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Díaz Rivera MN, Amoruso L, Bocanegra Y, Suárez JX, Moreno L, Muñoz E, Birba A, García AM. Electrophysiological alterations during action semantic processing in Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2024; 136:78-87. [PMID: 38330642 PMCID: PMC10942755 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Assessments of action semantics consistently reveal markers of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, neurophysiological signatures of the domain remain under-examined in this population, especially under conditions that allow patients to process stimuli without stringent time constraints. Here we assessed event-related potentials and time-frequency modulations in healthy individuals (HPs) and PD patients during a delayed-response semantic judgment task involving related and unrelated action-picture pairs. Both groups had shorter response times for related than for unrelated trials, but they exhibited discrepant electrophysiological patterns. HPs presented significantly greater N400 amplitudes as well as theta enhancement and mu desynchronization for unrelated relative to related trials. Conversely, N400 and theta modulations were abolished in the patients, who further exhibited a contralateralized cluster in the mu range. None of these patterns were associated with the participants' cognitive status. Our results suggest that PD involves multidimensional neurophysiological disruptions during action-concept processing, even under task conditions that elicit canonical behavioral effects. New constraints thus emerge for translational neurocognitive models of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano N Díaz Rivera
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés (UdeSA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía Amoruso
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés (UdeSA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Spain
| | - Yamile Bocanegra
- Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia; Grupo Neuropsicología y Conducta (GRUNECO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Jazmin X Suárez
- Grupo Neuropsicología y Conducta (GRUNECO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Leonardo Moreno
- Sección de Neurología, Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Edinson Muñoz
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Agustina Birba
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés (UdeSA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia (IUNE), Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Adolfo M García
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés (UdeSA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, United States.
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2
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Toro-Hernández FD, Migeot J, Marchant N, Olivares D, Ferrante F, González-Gómez R, González Campo C, Fittipaldi S, Rojas-Costa GM, Moguilner S, Slachevsky A, Chaná Cuevas P, Ibáñez A, Chaigneau S, García AM. Neurocognitive correlates of semantic memory navigation in Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:15. [PMID: 38195756 PMCID: PMC10776628 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00630-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive studies on Parkinson's disease (PD) reveal abnormal semantic processing. Most research, however, fails to indicate which conceptual properties are most affected and capture patients' neurocognitive profiles. Here, we asked persons with PD, healthy controls, and individuals with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD, as a disease control group) to read concepts (e.g., 'sun') and list their features (e.g., hot). Responses were analyzed in terms of ten word properties (including concreteness, imageability, and semantic variability), used for group-level comparisons, subject-level classification, and brain-behavior correlations. PD (but not bvFTD) patients produced more concrete and imageable words than controls, both patterns being associated with overall cognitive status. PD and bvFTD patients showed reduced semantic variability, an anomaly which predicted semantic inhibition outcomes. Word-property patterns robustly classified PD (but not bvFTD) patients and correlated with disease-specific hypoconnectivity along the sensorimotor and salience networks. Fine-grained semantic assessments, then, can reveal distinct neurocognitive signatures of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Diego Toro-Hernández
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Joaquín Migeot
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Latin American Brain Health Institute, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolás Marchant
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Olivares
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Clínicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Franco Ferrante
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Raúl González-Gómez
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Latin American Brain Health Institute, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cecilia González Campo
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sol Fittipaldi
- Latin American Brain Health Institute, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; & Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gonzalo M Rojas-Costa
- Department of Radiology, Clínica las Condes, Santiago, Chile
- Advanced Epilepsy Center, Clínica las Condes, Santiago, Chile
- Join Unit FISABIO-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
- School of Medicine, Finis Terrae University, Santiago, Chile
- Health Innovation Center, Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastian Moguilner
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; & Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Andrea Slachevsky
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Center (CMYN), Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador & Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Santiago, Chile
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (LANNEC), Physiopatology Program - Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Neuroscience and East Neuroscience Departments, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Neurology and Psychiatry Department, Clínica Alemana-Universidad Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pedro Chaná Cuevas
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Latin American Brain Health Institute, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; & Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sergio Chaigneau
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Cognition Research, School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Adolfo M García
- Latin American Brain Health Institute, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile.
