Cortical microstructure and hemispheric specialization-A diffusion-imaging analysis in younger and older adults.

Characterizing cortical plasticity becomes increasingly important for identifying compensatory mechanisms and structural reserve in the ageing population. While cortical thickness (CT) largely contributed to systems neuroscience, it incompletely informs about the underlying neuroplastic pathophysiology. In turn, microstructural characteristics may correspond to atrophy mechanisms in a more sensitive way.

Altered microstructure of the contralesional ventral premotor cortex and motor output after stroke.

Cortical thickness analyses have provided valuable insights into changes in cortical brain structure after stroke and their association with recovery. Across studies though, relationships between cortical structure and function show inconsistent results. Recent developments in diffusion-weighted imaging of the cortex have paved the way to uncover hidden aspects of stroke-related alterations in cortical microstructure, going beyond cortical thickness as a surrogate for cortical macrostructure.

Right Prefrontal TMS Disrupts Interregional Anticipatory EEG Alpha Activity during Shifting of Visuospatial Attention.

Visual attention can be shifted in space without moving the eyes. Amplitude decrease of rhythmical brain activity around 10 Hz (so called alpha activity) at contralateral posterior sites has been reported during covered shifts of visuospatial attention to one visual hemi-field. Alpha amplitude increase, on the other hand, can be found at ipsilateral visual cortex.