Intracortical recordings reveal the neuronal selectivity for bodies and body parts in the human visual cortex.

Body perception plays a fundamental role in social cognition. Yet, the neural mechanisms underlying this process in humans remain elusive given the spatiotemporal constraints of functional imaging. Here, we present intracortical recordings of single- and multiunit spiking activity in two epilepsy surgery patients in or near the extrastriate body area, a critical region for body perception.

Direct visualization of microwires in hybrid depth electrodes using high-resolution photon-counting CT.

Hybrid depth electrodes are increasingly being used for epilepsy monitoring and human neurophysiology research. Microwires extending from the tip of the Behnke-Fried (BF) electrode into (sub)cortical areas allow to isolate single neurons and perform microstimulation. Conventional CT or MRI visualize the entire microwire bundle as an artifact extending from the BF electrode tip with low resolution, without proper identification of individual microwires.

Surgical management of a temporal meningoencephalocele with a patient-specific combined craniofossa prosthesis: illustrative case.

Background: Meningoencephaloceles can originate through any defect in the cranial bones, including the skull base. They can be completely asymptomatic or present with typical symptoms such as headaches, seizures, or meningitis.

Observations: The authors present the case of a 54-year-old female who presented with right-sided ear and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain.

F-fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine PET co-registered with MRI in patients with persisting acromegaly.

Objective: To report our experience with F-fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine (FET) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) co-registered with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (FET-PET/MRI) in the care trajectory for persistent acromegaly.

Design: Prospective case series.

Patients: Ten patients with insufficiently controlled acromegaly referred to our team to evaluate surgical options.

Simple visual stimuli are sufficient to drive responses in action observation and execution neurons in macaque ventral premotor cortex.

Neurons responding during action execution and action observation were discovered in the ventral premotor cortex 3 decades ago. However, the visual features that drive the responses of action observation/execution neurons (AOENs) have not been revealed at present. We investigated the neural responses of AOENs in ventral premotor area F5c of 4 macaques during the observation of action videos and crucial control stimuli.

Active and Passive Cycling Decrease Subthalamic β Oscillations in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Preserved cycling capabilities in patients with Parkinson's disease, especially in those with freezing of gait are still poorly understood. Previous research with invasive local field potential recordings in the subthalamic nucleus has shown that cycling causes a stronger suppression of β oscillations compared to walking, which facilitates motor continuation.

Methods: We recorded local field potentials from 12 patients with Parkinson's disease (six without freezing of gait, six with freezing of gait) who were bilaterally implanted with deep brain stimulation electrodes in the subthalamic nucleus.

Leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin in endoscopic endonasal skull base reconstruction: study protocol for a multicenter prospective, parallel-group, single-blinded randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

Background: Recent advances in endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approaches (EETA) for skull base lesions have resulted in a significant increase in extent and complexity of skull base defects, demanding more elaborate and novel reconstruction techniques to prevent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and to improve healing. Currently, commercially available fibrin sealants are often used to reinforce the skull base reconstruction. However, problems have been reported regarding hypersensitivity reactions, efficacy, and costs.

Single-Unit Recordings Reveal the Selectivity of a Human Face Area.

The exquisite capacity of primates to detect and recognize faces is crucial for social interactions. Although disentangling the neural basis of human face recognition remains a key goal in neuroscience, direct evidence at the single-neuron level is limited. We recorded from face-selective neurons in human visual cortex in a region characterized by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activations for faces compared with objects.

Evidence in peroneal nerve entrapment: A scoping review.

Background And Purpose: Daily management of patients with foot drop due to peroneal nerve entrapment varies between a purely conservative treatment and early surgery, with no high-quality evidence to guide current practice. Electrodiagnostic (EDX) prognostic features and the value of imaging in establishing and supplementing the diagnosis have not been clearly established.

Methods: We performed a literature search in the online databases MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library.

Computed tomography based assessment of programmable shunt valve settings.

Introduction: Programmable shunt valve settings can sometimes be difficult to assess using classic read-out tools, warranting a skull X-ray.

Research Question: Can we use available head computed tomography (CT) scans to determine the valve settings, in order to obviate the need for additional skull X-rays?

Material And Methods: The valve setting of two different programmable shunts (Codman Certas Plus® and Sophysa Polaris®) were assessed by two blinded observers in 24 patients using 65 head CT scans (slice thickness ≤2 ​mm). Using multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) tools, images were resliced according to the direction of the valve, allowing a direct readout of the valve settings.

Temporal dynamics of neural activity in macaque frontal cortex assessed with large-scale recordings.

