This systematic review summarizes evidence about perceived stress in adults with epilepsy to clarify the particularities and potential effects on the prognosis and consequences of the disease. This review follows the recommendations of the PRISMA statement and was registered in PROSPERO. Thirty-four articles were selected. In 89 % of the studies, stress in epilepsy was conceptualized as a process in which the demands of the environment exceed the organism’s ability to cope. Stressful life events related to perceived stress in epilepsy included the COVID-19 pandemic and work-related problems. Perceived stress was identified as a seizure precipitant in 85 % of studies. In 67 % of studies, patients with epilepsy had higher perceived stress than healthy people. Female gender, youth, low educational levels, unemployment, poor social support, less than five years suffering the disorder, temporal lobe epilepsy, depression, poor seizure control, and polytherapy were identified as risk factors for increased stress. These studies highlight the need for the conceptualization of epilepsy within a chronic stress framework which could facilitate more appropriate clinical management.
{"title":"Perceived stress in adults with epilepsy: A systematic review","authors":"Judit Catalán-Aguilar, Esperanza González-Bono, Irene Cano-López","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106065","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106065","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This systematic review summarizes evidence about perceived stress in adults with epilepsy to clarify the particularities and potential effects on the prognosis and consequences of the disease. This review follows the recommendations of the PRISMA statement and was registered in PROSPERO. Thirty-four articles were selected. In 89 % of the studies, stress in epilepsy was conceptualized as a process in which the demands of the environment exceed the organism’s ability to cope. Stressful life events related to perceived stress in epilepsy included the COVID-19 pandemic and work-related problems. Perceived stress was identified as a seizure precipitant in 85 % of studies. In 67 % of studies, patients with epilepsy had higher perceived stress than healthy people. Female gender, youth, low educational levels, unemployment, poor social support, less than five years suffering the disorder, temporal lobe epilepsy, depression, poor seizure control, and polytherapy were identified as risk factors for increased stress. These studies highlight the need for the conceptualization of epilepsy within a chronic stress framework which could facilitate more appropriate clinical management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 106065"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143428116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106062
Laura H. Dosanjh , Samantha Lauby , Jaime Fuentes , Yessenia Castro , Fiona N. Conway , Frances A. Champagne , Cynthia Franklin , Bridget Goosby
Adults with symptoms of anxiety, depression, or PTSD and a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may experience more severe symptoms than those without ACEs. The identification of mechanisms linking ACEs to later mental health problems may provide salient treatment targets to improve outcomes. Several biological markers (cortisol, inflammation, allostatic load, DNA methylation, and telomere length) that are indicative of functional variation in stress response systems, have been hypothesized as potential mechanisms linking ACEs to later mental health outcomes. Much of the evidence supporting this hypothesis examines isolated pairwise associations between variables and it is unclear whether statistical tests of mediation support these conclusions. It is also unclear how much of the extant research has used theory to guide mediation analyses, which may be a salient factor in the recognition of a mechanism. This scoping review surveyed research conducting mediation analysis examining the indirect effect of any of these five biological markers on the relationship between ACEs and anxiety, depression, or PTSD. It further surveyed the use of theory in these analyses. Pubmed and seven electronic databases were searched: (1) APA PsychInfo (2) CINAHL Plus (3) Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition (4) MEDLINE (5) Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection (6) Science and Technology Collection, and (7) SocINDEX. A total of 16 articles were identified. The majority of studies examined depression as an outcome and the statistical significance of indirect effects were mixed across mediators. Common theoretical models and frameworks were consistent with life course theory and evolutionary or developmental perspectives.
