Search Results (193)

Background and Objectives: The objective of this research is to make a comparative evaluation of the correlation between the volumetric examination of subcortical cerebral regions and white matter hyperintensities classified according to the Fazekas scoring system. Materials and Methods: A total of 236 cases with cranial MRI studies were retrospectively analyzed. This study included patients aged over 45 years who had white matter hyperintensities and who did not have a prior stroke diagnosis. White matter hyperintensities were evaluated in axial FLAIR images according to Fazekas’s grading scale. Patients with Fazekas 0 and 1 were grouped in group 1 and the patients with Fazekas 2 and 3 were grouped in group 2. MRI data processing and subcortical volumetric analyses were performed using the volBrain MRI brain volumetry system. Results: There were statistically significant differences between groups 1 and 2 in terms of cerebrospinal fluid total brain white and gray matter (p < 0.001), total brain white and gray matter (p = 0.009), total cerebrum (p < 0.001), accumbens (p < 0.001), thalamus (p < 0.001), frontal lobe (p < 0.001), parietal lobe (p < 0.001), and lateral ventricle (p < 0.001) volumes. Conclusions: Our study finds a strong link between white matter hyperintensity burden and brain atrophy. This includes volume reductions in total brain white and gray matter, frontal and parietal lobe atrophy, increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and atrophy in specific brain regions such as the accumbens and thalamus. Full article

Background: Congenital anosmia (CA) is a rare condition characterized by a lifelong inability to perceive odors, which significantly affects daily life and may be linked to broader neurodevelopmental alterations. This study aimed to investigate structural brain differences in patients with CA using MRI, focusing on gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) changes and their implications for neurodevelopment. Methods: This retrospective study included 28 patients with CA and 28 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Patients with CA were diagnosed at a single medical center between 1 January 2001 and 30 August 2024. Controls were randomly selected from an imaging database and had no history of olfactory dysfunction. Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)was analyzed using volumetric analysis in SPM12.GM and WM volumes were quantified across 11 anatomical brain regions based on theWFU_PickAtlas toolbox, including frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, limbic, sub-lobar, cerebellum (anterior/posterior), midbrain, the pons, and the frontal–temporal junction. Left–right hemispheric comparisons were also conducted. Results: Patients with CA exhibited significantly smaller GM volumes compared to healthy controls (560.6 ± 114.7 cc vs. 693.7 ± 96.3 cc, p < 0.001) but larger WM volumes (554.2 ± 75.4 cc vs. 491.1 ± 79.7 cc, p = 0.015). Regionally, GM reductions were observed in the frontal (131.9 ± 33.7 cc vs. 173.7 ± 27.0 cc, p < 0.001), temporal (81.1 ± 18.4 cc vs. 96.5 ± 14.1 cc, p = 0.001), parietal (52.4 ± 15.2 cc vs. 77.2 ± 12.4 cc, p < 0.001), sub-lobar (57.8 ± 9.7 cc vs. 68.2 ± 10.2 cc, p = 0.001), occipital (39.1 ± 13.0 cc vs. 57.8 ± 8.9 cc, p < 0.001), and midbrain (2.0 ± 0.5 cc vs. 2.3 ± 0.4 cc, p = 0.006) regions. Meanwhile, WM increases were notable in the frontal(152.0 ± 19.9 cc vs. 139.2 ± 24.0 cc, p = 0.027), temporal (71.5 ± 11.5 cc vs. 60.8 ± 9.5 cc, p = 0.001), parietal (75.8 ± 12.4 cc vs. 61.9 ± 11.5 cc, p < 0.001), and occipital (58.7 ± 10.3 cc vs. 41.9 ± 7.9 cc, p < 0.001) lobes. A separate analysis of the left and right hemispheres revealed similar patterns of reduced GM and increased WM volumes in patients with CA across both sides. An exception was noted in the right cerebellum-posterior, where patients with CA showed significantly greater WM volume (5.625 ± 1.667 cc vs. 4.666 ± 1.583 cc, p = 0.026). Conclusions: This study demonstrates widespread structural brain differences in individuals with CA, including reduced GM and increased WM volumes across multiple cortical and sub-lobar regions. These findings suggest that congenital olfactory deprivation may impact brain maturation beyond primary olfactory pathways, potentially reflecting altered synaptic pruning and increased myelination during early neurodevelopment. The involvement of the cerebellum further implies potential adaptations beyond motor functions. These structural differences may serve as potential neuroimaging markers for monitoring CA-associated cognitive or emotional comorbidities. Full article

