Polysomnographic Findings into Sleep Disorders in Essential Tremor and Essential Tremor Plus: A Comparison with Healthy Controls.

Objective: To explore sleep patterns in individuals with Essential Tremor (ET) and Essential Tremor Plus (ET-Plus), compared to healthy controls, and assess differences between ET and ET-Plus, given the lack of established polysomnography (PSG) data on these groups and the potential for sleep disturbances to serve as clinical markers.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, from November 2021 to August 2023 on 45 patients (26 ET, 19 ET-Plus) and 45 controls. Tremor severity was assessed using TETRAS and FTMTRS, and sleep symptoms with ESS, PSQI, Mayo Sleep Questionnaire, RLS-Q, BQ, GAD-7 and PHQ-9.

Personalized Theta Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation and Gamma Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Bring Differential Neuromodulatory Effects on the Resting Electroencephalogram: Characterizing the Temporal, Spatial, and Spectral Dimensions of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation.

Objectives: The neuromodulatory effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on electroencephalogram (EEG) dynamics are quite heterogenous. The primary objective of the study is to comprehensively characterize the effects of two tACS protocols on resting-state EEG.

Materials And Methods: A total of 36 healthy participants were recruited and were randomized into three groups.

Restoration of sleep-wake behavior following short photoperiod exposure in ventral subicular lesioned male Wistar rats: A 24-h sleep-wake electroencephalographical study.

The ventral subiculum regulates emotion, stress responses, and spatial and social cognition. In our previous studies, we have demonstrated anxiety- and depression-like symptoms, deficits in spatial and social cognition in ventral subicular lesioned (VSL) rats, and restoration of affective and cognitive behaviors following photoperiod manipulation (short photoperiod regime, SPR; 6:18 LD cycle). In the present study, we have studied the impact of VSL on sleep-wake behavioral patterns and the effect of SPR on sleep-wakefulness behavior.

Practice and proficiency of Isha Yoga for better mental health outcomes: insights from a COVID-19 survey.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unparalleled suffering on a global scale, affecting both physical and mental well-being. In such challenging times, it becomes crucial to identify interventions that can alleviate negative mental health outcomes, such as stress, while promoting positive mental health outcomes, like well-being. We report the effectiveness of a mind-body practise, Isha Yoga, in promoting well-being.

Development and validation of Ayurveda based assessment scale for anxiety.

Background: Anxiety scale based on Ayurveda would help Ayurveda physicians to measure and initiate appropriate treatment strategies.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to develop a clinical assessment scale for anxiety based on Ayurveda science.

Materials And Methods: Ayurveda assessment scale for anxiety (AAA) was developed and subjected to various psychometric evaluations.

NIMHANS Neuropsychological Battery for Elderly in Parkinson's Disease Patients: Validation and Diagnosis using MDS PD-MCI Task Force Criteria in Indian Population.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is a common non-motor feature of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment is challenging and routinely missed in clinical practice. Our study aimed to study the efficacy of NIMHANS Neuropsychological Battery for Elderly (NNB-E) in diagnosing subtle cognitive deficits in PD patients.

Corrigendum to: Neuroprotection by Human Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem Cells: From Billions to Nano.

In this correction, the Editor in Chief suggested revising the publication of Figures 3 and 8E in the article after the correction in numeric value. Below is the corrected version of the figures [1]. The electronic version of the article can be found in "Neuroprotection by Human Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem Cells: From Billions to Nano" in the journal Current Gene Therapy, 2018, 18(5), 307-323.

Sleep Architecture in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A Video-Polysomnography Study.

Background: Sleep disturbances have been reported to occur in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). The anatomical regions affected in PSP and those regulating sleep and wake cycle like dorsal raphe nucleus, locus coeruleus (LC), and pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) overlap. There is a paucity of polysomnographic studies in PSP and they have shown altered sleep architecture.

Classification of Rajayoga Meditators Based on the Duration of Practice Using Graph Theoretical Measures of Functional Connectivity from Task-Based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Context: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies on mental training techniques such as meditation have reported benefits like increased attention and concentration, better emotional regulation, as well as reduced stress and anxiety. Although several studies have examined functional activation and connectivity in long-term as well as short-term meditators from different meditation traditions, it is unclear if long-term meditation practice brings about distinct changes in network properties of brain functional connectivity that persist during task performance. Indeed, task-based functional connectivity studies of meditators are rare.

Reversal of Neuropsychiatric Comorbidities in an Animal Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Following Systemic Administration of Dental Pulp Stem Cells and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Introduction: We aim to investigate whether timed systemic administration of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) or bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) with status epilepticus (SE) induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage could facilitate the CNS homing of DPSCs/BM-MSCs and mitigate neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and neuropsychiatric comorbidities in an animal model of Temporal Lobe epilepsy (TLE).

Background: Cognitive impairments, altered emotional responsiveness, depression, and anxiety are the common neuropsychiatric co-morbidities observed in TLE patients. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation has gained immense attention in treating TLE, as ~30% of patients do not respond to anti-epileptic drugs.

Differences in brain connectivity of meditators during assessing neurocognition via gamified experimental logic task: A machine learning approach.

