Journal of Personalized Medicine

Editorial

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5 pages, 174 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders

by Yoshihiro Noda

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(11), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11111193 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2086

Abstract

The goal of this Special Issue is to introduce the cutting-edge research in clinical neurophysiology, neuroimaging, and neuromodulation [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

14 pages, 2627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Focality-Oriented Selection of Current Dose for Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

by Rajan Kashyap, Sagarika Bhattacharjee, Ramaswamy Arumugam, Rose Dawn Bharath, Kaviraja Udupa, Kenichi Oishi, John E. Desmond, S. H. Annabel Chen and Cuntai Guan

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(9), 940; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11090940 - 21 Sep 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3417

Abstract

Background: In transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), the injected current becomes distributed across the brain areas. The objective is to stimulate the target region of interest (ROI) while minimizing the current in non-target ROIs (the ‘focality’ of tDCS). For this purpose, determining the [...] Read more.

Background: In transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), the injected current becomes distributed across the brain areas. The objective is to stimulate the target region of interest (ROI) while minimizing the current in non-target ROIs (the ‘focality’ of tDCS). For this purpose, determining the appropriate current dose for an individual is difficult. Aim: To introduce a dose–target determination index (DTDI) to quantify the focality of tDCS and examine the dose–focality relationship in three different populations. Method: Here, we extended our previous toolbox i-SATA to the MNI reference space. After a tDCS montage is simulated for a current dose, the i-SATA(MNI) computes the average (over voxels) current density for every region in the brain. DTDI is the ratio of the average current density at the target ROI to the ROI with a maximum value (the peak region). Ideally, target ROI should be the peak region, so DTDI shall range from 0 to 1. The higher the value, the better the dose. We estimated the variation of DTDI within and across individuals using T1-weighted brain images of 45 males and females distributed equally across three age groups: (a) young adults (20 ≤ x ˂ 40 years), (b) mid adults (40 ≤ x ˂ 60 years), and (c) older adults (60 ≤ x ˂ 80 years). DTDI’s were evaluated for the frontal montage with electrodes at F3 and the right supraorbital for three current doses of 1 mA, 2 mA, and 3 mA, with the target ROI at the left middle frontal gyrus. Result: As the dose is incremented, DTDI may show (a) increase, (b) decrease, and (c) no change across the individuals depending on the relationship (nonlinear or linear) between the injected tDCS current and the distribution of current density in the target ROI. The nonlinearity is predominant in older adults with a decrease in focality. The decline is stronger in males. Higher current dose at older age can enhance the focality of stimulation. Conclusion: DTDI provides information on which tDCS current dose will optimize the focality of stimulation. The recommended DTDI dose should be prioritized based on the age (>40 years) and sex (especially for males) of an individual. The toolbox i-SATA(MNI) is freely available. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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13 pages, 5401 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in EEG Alpha Activity during Attention Control in Patients: Association with Sleep Disorders

by Anastasiya Runnova, Anton Selskii, Anton Kiselev, Rail Shamionov, Ruzanna Parsamyan and Maksim Zhuravlev

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(7), 601; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11070601 - 25 Jun 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2615

Abstract

We aimed to assess which quantitative EEG changes during daytime testing in patients with sleep disorder (primary insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness groups). All experimental study participants were subjected to a long-term test for maintaining attention to sound stimuli, and their EEGs were [...] Read more.

We aimed to assess which quantitative EEG changes during daytime testing in patients with sleep disorder (primary insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness groups). All experimental study participants were subjected to a long-term test for maintaining attention to sound stimuli, and their EEGs were recorded and then processed, using wavelet analysis, in order to estimate the power and frequency structure of alpha activity. In healthy subjects, the maximum increase in the alpha rhythm occurred near 9 Hz. Patients with primary insomnia were characterized by an increase in the amplitude of the alpha rhythm near 11 Hz. For subjects with sleep disorders, an increase in the amplitude of the alpha rhythm was observed in the entire frequency range (7.5–12.5 Hz), with a maximum increase at 9–10 Hz. Significant differences (

