The development of aperiodic neural activity in the human brain.

The neurophysiological mechanisms supporting brain maturation are fundamental to attention and memory capacity across the lifespan. Human brain regions develop at different rates, with many regions developing into the third and fourth decades of life. Here, in this preregistered study (https://osf.

Pipeline for Planning and Execution of Transcranial Ultrasound Neuromodulation Experiments in Humans.

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique capable of manipulating both cortical and subcortical structures with high precision. Conducting experiments involving humans necessitates careful planning of acoustic and thermal simulations. This planning is essential to adjust for bone interference with the ultrasound beam's shape and trajectory and to ensure TUS parameters meet safety requirements.

Intracranial recordings reveal high-frequency activity in the human temporal-parietal cortex supporting non-literal language processing.

Objective: Non-literal expressions such as sarcasm, metaphor and simile refer to words and sentences that convey meanings or intentions that are different and more abstract than literal expressions. Neuroimaging studies have shown activations in a variety of frontal, parietal and temporal brain regions implicated in non-literal language processing. However, neurophysiological correlates of these brain areas underlying non-literal processing remain underexplored.

Efficacy of Occipital Nerve Stimulation in Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias: A Systematic Review.

Background: Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) are a group of highly disabling primary headache disorders. Although pharmacological treatments exist, they are not always effective or well tolerated. Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) is a potentially effective surgical treatment.

A rapid theta network mechanism for flexible information encoding.

Flexible behavior requires gating mechanisms that encode only task-relevant information in working memory. Extant literature supports a theoretical division of labor whereby lateral frontoparietal interactions underlie information maintenance and the striatum enacts the gate. Here, we reveal neocortical gating mechanisms in intracranial EEG patients by identifying rapid, within-trial changes in regional and inter-regional activities that predict subsequent behavioral outputs.

Complications of Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson Disease and Relationship between Micro-electrode tracks and hemorrhage: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Deep brain stimulation is a common treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). Despite strong efficacy in well-selected patients, complications can occur. Intraoperative micro-electrode recording (MER) can enhance efficacy by improving lead accuracy.

Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation programming settings do not correlate with Parkinson's disease severity.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). While the success of DBS is dependent on careful patient selection and accurate lead placement, programming parameters play a pivotal role in tailoring therapy on the individual level. Various algorithms have been developed to streamline the initial programming process, but the relationship between pre-operative patient characteristics and post-operative device settings is unclear.

The impact of sub specialization within functional neurosurgery on patient outcomes in a comprehensive epilepsy center.

Background: One in three patients with epilepsy are medication-refractory and may benefit from investigations and operative treatment at a comprehensive epilepsy center. However, while these centers have capabilities for advanced seizure monitoring and surgical intervention, they are not required to have a functional neurosurgeon who is primarily focused in epilepsy surgery. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the impact of having a sub-specialized, epilepsy-focused functional neurosurgeon on patient outcomes.

Superior accuracy and precision of SEEG electrode insertion with frame-based vs. frameless stereotaxy methods.

Background: Stereotactic electroencephalography (SEEG) has largely become the preferred method for intracranial seizure localization in epileptic patients due to its low morbidity and minimally invasive approach. While robotic placement is gaining popularity, many centers continue to use manual frame-based and frameless methods for electrode insertion. However, it is unclear how these methods compare in regard to accuracy, precision, and safety.

Seizure-related apneas have an inconsistent linkage to amygdala seizure spread.

Objective: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a frequent cause of death in epilepsy. Respiratory dysfunction is implicated as a critical factor in SUDEP pathophysiology. Human studies have shown that electrical stimulation of the amygdala resulted in apnea, indicating that the amygdala has a role in respiration control.

Comparison of Intraoperative Computed Tomography Scan with Postoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Determining Deep Brain Stimulation Electrode Coordinates.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective therapy for a variety of refractory movement disorders. Accurate lead placement in the target nucleus is critical to ensure therapeutic effects and to minimize side effects, and intraoperative computed tomography (iCT) scan has been used to target and confirm lead position. The objective of this study is to compare the accuracy of determining the x, y, and z coordinates of final lead placement using iCT scan relative to postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Salary Trends Across American Subspecialties in Academic Neurosurgery.

Enthusiasm for research and teaching are often the main reasons neurosurgical residents choose academic careers, and subspecialty choice usually stems from an interest in that particular field. However, recent salary data bring to light a work relative value unit-related trend in American academic neurosurgeon salaries, one that is similar to private practice, where compensation is strongly correlated with clinical productivity. In addition, there are significant disparities in how various subspecialties are remunerated in academic settings.

Trigeminal Neuralgia: Medical Management and Surgical Options.

