Neuroimage Signature in Post-Stroke Pain: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Central Post-Stroke Pain (CPSP) is a debilitating condition with a significant prevalence in stroke survivors. Set apart by its refractory to treatment neuropathic pain, it appears to arise from lesions in the spino-thalamo-cortical pathways, particularly in the thalamus. Despite advances in neuroimaging techniques, the pathophysiology of CPSP remains poorly understood, with limited diagnostic criteria and therapeutic approaches.

Mobile Health for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Patients' Preferences and Perception of Patient-Centeredness.

Background: The increasingly fast development of mobile health technologies holds significant value for individuals dealing with mental health conditions. However, inadequate consideration of patients' preferences and expectations undermines real-world outcomes, including sustained adherence. Driven by the belief that specific characteristics, such as youth and higher education, of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder make them suitable for digital adoption, we investigated mHealth-related desirability factors within this patient group.

"Actor-critic" dichotomous hyperactivation and hypoconnectivity in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Dysfunctional response inhibition, mediated by the striatum and its connections, is thought to underly the clinical manifestations of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the exact neural mechanisms remain controversial. In this study, we undertook a novel approach by positing that a) inhibition is a dynamic construct inherently susceptible to numerous failures, which require error-processing, and b) the actor-critic framework of reinforcement learning can integrate neural patterns of inhibition and error-processing in OCD with their behavioural correlates.

Negative Valence in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Worldwide Mega-Analysis of Task-Based Functional Neuroimaging Data of the ENIGMA-OCD Consortium.

Objective: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with altered brain function related to processing of negative emotions. To investigate neural correlates of negative valence in OCD, we pooled functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 633 individuals with OCD and 453 healthy control participants from 16 studies using different negatively valenced tasks across the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Consortium's OCD Working Group.

Methods: Participant data were processed uniformly using HALFpipe, to extract voxelwise participant-level statistical images of one common first-level contrast: negative versus neutral stimuli.

Distinct oscillatory patterns differentiate between segregation and integration processes in perceptual grouping.

Recently, there has been a resurgence in experimental and conceptual efforts to understand how brain rhythms can serve to organize visual information. Oscillations can provide temporal structure for neuronal processing and form a basis for integrating information across brain areas. Here, we use a bistable paradigm and a data-driven approach to test the hypothesis that oscillatory modulations associate with the integration or segregation of visual elements.

Neural underpinnings of ethical decisions in life and death dilemmas in naïve and expert firefighters.

When a single choice impacts on life outcomes, faculties to make ethical judgments come into play. Here we studied decisions in a real-life setting involving life-and-death outcomes that affect others and the decision-maker as well. We chose a genuine situation where prior training and expertise play a role: firefighting in life-threatening situations.

Functional reorganization of memory processing in the hippocampus is associated with neuroprotector GLP-1 levels in type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) often impairs memory functions, suggesting specific vulnerability of the hippocampus. In vivo neuroimaging studies relating encoding and retrieval of memory information with endogenous neuroprotection are lacking. The neuroprotector glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) has a high receptor density in anterior/ventral hippocampus, as shown by animal models.

Neural inhibition as implemented by an actor-critic model involves the human dorsal striatum and ventral tegmental area.

Inhibition is implicated across virtually all human experiences. As a trade-off of being very efficient, this executive function is also prone to many errors. Rodent and computational studies show that midbrain regions play crucial roles during errors by sending dopaminergic learning signals to the basal ganglia for behavioural adjustment.

Neural correlates of fanhood: the role of fan identity and team brand strength.

Introduction: We analyzed the importance of fan identity and brand strength on fans' neural reactions to different team-related stimuli.

Methods: A total of 53 fMRI scans with fans of two professional sport teams were conducted. Following up on a previous study we focused on the differences between fandom levels as well as the contrast between two team "brand" strength.

Mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder in firefighters: an integrated analysis from an action research study.

Introduction: The presence of post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD) symptomatology in firefighters is an ever-pressing issue that requires close attention for adequate interventions. The present study investigated PTSD and global psychopathology prevalence in a sample of highly risk-exposed Portuguese firefighters, collected after the widespread deadly wildfires in 2017 that ravaged the country. Following an action research approach, the aim of this study was to depict this sample and examine the impact of cumulative adverse experiences on their mental health, which is a phenomenon worth attention.

Trust-based health decision-making recruits the neural interoceptive saliency network which relates to temporal trajectories of Hemoglobin A1C in Diabetes Type 1.

Experimental approaches in neuroeconomics generally involve monetary utility. Utility in the health domain is relevant in diabetes because constant daily life decisions are critical for self-consequential long-term outcomes. We used fMRI to investigate self-consequent decision-making in the health and economic domains in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and controls (N = 50).

Functional neuroimaging of responses to multiple sensory stimulations in newborns with perinatal asphyxia.

Background: Functional neuroimaging can provide pathophysiological information in perinatal asphyxia (PA). However, fundamental unresolved questions remain related to the influence of neurovascular coupling (NVC) maturation on functional responses in early development. We aimed to probe the feasibility and compare the responses to multiple sensory stimulations in newborns with PA using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Trust-Based Decision-Making in the Health Context Discriminates Biological Risk Profiles in Type 1 Diabetes.

Theoretical accounts on social decision-making under uncertainty postulate that individual risk preferences are context dependent. Generalization of models of decision-making to dyadic interactions in the personal health context remain to be experimentally addressed. In economic utility-based models, interactive behavioral games provide a framework to investigate probabilistic learning of sequential reinforcement.

