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He H, Zhang X, He H, Xiao C, Xu G, Li L, Liu YE, Yang C, Zhou T, You Z, Zhang J. Priming of hippocampal microglia by IFN-γ/STAT1 pathway impairs social memory in mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 134:112191. [PMID: 38759369 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Social behavior is inextricably linked to the immune system. Although IFN-γ is known to be involved in social behavior, yet whether and how it encodes social memory remains unclear. In the current study, we injected with IFN-γ into the lateral ventricle of male C57BL/6J mice, and three-chamber social test was used to examine the effects of IFN-γ on their social preference and social memory. The morphology of microglia in the hippocampus, prelimbic cortex and amygdala was examined using immunohistochemistry, and the phenotype of microglia were examined using immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The IFN-γ-injected mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide, and effects of IFN-γ on behavior and microglial responses were evaluated. STAT1 pathway and microglia-neuron interactions were examined in vivo or in vitro using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Finally, we use STAT1 inhibitor or minocycline to evaluated the role of STAT1 in mediating the microglial priming and effects of primed microglia in IFN-γ-induced social dysfunction. We demonstrated that 500 ng of IFN-γ injection results in significant decrease in social index and social novelty recognition index, and induces microglial priming in hippocampus, characterized by enlarged cell bodies, shortened branches, increased expression of CD68, CD86, CD74, CD11b, CD11c, CD47, IL-33, IL-1β, IL-6 and iNOS, and decreased expression of MCR1, Arg-1, IGF-1 and BDNF. This microglia subpopulation is more sensitive to LPS challenge, which characterized by more significant morphological changes and inflammatory responses, as well as induced increased sickness behaviors in mice. IFN-γ upregulated pSTAT1 and STAT1 and promoted the nuclear translocation of STAT1 in the hippocampal microglia and in the primary microglia. Giving minocycline or STAT1 inhibitor fludarabin blocked the priming of hippocampal microglia induced by IFN-γ, ameliorated the dysfunction in hippocampal microglia-neuron interactions and synapse pruning by microglia, thereby improving social memory deficits in IFN-γ injected mice. IFN-γ initiates STAT1 pathway to induce priming of hippocampal microglia, thereby disrupts hippocampal microglia-neuron interactions and neural circuit link to social memory. Blocking STAT1 pathway or inhibiting microglial priming may be strategies to reduce the effects of IFN-γ on social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haili He
- Resource Institute for Chinese & Ethnic Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xiaomei Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Hui He
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Chenghong Xiao
- Resource Institute for Chinese & Ethnic Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Gaojie Xu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Liangyuan Li
- Resource Institute for Chinese & Ethnic Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yu-E Liu
- Resource Institute for Chinese & Ethnic Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Chengyan Yang
- Resource Institute for Chinese & Ethnic Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Tao Zhou
- Resource Institute for Chinese & Ethnic Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China.
| | - Zili You
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
| | - Jinqiang Zhang
- Resource Institute for Chinese & Ethnic Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China.
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Chen T, Meng H, Fang N, Shi P, Chen M, Liu Q, Lv L, Li W. Age-related changes in behavior profile in male offspring of rats treated with poly I:C-induced maternal immune activation in early gestation. Animal Model Exp Med 2024. [PMID: 38741390 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism and schizophrenia are environmental risk factors associated with prenatal viral infection during pregnancy. It is still unclear whether behavior phenotypes change at different developmental stages in offspring following the activation of the maternal immune system. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats received a single caudal vein injection of 10 mg/kg polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) on gestational day 9 and the offspring were comprehensively tested for behaviors in adolescence and adulthood. RESULTS Maternal serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α were elevated in poly I:C-treated dams. The offspring of maternal poly I:C-induced rats showed increased anxiety, impaired social approach, and progressive impaired cognitive and sensorimotor gating function. CONCLUSION Maternal immune activation led to developmental specificity behavioral impairment in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Huadan Meng
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Ni Fang
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Peiling Shi
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Mengxue Chen
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
| | - Luxian Lv
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Province People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenqiang Li
- Henan Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Key Lab of Biological Psychiatry of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Henan, Xinxiang, China
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorder, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
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Cohenour T, Dickinson A, Jeste S, Gulsrud A, Kasari C. Patterns of spontaneous neural activity associated with social communication abilities among infants and toddlers showing signs of autism. Eur J Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38703054 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Early disruptions to social communication development, including delays in joint attention and language, are among the earliest markers of autism spectrum disorder (autism, henceforth). Although social communication differences are a core feature of autism, there is marked heterogeneity in social communication-related development among infants and toddlers exhibiting autism symptoms. Neural markers of individual differences in joint attention and language abilities may provide important insight into heterogeneity in autism symptom expression during infancy and toddlerhood. This study examined patterns of spontaneous electroencephalography (EEG) activity associated with joint attention and language skills in 70 community-referred 12- to 23-month-olds with autism symptoms and elevated scores on an autism diagnostic instrument. Data-driven cluster-based permutation analyses revealed significant positive associations between relative alpha power (6-9 Hz) and concurrent response to joint attention skills, receptive language, and expressive language abilities. Exploratory analyses also revealed significant negative associations between relative alpha power and measures of core autism features (i.e., social communication difficulties and restricted/repetitive behaviors). These findings shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying typical and atypical social communication development in emerging autism and provide a foundation for future work examining neural predictors of social communication growth and markers of intervention response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torrey Cohenour
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Abigail Dickinson
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shafali Jeste
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Amanda Gulsrud
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Connie Kasari
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Kausel L, Michon M, Soto-Icaza P, Aboitiz F. A multimodal interface for speech perception: the role of the left superior temporal sulcus in social cognition and autism. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:84-93. [PMID: 38696598 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Multimodal integration is crucial for human interaction, in particular for social communication, which relies on integrating information from various sensory modalities. Recently a third visual pathway specialized in social perception was proposed, which includes the right superior temporal sulcus (STS) playing a key role in processing socially relevant cues and high-level social perception. Importantly, it has also recently been proposed that the left STS contributes to audiovisual integration of speech processing. In this article, we propose that brain areas along the right STS that support multimodal integration for social perception and cognition can be considered homologs to those in the left, language-dominant hemisphere, sustaining multimodal integration of speech and semantic concepts fundamental for social communication. Emphasizing the significance of the left STS in multimodal integration and associated processes such as multimodal attention to socially relevant stimuli, we underscore its potential relevance in comprehending neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by challenges in social communication such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Further research into this left lateral processing stream holds the promise of enhancing our understanding of social communication in both typical development and ASD, which may lead to more effective interventions that could improve the quality of life for individuals with atypical neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Kausel
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología (CENHN), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Chile, Vergara 275, 8370076 Santiago, Chile
| | - Maëva Michon
- Praxiling Laboratory, Joint Research Unit (UMR 5267), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier, France, Route de Mende, 34199 Montpellier cedex 5, France
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile, Marcoleta 391, 2do piso, 8330024 Santiago, Chile
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Evolutiva, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile, Marcoleta 391, 2do piso, 8330024 Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricia Soto-Icaza
- Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social (CICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile, Av. Las Condes 12461, edificio 3, piso 3, 7590943, Las Condes Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Aboitiz
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile, Marcoleta 391, 2do piso, 8330024 Santiago, Chile
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Evolutiva, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile, Marcoleta 391, 2do piso, 8330024 Santiago, Chile
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5
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Simmons GL, Corbett BA, Lerner MD, Wofford K, White SW. Social competence in autism: A structural equation modeling approach. Autism Res 2024; 17:761-774. [PMID: 38481386 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Autistic individuals present with difficulties in social competence (e.g., navigating social interactions and fostering relationships). Clinical interventions widely target social cognition and social behavior, but there is inconsistent understanding of the underlying components of social competence. The present study used structural equation modeling to examine social cognition and social behavior and explore the relationship between these latent constructs. Autistic youth (ages 10-17; n = 219) and their caregivers participated in this study. Constructs of social cognition and social behavior were captured using caregiver-report and self-report rating scales, as well as observational measures and direct clinical assessments (e.g., NEPSY-II). Measurement models of social cognition and social behavior demonstrated adequate to good fit. Correlational models demonstrated adequate to poor fit, indicating latent constructs of social cognition and social behavior are not closely related in autistic youth. Exploratory examination of a subsample of male youth (n = 157) evidenced improved model fit of social behavior, specifically. Findings tease apart social cognition and social behavior as cohesive and separable constructs; results do not support a structural relationship between social cognition and social behavior. Noted treatment implications include consideration of how targeting social cognition and social behavior together or separately may support autistic youth's progress toward reaching their identified therapeutic goals and supporting their self-directed social development.
