Brain Sciences最新文献

Background/Objectives: Many studies have investigated the Cognitive Acceleration through Science Education (CASE) programme, demonstrating its impact on students' reasoning and learning development across different educational contexts. Likewise, numerous experimental investigations have employed the Solomon Four-Group Design (SFGD) to control for pretest sensitisation and improve the validity of intervention studies. However, despite the extensive use of both frameworks independently, no previous research has integrated them within a single study. The present research therefore combines the theoretical foundations of CASE with the methodological rigour of the SFGD to explore the influence of intervention outcomes under different pretest conditions on learners' cognitive growth. Methods: This study examines differences associated with pretest sensitisation and the CASE programme among middle school students using a quasi-experimental research design. The study was conducted with 88 students divided into four groups, two experimental and two control, following the Solomon Four-Group Design to account for pretest sensitisation and its potential interaction with the treatment. Results: Statistical analyses revealed that the observed outcomes differed between pretested and non-pretested groups, with the pretested conditions showing larger post-test differences than the non-pretested ones. Conclusions: Rather than establishing causal effects, this study highlights key methodological considerations related to pretest sensitisation when evaluating cognitive acceleration interventions. The findings provide practical guidance for researchers and educators in designing, analysing, and interpreting classroom-based intervention studies where pretesting may influence observed outcomes.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are defined as a group of conditions that result from impaired brain development. Disorders that are commonly classified under NDDs include intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), communication and learning disorders, developmental delay (DD), brain malformations, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, schizophrenia, and childhood epilepsies. A significant hinderance in the development of targeted treatments for NDDs are gaps in understanding how underlying genetic changes alter cellular physiology and how these changes may converge or diverge across NDDs with similar symptoms. Here, we focus on the genetic overlap between epilepsy, ASD, and other NDDs to identify common cellular and molecular mechanisms that may inform future treatments for each of these disorders individually or together. We describe several genes-including CDKL5, TSC1/2, SCN1a, and TANC2-that have been associated with epilepsy, ASD, or other NDD phenotypes that play a critical role in regulating one or more stages of brain development or function but differ widely in their disease-causing mechanisms. We also describe genotype-phenotype relationships. Finally, how a gene may cause NDDs through distinct functional pathways, or where different types of pathogenic variants within the same gene can have significantly different phenotypic outcomes is detailed.

This narrative review explores the impact of diet and physical exercise both as a risk factor of central nervous system inflammatory diseases, but more importantly as potential adjunctive disease modifiers in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD), and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). The majority of evidence relies on MS preclinical and clinical studies, but preclinical studies also support the benefit of lifestyle intervention in NMOSD and MOGAD. In MS, adherence to healthy diets (particularly Mediterranean and MIND diets) could lead to a milder disease course with reduced relapse rates, while structured exercise from early disease stages promotes neuroprotection by upregulating neurotrophic factors and preserving brain volume, possibly impacting disease progression. The ketogenic diet and intermittent caloric restriction also showed promising results. Physical activity, including both aerobic training and resistance training, emerges as a potential disease-modifying strategy by promoting neuroprotection, reducing inflammation, and supporting functional and cognitive outcomes, particularly when implemented early in the disease course. A synergistic approach alongside disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) would further positively modulate core pathological processes. Evidence for NMOSD and MOGAD warrants further investigation. We highlight that integrating personalized lifestyle strategies would be beneficial from the early stages. However, future large-scale, standardized trials are required to fully confirm the neuroprotective potential of diet and exercise across the entire spectrum of CNS disorders.

Background/Objectives: The rapid diffusion of generative AI has raised concerns about its potential influence on human cognition, particularly during creative work. This pilot study explored task-related associations between generative AI use and facial expression-derived indices that have previously been shown to correlate with gray matter volume in the default mode network (DMN) and central executive network (CEN). Methods: Thirty-three business professionals completed three AI-supported writing tasks involving concept generation, concept combination, and a mixed task. Results: The results showed a statistically robust reduction in the CEN-related facial expression index during the concept combination task, whereas no corrected changes were observed during concept generation or the mixed task. In addition, higher creative self-efficacy was associated with smaller reductions in the CEN-related index. Conclusions: Given the indirect nature of the facial expression measures, the absence of a control condition, and the exploratory design, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and primarily as hypothesis-generating. Future research using controlled designs and direct neuroimaging methods is needed to clarify the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying AI-assisted creativity.