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; & Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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3
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Ibáñez A, Kühne K, Miklashevsky A, Monaco E, Muraki E, Ranzini M, Speed LJ, Tuena C. Ecological Meanings: A Consensus Paper on Individual Differences and Contextual Influences in Embodied Language. J Cogn 2023; 6:59. [PMID: 37841670 PMCID: PMC10573819 DOI: 10.5334/joc.228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Embodied theories of cognition consider many aspects of language and other cognitive domains as the result of sensory and motor processes. In this view, the appraisal and the use of concepts are based on mechanisms of simulation grounded on prior sensorimotor experiences. Even though these theories continue receiving attention and support, increasing evidence indicates the need to consider the flexible nature of the simulation process, and to accordingly refine embodied accounts. In this consensus paper, we discuss two potential sources of variability in experimental studies on embodiment of language: individual differences and context. Specifically, we show how factors contributing to individual differences may explain inconsistent findings in embodied language phenomena. These factors include sensorimotor or cultural experiences, imagery, context-related factors, and cognitive strategies. We also analyze the different contextual modulations, from single words to sentences and narratives, as well as the top-down and bottom-up influences. Similarly, we review recent efforts to include cultural and language diversity, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain disorders, as well as bilingual evidence into the embodiment framework. We address the importance of considering individual differences and context in clinical studies to drive translational research more efficiently, and we indicate recommendations on how to correctly address these issues in future research. Systematically investigating individual differences and context may contribute to understanding the dynamic nature of simulation in language processes, refining embodied theories of cognition, and ultimately filling the gap between cognition in artificial experimental settings and cognition in the wild (i.e., in everyday life).
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Ibáñez
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago de Chile, Chile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés and CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), California, US
- Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland, IE
| | - Katharina Kühne
- Potsdam Embodied Cognition Group, Cognitive Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, DE
| | - Alex Miklashevsky
- Potsdam Embodied Cognition Group, Cognitive Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, DE
| | - Elisa Monaco
- Laboratory for Cognitive and Neurological Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Movement Science, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, CH
| | - Emiko Muraki
- Department of Psychology & Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, CA
| | | | | | - Cosimo Tuena
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, IT
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4
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Birba A, López-Pigüi J, León Santana I, García AM. Impaired social concept processing in persons with autistic-like traits. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15709. [PMID: 37735251 PMCID: PMC10514259 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42889-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Situated models suggest that social concepts are grounded in interpersonal experience. However, few studies have tested this notion experimentally, and none has targeted individuals with reduced social interaction. Here, we assessed comprehension of text-level social and non-social concepts in persons with and without autistic-like traits. Participants read a social and a non-social text and answered questionnaires targeting social and non-social concepts, respectively. We compared behavioral outcomes, gauged their contribution to subject-level classification, and examined their association with validated measures of autism. Persons with autistic-like traits showed selective deficits in grasping text-level social concepts, even adjusting for intelligence, memory, and vocabulary. Also, social concept comprehension was the only variable that significantly classified between groups. Finally, social concept outcomes correlated negatively with measures of autism, including social interaction. Our results suggest that reduced interpersonal experience selectively compromises text-level social concept processing, offering empirical constraints for situated models of social semantics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Birba
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, B1644BID, Victoria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Joana López-Pigüi
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Kingston Upon Hull, UK
| | - Inmaculada León Santana
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Adolfo M García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, B1644BID, Victoria, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA.
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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5
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Lopes da Cunha P, Fittipaldi S, González Campo C, Kauffman M, Rodríguez-Quiroga S, Yacovino DA, Ibáñez A, Birba A, García AM. Social concepts and the cerebellum: behavioural and functional connectivity signatures in cerebellar ataxic patients. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20210364. [PMID: 36571119 PMCID: PMC9791482 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurocognitive research on social concepts underscores their reliance on fronto-temporo-limbic regions mediating broad socio-cognitive skills. Yet, the field has neglected another structure increasingly implicated in social cognition: the cerebellum. The present exploratory study examines this link combining a novel naturalistic text paradigm, a relevant atrophy model and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Fifteen cerebellar ataxia (CA) patients with focal cerebellar atrophy and 29 matched controls listened to a social text (highlighting interpersonal events) as well as a non-social text (focused on a single person's actions), and answered comprehension questionnaires. We compared behavioural outcomes between groups and examined their association with cerebellar connectivity. CA patients showed deficits in social text comprehension and normal scores in the non-social text. Also, social text outcomes in controls selectively correlated with connectivity between the cerebellum and key regions subserving multi-modal semantics and social cognition, including the superior and medial temporal gyri, the temporal pole and the insula. Conversely, brain-behaviour associations involving the cerebellum were abolished in the patients. Thus, cerebellar structures and connections seem involved in processing social concepts evoked by naturalistic discourse. Such findings invite new theoretical and translational developments integrating social neuroscience with embodied semantics. This article is part of the theme issue 'Concepts in interaction: social engagement and inner experiences'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Lopes da Cunha
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina
- National Agency for Scientific Promotion and Technology (ANPCyT), Buenos Aires, C1425FQD, Argentina
| | - Sol Fittipaldi
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1425FQB, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, 94158-2324, US and Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Adolfo Ibáñez University, Santiago, 7550344, Chile
| | - Cecilia González Campo
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1425FQB, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Kauffman
- Consultorio y Laboratorio de Neurogenética, Centro Universitario de Neurología “José María Ramos Mejía” y División Neurología, Hospital JM Ramos Mejía, Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, C1221ADC, Argentina
- School of Medicine, UBA, CONICET, Buenos Aires, C1121ABG, Argentina
| | - Sergio Rodríguez-Quiroga
- Consultorio y Laboratorio de Neurogenética, Centro Universitario de Neurología “José María Ramos Mejía” y División Neurología, Hospital JM Ramos Mejía, Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, C1221ADC, Argentina
| | - Darío Andrés Yacovino
- Department of Neurology, Dr. Cesar Milstein Hospital, Buenos Aires, C1221ACI, Argentina
- Memory and Balance Clinic, Buenos Aires, C1425BPC, Argentina
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1425FQB, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, 94158-2324, US and Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Adolfo Ibáñez University, Santiago, 7550344, Chile
| | - Agustina Birba
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1425FQB, Argentina
| | - Adolfo M. García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1425FQB, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, 94158-2324, US and Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, 9170022, Chile
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6
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García AM, Ibáñez A. On the replicability of action-verb deficits in Parkinson's disease. Cortex 2023; 158:1-3. [PMID: 36402119 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Adolfo M García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, US and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, US and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Adolfo Ibáñez University, Santiago, Chile.