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Affiliation(s)
- G L Simmons
- TEACCH Autism Program, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Youth Development and Intervention, Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - B A Corbett
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - M D Lerner
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - K Wofford
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - S W White
- Center for Youth Development and Intervention, Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
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Zhang L, Ren T, He H, Huang L, Huang R, Xu Y, Zhou L, Tan H, Chen J, Wu D, Yang H, Zhang H, Yu J, Du X, Dai Y, Pu Y, Li C, Wang X, Shi S, Sahakian BJ, Luo Q, Li F. Protective factors for children with autism spectrum disorder during COVID-19-related strict lockdowns: a Shanghai autism early developmental cohort study. Psychol Med 2024; 54:1102-1112. [PMID: 37997447 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 lockdowns increased the risk of mental health problems, especially for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, despite its importance, little is known about the protective factors for ASD children during the lockdowns. METHODS Based on the Shanghai Autism Early Developmental Cohort, 188 ASD children with two visits before and after the strict Omicron lockdown were included; 85 children were lockdown-free, while 52 and 51 children were under the longer and the shorter durations of strict lockdown, respectively. We tested the association of the lockdown group with the clinical improvement and also the modulation effects of parent/family-related factors on this association by linear regression/mixed-effect models. Within the social brain structures, we examined the voxel-wise interaction between the grey matter volume and the identified modulation effects. RESULTS Compared with the lockdown-free group, the ASD children experienced the longer duration of strict lockdown had less clinical improvement (β = 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.19-0.79], p = 0.001) and this difference was greatest for social cognition (2.62 [0.94-4.30], p = 0.002). We found that this association was modulated by parental agreeableness in a protective way (-0.11 [-0.17 to -0.05], p = 0.002). This protective effect was enhanced in the ASD children with larger grey matter volumes in the brain's mentalizing network, including the temporal pole, the medial superior frontal gyrus, and the superior temporal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS This longitudinal neuroimaging cohort study identified that the parental agreeableness interacting with the ASD children's social brain development reduced the negative impact on clinical symptoms during the strict lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingli Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tai Ren
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hua He
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Like Huang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Runqi Huang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yixiang Xu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Hangyu Tan
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyu Chen
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Danping Wu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanshu Yang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haotian Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Juehua Yu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Center for Experimental Studies and Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Xiujuan Du
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Dai
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiwei Pu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunbo Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shenxun Shi
- Psychiatry Department of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Barbara J Sahakian
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Qiang Luo
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institutes of Brain Science and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Fei Li
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric and Child Primary Care, Brain and Behavioral Research Unit of Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research and Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory for Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Quiñones-Labernik P, Blocklinger KL, Bruce MR, Ferri SL. Excess neonatal testosterone causes male-specific social and fear memory deficits in wild-type mice. bioRxiv 2024:2023.10.18.562939. [PMID: 37905064 PMCID: PMC10614869 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.18.562939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (ND) disproportionately affect males compared to females, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in particular exhibits a 4:1 male bias. The biological mechanisms of this female protection or male susceptibility have not been identified. There is some evidence to suggest that fetal/neonatal gonadal hormones, which play pivotal roles in many aspects of development, may contribute. Here, we investigate the role of testosterone administration during a critical period of development, and its effects on social approach and fear learning in C57BL/6J wildtype mice. Male, but not female mice treated with testosterone on the day of birth (PN0) exhibited deficits in both social behavior and contextual fear conditioning, whereas mice treated with the same dose of testosterone on postnatal day 18 (PN18) did not display such impairments. Testosterone administration did not induce anxiogenic effects or lead to changes in body weight compared to the vehicle-treated group. These impairmeants are relevant to ND and may help identify novel treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sarah L Ferri
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
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Fernández de Gamarra-Oca L, Lucas-Jiménez O, Ontañón JM, Loureiro-Gonzalez B, Peña J, Ibarretxe-Bilbao N, García-Guerrero MA, Ojeda N, Zubiaurre-Elorza L. Amygdala structure and function and its associations with social-emotional outcomes in a low-risk preterm sample. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:477-488. [PMID: 38236400 PMCID: PMC10917835 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02749-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Amygdala atypical volume development and functional connectivity (FC) at small gestational ages (GA) have been found across childhood. This adult-oriented study assesses whether altered amygdala structure and function is present following low-risk preterm birth. T1-weighted and resting-state functional MRI images of 33 low-risk preterm (30-36 weeks' GA) and 29 full-term (37-42 weeks' GA) young adults of both sexes, aged between 20 and 32 years old, were analyzed using FreeSurfer (v6.0.0) and Coon Toolbox (v21.a). The social-emotional assessment included Happé's Strange Stories Test, the Moral Judgment Test, Delay-Discounting Test, Adult Self Report, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. No differences were found in social-emotional outcomes or amygdala volumes between the groups. Low-risk preterm young adults showed increased FC between the left amygdala, right amygdala and medial frontal cortex (MedFC) (F = 9.89, p-FWE = 0.009) at cluster level compared to their full-term peers. However, significant results at connection level were not observed between left and right amygdala. Lastly, increased FC at cluster level between the right amygdala and MedFC, and left amygdala and MedFC, was related to better social-emotional outcomes only in low-risk preterm young adults (F = 6.60, p-FWE = 0.036) at cluster level. At connection level, in contrast, only right amygdala-MedFC increased FC was significantly associated with better social-emotional outcomes. This study reveals that low-risk prematurity does not have an effect on social-emotional outcomes or structural amygdala volumes during young adulthood. However, individuals who were considered to be at a lower risk of exhibiting neurodevelopmental alterations following preterm birth demonstrated increased FC between the left and right amygdala and MedFC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - O Lucas-Jiménez
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - J M Ontañón
- OSATEK, MR Unit, Galdakao Hospital, Galdakao, Spain
| | - B Loureiro-Gonzalez
- Division of Neonatology, Biocruces Health Research Institute, Cruces University Hospital, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - J Peña
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - N Ibarretxe-Bilbao
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - M A García-Guerrero
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - N Ojeda
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - L Zubiaurre-Elorza
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain.
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9
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Bershad AK, Hsu DT, de Wit H. MDMA enhances positive affective responses to social feedback. J Psychopharmacol 2024; 38:297-304. [PMID: 38279662 DOI: 10.1177/02698811231224153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prosocial compound ± 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an amphetamine derivative that has shown promise as an adjunct to psychotherapy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. MDMA increases positive responses to social images, and it has been suggested that the ability of MDMA to positively bias social perception may underlie its therapeutic efficacy as a psychotherapy adjunct. However, the effect of the compound on affective responses to positive or negative social feedback has not been tested. AIMS In this study, we aimed to test the effects of MDMA compared to placebo and the prototypical stimulant, methamphetamine (MA), on responses to positive and negative social feedback. METHODS This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial (NCT03790618), comparing the effects of two doses of MDMA (0.75 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg) to both placebo and MA (20 mg) on responses to a personalized social feedback task, similar to a dating app, in healthy adult volunteers ages 18-40 (N = 36, 18 women, 18 men). RESULTS/OUTCOMES The high dose of MDMA increased positive affective responses to social feedback. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATIONS These findings suggest one process by which MDMA may facilitate social connection. Further work is needed to understand how MDMA affects responses to more generalized types of social feedback and to understand these effects in clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anya K Bershad
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David T Hsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Harriet de Wit
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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10
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Gumusburun R, Altay S, Cengiz H, Hakverdioglu Yont G, Kuman Tuncel O, Ardeniz O. Psychosocial Evaluation of Adults with Primary Immunodeficiency. J Clin Immunol 2024; 44:71. [PMID: 38411715 PMCID: PMC10899353 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-024-01671-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Primary immunodeficiency disorder (PID) is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by immune dysregulation and increased susceptibility to infections, with various cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social effects on patients. This study aimed to evaluate loneliness, social adaptation, anxiety, and depression and to identify associated factors in adults with immunodeficiency. METHODS A cross-sectional study in Turkey (Feb-Aug 2022) obtained sociodemographic data from patient records. The Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale (SASS), UCLA-Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered in individual patient interviews. HADS-Anxiety (HADS-A) and HADS-Depression (HADS-D) scores were assessed using cut-offs of 10 and 7, respectively; SASS cut-offs for social imbalance and normalcy were < 25 and > 35, respectively. RESULTS A total of 104 patients (60 women, 44 men) with a median age of 34 years (range: 18-89) were included in the study. Mean scores were SASS: 34.46 ± 8.11, UCLA-LS: 44.89 ± 12.66, HADS-A: 9.87 ± 4.77, and HADS-D: 9.12 ± 4.80. SASS score was negatively correlated with HADS-A, HADS-D, and UCLA-LS scores. There were positive correlations between UCLA-LS and HADS-A (r = -0.355, p < 0.01) and HADS-D (r = -0.614, p < 0.01) and between HADS-A and HADS-D (r = -0.454, p < 0.01). Low-income level was associated with higher HADS-A, HADS-D, and UCLA-LS scores and lower SASS score (p = 0.012, p = 0.041, p = 0.008, and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION Adults with PID are at risk for depression and experience high levels of loneliness. Social maladjustment and loneliness contribute to anxiety and depression, and loneliness is correlated with impaired social functioning. These findings emphasize the importance of biopsychosocial evaluation of individuals diagnosed with PID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyhan Gumusburun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ege University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Sevgi Altay
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ege University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | | | | | - Omur Ardeniz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ege University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey
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11
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Lafta MS, Mwinyi J, Affatato O, Rukh G, Dang J, Andersson G, Schiöth HB. Exploring sex differences: insights into gene expression, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, cognition, and pathology. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1340108. [PMID: 38449735 PMCID: PMC10915038 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1340108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Increased knowledge about sex differences is important for development of individualized treatments against many diseases as well as understanding behavioral and pathological differences. This review summarizes sex chromosome effects on gene expression, epigenetics, and hormones in relation to the brain. We explore neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, cognition, and brain pathology aiming to explain the current state of the art. While some domains exhibit strong differences, others reveal subtle differences whose overall significance warrants clarification. We hope that the current review increases awareness and serves as a basis for the planning of future studies that consider both sexes equally regarding similarities and differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muataz S. Lafta
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Mwinyi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Oreste Affatato
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Women’s Mental Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gull Rukh
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Junhua Dang
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gerhard Andersson
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helgi B. Schiöth
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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12
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Schmid Y, Bershad AK. Altered States and Social Bonds: Effects of MDMA and Serotonergic Psychedelics on Social Behavior as a Mechanism Underlying Substance-Assisted Therapy. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging 2024:S2451-9022(24)00046-6. [PMID: 38341085 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
There has been renewed interest in the use of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) and serotonergic psychedelics in the treatment of multiple psychiatric disorders. Many of these compounds are known to produce prosocial effects, but how these effects relate to therapeutic efficacy and the extent to which prosocial effects are unique to a particular drug class is unknown. In this article, we present a narrative overview and compare evidence for the prosocial effects of MDMA and serotonergic psychedelics to elucidate shared mechanisms that may underlie the therapeutic process. We discuss 4 categories of prosocial effects: altered self-image, responses to social reward, responses to negative social input, and social neuroplasticity. While both categories of drugs alter self-perception, MDMA may do so in a way that is less related to the experience of mystical-type states than serotonergic psychedelics. In the case of social reward, evidence supports the ability of MDMA to enhance responses and suggests that serotonergic psychedelics may also do so, but more research is needed in this area. Both drug classes consistently dampen reactivity to negative social stimuli. Finally, preclinical evidence supports the ability of both drug classes to induce social neuroplasticity, promoting adaptive rewiring of neural circuits, which may be helpful in trauma processing. While both MDMA and serotonergic psychedelics produce prosocial effects, they differ in the mechanisms through which they do this. These differences affect the types of psychosocial interventions that may work best with each compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Schmid
- Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine and Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Switzerland; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anya K Bershad
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
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13
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Goikolea-Vives A, Fernandes C, Thomas MSC, Thornton C, Stolp HB. Sex-specific behavioural deficits in adulthood following acute activation of the GABAA receptor in the neonatal mouse. Dev Neurosci 2024:000536641. [PMID: 38325353 DOI: 10.1159/000536641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sex differences exist in the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Part of the aetiology of NDDs has been proposed to be alterations in the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, leading to the question of whether males and females respond differently to altered neurotransmitter balance. We investigated whether pharmacological alteration of GABAA signalling in early development results in sex-dependent changes in adult behaviours associated with NDDs. METHODS Male and female C57BL/6J mice received intraperitoneal injections of 0.5mg/kg muscimol or saline on postnatal days (P) 3-5 and were subjected to behavioural testing, specifically open field, light dark box, marble burying, sucralose preference, social interaction and olfactory habituation/dishabituation tests between P60-90. RESULTS Early postnatal administration of muscimol resulted in reduced anxiety in the light dark box test in both male and female adult mice. Muscimol reduced sucralose preference in males, but not females, whereas female mice showed reduced social behaviours. Regional alterations in cortical thickness were observed in the weeks following GABAA receptor activation, pointing to an evolving structural difference in the brain underlying adult behaviour. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that activation of the GABAA receptor in the first week of life resulted in long-lasting changes in a range of behaviours in adulthood following altered neurodevelopment. Sex of the individual affected the nature and severity of these abnormalities, explaining part of the varied pathophysiology and neurodevelopmental diagnosis that derive from excitatory/inhibitory imbalance.
