The neural correlates of texture perception: A systematic review and activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies.

Introduction: Humans use discriminative touch to perceive texture through dynamic interactions with surfaces, activating low-threshold mechanoreceptors in the skin. It was largely assumed that texture was processed in primary somatosensory regions in the brain; however, imaging studies indicate heterogeneous patterns of brain activity associated with texture processing.

Methods: To address this, we conducted a coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of 13 functional magnetic resonance imaging studies (comprising 15 experiments contributing 228 participants and 275 foci) selected by a systematic review.

Machine learning and EEG can classify passive viewing of discrete categories of visual stimuli but not the observation of pain.

Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of machine learning (ML) in classifying physical pain from non-pain states using electroencephalographic (EEG) data. However, the application of ML to EEG data to categorise the observation of pain versus non-pain images of human facial expressions or scenes depicting pain being inflicted has not been explored. The present study aimed to address this by training Random Forest (RF) models on cortical event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded while participants passively viewed faces displaying either pain or neutral expressions, as well as action scenes depicting pain or matched non-pain (neutral) scenarios.

Tactile estimation of hedonic and sensory properties during active touch: An electroencephalography study.

Perceptual judgements about our physical environment are informed by somatosensory information. In real-world exploration, this often involves dynamic hand movements to contact surfaces, termed active touch. The current study investigated cortical oscillatory changes during active exploration to inform the estimation of surface properties and hedonic preferences of two textured stimuli: smooth silk and rough hessian.

Economic value in the Brain: A meta-analysis of willingness-to-pay using the Becker-DeGroot-Marschak auction.

Forming and comparing subjective values (SVs) of choice options is a critical stage of decision-making. Previous studies have highlighted a complex network of brain regions involved in this process by utilising a diverse range of tasks and stimuli, varying in economic, hedonic and sensory qualities. However, the heterogeneity of tasks and sensory modalities may systematically confound the set of regions mediating the SVs of goods.

Neural correlates of perceptual texture change during active touch.

Introduction: Texture changes occur frequently during real-world haptic explorations, but the neural processes that encode perceptual texture change remain relatively unknown. The present study examines cortical oscillatory changes during transitions between different surface textures during active touch.

Methods: Participants explored two differing textures whilst oscillatory brain activity and finger position data were recorded using 129-channel electroencephalography and a purpose-built touch sensor.

External validation of binary machine learning models for pain intensity perception classification from EEG in healthy individuals.

Discrimination of pain intensity using machine learning (ML) and electroencephalography (EEG) has significant potential for clinical applications, especially in scenarios where self-report is unsuitable. However, existing research is limited due to a lack of external validation (assessing performance using novel data). We aimed for the first external validation study for pain intensity classification with EEG.

Pulse Intensity Effects of Burst and Tonic Spinal Cord Stimulation on Neural Responses to Brushing in Patients With Neuropathic Pain.

Objectives: Tonic spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is accompanied by paresthesia in affected body regions. Comparatively, the absence of paresthesia with burst SCS suggests different involvement of the dorsal column system conveying afferent impulses from low-threshold mechanoreceptors. This study evaluated cortical activation changes during gentle brushing of a pain-free leg during four SCS pulse intensities to assess the effect of intensity on recruitment of dorsal column system fibers during burst and tonic SCS.

Bid outcome processing in Vickrey auctions: An ERP study.

Online retailers often sell products using a socially competitive second-price sealed-bid auction known as a Vickrey auction (VA), an incentivized demand-revealing mechanism used to elicit players' subjective values. The VA presents a situation of risky decision-making, which typically implements value processing and a loss aversion mechanism. Neural outcome processing of VA bids are not known; this study explores this for the first time using EEG.

Intensity-dependent modulation of cortical somatosensory processing during external, low-frequency peripheral nerve stimulation in humans.

External low-frequency peripheral nerve stimulation (LFS) has been proposed as a novel method for neuropathic pain relief. Previous studies have reported that LFS elicits long-term depression-like effects on human pain perception when delivered at noxious intensities, whereas lower intensities are ineffective. To shed light on cortical regions mediating the effects of LFS, we investigated changes in somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) during four LFS intensities.

Neural correlates of texture perception during active touch.

Previous studies have shown attenuation of cortical oscillations over bilateral sensorimotor cortex areas during passive perception of smooth textures applied to the skin. However, humans typically explore surfaces using dynamic hand movements. As movements may both modulate texture-related cortical activity and induce movement-related cortical activation, data from passive texture perception cannot be extrapolated to active texture perception.

Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Machine Learning Algorithms for Classifying Pain Intensity, Phenotype or Treatment Outcomes Using Electroencephalogram Data.

Recent attempts to utilize machine learning (ML) to predict pain-related outcomes from Electroencephalogram (EEG) data demonstrate promising results. The primary aim of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of ML algorithms for predicting pain intensity, phenotypes or treatment response from EEG. Electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO and The Cochrane Library were searched.

Investigating the effect of losses and gains on effortful engagement during an incentivized Go/NoGo task through anticipatory cortical oscillatory changes.

