Journal Description
Brain Sciences
Brain Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on neuroscience published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, Embase, PSYNDEX, CAPlus / SciFinder, and many other databases.
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision provided to authors approximately 18.3 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.9 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2021).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
3.394 (2020)
;
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.703 (2020)
Latest Articles
Investigating Microstructural Changes in White Matter in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1151; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091151 - 29 Aug 2021
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterised by widespread damage of the central nervous system that includes alterations in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and demyelinating white matter (WM) lesions. Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) has been proposed to provide a precise characterisation of
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterised by widespread damage of the central nervous system that includes alterations in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and demyelinating white matter (WM) lesions. Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) has been proposed to provide a precise characterisation of WM microstructures. NODDI maps can be calculated for the Neurite Density Index (NDI) and Orientation Dispersion Index (ODI), which estimate orientation dispersion and neurite density. Although NODDI has not been widely applied in MS, this technique is promising in investigating the complexity of MS pathology, as it is more specific than diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in capturing microstructural alterations. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies using NODDI metrics to assess brain microstructural changes and neuroaxonal pathology in WM lesions and NAWM in patients with MS. Three reviewers conducted a literature search of four electronic databases. We performed a random-effect meta-analysis and the extent of between-study heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic. Funnel plots and Egger’s tests were used to assess publication bias. We identified seven studies analysing 374 participants (202 MS and 172 controls). The NDI in WM lesions and NAWM were significantly reduced compared to healthy WM and the standardised mean difference of each was −3.08 (95%CI −4.22 to (−1.95), p ≤ 0.00001, I2 = 88%) and −0.70 (95%CI −0.99 to (−0.40), p ≤ 0.00001, I2 = 35%), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference of the ODI in MS WM lesions and NAWM compared to healthy controls. This systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed that the NDI is significantly reduced in MS lesions and NAWM than in WM from healthy participants, corresponding to reduced intracellular signal fraction, which may reflect underlying damage or loss of neurites.
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Open AccessArticle
Prominent and Regressive Brain Developmental Disorders Associated with Nance-Horan Syndrome
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Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1150; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091150 - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
Nance-Horan syndrome (NHS) is a rare X-linked developmental disorder caused mainly by loss of function variants in the NHS gene. NHS is characterized by congenital cataracts, dental anomalies, and distinctive facial features, and a proportion of the affected individuals also present intellectual disability
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Nance-Horan syndrome (NHS) is a rare X-linked developmental disorder caused mainly by loss of function variants in the NHS gene. NHS is characterized by congenital cataracts, dental anomalies, and distinctive facial features, and a proportion of the affected individuals also present intellectual disability and congenital cardiopathies. Despite identification of at least 40 distinct hemizygous variants leading to NHS, genotype-phenotype correlations remain largely elusive. In this study, we describe a Sicilian family affected with congenital cataracts and dental anomalies and diagnosed with NHS by whole-exome sequencing (WES). The affected boy from this family presented a late regression of cognitive, motor, language, and adaptive skills, as well as broad behavioral anomalies. Furthermore, brain imaging showed corpus callosum anomalies and periventricular leukoencephalopathy. We expand the phenotypic and mutational NHS spectrum and review potential disease mechanisms underlying the central neurological anomalies and the potential neurodevelopmental features associated with NHS.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics of Neurological Disorders in Children)
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Open AccessArticle
Alcohol Dependence in Rats Is Associated with Global Changes in Gene Expression in the Central Amygdala
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Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1149; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091149 - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
Alcohol dependence is associated with adverse consequences of alcohol (ethanol) use and is evident in most severe cases of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) plays a critical role in the development of alcohol dependence and escalation of