Background/Objectives: An important new consideration when studying autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the bioenergetic mechanisms underlying the relatively recent rapid evolutionary expansion of the human brain, which pose fundamental risks for mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium signaling abnormalities and their potential role in ASD, as recently highlighted by insights from the BTBR mouse model of ASD. The rapid brain expansion taking place as Homo sapiens evolved, particularly in the parietal lobe, led to increased energy demands, making the brain vulnerable to such metabolic disruptions as are seen in ASD. Methods: Mitochondrial dysfunction in ASD is characterized by impaired oxidative phosphorylation, elevated lactate and alanine levels, carnitine deficiency, abnormal reactive oxygen species (ROS), and altered calcium homeostasis. These dysfunctions are primarily functional, rather than being due to mitochondrial DNA mutations. Calcium signaling plays a crucial role in neuronal ATP production, with disruptions in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (ITPR)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium release being observed in ASD patient-derived cells. Results: This impaired signaling affects the ER–mitochondrial calcium axis, leading to mitochondrial energy deficiency, particularly in high-energy regions of the developing brain. The BTBR mouse model, with its unique Itpr3 gene mutation, exhibits core autism-like behaviors and metabolic syndromes, providing valuable insights into ASD pathophysiology. Conclusions: Various interventions have been tested in BTBR mice, as in ASD, but none have directly targeted the Itpr3 mutation or its calcium signaling pathway. This review presents current genetic, biochemical, and neurological findings in ASD and its model systems, highlighting the need for further research into metabolic resilience and calcium signaling as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for ASD. Full article

Human memory is inherently susceptible to errors, including the formation of false memories—instances where individuals mistakenly recall information they were never exposed to. While prior research has largely focused on neural activity associated with false memory, the structural brain correlates of this phenomenon remain relatively unexplored. This study bridges that gap by investigating gray matter structure as it relates to individual differences in false memory performance. Using publicly available magnetic resonance imaging datasets, we analyzed cortical thickness (CT) in neural regions implicated in memory processes. To assess false memory, we applied signal detection theory, which provides a robust framework for differentiating between true and false memory. Our findings reveal that increased CT in the parietal lobe and middle occipital gyrus correlates with greater susceptibility to false memories, highlighting its role in integrating and manipulating memory information. Conversely, CT in the middle frontal gyrus and occipital pole was associated with enhanced accuracy in memory recall, emphasizing its importance in perceptual processing and encoding true memories. These results provide novel insights into the structural basis of memory errors and offer a foundation for future investigations into the neural underpinnings of memory reliability. Full article

Background/Objectives: T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment are standard, efficient, and swift clinical and research tools used when interrogating cognitively impairing (CI) conditions, such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the associations between gross cognitive impairment (CI) as compared to domain-specific functioning and underlying neuroanatomical correlates have not been investigated among individuals with early-onset Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD), who can benefit greatly from early diagnosis and intervention strategies. Methods: We analyzed T1-weighted MRIs and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores from the ADNI database in individuals < 65 years old who were either cognitively normal (CN) or had MCI or EOAD. Gray matter volume (GMV) was estimated in voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and ROI-parcellation general linear models examining associations with individual MoCA scores after adjusting for demographic covariates. Results: Results from 120 subjects (44 CN, 62 MCI, and 14 EOAD), identified significant global but also individually distinct domain-specific topographical signatures spanning the temporal, parietal, limbic, occipital, frontal lobes, and cingulate gyri. Conclusions: The results highlight neural correlates of cognitive functioning in a sample of young patients representative of the AD continuum, in addition to studying the structural MRI and functional cognitive difference. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aims to investigate the influence of demographic, behavioral, anthropometric, and comorbid factors on brain atrophy in people living with HIV (PLWH). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 121 HIV-positive patients, stratified into two groups, those with and without brain atrophy (BA). For each participant, we recorded demographic data, smoking status, physical activity levels, disease and treatment duration, and comorbidities. BA was quantitatively assessed using MRI-derived volumetric measurements of 47 cerebral substructures. Results: Patients with BA exhibited significantly reduced gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes alongside increased cerebrospinal fluid volumes, both in absolute and percentage measurements. WM atrophy was most pronounced in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes, with relative sparing of the occipital lobe. GM atrophy predominantly affected the basal ganglia (notably, the thalamus and putamen) and cortical regions, including the hippocampus, frontal, and parietal lobes. Significant positive correlations were observed between BA and both smoking status (pack–years) and disease duration, while physical activity demonstrated an inverse relationship (higher atrophy risk in those with less than 30 min of daily continuous walking). Non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) was also associated with BA. Among comorbidities, type 2 diabetes and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) showed the strongest associations with BA. Conclusions: Brain atrophy in PWH is correlated with smoking, physical inactivity, and the duration of HIV infection. Comorbid conditions, such as type II diabetes and HAND, amplify the risk for BA. We consider that early lifestyle interventions and optimized ART may mitigate the neurodegeneration process. Full article

