Alteration in the Functional Organization of the Default Mode Network Following Closed Non-severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

The debilitating effect of traumatic brain injury (TBI) extends years after the initial injury and hampers the recovery process and quality of life. In this study, we explore the functional reorganization of the default mode network (DMN) of those affected with non-severe TBI. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a wide-spectrum disease that has heterogeneous effects on its victims and impacts everyday functioning.

Protective Activity of Erythropoyetine in the Cognition of Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Treatment strategies in Parkinson's disease (PD) can improve a patient's quality of life but cannot stop the progression of PD. We are looking for different alternatives that modify the natural course of the disease and recent research has demonstrated the neuroprotective properties of erythropoietin. In Cuba, the Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) is a cutting edge scientific center where the recombinant form (EPOrh) and recombinant human erythropoietin with low sialic acid (NeuroEPO) are produced.

Effectiveness of a Computer-Based Training Program of Attention and Memory in Patients with Acquired Brain Damage.

Many training programs have been designed using modern software to restore the impaired cognitive functions in patients with acquired brain damage (ABD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a computer-based training program of attention and memory in patients with ABD, using a two-armed parallel group design, where the experimental group ( = 50) received cognitive stimulation using RehaCom software, and the control group ( = 30) received the standard cognitive stimulation (non-computerized) for eight weeks. In order to assess the possible cognitive changes after the treatment, a post-pre experimental design was employed using the following neuropsychological tests: Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and Trail Making test A and B.

Unilateral subthalamotomy in Parkinson's disease: Cognitive, psychiatric and neuroimaging changes.

Unilateral subthalamotomy is an effective treatment for the cardinal motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, non-motor changes possibly associated with right or left subthalamotomy remain unknown. Our aim was to assess cognitive, psychiatric and neuroimaging changes after treatment with unilateral subthalamotomy.

The subthalamic nucleus and inhibitory control: impact of subthalamotomy in Parkinson's disease.

The aim of our study was to investigate two inter-related hypotheses about the role of the subthalamic nucleus. First that the subthalamic nucleus plays a role in adjusting response thresholds and speed-accuracy trade-offs and second that it is involved in reactive and proactive inhibition and conflict resolution. These were addressed by comparing the performance of 10 patients with Parkinson's disease treated with right subthalamotomy and 12 patients with left subthalamotomy, to 14 unoperated patients with Parkinson's disease and 23 age-matched healthy control participants on a conditional stop signal task and applying the drift diffusion model.

Clinical impact of RehaCom software for cognitive rehabilitation of patients with acquired brain injury.

We describe the clinical impact of the RehaCom computerized cognitive training program instituted in the International Neurological Restoration Center for rehabilitation of brain injury patients. Fifty patients admitted from 2008 through 2010 were trained over 60 sessions. Attention and memory functions were assessed with a pre- and post-treatment design, using the Mini-Mental State Examination, Wechsler Memory Scale and Trail Making Test (Parts A and B).

Semantic and phonemic verbal fluency in Parkinson's disease: Influence of clinical and demographic variables.

Changes of cognitive function in PD have been extensively documented and defined as a 'frontal' type executive dysfunction. One of the main components of this executive dysfunction is the impairment of verbal fluency. The aim of the present study was to assess semantic and phonemic fluency in a large sample of PD patients and to investigate the effect of clinical and sociodemographic variables on verbal fluency in this patient group.

Use of Cuban recombinant human erythropoietin in Parkinson's disease treatment.

Introduction: Recombinant human erythropoietin is used primarily to treat anemia. There is evidence of its neuroprotective capacity from preclinical studies in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Recombinant human erythropoietin produced in Cuba (ior-EPOCIM) is registered and approved for use in humans in Cuba and in a number of other countries.

Deficits in inhibitory control and conflict resolution on cognitive and motor tasks in Parkinson's disease.

Recent imaging studies in healthy controls with a conditional stop signal reaction time (RT) task have implicated the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in response inhibition and the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) in conflict resolution. Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by striatal dopamine deficiency and overactivity of the STN and underactivation of the pre-SMA during movement. We used the conditional stop signal RT task to investigate whether PD produced similar or dissociable effects on response initiation, response inhibition and response initiation under conflict.