{"title":"Five hypothesized biological mechanisms linking adverse childhood experiences with anxiety, depression, and PTSD: A scoping review","authors":"Laura H. Dosanjh , Samantha Lauby , Jaime Fuentes , Yessenia Castro , Fiona N. Conway , Frances A. Champagne , Cynthia Franklin , Bridget Goosby","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106062","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106062","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adults with symptoms of anxiety, depression, or PTSD and a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may experience more severe symptoms than those without ACEs. The identification of mechanisms linking ACEs to later mental health problems may provide salient treatment targets to improve outcomes. Several biological markers (cortisol, inflammation, allostatic load, DNA methylation, and telomere length) that are indicative of functional variation in stress response systems, have been hypothesized as potential mechanisms linking ACEs to later mental health outcomes. Much of the evidence supporting this hypothesis examines isolated pairwise associations between variables and it is unclear whether statistical tests of mediation support these conclusions. It is also unclear how much of the extant research has used theory to guide mediation analyses, which may be a salient factor in the recognition of a mechanism. This scoping review surveyed research conducting mediation analysis examining the indirect effect of any of these five biological markers on the relationship between ACEs and anxiety, depression, or PTSD. It further surveyed the use of theory in these analyses. Pubmed and seven electronic databases were searched: (1) APA PsychInfo (2) CINAHL Plus (3) Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition (4) MEDLINE (5) Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection (6) Science and Technology Collection, and (7) SocINDEX. A total of 16 articles were identified. The majority of studies examined depression as an outcome and the statistical significance of indirect effects were mixed across mediators. Common theoretical models and frameworks were consistent with life course theory and evolutionary or developmental perspectives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"171 ","pages":"Article 106062"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143426799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106061
Taylor Barda , Benita Schmitz-Koep , Aurore Menegaux , Peter Bartmann , Dieter Wolke , Christian Sorg , Dennis M Hedderich
Background
Approximately 11 % of births worldwide are preterm (<37 weeks). While research traditionally focuses on complications of prematurity and brain development, the role of socio-environmental factors has received less attention. Recent studies indicate these factors significantly influence neurocognitive outcomes and brain development, beyond prematurity alone. This review examines the impact of socio-environmental factors on brain structure and function in preterm-born individuals from birth to early adulthood.
Method
We conducted searches in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for studies up to August 28th, 2024, examining socio-environmental effects on brain structure or function in preterm-born individuals using magnetic resonance imaging. From 891 articles screened, 23 met the inclusion criteria.
Results
Socio-environmental factors, including socioeconomic status, prenatal conditions, hospital environment, and early life experiences, notably affect brain structures in preterm-born individuals. Key impacts were found in limbic and associative cortices (e.g., cingulate gyrus, parieto-temporal cortices), white matter tracts involved in executive functioning (e.g., superior longitudinal fasciculus, cingulum), and overall brain volume. Most studies focused on infancy, with 18 of 23 presenting data from the first year of life.
Conclusion
Socio-environmental factors are associated with changes in grey and white matter in the brain, especially in the limbic system and associative areas. These findings underscore the influence of early environments on preterm-born brain development, but long-term impacts remain unclear due to limited data beyond infancy.
{"title":"The impact of socio-environmental factors on brain structure over the early life course of preterm-born individuals - A systematic review","authors":"Taylor Barda , Benita Schmitz-Koep , Aurore Menegaux , Peter Bartmann , Dieter Wolke , Christian Sorg , Dennis M Hedderich","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106061","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106061","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Approximately 11 % of births worldwide are preterm (<37 weeks). While research traditionally focuses on complications of prematurity and brain development, the role of socio-environmental factors has received less attention. Recent studies indicate these factors significantly influence neurocognitive outcomes and brain development, beyond prematurity alone. This review examines the impact of socio-environmental factors on brain structure and function in preterm-born individuals from birth to early adulthood.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>We conducted searches in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for studies up to August 28th, 2024, examining socio-environmental effects on brain structure or function in preterm-born individuals using magnetic resonance imaging. From 891 articles screened, 23 met the inclusion criteria.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Socio-environmental factors, including socioeconomic status, prenatal conditions, hospital environment, and early life experiences, notably affect brain structures in preterm-born individuals. Key impacts were found in limbic and associative cortices (e.g., cingulate gyrus, parieto-temporal cortices), white matter tracts involved in executive functioning (e.g., superior longitudinal fasciculus, cingulum), and overall brain volume. Most studies focused on infancy, with 18 of 23 presenting data from the first year of life.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Socio-environmental factors are associated with changes in grey and white matter in the brain, especially in the limbic system and associative areas. These findings underscore the influence of early environments on preterm-born brain development, but long-term impacts remain unclear due to limited data beyond infancy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 106061"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143426800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106068