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7
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Díaz-Rivera MN, Birba A, Fittipaldi S, Mola D, Morera Y, de Vega M, Moguilner S, Lillo P, Slachevsky A, González Campo C, Ibáñez A, García AM. Multidimensional inhibitory signatures of sentential negation in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:403-420. [PMID: 35253864 PMCID: PMC9837611 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Processing of linguistic negation has been associated to inhibitory brain mechanisms. However, no study has tapped this link via multimodal measures in patients with core inhibitory alterations, a critical approach to reveal direct neural correlates and potential disease markers. METHODS Here we examined oscillatory, neuroanatomical, and functional connectivity signatures of a recently reported Go/No-go negation task in healthy controls and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) patients, typified by primary and generalized inhibitory disruptions. To test for specificity, we also recruited persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD), a disease involving frequent but nonprimary inhibitory deficits. RESULTS In controls, negative sentences in the No-go condition distinctly involved frontocentral delta (2-3 Hz) suppression, a canonical inhibitory marker. In bvFTD patients, this modulation was selectively abolished and significantly correlated with the volume and functional connectivity of regions supporting inhibition (e.g. precentral gyrus, caudate nucleus, and cerebellum). Such canonical delta suppression was preserved in the AD group and associated with widespread anatomo-functional patterns across non-inhibitory regions. DISCUSSION These findings suggest that negation hinges on the integrity and interaction of spatiotemporal inhibitory mechanisms. Moreover, our results reveal potential neurocognitive markers of bvFTD, opening a new agenda at the crossing of cognitive neuroscience and behavioral neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano N Díaz-Rivera
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina.,Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT), C1425FQD, Godoy Cruz 2370, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Birba
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD, Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sol Fittipaldi
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD, Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Débora Mola
- Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, CONICET, 5000, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Yurena Morera
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia (IUNE), Universidad de La Laguna, Campus de Guajara, 38205 La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Manuel de Vega
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia (IUNE), Universidad de La Laguna, Campus de Guajara, 38205 La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Sebastian Moguilner
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA94158, US; and Trinity College, Dublin D02DP21, , Ireland.,Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, 8320000, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricia Lillo
- Departamento de Neurología Sur, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, 8380000, Santiago, Chile.,Unidad de Neurología, Hospital San José, 8380000, Santiago, Chile.,Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), 7800003, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrea Slachevsky
- Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), 7800003, Santiago, Chile.,Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (LANNEC), Physiopathology Department, Neuroscience and East Neuroscience Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), University of Chile, 8380000, Santiago, Chile.,Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic (CMYN) Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador and Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, 7500000, Santiago, Chile.,Departamento de Medicina, Servicio de Neurología, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, 7550000, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cecilia González Campo
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD, Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD, Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA94158, US; and Trinity College, Dublin D02DP21, , Ireland.,Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, 8320000, Santiago, Chile
| | - Adolfo M García
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD, Godoy Cruz 2290, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA94158, US; and Trinity College, Dublin D02DP21, , Ireland.,Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 7550000, Santiago, Chile
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8
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Cervetto S, Birba A, Pérez G, Amoruso L, García AM. Body into Narrative: Behavioral and Neurophysiological Signatures of Action Text Processing After Ecological Motor Training. Neuroscience 2022; 507:52-63. [PMID: 36368604 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Embodied cognition research indicates that sensorimotor training can influence action concept processing. Yet, most studies employ isolated (pseudo)randomized stimuli and require repetitive single-effector responses, thus lacking ecological validity. Moreover, the neural signatures of these effects remain poorly understood. Here, we examined whether immersive bodily training can modulate behavioral and functional connectivity correlates of action-verb processing in naturalistic narratives. The study involved three phases. First, in the Pre-training phase, 32 healthy persons listened to an action text (rich in movement descriptions) and a non-action text (focused on its characters' perceptual and mental processes), completed comprehension questionnaires, and underwent resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. Second, in the four-day Training phase, half the participants completed an exergaming intervention (eliciting full-body movements for 60 min a day) while the remaining half played static videogames (requiring no bodily engagement other than button presses). Finally, in the Post-training phase, all participants repeated the Pre-training protocol with different action and non-action texts and a new EEG session. We found that exergaming selectively reduced action-verb outcomes and fronto-posterior functional connectivity in the motor-sensitive ∼ 10-20 Hz range, both patterns being positively correlated. Conversely, static videogame playing yielded no specific effect on any linguistic category and did not modulate functional connectivity. Together, these findings suggest that action-verb processing and key neural correlates can be focally influenced by full-body motor training in a highly ecological setting. Our study illuminates the role of situated experience and sensorimotor circuits in action-concept processing, addressing calls for naturalistic insights on language embodiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Cervetto