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Alcohol dependence is associated with adverse consequences of alcohol (ethanol) use and is evident in most severe cases of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) plays a critical role in the development of alcohol dependence and escalation of alcohol consumption in dependent subjects. Molecular mechanisms underlying the CeA-driven behavioral changes are not well understood. Here, we examined the effects of alcohol on global gene expression in the CeA using a chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor model in rats and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). The CIE procedure resulted in robust changes in CeA gene expression during intoxication, as the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was significantly greater than those expected by chance. Over-representation analysis of cell types, functional groups and molecular pathways revealed biological categories potentially important for the development of alcohol dependence in our model. Genes specific for astrocytes, myelinating oligodendrocytes, and endothelial cells were over-represented in the DEG category, suggesting that these cell types were particularly affected by the CIE procedure. The majority of the over-represented functional groups and molecular pathways were directly related to the functions of glial and endothelial cells, including extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, myelination, and the regulation of innate immune response. A coordinated regulation of several ECM metalloproteinases (e.g., Mmp2; Mmp14), their substrates (e.g., multiple collagen genes and myelin basic protein; Mbp), and a metalloproteinase inhibitor, Reck, suggests a specific mechanism for ECM re-organization in response to chronic alcohol, which may modulate neuronal activity and result in behavioral changes, such as an escalation of alcohol drinking. Our results highlight the importance of glial and endothelial cells in the effects of chronic alcohol exposure on the CeA, and demonstrate further insight into the molecular mechanisms of alcohol dependence in rats. These molecular targets may be used in future studies to develop therapeutics to treat AUD.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Mediating the Behavioral Effects of Alcohol)
Open AccessArticle
Now or Later? Stress-Induced Increase and Decrease in Choice Impulsivity Are Both Associated with Elevated Affective and Endocrine Responses
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1148; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091148 - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
Exposure to acute stress elicit physiological and psychological responses that can impact decision-making, often expressed as an increased tendency to act in an impulsive manner following stress. Delay discounting (DD) task has emerged as a reliable measure of impulsive behavior in the form
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Exposure to acute stress elicit physiological and psychological responses that can impact decision-making, often expressed as an increased tendency to act in an impulsive manner following stress. Delay discounting (DD) task has emerged as a reliable measure of impulsive behavior in the form of choice impulsivity (CI). Interestingly, studies that examined the effect of acute stress on DD performance reported mixed results. To address this, we conducted a within-subject examination of the impact of acute stress on CI, focusing on individual differences in response patterns. One hundred and fifty healthy female participants completed the DD task twice, before and after undergoing an acute laboratory stress induction procedure. Saliva samples and self-report mood and affect measures were collected at four time points throughout the session. Fifty-nine matched healthy control participants completed only the DD task twice, with no stress in between. Results indicate that the acute stress procedure elicited the expected effects of increased cortisol release and increased negative mood and affect, at the group level. With respect to DD, stress indeed increased CI at the group level, yet participants differed in the magnitude and direction of this effect. Interestingly, regression analysis revealed quadratic relations between stress-induced changes in CI and cortisol release. Indeed, dividing the sample into three sub-groups based on the impact of stress on CI revealed that, compared to participants that exhibited no substantial change in their CI following stress, participants that exhibited either stress-induced increase or decrease in their CI also exhibited more stress-induced cortisol release, as well as more negative affect. Taken together, these findings suggest that elevated physiological and psychological responses to stress are associated with either increased or decreased choice impulsivity, thus depicting quadratic relations between stress and impulsivity.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive and Behavioral Patterns across Psychiatric Conditions)
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Prognostic Factors in Neurorehabilitation of Stroke: A Comparison among Regression, Neural Network, and Cluster Analyses
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1147; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091147 - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
There is a large body of literature reporting the prognostic factors for a positive outcome of neurorehabilitation performed in the subacute phase of stroke. Despite the recent development of algorithms based on neural networks or cluster analysis for the identification of these prognostic
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There is a large body of literature reporting the prognostic factors for a positive outcome of neurorehabilitation performed in the subacute phase of stroke. Despite the recent development of algorithms based on neural networks or cluster analysis for the identification of these prognostic factors, the literature lacks a rigorous comparison among classical regression, neural network, and cluster analysis. Moreover, the three methods have rarely been tested on a sample independent from that in which prognostic factors have been identified. This study aims at providing this comparison on a wide sample of data (1522 patients) and testing the results on an independent sample (1000 patients) using 30 variables. The accuracy was similar among regression, neural network, and cluster analyses on the analyzed sample (76.6%, 74%, and 76.1%, respectively), but on the test sample, the accuracy of neural network decreased (70.1%). The three models agreed in identifying older age, severe impairment, unilateral spatial neglect, and total anterior circulation infarcts as important prognostic factors. The binary regression analysis also provided solid results in the test sample, especially in terms of specificity (81.8%). Cluster analysis also showed a high sensitivity in the test sample (82.6%) and allowed a meaningful easy-to-use classification tree to be obtained.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurorehabilitation of Cerebrovascular Diseases and Related Cognitive Complications)
Open AccessArticle
Is Novelty Detection Important in Long-Term Odor Memory?
