Progress in brain research最新文献

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease marked by dopaminergic neuronal loss and misfolded alpha-synuclein (α-syn) accumulation, which results in both motor and cognitive symptoms. Its occurrence grows with age, with a larger prevalence among males. Despite substantial study, effective medicines to reduce or stop the progression of diseases remain elusive. Interest has grown in examining dietary components, such as caffeine present in coffee, for potential medicinal effects. Epidemiological studies imply a lower incidence of PD with coffee drinking, attributable to caffeine's neuroprotective abilities. Beyond caffeine, coffee constituent like chlorogenic acid and cafestol have anti-Parkinsonian benefits. Moreover, coffee use has been related with variations in gut microbiota composition, which may reduce intestinal inflammation and prevent protein misfolding in enteric nerves, perhaps through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This review gives a summary of the neuroprotective effects of coffee, investigating both its motor and non-motor advantages in individuals with PD as well as in experimental models of PD. We reviewed some bioactive constituents of coffee, their respective interactions with misfolded α-syn accumulation, and its emerging mechanisms associated to the gut microbiome.

Chronic loneliness is a risk factor for physical and health problems, in part due to dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic nervous system. In contrast, temporary moments of positive solitude (passing good times alone and not feeling lonely) appear to have positive effects on mental health, social life, and creativity, and seems to be a buffer against loneliness. Herein, three ways of how solitude may have positive effects on health and relatedness are discussed, namely effects on enhancement of mind-wandering, interoceptive awareness, and spirituality. Solitude may facilitate (1) activation of the default mode network (DMN) underlying mind-wandering including daydreaming about other people; (2) activation of brain areas supporting interoceptive awareness; (3) deactivation of prefrontal cortex, or deactivation and decreased connectivity of the DMN, giving raise to susceptibility to spiritual experiences. The capacity to handle and enjoy solitude is a developmental process that may be difficult for many persons. Craving for social connections and external stimulation with digital technologies (e.g., internet, smartphones, social media) might be interfering with the development of the capacity for solitude and thereby increasing loneliness; this might be partly due to impaired interoceptive awareness and impaired functional mind-wandering (common in solitude). Congruently, overuse of digital technologies was associated with reduced activity, and reduced gray matter volume and density, in brain areas supporting interoceptive awareness, as well as with decreased connectivity of the DMN supporting creative insights. Solitude has been a relatively dismissed topic in neuroscience and health sciences, but a growing number of studies is highlighting its importance for well-being.

This study investigated the association between aerobic and muscular fitness with the cognitive control and academic performance of preadolescent Arab children. Ninety-three children aged 10-13years (mean=11.5, SD=0.5) representing eight Arab nations (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, and Morocco) participated in this cross-sectional study. The participants completed tests for aerobic (progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance run) and muscular (maximum grip strength) fitness, and cognitive control (flanker task). We assessed their academic performance based on their overall grade point average (GPA). Our analyses revealed that greater aerobic fitness was associated with higher GPA scores and greater muscular fitness was associated with a shorter response time in a task condition requiring extensive cognitive control (incongruent condition). No association was found between aerobic fitness and flanker task performance nor between muscular fitness and GPA. These results bridge the knowledge gap on the associations of physical fitness to the cognitive control and academic performance of Arab children, suggesting that the positive associations found in Western and Asian literature can be generalized to the Arab context.

This study investigates the comparative analysis of resting-state functional magnetic imaging (rs-fMRI) markers in heat and mechanical pain sensitivity among healthy adults. Using quantitative sensory testing (QST) in the orofacial area and rs-fMRI, we explored the relationship between pain sensitivities and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) across whole brain areas. Brain regions were spatially divided using group independent component analysis (gICA), and additional masked gICA was performed for brainstem regions. Our findings revealed that a significant number of rsFCs were correlated with either heat or mechanical pain sensitivity, with a substantial portion originating from the Sensorimotor Network (SMN). Furthermore, multivariable regression models incorporating rsFC features demonstrated predictive capabilities for pain sensitivities, with the inclusion of brainstem gICA components significantly enhancing model accuracy. Finally, a composite critical rsFC value was introduced to simplify and describe overall abnormal communication in the brain network, which could also be used in univariable regression models to predict heat and mechanical pain sensitivity.