Background: Acute visceral pain is among the most common symptoms of patients seeking in-hospital treatment and is related to various thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic diseases. It is characterized by distinguishable sensory qualities and can be described on a sensory-discriminative and affective-motivational level. These sensory qualities correlate with the activation of cerebral areas involved in the neuronal processing of visceral pain and can be visualized using functional neuroimaging. Methods: An ALE (activation likelihood estimation) meta-analysis of a total of 21 studies investigating different balloon distention paradigms during either PET or fMRI was performed to demonstrate the neuroanatomical correlates of visceral pain. The ALE meta-analysis was performed using the GingerAle software version 3.0.2 and was displayed with the Mango software 4.1 on an anatomical MNI template. Results: Summarizing studies investigating the functional neuroanatomy of visceral pain, bihemispheric activation of the insula, the thalamus, and clusters involving the right inferior parietal lobe/postcentral gyrus as well as the left postcentral gyrus/parietal inferior lobe were observed. Conclusions: This ALE meta-analysis substantiates the concept of two distinguishable neuroanatomical pathways of visceral pain which are related to either the sensory-discriminative or the affective-motivational dimension of pain processing. Full article

Background: Neonatal birth-related intracranial subdural hemorrhages (SDHs) represent a form of bleeding inside the skull that occurs in newborns. This condition includes the extravasation of blood both in the encephalic parenchyma and in the extra-axial spaces. Recent studies have shown that SDH and particularly post-traumatic birth-related hemorrhages represent a frequent occurrence, but they are often asymptomatic. The gold standard for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with SDH is multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The aim of this study is to describe our experience by reporting several cases of SDH with different distribution and Central Nervous System involvement by the MRI of this pathology in infants up to 30 days of age. Methods: We analyzed the age and sex of the patients included in this study, the localization of SDH in different CNS areas, and their frequency using distribution plots and pie charts. Results: About the analysis of the SDH locations in the 32 patients, the most common location was the cerebellum (31/32, 96.9%), followed by parietal and occipital lobes (19/32, 59.4%; 18/32, 56.2%, respectively), falx cerebri (11/32, 34.4%), tentorium cerebelli (10/32, 31.2%), temporal lobes (6/32, 18.7%), and finally cervical and dorsal spine in the same patients (4/32, 12.5%). According to SDH locations, the patients were divided into supratentorial, infratentorial, both, and Spinal Canal. Conclusions: Our study confirmed the literature data regarding the neonatal birth-related SDH high frequency, but also allowed us to focus our attention on the rarest spinal SDH localizations with the same benign evolution. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) is a rare and complex neuroinflammatory disease characterized by demyelination and neurological dysfunction in individuals under 18 years of age. This systematic review and activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the existing literature on functional and structural brain alterations in pediatric MS patients. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we analyzed 21 studies involving 917 pediatric MS patients and 320 healthy controls, assessing brain structure and function using MRI and fMRI techniques. Results: The results reveal consistent alterations in brain regions critical for cognitive and motor functions, including reduced brain volume, increased lesion load, and disrupted functional connectivity, particularly in the thalamus, cerebellum, and hippocampus. The ALE meta-analysis identified significant activation clusters in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, angular gyrus, and superior parietal lobes, regions associated with cognition, attention, and working memory. Conclusions: These findings suggest that pediatric MS uniquely affects brain development, contributing to cognitive impairments that differ from those observed in adult MS. Our study underscores the importance of early diagnosis and tailored therapeutic interventions to mitigate neurodevelopmental disruptions and improve long-term outcomes in pediatric MS patients. Full article

