Differential Effects of Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation over the Bilateral and Unilateral Cerebellum on Working Memory.

Recent functional MRI studies have implicated the cerebellum in working memory (WM) alongside the prefrontal cortex. Some findings indicate that the right cerebellum is activated during verbal tasks, while the left is engaged during visuospatial tasks, suggesting cerebellar lateralization in WM function. The cerebellum could be a potential target for non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to enhance WM function in cognitive disorders.

Combined effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and aerobic exercise on inhibitory control function in healthy young adults: An event-related potential study.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and aerobic exercise (AE) have been demonstrated to enhance inhibitory control function in healthy individuals separately. However, the potential benefits of combining these two interventions have yet to be fully explored. In this study, we aimed to use multiple event-related potential (ERP) components (P200, N200, and N450) to investigate the combined effects of tDCS and AE on the improvement of inhibitory control ability in healthy young adults.

Bidirectional causal association between ischemic stroke and five mental disorders.

Objective: To explore the bidirectional causal association between ischemic stroke and five mental disorders from a genetic perspective using two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR).

Methods: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with ischemic stroke were obtained from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) database, and those closely related to the exposure phenotype and satisfying the three core assumptions of Mendelian randomization were selected as instrumental variables (IVs). The main TSMR analysis was conducted using the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, and the robustness of the results was assessed using the weighted median, weighted mode, and MR Egger methods.

Synergistic effects of aerobic exercise and transcranial direct current stimulation on executive function and biomarkers in healthy young adults.

Objective: This research explored the combined effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and aerobic exercise (AE) on executive function and specific serum biomarkers in healthy adults.

Methods: Sixty healthy young adults were randomly assigned into tDCS+AE, tDCS only, or AE only groups. Interventions were carried out for 20 days.

Incidence and risk factors of post-stroke cognitive impairment in convalescent elderly patients with first-episode acute ischemic stroke.

A total of 350 first-time AIS elderly patients (aged ≥60 years) were collected and analyzed. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the lesion site, frontal temporal, cerebral white matter degeneration, age ≥ 75 years, BMI ≥ 28, onset in autumn/winter, hospitalization expenses > 20,000 yuan/month, high DBPV, high NIHSS score, and high HAMD score were risk factors for PSCI. Higher education level was a protective factor.

Cerebellar Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation for Aphasia Rehabilitation: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Language recovery is limited in moderate to severe post-stroke aphasia patients. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising tool in improving language dysfunctions caused by post-stroke aphasia, but the treatment outcome is as yet mixed. Considerable evidence has demonstrated the essential involvement of the cerebellum in a variety of language functions, suggesting that it may be a potential stimulation target of TMS for the treatment of post-stroke aphasia.

Effects of the Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation of the Cerebellar Vermis on Balance Recovery After Stroke: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The recovery of balance function is a critical segment in the rehabilitation treatment of stroke. The cerebellum is considered as the key structure involved in balance and motor control. The cerebellar vermis plays an important role in integrating vision, proprioception, and sensory skin input and may be a candidate stimulation target for regulating the motor network related with balance.

Exploring the functional connectivity characteristics of brain networks in post-stroke patients with global aphasia: a healthy control based resting-state fMRI study.

Background: In this study, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was used to investigate the characteristics of functional connectivity of brain networks in patients with post-stroke global aphasia (PGA).

Methods: PGA patients hospitalized in Wuxi Tongren Rehabilitation Hospital during their subacute stage were selected as a case group, and healthy volunteers with matching age, sex, and education level were selected as healthy controls (HCs). rs-fMRI scans were performed to compare the differences of functional connectivity in resting-state networks (RSNs) and in the whole brain between the two groups.

Effects of the introduction of objective criteria for referral and discharge in physical therapy for ischemic stroke in China: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of a set of rules for referral and therapy input in a three-tiered physiotherapy program on activities of daily living (ADL), motor function, and quality of life of stroke survivors.

Design: Randomized controlled study.

Setting: Rehabilitation departments of 11 teaching hospitals.

The Effect of rTMS over the Different Targets on Language Recovery in Stroke Patients with Global Aphasia: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Study.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the right pars triangularis of the posterior inferior frontal gyrus (pIFG) and the right posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSMG) in global aphasia following subacute stroke.

Methods: Fifty-four patients with subacute poststroke global aphasia were randomized to 15-day protocols of 20-minute inhibitory 1 Hz rTMS over either the right triangular part of the pIFG (the rTMS-b group) or the right pSTG (the rTMS-w group) or to sham stimulation, followed by 30 minutes of speech and language therapy. Language outcomes were assessed by aphasia quotient (AQ) scores obtained from the Chinese version of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) at baseline and immediately after 3 weeks (15 days) of experimental treatment.