Mapping Domain- and Age-Specific Functional Brain Activity for Children’s Cognitive and Affective Development / 神经科学通报·英文版

The human brain undergoes rapid development during childhood, with significant improvement in a wide spectrum of cognitive and affective functions. Mapping domain- and age-specific brain activity patterns has important implications for characterizing the development of children’s cognitive and affective functions. The current mainstay of brain templates is primarily derived from structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and thus is not ideal for mapping children’s cognitive and affective brain development. By integrating task-dependent functional MRI data from a large sample of 250 children (aged 7 to 12) across multiple domains and the latest easy-to-use and transparent preprocessing workflow, we here created a set of age-specific brain functional activity maps across four domains: attention, executive function, emotion, and risky decision-making. Moreover, we developed a toolbox named Developmental Brain Functional Activity maps across multiple domains that enables researchers to visualize and download domain- and age-specific brain activity maps for various needs. This toolbox and maps have been released on the Neuroimaging Informatics Tools and Resources Clearinghouse website (http://www.nitrc.org/projects/dbfa). Our study provides domain- and age-specific brain activity maps for future developmental neuroimaging studies in both healthy and clinical populations.

Brain regions responding to acupuncture stimulation of Zusanli (ST36) in healthy subjects analyzed on the basis of spontaneous brain activity / 针刺研究

OBJECTIVE: To determine the attributes of responses of the higher nerve center to acupuncture stimulation of Zusanli (ST36) on the basis of spontaneous brain activity, so as to explore the synchronization level of different brain rejoins after acupuncture. METHODS: All studies using fMRI to investigate the effect of acupuncture stimulation of ST36 and/or other acupoints on the human brain (at least 10 healthy subjects or patients in one group) published in journals from January of 1995 to January of 2018 were searched from databases of CNKI and PubMed by using keywords of acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance images (rs-fMRI) or regional homogeneity (ReHo). Brain functional image data of acupuncture stimulation of ST36 and/or other acupoints were collected and analyzed with anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping (AES-SDM) software (Meta-analysis), and those of acupuncture of simple ST36 analyzed as a subgroup. RESULTS: A total of 229 papers in Chinese and 109 in English were collected. According to our inclusive and exclusive standards, 11 papers containing 235 subjects were brought into analysis at last. Meta-analysis of brain image data of acupuncture at ST36 and/or other acupoints (comparison between pre- and post-acupuncture) revealed that the same brain regions (generality) which showed a significant increase in ReHo, are the right and left anterior cingulated gyrus, right caudate, left superior frontal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and the right paracentral lobe, and those which showed a marked decrease of ReHo are the left mid-inferior occipital gyrus, left and right precentral and postcentral gyrus. The brain regions responding to acupuncture at ST36 only (specificity) are the right inferior parietal lobe, left middle inferior gyrus, right posterior lobe of cerebellum, and the left angular gyrus which displayed an increase of ReHo, and the right middle superior frontal gyrus which showed a decrease in ReHo. CONCLUSION: After acupuncturing at ST36, the relative generality and specificity of the central response in healthy subjects reflected as the location of the affected brain regions and the difference in the synchronization level of the corresponding spontaneous brain activities.

MRI research progresses of motor imagery on brain activity and network reorganization in patients with spinal cord injury / 中国医学影像技术

Motor imagery (MI) and brain-computer interface based on it have played an important role in rehabilitation of motor dysfunction diseases such as spinal cord injury (SCI). The mechanism of MI on motor function rehabilitation remains unclear. With the development of functional MR technology, the role of brain activity and network remodeling of MI has been gradually recognized, which provides a theoretical basis for revealing the mechanism of motor rehabilitation and clinical application.

