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Velasco E, Zaforas M, Acosta MC, Gallar J, Aguilar J. Ocular surface information seen from the somatosensory thalamus and cortex. J Physiol 2024; 602:1405-1426. [PMID: 38457332 DOI: 10.1113/jp285008] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Ocular Surface (OS) somatosensory innervation detects external stimuli producing perceptions, such as pain or dryness, the most relevant symptoms in many OS pathologies. Nevertheless, little is known about the central nervous system circuits involved in these perceptions, and how they integrate multimodal inputs in general. Here, we aim to describe the thalamic and cortical activity in response to OS stimulation of different modalities. Electrophysiological extracellular recordings in anaesthetized rats were used to record neural activity, while saline drops at different temperatures were applied to stimulate the OS. Neurons were recorded in the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal ganglion (TG, 49 units), the thalamic VPM-POm nuclei representing the face (Th, 69 units) and the primary somatosensory cortex (S1, 101 units). The precise locations for Th and S1 neurons receiving OS information are reported here for the first time. Interestingly, all recorded nuclei encode modality both at the single neuron and population levels, with noxious stimulation producing a qualitatively different activity profile from other modalities. Moreover, neurons responding to new combinations of stimulus modalities not present in the peripheral TG subsequently appear in Th and S1, being organized in space through the formation of clusters. Besides, neurons that present higher multimodality display higher spontaneous activity. These results constitute the first anatomical and functional characterization of the thalamocortical representation of the OS. Furthermore, they provide insight into how information from different modalities gets integrated from the peripheral nervous system into the complex cortical networks of the brain. KEY POINTS: Anatomical location of thalamic and cortical ocular surface representation. Thalamic and cortical neuronal responses to multimodal stimulation of the ocular surface. Increasing functional complexity along trigeminal neuroaxis. Proposal of a new perspective on how peripheral activity shapes central nervous system function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Velasco
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- Laboratory of Ion Channel Research, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Neuroscience in Physiotherapy (NiP), Independent Research Group, Elche, Spain
- The European University of Brain and Technology, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
| | - Marta Zaforas
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Experimental, Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Spain
| | - M Carmen Acosta
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- The European University of Brain and Technology, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
| | - Juana Gallar
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- The European University of Brain and Technology, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
| | - Juan Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Experimental, Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos SESCAM, Toledo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Spain
- Grupo de Investigación Multidisciplinar en Cuidados, Facultad de Fisioterapia y Enfermería, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain
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Jovellar-Isiegas P, Cuesta García C, Jaén-Carrillo D, Palomo-Carrión R, Peña Alonso C, Roche-Seruendo LE. Somatosensation and motor performance in the less-affected and more-affected hand of unilateral cerebral palsy children: a cross-sectional study. Disabil Rehabil 2023; 45:3500-3510. [PMID: 36172643 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2127938] [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: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to examine motor performance and somatosensory processing of unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) children in both the less-affected hand and the more-affected hand. This study is also aimed at analysing the somatosensory proccessing in the more-affected hand in relation to age and damaged hemisphere. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-seven children aged from 6 to 15 years (UCP = 23; TD = 24) were recruited. Grip strength, pinch strength, Box and Block Test and Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test were used to analyse motor performance. A comprehensive somatosensory assessment battery was included: tactile registration, unilateral, bilateral and spatio-temporal perception, haptic recognition, texture perception, proprioception, pressure pain threshold and functional sensitivity. RESULTS UCP children exhibited lower performance in all aspects of motor performance measured in both the less-affected hand and the more-affected hand, except grip strength in the less-affected hand. Significant differences were found for all tests included in the somatosensory assessment in both the less-affected hand and the more-affected hand, except unilateral perception tests in the less-affected hand. CONCLUSIONS UCP children present difficulties in motor performance and somatosensory processing not only in the more-affected hand, but also in the less-affected hand. Somatosensation may be a critical driver of functional performance.Implications for rehabilitationThe less-affected hand of children with unilateral cerebral palsy should be included in both assessment and intervention programmes.Somatosensory processing should be assessed through a comprehensive battery, both in the less-affected hand and in the more-affected hand of unilateral cerebral palsy children.Somatosensory treatment must be taken into account if functional performance in the activities of daily living of unilateral cerebral palsy children is to be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - César Cuesta García
