functional neuroplasticity
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2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Maudrich ◽  
Susanne Hähner ◽  
Rouven Kenville ◽  
Patrick Ragert

BackgroundSomatosensory-evoked potentials (SEP) represent a non-invasive tool to assess neural responses elicited by somatosensory stimuli acquired via electrophysiological recordings. To date, there is no comprehensive evaluation of SEPs for the diagnostic investigation of exercise-induced functional neuroplasticity. This systematic review aims at highlighting the potential of SEP measurements as a diagnostic tool to investigate exercise-induced functional neuroplasticity of the sensorimotor system by reviewing studies comparing SEP parameters between athletes and healthy controls who are not involved in organized sports as well as between athlete cohorts of different sport disciplines.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted across three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus) by two independent researchers. Three hundred and ninety-seven records were identified, of which 10 cross-sectional studies were considered eligible.ResultsDifferences in SEP amplitudes and latencies between athletes and healthy controls or between athletes of different cohorts as well as associations between SEP parameters and demographic/behavioral variables (years of training, hours of training per week & reaction time) were observed in seven out of 10 included studies. In particular, several studies highlight differences in short- and long-latency SEP parameters, as well as high-frequency oscillations (HFO) when comparing athletes and healthy controls. Neuroplastic differences in athletes appear to be modality-specific as well as dependent on training regimens and sport-specific requirements. This is exemplified by differences in SEP parameters of various athlete populations after stimulation of their primarily trained limb.ConclusionTaken together, the existing literature suggests that athletes show specific functional neuroplasticity in the somatosensory system. Therefore, this systematic review highlights the potential of SEP measurements as an easy-to-use and inexpensive diagnostic tool to investigate functional neuroplasticity in the sensorimotor system of athletes. However, there are limitations regarding the small sample sizes and inconsistent methodology of SEP measurements in the studies reviewed. Therefore, future intervention studies are needed to verify and extend the conclusions drawn here.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Antons ◽  
Magdalena Lindner ◽  
Maximilian Grosch ◽  
Rosel Oos ◽  
Giovanna Palumbo ◽  
...  

Abstract Neuronal lesions trigger mechanisms of structural and functional neuroplasticity, which can support recovery. However, the temporal and spatial appearance of structure-function changes and their interrelation remain unclear. The current study aimed to directly compare serial whole-brain in vivo measurements of functional plasticity (by [18F]-FDG-PET) and structural synaptic plasticity (by [18F]-UCB-H-PET) before and after bilateral labyrinthectomy in rats and investigate the effect of locomotor training. Complex structure-function changes were found after bilateral labyrinthectomy: in brainstem-cerebellar circuits, regional cerebral glucose metabolism (rCGM) decreased early, followed by reduced synaptic density. In the thalamus, increased [18F]-UCB-H binding preceded a higher rCGM uptake. In frontal-basal ganglia loops, an increase in synaptic density was paralleled by a decrease in rCGM. In the group with locomotor training, thalamic rCGM and [18F]-UCB-H binding increased following bilateral labyrinthectomy compared to the no training group. Rats with training had relatively fewer body rotations. In conclusion, combined [18F]-FDG/[18F]-UCB-H dual tracer imaging reveals that adaptive neuroplasticity after bilateral vestibular loss is not a uniform process but is composed of complex spatial and temporal patterns of structure-function coupling in networks for vestibular, multisensory, and motor control, which can be modulated by early physical training.


Author(s):  
Tory O. Frizzell ◽  
Elisha Phull ◽  
Mishaa Khan ◽  
Xiaowei Song ◽  
Lukas A. Grajauskas ◽  
...  

AbstractMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies are sensitive to biological mechanisms of neuroplasticity in white matter (WM). In particular, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been used to investigate structural changes. Historically, functional MRI (fMRI) neuroplasticity studies have been restricted to gray matter, as fMRI studies have only recently expanded to WM. The current study evaluated WM neuroplasticity pre–post motor training in healthy adults, focusing on motor learning in the non-dominant hand. Neuroplasticity changes were evaluated in two established WM regions-of-interest: the internal capsule and the corpus callosum. Behavioral improvements following training were greater for the non-dominant hand, which corresponded with MRI-based neuroplasticity changes in the internal capsule for DTI fractional anisotropy, fMRI hemodynamic response functions, and low-frequency oscillations (LFOs). In the corpus callosum, MRI-based neuroplasticity changes were detected in LFOs, DTI, and functional correlation tensors (FCT). Taken together, the LFO results converged as significant amplitude reductions, implicating a common underlying mechanism of optimized transmission through altered myelination. The structural and functional neuroplasticity findings open new avenues for direct WM investigations into mapping connectomes and advancing MRI clinical applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 102795
Author(s):  
Keying Zhang ◽  
Yu Liu ◽  
Jianxiu Liu ◽  
Ruidong Liu ◽  
Chunmei Cao

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sijia Guo ◽  
Ke Peng ◽  
Rui Ding ◽  
Junchen Zhou ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
...  

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.


Author(s):  
Emma Gulley ◽  
Joe Verghese ◽  
Helena M Blumen ◽  
Emmeline Ayers ◽  
Cuiling Wang ◽  
...  

New therapies for symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are urgently needed. Prior studies suggest that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive neuromodulatory method, may be a safe and potentially effective treatment, but conclusions have been limited by small-sample sizes and brief stimulation protocols. This double-blind randomized trial involving 100 older adults with mild-to-moderate AD examines effects of 6 months of at-home active tDCS or sham delivered over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The primary outcome is global cognitive performance. Secondary outcomes include executive-control/spatial selective attention, functional neuroplasticity, depressive symptoms, quality of life and the durability of effects 3 months after the stimulation period. The results will provide evidence on the efficacy of multimonth at-home tDCS in the AD treatment. This study has been registered on www.Clinicaltrials.gov - identifier: NCT 04404153 .


