Towards the definition of a standard in TMS-EEG data preprocessing.

Combining Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS) techniques with the recording of brain electrophysiological activity is an increasingly widespread approach in neuroscience. Particularly successful has been the simultaneous combination of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Electroencephalography (EEG). Unfortunately, the strong magnetic pulse required to effectively interact with brain activity inevitably induces artifacts in the concurrent EEG acquisition.

Functional Connectivity States of Alpha Rhythm Sources in the Human Cortex at Rest: Implications for Real-Time Brain State Dependent EEG-TMS.

Alpha is the predominant rhythm of the human electroencephalogram, but its function, multiple generators and functional coupling patterns are still relatively unknown. In this regard, alpha connectivity patterns can change between different cortical generators depending on the status of the brain. Therefore, in the light of the communication through coherence framework, an alpha functional network depends on the functional coupling patterns in a determined state.

A New Framework to Interpret Individual Inter-Hemispheric Compensatory Communication after Stroke.

Stroke constitutes the main cause of adult disability worldwide. Even after application of standard rehabilitation protocols, the majority of patients still show relevant motor impairment. Outcomes of standard rehabilitation protocols have led to mixed results, suggesting that relevant factors for brain re-organization after stroke have not been considered in explanatory models.

Relationship between mutual information and cross-correlation time scale of observability as measures of connectivity strength.

The task of identifying and characterizing network structures out of experimentally observed time series is tackled by implementing different solutions, ranging from entropy-based techniques to the evaluation of the significance of observed correlation estimators. Among the metrics that belong to the first class, mutual information is of major importance due to the relative simplicity of implementation and its relying on the crucial concept of entropy. With regard to the second class, a method that allows us to assess the connectivity strength of a link in terms of a time scale of its observability via the significance estimate of measured cross correlation was recently shown to provide a reliable tool to study network structures.

Dependence of Connectivity on the Logarithm of Geometric Distance in Brain Networks.

Physical connections between nodes in a complex network are constrained by limiting factors, such as the cost of establishing links and maintaining them, which can hinder network capability in terms of signal propagation speed and processing power. Trade-off mechanisms between cost constraints and performance requirements are reflected in the topology of a network and, ultimately, on the dependence of connectivity on geometric distance. This issue, though rarely addressed, is crucial in neuroscience, where physical links between brain regions are associated with a metabolic cost.

Author Correction: Cortical source localization of sleep-stage specific oscillatory activity.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Cortical source localization of sleep-stage specific oscillatory activity.

The oscillatory features of non-REM sleep states have been a subject of intense research over many decades. However, a systematic spatial characterization of the spectral features of cortical activity in each sleep state is not available yet. Here, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings during night sleep.

Spatial attention enhances cortical tracking of quasi-rhythmic visual stimuli.

Successfully interpreting and navigating our natural visual environment requires us to track its dynamics constantly. Additionally, we focus our attention on behaviorally relevant stimuli to enhance their neural processing. Little is known, however, about how sustained attention affects the ongoing tracking of stimuli with rich natural temporal dynamics.

Dependence of connectivity on geometric distance in brain networks.

In any network, the dependence of connectivity on physical distance between nodes is a direct consequence of trade-off mechanisms between costs of establishing and sustaining links, processing rates, propagation speed of signals between nodes. Despite its universality, there are still few studies addressing this issue. Here we apply a recently-developed method to infer links between nodes, and possibly subnetwork structures, to determine connectivity strength as a function of physical distance between nodes.

Long term complications following 54 consecutive lung transplants.

Background: Due to the complex therapy and the required high level of immunosuppression, lung recipients are at high risk to develop many different long term complications.

Methods: From 1993-2000, a total of 54 lung transplantation (LuTx) were performed at our center. Complications, graft and patient survival of this cohort was retrospectively analyzed.

Online repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the parietal operculum disrupts haptic memory for grasping.

The parietal operculum (OP) contains haptic memory on the geometry of objects that is readily transferrable to the motor cortex but a causal role of OP in memory-guided grasping is only speculative. We explored this issue by using online high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The experimental task was performed by blindfolded participants acting on objects of variable size.

Synchronization, non-linear dynamics and low-frequency fluctuations: analogy between spontaneous brain activity and networked single-transistor chaotic oscillators.

In this paper, the topographical relationship between functional connectivity (intended as inter-regional synchronization), spectral and non-linear dynamical properties across cortical areas of the healthy human brain is considered. Based upon functional MRI acquisitions of spontaneous activity during wakeful idleness, node degree maps are determined by thresholding the temporal correlation coefficient among all voxel pairs. In addition, for individual voxel time-series, the relative amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and the correlation dimension (D2), determined with respect to Fourier amplitude and value distribution matched surrogate data, are measured.

One's motor performance predictably modulates the understanding of others' actions through adaptation of premotor visuo-motor neurons.

Neurons firing both during self and other's motor behavior (mirror neurons) have been described in the brain of vertebrates including humans. The activation of somatic motor programs driven by perceived behavior has been taken as evidence for mirror neurons' contribution to cognition. The inverse relation, that is the influence of motor behavior on perception, is needed for demonstrating the long-hypothesized causal role of mirror neurons in action understanding.

Experience with the use of piperacillin-tazobactam in pediatric non-renal solid organ transplantation.

Bacterial infection remains a major problem after solid organ transplantation (SOT), especially in children. Piperacillin-tazobactam (Pip-Tazo) is a beta-lactam-antibiotic combination with a broad spectrum of activity including gram-positive cocci as well as gram-negative rods, non-fermentative and anaerobic bacteria. The aim of this retrospective study was to critically review our experience with Pip-Tazo as perioperative prophylactic agent in pediatric non-renal SOT.

Kaposi sarcoma in solid organ transplant recipients: a single center report.

Background: Human herpes virus (HHV8) is associated with Castleman's disease, primary effusion lymphoma, and the Kaposi's sarcoma (KS).

Patients And Methods: Among 3815 solid organ transplants performed at our center between 1977 and 2003, five patients (0.1%) were identified with KS.