Mengfei Ye , Xiaopeng Yang , Junwei Yan , Yiying Yao , Hongran Lv , Zihan Yue , Xiuqin Lin , Chao Qian , Zheng Liu
Recently, there has been an increasing interest in how diet and nutrition influence both physical and mental health. Numerous studies have highlighted the potential role of B vitamins in neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs), yet the exact causal relationship between these nutrients and NPDs remains unclear. In our Mendelian randomization (MR) meta-analysis, we examined the links between B vitamins (VB6, VB12, and folate) and NPDs, utilizing data from previous MR studies, the UK Biobank, and FinnGen databases. Our MR analysis revealed a complex, multifaceted association: VB6 appears to protect against Alzheimer's disease (AD) but may increase the risk for conditions such as major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. VB12 seems protective against autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but may heighten the risk for bipolar disorder (BD). Folate has shown protective effects against AD and intellectual disability (ID). The meta-analysis suggests that B vitamins may protect against certain disorders like AD and Parkinson’s disease, but they might also be risk factors for anxiety and other psychiatric conditions. Further subgroup analysis indicates that VB6 protects against epilepsy and schizophrenia but increases the risk of mania; VB12 protects against ID and ASD but raises the risk of schizophrenia and BD; folate protects against schizophrenia, AD, and ID. These findings reveal the intricate influence of B vitamins on mental health, emphasizing that different B vitamins have distinct impacts on various NPDs. This complexity underscores the importance of personalized supplementation in developing future therapeutic approaches for NPDs.
{"title":"Causal relationship between B vitamins and neuropsychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Mengfei Ye , Xiaopeng Yang , Junwei Yan , Yiying Yao , Hongran Lv , Zihan Yue , Xiuqin Lin , Chao Qian , Zheng Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106068","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106068","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recently, there has been an increasing interest in how diet and nutrition influence both physical and mental health. Numerous studies have highlighted the potential role of B vitamins in neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs), yet the exact causal relationship between these nutrients and NPDs remains unclear. In our Mendelian randomization (MR) meta-analysis, we examined the links between B vitamins (VB6, VB12, and folate) and NPDs, utilizing data from previous MR studies, the UK Biobank, and FinnGen databases. Our MR analysis revealed a complex, multifaceted association: VB6 appears to protect against Alzheimer's disease (AD) but may increase the risk for conditions such as major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. VB12 seems protective against autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but may heighten the risk for bipolar disorder (BD). Folate has shown protective effects against AD and intellectual disability (ID). The meta-analysis suggests that B vitamins may protect against certain disorders like AD and Parkinson’s disease, but they might also be risk factors for anxiety and other psychiatric conditions. Further subgroup analysis indicates that VB6 protects against epilepsy and schizophrenia but increases the risk of mania; VB12 protects against ID and ASD but raises the risk of schizophrenia and BD; folate protects against schizophrenia, AD, and ID. These findings reveal the intricate influence of B vitamins on mental health, emphasizing that different B vitamins have distinct impacts on various NPDs. This complexity underscores the importance of personalized supplementation in developing future therapeutic approaches for NPDs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 106068"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106064
Tamara Williams, Louise Horstmann, Laiba Kayani, Annabelle Xiao Hui Lim, Abigail Russell, Tamsin Ford, Ann John, Kapil Sayal, Anita Thapar, Kate Langley, Joanna Martin
Previous studies examining sex differences in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have primarily examined total or subscale scores. This systematic review aimed to examine which symptoms contribute to the female presentation of ADHD at an item-level. Six research literature databases were searched for studies comparing ADHD symptoms and their impact at an item-level in females with ADHD compared with: 1) males with ADHD and 2) females without ADHD. Thirteen studies were included. In childhood, females were more likely to display the symptoms 'fails to sustain attention in tasks' and 'often easily distracted', whereas males were more likely to display the symptoms 'often fidgets', 'difficulty remaining seated when required', 'runs/climbs in situations when inappropriate', 'always on the go', 'often noisy in playing', 'difficulty waiting turn', 'often blurts out answers' and 'often interrupts others'. In adulthood, females were more likely to endorse the symptoms 'easily distracted', 'difficulty organising tasks', 'blurts out answers' and 'talks excessively', as well as to report mind wandering and adverse home impacts. Females with ADHD differ in their symptom profile to males with ADHD, highlighting the need for future research to identify and characterise symptoms typical of female ADHD.