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14
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Anada R, Watanabe H, Shimojo A, Shiraishi H, Yokosawa K. Brain activity supporting alternating speech for semantic words: simultaneous magnetoencephalographic recording. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae031. [PMID: 38342686 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Communication, especially conversation, is essential for human social life. Many previous studies have examined the neuroscientific underpinnings of conversation, i.e. language comprehension and speech production. However, conversation inherently involves two or more people, and unless two people actually interact with one another, the nature of the conversation cannot be truly revealed. Therefore, in this study, we used two magnetoencephalographs that were connected together, and simultaneously recorded brain activity while two people took turns speaking in a word association/alphabet completion task. We compared the amplitude modulation of the alpha- and beta-band rhythms within each of the 62 brain regions under semantic (word association; less predictable) and non-semantic (alphabet completion; more predictable) conditions. We found that the amplitudes of the rhythms were significantly different between conditions in a wide range of brain regions. Additionally, significant differences were observed in nearly the same group of brain regions after versus before each utterance, indicating that a wide range of brain areas is involved in predicting a conversation partner's next utterance. This result supports the idea that mentalizing, e.g. predicting another person's speech, plays an important role in conversation, and suggests that the neural network implicated in mentalizing extends over a wide range of brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risa Anada
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, N-12, W-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hayato Watanabe
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, N-12, W-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Child Studies, Toyooka Junior College, Tobera 160, Toyooka 668-8580, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Shimojo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, N-12, W-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, N-15, W-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hideaki Shiraishi
- Department of Pediatrics, Hokkaido University Hospital, N-14, W-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8648, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Koichi Yokosawa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, N-12, W-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Hokkaido, Japan
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15
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Truby NL, Kim RK, Silva GM, Qu X, Picone JA, Alemu R, Atiyeh CN, Neve RL, Liu J, Cui X, Hamilton PJ. A zinc finger transcription factor enables social behaviors while controlling transposable elements and immune response in prefrontal cortex. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:59. [PMID: 38272911 PMCID: PMC10810849 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02775-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The neurobiological origins of social behaviors are incompletely understood. Here we utilized synthetic biology approaches to reprogram the function of ZFP189, a transcription factor whose expression and function in rodent prefrontal cortex was previously demonstrated to be protective against stress-induced social deficits. We created novel synthetic ZFP189 transcription factors including ZFP189VPR, which activates the transcription of target genes and therefore exerts opposite functional control from the endogenous, transcriptionally repressive ZFP189WT. Following viral delivery of these synthetic ZFP189 transcription factors to mouse prefrontal cortex, we observe that ZFP189-mediated transcriptional control promotes mature dendritic spine morphology on transduced pyramidal neurons. Interestingly, inversion of ZFP189-mediated transcription in this brain area, achieved by viral delivery of synthetic ZFP189VPR, precipitates social behavioral deficits in terms of social interaction, motivation, and the cognition necessary for the maintenance of social hierarchy, without other observable behavioral deficits. RNA sequencing of virally manipulated prefrontal cortex tissues reveals that ZFP189 transcription factors of opposing regulatory function (ZFP189WT versus ZFP189VPR) have opposite influence on the expression of genetic transposable elements as well as genes that participate in adaptive immune functions. Collectively, this work reveals that ZFP189 function in the prefrontal cortex coordinates structural and transcriptional neuroadaptations necessary for complex social behaviors while regulating transposable element-rich regions of DNA and the expression of immune-related genes. Given the evidence for a co-evolution of social behavior and the brain immune response, we posit that ZFP189 may have evolved to augment brain transposon-associated immune function as a way of enhancing an animal's capacity for functioning in social groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie L Truby
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - R Kijoon Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Gabriella M Silva
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Xufeng Qu
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Joseph A Picone
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Rebecca Alemu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Claire N Atiyeh
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Rachael L Neve
- Gene Delivery Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jinze Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Xiaohong Cui
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Peter J Hamilton
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
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16
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Wang X, Huang CC, Tsai SJ, Lin CP, Cai Q. The aging trajectories of brain functional hierarchy and its impact on cognition across the adult lifespan. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1331574. [PMID: 38313436 PMCID: PMC10837851 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1331574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The hierarchical network architecture of the human brain, pivotal to cognition and behavior, can be explored via gradient analysis using restingstate functional MRI data. Although it has been employed to understand brain development and disorders, the impact of aging on this hierarchical architecture and its link to cognitive decline remains elusive. Methods This study utilized resting-state functional MRI data from 350 healthy adults (aged 20-85) to investigate the functional hierarchical network using connectome gradient analysis with a cross-age sliding window approach. Gradient-related metrics were estimated and correlated with age to evaluate trajectory of gradient changes across lifespan. Results The principal gradient (unimodal-to-transmodal) demonstrated a significant non-linear relationship with age, whereas the secondary gradient (visual-to-somatomotor) showed a simple linear decreasing pattern. Among the principal gradient, significant age-related changes were observed in the somatomotor, dorsal attention, limbic and default mode networks. The changes in the gradient scores of both the somatomotor and frontal-parietal networks were associated with greater working memory and visuospatial ability. Gender differences were found in global gradient metrics and gradient scores of somatomotor and default mode networks in the principal gradient, with no interaction with age effect. Discussion Our study delves into the aging trajectories of functional connectome gradient and its cognitive impact across the adult lifespan, providing insights for future research into the biological underpinnings of brain function and pathological models of atypical aging processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chu-Chung Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai, China
- NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Shih-Jen Tsai
- Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Po Lin
- Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Qing Cai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai, China
- NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, China
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Cobb-Lewis D, George A, Hu S, Packard K, Song M, Nguyen-Lopez O, Tesone E, Rowden J, Wang J, Opendak M. The lateral habenula integrates age and experience to promote social transitions in developing rats. bioRxiv 2024:2024.01.12.575446. [PMID: 38260652 PMCID: PMC10802604 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.12.575446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Social behavior deficits are an early-emerging marker of psychopathology and are linked with early caregiving quality. However, the infant neural substrates linking early care to social development are poorly understood. Here, we focused on the infant lateral habenula (LHb), a highly-conserved brain region at the nexus between forebrain and monoaminergic circuits. Despite its consistent links to adult psychopathology, this brain region has been understudied in development when the brain is most vulnerable to environmental impacts. In a task combining social and threat cues, suppressing LHb principal neurons had opposing effects in infants versus juveniles, suggesting the LHb promotes a developmental switch in social approach behavior under threat. We observed that early caregiving adversity (ECA) disrupts typical growth curves of LHb baseline structure and function, including volume, firing patterns, neuromodulatory receptor expression, and functional connectivity with cortical regions. Further, we observed that suppressing cortical projections to the LHb rescued social approach deficits following ECA, identifying this microcircuit as a substrate for disrupted social behavior. Together, these results identify immediate biomarkers of ECA in the LHb and highlight this region as a site of early social processing and behavior control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Cobb-Lewis
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD USA 21205
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD USA 21205
| | - Anne George
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD USA 21205
| | - Shannon Hu
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD USA 21205
| | | | - Mingyuan Song
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD USA 21205
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD USA 21205
| | - Oliver Nguyen-Lopez
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD USA 21205
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD USA 21205
| | - Emily Tesone
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD USA 21205
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD USA 21205
| | - Jhanay Rowden
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD USA 21205
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD USA 21205
| | - Julie Wang
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD USA 21205
| | - Maya Opendak
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore MD USA 21205
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD USA 21205
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18
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Kent J, Pinkham A. Cerebral and cerebellar correlates of social cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 128:110850. [PMID: 37657639 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Social cognition is a broad construct encompassing the ways in which individuals perceive, process, and use information about other people. Social cognition involves both lower- and higher-level processes such as emotion recognition and theory of mind, respectively. Social cognitive impairments have been repeatedly demonstrated in schizophrenia spectrum illnesses and, crucially, are related to functional outcomes. In this review, we summarize the literature investigating the brain networks implicated in social cognitive impairments in schizophrenia spectrum illnesses. In addition to cortical and limbic loci and networks, we also discuss evidence for cerebellar contributions to social cognitive impairment in this population. We conclude by synthesizing these two literatures, with an emphasis on current knowledge gaps, particularly in regard to cerebellar influences, and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerillyn Kent
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Amy Pinkham
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States.