p \leq 0.001

) for changes in the alpha rhythm dynamics in the course of performing the attention test were observed in the frequency range of 7.5–10.5 Hz between the control group and patients with sleep disorders. The ratios of the alpha rhythm power values for passive stages with closed eyes before and after active stage were significantly different among the groups of healthy sleep volunteers, patients with primary insomnia, and patients with impaired sleep hygiene within the range of 9.5 to 12.5 Hz. The results of the current study supported the notion of a 24-h hyperarousal in primary insomnia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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19 pages, 2885 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photobiological Neuromodulation of Resting-State EEG and Steady-State Visual-Evoked Potentials by 40 Hz Violet Light Optical Stimulation in Healthy Individuals

by Yoshihiro Noda, Mayuko Takano, Motoshi Hayano, Xuemei Li, Masataka Wada, Shinichiro Nakajima, Masaru Mimura, Shinichiro Kondo and Kazuo Tsubota

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(6), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11060557 - 15 Jun 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5215

Abstract

Photobiological neuromodulation and its clinical application has been investigated in recent years. The response of the gamma-oscillation to human visual stimuli is known to be both burst and resonant in nature, and the coupling between alpha and gamma oscillations may play a functional [...] Read more.

Photobiological neuromodulation and its clinical application has been investigated in recent years. The response of the gamma-oscillation to human visual stimuli is known to be both burst and resonant in nature, and the coupling between alpha and gamma oscillations may play a functional role in visual processing. To date, there is no study that examined the effects of gamma-frequency violet light (VL) stimulation on human electroencephalography (EEG). In this study, we investigated the neurophysiological changes induced by light stimulation using EEG. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the specific effects of 40 Hz gamma-frequency VL stimulation on EEG activity by comparing the effects of white light (WL) with the same condition. Twenty healthy participants (10 females: 37.5 ± 14.3 years; 10 males: 38.0 ± 13.3 years) participated in this study and the following results were observed. First, when compared with the power spectrum density (PSD) of baseline EEG, 40 Hz-WL induced significant increase of PSD in theta band. Second, compared the PSDs between EEG with 40 Hz-VL and EEG with 40 Hz-WL, 40 Hz-VL induced significantly lower enhancement in delta and theta bands than 40 Hz-WL. Third, when focused on the occipital area, negative peak of VEP with 40 Hz-VL was smaller than that of 40 Hz-WL. Fourth, 40 Hz-VL induced an increase of alpha-gamma coupling during the VEP at the F5 electrode site as well as post-EEG at the C4 electrode site, compared with baseline EEG. Thus, the present study suggested that 40 Hz-VL stimulation may induce unique photobiological neuromodulations on human EEG activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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19 pages, 2442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heading for Personalized rTMS in Tinnitus: Reliability of Individualized Stimulation Protocols in Behavioral and Electrophysiological Responses

by Stefan Schoisswohl, Berthold Langguth, Tobias Hebel, Mohamed A. Abdelnaim, Gregor Volberg and Martin Schecklmann

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(6), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11060536 - 9 Jun 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3200