{"title":"An item-level systematic review of the presentation of ADHD in females.","authors":"Tamara Williams, Louise Horstmann, Laiba Kayani, Annabelle Xiao Hui Lim, Abigail Russell, Tamsin Ford, Ann John, Kapil Sayal, Anita Thapar, Kate Langley, Joanna Martin","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previous studies examining sex differences in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have primarily examined total or subscale scores. This systematic review aimed to examine which symptoms contribute to the female presentation of ADHD at an item-level. Six research literature databases were searched for studies comparing ADHD symptoms and their impact at an item-level in females with ADHD compared with: 1) males with ADHD and 2) females without ADHD. Thirteen studies were included. In childhood, females were more likely to display the symptoms 'fails to sustain attention in tasks' and 'often easily distracted', whereas males were more likely to display the symptoms 'often fidgets', 'difficulty remaining seated when required', 'runs/climbs in situations when inappropriate', 'always on the go', 'often noisy in playing', 'difficulty waiting turn', 'often blurts out answers' and 'often interrupts others'. In adulthood, females were more likely to endorse the symptoms 'easily distracted', 'difficulty organising tasks', 'blurts out answers' and 'talks excessively', as well as to report mind wandering and adverse home impacts. Females with ADHD differ in their symptom profile to males with ADHD, highlighting the need for future research to identify and characterise symptoms typical of female ADHD.</p>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"106064"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143426789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106054
Jan Pohl , Alex Miklashevsky
Previous research found associations between lower vs. upper space and negative vs. positive stimuli correspondingly (vertical Space-Valence Associations, SVAs) and between the left vs. right side and negative vs. positive stimuli correspondingly (horizontal SVAs). We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of SVAs for both dimensions in behavioral studies. We tested the robustness of SVAs and examined factors potentially modulating them: participants’ culture, handedness, gender, age, the exact valence domain under study, the experimental task, type of stimuli, publication year, and statistics used. Articles were extracted from Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect in February 2021. Overall, 91 articles with 199 experiments and 21,951 participants were included in the final analysis.
We found robust evidence of SVAs in vertical (r = .440, k = 111 experiments) and horizontal dimensions (r = .310; k = 88 experiments), with little evidence for literature biases. The distribution of effect sizes was highly heterogeneous, even after subgroup analyses, which indicates unidentified factors varying across studies. Experiments on vertical SVAs explicitly asking participants to evaluate valence showed larger effect sizes than experiments where valence remained task-irrelevant. There was a robust effect of handedness on horizontal SVAs: Participants associated positive stimuli with the side of their dominant hand. There was also some evidence of cultural influences on the horizontal SVAs.
Overall, our meta-analysis revealed a hierarchy of factors modulating activation of SVAs, which includes both situated and embodied factors. It is, therefore, essential to focus on specific concept categories and contexts rather than consider abstract concepts in general.
Public significance statement
This meta-analysis revealed medium effects of space-valence associations: Upper/right space is associated with positive and lower/right space with negative concepts. On the vertical dimension, this effect is modulated by valence being task-relevant, e.g., directly asking people about valence results in stronger associations. For the horizontal dimension, left-handers robustly showed a reversed effect (i.e., left is good); horizontal space-valence associations might be even stronger in non-Western countries.