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1146; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091146 - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
Memory for odors is believed to be longer-lasting than memory for visual stimuli, as is evidenced by flat forgetting curves. However, performance on memory tasks is typically weaker in olfaction than vision. Studies of odor memory that use forced-choice methods confound responses that
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Memory for odors is believed to be longer-lasting than memory for visual stimuli, as is evidenced by flat forgetting curves. However, performance on memory tasks is typically weaker in olfaction than vision. Studies of odor memory that use forced-choice methods confound responses that are a result of a trace memory and responses that can be obtained through process of elimination. Moreover, odor memory is typically measured with common stimuli, which are more familiar and responses may be confounded by verbal memory, and measure memory in intentional learning conditions, which are ecologically questionable. Here we demonstrate the value of using tests of memory in which hit rate and correct rejection rate are evaluated separately (i.e., not using forced-choice methods) and uncommon stimuli are used. This study compared memory for common and uncommon odors and pictures that were learned either intentionally (Exp. 1) or incidentally (Exp. 2) and tested with either a forced-choice or a one-stimulus-at-a-time (“monadic”) recognition task after delays of 15 min, 48 h or 1 week. As expected, memory declined with delay in most conditions, but depended upon the particular measure of memory and was better for pictures than odors and for common than uncommon stimuli. For common odors, hit rates decreased with delay but correct rejection rates remained constant with delay. For common pictures, we found the opposite result, constant hit rates and decreased correct rejection rates. Our results support the ‘misfit theory of conscious olfactory perception’, which highlights the importance of the detection of novelty in olfactory memory and suggests that olfactory memory should be studied using more ecologically valid methods.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Human Olfactory Perception)
Open AccessArticle
Obese Subjects without Eating Disorders Experience Binge Episodes Also Independently of Emotional Eating and Personality Traits among University Students of Southern Italy
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Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1145; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091145 - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
It is widely acknowledged that obesity is a growing public clinical issue involving both physical and psychological well-being. Nevertheless, the relationship between psychological features and weight gain is still unclear. Although emotional eating (EE) and personality traits are considered significant predictors of eating
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It is widely acknowledged that obesity is a growing public clinical issue involving both physical and psychological well-being. Nevertheless, the relationship between psychological features and weight gain is still unclear. Although emotional eating (EE) and personality traits are considered significant predictors of eating disorders, their role in obesity without eating disorders (OB-wed) is far from proven. The present study aimed at investigating the cumulative effect of EE and personality traits on overeating behavior in a sample of 266 university students (169 female; mean age = 21.85, SD = 2.39) stratified based on their body mass index (BMI; normal weight, overweight, obese). They were enrolled during free screening days promoted by the Human Dietetic and Sport Service of a Southern Italian university. The results show a psychological pattern of increasing overeating behavior and lower Self-Directedness combined with higher Sadness and Anger. However, OB-wed subjects overate regardless of this emotional/personological configuration.
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Open AccessErratum
Erratum: Tejeda-Bayron et al. Activation of Glutamate Transporter-1 (GLT-1) Confers Sex-Dependent Neuroprotection in Brain Ischemia. Brain Sci. 2021, 11, 76
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Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091144 (registering DOI) - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
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Open AccessReview
Developmental Dyslexia, Reading Acquisition, and Statistical Learning: A Sceptic’s Guide
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1143; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091143 - 28 Aug 2021
Abstract
Many theories have been put forward that propose that developmental dyslexia is caused by low-level neural, cognitive, or perceptual deficits. For example, statistical learning is a cognitive mechanism that allows the learner to detect a probabilistic pattern in a stream of stimuli and
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Many theories have been put forward that propose that developmental dyslexia is caused by low-level neural, cognitive, or perceptual deficits. For example, statistical learning is a cognitive mechanism that allows the learner to detect a probabilistic pattern in a stream of stimuli and to generalise the knowledge of this pattern to similar stimuli. The link between statistical learning and reading ability is indirect, with intermediate skills, such as knowledge of frequently co-occurring letters, likely being causally dependent on statistical learning skills and, in turn, causing individual variation in reading ability. We discuss theoretical issues regarding what a link between statistical learning and reading ability actually means and review the evidence for such a deficit. We then describe and simulate the “noisy chain hypothesis”, where each intermediary link between a proposed cause and the end-state of reading ability reduces the correlation coefficient between the low-level deficit and the end-state outcome of reading. We draw the following conclusions: (1) Empirically, there is evidence for a correlation between statistical learning ability and reading ability, but there is no evidence to suggest that this relationship is causal, (2) theoretically, focussing on a complete causal chain between a distal cause and developmental dyslexia, rather than the two endpoints of the distal cause and reading ability only, is necessary for understanding the underlying processes, (3) statistically, the indirect nature of the link between statistical learning and reading ability means that the magnitude of the correlation is diluted by other influencing variables, yielding most studies to date underpowered, and (4) practically, it is unclear what can be gained from invoking the concept of statistical learning in teaching children to read.