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19
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Parsons TD. High-dimensional Metaverse Platforms and the Virtually Extended Self. J Cogn 2024; 7:2. [PMID: 38223229 PMCID: PMC10785999 DOI: 10.5334/joc.327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of cognition has traditionally used low-dimensional measures and stimulus presentations that emphasize laboratory control over high-dimensional (i.e., ecologically valid) tools that reflect the activities and interactions in everyday living. Although controlled experimental presentations in laboratories have enhanced our understanding of cognition for both healthy and clinical cohorts, high dimensionality may extend reality and cognition. High-dimensional Metaverse approaches use extended reality (XR) platforms with dynamic stimulus presentations that couple humans and simulation technologies to extend cognition. The plan for this paper is as follows: The "Extending from low to high-dimensional studies of cognition" section discusses current needs for high-dimensional stimulus presentations that reflect everyday cognitive activities. In the "Algorithmic devices and digital extension of cognition" section, technologies of the extended mind are introduced with the Metaverse as a candidate cognitive process for extension. Next, in the "A neurocognitive framework for understanding technologies of the extended mind" section, a framework and model are proposed for understanding the neural correlates of human technology couplings in terms of automatic algorithmic processes (limbic-ventral striatal loop); reflective cognition (prefrontal-dorsal striatal loop); and algorithmic processing (insular cortex). The algorithmic processes of human-technology interactions can, over time, become an automated and algorithmic coupling of brain and technology. The manuscript ends with a brief summary and discussion of the ways in which the Metaverse can be used for studying how persons respond to high-dimensional stimuli in simulations that approximate real-world activities and interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D. Parsons
- Grace Center, Edson College, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, US
- Computational Neuropsychology & Simulation (CNS) Lab, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, US
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Rappaport BI, Kujawa A, Arfer KB, Pegg S, Kelly D, Jackson JJ, Luby JL, Barch DM. Behavioral and psychiatric correlates of brain responses to social feedback. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14413. [PMID: 37612834 PMCID: PMC10841166 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Maladaptive responses to peer acceptance and rejection arise in numerous psychiatric disorders in adolescence; yet, homogeneity and heterogeneity across disorders suggest common and unique mechanisms of impaired social function. We tested the hypothesis that social feedback is processed similarly to other forms of feedback (e.g., monetary) by examining the correspondence between the brain's response to social acceptance and rejection and behavioral performance on a separate reward and loss task. We also examined the relationship between these brain responses and depression and social anxiety severity. The sample consisted of one hundred and thirteen 16-21-year olds who received virtual peer acceptance/rejection feedback in an event-related potential (ERP) task. We used temporospatial principal component analysis and identified a component consistent with the reward positivity (RewP) or feedback negativity (FN). RewP to social acceptance was not significantly related to reward bias or the FN to social rejection related to loss avoidance. The relationship between RewP and depression severity, while nonsignificant, was of a similar magnitude to prior studies. Exploratory analyses yielded a significant relationship between lower socioeconomic status (SES) and blunted RewP and between lower SES and heightened loss avoidance and blunted reward bias. These findings build on prior work to improve our understanding of the function of the brain's response to social feedback, while also suggesting a pathway for further study, whereby poverty leads to depression via social and reward learning mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Autumn Kujawa
- Department of Psychology & Human Development Vanderbilt University
| | | | - Samantha Pegg
- Department of Psychology & Human Development Vanderbilt University
| | - Danielle Kelly
- Department of Psychiatry School of Medicine Washington University in St. Louis
| | | | - Joan L. Luby
- Department of Psychiatry School of Medicine Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Deanna M. Barch
- Psychological & Brain Science Washington University in St. Louis
- Department of Psychiatry School of Medicine Washington University in St. Louis
- Department of Radiology School of Medicine Washington University in St. Louis
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21
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Yu H, Lin C, Sun S, Cao R, Kar K, Wang S. Multimodal investigations of emotional face processing and social trait judgment of faces. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2024; 1531:29-48. [PMID: 37965931 PMCID: PMC10858652 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Faces are among the most important visual stimuli that humans perceive in everyday life. While extensive literature has examined emotional processing and social evaluations of faces, most studies have examined either topic using unimodal approaches. In this review, we promote the use of multimodal cognitive neuroscience approaches to study these processes, using two lines of research as examples: ambiguity in facial expressions of emotion and social trait judgment of faces. In the first set of studies, we identified an event-related potential that signals emotion ambiguity using electroencephalography and we found convergent neural responses to emotion ambiguity using functional neuroimaging and single-neuron recordings. In the second set of studies, we discuss how different neuroimaging and personality-dimensional approaches together provide new insights into social trait judgments of faces. In both sets of studies, we provide an in-depth comparison between neurotypicals and people with autism spectrum disorder. We offer a computational account for the behavioral and neural markers of the different facial processing between the two groups. Finally, we suggest new practices for studying the emotional processing and social evaluations of faces. All data discussed in the case studies of this review are publicly available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Yu
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Chujun Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sai Sun
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Runnan Cao
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kohitij Kar
- Department of Biology, Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shuo Wang
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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22
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Parrella NF, Hill AT, Dipnall LM, Loke YJ, Enticott PG, Ford TC. Inhibitory dysfunction and social processing difficulties in autism: A comprehensive narrative review. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 169:113-125. [PMID: 38016393 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has a prominent role in regulating neural development and function, with disruption to GABAergic signalling linked to behavioural phenotypes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism. Such neurochemical disruption, likely resulting from diverse genetic and molecular mechanisms, particularly during early development, can subsequently affect the cellular balance of excitation and inhibition in neuronal circuits, which may account for the social processing difficulties observed in autism and related conditions. This comprehensive narrative review integrates diverse streams of research from several disciplines, including molecular neurobiology, genetics, epigenetics, and systems neuroscience. In so doing it aims to elucidate the relevance of inhibitory dysfunction to autism, with specific focus on social processing difficulties that represent a core feature of this disorder. Many of the social processing difficulties experienced in autism have been linked to higher levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and/or lower levels of inhibitory GABA. While current therapeutic options for social difficulties in autism are largely limited to behavioural interventions, this review highlights the psychopharmacological studies that explore the utility of GABA modulation in alleviating such difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aron T Hill
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lillian M Dipnall
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Early Life Epigenetics Group, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Yuk Jing Loke
- Epigenetics Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter G Enticott
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Talitha C Ford
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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23
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Corbett BA, Key AP, Klemencic ME, Muscatello RA, Jones D, Pilkington J, Burroughs C, Vandekar S. Investigating Social Competence in a Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial of a Theatre-Based Intervention Enhanced for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06214-0. [PMID: 38109034 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06214-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by challenges in social competence that persist in adulthood, yet few treatment options exist. A pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) of a peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention with established efficacy in youth with ASD was examined in autistic adults. The final sample consisted of forty-seven 18-to-40-year-old participants randomized to the experimental (EXP N = 23) or waitlist control (WLC N = 24) condition. A multimodal, social interdependent model was employed to examine social competence changes in brain (incidental face memory (IFM) using event-related potentials), cognition (Wechsler Memory Scale-III), behavior (Contextual Assessment of Social Skills) and function (Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS); Adaptive Behavior Assessment Scale (ABAS) Social Composite). Using analysis of covariance in which pretest was controlled in the model, posttest between-group differences were observed on IFM (p = 0.016, η2 = 0.139, d = 0.79) and several social and adaptive functional (SRS, ABAS) outcomes in social communication and interaction (SCI) (p = 0.019, η2 = 0.121, d = -00.45), communication (p = 0.044 η2 = 0.09, d = -00.31), and motivation (p = 0.001, η2 = 0.229, d = -0.79) domains. At two-month follow-up, gains in social motivation remained (p = 0.041, η2 = 0.100, d = -0.77). The results offer preliminary support for a unique theatre-based social skills intervention for autistic adults who have few treatment options to enhance social competence. The trial was pre-registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04349644).
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Affiliation(s)
- Blythe A Corbett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Alexandra P Key
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mark E Klemencic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Rachael A Muscatello
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dorita Jones
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jennifer Pilkington
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Christina Burroughs
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Simon Vandekar
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Rincón-Cortés M, Grace AA. Sex-dependent emergence of prepubertal social dysfunction and augmented dopamine activity in a neurodevelopmental rodent model relevant for schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2023; 262:32-39. [PMID: 37922841 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.10.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder that often emerges in adolescence, is characterized by social dysfunction, and has an earlier onset in men. These features have been replicated in rats exposed to the mitotoxin methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) on gestational day (GD) 17, which as adults exhibit behavioral impairments and dopamine (DA) system changes consistent with a schizophrenia-relevant rodent model. In humans, social withdrawal is a negative symptom that often precedes disease onset and DA system dysfunction and is more pronounced in men. Children and adolescents at high-risk for schizophrenia exhibit social deficits prior to psychotic symptoms (i.e., prodromal phase), which can be used as a predictive marker for future psychopathology. Adult MAM rats also exhibit deficient social interaction, but less is known regarding the emergence of social dysfunction in this model, whether it varies by sex, and whether it is linked to disrupted DA function. To this end, we characterized the ontogeny of social and DA dysfunction in male and female MAM rats during the prepubertal period (postnatal days 33-43) and found sex-specific changes in motivated social behaviors (play, approach) and DA function. Male MAM rats exhibited reduced social approach and increased VTA DA neuron activity compared to saline-treated (SAL) males, whereas female MAM rats exhibited enhanced play behaviors compared to SAL females but no changes in social approach or VTA population activity during this period. These findings demonstrate sex differences in the emergence of social and DA deficits in the MAM model, in which females exhibit delayed emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Millie Rincón-Cortés
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States.
| | - Anthony A Grace
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States
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25
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Arakawa H. Revisiting sociability: Factors facilitating approach and avoidance during the three-chamber test. Physiol Behav 2023; 272:114373. [PMID: 37805136 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
The three-chamber test, the so-called sociability test, has been widely used to assess social deficits based on impaired socially oriented investigations in rodent models. An innate motivation for investigating conspecifics is theoretically a prerequisite for gaining sociability scores in this paradigm. However, several relevant factors mediating investigatory motives, such as familiarity, attractiveness, and aggression, may affect sociability scores, which must be verified to obtain an adequate evaluation of the psychiatric phenotypes exhibited by disease-relevant rodent models. We assessed the social and non-social factors that mediate proximity preference by the three-chamber test with standard C57BL/6 J (B6) mice and low sociability BTBR+ltpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice. Strains of the opponents had no effect. Sexual cues (i.e., opposite sex) increased proximity preference in both strains of mice; in contrast, novel objects induced an approach in B6 mice but avoidance in BTBR mice. Single-housing before testing, stimulated social motive, affected BTBR mice but not B6 mice. BTBR females showed increased proximity preference across the sessions, and BTBR males showed increased preference toward a male B6 stimulus, but not a male BTBR stimulus. The male preference was restored when the male BTBR stimulus was anesthetized. In addition, self-grooming was facilitated by social and non-social novelty cues in both strains. B6 mice predominantly exhibited an investigatory approach toward social or non-social stimuli, whereas BTBR mice recognized social cues but tended to show avoidance. The three-chamber test could evaluate approach-avoidance strategies in target mouse strains that comprise innate social distance between mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Arakawa
- Department Systems Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.