Commercial progress concerning biobased materials has been slow, with success depending on functionality and emotional responses. Emotional interaction research provides a novel way to shift perceptions of biobased materials. This study proposes a human-centered emotional design framework using biobased tea waste to explore how sensory properties (form, color, odor, surface roughness) shape emotional responses and contribute to sustainable wellbeing. We used a mixed-methods approach combining subjective evaluations (Self-Assessment Manikin scale) with physiological metrics (EEG, skin temperature, pupil dilation) from 24 participants. Results demonstrated that spherical forms and high surface roughness significantly enhanced emotional valence and arousal, while warm-toned yellow samples elicited 23% higher pleasure ratings than dark ones. Neurophysiological data revealed that positive emotions correlated with reduced alpha power in the parietal lobe (αPz, p = 0.03) and a 0.3 °C rise in skin temperature, whereas negative evaluations activated gamma oscillations in central brain regions (γCz, p = 0.02). Mapping these findings to human factors engineering principles, we developed actionable design strategies—such as texture-optimized surfaces and color–emotion pairings—that transform tea waste into emotionally resonant, sustainable products. This work advances emotional design’s role in fostering ecological sustainability and human wellbeing, demonstrating how human-centered engineering can align material functionality with psychological fulfillment. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate how motor preparation impacted brain activation in individuals with differing cognitive statuses. Methods: We investigated the cortical activation pattern of 57 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 67 healthy controls (HCs) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during prepared walking (PW) and single walking (SW) tasks. The study focused on assessing brain activity in four regions of interest (ROIs): the prefrontal cortex (PFC), primary motor cortex, secondary motor cortex, and parietal lobe. Additionally, we examined the behavioral performance—gait speed—during the tasks, analyzed variations in cortical activation intensity, and conducted correlation analyses between Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, gait speed, and oxygenation levels. Results: There was no significant difference in gait speed between patients with MCI and HCs. The MCI group exhibited lower activation in the primary motor cortex, secondary motor cortex, and parietal regions compared to HCs during the motor execution stage of PW (q < 0.05, FDR-corrected). Additionally, activation in the primary (r = 0.23, p = 0.02) and secondary motor cortices (r = 0.19, p = 0.04) during the motor execution stage of PW correlated significantly with MoCA scores. Furthermore, brain activity in the PFC (r = 0.22, p = 0.02), primary motor cortex (r = 0.22, p = 0.01), secondary motor cortex (r = 0.20, p = 0.02), and parietal lobe (r = 0.19, p = 0.03) during the motor preparation stage of gait was positively correlated with gait speed. Conclusions: Our results revealed that preparing for motor tasks modulated the neural activation patterns of patients with MCI and HCs without affecting their behavioral performance. Full article