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(This article belongs to the Section Neuropsychology)
Open AccessArticle
Rat 50 kHz Trill Calls Are Tied to the Expectation of Social Interaction
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1142; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091142 - 28 Aug 2021
Abstract
Rats emit a variety of calls in the 40–80 kHz range (50 kHz calls). While these calls are generally associated with positive affect, it is unclear whether certain calls might be used selectively in certain contexts. To examine this, we looked at ultrasonic
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Rats emit a variety of calls in the 40–80 kHz range (50 kHz calls). While these calls are generally associated with positive affect, it is unclear whether certain calls might be used selectively in certain contexts. To examine this, we looked at ultrasonic calls in 30–40 day old male rats during the expectation of either play or food, both of which are reinforcing. Behavior and vocalizations were recorded while rats were in a test chamber awaiting the arrival of a play partner or food over seven days of testing. Control groups were included for the non-specific effects of food deprivation and social isolation. Play reward led to an increase in 50 kHz vocalizations, generally, with specific increases in trill and “trill with jump” calls not seen in other groups. Expectation of food reward did not lead to a significant increase in vocalizations of any type, perhaps due to the young age of our study group. Further, rats that were food deprived for the food expectation study showed markedly lower calls overall and had a different profile of call types compared to rats that were socially isolated. Taken together, the results suggest that trill-associated calls may be used selectively when rats are socially isolated and/or expecting a social encounter.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Studies of Rodent Ultrasonic Vocalizations and Their Use in Experimental Models)
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Open AccessArticle
Automatic Segmentation of the Olfactory Bulb
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Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1141; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091141 - 28 Aug 2021
Abstract
The olfactory bulb (OB) has an essential role in the human olfactory pathway. A change in olfactory function is associated with a change of OB volume. It has been shown to predict the prognosis of olfactory loss and its volume is a biomarker
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The olfactory bulb (OB) has an essential role in the human olfactory pathway. A change in olfactory function is associated with a change of OB volume. It has been shown to predict the prognosis of olfactory loss and its volume is a biomarker for various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Thus far, obtaining an OB volume for research purposes has been performed by manual segmentation alone; a very time-consuming and highly rater-biased process. As such, this process dramatically reduces the ability to produce fair and reliable comparisons between studies, as well as the processing of large datasets. Our study aims to solve this by proposing a novel methodological framework for the unbiased measurement of OB volume. In this paper, we present a fully automated tool that successfully performs such a task, accurately and quickly. In order to develop a stable and versatile algorithm and to train the neural network, we used four datasets consisting of whole-brain T1 and high-resolution T2 MRI scans, as well as the corresponding clinical information of the subject’s smelling ability. One dataset contained data of patients suffering from anosmia or hyposmia (N = 79), and the other three datasets contained data of healthy controls (N = 91). First, the manual segmentation labels of the OBs were created by two experienced raters, independently and blinded. The algorithm consisted of the following four different steps: (1) multimodal data co-registration of whole-brain T1 images and T2 images, (2) template-based localization of OBs, (3) bounding box construction, and lastly, (4) segmentation of the OB using a 3D-U-Net. The results from the automated segmentation algorithm were tested on previously unseen data, achieving a mean dice coefficient (DC) of 0.77 ± 0.05, which is remarkably convergent with the inter-rater DC of 0.79 ± 0.08 estimated for the same cohort. Additionally, the symmetric surface distance (ASSD) was 0.43 ± 0.10. Furthermore, the segmentations produced using our algorithm were manually rated by an independent blinded rater and have reached an equivalent rating score of 5.95 ± 0.87 compared to a rating score of 6.23 ± 0.87 for the first rater’s segmentation and 5.92 ± 0.81 for the second rater’s manual segmentation. Taken together, these results support the success of our tool in producing automatic fast (3–5 min per subject) and reliable segmentations of the OB, with virtually matching accuracy with the current gold standard technique for OB segmentation. In conclusion, we present a newly developed ready-to-use tool that can perform the segmentation of OBs based on multimodal data consisting of T1 whole-brain images and T2 coronal high-resolution images. The accuracy of the segmentations predicted by the algorithm matches the manual segmentations made by two well-experienced raters. This method holds potential for immediate implementation in clinical practice. Furthermore, its ability to perform quick and accurate processing of large datasets may provide a valuable contribution to advancing our knowledge of the olfactory system, in health and disease. Specifically, our framework may integrate the use of olfactory bulb volume (OBV) measurements for the diagnosis and treatment of olfactory loss and improve the prognosis and treatment options of olfactory dysfunctions.