Abstract

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation tool potentially modulating pathological brain activity. Its clinical effectiveness is hampered by varying results and characterized by inter-individual variability in treatment responses. RTMS individualization might constitute a useful strategy to overcome this [...] Read more.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation tool potentially modulating pathological brain activity. Its clinical effectiveness is hampered by varying results and characterized by inter-individual variability in treatment responses. RTMS individualization might constitute a useful strategy to overcome this variability. A precondition for this approach would be that repeatedly applied protocols result in reliable effects. The condition tinnitus provides the advantage of immediate behavioral consequences (tinnitus loudness changes) after interventions and thus offers an excellent model to exemplify TMS personalization. Objective: The aim was to investigate the test–retest reliability of short rTMS stimulations in modifying tinnitus loudness and oscillatory brain activity as well as to examine the feasibility of rTMS individualization in tinnitus. Methods: Three short verum (1, 10, 20 Hz; 200 pulses) and one sham (0.1 Hz; 20 pulses) rTMS protocol were administered on two different days in 22 tinnitus patients. Before and after each protocol, oscillatory brain activity was recorded with electroencephalography (EEG), together with behavioral tinnitus loudness ratings. RTMS individualization was executed on the basis of behavioral and electrophysiological responses. Stimulation responders were identified via consistent sham-superior increases in tinnitus loudness (behavioral responders) and alpha power increases or gamma power decreases (alpha responders/gamma responders) in accordance with the prevalent neurophysiological models for tinnitus. Results: It was feasible to identify individualized rTMS protocols featuring reliable tinnitus loudness changes (55% behavioral responder), alpha increases (91% alpha responder) and gamma decreases (100% gamma responder), respectively. Alpha responses primary occurred over parieto-occipital areas, whereas gamma responses mainly appeared over frontal regions. On the contrary, test–retest correlation analyses per protocol at a group level were not significant neither for behavioral nor for electrophysiological effects. No associations between behavioral and EEG responses were found. Conclusion: RTMS individualization via behavioral and electrophysiological data in tinnitus can be considered as a feasible approach to overcome low reliability at the group level. The present results open the discussion favoring personalization utilizing neurophysiological markers rather than behavioral responses. These insights are not only useful for the rTMS treatment of tinnitus but also for neuromodulation interventions in other pathologies, as our results suggest that the individualization of stimulation protocols is feasible despite absent group-level reliability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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13 pages, 3749 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Individual Resonant Frequencies at Low-Gamma Range and Cognitive Processing Speed

by Vykinta Parciauskaite, Evaldas Pipinis, Aleksandras Voicikas, Jovana Bjekic, Mindaugas Potapovas, Vytautas Jurkuvenas and Inga Griskova-Bulanova

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(6), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11060453 - 23 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3405

Abstract

Brain electrophysiological activity within the low gamma frequencies (30–80 Hz) has been proposed to reflect information encoding and transfer processes. The 40-Hz auditory steady-state response (40-Hz ASSR) is frequently discussed in relation to changed cognitive processing in neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the relationship between [...] Read more.

Brain electrophysiological activity within the low gamma frequencies (30–80 Hz) has been proposed to reflect information encoding and transfer processes. The 40-Hz auditory steady-state response (40-Hz ASSR) is frequently discussed in relation to changed cognitive processing in neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the relationship between ASSRs and cognitive functioning still remains unclear. Most of the studies assessed the single frequency ASSR, while the individual resonance frequency in the gamma range (30–60 Hz), also called individual gamma frequency (IGF), has received limited attention thus far. Nevertheless, IGF potentially might better reflect individual network characteristics than standardly utilized 40-Hz ASSRs. Here, we focused on the processing speed across different types of cognitive tasks and explored its relationship with responses at 40 Hz and at IGFs in an attempt to uncover how IGFs relate to certain aspects of cognitive functioning. We show that gamma activity is related to the performance speed on complex cognitive task tapping planning and problem solving, both when responses at 40 Hz and at IGFs were evaluated. With the individualized approach, the observed associations were found to be somewhat stronger, and the association seemed to primarily reflect individual differences in higher-order cognitive processing. These findings have important implications for the interpretation of gamma activity in neuropsychiatric disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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14 pages, 1542 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Lower Hippocampal Volume in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Quantitative MRI Study

by Jinya Sato, Yoji Hirano, Noriaki Hirakawa, Junichi Takahashi, Naoya Oribe, Hironori Kuga, Itta Nakamura, Shogo Hirano, Takefumi Ueno, Osamu Togao, Akio Hiwatashi, Tomohiro Nakao and Toshiaki Onitsuka

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(2), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11020121 - 13 Feb 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5034

Abstract

Since patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) share many biological features, detecting biomarkers that differentiate SZ and BD patients is crucial for optimized treatments. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is suitable for detecting subtle brain structural differences in patients with psychiatric [...] Read more.