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26
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Costa-Cordella S, Soto-Icaza P, Borgeaud K, Grasso-Cladera A, Malberg NT. Towards a comprehensive approach to mentalization-based treatment for children with autism: integrating attachment, neurosciences, and mentalizing. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1259432. [PMID: 38098626 PMCID: PMC10719951 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1259432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed based on socio-communicative difficulties, which are believed to result from deficits in mentalizing, mainly evidenced by alterations in recognizing and responding to the mental states of others. In recent years, efforts have been made to develop mentalization-based treatment (MBT) models for this population. These models focus on enhancing individuals' ability to understand and reflect on their own mental states, as well as those of others. However, MBT approaches for people with ASD are limited by their existing theoretical background, which lacks a strong foundation grounded in neuroscience-based evidence properly integrated with attachment, and mentalizing. These are crucial aspects for understanding psychological processes in autism, and as such, they play a pivotal role in shaping the development of tailored and effective therapeutic strategies for this specific population. In this paper we review evidence related to the neurobiological, interpersonal, and psychological dimensions of autism and their implications for mentalizing processes. We also review previous mentalization-based frameworks on the psychosis continuum to provide a comprehensive understanding of attachment, neurobiology, and mentalization domains in therapeutic approaches for autism. After presenting a synthesis of the literature, we offer a set of clinical strategies for the work with children with autism. Finally, we provide recommendations to advance the field towards more robust models that can serve as a basis for evidence-based therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanella Costa-Cordella
- Centro de Estudios en Psicología Clínica y Psicoterapia, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia y Neuropsicología Humana, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute for Depression and Personality Research (MIDAP), Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricia Soto-Icaza
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación (neuroCICS), Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social (CICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Aitana Grasso-Cladera
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia y Neuropsicología Humana, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
- Institute of Cognitive Science, Universität Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
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Rasero J, Jimenez-Marin A, Diez I, Toro R, Hasan MT, Cortes JM. The Neurogenetics of Functional Connectivity Alterations in Autism: Insights From Subtyping in 657 Individuals. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:804-813. [PMID: 37088169 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is little consensus and controversial evidence on anatomical alterations in the brains of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), due in part to the large heterogeneity present in ASD, which in turn is a major drawback for developing therapies. One strategy to characterize this heterogeneity in ASD is to cluster large-scale functional brain connectivity profiles. METHODS A subtyping approach based on consensus clustering of functional brain connectivity patterns was applied to a population of 657 autistic individuals with quality-assured neuroimaging data. We then used high-resolution gene transcriptomic data to characterize the molecular mechanism behind each subtype by performing enrichment analysis of the set of genes showing a high spatial similarity with the profiles of functional connectivity alterations between each subtype and a group of typically developing control participants. RESULTS Two major stable subtypes were found: subtype 1 exhibited hypoconnectivity (less average connectivity than typically developing control participants) and subtype 2, hyperconnectivity. The 2 subtypes did not differ in structural imaging metrics in any of the analyzed regions (68 cortical and 14 subcortical) or in any of the behavioral scores (including IQ, Autism Diagnostic Interview, and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule). Finally, only subtype 2, comprising about 43% of ASD participants, led to significant enrichments after multiple testing corrections. Notably, the dominant enrichment corresponded to excitation/inhibition imbalance, a leading well-known primary mechanism in the pathophysiology of ASD. CONCLUSIONS Our results support a link between excitation/inhibition imbalance and functional connectivity alterations, but only in one ASD subtype, overall characterized by brain hyperconnectivity and major alterations in somatomotor and default mode networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Rasero
- Cognitive Axon Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Antonio Jimenez-Marin
- Computational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Biocruces-Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain; Biomedical Research Doctorate Program, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Ibai Diez
- Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Roberto Toro
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Département de neuroscience, Paris, France
| | - Mazahir T Hasan
- Laboratory of Brain Circuits Therapeutics, Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Leioa, Spain; Ikerbasque, The Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Jesus M Cortes
- Computational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Biocruces-Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain; Ikerbasque, The Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain; Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
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28
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Tan SHJ, Wong JN, Teo WP. Is neuroimaging ready for the classroom? A systematic review of hyperscanning studies in learning. Neuroimage 2023; 281:120367. [PMID: 37689175 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether education research can be informed by findings from neuroscience studies has been hotly debated since Bruer's (1997) famous claim that neuroscience and education are "a bridge too far". However, this claim came before recent advancements in portable electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technologies, and second-person neuroscience techniques that brought about significant headway in understanding instructor-learner interactions in the classroom. To explore whether neuroscience and education are still two very separate fields, we systematically review 15 hyperscanning studies that were conducted in real-world classrooms or that implemented a teaching-learning task to investigate instructor-learner dynamics. Findings from this investigation illustrate that inter-brain synchrony between instructor and learner is an additional and valuable dimension to understand the complex web of instructor- and learner-related variables that influence learning. Importantly, these findings demonstrate the possibility of conducting real-world classroom studies with portable neuroimaging techniques and highlight the potential of such studies in providing translatable real-world implications. Once thought of as incompatible, a successful coupling between neuroscience and education is now within sight.
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Affiliation(s)
- S H Jessica Tan
- Science of Learning in Education Centre, Office of Education Research, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
| | - Jin Nen Wong
- Science of Learning in Education Centre, Office of Education Research, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Wei-Peng Teo
- Science of Learning in Education Centre, Office of Education Research, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Physical Education and Sport Science Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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29
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Towner TT, Goyden MA, Coleman HJ, Drumm MK, Ritchie IP, Lieb KR, Varlinskaya EI, Werner DF. Determining the neuronal ensembles underlying sex-specific social impairments following adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure. Neuropharmacology 2023; 238:109663. [PMID: 37429543 PMCID: PMC10984351 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Binge drinking during adolescence can have behavioral and neurobiological consequences. We have previously found that adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure produces sex-specific social alterations indexed via decreases of social investigation and/or social preference in rats. The prelimbic cortex (PrL) regulates social interaction, and alterations within the PrL resulting from AIE may contribute to social alterations. The current study sought to determine whether AIE-induced PrL dysfunction underlies decreases in social interaction evident in adulthood. We first examined social interaction-induced neuronal activation of the PrL and several other regions of interest (ROIs) implicated in social interaction. Adolescent male and female cFos-LacZ rats were exposed to water (control) or ethanol (4 g/kg, 25% v/v) via intragastric gavage every other day between postnatal day (P) 25 and 45 (total 11 exposures). Since cFos-LacZ rats express β-galactosidase (β-gal) as a proxy for Fos, activated cells that express of β-gal can be inactivated by Daun02. In most ROIs, expression of β-gal was elevated in socially tested adult rats relative to home cage controls, regardless of sex. However, decreased social interaction-induced β-gal expression in AIE-exposed rats relative to controls was evident only in the PrL of males. A separate cohort underwent PrL cannulation surgery in adulthood and was subjected to Daun02-induced inactivation. Inactivation of PrL ensembles previously activated by social interaction reduced social investigation in control males, with no changes evident in AIE-exposed males or females. These findings highlight the role of the PrL in male social investigation and suggest an AIE-associated dysfunction of the PrL that may contribute to reduced social investigation following adolescent ethanol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor T Towner
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Matthew A Goyden
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Harper J Coleman
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Mary K Drumm
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Isabella P Ritchie
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Kayla R Lieb
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Elena I Varlinskaya
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - David F Werner
- Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking in Adulthood Consortium, Center for Development and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA.
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30
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Zarepour A, Karasu Ç, Mir Y, Nematollahi MH, Iravani S, Zarrabi A. Graphene- and MXene-based materials for neuroscience: diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:6687-6710. [PMID: 37646462 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm01114c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
MXenes and graphene are two-dimensional materials that have gained increasing attention in neuroscience, particularly in sensing, theranostics, and biomedical engineering. Various composites of graphene and MXenes with fascinating thermal, optical, magnetic, mechanical, and electrical properties have been introduced to develop advanced nanosystems for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, as exemplified in the case of biosensors for neurotransmitter detection. These biosensors display high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, making them promising tools for neuroscience research. MXenes have been employed to create high-resolution neural interfaces for neuroelectronic devices, develop neuro-receptor-mediated synapse devices, and stimulate the electrophysiological maturation of neural circuits. On the other hand, graphene/derivatives exhibit therapeutic applicability in neuroscience, as exemplified in the case of graphene oxide for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to the brain. While MXenes and graphene have potential benefits in neuroscience, there are also challenges/limitations associated with their use, such as toxicity, environmental impacts, and limited understanding of their properties. In addition, large-scale production and commercialization as well as optimization of reaction/synthesis conditions and clinical translation studies are very important aspects. Thus, it is important to consider the use of these materials in neuroscience research and conduct further research to obtain an in-depth understanding of their properties and potential applications. By addressing issues related to biocompatibility, long-term stability, targeted delivery, electrical interfaces, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, MXenes and graphene have the potential to greatly advance the field of neuroscience and pave the way for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for neurological disorders. Herein, recent advances in therapeutic and diagnostic applications of graphene- and MXene-based materials in neuroscience are discussed, focusing on important challenges and future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atefeh Zarepour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, 34396 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Çimen Karasu
- Cellular Stress Response and Signal Transduction Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, 06500 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yousof Mir
- Applied Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Hadi Nematollahi
- Applied Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Siavash Iravani
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 81746-73461, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, 34396 Istanbul, Turkey.