The cortical network controlling the arm and hand when grasping objects consists of several areas in parietal and frontal cortex. Recently, more anterior prefrontal areas have also been implicated in object grasping, but their exact role is currently unclear. To investigate the neuronal encoding of objects during grasping in these prefrontal regions and their relation with other cortical areas of the grasping network, we performed large-scale recordings (more than 2000 responsive sites) in frontal cortex of monkeys during a saccade-reach-grasp task.

Correction: Single-cell selectivity and functional architecture of human lateral occipital complex.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.

Localization of movable electrodes in a multi-electrode microdrive in nonhuman primates.

Background: Recently, large-scale semi-chronic recording systems have been developed, unique in their capability to record simultaneously from multiple individually moveable electrodes. As these recording systems can cover a large area, knowledge of the exact location of each individual electrode is crucial. Currently, the only method of keeping track of electrode depth and thus location is through detailed notebook keeping on neural activity.

Single-cell selectivity and functional architecture of human lateral occipital complex.

The human lateral occipital complex (LOC) is more strongly activated by images of objects compared to scrambled controls, but detailed information at the neuronal level is currently lacking. We recorded with microelectrode arrays in the LOC of 2 patients and obtained highly selective single-unit, multi-unit, and high-gamma responses to images of objects. Contrary to predictions derived from functional imaging studies, all neuronal properties indicated that the posterior subsector of LOC we recorded from occupies an unexpectedly high position in the hierarchy of visual areas.

Froin Syndrome After Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: Froin syndrome is characterized by xanthochromia and hypercoagulability of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) due to elevated protein levels. This entity results from blockage of the spinal canal by a mass lesion leading to an isolated caudal CSF space.

Case Description: A 48-year-old male, who developed spasticity after a C6 spinal cord injury (SCI) 20 years earlier, presented with subobstruction of his intrathecal baclofen pump.

The temporoinsular projection system: an anatomical study.

Objective: Connections between the insular cortex and the amygdaloid complex have been demonstrated using various techniques. Although functionally well connected, the precise anatomical substrate through which the amygdaloid complex and the insula are wired remains unknown. In 1960, Klingler briefly described the "fasciculus amygdaloinsularis," a white matter tract connecting the posterior insula with the amygdala.

Patient MW: transient visual hemi-agnosia.

The concept of functional modularity in human visual processing was proposed 25 years ago with the distinction between a ventral pathway for object recognition and a dorsal pathway for action processing. Lesions along these pathways yield selective deficits. A 15-year-old patient (MW) presented with a seizure due to a lesion in the left occipitotemporal cortex.

White matter tract anatomy in the rhesus monkey: a fiber dissection study.

Brain connectivity in non-human primates (NHPs) has been mainly investigated using tracer techniques and functional connectivity studies. Data on structural connections are scarce and come from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), since gross anatomical white matter dissection studies in the NHP are lacking. The current study aims to illustrate the course and topography of the major white matter tracts in the macaque using Klingler's fiber dissection.

Facing the hidden wall in mesial extratemporal lobe epilepsy.

Refractory extratemporal lobe epilepsy (ETLE) tends to have a less favourable surgical outcome in comparison to temporal lobe epilepsy. ETLE poses specific diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, particularly in cases where seizures develop from the midline. This review focuses on the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic strategies in mesial ETLE.

Posterior Quadrant Disconnection: A Fiber Dissection Study.

Background: Posterior quadrant disconnection can be highly effective in the surgical treatment of selected cases of refractory epilepsy. The technique aims to deafferent extensive areas of epileptogenic posterior cortex from the rest of the brain by isolating the temporoparietooccipital cortex.

Objective: To describe this procedure and relevant white matter tracts with a specific emphasis on the extent of callosotomy in an anatomic study.

Tracking posttraumatic hemianopia.

Hemianopia after traumatic brain injury is not infrequent and results from retro-chiasmatic lesions. Differentiating optic pathway lesions can be challenging with classic imaging. Advanced imaging techniques as an investigational tool for posttraumatic hemianopia are discussed and their pitfalls highlighted through an illustrative case study.

Pocket Pain and Neuromodulation: Negligible or Neglected?

Objectives: Pain encountered at the site of the implantable pulse generator (IPG) after invasive neuromodulation is a well-known and important complication. The reported incidence of implant site pain is variable, ranging between 0.4 and 35%.

A Small Leak Will Sink the Brain: Targeted C1-C2 Patching.

Background: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension syndrome results from spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. The first treatment of choice consists of lumbar epidural blood patching. If this fails, further imaging is mandatory to explore the possibility of targeted therapy.