- Departamento de Educación Física y Salud, Instituto Superior de Educación Física, Universidad de la República, Uruguay; Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Birba
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo Pérez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía Amoruso
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), San Sebastian, Spain; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Adolfo M García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, CA, United States; Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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9
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García AM, Escobar-Grisales D, Vásquez Correa JC, Bocanegra Y, Moreno L, Carmona J, Orozco-Arroyave JR. Detecting Parkinson's disease and its cognitive phenotypes via automated semantic analyses of action stories. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2022; 8:163. [PMID: 36434017 PMCID: PMC9700793 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-022-00422-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Action-concept outcomes are useful targets to identify Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and differentiate between those with and without mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI, PD-nMCI). Yet, most approaches employ burdensome examiner-dependent tasks, limiting their utility. We introduce a framework capturing action-concept markers automatically in natural speech. Patients from both subgroups and controls retold an action-laden and a non-action-laden text (AT, nAT). In each retelling, we weighed action and non-action concepts through our automated Proximity-to-Reference-Semantic-Field (P-RSF) metric, for analysis via ANCOVAs (controlling for cognitive dysfunction) and support vector machines. Patients were differentiated from controls based on AT (but not nAT) P-RSF scores. The same occurred in PD-nMCI patients. Conversely, PD-MCI patients exhibited reduced P-RSF scores for both texts. Direct discrimination between patient subgroups was not systematic, but it yielded best outcomes via AT scores. Our approach outperformed classifiers based on corpus-derived embeddings. This framework opens scalable avenues to support PD diagnosis and phenotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolfo M. García
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, USA ,grid.441741.30000 0001 2325 2241Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina ,grid.423606.50000 0001 1945 2152National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina ,grid.412179.80000 0001 2191 5013Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile ,grid.440617.00000 0001 2162 5606Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel Escobar-Grisales
- grid.412881.60000 0000 8882 5269GITA Lab, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan Camilo Vásquez Correa
- grid.424271.60000 0004 6022 2780Fundación Vicomtech, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia, San Sebastián Spain
| | - Yamile Bocanegra
- grid.412881.60000 0000 8882 5269Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia ,grid.412881.60000 0000 8882 5269Grupo Neuropsicología y Conducta (GRUNECO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Leonardo Moreno
- grid.413124.10000 0004 1784 5448Sección de Neurología, Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Jairo Carmona
- grid.412881.60000 0000 8882 5269Grupo Neuropsicología y Conducta (GRUNECO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan Rafael Orozco-Arroyave
- grid.412881.60000 0000 8882 5269GITA Lab, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellín, Colombia ,grid.5330.50000 0001 2107 3311Pattern Recognition Lab, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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10
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Birba A, Fittipaldi S, Cediel Escobar JC, Gonzalez Campo C, Legaz A, Galiani A, Díaz Rivera MN, Martorell Caro M, Alifano F, Piña-Escudero SD, Cardona JF, Neely A, Forno G, Carpinella M, Slachevsky A, Serrano C, Sedeño L, Ibáñez A, García AM. Multimodal Neurocognitive Markers of Naturalistic Discourse Typify Diverse Neurodegenerative Diseases. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:3377-3391. [PMID: 34875690 PMCID: PMC9376869 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegeneration has multiscalar impacts, including behavioral, neuroanatomical, and neurofunctional disruptions. Can disease-differential alterations be captured across such dimensions using naturalistic stimuli? To address this question, we assessed comprehension of four naturalistic stories, highlighting action, nonaction, social, and nonsocial events, in Parkinson's disease (PD) and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) relative to Alzheimer's disease patients and healthy controls. Text-specific correlates were evaluated via voxel-based morphometry, spatial (fMRI), and temporal (hd-EEG) functional connectivity. PD patients presented action-text deficits related to the volume of action-observation regions, connectivity across motor-related and multimodal-semantic hubs, and frontal hd-EEG hypoconnectivity. BvFTD patients exhibited social-text deficits, associated with atrophy and spatial connectivity patterns along social-network hubs, alongside right frontotemporal hd-EEG hypoconnectivity. Alzheimer's disease patients showed impairments in all stories, widespread atrophy and spatial connectivity patterns, and heightened occipitotemporal hd-EEG connectivity. Our framework revealed disease-specific signatures across behavioral, neuroanatomical, and neurofunctional dimensions, highlighting the sensitivity and specificity of a single naturalistic task. This investigation opens a translational agenda combining ecological approaches and multimodal cognitive neuroscience for the study of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Birba
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sol Fittipaldi
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Judith C Cediel Escobar
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad del Valle, Santiago de Cali 76001, Colombia
- Departamento de Estudios Psicológicos, Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Icesi, Cali 1234567, Colombia
| | - Cecilia Gonzalez Campo
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Legaz
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agostina Galiani
- Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, CONICET, C1060AAF Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano N Díaz Rivera
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Agency of Scientific and Technological Promotion, C1425FQD Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Miquel Martorell Caro