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Liou CW, Cheng SJ, Yao TH, Lai TT, Tsai YH, Chien CW, Kuo YL, Chou SH, Hsu CC, Wu WL. Microbial metabolites regulate social novelty via CaMKII neurons in the BNST. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 113:104-123. [PMID: 37393058 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Social novelty is a cognitive process that is essential for animals to interact strategically with conspecifics based on their prior experiences. The commensal microbiome in the gut modulates social behavior through various routes, including microbe-derived metabolite signaling. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), metabolites derived from bacterial fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract, have been previously shown to impact host behavior. Herein, we demonstrate that the delivery of SCFAs directly into the brain disrupts social novelty through distinct neuronal populations. We are the first to observe that infusion of SCFAs into the lateral ventricle disrupted social novelty in microbiome-depleted mice without affecting brain inflammatory responses. The deficit in social novelty can be recapitulated by activating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-labeled neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). Conversely, chemogenetic silencing of the CaMKII-labeled neurons and pharmacological inhibition of fatty acid oxidation in the BNST reversed the SCFAs-induced deficit in social novelty. Our findings suggest that microbial metabolites impact social novelty through a distinct neuron population in the BNST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Wei Liou
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
| | - Sin-Jhong Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
| | - Tzu-Hsuan Yao
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Ting Lai
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hsuan Tsai
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Che-Wei Chien
- Leeuwenhoek Laboratories Co. Ltd, Taipei 10672, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Lun Kuo
- Biotools Co. Ltd, New Taipei City 22175, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hsuan Chou
- Biotools Co. Ltd, New Taipei City 22175, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Chih Hsu
- Leeuwenhoek Laboratories Co. Ltd, Taipei 10672, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Wei-Li Wu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
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Alduais A, Trivkovic T, Allegretta S, Alfadda H. Neuropragmatics: A scientometric review. Appl Neuropsychol Adult 2023:1-31. [PMID: 37708841 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2023.2251634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Neuropragmatics investigates brain functions and neural activities responsible for pragmatic language abilities, often impaired in disorders such as hemisphere damage, autism, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative disorders. This study examined the development of neuropragmatics and existing neuroimaging evidence using bibliometric and scientometric indicators, analyzing 4,247 documents published between 1967 and 2022 with CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Our cluster analysis revealed key themes. 1) Language comprehension loss due to brain injury: Studies exploring the impact of brain injuries on language comprehension and underlying neural mechanisms. 2) Right hemisphere damage and pragmatic language skills: Research focusing on the relationship between right hemisphere damage and pragmatic language abilities, investigating impairments in social language use and potential neural correlates. 3) Traumatic brain injury and social communication assessment: Research on traumatic brain injury effects on social communication skills, using various assessment tools to evaluate communication effectiveness in social situations. These clusters provide valuable insights into the neuropragmatics field and serve as a framework for future investigations. By building upon existing knowledge, researchers can improve our understanding of brain functions, language behavior, and enhance rehabilitation for individuals with pragmatic language impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Alduais
- Department of Human Sciences (Psychology), University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Tamara Trivkovic
- Department of Speech and Language Pathology, College of Social Work, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Hind Alfadda
- Department of Curriculum and Instruction, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Tsuchiyagaito A, Sánchez SM, Misaki M, Kuplicki R, Park H, Paulus MP, Guinjoan SM. Intensity of repetitive negative thinking in depression is associated with greater functional connectivity between semantic processing and emotion regulation areas. Psychol Med 2023; 53:5488-5499. [PMID: 36043367 PMCID: PMC9973538 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722002677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repetitive negative thinking (RNT), a cognitive process that encompasses past (rumination) and future (worry) directed thoughts focusing on negative experiences and the self, is a transdiagnostic construct that is especially relevant for major depressive disorder (MDD). Severe RNT often occurs in individuals with severe levels of MDD, which makes it challenging to disambiguate the neural circuitry underlying RNT from depression severity. METHODS We used a propensity score, i.e., a conditional probability of having high RNT given observed covariates to match high and low RNT individuals who are similar in the severity of depression, anxiety, and demographic characteristics. Of 148 MDD individuals, we matched high and low RNT groups (n = 50/group) and used a data-driven whole-brain voxel-to-voxel connectivity pattern analysis to investigate the resting-state functional connectivity differences between the groups. RESULTS There was an association between RNT and connectivity in the bilateral superior temporal sulcus (STS), an important region for speech processing including inner speech. High relative to low RNT individuals showed greater connectivity between right STS and bilateral anterior insular cortex (AI), and between bilateral STS and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Greater connectivity in those regions was specifically related to RNT but not to depression severity. CONCLUSIONS RNT intensity is directly related to connectivity between STS and AI/DLPFC. This might be a mechanism underlying the role of RNT in perceptive, cognitive, speech, and emotional processing. Future investigations will need to determine whether modifying these connectivities could be a treatment target to reduce RNT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki Tsuchiyagaito
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
- The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
- Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | | | - Masaya Misaki
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | | | - Heekyong Park
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
- University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
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Chiu HM, Chen CT, Tsai CH, Li HJ, Wu CC, Huang CY, Chen KL. Theory of Mind Predicts Social Interaction in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:3659-3669. [PMID: 35829943 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05662-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
This two-year follow-up study examined the predictive relationships of theory of mind (ToM) to social interaction by reciprocal social behaviors (RSBs) and social functioning (SF) in 106 children with ASD. The results of the path analysis showed that the earlier ToM predicted children's current component RSBs (B = 3.53, SE = 1.86, p = 0.039) and the current SF (B = 1.79-1.87, SE = 0.03-0.34, p < 0.001). The aloof and passive social interaction styles predicted fewer turn-taking of RSBs (B = - 48.77 to - 111.17, p < 0.001) and fewer components of RSBs (B = - 36.30 to - 81.41, p < 0.001). This finding provides empirical evidence that ToM predicts social interaction in children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiu-Man Chiu
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1 University Road, Tainan, 701, Taiwan R.O.C
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Tai An Hospital, Shuang Shi Branch, Tai-chung, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Cheng-Te Chen
- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin-chu, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Ching-Hong Tsai
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, Kao-hsiung, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Hsing-Jung Li
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, Kao-hsiung, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Chin-Chin Wu
- Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kao-hsiung, Taiwan R.O.C
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kao-hsiung, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Chien-Yu Huang
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kao-hsiung, Taiwan R.O.C
- School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Kuan-Lin Chen
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1 University Road, Tainan, 701, Taiwan R.O.C..
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan R.O.C..
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan R.O.C..
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35
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Tripathi A, Bartosh A, Whitehead C, Pillai A. Activation of cell-free mtDNA-TLR9 signaling mediates chronic stress-induced social behavior deficits. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3806-3815. [PMID: 37528226 PMCID: PMC10730412 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02189-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation and social behavior deficits are associated with a number of neuropsychiatric disorders. Chronic stress, a major risk factor for depression and other mental health conditions is known to increase inflammatory responses and social behavior impairments. Disturbances in mitochondria function have been found in chronic stress conditions, however the mechanisms that link mitochondrial dysfunction to stress-induced social behavior deficits are not well understood. In this study, we found that chronic restraint stress (RS) induces significant increases in serum cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) levels in mice, and systemic Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) treatment attenuated RS-induced social behavioral deficits. Our findings revealed potential roles of mitophagy and Mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) in mediating chronic stress-induced changes in cf-mtDNA levels and social behavior. Furthermore, we showed that inhibition of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) attenuates mtDNA-induced social behavior deficits. Together, these findings show that cf-mtDNA-TLR9 signaling is critical in mediating stress-induced social behavior deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh Tripathi
- Pathophysiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Program, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alona Bartosh
- Pathophysiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Program, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carl Whitehead
- Pathophysiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Program, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anilkumar Pillai
- Pathophysiology of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Program, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA.
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Kanellopoulos AK, Costello S, Mainardi F, Koshibu K, Deoni S, Schneider N. Dynamic Interplay between Social Brain Development and Nutrient Intake in Young Children. Nutrients 2023; 15:3754. [PMID: 37686785 PMCID: PMC10490067 DOI: 10.3390/nu15173754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Myelination of the brain structures underlying social behavior in humans is a dynamic process that parallels the emergence of social-emotional development and social skills in early life. Of the many genetic and environmental factors regulating the myelination processes, nutrition is considered as a critical and modifiable early-life factor for establishing healthy social brain networks. However, the impact of nutrition on the longitudinal development of social brain myelination remains to be fully understood. This study examined the interplay between childhood nutrient intake and social brain development across the first 5 years of life. Myelin-sensitive neuroimaging and food-intake data were analyzed in 293 children, 0.5 to 5 years of age, and explored for dynamic patterns of nutrient-social brain myelin associations. We found three data-driven age windows with specific nutrient correlation patterns, 63 individual nutrient-myelin correlations, and six nutrient combinations with a statistically significant predictive value for social brain myelination. These results provide novel insights into the impact of specific nutrient intakes on early brain development, in particular social brain regions, and suggest a critical age-sensitive opportunity to impact these brain regions for potential longer-term improvements in socio-emotional development and related executive-function and critical-thinking skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros K. Kanellopoulos
- Brain Health Department, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Société des Produits Nestlé SA, Vers-Chez-les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Costello
- Brain Health Department, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Société des Produits Nestlé SA, Vers-Chez-les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fabio Mainardi
- Data Science Group, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Société des Produits Nestlé SA, Vers-Chez-les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kyoko Koshibu
- Brain Health Department, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Société des Produits Nestlé SA, Vers-Chez-les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sean Deoni
- Advanced Baby Imaging Lab, Rhode Island Hospital, 1 Hoppin Street, Providence, RI 20903, USA
- Department of Radiology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Spinn Neuroscience, Seattle, WA 98275, USA
| | - Nora Schneider
- Brain Health Department, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Société des Produits Nestlé SA, Vers-Chez-les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Johnson ZV, Hegarty BE, Gruenhagen GW, Lancaster TJ, McGrath PT, Streelman JT. Cellular profiling of a recently-evolved social behavior in cichlid fishes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4891. [PMID: 37580322 PMCID: PMC10425353 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40331-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Social behaviors are diverse in nature, but it is unclear how conserved genes, brain regions, and cell populations generate this diversity. Here we investigate bower-building, a recently-evolved social behavior in cichlid fishes. We use single nucleus RNA-sequencing in 38 individuals to show signatures of recent behavior in specific neuronal populations, and building-associated rebalancing of neuronal proportions in the putative homolog of the hippocampal formation. Using comparative genomics across 27 species, we trace bower-associated genome evolution to a subpopulation of glia lining the dorsal telencephalon. We show evidence that building-associated neural activity and a departure from quiescence in this glial subpopulation together regulate hippocampal-like neuronal rebalancing. Our work links behavior-associated genomic variation to specific brain cell types and their functions, and suggests a social behavior has evolved through changes in glia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary V Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Brianna E Hegarty
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - George W Gruenhagen
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Tucker J Lancaster
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Patrick T McGrath
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
| | - Jeffrey T Streelman