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(This article belongs to the Section Computational Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics)
Open AccessArticle
The Association between the Binding Processes of Working Memory and Vascular Risk Profile in Adults
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Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1140; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091140 - 28 Aug 2021
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Episodic buffer (EB), a key component of working memory, seems to have a rather complicated function as part of binding processes. Recent papers on the field claim that binding processes of working memory (WM) are assisted by attention and executive functions. On the
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Episodic buffer (EB), a key component of working memory, seems to have a rather complicated function as part of binding processes. Recent papers on the field claim that binding processes of working memory (WM) are assisted by attention and executive functions. On the same page, vascular pathology is gaining more ground as the main underlying cause for many brain pathologies. Hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, lack of exercise and smoking are the most common risk factors that people of all ages suffer from and constitute the main vascular risk factors responsible for a possible decline in executive functions and attention. Thus, this research is an attempt to examine the relation between the binding functions of WM and the existence of vascular risk factors via a computerized test focusing on feature binding. The study comprised adults (n = 229) with and without vascular risk factors. The main tools used were a biomarker questionnaire and a feature binding test (FBT). The results showed that participants who report suffering from one or more vascular risk factors had significantly lower performance on specific subtasks of the FBT in comparison to the participants who were healthy. This allows us to assume that there might be a positive association between feature binding and a vascular risk profile in adults, and such a test could be a useful diagnostic tool for early cognitive impairment due to incipient vascular pathology.
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Open AccessArticle
Changes in Sleep Patterns and Disorders in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders during the COVID-19 Lockdown
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1139; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091139 - 27 Aug 2021
Abstract
Background. The COVID-19 lockdown determined important changes in the sleep of a large percentage of the world population. We assessed the modifications of reported sleep patterns and disturbances in Italian children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorders
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Background. The COVID-19 lockdown determined important changes in the sleep of a large percentage of the world population. We assessed the modifications of reported sleep patterns and disturbances in Italian children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), compared to control children, before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. Methods. Parents of 100 ASD, 236 ADHD patients, and 340 healthy children filled out an anonymous online survey and a modified version of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), advertised via social media, to evaluate sleep patterns and disturbances of their children before and during the lockdown. Results. Before the lockdown, bedtime and risetime were not different between the three groups. During the lockdown, ADHD children tended to have a later bedtime and risetime than ASD and controls, while ASD children tended to maintain similar bedtime and risetime. Overall, during the lockdown, a reduced sleep duration significantly differentiated clinical groups from controls. Anxiety at bedtime, difficulties in falling asleep, and daytime sleepiness increased in all groups during the lockdown. Hypnic jerks, rhythmic movement disorders, night awakenings, restless sleep, sleepwalking, and daytime sleepiness increased in ASD and ADHD patients, in particular. Conclusions. This is the first study comparing sleep habits and disorders in ASD and ADHD during the lockdown showing specific differences consistent with the core characteristics of two neurodevelopmental disorders.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Disorders and COVID-19)
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Open AccessArticle
Clinical Spectrum and Neuroimagistic Features in Hospitalized Patients with Neurological Disorders and Concomitant Coronavirus-19 Infection
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Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1138; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091138 - 27 Aug 2021
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In the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, several research studies focused on understanding the damage to the respiratory and circulatory systems. However, the evidence of neurological manifestations as part of the clinical spectrum of the disease has increased. The aim of this