Meditation practices increase attention, memory, and self-awareness. The neuroscientific study of meditation has helped gain useful insights into the functional changes in the brain. In this study, we have assessed the performance of meditators with different years of practice while performing an engaging task rather than studying the meditation practice itself.

Oculomotor abnormalities and its association with sleep stages in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Background: Oculomotor abnormalities are one of the cardinal clinical features of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Vertical saccadic slowing is an early sign of PSP. The association between oculomotor abnormalities and sleep architecture has not been studied so far.

Enhanced dehydroepiandrosterone levels are positively correlated with N3 sleep stage in long-term mindfulness meditation practitioners.

Objectives: Meditation practices positively influence the neural, hormonal and autonomic systems. We have demonstrated that long-term practice of mindfulness meditation increases N3 and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stages and bring efficient autonomic modulation during sleep. In the present study, the probable humoral correlation that could bring about these changes is evaluated.

Enriched Environment Rescues Impaired Sleep-Wake Architecture and Abnormal Neural Dynamics in Chronic Epileptic Rats.

Sleep dysfunctions in epilepsy increase the burden of seizures and cognitive impairments. Seizures and certain anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) can affect sleep quality, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness and poor cognitive performance. Therefore, it is imperative to develop non-pharmacological strategies to curb epilepsy and related sleep dysfunction.

Ventral subicular lesion impairs pro-social empathy-like behavior in adult Wistar rats.

The subiculum, an important structure of the hippocampal formation, regulates spatial information processing, social cognition, and affective behavior. Earlier we demonstrated deficits in sociability and social novelty as a measure of social cognition in ventral subicular lesioned (VSL) rats. The present study investigated empathy-like pro-social behavior and the associated affective states in VSL rats.

The association of saccadic abnormalities with rem sleep in patients with Huntington's disease.

Background: Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by chorea, cognitive impairment, psychiatric and behavioral disturbances. Sleep disturbances including reduced REM sleep have been observed in HD.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to study the polysomnography findings in HD and to assess whether oculomotor abnormalities are associated with poor REM sleep.

Sleep and other Non-motor Symptoms in Patients with Idiopathic Oromandibular Dystonia and Meige Syndrome: A Questionnaire-based Study.

Introduction: Non-motor symptoms are an essential cause of comorbidity in generalized and focal dystonia. However, there are few studies on dystonia involving the craniofacial regions.

Methods: We studied non-motor symptoms in patients with oromandibular dystonia (OMD) and Meige syndrome using a questionnaire, and validated instruments for depression, anxiety, REM behaviour disorder, restless leg syndrome, sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and self-esteem.

A proof-of-concept study of maternal immune activation mediated induction of Toll-like receptor (TLR) and inflammasome pathways leading to neuroprogressive changes and schizophrenia-like behaviours in offspring.

Infection, particularly prenatal infection, leads to an enhanced risk of schizophrenia in the offspring. Interestingly, few data exist on the pathway(s) such as TLR and inflammasome, primarily involved in sensing the microorganisms and inducing downstream inflammatory responses, apoptosis and neuroprogressive changes that drive prenatal infection-induced risk of schizophrenia. Herein, we aimed to discern whether prenatal infection-induced maternal immune activation (MIA) causes schizophrenia-like behaviours through activation of TLR and inflammasome pathways in the brain of offspring.

Exposure to Short Photoperiod Regime Restores Spatial Cognition in Ventral Subicular Lesioned Rats: Potential Role of Hippocampal Plasticity, Glucocorticoid Receptors, and Neurogenesis.

Ambient light influences our mood, behavior, and cognition. Phototherapy has been considered as an effective non-pharmacological intervention strategy in the restoration of cognitive functions following central nervous system insults. However, the cellular and molecular underpinnings of phototherapy-mediated functional recovery are yet to be studied.

Enriched environment ameliorates chronic temporal lobe epilepsy-induced behavioral hyperexcitability and restores synaptic plasticity in CA3-CA1 synapses in male Wistar rats.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of focal epilepsies. Pharmacoresistance and comorbidities pose significant challenges to its treatment necessitating the development of non-pharmacological approaches. In an earlier study, exposure to enriched environment (EE) reduced seizure frequency and duration and ameliorated chronic epilepsy-induced depression in rats.

People with dyssomnia showed increased vulnerability to CoVID-19 pandemic: a questionnaire-based study exploring the patterns and predictors of sleep quality using the latent class analysis technique in Indian population.

Introduction: CoVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have impacted the sleep quality and the overall wellbeing of mankind. The present epidemiological study measured various aspects of sleep disturbance such as sleep quality, daytime impairments, negative emotionality, sleep hygiene, and well-being associated with CoVID-19 pandemic among the Indian population.

Methods: This cross-sectional voluntary online survey (using Google form) was communicated across the country from 4th June to 3rd July 2020 through mail and social media applications.

Meditation, well-being and cognition in heartfulness meditators - A pilot study.

Meditative practices can vary considerably in technique as well as their effects. Heartfulness is a popular meditation technique that includes in its repertoire, a unique passive form of meditation. We carried out a pilot study recruiting male heartfulness meditators (proficient n = 24, with 6-28 years of meditation experience; novice n = 24, 5 to 16 months of experience) and subsequently recruited matched controls (n = 15).