The emergence of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology provides enormous potential for human medical and daily applications. Therefore, allowing users to tolerate the visual response of SSVEP for a long time has always been an important issue in the SSVEP-BCI system. We recruited three subjects and conducted visual experiments in groups using different frequencies (17 and 25Hz) and 60Hz light. After recording the physiological signal, use FFT to perform a time-frequency analysis on the physiological signal to check whether there is any difference in the signal-to-noise ratio and amplitude of the 60Hz light source compared with a single low-frequency signal source. The results show that combining a 60Hz light source with low-frequency LEDs can reduce participants' eye discomfort while achieving effective light stimulation control. At the same time, there was no significant difference in signal-to-noise ratio and amplitude between the groups. This also means that 60Hz can make vision more continuous and improve the subject's experience and comfort. At the same time, it does not affect the performance of the original SSVEP-induced response. This study highlights the importance of considering technical aspects and user comfort when designing SSVEP-BCI systems to increase the usability of SSVEP systems for long-term flash viewing.

Physical exercise confers numerous benefits to brain structure, function and cognition, however, considerable individual variability exists in these effects. Emerging paradigms focused on intraindividual dynamics provide novel opportunities to map and leverage individualized neural architectures underlying exercise-cognition relationships. Progress at the intersection of psychometrics, structural and functional neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and genetics can be integrated to elucidate each individual's potential for improvement, as well as the specific abilities that are most likely to benefit from exercise regimens. These personalized profiles can then guide targeted exercise programs tailored to effectively modulate the pathways identified as most promising for that individual. Such mapping-guided exercise interventions tailored to a person's neurocognitive profile allows optimizing cognitive improvements compared to results elicited by generic regimens. While still in its infancy, precision interventions represent an innovative future direction to advance exercise in support of brain health, toward potent, truly personalized cognitive enhancement.

Unlike previous chapters, this is not about the teachings of a specific individual. Rather, it traces the slow changes in milieu and practice in the centuries following the death of Galen. They were to be profound. The Roman Empire fell in the middle of the 5th century. The Christian religion became increasingly dominant in the west, not only in spiritual matters but also in every activity related to culture and learning. The Byzantine Empire became increasingly important in the east. Islam was founded and began to spread in competition with Christianity. Academic advances develop best in stable societies so that it is not surprising that this was not a period of new ideas. Galen had gained overwhelming authority. The most valuable work on surgery to be written during these times was Book VI of Paul of Ægina's encyclopedia.

The chapter begins with a review of some of the background thinking during Hippocrates time. The brain was considered to be the location of the soul which was the essence of subjective experience. However, this was not a brain function as such but rather a location where the pneuma reacted with the soul. Hippocrates' monograph on cranial trauma begins with a description of the bones and sutures. He then systematized the classification of cranial injury. He sensibly advised accurate diagnosis into one of the types of injury he described and supported extension of any skin opening to facilitate diagnosis of the bone, the injury of which was his primary concern. His description of operative technique has rarely been surpassed, placing emphasis on care and methods for the avoidance of further injury. He also emphasized the importance of probing during trepanation to avoid damaging the dura and underlying brain. In addition, he insisted on using water to cool the trepan. All of this was positive. However, the respect in which he was held in subsequent generations meant that two albeit understandable errors were perpetuated. The first error was the use of prophylactic trepanation to permit the drainage of the pus which he believed would inevitably develop under a fissure. The second was to avoid trepanning at sutures, the reasons for which proscription are not clearly stated. In conclusion, it may be noted that what limited reporting of results is available demonstrates that Hippocrates trepanations were largely not successful.

This study delves into the application of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), focusing on exploiting Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials (SSVEPs) as communication tools for individuals facing mobility impairments. SSVEP-BCI systems can swiftly transmit substantial volumes of information, rendering them suitable for diverse applications. However, the efficacy of SSVEP responses can be influenced by variables such as the frequency and color of visual stimuli. Through experiments involving participants equipped with electrodes on the brain's visual cortex, visual stimuli were administered at 4, 17, 25, and 40Hz, using white, red, yellow, green, and blue light sources. The results reveal that white and green stimuli evoke higher SSVEP responses at lower frequencies, with color's impact diminishing at higher frequencies. At low light intensity (1W), white and green stimuli elicit significantly higher SSVEP responses, while at high intensity (3W), responses across colors tend to equalize. Notably, due to seizure risks, red and blue lights should be used cautiously, with white and green lights preferred for SSVEP-BCI systems. This underscores the critical consideration of color and frequency in the design of effective and safe SSVEP-BCI systems, necessitating further research to optimize designs for clinical applications.