Since patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) share many biological features, detecting biomarkers that differentiate SZ and BD patients is crucial for optimized treatments. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is suitable for detecting subtle brain structural differences in patients with psychiatric disorders. In the present study, we adopted a neuroanatomically defined and manually delineated region of interest (ROI) method to evaluate the amygdalae, hippocampi, Heschl’s gyrus (HG), and planum temporale (PT), because these regions are crucial in the development of SZ and BD. ROI volumes were measured using high resolution MRI in 31 healthy subjects (HS), 23 SZ patients, and 21 BD patients. Right hippocampal volumes differed significantly among groups (HS > BD > SZ), whereas left hippocampal volumes were lower in SZ patients than in HS and BD patients (HS = BD > SZ). Volumes of the amygdalae, HG, and PT did not differ among the three groups. For clinical correlations, there were no significant associations between ROI volumes and demographics/clinical symptoms. Our study revealed significant lower hippocampal volume in patients with SZ and BD, and we suggest that the right hippocampal volume is a potential biomarker for differentiation between SZ and BD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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13 pages, 1916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential Neurophysiological Mechanisms of 1Hz-TMS to the Right Prefrontal Cortex for Depression: An Exploratory TMS-EEG Study in Healthy Participants

by Yoshihiro Noda

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(2), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11020068 - 24 Jan 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4331

Abstract

Background: The present study aimed to examine the acute neurophysiological effects of 1Hz transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) administered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in healthy participants. Methods: TMS combined with simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) recording was conducted for 21 healthy participants. For [...] Read more.

Background: The present study aimed to examine the acute neurophysiological effects of 1Hz transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) administered to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in healthy participants. Methods: TMS combined with simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) recording was conducted for 21 healthy participants. For the right DLPFC, 1Hz-TMS (100 pulses/block × 17 sessions) was applied in the resting-state, while for the left DLPFC, 1Hz-TMS (100 pulses/block × 2 sessions) was administered during the verbal fluency tasks (VFTs). For TMS-EEG data, independent component analysis (ICA) was applied to extract TMS-evoked EEG potentials to calculate TMS-related power as well as TMS-related coherence from the F4 and F3 electrode sites during the resting-state and VFTs. Results: TMS-related power was significantly increased in alpha, beta, and gamma bands by 1Hz-TMS at the stimulation site during the resting-state, while TMS-related power was significantly increased in alpha and beta bands but not in the gamma band during the VFTs. On the other hand, TMS-related coherence in alpha and beta bands significantly increased but not in gamma band by 1Hz-TMS that was administered to the right DLPFC in resting-state, whereas there were no significant changes in coherence for all frequency bands by 1Hz-TMS that applied to the left DLPFC during the VFTs. Conclusions: Collectively, 1Hz-repetitive TMS (rTMS) to the right DLPFC may rapidly neuromodulate EEG activity, which might be associated with a therapeutic mechanism for depression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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12 pages, 1244 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Single-Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Evoked Potential Amplitudes and Latencies in the Motor and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex among Young, Older Healthy Participants, and Schizophrenia Patients

by Yoshihiro Noda, Mera S. Barr, Reza Zomorrodi, Robin F. H. Cash, Pantelis Lioumis, Robert Chen, Zafiris J. Daskalakis and Daniel M. Blumberger

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(1), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11010054 - 17 Jan 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4750

Abstract

Background: The combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with electroencephalography (EEG) allows for non-invasive investigation of cortical response and connectivity in human cortex. This study aimed to examine the amplitudes and latencies of each TMS-evoked potential (TEP) component induced by single-pulse TMS (spTMS) [...] Read more.