{"title":"Vertical and horizontal space-valence associations: A meta-analysis","authors":"Jan Pohl , Alex Miklashevsky","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106054","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106054","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous research found associations between lower vs. upper space and negative vs. positive stimuli correspondingly (vertical Space-Valence Associations, SVAs) and between the left vs. right side and negative vs. positive stimuli correspondingly (horizontal SVAs). We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of SVAs for both dimensions in behavioral studies. We tested the robustness of SVAs and examined factors potentially modulating them: participants’ culture, handedness, gender, age, the exact valence domain under study, the experimental task, type of stimuli, publication year, and statistics used. Articles were extracted from Web of Science, PubMed, and ScienceDirect in February 2021. Overall, 91 articles with 199 experiments and 21,951 participants were included in the final analysis.</div><div>We found robust evidence of SVAs in vertical (<em>r</em> = .440, <em>k</em> = 111 experiments) and horizontal dimensions (<em>r</em> = .310; <em>k</em> = 88 experiments), with little evidence for literature biases. The distribution of effect sizes was highly heterogeneous, even after subgroup analyses, which indicates unidentified factors varying across studies. Experiments on vertical SVAs explicitly asking participants to evaluate valence showed larger effect sizes than experiments where valence remained task-irrelevant. There was a robust effect of handedness on horizontal SVAs: Participants associated positive stimuli with the side of their dominant hand. There was also some evidence of cultural influences on the horizontal SVAs.</div><div>Overall, our meta-analysis revealed a hierarchy of factors modulating activation of SVAs, which includes both situated and embodied factors. It is, therefore, essential to focus on specific concept categories and contexts rather than consider abstract concepts in general.</div></div><div><h3>Public significance statement</h3><div>This meta-analysis revealed medium effects of space-valence associations: Upper/right space is associated with positive and lower/right space with negative concepts. On the vertical dimension, this effect is modulated by valence being task-relevant, e.g., directly asking people about valence results in stronger associations. For the horizontal dimension, left-handers robustly showed a reversed effect (i.e., left is good); horizontal space-valence associations might be even stronger in non-Western countries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 106054"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143426801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106060
Annelies Dellink , Gertjan Vanderhaegen , Violette Coppens , Karen M. Ryan , Declan M. McLoughlin , Jennifer Kruse , Eric van Exel , Linda van Diermen , Jean-Baptiste Belge , Tore Ivar Malmei Aarsland , Manuel Morrens
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective intervention for severe unipolar and bipolar depression, yet its drawbacks often lead to its underutilization. Accurate prediction of ECT outcomes is crucial for optimizing patient care and increasing remission rates. This study synthesized existing evidence on the relationship between baseline inflammatory markers and ECT outcomes. Additionally, we explored whether changes in these markers during ECT correlated with symptom improvement. A correlation meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA statement, including a total of fourteen studies (n = 556 patients). The analyses revealed that higher baseline CRP and IL-6 levels were significantly associated with greater depressive symptom reduction post-ECT. Additionally, our findings suggested that increases in kynurenine metabolites and IL-8 during treatment correlated with improved depressive symptoms, offering insights into the mechanistic aspects of depression and ECT. In conclusion, peripheral inflammation in depression, as measured by CRP and IL-6, is associated with better ECT outcomes and may guide treatment stratification. Further research on a broader range of cytokines and kynurenine metabolites is needed to confirm these findings.
