration of a total dose of 165mg/kg or 315mg/kg. 8-OH-DPAT-induced lower lip retraction (LLR) was measured in rats 2 weeks following either self-administered (315mg/kg) or experimenter-administered (40mg/kg) MDMA. In subsequent studies, chronic 8-OH-DPAT (daily injections over 7 days; 1.0mg/kg/day), chronic trazodone (continuous infusion over 14 days via osmotic minipump; 10mg/kg/day) and tryptophan loading (oral administration over 7 days; 125mg/day via gavaging needle) were administered after MDMA treatment (either self-administered; 315mg/kg or experimenter-administered; 40mg/kg) and tissue levels of 5HT were measured. Results: Self-administered MDMA produced deficits in NOR that recovered 10 weeks following self-administration. There was a small decrease in tissue levels of 5HT at both 2 weeks and 10 weeks following the low dose of self-administered MDMA. Two weeks following the high dose, tissue levels of 5HT were decreased by about 30% in all brain regions examined, and there was recovery 10 weeks following exposure. 8-OH-DPAT-induced LLR was unchanged in MDMA-treated rats. Furthermore, none of the treatments restored tissue levels of 5HT following MDMA exposure, even though the treatment (chronic 8-OH-DPAT) shifted the basal 8-OH-DPAT-induced LLR curve to the right, suggesting autoreceptor desensitisation. Conclusions: Self-administered MDMA produced deficits in NOR, which may reflect impaired attention, encoding, novelty seeking or other cognitive processes. Dose- and time-dependent deficits in tissue levels of 5HT were modest compared to those produced by experimenter-administered MDMA. Therefore, MDMA self-administration may be important for pre-clinical investigation of long-term consequences of MDMA. The findings are not consistent with the idea that the 5HT₁ₐ autoreceptor became supersensitive as a result of MDMA exposure, and it is therefore not a viable pharmacological target for restoring tissue levels of 5HT.</p>

Behavioural and Neurochemical Consequences of MDMA Self-Administration in Rats

<p>Rationale: Over the past few decades, MDMA has been shown to produce persistent detrimental effects. Animal models have been developed to investigate the effects of self-administered drugs on brain and behaviour, but only a limited number of studies have investigated effects of MDMA. Objectives: The present thesis sought to determine the effects of MDMA self-administration on working memory and tissue levels of 5HT in rats. The role of the 5HT₁ₐ autoreceptor in MDMA-produced deficits in tissue levels of 5HT was also evaluated using neurochemical and behavioural assays. Methods: Rats self-administered a total of 165mg/kg MDMA, and were then tested in the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) task 1 week or 9 weeks following the last session of MDMA self-administration. Tissue levels of 5HT were measured in separate groups of rats, following self-administration of a total dose of 165mg/kg or 315mg/kg. 8-OH-DPAT-induced lower lip retraction (LLR) was measured in rats 2 weeks following either self-administered (315mg/kg) or experimenter-administered (40mg/kg) MDMA. In subsequent studies, chronic 8-OH-DPAT (daily injections over 7 days; 1.0mg/kg/day), chronic trazodone (continuous infusion over 14 days via osmotic minipump; 10mg/kg/day) and tryptophan loading (oral administration over 7 days; 125mg/day via gavaging needle) were administered after MDMA treatment (either self-administered; 315mg/kg or experimenter-administered; 40mg/kg) and tissue levels of 5HT were measured. Results: Self-administered MDMA produced deficits in NOR that recovered 10 weeks following self-administration. There was a small decrease in tissue levels of 5HT at both 2 weeks and 10 weeks following the low dose of self-administered MDMA. Two weeks following the high dose, tissue levels of 5HT were decreased by about 30% in all brain regions examined, and there was recovery 10 weeks following exposure. 8-OH-DPAT-induced LLR was unchanged in MDMA-treated rats. Furthermore, none of the treatments restored tissue levels of 5HT following MDMA exposure, even though the treatment (chronic 8-OH-DPAT) shifted the basal 8-OH-DPAT-induced LLR curve to the right, suggesting autoreceptor desensitisation. Conclusions: Self-administered MDMA produced deficits in NOR, which may reflect impaired attention, encoding, novelty seeking or other cognitive processes. Dose- and time-dependent deficits in tissue levels of 5HT were modest compared to those produced by experimenter-administered MDMA. Therefore, MDMA self-administration may be important for pre-clinical investigation of long-term consequences of MDMA. The findings are not consistent with the idea that the 5HT₁ₐ autoreceptor became supersensitive as a result of MDMA exposure, and it is therefore not a viable pharmacological target for restoring tissue levels of 5HT.</p>

