Psychoradiology最新文献

Background: Altered connectivity patterns in socio-emotional brain networks are characteristic of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Despite recent research on intranasal oxytocin's modulation effects of network topology in autism, its specific effects on the functional connectivity network topology remain underexplored.

Methods: To address this gap, we conducted an exploratory data-driven study employing a dimensional approach using data from a large cohort of 250 neurotypical adult male subjects with either high or low autistic traits and who had administered 24 IU of intranasal oxytocin or placebo in a randomized, controlled, double-blind design. Resting-state functional connectivity data were analyzed using network-based statistical methods and graph theoretical approaches.

Results: The findings from treatment × autistic trait group interactions revealed significantly different effects of oxytocin in local (cluster coefficient, efficiency, nodal path length, degree and betweenness centrality) but not global graph metrics in individuals with higher autistic traits compared to those with lower ones, across multiple brain regions. Changes across multiple measures were found in the motor, auditory/language, visual, default mode and socio-emotional processing networks, all of which are influenced in autism spectrum disorder.

Conclusion: Overall, findings from this dimensional approach demonstrate that oxytocin particularly targets widespread enhancement of local but not global neural network processing parameters in neurotypical individuals with higher autistic traits. This suggests that intranasal oxytocin may represent a therapeutic option for social, emotional and sensorimotor symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorder by modulating local integration within brain regions involved in their regulation.

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI), commonly known as "chemo brain," affects a significant proportion of cancer survivors, manifesting as memory deficits, reduced attention, and impaired executive function. Conventional pharmacological treatments offer limited efficacy, prompting interest in complementary, non-invasive interventions. Yoga nidra (YN), a structured form of guided yogic relaxation, has demonstrated potential benefits for neurocognitive and emotional regulation. Grounded in ancient Indian traditions and increasingly supported by modern neuroscientific findings, YN appears to influence brainwave activity, autonomic function, and stress-related biomarker mechanisms implicated in the pathophysiology of CICI. This perspective review explores the emerging role of YN in managing chemo brain, integrating insights from neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience, and psychophysiology. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature from PubMed- and Scopus-indexed sources, the article highlights the need for further research, including functional imaging and biomarker-based studies, to elucidate its therapeutic mechanisms. The findings underscore YN's potential as an adjunctive tool within integrative oncology and neurorehabilitation frameworks.

Healthcare systems require the efficient development of expert performance. Several studies have explored the cognitive foundations of medical expert performance, especially in radiology. Studying at the brain level could provide further insight into specific mechanisms mediating medical expert performance. Researchers have recently begun to systematically employ neuroimaging in this field. Most studies focus on specific specializations rather than identifying shared neural substrates across disciplines. This systematic review and activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A total of 297 studies examining neural correlates were identified by comparing expert and novice medical performance. After screening, 22 studies were included in the final analysis. For studies reporting three-dimensional coordinates, ALE meta-analysis revealed consistent involvement of the medial frontal lobe, including the superior frontal gyrus, dorsomedial and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and inferior frontal and fusiform gyri. Radiology-specific analyses highlighted activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the left pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA), along with the fusiform and opercular inferior frontal gyri. Internal medicine-based studies highlighted involvement of the SMA, inferior frontal gyrus, and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Our results revealed involvement, at different levels, of the medial frontal cortex, including the SMA and superior and inferior frontal gyri, which is part of the network relevant for inhibitory control and decision-making. The development of decision-making during the diagnostic process is relevant for the training of future professionals.

Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a hereditary disease characterized by cerebellar atrophy and motor dysfunction. Patients also exhibit non-ataxic symptoms such as cognitive impairment. While prior neuroimaging studies have identified multiple cognition-associated brain regions in SCA3 patients, research on Papez circuit structural damage (e.g., mammillary bodies (MBs)) remains sparse. Advancements in 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology have enabled scanning and quantitative analysis of structures such as the MBs within the Papez circuit. In this study, we investigated the relationship between cognitive impairment in patients with SCA3 and structural changes in the three Papez circuit structures: the MBs, the mammillothalamic tract (MTT), and the post-commissural fornix (PF).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 46 SCA3 patients and 48 healthy controls undergoing 7T MRI and neuropsychological assessments. Using manual delineation and a deep learning model, we extracted the MB, MTT, and PF volumes from participants. Subsequently, we statistically analyzed the quantitative data.

Results: SCA3 patients exhibited reduced MB, PF, and MTT volumes compared with those of the healthy controls. The MB, left MTT, and left PF volumes were significantly lower in cognitive impairment than in cognitive preserved. Cognitive function in SCA3 patients was positively correlated with the MB, left MTT, and left PF, whereas motor function was negatively correlated with the MB and left PF.

Conclusion: Decreased cognitive and memory function in SCA3 patients is associated with MB, MTT, and PF alterations and is more pronounced on the left side. Motor dysfunction may be correlated with cognitive impairment development.

Background: Suicide has profound effects on individuals, families, and societies globally, underscoring the urgent need for effective early detection and prevention strategies. This systematic review aims to investigate the use of event-related potentials (ERPs) as a tool for identifying and monitoring suicide risk.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted, resulting in the inclusion of 23 articles that met the eligibility criteria. The review synthesized findings related to various ERP components associated with suicide risk.