Sensory processing differences, reported in up to 97% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are increasingly recognized as a defining feature of the condition, shaping perception, cognition, and adaptive behavior. Atypical sensory responsivity, ranging from hyper- to hypo-reactivity and sensory seeking, emerges early in development and contributes to the clinical and neurobiological heterogeneity of autism. Alterations in neural connectivity, the balance of excitation and inhibition, and multisensory integration are thought to underlie these sensory profiles, influencing emotional regulation, attention, and social interaction. Sensory features also interact with co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and sleep and feeding difficulties, thereby shaping developmental trajectories and influencing adaptive behavior. Clinically, these sensory dysfunctions have a significant impact on daily participation and quality of life, extending their effects to family functioning. Understanding individual sensory phenotypes is therefore essential for accurate assessment and personalized intervention. Current therapeutic approaches include Sensory Integration Therapy, Sensory-Based Interventions, Sequential Oral Sensory Approach, and structured physical activity programs, often complemented by behavioral and mindfulness-based techniques. Emerging neuroplasticity-oriented methods for targeted modulation of sensory processing networks include neurofeedback and non-invasive brain stimulation. Overall, current evidence highlights the central role of sensory processing in ASD and underscores the need for multidisciplinary, individualized approaches to optimize developmental trajectories and enhance adaptive functioning. This review provides an updated synthesis of sensory processing in ASD, integrating neurobiological, developmental, and clinical evidence to highlight established knowledge, unresolved questions, and priorities for future research.

Background/Objectives: Gestational exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD) reprograms hypothalamic orexigenic circuits prenatally. However, whether astrocytes, critical modulators of this system, are also imprinted by HFD in the fetal brain remains unknown. We investigated the impact of HFD on the prenatal neuroglial architecture of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). Methods: Female Wistar rats were fed a control or a 60% fat diet for 12 weeks. Upon reaching obesity (Lee index ≥ 310), dams were mated. Fetuses were harvested via cesarean section at term, and their brains were processed for immunohistochemistry and morphometry to assess cell proliferation, orexin neuron density, and astrocytic reactivity in the LHA. Results: HFD significantly increased cell proliferation and orexinergic neuron density, and induced early signs of astrocyte reactivity in the fetal LHA. These findings reveal that both neuronal and glial components of the LHA orexigenic axis are structurally reprogrammed before birth. Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence that HFD simultaneously alters neuronal and glial developmental trajectories in the fetal hypothalamus. The concurrent programming of astrocytes and orexigenic neurons suggests a prenatal origin for neuroinflammatory susceptibility, reframing obesity as a neurodevelopmental disorder shaped by early life nutritional environments.

Objectives: Innovative, evidence-based interventions for developmental dyslexia (DD) are necessary. While traditional methods remain valuable, newer approaches, such as cognitive-motor training, show the potential to improve literacy skills for those with DD. Verbal Working Memory-Balance (VWM-B) is a novel cognitive-motor training program that has demonstrated positive effects on reading, cognitive functions, and motor skills in children with DD. This extension study explored the neural mechanisms of VWM-B through voxel-to-voxel intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) analysis in children with DD. Methods: Resting-state fMRI data from 16 participants were collected in a quasi-double-blind randomized clinical trial with control and experimental groups, pre- and post-intervention measurements, and 15 training sessions over 5 weeks. Results: The mixed ANOVA interaction was significant for the right and left postcentral gyrus, bilateral precuneus, left superior frontal gyrus, and left posterior division of the supramarginal and angular gyri. Decreased FC in the postcentral gyri indicates reduced motor task engagement due to automation following VWM-B training. Conversely, increased FC in the bilateral precuneus, left superior frontal gyrus, and left posterior divisions of the supramarginal and angular gyri suggests a shift of cognitive resources from motor tasks to the cognitive functions associated with VWM-B. Conclusions: In conclusion, the study highlights that cognitive-motor dual-task training is more effective than single-task cognitive training for improving cognitive and motor functions in children with DD, emphasizing the importance of postural control and automaticity in dyslexia. The trial for this study was registered on 8 February 2018 with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20171219037953N1).