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florencia Alifano
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Juan Felipe Cardona
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad del Valle, Santiago de Cali 76001, Colombia
| | - Alejandra Neely
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, 8320000 Santiago, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Forno
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory, Physiopathology Department, ICBM, Neurosciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, 8380000 Santiago, Chile
- School of Psychology, Universidad de los Andes, 7620001 Santiago, Chile
- Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders group, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 8007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariela Carpinella
- Unidad de Neurociencias, Instituto Conci Carpinella, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de Cuyo Sede San Luis, 5700 San Luis, Argentina
| | - Andrea Slachevsky
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory, Physiopathology Department, ICBM, Neurosciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, 8380000 Santiago, Chile
- Gerosciences Center for Brain Health and Metabolism, 7800003 Santiago, Chile
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic (CMYN) Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador & University of Chile, 7500000 Santiago, Chile
- Servicio de Neurología, Departamento de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, 7690000 Santiago, Chile
| | - Cecilia Serrano
- Unidad de Neurología Cognitiva, Hospital César Milstein, C1221AC Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas Sedeño
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, 8320000 Santiago, Chile
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, US; and Trinity College, Dublin D02 DP21, Ireland
| | - Adolfo M García
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1425FQD Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, US; and Trinity College, Dublin D02 DP21, Ireland
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 8431166 Santiago, Chile
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11
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Miranda M, Campo CG, Birba A, Neely A, Hernandez FDT, Faure E, Costa GR, Ibáñez A, García A. An action-concept processing advantage in a patient with a double motor cortex. Brain Cogn 2022; 156:105831. [PMID: 34922210 PMCID: PMC9944406 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2021.105831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Patients with atrophy in motor brain regions exhibit selective deficits in processing action-related meanings, suggesting a link between movement conceptualization and the amount of regional tissue. Here we examine such a relation in a unique opposite model: a rare patient with a double cortex (due to subcortical band heterotopia) in primary/supplementary motor regions, and no double cortex in multimodal semantic regions. We measured behavioral performance in action- and object-concept processing as well and resting-state functional connectivity. Both dimensions involved comparisons with healthy controls. Results revealed preserved accuracy in action and object categories for the patient. However, unlike controls, the patient exhibited faster performance for action than object concepts, a difference that was uninfluenced by general cognitive abilities. Moreover, this pattern was accompanied by heightened functional connectivity between the bilateral primary motor cortices. This suggests that a functionally active double motor cortex may entail action-processing advantages. Our findings offer new constraints for models of action semantics and motor-region function at large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Miranda
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina,Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCyT), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Gonzalez Campo
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina,Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Birba
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina,Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina,Latin American Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra Neely
- Latin American Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Evelyng Faure
- Department of Radiology, Clínica las Condes, Santiago, Chile,Advanced Epilepsy Center, Clínica las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Rojas Costa
- Department of Radiology, Clínica las Condes, Santiago, Chile,Advanced Epilepsy Center, Clínica las Condes, Santiago, Chile,Health Innovation Center, Clínica las Condes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina,Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina,Latin American Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile,Global Brain Health Institute, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Adolfo García
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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12
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Pérez G, Hesse E, Dottori M, Birba A, Amoruso L, Martorell Caro M, Ibáñez A, García AM. The Bilingual Lexicon, Back and Forth: Electrophysiological Signatures of Translation Asymmetry. Neuroscience 2022; 481:134-143. [PMID: 34864107 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.11.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Mainstream theories of first and second language (L1, L2) processing in bilinguals are crucially informed by word translation research. A core finding is the translation asymmetry effect, typified by slower performance in forward translation (FT, from L1 into L2) than in backward translation (BT, from L2 into L1). Yet, few studies have explored its neural bases and none has employed (de)synchronization measures, precluding the integration of bilingual memory models with neural (de)coupling accounts of word processing. Here, 27 proficient Spanish-English bilinguals engaged in FT and BT of single words as we obtained high-density EEG recordings to perform cluster-based oscillatory and non-linear functional connectivity analyses. Relative to BT, FT yielded slower responses, higher frontal theta (4-7 Hz) power in an early window (0-300 ms), reduced centro-posterior lower-beta (14-20 Hz) and centro-frontal upper-beta (21-30 Hz) power in a later window (300-600 ms), and lower fronto-parietal connectivity below 10 Hz in the early window. Also, the greater the behavioral difference between FT and BT, the greater the power of the early theta cluster for FT over BT. These results reveal key (de)coupling dynamics underlying translation asymmetry, offering frequency-specific constraints for leading models of bilingual lexical processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Pérez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eugenia Hesse
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín Dottori