Results: The analysis revealed that individuals with a history of suicide risk exhibited significantly reduced P3 amplitudes in response to novel stimuli during the go/no-go paradigm compared to healthy controls [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [-0.96; -0.10]]. Additionally, altered P3 responses to positive feedback on rewards indicated impairments in those at risk (SMD = -1.12, 95% CI = [-1.74; -0.49]). Variability in other ERP components was also highlighted, with several moderators, such as sample characteristics and methodological design, influencing ERP components.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that specific ERP components, particularly the P3, may serve as valuable indicators for assessing suicide risk. The review emphasizes the need for future research to utilize larger, more homogeneous samples and advanced analytical techniques to enhance detection accuracy. The application of ERPs is posited as a promising avenue for improving understanding of the neurocognitive mechanisms associated with suicide risk and enhancing prevention efforts.

Professor Jeffrey Bishop from the University of Minnesota and Professor Konasale Prasad from the University of Pittsburgh were invited to attend the ISMRM-Endorsed Workshop on MR for Psychiatry in Chengdu, China, from 20 to 22 July 2024. Professor Bishop and Professor Prasad delivered lectures on the molecular and neuro-mechanism of schizophrenia respectively during the session titled "Exploring Schizophrenia with MRI" on the morning of 21 July. Their presentations were met with great enthusiasm and sparked lively discussions among the participants. Following the conference, the Psychoradiology journal interviewed Professors Prasad and Bishop. In the interview, they narrated their personal journeys into the research field and unanimously agreed that psychoradiological techniques have brought a revolutionary change in the characterization of phenotypes with potential future implications for facilitating diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies of mental disorders. They also noted that the field is now facing technological challenges and resource constraints, and that defining mental illnesses biologically and achieving precision treatment will be significant opportunities and challenges in the future. They highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, believing it fosters in-depth dialogue across various domains. Additionally, they encouraged young researchers to maintain perseverance and patience in the long run of scientific research, aligning their goals effectively with practice.

Background: Rumination is a pivotal psychopathological process in major depressive disorder (MDD). The neurotrophic hypothesis suggests that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) might play a role in brain dysfunction and clinical symptoms of MDD. However, the relationship remains unclear.

Methods: Thirty-three individuals with MDD and 33 healthy controls (HCs) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while performing a rumination state task designed to induce sustained, active rumination. The Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) was administered to assess individual rumination tendency. Brain activity within the default mode network (DMN) subsystems during rumination was characterized using both fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and functional connectivity (FC) analyses. Serum levels of GDNF and inflammatory markers [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and C-reactive protein] were quantified in all participants. We then examined the relationships between regional brain activity (fALFF values), GDNF levels, and rumination severity (RRS scores) in the MDD group.

Results: Compared to HCs, MDD patients exhibited significantly reduced serum levels of both GDNF (t = -3.204, P = 0.002) and IL-8 (t = -3.239, P = 0.002). Significant interaction effects were observed in fALFF within both the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC; F = 25.075, P < 0.001) and medial temporal lobe (MTL; F = 28.753, P < 0.001) subsystems of the DMN. Mediation analysis revealed that the relationship between GDNF levels and brooding rumination in MDD patients was mediated by neural activity within the DMPFC subsystem.

Conclusions: In MDD patients, GDNF levels were associated with neural activity within the DMPFC subsystem of the DMN, which statistically mediated the link to rumination severity.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between cerebral white matter quantitative anomalies and postoperative clinical outcomes in patients with drug-resistant epilepsies.

Methods: Automatic fiber quantification methodology was used to determine the diffusional anomalies in cerebral white matter tracts, from eight patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) and 12 with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) candidates and/or undergoing epilepsy surgery. We studied the fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), volume (Vol), and number of fibers (Fib) of white matter tracts related to the physiopathologic mechanism of these epilepsies. The information was compared with that obtained from 19 healthy controls and between patients with seizure freedom and those with seizure recurrence 1 year after epilepsy surgery.

Results: Significant pre- and postsurgical global and segmental abnormalities were characterized by increased MD and decreased FA, Vol, and Fib in tracts from both hemispheres. TLE patients with postsurgical seizure freedom had preoperative increased global MD of the contralateral inferior longitudinal fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus. Furthermore, drug-resistant epilepsy patients with seizure freedom had a presurgical segmental increased MD in the contralateral thalamic radiation. Additionally, FLE patients with seizure freedom exhibited postsurgical increases in the Fib of the ipsilateral thalamic radiation and contralateral inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Furthermore, temporal lobe epilepsy patients with seizure freedom had a postsurgical lower global MD in the ipsilateral inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus.

Conclusions: Patients with drug-resistant epilepsies have global and segmental quantitative white matter tract anomalies, which suggests cerebral neural involvement in this disease. These abnormalities can vary regarding the postsurgical clinical outcome.

Mobile psychophysiological technologies, such as portable eye tracking, electroencephalography, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy, are advancing ecologically valid findings in cognitive and educational neuroscience research. Staying informed on the field's current status and main themes requires continuous updates. Here, we conducted a bibliometric and text-based content analysis on 135 articles from Web of Science, specifically parsing publication trends, identifying prolific journals, authors, institutions, and countries, along with influential articles, and visualizing the characteristics of cooperation among authors, institutions, and countries. Using a keyword co-occurrence analysis, five clusters of research trends were identified: (i) cognitive and emotional processes, intelligent education, and motor learning; (ii) professional vision and collaborative learning; (iii) face-to-face social learning and real classroom learning; (iv) cognitive load and spatial learning; and (v) virtual reality-based learning, child learning, and technology-assisted special education. These trends illustrate a consistent growth in the use of portable technologies in education over the past 20 years and an emerging shift towards "naturalistic" approaches, with keywords such as "face-to-face" and "real-world" gaining prominence. These observations underscore the need to further generalize the current research to real-world classroom settings and call for interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers and educators. Also, combining multimodal technologies and conducting longitudinal studies will be essential for a comprehensive understanding of teaching and learning processes.