{"title":"Inflammatory markers associated with electroconvulsive therapy response in patients with depression: A meta-analysis","authors":"Annelies Dellink , Gertjan Vanderhaegen , Violette Coppens , Karen M. Ryan , Declan M. McLoughlin , Jennifer Kruse , Eric van Exel , Linda van Diermen , Jean-Baptiste Belge , Tore Ivar Malmei Aarsland , Manuel Morrens","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106060","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106060","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective intervention for severe unipolar and bipolar depression, yet its drawbacks often lead to its underutilization. Accurate prediction of ECT outcomes is crucial for optimizing patient care and increasing remission rates. This study synthesized existing evidence on the relationship between baseline inflammatory markers and ECT outcomes. Additionally, we explored whether changes in these markers during ECT correlated with symptom improvement. A correlation meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA statement, including a total of fourteen studies (n = 556 patients). The analyses revealed that higher baseline CRP and IL-6 levels were significantly associated with greater depressive symptom reduction post-ECT. Additionally, our findings suggested that increases in kynurenine metabolites and IL-8 during treatment correlated with improved depressive symptoms, offering insights into the mechanistic aspects of depression and ECT. In conclusion, peripheral inflammation in depression, as measured by CRP and IL-6, is associated with better ECT outcomes and may guide treatment stratification. Further research on a broader range of cytokines and kynurenine metabolites is needed to confirm these findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 106060"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143402443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-08DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106053
Liad Mudrik , Melanie Boly , Stanislas Dehaene , Stephen M. Fleming , Victor Lamme , Anil Seth , Lucia Melloni
As the field of consciousness science matures, the research agenda has expanded from an initial focus on the neural correlates of consciousness, to developing and testing theories of consciousness. Several theories have been put forward, each aiming to elucidate the relationship between consciousness and brain function. However, there is an ongoing, intense debate regarding whether these theories examine the same phenomenon. And, despite ongoing research efforts, it seems like the field has so far failed to converge around any single theory, and instead exhibits significant polarization. To advance this discussion, proponents of five prominent theories of consciousness—Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT), Higher-Order Theories (HOT), Integrated Information Theory (IIT), Recurrent Processing Theory (RPT), and Predictive Processing (PP)—engaged in a public debate in 2022, as part of the annual meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC). They were invited to clarify the explananda of their theories, articulate the core mechanisms underpinning the corresponding explanations, and outline their foundational premises. This was followed by an open discussion that delved into the testability of these theories, potential evidence that could refute them, and areas of consensus and disagreement. Most importantly, the debate demonstrated that at this stage, there is more controversy than agreement between the theories, pertaining to the most basic questions of what consciousness is, how to identify conscious states, and what is required from any theory of consciousness. Addressing these core questions is crucial for advancing the field towards a deeper understanding and comparison of competing theories.
{"title":"Unpacking the complexities of consciousness: Theories and reflections","authors":"Liad Mudrik , Melanie Boly , Stanislas Dehaene , Stephen M. Fleming , Victor Lamme , Anil Seth , Lucia Melloni","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the field of consciousness science matures, the research agenda has expanded from an initial focus on the neural correlates of consciousness, to developing and testing theories of consciousness. Several theories have been put forward, each aiming to elucidate the relationship between consciousness and brain function. However, there is an ongoing, intense debate regarding whether these theories examine the same phenomenon. And, despite ongoing research efforts, it seems like the field has so far failed to converge around any single theory, and instead exhibits significant polarization. To advance this discussion, proponents of five prominent theories of consciousness—Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT), Higher-Order Theories (HOT), Integrated Information Theory (IIT), Recurrent Processing Theory (RPT), and Predictive Processing (PP)—engaged in a public debate in 2022, as part of the annual meeting of the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC). They were invited to clarify the explananda of their theories, articulate the core mechanisms underpinning the corresponding explanations, and outline their foundational premises. This was followed by an open discussion that delved into the testability of these theories, potential evidence that could refute them, and areas of consensus and disagreement. Most importantly, the debate demonstrated that at this stage, there is more controversy than agreement between the theories, pertaining to the most basic questions of what consciousness is, how to identify conscious states, and what is required from any theory of consciousness. Addressing these core questions is crucial for advancing the field towards a deeper understanding and comparison of competing theories.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 106053"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143392456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-08DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106059
Natalia Erofeeva , David S. Galstyan , Longen Yang , Tatiana Strekalova , Lee Wei Lim , Murilo S. de Abreu , Nikita I. Golushko , Adam Michael Stewart , Allan V. Kalueff
Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved cellular pathway that regulates various stem cell functions, including fate determination, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. This crucial signaling mechanism also plays an important role in the brain, regulating neurogenesis, cell differentiation, and homeostasis, whereas disrupted Notch signaling is linked to various neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancers. Here, we review the central nervous system (CNS) pathologies associated with aberrant Notch signaling, and summarize the available experimental (animal) models used to study these pathologies, with a special focus on zebrafish (Danio rerio). As genetic, pharmacological, and behavioral models in zebrafish have significantly advanced our understanding of Notch-related CNS disorders, future research is expected to further link Notch signaling to brain disorders and, eventually, lead to their more specific and targeted therapeuties.