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Centre for Advanced University Studies La Salle, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Rocío Palomo-Carrión
- Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, University of Castilla La Mancha, Toledo, Spain
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Have L, Quesque F, Priot AE, Chastres V, Revol P, Delporte L, Chabanat E, Obadia N, Cotton F, Reilly KT, Rossetti Y. Feeling without localizing: exploring tactile misperception in a patient with uncommon parietal left brain damage. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1167489. [PMID: 37425290 PMCID: PMC10326386 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1167489] [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: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction We report a very unique clinical presentation of a patient who complained, after a left parietal brain damage, about feeling tactile stimulations on his right upper limb without being able to localize them. Methods Using a single case study approach, we report three experiments relying on several custom-made tasks to explore the different levels of somatosensory information processing, ranging from somato-sensation to somato-representation. Results Our results showed a preserved ability to localize tactile stimuli applied on the right upper limb when using pointing responses while the ability to localize was less efficient when having to name the stimulated part (akin Numbsense). When the stimuli were applied on more distal locations (i.e., on the hand and on fingers), the number of correct responses decreased significantly independently of the modality of response. Finally, when visually presented with a stimulus delivered on the hand of an examiner in synchrony with the stimulation on the hidden hand of the patient, responses were largely influenced by the visual information available. Altogether, the convergence of these different customized tasks revealed an absence of autotopagnosia for motor responses for the right upper limb, associated with altered abilities to discriminate stimulus applied on distal and restricted/closer zones in the hand. Discussion The somato-representation of our patient seemed to significantly rely on visual information, leading to striking deficits to localize tactile stimuli when vision and somesthesic afferences are discordant. This case report offers a clinical illustration of pathological imbalance between vision and somesthesia. Implications of these troubles in somato-representation on higher cognitive level processes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Have
- CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR 5292, Trajectoires, F-69500, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bron, France
| | - François Quesque
- CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR 5292, Trajectoires, F-69500, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bron, France
| | - Anne-Emmanuelle Priot
- CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR 5292, Trajectoires, F-69500, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bron, France
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), French Military Health Service, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Véronique Chastres
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), French Military Health Service, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Patrice Revol
- Service de Médecine Physique et Réadaptation, Plateforme Mouvement et Handicap, Hôpital Henry Gabrielle, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Ludovic Delporte
- Service de Médecine Physique et Réadaptation, Plateforme Mouvement et Handicap, Hôpital Henry Gabrielle, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Eric Chabanat
- CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR 5292, Trajectoires, F-69500, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bron, France
| | - Nathalie Obadia
- Service de Médecine Physique et Réadaptation, Plateforme Mouvement et Handicap, Hôpital Henry Gabrielle, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - François Cotton
- Service de Radiologie, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Pierre-Bénite, France
- Creatis Lab–CNRS UMR 5220–INSERM U1206 Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Karen T. Reilly
- CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR 5292, Trajectoires, F-69500, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bron, France
| | - Yves Rossetti
- CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon CRNL U1028 UMR 5292, Trajectoires, F-69500, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bron, France
- Service de Médecine Physique et Réadaptation, Plateforme Mouvement et Handicap, Hôpital Henry Gabrielle, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
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Cruciani A, Lanzone J, Musumeci G, Di Lazzaro V, Marano M. Focal vibrations enhance somatosensory facilitation in healthy subjects: A pilot study on Equistasi ® and high-frequency oscillations. