Bright light therapy with a head-mounted device for anxiety, depression, sleepiness and fatigue in patients with Parkinson's disease.

The beneficial effects of bright light therapy (BLT) on the disabling non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) remain uncertain. The objective of this study was to investigate if daily BLT, with a head-mounted device (Luminette), has a beneficial effect on depression, anxiety, daytime sleepiness and fatigue in patients with PD. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 16 patients with PD were randomized to receive either 1 month of BLT or 1 month of placebo therapy, separated by a 2-week washout period, in a crossover fashion.

Increased functional connectivity one week after motor learning and tDCS in stroke patients.

Recent studies using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) demonstrated that changes in functional connectivity (FC) after stroke correlate with recovery. The aim of this study was to explore whether combining motor learning to dual transcranial direct current stimulation (dual-tDCS, applied over both primary motor cortices (M1)) modulated FC in stroke patients. Twenty-two chronic hemiparetic stroke patients participated in a baseline rs-fMRI session.

Neural substrates underlying motor skill learning in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients.

Motor skill learning is critical in post-stroke motor recovery, but little is known about its underlying neural substrates. Recently, using a new visuomotor skill learning paradigm involving a speed/accuracy trade-off in healthy individuals we identified three subpopulations based on their behavioral trajectories: fitters (in whom improvement in speed or accuracy coincided with deterioration in the other parameter), shifters (in whom speed and/or accuracy improved without degradation of the other parameter), and non-learners. We aimed to identify the neural substrates underlying the first stages of motor skill learning in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients and to determine whether specific neural substrates were recruited in shifters versus fitters.

Neural substrates underlying stimulation-enhanced motor skill learning after stroke.

Motor skill learning is one of the key components of motor function recovery after stroke, especially recovery driven by neurorehabilitation. Transcranial direct current stimulation can enhance neurorehabilitation and motor skill learning in stroke patients. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the retention of stimulation-enhanced motor skill learning involving a paretic upper limb have not been resolved.

Disappearance of essential tremor after stroke.

Improvement of a patient's essential tremor (ET) after a stroke has rarely been reported. In such patients, cerebral imaging could help to identify structures involved in the maintenance of ET and improves the knowledge of its physiopathology. This article reports the disappearance of ET, after a stroke in 4 patients and reviews similar previously published cases.

Impaired osmoregulation in anorexia nervosa: a case-control study.

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) has been associated with abnormal osmoregulation and impaired urinary concentrating capacity. Conflicting results suggest that the disorder may be related to hypothalamic dysfunction and/or a primary renal defect. The role of antidepressants, which are increasingly prescribed in AN patients, has not been evaluated.