Longitudinal Intrinsic Brain Activity Changes in Cirrhotic Patients before and One Month after Liver Transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the spontaneous brain activity alterations in liver transplantation (LT) recipients using resting-state functional MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty cirrhotic patients as transplant candidates and 25 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. All patients repeated the MRI study one month after LT. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) values were compared between cirrhotic patients (both pre- and post-LT) and HCs as well as between the pre- and post-LT groups. The relationship between ALFF changes and venous blood ammonia levels and neuropsychological tests were investigated using Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: In the cirrhotic patients, decreased ALFF in the vision-related regions (left lingual gyrus and calcarine), sensorimotor-related regions (left postcentral gyrus and middle cingulate cortex), and the default-mode network (bilateral precuneus and left inferior parietal lobule) were restored, and the increased ALFF in the temporal and frontal lobe improved in the early period after LT. The ALFF decreases persisted in the right supplementary motor area, inferior parietal lobule, and calcarine. The ALFF changes in the right precuneus were negatively correlated with changes in number connection test-A scores (r = 0.507, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: LT improved spontaneous brain activity and the results for associated cognition tests. However, decreased ALFF in some areas persisted, and new-onset abnormal ALFF were possible, indicating that complete cognitive function recovery may need more time.

Identificación y descripción de la intimidación escolar en instituciones educativas del municipio de Popayán / Identification and description of school bullying in institutions in the municipality of Popayan

Se identifica y describe el fenomeno de la intimidación escolar en una muestra de 1.300 estudiantes, 513 padres y 81 docentes de 5 instituciones educativas del municipio de Popayán, Colombia. Se utilizó metodología cuantitativa-descriptiva y análisis con SPSS en frecuencias relativas. Los resultados demuestran la existencia de intimidación física en el 44 % a través de golpes, patadas y quitar elementos escolares, e intimidación psicológica en el 70 % incluyendo gritar a un compañero, poner apodos, coaccionar, amenazar y excluir. En el 35.1 % los profesores consideran el problema como grave en su institución, y que es necesaria su reflexión en el 71.6 %, el 31.4 % de los padres consideran muy grave el problema.

he goal was to describe school bullying is identified and described in a sample of 1300 students, 513 parents and 81 teachers from five schools in Popayán, Colombia. We used quantitative methodology to describe and analyze in terms of relative frequencies with SPSS. Results show a 44% prevalence of school bullying, through punches, kicks, theft of school materials, and psychological intimidation in 70%, including yelling at peers, name-calling, coercion, threats and exclusion. 35.1% of the teachers and 31.4% of the parents regard the situation as significant, and 71.6% consider that a reflection on the subject is needed.

Power spectrum density analysis for the influence of complete denture on the brain function of edentulous patients - pilot study

PURPOSE: This pilot study was to find the influence of complete denture on the brain activity and cognitive function of edentulous patients measured through Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study recruited 20 patients aged from 50 to 60 years requiring complete dentures with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The brain function and cognitive function were analyzed with a mental state questionnaire and a 15-minute analysis of power spectral density of EEG alpha waves. The analysis included edentulous phase and post denture insertion adaptive phase, each done before and after chewing. The results obtained were statistically evaluated. RESULTS: Power Spectral Density (PSD) values increased from edentulous phase to post denture insertion adaption phase. The data were grouped as edentulous phase before chewing (EEG p1-0.0064), edentulous phase after chewing (EEG p2-0.0073), post denture insertion adaptive phase before chewing (EEG p3-0.0077), and post denture insertion adaptive phase after chewing (EEG p4-0.0096). The acquired values were statistically analyzed using paired t-test, which showed statistically significant results (P<.05). CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed functional improvement in brain function of edentulous patients with complete dentures rehabilitation.

Registro de la actividad eléctrica cerebral de la atención implicada en la conducción bajo el efecto del alcohol usando un instrumento BCI (brain control interface) / Using a brain control interface to record brain activity involved in attention during driving under the influence of alcohol