Background: The combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with electroencephalography (EEG) allows for non-invasive investigation of cortical response and connectivity in human cortex. This study aimed to examine the amplitudes and latencies of each TMS-evoked potential (TEP) component induced by single-pulse TMS (spTMS) to the left motor (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) among healthy young participants (YNG), older participants (OLD), and patients with schizophrenia (SCZ). Methods: We compared the spatiotemporal characteristics of TEPs induced by spTMS among the groups. Results: Compared to YNG, M1-spTMS induced lower amplitudes of N45 and P180 in OLD and a lower amplitude of P180 in SCZ, whereas the DLPFC-spTMS induced a lower N45 in OLD. Further, OLD demonstrated latency delays in P60 after M1-spTMS and in N45-P60 over the right central region after left DLPFC-spTMS, whereas SCZ demonstrated latency delays in N45-P60 over the midline and right central regions after DLPFC-spTMS. Conclusions: These findings suggest that inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms mediating TEPs may be altered in OLD and SCZ. The amplitude and latency changes of TEPs with spTMS may reflect underlying neurophysiological changes in OLD and SCZ, respectively. The spTMS administered to M1 and the DLPFC can probe cortical functions by examining TEPs. Thus, TMS-EEG can be used to study changes in cortical connectivity and signal propagation from healthy to pathological brains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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16 pages, 2738 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Real-Time Implementation of EEG Oscillatory Phase-Informed Visual Stimulation Using a Least Mean Square-Based AR Model

by Aqsa Shakeel, Takayuki Onojima, Toshihisa Tanaka and Keiichi Kitajo

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11010038 - 11 Jan 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3285

Abstract

It is a technically challenging problem to assess the instantaneous brain state using electroencephalography (EEG) in a real-time closed-loop setup because the prediction of future signals is required to define the current state, such as the instantaneous phase and amplitude. To accomplish this [...] Read more.

It is a technically challenging problem to assess the instantaneous brain state using electroencephalography (EEG) in a real-time closed-loop setup because the prediction of future signals is required to define the current state, such as the instantaneous phase and amplitude. To accomplish this in real-time, a conventional Yule–Walker (YW)-based autoregressive (AR) model has been used. However, the brain state-dependent real-time implementation of a closed-loop system employing an adaptive method has not yet been explored. Our primary purpose was to investigate whether time-series forward prediction using an adaptive least mean square (LMS)-based AR model would be implementable in a real-time closed-loop system or not. EEG state-dependent triggers synchronized with the EEG peaks and troughs of alpha oscillations in both an open-eyes resting state and a visual task. For the resting and visual conditions, statistical results showed that the proposed method succeeded in giving triggers at a specific phase of EEG oscillations for all participants. These individual results showed that the LMS-based AR model was successfully implemented in a real-time closed-loop system targeting specific phases of alpha oscillations and can be used as an adaptive alternative to the conventional and machine-learning approaches with a low computational load. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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16 pages, 553 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical and Electrophysiological Hints to TMS in De Novo Patients with Parkinson’s Disease and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

by Francesco Fisicaro, Giuseppe Lanza, Mariagiovanna Cantone, Raffaele Ferri, Giovanni Pennisi, Alessandra Nicoletti, Mario Zappia, Rita Bella and Manuela Pennisi

J. Pers. Med. 2020, 10(4), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm10040274 - 12 Dec 2020

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 3415

Abstract

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can non-invasively probe cortical excitability in movement disorders, although clinical significance is still controversial, especially at early stages. We compare single-pulse TMS in two prototypic synucleinopathy and tauopathy—i.e., Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), respectively—to find [...] Read more.