Losses usually have greater subjective value (SV) than gains of equal nominal value but often cause a relative deterioration in effortful performance. Since losses and gains induce differing approach/avoidance behavioral tendencies, we explored whether incentive type interacted with approach/avoidance motor-sets. Alpha- and beta-band event-related desynchronization (ERD) was hypothesized to be weakest when participants expected a loss and prepared an inhibitory motor-set, and strongest when participants expected a gain and prepared an active motor-set.

Inhibition of cortical somatosensory processing during and after low frequency peripheral nerve stimulation in humans.

Objective: Transcutaneous low-frequency stimulation (LFS) elicits long-term depression-like effects on human pain perception. However, the neural mechanisms underlying LFS are poorly understood. We investigated cortical activation changes occurring during LFS and if changes were associated with reduced nociceptive processing and increased amplitude of spontaneous cortical oscillations post-treatment.

The effect of increased parasympathetic activity on perceived duration.

Theories of human temporal perception suggest that changes in physiological arousal distort the perceived duration of events. Behavioural manipulations of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity support this suggestion, however the effects of behavioural manipulations of parasympathetic (PSNS) activity on time perception are unclear. The current study examined the effect of a paced respiration exercise known to increase PSNS activity on sub-second duration estimates.

Time distortion under threat: Sympathetic arousal predicts time distortion only in the context of negative, highly arousing stimuli.

Theoretical models of time perception suggest a simple bottom-up relationship between physiological arousal and perceived duration. Increases in physiological arousal lengthen the perceived duration of events whereas decreases in physiological arousal reduce them. Whilst this relationship has been demonstrated for highly arousing negatively valenced stimuli, it has not been demonstrated for other classes of distorting stimuli (e.

Innovative Use of dHACM in Conjunction With Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to Treat a Nonhealing Nasal Wound Subsequent to Squamous Cell Carcinoma Resection and Radiation: A Case Study.

Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is known to improve wound healing in the setting of chronic, nonhealing wounds of irradiated skin; however, failure of wound healing may still occur. Dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (dHACM) grafting is a technology that has been proven to promote wound healing of wounds related to venous stasis. Little has been published to date regarding use of dHACM in the setting of nonhealing wounds of irradiated skin.

Chekhov’s Corner. This is a pretty place: visions of smokestacks and factories in 1910 and 2010.

Postcards were important means of communication in the early 1900s among family and friends in the rural USA. The images and written words can offer insights into the attitudes and beliefs of the day. One hundred years ago, the comment 'this is a pretty place' was written on a postcard with the image of the largest tin plate manufacturing factory at the time.

The process and benefits of a university and state health agency collaboration for alcohol-free pregnancies in Oregon.

Background: A significant number of college women are at risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancies because the ages of the heaviest alcohol consumption is typically 18 through 21 years, and contraception may be used ineffectively or not at all. These risks call for greater prevention efforts.

Objective: Collaboration between a higher education institution and a government health agency to reduce alcohol-exposed pregnancies in Oregon.

Breast cancer advocacy internships: student motivations, intentions, and perceptions.

Currently, there are no published studies about the impact on students of a structured, breast-cancer-specific advocacy internship. Our goal was to provide the student perspective of participation in a national breast cancer advocacy conference in Washington, D.C.

Protective actions of ovarian hormones in the serotonin system of macaques.

The serotonin neurons of the dorsal and medial raphe nuclei project to all areas of the forebrain and play a key role in mood disorders. Hence, any loss or degeneration of serotonin neurons could have profound ramifications. In a monkey model of surgical menopause with hormone replacement and no neural injury, E and P decreased gene expression in the dorsal raphe nucleus of c-jun n-terminal kinase (JNK1) and kynurenine mono-oxygenase (KMO) that promote cell death.

Serotonin in microdialysate from the mediobasal hypothalamus increases after progesterone administration to estrogen primed macaques.

Estrogen and progesterone act on gene and protein expression in serotonin neurons in a manner that suggests serotonin neurotransmission should increase. However, measurement of extracellular serotonin in macaques was lacking. Elevated prolactin secretion can be an indicator of increased serotonergic function and prolactin is increased by combined estrogen and progesterone treatment.

Estradiol increases alpha7 nicotinic receptor in serotonergic dorsal raphe and noradrenergic locus coeruleus neurons of macaques.

Acetylcholine, acting on presynaptic nicotinic receptors (nAChRs), modulates the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. The rat dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) and the locus coeruleus (LC) receive cholinergic input and express the alpha7nAChR. In previous reports, we demonstrated that estradiol (E) administration stimulates DR serotonergic and LC noradrenergic function in the macaque.

Behavioral depression and positron emission tomography-determined serotonin 1A receptor binding potential in cynomolgus monkeys.

Context: Current animal models of depression are inadequate to further our understanding of depression. New models that allow for analysis of cognitive function and sex differences are needed.

Objective: To characterize serotonin 1A (5-HT(1A)) receptor binding potential (BP) and its relationship with specific characteristics of behavioral depression in cynomolgus monkeys.