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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Fisher A, Lavis A, Greenfield S, Rickards H. What does social cognition look like in everyday social functioning in Huntington's disease? A protocol for a scoping review to explore and synthesise knowledge about social cognition alongside day-to-day social functioning of people with Huntington's disease. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e073655. [PMID: 37451719 PMCID: PMC10351301 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Social cognition is problematic in Huntington's disease (HD). Despite the observations of clinicians and families, there is minimal empirical literature about how it presents in daily life and the impact on social functioning. This protocol forms the basis of a scoping review to synthesise both the quantitative knowledge and qualitative experiences of the HD community so that a visual and narrative map can address what is known and what is not known for the benefit of the community and clinicians and academics alike. METHODS AND ANALYSES An umbrella scoping review of previous work and a scoping review of newer studies of social cognition and social functioning will be undertaken. The electronic databases PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase and CINAHL will be searched to identify eligible studies from starting from 2003 to June 2023. A grey literature search and grey data search will also be undertaken. Quality appraisal of the included documents will use the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme and Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance checklists. A data charting table will be used for data extraction, with analysis of qualitative data using the framework method. The review findings will be presented in a visual form and in a narrative summary. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical review is not usually required as scoping reviews are produced via secondary data analysis, however, this protocol includes the use of grey data from a charity web forum and so in line with best practice for internet mediated research ethical review was sought and approved (STEM Ethical Review Committee, University of Birmingham-ERN_21-1028A). Review findings will be shared with service users and disseminated through a peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and hosted via the website of the patient association charity the HD Association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Fisher
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- West Midlands Huntingtons Disease Service, Neuropsychiatry, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Anna Lavis
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sheila Greenfield
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Hugh Rickards
- West Midlands Huntingtons Disease Service, Neuropsychiatry, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
- Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK
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Troncoso A, Soto V, Gomila A, Martínez-Pernía D. Moving beyond the lab: investigating empathy through the Empirical 5E approach. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1119469. [PMID: 37519389 PMCID: PMC10374225 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1119469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Empathy is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that plays a crucial role in human social interactions. Recent developments in social neuroscience have provided valuable insights into the neural underpinnings and bodily mechanisms underlying empathy. This methodology often prioritizes precision, replicability, internal validity, and confound control. However, fully understanding the complexity of empathy seems unattainable by solely relying on artificial and controlled laboratory settings, while overlooking a comprehensive view of empathy through an ecological experimental approach. In this article, we propose articulating an integrative theoretical and methodological framework based on the 5E approach (the "E"s stand for embodied, embedded, enacted, emotional, and extended perspectives of empathy), highlighting the relevance of studying empathy as an active interaction between embodied agents, embedded in a shared real-world environment. In addition, we illustrate how a novel multimodal approach including mobile brain and body imaging (MoBi) combined with phenomenological methods, and the implementation of interactive paradigms in a natural context, are adequate procedures to study empathy from the 5E approach. In doing so, we present the Empirical 5E approach (E5E) as an integrative scientific framework to bridge brain/body and phenomenological attributes in an interbody interactive setting. Progressing toward an E5E approach can be crucial to understanding empathy in accordance with the complexity of how it is experienced in the real world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Troncoso
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Adolfo Ibáñez University, Santiago, Chile
| | - Vicente Soto
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Adolfo Ibáñez University, Santiago, Chile
| | - Antoni Gomila
- Department of Psychology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - David Martínez-Pernía
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Adolfo Ibáñez University, Santiago, Chile
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40
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Patel GH, Gruskin DC, Arkin SC, Jamerson EC, Ruiz-Betancourt DR, Klim CC, Sanchez-Peña JP, Bartel LP, Lee JK, Grinband J, Martinez A, Berman RA, Ochsner KN, Leopold DA, Javitt DC. The Road Not Taken: Disconnection of a Human-Unique Cortical Pathway Underlying Naturalistic Social Perception in Schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry Glob Open Sci 2023; 3:398-408. [PMID: 37519457 PMCID: PMC10382708 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Efficient processing of complex and dynamic social scenes relies on intact connectivity of many underlying cortical areas and networks, but how connectivity anomalies affect the neural substrates of social perception remains unknown. Here we measured these relationships using functionally based localization of social perception areas, resting-state functional connectivity, and movie-watching data. Methods In 42 participants with schizophrenia (SzPs) and 41 healthy control subjects, we measured the functional connectivity of areas localized by face-emotion processing, theory-of-mind (ToM), and attention tasks. We quantified the weighted shortest path length between visual and medial prefrontal ToM areas in both populations to assess the impact of these changes in functional connectivity on network structure. We then correlated connectivity along the shortest path in each group with movie-evoked activity in a key node of the ToM network (posterior temporoparietal junction [TPJp]). Results SzPs had pronounced decreases in connectivity in TPJ/posterior superior temporal sulcus (TPJ-pSTS) areas involved in face-emotion processing (t81 = 4.4, p = .00002). In healthy control subjects, the shortest path connecting visual and medial prefrontal ToM areas passed through TPJ-pSTS, whereas in SzPs, the shortest path passed through the prefrontal cortex. While movie-evoked TPJp activity correlated with connectivity along the TPJ-pSTS pathway in both groups (r = 0.43, p = .002), it additionally correlated with connectivity along the prefrontal cortex pathway only in SzPs (rSzP = 0.56, p = .003). Conclusions These results suggest that connectivity along the human-unique TPJ-pSTS pathway affects both the network architecture and functioning of areas involved in processing complex dynamic social scenes. These results demonstrate how focal connectivity anomalies can have widespread impacts across the cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav H. Patel
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Experimental Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - David C. Gruskin
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Sophie C. Arkin
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | | | | | | | - Juan P. Sanchez-Peña
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Experimental Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Laura P. Bartel
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Experimental Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Jessica K. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Experimental Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Jack Grinband
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Experimental Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
| | - Antígona Martinez
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Schizophrenia Research Division, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York
| | - Rebecca A. Berman
- Section on Cognitive Neurophysiology and Imaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Kevin N. Ochsner
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - David A. Leopold
- Section on Cognitive Neurophysiology and Imaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Daniel C. Javitt
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Experimental Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York
- Schizophrenia Research Division, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York
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Hackett J, Nadkarni V, Singh RS, Carthy CL, Antigua S, Hall BS, Rajadhyaksha AM. Repeat investigation during social preference behavior is suppressed in male mice with prefrontal cortex cacna1c (Ca v1.2)-deficiency through the dysregulation of neural dynamics. bioRxiv 2023:2023.06.24.546368. [PMID: 37425963 PMCID: PMC10326975 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.24.546368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Impairments in social behavior are observed in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders and several lines of evidence have demonstrated that dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a central role in social deficits. We have previously shown that loss of neuropsychiatric risk gene Cacna1c that codes for the Cav1.2 isoform of L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) in the PFC result in impaired sociability as tested using the three-chamber social approach test. In this study we aimed to further characterize the nature of the social deficit associated with a reduction in PFC Cav1.2 channels (Cav1.2PFCKO mice) by testing male mice in a range of social and nonsocial tests while examining PFC neural activity using in vivo GCaMP6s fiber photometry. We found that during the first investigation of the social and non-social stimulus in the three-chamber test, both Cav1.2PFCKO male mice and Cav1.2PFCGFP controls spent significantly more time with the social stimulus compared to a non-social object. In contrast, during repeat investigations while Cav1.2PFCWT mice continued to spend more time with the social stimulus, Cav1.2PFCKO mice spent equal amount of time with both social and non-social stimuli. Neural activity recordings paralleled social behavior with increase in PFC population activity in Cav1.2PFCWT mice during first and repeat investigations, which was predictive of social preference behavior. In Cav1.2PFCKO mice, there was an increase in PFC activity during first social investigation but not during repeat investigations. These behavioral and neural differences were not observed during a reciprocal social interaction test nor during a forced alternation novelty test. To evaluate a potential deficit in reward-related processes, we tested mice in a three-chamber test wherein the social stimulus was replaced by food. Behavioral testing revealed that both Cav1.2PFCWT and Cav1.2PFCKO mice showed a preference for food over object with significantly greater preference during repeat investigation. Interestingly, there was no increase in PFC activity when Cav1.2PFCWT or Cav1.2PFCKO first investigated the food however activity significantly increased in Cav1.2PFCWT mice during repeat investigations of the food. This was not observed in Cav1.2PFCKO mice. In summary, a reduction in Cav1.2 channels in the PFC suppresses the development of a sustained social preference in mice that is associated with lack of PFC neuronal population activity that may be related to deficits in social reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Hackett
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Viraj Nadkarni
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Ronak S. Singh
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Camille L. Carthy
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Susan Antigua
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
| | - Baila S. Hall
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065
| | - Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065
- Weill Cornell Autism Research Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065
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42
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Arafat D, Thoma P. Impairments of Sociocognitive Functions in Individuals with Behavioral Addictions: A Review Article. J Gambl Stud 2023:10.1007/s10899-023-10227-w. [PMID: 37308789 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-023-10227-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Since little is known about the exact pattern of social cognitive impairments related to behavioral addictions, the aim of the PRISMA-oriented review was to (i) provide an overview of relevant empirical publications, and to (ii) to elucidate which specific aspects of social cognition (i.e., emotion recognition, empathy, and theory of mind (ToM)) are impaired in different types of behavioral addictions. Behavioral addictions have been associated with cognitive deficits which may contribute to impaired social cognitive functioning. More recently, this domain has been investigated in patients with behavioral addictions as impaired social cognition detrimentally affects daily functioning and thus forms a relevant target for treatment. A systematic search in the PubMed and Web of Science databases was performed focusing on social cognitive functions in behavioral addictions. Studies focusing on the same social cognitive component were grouped together, this was done based on the used assessment measures. In total, 18 studies met the specified inclusion criteria. Five studies focusing on emotion recognition concluded that individuals with behavioral addictions show impairments in this domain. As for the 13 studies focusing on empathy and/or ToM, most of them found deficits linked to different types of behavioral addictions. Only two studies, one of which was investigating a distinct population (multiplayer online role-playing gamers) did not link empathy to behavioral addictions. The results show that the majority of studies focusing on social cognition and behavioral addictions found some deficits. Additional research focusing on this topic is urgently needed in behavioral addictions, addressing several methodological issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Arafat
- Neuropsychological Therapy Centre, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Patrizia Thoma
- Neuropsychological Therapy Centre, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Abstract
Prosocial values play a critical role in promoting care and concern for the well-being of others and prioritizing the common good of society. Evidence from population-based reports, cognitive neuroscience, and clinical studies suggests that these values depend on social cognition processes, such as empathy, deontological moral cognition, moral emotions, and social cooperation. Additionally, indirect evidence suggests that various forms of prosocial behaviors are associated with positive health outcomes at the behavioral, cardiovascular, immune, stress-related, and inflammatory pathways. However, it is unclear whether prosociality can positively influence brain health outcomes. In this perspective, we propose that prosocial values are not only influenced by brain conditions but could also potentially play a role in protecting brain health. We review studies from various fields that support this claim, including recent reports of prosociality-based interventions impacting brain health. We then explore potential multilevel mechanisms, based on the reduction of allostatic overload at behavioral, cardiovascular, immune, stress-related, and inflammatory levels. Finally, we propose potential prosociality-based interventions for improving brain health in at-risk populations, such as psychiatric and neurological patients, and individuals exposed to poverty or violence. Our perspective suggests that prosocial values may play a role in promoting and maintaining healthy brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Ibanez
- Latin American Institute for Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Adolfo Ibanez University, Santiago, Chile
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andrés, and National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Diana Matallana
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Instituto de Envejecimiento, Bogotá, Colombia
- Memory and Cognition Center, Intellectus, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Bruce Miller