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can non-invasively probe cortical excitability in movement disorders, although clinical significance is still controversial, especially at early stages. We compare single-pulse TMS in two prototypic synucleinopathy and tauopathy—i.e., Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), respectively—to find neurophysiological differences and identify early measures associated with cognitive impairment. Methods: 28 PD and 23 PSP de novo patients were age-matched with 28 healthy controls, all right-handed and drug-free. Amplitude and latency of motor evoked potentials (MEP), central motor conduction time, resting motor threshold (rMT), and cortical silent period (CSP) were recorded through a figure-of-eight coil from the First Dorsal Interosseous muscle (FDI), bilaterally. Results: Mini Mental Examination and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) scored worse in PSP; PD had worse FAB than controls. Higher MEP amplitude from right FDI in PD and PSP than controls was found, without difference between them. CSP was bilaterally longer in patients than controls, but similar between patient groups. A positive correlation between FAB and rMT was observed in PSP, bilaterally. Conclusions: Despite the small sample size, PD and PSP might share, at early stage, a similar global electrocortical asset. rMT might detect and possibly predict cognitive deterioration in PSP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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12 pages, 1209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resting-State Isolated Effective Connectivity of the Cingulate Cortex as a Neurophysiological Biomarker in Patients with Severe Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia

by Masataka Wada, Shinichiro Nakajima, Ryosuke Tarumi, Fumi Masuda, Takahiro Miyazaki, Sakiko Tsugawa, Kamiyu Ogyu, Shiori Honda, Karin Matsushita, Yudai Kikuchi, Shinya Fujii, Daniel M. Blumberger, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, Masaru Mimura and Yoshihiro Noda

J. Pers. Med. 2020, 10(3), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm10030089 - 14 Aug 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4971

Abstract

Background: The neural basis of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) remains unclear. Previous neuroimaging studies suggest that aberrant connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and default mode network (DMN) may play a key role in the pathophysiology of TRS. Thus, we aimed to [...] Read more.

Background: The neural basis of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) remains unclear. Previous neuroimaging studies suggest that aberrant connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and default mode network (DMN) may play a key role in the pathophysiology of TRS. Thus, we aimed to examine the connectivity between the ACC and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), a hub of the DMN, computing isolated effective coherence (iCoh), which represents causal effective connectivity. Methods: Resting-state electroencephalogram with 19 channels was acquired from seventeen patients with TRS and thirty patients with non-TRS (nTRS). The iCoh values between the PCC and ACC were calculated using sLORETA software. We conducted four-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) for iCoh values with group as a between-subject factor and frequency, directionality, and laterality as within-subject factors and post-hoc independent t-tests. Results: The ANOVA and post-hoc t-tests for the iCoh ratio of directionality from PCC to ACC showed significant findings in delta (t₄₅ = 7.659, p = 0.008) and theta (t₄₅ = 8.066, p = 0.007) bands in the left side (TRS < nTRS). Conclusion: Left delta and theta PCC and ACC iCoh ratio may represent a neurophysiological basis of TRS. Given the preliminary nature of this study, these results warrant further study to confirm the importance of iCoh as a clinical indicator for treatment-resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

24 pages, 1066 KiB

Open AccessReview

TMS-EEG Research to Elucidate the Pathophysiological Neural Bases in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review

by Xuemei Li, Shiori Honda, Shinichiro Nakajima, Masataka Wada, Kazunari Yoshida, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, Masaru Mimura and Yoshihiro Noda

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(5), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11050388 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5833

Abstract

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a serious mental disorder, and its pathogenesis is complex. Recently, the glutamate hypothesis and the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance hypothesis have been proposed as new pathological hypotheses for SCZ. Combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive novel [...] Read more.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a serious mental disorder, and its pathogenesis is complex. Recently, the glutamate hypothesis and the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalance hypothesis have been proposed as new pathological hypotheses for SCZ. Combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive novel method that enables us to investigate the cortical activity in humans, and this modality is a suitable approach to evaluate these hypotheses. In this study, we systematically reviewed TMS-EEG studies that investigated the cortical dysfunction of SCZ to examine the emerging hypotheses for SCZ. The following search terms were set in this systematic review: (TMS or ‘transcranial magnetic stimulation’) and (EEG or electroencephalog*) and (schizophrenia). We inspected the articles written in English that examined humans and were published by March 2020 via MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and PubMed. The initial search generated 379 studies, and 14 articles were finally identified. The current review noted that patients with SCZ demonstrated the E/I deficits in the prefrontal cortex, whose dysfunctions were also associated with cognitive impairment and clinical severity. Moreover, TMS-induced gamma activity in the prefrontal cortex was related to positive symptoms, while theta/delta band activities were associated with negative symptoms in SCZ. Thus, this systematic review discusses aspects of the pathophysiological neural basis of SCZ that are not explained by the traditional dopamine hypothesis exclusively, based on the findings of previous TMS-EEG research, mainly in terms of the E/I imbalance hypothesis. In conclusion, TMS-EEG neurophysiology can be applied to establish objective biomarkers for better diagnosis as well as to develop new therapeutic strategies for patients with SCZ. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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18 pages, 401 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Gamma Oscillations in the Pathophysiology of Substance Use Disorders