Schizophrenia is characterized by widespread disruptions in neural connectivity and dynamic modulation. Traditional EEG analyses often rely on static or averaged measures, which may overlook the temporal evolution of neural complexity across cognitive demands. This study employed Higuchi Fractal Dimension, a non-linear measure of signal complexity, to examine the temporal dynamics of EEG activity across five cortical regions (central, frontal, occipital, parietal, and temporal lobes) during an attentional and a memory-based task in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and healthy controls. A permutation-based topographic analysis of variance revealed significant differences in neural complexity between tasks and groups. In the control group, results showed a consistent pattern of higher neural complexity during the attentional task across the different brain regions (except during a few moments in the temporal and occipital regions). This pattern of differentiation in complexity between the attentional and memory tasks reflects healthy individuals’ ability to dynamically modulate neural activity based on task-specific requirements. In contrast, the group of patients with schizophrenia exhibited inconsistent patterns of differences in complexity between tasks over time across all neural regions. That is, differences in complexity between tasks varies across time intervals, being sometimes higher in the attentional task and other times higher in the memory task (especially in the central, frontal, and temporal regions). This inconsistent pattern in patients can explain reduced task-specific modulation of EEG complexity in schizophrenia, and suggests a disruption in the modulation of neural activity on function of task demands. These findings underscore the importance of analyzing the temporal dynamics of EEG complexity to capture task-specific neural modulation. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: In our case study, the patient experienced approximately a year-long delay in her diagnosis, where her initial diagnosis was mistakenly a primary psychiatric disorder, resulting in undue stress on her family. The aim of this case study is to raise awareness of frontal variant Alzheimer’s dementia (fvAD) and to increase knowledge amongst clinicians about this disorder, its management and the need for long-term follow up in specialized clinics. Case Presentation: In January 2023, a 56-year-old woman first presented with a 4-month history of worsening cognitive symptoms with considerable overlapping mood symptoms. Her Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was 20/28, whereas her Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) score was 6/18. Upon neuropsychological evaluation, she demonstrated multidomain cognitive deficits, where impairments were most prominent in executive dysfunction, learning, memory and semantic fluency. There was evidence of progressive neurodegenerative changes, with brain MRI (April 2024) showing predominant bilateral frontal and parietal volume loss, sparing the occipital and temporal lobes. Amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) was diffusely positive. A diagnosis of fvAD (frontal variant Alzheimer’s dementia) with BPSD was made. Other differential diagnoses included a major neurocognitive disorder due to multiple etiologies (AD and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)), frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and the psychiatric disorder of pseudodementia secondary to a mood disorder. Conclusions: This case presented significant challenges given the atypical neuropsychological profile and the complexity of the symptom presentation with significant neuropsychiatric overlay. The preliminary research findings underscore the complexity of fvAD, warranting future research using fundamental approaches. Full article

Visuospatial memory plays a crucial role in everyday functioning. However, its assessment was less explored compared to other memory systems. Immersive virtual reality (iVR) devices can add valuable information about visuospatial memory providing more realistic and ecological environments and allowing for the recording of brain activity in real time. This present systematic review summarizes the current knowledge of brain dynamics during the execution of iVR-based visuospatial memory tasks. Nine articles were reviewed, employing visuospatial working memory, visuospatial memory recognition, and spatial memory tasks through commercial iVR devices such as HTC Vive or Oculus. Most studies measured brain activity using electroencephalography. The findings highlight different key aspects, such as the sensitivity of the prefrontal cortex under stressful conditions, the relationship between memory load and brain activity, the involvement of medial temporal lobe regions on spatial memory and its improvement using memory reactivation paradigms, the importance of some environmental characteristics (i.e., the space where the task is carried out), and the implication of the parietal cortex in processing allocentric information. These results enhance our understanding of brain activity during iVR-based visuospatial tasks and highlight iVR technologies as promising tools in cognitive neuroscience. Full article

Background and Objective: Brain morphometry is shaped by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors, including physiological and neuropsychiatric conditions. These influences can vary across distinct brain regions, yet the precise contributions of genetics and environment to regional variation in healthy brains remain poorly understood. This study examines the heritability of specific brain structures to provide deeper insights into their development. Materials and Methods: We studied 118 healthy adult twins from the Hungarian Twin Registry using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T1W MRI) and the volBrain pipeline for structural measurements. Results: In all regions, monozygotic (MZ) twins showed a higher resemblance than dizygotic (DZ) twins in total brainstem and cerebellar volumes, with significant heritability (A: 90.5–92.6%) and minimal unique environmental effects (E: <1%). For supratentorial regions, regarding the total gray matter volume, all regions exhibited high heritability (A: 74.5–92.4%) and minimal environmental influence (E: <1.5%). In average cortical thickness analysis, the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and pre-central gyrus were influenced by shared and unique environmental factors (C: 63–66.5%; E: 33.4–37%), whereas genetics were more prominent in the parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and post-central gyrus (A: 67.7–85%; E: 15–32.3%). Conclusions: Genetics strongly influence cortical gray matter volume in supratentorial regions (both total and regional), as well as the total brainstem volume and the total and cortical gray matter volumes of the cerebellum in infratentorial regions. This genetic influence extends to the average cortical thickness of the parietal lobe, post-central gyrus, and occipital lobe, while the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and pre-central gyrus are more affected by environmental factors. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding region-specific genetic and environmental contributions to brain structure, which could guide personalized therapeutic and preventive strategies for neurological conditions. Full article