The impact of cathodal tDCS on the GABAergic system in the epileptogenic zone: A multimodal imaging study.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the antiepileptic effects of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (c-tDCS) and mechanisms of action based on its effects on the neurotransmitters responsible for the abnormal synchrony patterns seen in pharmacoresistant epilepsy. This is the first study to test the impact of neurostimulation on epileptiform interictal discharges (IEDs) and to measure brain metabolites in the epileptogenic zone (EZ) and control regions simultaneously in patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy.

Methods: This is a hypothesis-driven pilot prospective single-blinded repeated measure design study in patients diagnosed with pharmacoresistant epilepsy of temporal lobe onset.

Software Bug Detection Causes a Shift From Bottom-Up to Top-Down Effective Connectivity Involving the Insula Within the Error-Monitoring Network.

The neural correlates of software programming skills have been the target of an increasing number of studies in the past few years. Those studies focused on error-monitoring during software code inspection. Others have studied task-related cognitive load as measured by distinct neurophysiological measures.

Abnormal Responses in Cognitive Impulsivity Circuits Are Associated with Glycosylated Hemoglobin Trajectories in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Metabolic Control.

Background: Risky health decisions and impulse control profiles may impact on metabolic control in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). We hypothesize that the neural correlates of cognitive impulsivity and decision-making in T1DM relate to metabolic control trajectories.

Methods: We combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), measures of metabolic trajectories (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] over multiple time points) and behavioral assessment using a cognitive impulsivity paradigm, the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), in 50 participants (25 T1DM and 25 controls).

The Neurophysiological Impact of Subacute Stroke: Changes in Cortical Oscillations Evoked by Bimanual Finger Movement.

Introduction: To design more effective interventions, such as neurostimulation, for stroke rehabilitation, there is a need to understand early physiological changes that take place that may be relevant for clinical monitoring. We aimed to study changes in neurophysiology following ischemic stroke, both at rest and with motor planning and execution.

Materials And Methods: We included 10 poststroke patients, between 7 and 10 days after stroke, and 20 age-matched controls to assess changes in cortical motor output via transcranial magnetic stimulation and in dynamics of oscillations, as recorded using electroencephalography (EEG).

Parahippocampal deactivation and hyperactivation of central executive, saliency and social cognition networks in autism spectrum disorder.

Background: The concomitant role of the Central Executive, the Saliency and the Social Cognition networks in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in demanding ecological tasks remains unanswered. We addressed this question using a novel task-based fMRI virtual-reality task mimicking a challenging daily-life chore that may present some difficulties to individuals with ASD: the EcoSupermarketX.

Methods: Participants included 29 adolescents: 15 with ASD and 15 with typical neurodevelopment (TD).

Assessing Arousal Through Multimodal Biosignals: A Preliminary Approach.

The increase in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence estimates over the last decades has driven a quest to develop new forms of rehabilitation that can be accessible to a larger part of this population. These rehabilitation approaches often take the form of computer games that are blind to the user's emotional state, which compromises their efficacy. In this study, a set of physiological signals were acquired in simultaneous with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) with the future prospect of combining both kinds of data to create models capable of assessing the true emotional state of their users based on physiological response as a measure of autonomic nervous system, having as ground truth the activity of targeted brain regions.

Decreased activity of piriform cortex and orbitofrontal hyperactivation in Usher Syndrome, a human disorder of ciliary dysfunction.

Usher syndrome (USH) is a condition characterized by ciliary dysfunction leading to retinal degeneration and hearing/vestibular loss. Putative olfactory deficits in humans have been documented at the psychophysical level and remain to be proven at the neurophysiological level. Thus, we aimed to study USH olfactory impairment using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

The Role of Continuous Theta Burst TMS in the Neurorehabilitation of Subacute Stroke Patients: A Placebo-Controlled Study.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, in particular continuous theta burst (cTBS), has been proposed for stroke rehabilitation, based on the concept that inhibition of the healthy hemisphere helps promote the recovery of the lesioned one. We aimed to study its effects on cortical excitability, oscillatory patterns, and motor function, the main aim being to identify potentially beneficial neurophysiological effects. We applied randomized real or placebo stimulation over the unaffected primary motor cortex of 10 subacute (7 ± 3 days) post-stroke patients.

Attentional Cueing and Executive Deficits Revealed by a Virtual Supermarket Task Coupled With Eye-Tracking in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Executive functioning (EF) impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) impact on complex functions, such as social cognition. We assessed this link between EF, attentional cueing, and social cognition with a novel ecological task, "EcoSupermarketX." Our task had three blocks of increasing executive load and incorporated social and non-social cues, with different degrees of saliency.

Reading and Calculation Neural Systems and Their Weighted Adaptive Use for Programming Skills.

Software programming is a modern activity that poses strong challenges to the human brain. The neural mechanisms that support this novel cognitive faculty are still unknown. On the other hand, reading and calculation abilities represent slightly less recent human activities, in which neural correlates are relatively well understood.

Successful metabolic control in diabetes type 1 depends on individual neuroeconomic and health risk-taking decision endophenotypes: a new target in personalized care.

Background: Neurobehavioral decision profiles have often been neglected in chronic diseases despite their direct impact on major public health issues such as treatment adherence. This remains a major concern in diabetes, despite intensive efforts and public awareness initiatives regarding its complications. We hypothesized that high rates of low adherence are related to risk-taking profiles associated with decision-making phenotypes.

Ventral Caudate and Anterior Insula Recruitment During Value Estimation of Passionate Rewarding Cues.

"Wanting", a component of reward processing, is a motivational property that guides decision making in goal-oriented behavior. This includes behavior aiming at supporting relational bonds, even at the group level. Accordingly, group belongingness works as this motivational property, which is fundamentally different from romantic or maternal love.