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In the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, several research studies focused on understanding the damage to the respiratory and circulatory systems. However, the evidence of neurological manifestations as part of the clinical spectrum of the disease has increased. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the potential association of neurological disorders with concomitant COVID-19 infection. We reviewed 101 patients (mean age, 70.05 years; 62.37% men) diagnosed with different neurological disorders and COVID-19 who were referred to the Department of Neurology between March 2020 and May 2021. The protocol included demographic, clinical, and neuroimagistic features, biochemical evaluation data, and prognosis. In the first group of patients with non-severe COVID-19 infection (<50% lung damage), we enrolled 75 cases (mean age, 69.13 years; 65.33% men), and the second group, with 26 patients (mean age, 72.69 years; 53.84% men), developed severe COVID-19 infection (>50% lung damage). Severe COVID-19 infection was significantly correlated with an increased highly sensitive C-reactive protein level (hsCRP) (p < 0.05), lactate dehydrogenase level (LDH) (p < 0.05), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (p < 0.05), D-dimer (p < 0.05), fibrinogen level (p < 0.05), and blood glucose (p < 0.05) when compared to the first group. These biochemical parameters were increased in both groups, but the levels were much higher in the second group. Headaches (72.27%) and dizziness (14.85%) were present in the early stage of infection. Cerebrovascular events were also reported: ischemic stroke (48% vs. 57.69%; p < 0.05), cerebral hemorrhage (4.95%), and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (1.98%). Encephalitis (1.98%) and Guillain–Barré Syndrome (1.98%) were found but less frequently. Cranial nerve abnormalities were statistically more common in the non-severe group: anosmia (32% vs. 26.92%; p < 0.05), dysgeusia/ageusia (48% vs. 42.30%; p < 0.05), impaired eye movement (1.33% vs. 0%), and facial nerve palsy (2.66% vs. 0%). Seizures (13.33% vs. 11.53%; p < 0.05) and a depressed level of consciousness (31.68%) occurred commonly. We detected the neuropsychiatric symptoms of anxiety (23.76%) and depression (14.85%). Mortality was increased in both groups but was much higher in the second group (46.15% vs. 21.33%). Neurological complications during COVID-19 infection are common in hospitalized patients, but the mechanism of these complications is not fully understood, representing a continuous challenge for neurologists.
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Open AccessArticle
Changes in Default Mode Network Connectivity in Resting-State fMRI in People with Mild Dementia Receiving Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1137; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091137 - 27 Aug 2021
Abstract
Group cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is a 7-week activity-based non-pharmacological intervention for people with mild to moderate dementia. Despite consistent evidence of clinical efficacy, the cognitive and brain mechanisms of CST remain unclear. Theoretically, group CST as a person-centred approach may work through
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Group cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is a 7-week activity-based non-pharmacological intervention for people with mild to moderate dementia. Despite consistent evidence of clinical efficacy, the cognitive and brain mechanisms of CST remain unclear. Theoretically, group CST as a person-centred approach may work through promoting social interaction and personhood, executive function, and language use, especially in people with higher brain/cognitive reserve. To explore these putative mechanisms, structural MRI and resting-state functional MRI data were collected from 16 people with mild dementia before and after receiving CST, and in 13 dementia controls who received treatment as usual (TAU). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) analyses were performed. Compared with TAU, the CST group maintained the total brain volume/total intracranial volume (TBV/TICV) ratio. Increased rs-FC in the default mode network (DMN) in the posterior cingulate cortex and bilateral parietal cortices nodes was observed in the CST over TAU groups between pre- and post-intervention timepoints. We provided preliminary evidence that CST maintains/enhances brain reserve both structurally and functionally. Considering the role of DMN in episodic memory retrieval and mental self-representation, preservation of personhood may be an important mechanism of CST for further investigation.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neural Networks and Connectivity among Brain Regions)
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Open AccessCase Report
Non-Ruptured Temporal Lobe Dermoid Cyst Concomitant with Focal Cortical Dysplasia Causing Temporal Lobe Epilepsy—A Case Report and Literature Review
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Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1136; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091136 - 27 Aug 2021
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Background: Intracranial dermoid cyst is a rare, benign, nonneoplastic tumor-like lesion that could cause seizures, headache, and hydrocephalus. We hypothesized that the temporal lobe dermoid cyst in combination with other factors were causing the epileptic seizure. Methods: We encountered a 17-year-old girl with