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Gavazzi G, Noferini C, Benedetti V, Cotugno M, Giovannelli F, Caldara R, Mascalchi M, Viggiano MP. Cultural Differences in Inhibitory Control: An ALE Meta-Analysis. Brain Sci 2023; 13:907. [PMID: 37371385 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Culture greatly influences our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, affecting how we communicate and make decisions. There is an ongoing debate regarding the belief that people from Eastern cultures possess greater self-control abilities when compared to people from Western cultures. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis using the Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) algorithm to compare 30 studies (719 subjects, 373 foci) that used fMRI to investigate the performance in Go-Nogo and Stop Signal Tasks of participants from Western and/or Eastern countries. Our meta-analysis found differences between the networks activated in Eastern and Western culture participants. The right prefrontal cortex showed distinct patterns, with the Inferior Frontal gyrus more active in the Eastern group and the middle and superior frontal gyri more active in the Western group. Our findings suggest that Eastern culture subjects have a higher tendency to activate brain regions involved in proactive inhibitory control, while Western culture subjects rely more on reactive inhibitory brain regions during cognitive control tasks. This implies that proactive inhibition may play a crucial role in promoting the collective and interdependent behavior typical of Eastern cultures, while reactive inhibition may be more important for efficient cognitive control in subjects of Western cultures that prioritize individualism and independence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gioele Gavazzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Noferini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Viola Benedetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Cotugno
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Giovannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Roberto Caldara
- Eye and Brain Mapping Laboratory (iBMLab), Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Mario Mascalchi
- "Mario Serio" Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Viggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
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45
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Igoshina E, Wu LC, Moxon-Emre I, Mabbott DJ. Social affective outcomes and brain injury in children and adolescents treated for brain tumours. Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2023:S2352-4642(23)00079-2. [PMID: 37263284 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(23)00079-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In this Review we critically evaluate the empirical literature investigating the effect of paediatric brain tumours and their treatment on social affective function. We focus specifically on relations between social affective function and compromised brain structure and function associated with treatment for a paediatric brain tumour. We concentrate on emotion recognition and regulation, because these are core components of social affective function. First, we provide an overview of the literature in typically developing children and discuss the underlying brain networks thought to subserve emotion (ie, limbic system and supporting white matter microstructure). We then focus on how damage to brain structure and function after treatment for a paediatric brain tumour might be related to compromised emotion recognition and regulation-as well as broader social affective outcomes. On the basis of our review of the literature across typically developing children and those with a paediatric brain tumour, we suggest that structural changes to fronto-limbic tracts might interrupt social network neural communication in children and adolescents treated for brain tumours. A critical analysis of the reviewed literature suggests a relationship between social affective dysfunction and childhood-acquired injury to white matter microstructure. We argue that the knowledge synthesised regarding paediatric brain tumours could extend to other neurological disorders. Finally, we identify considerations for future investigation and recommend research practices to be adopted in forthcoming studies to establish causal links between brain structure and function to social affective processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta Igoshina
- Department of Psychology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health Research Program, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Liliana C Wu
- Department of Psychology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health Research Program, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Iska Moxon-Emre
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Donald J Mabbott
- Department of Psychology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health Research Program, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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46
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Bauer J, Steiger BK, Kegel LC, Eicher M, König K, Baumann-Vogel H, Jokeit H. A comparative study of social cognition in epilepsy, brain injury, and Parkinson's disease. Psych J 2023. [PMID: 37127428 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The brain regions involved in social cognition and the regulation of social behavior form a widely distributed cortico-subcortical network. Therefore, many neurological disorders could affect social cognition and behavior. A persistent lack of valid tests and a rigid neuropsychological focus on language, attention, executive function, and memory have contributed to a long-standing neglect of social cognition in clinical diagnostics, although the DSM-5 recognizes it as one of the six core dimensions in neurocognitive disorders. To assess for the first time the diagnostic yield of a comprehensive social cognition battery (Networks of Emotion Processing [NEmo]), we administered several emotion recognition and theory of mind tests to three incidental clinical samples with different neurological conditions: temporal lobe epilepsy (n = 30), acquired brain injury (n = 24), Parkinson's disease (n = 19), and a healthy control group (n = 67). A multivariate analysis of covariance was performed to test the effect of group on subscales of the NEmo test battery, controlling for age and performance IQ. The results showed statistically significant differences between clinical groups and healthy controls. No differences were found for gender and lateralization of the predominant lesion side. In our incidental samples, 86% of individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy, 57% of individuals with acquired brain lesion, and 14% of individuals with Parkinson's disease underperformed on tests of social cognition compared with controls. These findings suggest a differential impact of neurological disorders on the risk of impaired social cognition and highlight the need to consider social cognition in diagnostics, counselling, therapy, and rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Bauer
- Department of Neuropsychology, Swiss Epilepsy Center, Zurich, Switzerland
- Psychological Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Marcel Eicher
- Department of Neuropsychology, Swiss Epilepsy Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kristina König
- Department of Neuropsychology, Swiss Epilepsy Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Hennric Jokeit
- Department of Neuropsychology, Swiss Epilepsy Center, Zurich, Switzerland
- Psychological Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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47
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Aspesi D, Bass N, Kavaliers M, Choleris E. The role of androgens and estrogens in social interactions and social cognition. Neuroscience 2023:S0306-4522(23)00151-3. [PMID: 37080448 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Gonadal hormones are becoming increasingly recognized for their effects on cognition. Estrogens, in particular, have received attention for their effects on learning and memory that rely upon the functioning of various brain regions. However, the impacts of androgens on cognition are relatively under investigated. Testosterone, as well as estrogens, have been shown to play a role in the modulation of different aspects of social cognition. This review explores the impact of testosterone and other androgens on various facets of social cognition including social recognition, social learning, social approach/avoidance, and aggression. We highlight the relevance of considering not only the actions of the most commonly studied steroids (i.e., testosterone, 17β-estradiol, and dihydrotestosterone), but also that of their metabolites and precursors, which interact with a plethora of different receptors and signalling molecules, ultimately modulating behaviour. We point out that it is also essential to investigate the effects of androgens, their precursors and metabolites in females, as prior studies have mostly focused on males. Overall, a comprehensive analysis of the impact of steroids such as androgens on behaviour is fundamental for a full understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition, including that of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Aspesi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph
| | - Noah Bass
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph
| | - Martin Kavaliers
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph; Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Elena Choleris
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph.
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48
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Oomen D, Cracco E, Brass M, Wiersema JR. EEG frequency tagging evidence of intact social interaction recognition in adults with autism. Autism Res 2023. [PMID: 37040541 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
To explain the social difficulties in autism, many studies have been conducted on social stimuli processing. However, this research has mostly used basic social stimuli (e.g., eyes, faces, hands, single agent), not resembling the complexity of what we encounter in our daily social lives and what people with autism experience difficulties with. Third-party social interactions are complex stimuli that we come across often and are also highly relevant for social functioning. Interestingly, the existing behavioral studies point to altered social interaction processing in autism. However, it is not clear whether this is due to altered recognition or altered interpretation of social interactions. Here, we specifically investigated the recognition of social interaction in adults with and without autism. More precisely, we measured neural responses to social scenes depicting either social interaction or not with an electroencephalogram frequency tagging task and compared these responses between adults with and without autism (N = 61). The results revealed an enhanced response to social scenes with interaction, replicating previous findings in a neurotypical sample. Crucially, this effect was found in both groups, with no difference between them. This suggests that social interaction recognition is not atypical in adults with autism. Taken together with the previous behavioral evidence, our study thus suggests that individuals with autism are able to recognize social interactions, but that they might not extract the same information from those interactions or that they might use the extracted information differently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danna Oomen
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- EXPLORA, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Emiel Cracco
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- EXPLORA, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marcel Brass
- EXPLORA, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- School of Mind and Brain/Department of Psychology, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan R Wiersema
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- EXPLORA, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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49
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Truby NL, Kim RK, Silva GM, Qu X, Picone JA, Alemu R, Neve RL, Cui X, Liu J, Hamilton PJ. A zinc finger transcription factor tunes social behaviors by controlling transposable elements and immune response in prefrontal cortex. bioRxiv 2023:2023.04.03.535374. [PMID: 37066210 PMCID: PMC10103968 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.03.535374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The neurobiological origins of social behaviors are incompletely understood. Here we utilized synthetic biology approaches to reprogram the function of ZFP189, a transcription factor whose expression and function in the rodent prefrontal cortex was previously determined to be protective against stress-induced social deficits. We created novel synthetic ZFP189 transcription factors including ZFP189VPR, which activates the transcription of target genes and therefore exerts opposite functional control from the endogenous, transcriptionally repressive ZFP189WT. Upon viral delivery of these synthetic ZFP189 transcription factors to mouse prefrontal cortex, we observe that ZFP189-mediated transcriptional control promotes mature dendritic spine morphology on transduced pyramidal neurons. Interestingly, dysregulation of ZFP189-mediated transcription in this brain area, achieved by delivery of synthetic ZFP189VPR, precipitates social behavioral deficits in terms of social interaction, motivation, and the cognition necessary for the maintenance of social hierarchy, without other observable behavioral deficits. By performing RNA sequencing in virally manipulated prefrontal cortex tissues, we discover that ZFP189 transcription factors of opposing regulatory function have opposite influence on the expression of genetic transposable elements as well as genes that participate in immune functions. Collectively, this work reveals that ZFP189 function in the prefrontal cortex coordinates structural and transcriptional neuroadaptations necessary for social behaviors by binding transposable element-rich regions of DNA to regulate immune-related genes. Given the evidence for a co-evolution of social behavior and the brain immune response, we posit that ZFP189 may have evolved to augment brain transposon-associated immune function as a way of enhancing an animal's capacity for functioning in social groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie L. Truby
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - R. Kijoon Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Gabriella M. Silva
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Xufeng Qu
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Joseph A. Picone
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Rebecca Alemu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Rachael L. Neve
- Gene Delivery Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xiaohong Cui
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jinze Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Peter J. Hamilton
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
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50
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Shaw DJ, Czekóová K, Mareček R, Havlice Špiláková B, Brázdil M. The interacting brain: Dynamic functional connectivity among canonical brain networks dissociates cooperative from competitive social interactions. Neuroimage 2023; 269:119933. [PMID: 36754124 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We spend much our lives interacting with others in various social contexts. Although we deal with this myriad of interpersonal exchanges with apparent ease, each one relies upon a broad array of sophisticated cognitive processes. Recent research suggests that the cognitive operations supporting interactive behaviour are themselves underpinned by several canonical functional brain networks (CFNs) that integrate dynamically with one another in response to changing situational demands. Dynamic integrations among these CFNs should therefore play a pivotal role in coordinating interpersonal behaviour. Further, different types of interaction should present different demands on cognitive systems, thereby eliciting distinct patterns of dynamism among these CFNs. To investigate this, the present study performed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on 30 individuals while they interacted with one another cooperatively or competitively. By applying a novel combination of analytical techniques to these brain imaging data, we identify six states of dynamic functional connectivity characterised by distinct patterns of integration and segregation among specific CFNs that differ systematically between these opposing types of interaction. Moreover, applying these same states to fMRI data acquired from an independent sample engaged in the same kinds of interaction, we were able to classify interpersonal exchanges as cooperative or competitive. These results provide the first direct evidence for the systematic involvement of CFNs during social interactions, which should guide neurocognitive models of interactive behaviour and investigations into biomarkers for the interpersonal dysfunction characterizing many neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Shaw
- Behavioural and Social Neuroscience, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic; Department of Psychology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK.
| | - K Czekóová
- Behavioural and Social Neuroscience, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic; Institue of Psychology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Veveří 97, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic
| | - R Mareček
- Multimodal and Functional Neuroimaging, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - B Havlice Špiláková
- Behavioural and Social Neuroscience, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - M Brázdil
- Behavioural and Social Neuroscience, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
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