impaired theory of mind in autism spectrum disorders and the possible remediative role of transcranial direct current stimulation

Autism Spectrum Disorders [ASDs] are complex neurodevelopmental conditions with the characteristics including impairments in social interaction and communication, and restricted patterns of behaviors or interests. Lack of Theory of Mind [TOM], which is considered as the core concept of social interaction, was suggested as the underlying deficit of social, behavioral, and communicative impairments of ASD. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation [tDCS], as a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, indicated promising results for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The present methodology report aimed at proposing a design to study the possible effects of tDCS on TOM and cognitive empathy in ASD

Enhancement of antinociceptive effect by co-administration of amitriptyline and crocus sativus in a rat model of neuropathic pain

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-nociceptive effects of a low, sub-effective dose of amitriptyline, in combination with the different doses of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Crocus sativus following sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury [CCI] in rats. Amitriptyline [3, 10 and 30 mg/Kg, i.p.] and the extracts [25, 50 and 100 mg/Kg, i.p.], were separately administered at the time of CCI for 7 consecutive days. In combination therapy, the sub-antinociceptive dose of amitriptyline [3 mg/Kg] was given with the three different doses of extracts for seven days. Mechanical allodynia, thermal allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were evaluated by von Frey, acetone and radiant heat tests, respectively, 1 day before and on days 3, 5 and 7 after surgery. Co-administration of amitriptyline [3 mg/Kg] with aqueous extract [50, 100 mg/Kg,] produced more potent cold anti-allodynic [P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively] as well as thermal anti-hyperalgesic [P < 0.05] effects than that produced by each of them. Amitriptyline [3 mg/Kg] plus ethanolic extract [50, 100 mg/Kg] produced more potent cold anti-allodynic [P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively] as well as thermal anti-hyperalgesic [P < 0.05] effects as compared with the sum effects produced by each of them. Mechanical anti-allodynia effect was only potentiated with the co-administration of amitriptyline with the high dose of aqueous extract [100 mg/Kg, P < 0.001]. Our study supports the use of saffron as an adjunctive to amitriptyline to improve the therapeutic outcome in the management of neuropathic pain

cognitive face of cerebellum; implications for extended research

For years, the role of cerebellum was believed to be limited to motor functions. Only since almost two decades ago, a new concept about cerebellum and its contribution to non-motor functions including cognition and emotion started to emerged. During the recent years, numerous studies have focused on the cerebellar non-motor functions with their results providing supportive evidence on this view. The connections between cerebellum and cortical and subcortical areas such as frontoparietal cortices and the limbic system provide additional evidence for the involvement of cerebellum in higher cognitive functions. This review has been an effort to discuss the studies assessing different aspects of cognitive and affective disorders following cerebellar damage, as well as the cerebellar activity during cognitive tasks using novel approaches including fMRI and PET scans