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Birba
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía Amoruso
- Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), San Sebastian, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Miguel Martorell Caro
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Latin American Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Adolfo M García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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13
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Sanz C, Carrillo F, Slachevsky A, Forno G, Gorno Tempini ML, Villagra R, Ibáñez A, Tagliazucchi E, García AM. Automated text-level semantic markers of Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 14:e12276. [PMID: 35059492 PMCID: PMC8759093 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Automated speech analysis has emerged as a scalable, cost-effective tool to identify persons with Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD). Yet, most research is undermined by low interpretability and specificity. METHODS Combining statistical and machine learning analyses of natural speech data, we aimed to discriminate ADD patients from healthy controls (HCs) based on automated measures of domains typically affected in ADD: semantic granularity (coarseness of concepts) and ongoing semantic variability (conceptual closeness of successive words). To test for specificity, we replicated the analyses on Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. RESULTS Relative to controls, ADD (but not PD) patients exhibited significant differences in both measures. Also, these features robustly discriminated between ADD patients and HC, while yielding near-chance classification between PD patients and HCs. DISCUSSION Automated discourse-level semantic analyses can reveal objective, interpretable, and specific markers of ADD, bridging well-established neuropsychological targets with digital assessment tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Sanz
- Departamento de FísicaUniversidad de Buenos Aires and Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires (IFIBA‐CONICET)Pabellón ICiudad Universitaria (1428)CABABuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Facundo Carrillo
- Applied Artificial Intelligence Lab (ICC‐CONICET)Pabellón ICiudad Universitaria (1428)CABABuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Andrea Slachevsky
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic, Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador (7500000), SSMO & Faculty of Medicine (8380000)University of ChileSantiagoChile
- Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO) (7500922)SantiagoChile
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (LANNEC), Physiopathology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Neuroscience and East Neuroscience Departments, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile (7500922)University of ChileSantiagoChile
- Servicio de Neurología, Departamento de MedicinaClínica Alemana‐Universidad del Desarrollo (7550000)SantiagoChile
- East Neuroscience Department, Faculty of Medicine (7650567)University of ChileSantiagoChile
| | - Gonzalo Forno
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (LANNEC), Physiopathology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Neuroscience and East Neuroscience Departments, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile (7500922)University of ChileSantiagoChile
- School of PsychologyUniversidad de los Andes (7550000)SantiagoChile
- Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders groupInstitute of Neurosciences (08035)University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Maria Luisa Gorno Tempini
- Memory and Aging CenterDepartment of Neurology (94143)University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Roque Villagra
- Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO) (7500922)SantiagoChile
- East Neuroscience Department, Faculty of Medicine (7650567)University of ChileSantiagoChile
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat) (7550000)Universidad Adolfo IbáñezSantiagoChile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (1644)Universidad de San AndrésBuenos AiresArgentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (1425)Buenos AiresArgentina
- Global Brain Health Institute (94143)University of California‐San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; and Trinity College Dublin (D02), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Enzo Tagliazucchi
- Departamento de FísicaUniversidad de Buenos Aires and Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires (IFIBA‐CONICET)Pabellón ICiudad Universitaria (1428)CABABuenos AiresArgentina
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat) (7550000)Universidad Adolfo IbáñezSantiagoChile
| | - Adolfo M. García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (1644)Universidad de San AndrésBuenos AiresArgentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (1425)Buenos AiresArgentina
- Global Brain Health Institute (94143)University of California‐San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; and Trinity College Dublin (D02), Dublin, Ireland
- Departamento de Lingüística y LiteraturaFacultad de Humanidades (9160000)Universidad de Santiago de ChileSantiagoChile
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14
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Chou I, Hu J, Muñoz E, García AM. Discourse-Level Information Recall in Early and Late Bilinguals: Evidence From Single-Language and Cross-Linguistic Tasks. Front Psychol 2021; 12:757351. [PMID: 34764919 PMCID: PMC8576450 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.757351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bilingualism research indicates that verbal memory skills are sensitive to age of second language (L2) acquisition (AoA). However, most tasks employ disconnected, decontextualized stimuli, undermining ecological validity. Here, we assessed whether AoA impacts the ability to recall information from naturalistic discourse in single-language and cross-linguistic tasks. Twenty-four early and 25 late Chinese-English bilinguals listened to real-life L2 newscasts and orally reproduced their information in English (Task 1) and Chinese (Task 2). Both groups were compared in terms of recalled information (presence and correctness of idea units) and key control measures (e.g., attentional skills, speech rate). Across both tasks, information completeness was higher for early than late bilinguals. This occurred irrespective of attentional speed, speech rate, and additional relevant factors. Such results bridge the gap between classical memory paradigms and ecological designs in bilingualism research, illuminating how particular language profiles shape information processing in daily communicative scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Chou
- School of Foreign Languages, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiehui Hu