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 6103
Author(s):  
Mary Jasmin Ang ◽  
Sueun Lee ◽  
Mai Wada ◽  
Poornima D. E. Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage ◽  
Sung-Ho Kim ◽  
...  

Changes in structural and functional neuroplasticity have been implicated in various neurological disorders. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c is a critical regulatory molecule of lipid homeostasis in the brain. Recently, our findings have shown the potential involvement of SREBP-1c deficiency in the alteration of novel modulatory molecules in the hippocampus and occurrence of schizophrenia-like behaviors in mice. However, the possible underlying mechanisms, related to neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus, are yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the hippocampus-dependent memory function and neuronal architecture of hippocampal neurons in SREBP-1c knockout (KO) mice. During the passive avoidance test, SREBP-1c KO mice showed memory impairment. Based on Golgi staining, the dendritic complexity, length, and branch points were significantly decreased in the apical cornu ammonis (CA) 1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) subregions of the hippocampi of SREBP-1c KO mice, compared with those of wild-type (WT) mice. Additionally, significant decreases in the dendritic diameters were detected in the CA3 and DG subregions, and spine density was also significantly decreased in the apical CA3 subregion of the hippocampi of KO mice, compared with that of WT mice. Alterations in the proportions of stubby and thin-shaped dendritic spines were observed in the apical subcompartments of CA1 and CA3 in the hippocampi of KO mice. Furthermore, the corresponding differential decreases in the levels of SREBP-1 expression in the hippocampal subregions (particularly, a significant decrease in the level in the CA3) were detected by immunofluorescence. This study suggests that the contributions of SREBP-1c to the structural plasticity of the mouse hippocampus may have underlain the behavioral alterations. These findings offer insights into the critical role of SREBP-1c in hippocampal functioning in mice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolijn Vanderauwera ◽  
Elisabeth Hellemans ◽  
Nicolas Verhaert

Neuroplasticity following bilateral deafness and auditory restoration has been repeatedly investigated. In clinical practice, however, a significant number of patients present a severe-to-profound unilateral hearing loss (UHL). To date, less is known about the neuroplasticity following monaural hearing deprivation and auditory input restoration. This article provides an overview of the current research insights on the impact of UHL on the brain and the effect of auditory input restoration with a cochlear implant (CI). An exhaustive systematic review of the literature was performed selecting 38 studies that apply different neural analyses techniques. The main results show that the hearing ear becomes functionally dominant after monaural deprivation, reshaping the lateralization of the neural network for auditory processing, a process that can be considered to influence auditory restoration. Furthermore, animal models predict that the onset time of UHL impacts auditory restoration. Hence, the results seem to advocate for early restoration of UHL, although further research is required to disambiguate the effects of duration and onset of UHL on auditory restoration and on structural neuroplasticity following UHL deprivation and restoration. Ongoing developments on CI devices compatible with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examinations will provide a unique opportunity to investigate structural and functional neuroplasticity following CI restoration more directly.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Arganda ◽  
Andrew P. Hoadley ◽  
Evan S. Razdan ◽  
Isabella B. Muratore ◽  
James F. A. Traniello

AbstractOur understanding of how the design of peripheral sensory structures is coupled with neural processing capacity to adaptively support division of labor is limited. Workers of the remarkably polymorphic fungus-growing ant Atta cephalotes are behaviorally specialized by size: the smallest workers (minims) tend fungi in dark subterranean chambers while larger workers perform tasks mainly outside the nest. These strong differences in worksite light conditions are predicted to influence sensory and processing requirements for vision. We found that eye structure and visual neuropils have been be selected to maximize task performance according to light availability. Minim eyes had few ommatidia, large interommatidial angles and eye parameter values, suggesting selection for visual sensitivity over acuity. Large workers had larger eyes with disproportionally more and larger ommatidia, and smaller interommatidial angles and eye parameter values, reflecting peripheral sensory adaptation to ambient rainforest light. Additionally, optic lobe and mushroom body collar volumes were disproportionately small in minims, and within the optic lobe, lamina and lobula relative volumes increased with worker size whereas the medulla decreased. Visual system phenotypes thus correspond to task specializations in dark or light environments and reflect a functional neuroplasticity underpinning division of labor in this socially complex agricultural ant.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Neto ◽  
T. Sayer ◽  
D. Theisen ◽  
A. Mierau

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common problem with consequences ranging from chronic joint instability to early development of osteoarthritis. Recent studies suggest that changes in brain activity (i.e., functional neuroplasticity) may be related to ACL injury. The purpose of this article is to summarize the available evidence of functional brain plasticity after an ACL injury. A scoping review was conducted following the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The terms “brain,” “activity,” “neuroplasticity,” “ACL,” “injury,” and “reconstruction” were used in an electronic search of articles in PubMed, PEDro, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases. Eligible studies included the following criteria: (a) population with ACL injury, (b) a measure of brain activity, and (c) a comparison to the ACL-injured limb (contralateral leg or healthy controls). The search yielded 184 articles from which 24 were included in this review. The effect size of differences in brain activity ranged from small (0.05, ACL-injured vs. noninjured limbs) to large (4.07, ACL-injured vs. healthy control). Moreover, heterogeneity was observed in the methods used to measure brain activity and in the characteristics of the participants included. In conclusion, the evidence summarized in this scoping review supports the notion of functional neuroplastic changes in people with ACL injury. The techniques used to measure brain activity and the presence of possible confounders, as identified and reported in this review, should be considered in future research to increase the level of evidence for functional neuroplasticity following ACL injury.


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