Questions from patients about pain conditions and analgesic pharmacotherapy and responses from authors are presented to help educate patients and make them more effective self-advocates. In response to a question about trigeminal neuralgia, its diagnosis, medical therapies, surgical procedures, and treatment outcomes will be discussed.

Real-time augmented reality for delineation of surgical margins during neurosurgery using autofluorescence lifetime contrast.

Current clinical brain imaging techniques used for surgical planning of tumor resection lack intraoperative and real-time feedback; hence surgeons ultimately rely on subjective evaluation to identify tumor areas and margins. We report a fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) instrument (excitation: 355 nm; emission spectral bands: 390/40 nm, 470/28 nm, 542/50 nm and 629/53 nm) that integrates with surgical microscopes to provide real-time intraoperative augmentation of the surgical field of view with fluorescent derived parameters encoding diagnostic information. We show the functionality and safety features of this instrument during neurosurgical procedures in patients undergoing craniotomy for the resection of brain tumors and/or tissue with radiation damage.

From adagio to allegretto: The changing tempo of theta frequencies in epilepsy and its relation to interneuron function.

Despite decades of research, our understanding of epilepsy, including how seizures are generated and propagate, is incomplete. However, there is growing recognition that epilepsy is more than just the occurrence of seizures, with patients often experiencing comorbid deficits in cognition that are poorly understood. In addition, the available therapies for treatment of epilepsy, from pharmaceutical treatment to surgical resection and seizure prevention devices, often exacerbate deficits in cognitive function.

Patient satisfaction with epilepsy surgery: what is important to patients?

Patient satisfaction with therapeutic interventions is an important outcome of care. Although generic measures of patient satisfaction exist, there is no validated scale for measuring patient satisfaction with epilepsy surgery. We aimed to systematically obtain patient-identified factors related to satisfaction with epilepsy surgery as a means of informing clinicians about the ways that patients evaluate outcomes of their treatment and as a conceptual basis for the future development of epilepsy surgery patient satisfaction scales.

Review of the Neural Oscillations Underlying Meditation.

Meditation is one type of mental training that has been shown to produce many cognitive benefits. Meditation practice is associated with improvement in concentration and reduction of stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, different forms of meditation training are now being used as interventions for a variety of psychological and somatic illnesses.

Toward a Neuroscience of Adult Cognitive Developmental Theory.

Piaget's genetic epistemology has provided the constructivist approach upon which child developmental theories were founded, in that infants are thought to progress through distinct cognitive stages until they reach maturity in their early 20's. However, it is now well established that cognition continues to develop after early adulthood, and several "neo-Piagetian" theories have emerged in an attempt to better characterize cognitive development. For example, Kegan's Constructive Developmental Theory (CDT) argues that the thought processes used by adults to construct their reality change over time, and reaching higher stages of cognitive development entails becoming objectively aware of emotions and beliefs that were previously in the realm of the subconscious.

Implementation of a "Flipped Classroom" for Neurosurgery Resident Education.

Introduction: Engaging residents across a multiyear training spectrum is challenging given the heterogeneity of experience and limited time available for educational activities. A "flipped classroom" model, in which residents prepare ahead of time for mentored topic discussions, has potential advantages.

Methods: We implemented a curriculum consisting of topics distributed across the specialty.

Resection of Temporal Neocortex During Multiple Hippocampal Transections for Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Does not Affect Seizure or Memory Outcome.

Background: Multiple hippocampal transection (MHT) is a surgical treatment for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy associated with improved postoperative neuropsychological outcomes compared with lobectomy.

Objective: To determine whether resection of the amygdala and anterior temporal neocortex during MHT affects postoperative seizure/memory outcome.

Methods: Seventeen patients with normal magnetic resonance imaging and stereo-electroencephalogram-proven drug-resistant dominant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy were treated with MHT.

Treatment options for posttraumatic epilepsy.

Purpose Of Review: Posttraumatic seizures (PTS) and posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) are common and debilitating consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Early PTS result in secondary brain injury by raising intracranial pressure and worsening cerebral edema and metabolic crisis. PTE is a localization-related epilepsy strongly associated with TBI severity, but risk factors for PTE and epileptogenesis are incompletely understood and are active areas of research.

Effect of Stereoscopic Anaglyphic 3-Dimensional Video Didactics on Learning Neuroanatomy.

Background: The teaching of neuroanatomy in medical education has historically been based on didactic instruction, cadaveric dissections, and intraoperative experience for students. Multiple novel 3-dimensional (3D) modalities have recently emerged. Among these, stereoscopic anaglyphic video is easily accessible and affordable, however, its effects have not yet formally been investigated.