Attention and Learning Disabilities

Impaired attention is known as a pervasive behaviour disturbance, with a negative influence on learning processes. Attention deficit is one of the main symptoms of Attention Deficits Hyperactive Disorder, ADHD. Further, impaired attention is often part of learning disorders in dyslexia and dyscalculia as well as in students with no medical diagnoses. In schools and higher education knowledge on attention and challenges caused by impaired attention, is typically scarce. Hence, this chapter aims to inform educational institutions by applying Mirsky’s model of attention, discuss challenges of impaired attention, and point to intervention effects. The positive effects of real-life interventions comprising target shooting practice are explained by immediate neurofeedback combined with individual adaption and caring. Moreover, as previously hypothesised, the sequential order of behaviour at the shooting range may benefit students with impaired attention. The term concentration is frequently used in Norwegian schools and counselling services. A definition of concentration in natural situations is suggested, and possible overlaps between concentration and attention are discussed. The chapter opens for empirical and theoretical questions and hopes for more research on target shooting practice as well as on other educational programmes applying neurofeedback in the school context to investigate attention.

The Effect of Guided Imagery on Insomnia in the Elderly in the Jara Mara Pati Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) Kab. Buleleng

Background: The aging process is a natural process faced by humans where there is a decrease or change in physical, emotional, psychosocial conditions which will certainly affect their productivity. This situation tends to have the potential to cause health problems, one of which is insomnia. There are some serious effects on sleep disorders such as excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired attention and memory, mood, depression, and decreased quality of life.Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effect of giving guided imagery to insomnia in the elderly at the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) Jara Mara Pati Kab. Buleleng.Methods: The research design used was pre-experimental with a one-group pre-test post-test design. The population in this study were all elderly people who experienced insomnia in the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of Jara Mara Pati Kab. Buleleng with a sample size of 36 respondents, by using a simple random sampling technique. Data collection using a checklist sheet. The data obtained were then coded, scored, tabulated, and analyzed with the Wilcoxon test with a significant value of 0.05.Results: The results of this study show the results of value < which means that there is an influence of guided imagery on insomnia in the elderly.Conclusion: Seeing the results of this study can be used as non-pharmacological therapy by the elderly in (UPT) Jara Mara Pati Kab. Buleleng to improve sleep quality which is done once a month on a scheduled basis

Analysis of current research in the field of detecting driver fatigue in the vehicle cab

The article analyzes the methods of detecting driver fatigue which are described in modern literature. There are a great variety of methods for assessing the functional state of a person. A functional state is an integral set of characteristics of those functions and qualities of a person that directly or indirectly determine the performance of any activity. The physical and mental state of a person, the success of his work, training, creativity depends on the functional state of the organism. The assessment of dynamic driver behavior has become an increasingly popular area of research in recent years. Dynamic assessment of driver behavior includes continuous monitoring that allows you to determine functional states, in contrast to modern driver monitoring systems, which assess conditions such as drowsiness and impaired attention for a short (1-10 s) time interval. Such systems allow us to talk about physiological, but not neurophysiological monitoring, which allows monitoring the functional state of fatigue. Therefore, it makes sense to monitor the driver’s state of fatigue of, as well as to warn them in a timely manner to avoid collisions with other vehicles. In the article, a study was carried out and an analysis of the ways to obtain the appropriate characteristics from a person, with the help of which it is possible to determine his functional state of fatigue. As a result of the analysis of the sources, the most common methods for determining the functional state of the driver were selected. Further, the sources found were classified according to the most common methods for obtaining significant characteristics of the functional state of the driver. As a result, a comparative analysis was made, demonstrating the capabilities of modern systems of this class.