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly experience persistent difficulties in social communication, emotional regulation, and social engagement. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies, particularly socially assistive robots and intelligent sensing systems, have been explored as complementary tools to support psychosocial interventions in this population.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to critically evaluate recent evidence on the effectiveness of AI-based interventions in improving social, emotional, and cognitive functioning in children with ASD.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed following PRISMA guidelines, targeting English-language studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible studies involved children with ASD and implemented AI-driven tools within therapeutic or educational settings. Eight studies met inclusion criteria and were analyzed using the PICO framework.

Results: The reviewed interventions included humanoid and non-humanoid robots, gaze-tracking systems, and theory of mind-oriented applications. Across studies, AI-based interventions were associated with improvements in joint attention, social communication and reciprocity, emotion recognition and regulation, theory of mind, and task engagement. Outcomes were assessed using standardized behavioral measures, observational coding, parent or therapist reports, and physiological or sensor-based indices. However, the studies were characterized by small and heterogeneous samples, short intervention durations, and variability in outcome measures.

Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that AI-based systems may serve as valuable adjuncts to conventional interventions for children with ASD, particularly for supporting structured social and emotional skill development. Nonetheless, methodological limitations and limited long-term data underscore the need for larger, multi-site trials with standardized protocols to better establish efficacy, generalizability, and ethical integration into clinical practice.

Background/Objectives: The ability to maintain movement quality despite muscle fatigue is essential for daily activities and preserving independence after motor impairments. Many real-life situations involve asymmetrical muscle activation, leading to unilateral muscle fatigue. Repeated unilateral handgrip contractions at submaximal force have been linked to neural changes in both contralateral and ipsilateral motor areas, as well as improved contralateral response times in a button-press task. However, it remains unclear whether these improvements in response latency extend to higher-level benefits in overall arm movement quality. Methods: Thirty healthy participants performed unilateral handgrip fatiguing tasks at 5%, 50%, and 75% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) force. Subsequently, bilateral upper-limb movement quality was assessed in an object-hit task using a Kinarm robot. Results: The 50% and 75% MVC protocols elicited muscle fatigue as evidenced by declines in force output, post-exercise MVC, electromyography magnitude changes, and increased perceived exertion compared to the 5% MVC control condition. However, no significant changes in kinematic measures of the object-hit task were observed for either the fatigued (ipsilateral) or non-fatigued (contralateral) arm, indicating that unilateral handgrip fatigue did not affect higher-level movement quality. Conclusions: Previously reported improvements on contralateral response latency in a button-press task were not found to translate into advanced arm movement quality benefits.

Background/Objectives: Diaschisis, reduced neural activity, perfusion, and metabolism in structurally intact but anatomically connected regions, is a network-level consequence of focal brain injury. Despite the extensive literature, its prevalence across imaging modalities and diaschisis subtypes has not been systematically synthesized. This review aims to identify convergent evidence for diaschisis after ischemic stroke and clarify how its detection relates to neuroanatomical disconnection, clinical factors, and imaging methods. (PROSPERO: CRD420251017909). Methods: PubMed and Embase were searched through February 2025 for studies reporting quantitative measures of diaschisis using perfusion, metabolic, or functional imaging. Pooled prevalence and modality-specific estimates were calculated. Subgroup analyses examined diaschisis subtypes, stroke severity, age, and study quality. Results: Sixty-six studies (3021 patients) were included. Overall pooled prevalence was 53% (95% CI: 47-58%). Crossed cerebellar diaschisis was most frequently studied (49%), while thalamic and other remote patterns showed comparable or higher effect sizes. Detection varied primarily by imaging modality: ASL MRI (67%) and PET (58%) showed the highest sensitivity; SPECT (53%) and CTP (49%) were intermediate; DSC-PWI had the lowest (28%). In contrast, age had no measurable effect and stroke severity only modestly increased detection, suggesting that diaschisis is driven predominantly by neuroanatomical disconnection rather than demographic or clinical variables. Egger's tests indicated minimal publication bias. Conclusions: Diaschisis is a common manifestation of network vulnerability after ischemic stroke, determined chiefly by lesion topology and long-range anatomical connectivity. Detection depends more on imaging physiology than patient characteristics. Standardized definitions and longitudinal multimodal studies are needed to clarify its temporal evolution and clinical significance.