La ingestión de alcohol se ha vinculado con cambios característicos en la actividad EEG, y estos cambios dependen de diversos factores; si bien se reconoce en la literatura una amplia variabilidad de diseños experimentales, la gran mayoría de estos se han centrado en reportar el efecto del alcohol en sujetos alcohólicos con antecedentes de consumo de dosis casi siempre altas y frecuentes, y en un menor porcentaje, el efecto del alcohol cuando hay un consumo agudo de dosis bajas de alcohol. El presente proyecto registró la actividad eléctrica cerebral de la atención implicada en la conducción con el equipo BCI (brain control interface) EPOC, bajo el efecto de 0,300 g de alcohol, correspondiente a un porcentaje de 0,02 % BAC (blood alcohol content) en prueba de alcoholímetro, y a su vez en ausencia de alcohol mediante un diseño pre-experimental con preprueba-postprueba, con un solo grupo de 30 estudiantes universitarios entre 18 y 45 años de edad. Los resultados mostraron que el alcohol en dosis bajas logra generar cambios en la dinámica de las ondas, disminuyendo la amplitud de ondas rápidas como alfa (9-13Hz) y beta (14-30 Hz), específicamente en zonas asociadas a los lóbulos frontales implicadas en tareas de atención sostenida en conducción.

The ingestion of alcohol has been linked to characteristic changes in EEG activity, and these changes depend on several factors. Previous research has been conducted with a variety of experimental designed, but most have focused on reporting the effect of alcohol consumption in subjects with a history of alcohol abuse, and a few have reported the effects of lower doses of alcohol. This project recorded brain activity related to attention in a driving situation with an emotiv EPOP brain control interface (BCI) device after ingestion of 0,300 g of alcohol (0,02 % BAC) or none in a pre-experiemental pre-test and post-test design with 30 college students aged 18-45. Results suggest that lower doses of alcohol change wave dynamics, reducing the amplitude of fast alpha (9-13Hz) and beta (14-30Hz) waves in frontal lobe zones involved in sustained attention in driving.

Influencia de las hormonas sexuales en mujeres con esclerosis múltiple durante la memoria de trabajo y la activación cerebral medida con mapeo electroencefalográfico / Influence of sex hormones in women with MS during the working memory and brain activation measured by electroencephalogram mappin

La Esclerosis Múltiple es una enfermedad inflamatoria desmielinizante del Sistema Nervioso Central, que se presenta con más frecuencia en mujeres, lo cual sugiere que las hormonas sexuales parecen modular la manifestación de la sintomatología. La actividad electroencefalografíca no ha sido evaluada en mujeres con Esclerosis Múltiple durante el procesamiento de Memoria de Trabajo y su estado hormonal. Los registros se realizaron en las fases folicular y lútea del ciclo menstrual de manera simultánea la tarea cognitiva y el electroencefalograma, además se correlacionaron con los niveles hormonales. La fase lútea mostró una ejecución mejor con un mayor número de categorías alcanzadas (p<0.004), un menor número de errores perseverativos (p<0.003) y un mayor número de ensayos para alcanzar una categoría (p<0.011), se asoció con un aumento de la actividad de Theta (p<0.018) y Alfa 2 (p<0.000). El 92 por ciento de la variabilidad en el número de ensayos de la tarea, fue explicada por la actividad de Theta y Alfa 2, Hormona Luteinizante y Estrona en la fase folicular, en la fase lútea el 90 por ciento de la variabilidad fue explicada por la actividad de Theta, Hormona Luteinizante, Progesterona y Estradiol. La Memoria de trabajo mejora en la fase lútea del ciclo menstrual, sugiriendo que la progesterona parece facilitar actividad de Theta.

Multiple Sclerosis is an inflammatory demyelinating CNS disease that occurs most often in women, suggesting that sex hormones appear to modulate the manifestation of symptoms. EEG activity has not been evaluated in women with MS during the processing of MT and hormonal status. The recordings were made in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle a simultaneous cognitive task and EEG also were correlated with hormone levels. The luteal phase showed a better performance with a greater number of categories achieved (p <0.004), fewer perseverative errors (p <0.003) and greater number of trials to reach a category (p <0.011) was associated with increased theta activity (p <0.018) and Alpha 2 (p <0.000). 92 percent of the variability in the number of trials of the task was explained by the activity of Theta and Alpha 2, LH and estrone levels in the follicular phase, luteal phase, 90 percent of the variability was explained by the activity of theta, LH, progesterone and stradiol. The MT improvement in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, suggesting that progesterone seems to facilitate Theta activity.