Neuropsychological Training of Attention Improves MS-Related Fatigue: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study.

Background: Attentional deficits may be pathophysiologically relevant in MS-associated fatigue.

Patients And Methods: Thirty MS patients with fatigue and attentional deficits in neuropsychological testing participated in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. The intervention group (IG; n = 14) was treated with 10 h of computerized, specific neuropsychological training performing simple reaction time tasks, whereas the control group (CG; n = 16) also runs through computerized, but unspecific neuropsychological training using tasks without time components.

Evidence for vestibular processing in the caudal fastigial nucleus using vector addition.

Background: While strong vestibular input to the fastigial nucleus has been demonstrated, little is known on how this is integrated in the oculomotor region of the caudal area of fastigial nucleus. In this study, single units in the caudal region of the fastigial nucleus were recorded in the rat, while applying sinusoidal galvanic stimuli to the labyrinths.

Material/methods: The left and right labyrinths were polarized with either monaural or binaural sinusoidal stimuli (0.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasound during galvanic labyrinth polarization depicts central vestibular processing, demonstrating bilateral vestibular projection.

The combination of galvanic labyrinth polarization and transcranial Doppler ultrasound was employed to depict the neurovascular coupling in the cerebral vestibular areas. For galvanic stimulation, surface electrodes were attached to the right and left mastoid and two further electrodes were fixed near to each shoulder blade. Thus, each pair of electrodes (mastoid to shoulder) facilitated unilateral stimulation of the ipsilateral vestibular labyrinth.