- School of Foreign Languages, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Edinson Muñoz
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Adolfo M García
- School of Foreign Languages, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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15
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Structural and functional motor-network disruptions predict selective action-concept deficits: Evidence from frontal lobe epilepsy. Cortex 2021; 144:43-55. [PMID: 34637999 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Built on neurodegenerative lesions models, the disrupted motor grounding hypothesis (DMGH) posits that motor-system alterations selectively impair action comprehension. However, major doubts remain concerning the dissociability, neural signatures, and etiological generalizability of such deficits. Few studies have compared action-concept outcomes between disorders affecting and sparing motor circuitry, and none has examined their multimodal network predictors via data-driven approaches. Here, we first assessed action- and object-concept processing in patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE), patients with posterior cortex epilepsy (PCE), and healthy controls. Then, we examined structural and functional network signatures via diffusion tensor imaging and resting-state connectivity measures. Finally, we used these measures to predict behavioral performance with an XGBoost machine learning regression algorithm. Relative to controls, FLE (but not PCE) patients exhibited selective action-concept deficits together with structural and functional abnormalities along motor networks. The XGBoost model reached a significantly large effect size only for action-concept outcomes in FLE, mainly predicted by structural (cortico-spinal tract, anterior thalamic radiation, uncinate fasciculus) and functional (M1-parietal/supramarginal connectivity) motor networks. These results extend the DMGH, suggesting that action-concept deficits are dissociable markers of frontal/motor (relative to posterior) disruptions, directly related to the structural and functional integrity of motor networks, and traceable beyond canonical movement disorders.
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16
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Cervetto S, Díaz-Rivera M, Petroni A, Birba A, Caro MM, Sedeño L, Ibáñez A, García AM. The Neural Blending of Words and Movement: Event-Related Potential Signatures of Semantic and Action Processes during Motor-Language Coupling. J Cogn Neurosci 2021; 33:1413-1427. [PMID: 34496378 PMCID: PMC11115968 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral embodied research shows that words evoking limb-specific meanings can affect responses performed with the corresponding body part. However, no study has explored this phenomenon's neural dynamics under implicit processing conditions, let alone by disentangling its conceptual and motoric stages. Here, we examined whether the blending of hand actions and manual action verbs, relative to nonmanual action verbs and nonaction verbs, modulates electrophysiological markers of semantic integration (N400) and motor-related cortical potentials during a lexical decision task. Relative to both other categories, manual action verbs involved reduced posterior N400 amplitude and greater modulations of frontal motor-related cortical potentials. Such effects overlapped in a window of ∼380-440 msec after word presentation and ∼180 msec before response execution, revealing the possible time span in which both semantic and action-related stages reach maximal convergence. These results allow refining current models of motor-language coupling while affording new insights on embodied dynamics at large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Cervetto
- Departamento de Educación Física y Salud, Instituto Superior de Educación Física, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
| | - Mariano Díaz-Rivera
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Petroni
- Instituto de Ingeniería Biomédica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Inteligencia Artificial Aplicada, Departamento de Computación, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, ICC-CONICET, Argentina
| | - Agustina Birba
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Miguel Martorell Caro
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas Sedeño
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, United States, and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Chile
| | - Adolfo M García
- Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, United States, and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Faculty of Education, National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), Mendoza, Argentina
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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17
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Suárez-García DMA, Birba A, Zimerman M, Diazgranados JA, Lopes da Cunha P, Ibáñez A, Grisales-Cárdenas JS, Cardona JF, García AM. Rekindling Action Language: A Neuromodulatory Study on Parkinson's Disease Patients. Brain Sci 2021; 11:887. [PMID: 34356122 PMCID: PMC8301982 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Impairments of action semantics (a cognitive domain that critically engages motor brain networks) are pervasive in early Parkinson's disease (PD). However, no study has examined whether action semantic skills in persons with this disease can be influenced by non-invasive neuromodulation. Here, we recruited 22 PD patients and performed a five-day randomized, blinded, sham-controlled study to assess whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) over the primary motor cortex, combined with cognitive training, can boost action-concept processing. On day 1, participants completed a picture-word association (PWA) task involving action-verb and object-noun conditions. They were then randomly assigned to either an atDCS (n = 11, 2 mA for 20 m) or a sham tDCS (n = 11, 2 mA for 30 s) group and performed an online PWA practice over three days. On day 5, they repeated the initial protocol. Relative to sham tDCS, the atDCS group exhibited faster reaction times for action (as opposed to object) concepts in the post-stimulation test. This result was exclusive to the atDCS group and held irrespective of the subjects' cognitive, executive, and motor skills, further attesting to its specificity. Our findings suggest that action-concept deficits in PD are distinctively grounded in motor networks and might be countered by direct neuromodulation of such circuits. Moreover, they provide new evidence for neurosemantic models and inform a thriving agenda in the embodied cognition framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M. A. Suárez-García
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad del Valle, Santiago de Cali 76001, Colombia; (D.M.A.S.-G.); (J.S.G.-C.)