{"title":"Developing zebrafish models of Notch-related CNS pathologies","authors":"Natalia Erofeeva , David S. Galstyan , Longen Yang , Tatiana Strekalova , Lee Wei Lim , Murilo S. de Abreu , Nikita I. Golushko , Adam Michael Stewart , Allan V. Kalueff","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved cellular pathway that regulates various stem cell functions, including fate determination, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. This crucial signaling mechanism also plays an important role in the brain, regulating neurogenesis, cell differentiation, and homeostasis, whereas disrupted Notch signaling is linked to various neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancers. Here, we review the central nervous system (CNS) pathologies associated with aberrant Notch signaling, and summarize the available experimental (animal) models used to study these pathologies, with a special focus on zebrafish (<em>Danio rerio</em>). As genetic, pharmacological, and behavioral models in zebrafish have significantly advanced our understanding of Notch-related CNS disorders, future research is expected to further link Notch signaling to brain disorders and, eventually, lead to their more specific and targeted therapeuties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 106059"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143392429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-08DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106037
Jessica Fattal, Dan P. McAdams, Vijay A. Mittal
Intact social functioning relies on a combination of explicit and implicit behavioral, attentional, and interpersonal processes referred to as “social cognition”. Characterizing these interpersonal processes forms a critical underpinning to understanding and treating psychopathology, particularly in disorders where deficits in social functioning do not emerge as a secondary symptom but rather as an essential feature of the disorder. Two of such disorders are autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SZ). However, despite the substantial overlap in the features of social dysfunction between ASD and SZ, including social cognitive deficits in theory of mind, perspective-taking, and empathy, there is a limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying those shared deficits, and how to treat them. We suggest that disruptions of interpersonal functioning emerge over the course of development, and that interpersonal synchronization, a phenomenon in which behavioral and physiological cues align between interacting partners, forms a critical component of social cognition that underlies the disruption in social functioning in ASD and SZ. We present a conceptual review of typical and atypical development of social processes and highlight the role of interpersonal synchronization across the course of development. Then, we review the existing evidence suggesting impairments in both the intentional and spontaneous synchronization of interpersonal processes in ASD and SZ, as well as studies suggesting that interpersonal synchronization and clinical symptoms may be improved through body-oriented interventions within these disorders. Finally, we suggest potential mechanisms that may underpin typical and atypical development of interpersonal synchronization.
{"title":"Interpersonal synchronization: An overlooked factor in development, social cognition, and psychopathology","authors":"Jessica Fattal, Dan P. McAdams, Vijay A. Mittal","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intact social functioning relies on a combination of explicit and implicit behavioral, attentional, and interpersonal processes referred to as “social cognition”. Characterizing these interpersonal processes forms a critical underpinning to understanding and treating psychopathology, particularly in disorders where deficits in social functioning do not emerge as a secondary symptom but rather as an essential feature of the disorder. Two of such disorders are autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SZ). However, despite the substantial overlap in the features of social dysfunction between ASD and SZ, including social cognitive deficits in theory of mind, perspective-taking, and empathy, there is a limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying those shared deficits, and how to treat them. We suggest that disruptions of interpersonal functioning emerge over the course of development, and that interpersonal synchronization, a phenomenon in which behavioral and physiological cues align between interacting partners, forms a critical component of social cognition that underlies the disruption in social functioning in ASD and SZ. We present a conceptual review of typical and atypical development of social processes and highlight the role of interpersonal synchronization across the course of development. Then, we review the existing evidence suggesting impairments in both the intentional and spontaneous synchronization of interpersonal processes in ASD and SZ, as well as studies suggesting that interpersonal synchronization and clinical symptoms may be improved through body-oriented interventions within these disorders. Finally, we suggest potential mechanisms that may underpin typical and atypical development of interpersonal synchronization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 106037"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143392451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}