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Theta increases with workload and is associated with numerous processes including working memory, problem solving, encoding, or self monitoring. These processes, in turn, involve numerous structures of the brain. However, the relationship between regional brain activity and the occurrence of theta remains unclear. In the present study, simultaneous EEG-fMRI recordings were used to investigate the functional topography of theta. EEG-theta was enhanced by mental arithmetic-induced workload. For the EEG-constrained fMRI analysis, theta-reference time-series were extracted from the EEG, reflecting the strength of theta occurrence during the time course of the experiment. Theta occurrence was mainly associated with activation of the insular cortex, hippocampus, superior temporal areas, cingulate cortex, superior parietal, and frontal areas. Though observation of temporal and insular activation is in accord with the theory that theta specifically reflects encoding processes, the involvement of several other brain regions implies that surface-recorded theta represents comprehensive functional brain states rather than specific processes in the brain. The results provide further evidence for the concept that emergent theta band oscillations represent dynamic functional binding of widely distributed cortical assemblies, essential for cognitive processing. This binding process may form the source of surface-recorded EEG theta.
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BACKGROUND: Gene by environment (G×E) interaction between genetic variation in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region [5-HTTLPR]) and stressful life events (SLEs) has been extensively studied in the context of depression. Recent findings suggest increased neural and endocrine stress sensitivity as a possible mechanism conveying elevated vulnerability to psychopathology. Furthermore, these G×E mediated alterations very likely reflect interrelated biological processes. METHODS: In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging study, amygdala reactivity to fearful stimuli was assessed in healthy male adults (n = 44), who were previously found to differ with regard to endocrine stress reactivity as a function of 5-HTTLPR × SLEs. Furthermore, functional connectivity between the amygdala and the hypothalamus was measured as a potential mechanism linking elevated neural and endocrine responses during stressful/threatening situations. The study sample was carefully preselected regarding 5-HTTLPR genotype and SLEs. RESULTS: We report significant G×E interaction on neural response patterns and functional amygdala-hypothalamus connectivity. Specifically, homozygous carriers of the 5-HTTLPR S' allele with a history of SLEs (S'S'/high SLEs group) displayed elevated bilateral amygdala activation in response to fearful faces. Within the same sample, a comparable G×E interaction effect has previously been demonstrated regarding increased cortisol reactivity, indicating a cross-validation of heightened biological stress sensitivity. Furthermore, S'S'/high SLEs subjects were characterized by an increased functional coupling between the right amygdala and the hypothalamus, thus indicating a potential link between neural and endocrine hyperreactivity. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings contribute to the ongoing debate on 5-HTTLPR × SLEs interaction and are discussed with respect to clinical implications.
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Cerebral reorganization may limit the effects of central nervous system tissue damage on cognition in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study investigated fMRI activation patterns in patients with relapsing-remitting MS and healthy control subjects during performance of a delayed recognition task. As intended, fMRI task performance was similar in the MS and the control group, whereas neuropsychological testing revealed reduced performance in the patient group on the Paced Serial Addition Test, a reference task for the assessment of cognitive function in MS. Patients overall showed more activation in left posterior parietal cortex than healthy control subjects. Global gray matter atrophy in the patient group was associated with low PASAT scores. In a multiple regression analysis including white matter lesion load and gray matter atrophy as covariates, PASAT performance correlated with activation in left posterior parietal cortex and right anterior midfrontal gyrus, indicating a reallocation of neuronal resources to help preserve function. Global gray matter atrophy correlated with activation in bilateral prefrontal cortex, dorsal ACC and left posterior parietal cortex and, furthermore, was associated with a low degree of deactivation in rostral ACC, suggesting neural inefficiency and consistent with a reduced capacity to modulate between frontoparietal task-associated activation and 'default network' activity. The current study provides evidence that altered brain activation in MS patients has two distinct components, one related to compensatory processes and one to neural inefficiency associated with tissue damage.
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Team
- Vaitl (3)
Eintragsart
Sprache
- Englisch (3)
Thema
- Brain Mapping/methods
- Adaptation, Physiological (1)
- Adult (3)
- Amygdala/*metabolism (1)
- Biological Clocks/physiology (1)
- Brain (1)
- Brain/anatomy & histology/blood supply/*physiology (1)
- Cerebral Cortex/*physiopathology (1)
- Cerebrovascular Circulation/*physiology (1)
- *Cognition (1)
- Cognition Disorders/etiology/*physiopathology (1)
- Cognition/*physiology (1)
- Electroencephalography/methods (1)
- *Evoked Potentials (1)
- Evoked Potentials/*physiology (1)
- Facial Expression (1)
- Fear (1)
- Female (2)
- Functional Laterality/physiology (1)
- *Gene-Environment Interaction (1)
- Humans (3)
- Hydrocortisone/metabolism (1)
- Hypothalamus/*metabolism (1)
- Life Change Events (1)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods (2)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods (1)
- Male (3)
- Mathematics (1)
- Multiple Sclerosis/complications/*physiopathology (1)
- Nerve Net/anatomy & histology/physiology (1)
- Neural Pathways/anatomy & histology/*physiology (1)
- Neural Pathways/metabolism (1)
- Neuropsychological Tests (1)
- Polymorphism, Genetic/*genetics (1)
- Problem Solving/physiology (1)
- Reference Values (1)
- Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics/metabolism (1)
- Stress, Psychological/*genetics/metabolism (1)
- *Task Performance and Analysis (1)
- *Theta Rhythm (1)
- Thinking/physiology (1)
- Time Factors (1)