| | - Agustina Birba
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina; (A.B.); (M.Z.); (P.L.d.C.); (A.I.)
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Máximo Zimerman
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina; (A.B.); (M.Z.); (P.L.d.C.); (A.I.)
| | - Jesús A. Diazgranados
- Centro Médico de Atención Neurológica “Neurólogos de Occidente”, Santiago de Cali 76001, Colombia;
| | - Pamela Lopes da Cunha
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina; (A.B.); (M.Z.); (P.L.d.C.); (A.I.)
- Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT), Buenos Aires C1425FQD, Argentina
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina; (A.B.); (M.Z.); (P.L.d.C.); (A.I.)
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Trinity College Dublin (TCD), D02R590 Dublin 2, Ireland
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago 8320000, Chile
| | - Johan S. Grisales-Cárdenas
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad del Valle, Santiago de Cali 76001, Colombia; (D.M.A.S.-G.); (J.S.G.-C.)
| | - Juan Felipe Cardona
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad del Valle, Santiago de Cali 76001, Colombia; (D.M.A.S.-G.); (J.S.G.-C.)
| | - Adolfo M. García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires B1644BID, Argentina; (A.B.); (M.Z.); (P.L.d.C.); (A.I.)
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Trinity College Dublin (TCD), D02R590 Dublin 2, Ireland
- Faculty of Education, National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), Mendoza M5502GKA, Argentina
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9170020, Chile
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18
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Ibañez A, Fittipaldi S, Trujillo C, Jaramillo T, Torres A, Cardona JF, Rivera R, Slachevsky A, García A, Bertoux M, Baez S. Predicting and Characterizing Neurodegenerative Subtypes with Multimodal Neurocognitive Signatures of Social and Cognitive Processes. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 83:227-248. [PMID: 34275897 PMCID: PMC8461708 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social cognition is critically compromised across neurodegenerative diseases, including the behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). However, no previous study has used social cognition and other cognitive tasks to predict diagnoses of these conditions, let alone reporting the brain correlates of prediction outcomes. OBJECTIVE We performed a diagnostic classification analysis using social cognition, cognitive screening (CS), and executive function (EF) measures, and explored which anatomical and functional networks were associated with main predictors. METHODS Multiple group discriminant function analyses (MDAs) and ROC analyses of social cognition (facial emotional recognition, theory of mind), CS, and EF were implemented in 223 participants (bvFTD, AD, PD, controls). Gray matter volume and functional connectivity correlates of top discriminant scores were investigated. RESULTS Although all patient groups revealed deficits in social cognition, CS, and EF, our classification approach provided robust discriminatory characterizations. Regarding controls, probabilistic social cognition outcomes provided the best characterization for bvFTD (together with CS) and PD, but not AD (for which CS alone was the best predictor). Within patient groups, the best MDA probabilities scores yielded high classification rates for bvFTD versus PD (98.3%, social cognition), AD versus PD (98.6%, social cognition + CS), and bvFTD versus AD (71.7%, social cognition + CS). Top MDA scores were associated with specific patterns of atrophy and functional networks across neurodegenerative conditions. CONCLUSION Standardized validated measures of social cognition, in combination with CS, can provide a dimensional classification with specific pathophysiological markers of neurodegeneration diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Ibañez
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sol Fittipaldi
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Tania Jaramillo
- Instituto de Psicología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | | | - Juan F. Cardona
- Instituto de Psicología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Rodrigo Rivera
- Neuroradiology Department, Instituto de Neurocirugia, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrea Slachevsky
- Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory (LANNEC), Physiopathology Department - ICBM, Neuroscience and East Neuroscience Departments, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Adolfo García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maxime Bertoux
- Lille Center of Excellence for Neurodegenerative Disorders (LICEND), CHU Lille, U1172 - Lille Neurosciences & Cognition, Université de Lille, Inserm, Lille, France
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