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Background: Intracranial dermoid cyst is a rare, benign, nonneoplastic tumor-like lesion that could cause seizures, headache, and hydrocephalus. We hypothesized that the temporal lobe dermoid cyst in combination with other factors were causing the epileptic seizure. Methods: We encountered a 17-year-old girl with anti-seizure medication-resistant epilepsy secondary to dermoid cyst located in the temporal region depicted on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She showed neither symptoms of meningitis nor rupture of the cyst according to serial MRI. We hypothesized that temporal lobe dermoid cyst in combination with other factors, such as focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), etc., was causing epileptic seizures in this case. She underwent dermoid cyst removal surgery with resection of the tip of the antero-inferior temporal lobe. Results: Histopathological study showed multiple small intramedullary dermoid cysts in the left antero-inferior temporal lobe in addition to MRI lesions and FCD. Conclusion: A patient with medically intractable epilepsy secondary to left temporal lobe dermoid cyst showed multiple intramedullary dermoid cysts and focal cortical dysplasia that might have interacted to create epileptogenicity. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of dermoid cyst concomitant with FCD.
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Open AccessArticle
Opposing Association of Situational and Chronic Loneliness with Interpersonal Distance
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Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091135 - 27 Aug 2021
Abstract
Loneliness is a prevalent condition with adverse effects on physical and mental health. Evolutionary theories suggest it evolved to drive people to reconnect. However, chronic loneliness may result in a negative social bias and self-preservation behaviors, paradoxically driving individuals away from social interactions.
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Loneliness is a prevalent condition with adverse effects on physical and mental health. Evolutionary theories suggest it evolved to drive people to reconnect. However, chronic loneliness may result in a negative social bias and self-preservation behaviors, paradoxically driving individuals away from social interactions. Lonely people often feel they are not close to anyone; however, little is known about their interpersonal distance preferences. During COVID-19, many experienced situational loneliness related to actual social isolation. Therefore, there was a unique opportunity to examine both chronic and situational (COVID-19-related) loneliness. In the present study, 479 participants completed an online task that experimentally assessed interpersonal distance preferences in four conditions—passively being approached by a friend or a stranger, and actively approaching a friend or a stranger. Results show that high chronic loneliness was related to a greater preferred distance across conditions. Intriguingly, by contrast, high COVID-19-related loneliness was related to a smaller preferred distance across conditions. These findings provide further support for the evolutionary theory of loneliness: situational loneliness indeed seems to drive people towards reconnection, while chronic loneliness seems to drive people away from it. Implications for the amelioration of chronic loneliness are discussed based on these findings.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cognitive and Behavioral Patterns across Psychiatric Conditions)
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Cerebellar Cortex and Cerebellar White Matter Volume in Normal Cognition, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1134; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091134 - 26 Aug 2021
Abstract
The cerebellum is commonly viewed as a structure that is primarily responsible for the coordination of voluntary movement, gait, posture, and speech. Recent research has shown evidence that the cerebellum is also responsible for cognition. We analyzed 28 participants divided into three groups
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The cerebellum is commonly viewed as a structure that is primarily responsible for the coordination of voluntary movement, gait, posture, and speech. Recent research has shown evidence that the cerebellum is also responsible for cognition. We analyzed 28 participants divided into three groups (9 with normal cognition, 9 with mild cognitive impairment, and 10 with moderate/severe cognitive impairment) based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. We analyzed the cerebellar cortex and white matter volume and assessed differences between groups. Participants with normal cognition had higher average values in total cerebellar volume, cerebellar white matter volume, and cerebellar cortex volume in both hemispheres, but by performing the Kruskal–Wallis test, we did not find these values to be statistically significant.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Cerebellar Contribution to Cognitive Impairments and Affective Disorders)
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Extra Virgin Oil Polyphenols Improve the Protective Effects of Hydroxytyrosol in an In Vitro Model of Hypoxia–Reoxygenation of Rat Brain
by
, , , , , , , , and
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1133; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091133 - 26 Aug 2021
