Dual-functional network regulation underlies the central executive system in working memory

Investigating the link between genetic predictive factors of brain functional networks and two specific sleep disorders: Sleep apnoea and snoring

BACKGROUND

Sleep disorders are a widespread public health issue globally. Investigating the causal relationship between resting-state brain functional abnormalities and sleep disorders can provide scientific evidence for precision medicine interventions.

METHODS

We screened single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with rs-fMRI phenotype as instrumental variables Using bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR), mediation MR, and multivariate MR based on Bayesian methods, the study tested the causal relationship between genetically predicted rs-fMRI and nine common sleep disorders.

RESULTS

The main inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis identified four resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) phenotypes that are causally associated with the risk of sleep disorders. For example, increased amplitude in nodes of the parietal, precuneus, occipital, temporal, and cerebellum regions, as well as the default mode network (DMN), central executive network (CEN) and attention network (AN) was associated with an increased risk of sleep apnoea. Enhanced neural activity in the calcarine or lingual and cerebellum regions and increased functional connectivity with the visual and subcortical-cerebellum networks was associated with a reduced risk of snoring. The mediation MR analysis shows that, body mass index (BMI) plays a significant mediating role in the risk of sleep apnoea by modulating the amplitude of nodes in the parietal, temporal, and cerebellum regions, as well as the connectivity changes in the DMN, CEN, and AN.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified three rs-fMRI phenotypes linked to increased sleep apnoea risk and one associated with decreased snoring risk, providing an important target for the treatment of sleep disorders at the level of brain functional networks.

Cognitive neuroscience perspective on memory: overview and summary

This paper explores memory from a cognitive neuroscience perspective and examines associated neural mechanisms. It examines the different types of memory: working, declarative, and non-declarative, and the brain regions involved in each type. The paper highlights the role of different brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex in working memory and the hippocampus in declarative memory. The paper also examines the mechanisms that underlie the formation and consolidation of memory, including the importance of sleep in the consolidation of memory and the role of the hippocampus in linking new memories to existing cognitive schemata. The paper highlights two types of memory consolidation processes: cellular consolidation and system consolidation. Cellular consolidation is the process of stabilizing information by strengthening synaptic connections. System consolidation models suggest that memories are initially stored in the hippocampus and are gradually consolidated into the neocortex over time. The consolidation process involves a hippocampal-neocortical binding process incorporating newly acquired information into existing cognitive schemata. The paper highlights the role of the medial temporal lobe and its involvement in autobiographical memory. Further, the paper discusses the relationship between episodic and semantic memory and the role of the hippocampus. Finally, the paper underscores the need for further research into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying non-declarative memory, particularly conditioning. Overall, the paper provides a comprehensive overview from a cognitive neuroscience perspective of the different processes involved in memory consolidation of different types of memory.