by Jessica U. Ramlakhan, Ming Ma, Reza Zomorrodi, Daniel M. Blumberger, Yoshihiro Noda and Mera S. Barr

J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11010017 - 28 Dec 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4066

Abstract

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a major public health problem—with over 200 million people reporting drug use in 2016. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a powerful tool that can provide insights into the impact of SUDs on cognition. Specifically, modulated gamma activity may provide an [...] Read more.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a major public health problem—with over 200 million people reporting drug use in 2016. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a powerful tool that can provide insights into the impact of SUDs on cognition. Specifically, modulated gamma activity may provide an index of the pathophysiology of SUDs. Thus, the purpose of this review was to investigate the impact of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamine on gamma activity, among pre-clinical and clinical populations during acute and chronic exposure and withdrawal states. We searched multiple databases for key terms related to SUDs, EEG, and gamma and ensured rigorous methods by using a standardized review reporting tool. We included 30 studies in this review and found that all substances were associated with modulation of gamma activity, across states and in both preclinical and clinical populations. Gamma oscillations appeared to be differentially modulated in clinical versus preclinical populations and had the most complex relationship with alcohol, indicating that it may act differently than other substances. The findings of this review offer insights into the pathophysiology of SUDs, providing a potential window into novel treatments for SUDs via modulation of gamma activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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25 pages, 1486 KiB

Open AccessReview

Application of Noninvasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation to Stress-Related Psychiatric Disorders

by James Douglas Bremner, Nil Z. Gurel, Matthew T. Wittbrodt, Mobashir H. Shandhi, Mark H. Rapaport, Jonathon A. Nye, Bradley D. Pearce, Viola Vaccarino, Amit J. Shah, Jeanie Park, Marom Bikson and Omer T. Inan

J. Pers. Med. 2020, 10(3), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm10030119 - 9 Sep 2020

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 14535

Abstract

Background: Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS) has been shown to be efficacious for the treatment of depression, but to date, VNS devices have required surgical implantation, which has limited widespread implementation. Methods: New noninvasive VNS (nVNS) devices have been developed which allow external stimulation [...] Read more.

Background: Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS) has been shown to be efficacious for the treatment of depression, but to date, VNS devices have required surgical implantation, which has limited widespread implementation. Methods: New noninvasive VNS (nVNS) devices have been developed which allow external stimulation of the vagus nerve, and their effects on physiology in patients with stress-related psychiatric disorders can be measured with brain imaging, blood biomarkers, and wearable sensing devices. Advantages in terms of cost and convenience may lead to more widespread implementation in psychiatry, as well as facilitate research of the physiology of the vagus nerve in humans. nVNS has effects on autonomic tone, cardiovascular function, inflammatory responses, and central brain areas involved in modulation of emotion, all of which make it particularly applicable to patients with stress-related psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, since dysregulation of these circuits and systems underlies the symptomatology of these disorders. Results: This paper reviewed the physiology of the vagus nerve and its relevance to modulating the stress response in the context of application of nVNS to stress-related psychiatric disorders. Conclusions: nVNS has a favorable effect on stress physiology that is measurable using brain imaging, blood biomarkers of inflammation, and wearable sensing devices, and shows promise in the prevention and treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuroimaging, and Neuromodulation of Neuropsychiatric Disorders)

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