Abstract
Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is the component primarily responsible for the neuroprotective effect of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). However, it is less effective on its own than the demonstrated neuroprotective effect of EVOO, and for this reason, it can be postulated that there is
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Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is the component primarily responsible for the neuroprotective effect of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). However, it is less effective on its own than the demonstrated neuroprotective effect of EVOO, and for this reason, it can be postulated that there is an interaction between several of the polyphenols of EVOO. The objective of the study was to assess the possible interaction of four EVOO polyphenols (HT, tyrosol, dihydroxyphenylglycol, and oleocanthal) in an experimental model of hypoxia–reoxygenation in rat brain slices. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) efflux, lipid peroxidation, and peroxynitrite production were determined as measures of cell death, oxidative stress, and nitrosative stress, respectively. First, the polyphenols were incubated with the brain slices in the same proportions that exist in EVOO, comparing their effects with those of HT. In all cases, the cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of the combination were greater than those of HT alone. Second, we calculated the concentration–effect curves for HT in the absence or presence of each polyphenol. Tyrosol did not significantly modify any of the variables inhibited by HT. Dihydroxyphenylglycol only increased the cytoprotective effect of HT at 10 µM, while it increased its antioxidant effect at 50 and 100 µM and its inhibitory effect on peroxynitrite formation at all the concentrations tested. Oleocanthal increased the cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of HT but did not modify its inhibitory effect on nitrosative stress. The results of this study show that the EVOO polyphenols DHPG and OLC increase the cytoprotective effect of HT in an experimental model of hypoxia–reoxygenation in rat brain slices, mainly due to a possibly synergistic effect on HT’s antioxidant action. These results could explain the greater neuroprotective effect of EVOO than of the polyphenols alone.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuroprotection and Oxidative Distress)
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Brain–Immune Interactions as the Basis of Gulf War Illness: Clinical Assessment and Deployment Profile of 1990–1991 Gulf War Veterans in the Gulf War Illness Consortium (GWIC) Multisite Case-Control Study
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, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091132 - 26 Aug 2021
Abstract
The Boston University-based Gulf War Illness Consortium (GWIC) is a multidisciplinary initiative developed to provide detailed understanding of brain and immune alterations that underlie Gulf War illness (GWI), the persistent multisymptom disorder associated with military service in the 1990–1991 Gulf War. The core
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The Boston University-based Gulf War Illness Consortium (GWIC) is a multidisciplinary initiative developed to provide detailed understanding of brain and immune alterations that underlie Gulf War illness (GWI), the persistent multisymptom disorder associated with military service in the 1990–1991 Gulf War. The core GWIC case-control clinical study conducted in-depth brain and immune evaluation of 269 Gulf War veterans (223 GWI cases, 46 controls) at three U.S. sites that included clinical assessments, brain imaging, neuropsychological testing, and analyses of a broad range of immune and immunogenetic parameters. GWI cases were similar to controls on most demographic, military, and deployment characteristics although on average were two years younger, with a higher proportion of enlisted personnel vs. officers. Results of physical evaluation and routine clinical lab tests were largely normal, with few differences between GWI cases and healthy controls. However, veterans with GWI scored significantly worse than controls on standardized assessments of general health, pain, fatigue, and sleep quality and had higher rates of diagnosed conditions that included hypertension, respiratory and sinus conditions, gastrointestinal conditions, and current or lifetime depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Among multiple deployment experiences/exposures reported by veterans, multivariable logistic regression identified just two significant GWI risk factors: extended use of skin pesticides in theater (adjusted OR = 3.25, p = 0.005) and experiencing mild traumatic brain injury during deployment (OR = 7.39, p = 0.009). Gulf War experiences associated with intense stress or trauma (e.g., participation in ground combat) were not associated with GWI. Data and samples from the GWIC project are now stored in a repository for use by GWI researchers. Future reports will present detailed findings on brain structure and function, immune function, and association of neuroimmune measures with characteristics of GWI and Gulf War service.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing the Role of Neuroimmunity and Genetic Susceptibility in Gulf War Illness - Series II)
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