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1052989. [PMID: 36504649 PMCID: PMC9727278 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1052989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Equistasi® is a vibrotactile device composed of nanotechnology fibers that converts temperature change into mechanical energy by self-producing a focal vibration. It is used in non-pharmacological rehabilitation in patients with movement disorders and multiple sclerosis sequelae. Nonetheless, the mechanism underlying such an improvement in motor functions is still poorly understood. Objectives We designed a small uncontrolled pilot trial to explore the effect of Equistasi® on the somatosensory pathway through the analysis of high-frequency oscillations (HFOs). Methods For all the included subjects, we recorded somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) at the baseline (T0) and at 60 min after the application of Equistasi® (T1) on the seventh cervical vertebra level and at the forearm over each flexor carpi radialis, bilaterally. Then, we extracted the HFOs from the N20 signal and compared the HFO duration and area under the curve pre- and post-Equistasi® application. Results In a head-to-head comparison of T0 to T1 data, there was a statistically significant reduction in the total HFO area (p < 0.01), which was prominent for the late component (p = 0.025). No statistical differences have been found between T0 and T1 HFO duration (p > 0.05). We further evaluated the N20 amplitude from the onset to the N20 peak to avoid possible interpretational bias. No statistical differences have been found between T0 and T1 (p = 0.437). Conclusion Our clinical hypothesis, supported by preliminary data, is that vibrotactile afference delivered by the device could work by interfering with the somatosensory processing, rather than by peripheral effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cruciani
- Research Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology and Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy,Operative Research Unit of Neurology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Jacopo Lanzone
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Unit of Milan Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Musumeci
- Research Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology and Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy,Operative Research Unit of Neurology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Research Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology and Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy,Operative Research Unit of Neurology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Marano
- Research Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology and Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy,Operative Research Unit of Neurology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy,*Correspondence: Massimo Marano
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Korsun O, Renvall H, Nurminen J, Mäkelä JP, Pekkonen E. Modulation of sensory cortical activity by deep brain stimulation in advanced Parkinson's Disease. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:3979-3990. [PMID: 35560964 PMCID: PMC9544049 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Despite optimal oral drug treatment, about 90% of patients with Parkinson's disease develop motor fluctuation and dyskinesia within 5-10 years from the diagnosis. Moreover, the patients show non-motor symptoms in different sensory domains. Bilateral deep brain stimulation applied to the subthalamic nucleus is considered the most effective treatment in advanced Parkinson's disease and it has been suggested to affect sensorimotor modulation and relate to motor improvement in patients. However, observations on the relationship between sensorimotor activity and clinical improvement have remained sparse. Here we studied the somatosensory evoked magnetic fields in thirteen right-handed patients with advanced Parkinson's disease before and 7 months after stimulator implantation. Somatosensory processing was addressed with magnetoencephalography during alternated median nerve stimulation at both wrists. The strengths and the latencies of the ~60-ms responses at the contralateral primary somatosensory cortices were highly variable but detectable and reliably localized in all patients. The response strengths did not differ between preoperative and postoperative DBSON measurements. The change in the response strength between pre- and postoperative condition in the dominant left hemisphere of our right-handed patients correlated with the alleviation of their motor symptoms (p = 0.04). However, the result did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. Magnetoencephalography appears an effective tool to explore non-motor effects in patients with Parkinson's disease, and it may help in understanding the neurophysiological basis of deep brain stimulation. However, the high interindividual variability in the somatosensory responses and poor tolerability of DBSOFF condition warrants larger patient groups and measurements also in non-medicated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olesia Korsun
- Biomag Laboratory, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki University, and Aalto University School of Science, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Hanna Renvall
- Biomag Laboratory, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki University, and Aalto University School of Science, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, School of Science, Espoo, Finland
| | - Jussi Nurminen
- Biomag Laboratory, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki University, and Aalto University School of Science, Helsinki, Finland.,Motion Analysis Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jyrki P Mäkelä
- Biomag Laboratory, HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki University, and Aalto University School of Science, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eero Pekkonen
- Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital and Department of Clinical Neurosciences (Neurology), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Patel P, Patel K, Pandher K, Tareen RS. The Role of Psychiatric, Analgesic, and Antiepileptic Medications in Chronic Pruritus. Cureus 2021; 13:e17260. [PMID: 34522555 PMCID: PMC8425105 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17260] [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] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pruritus is a complex yet prevalent concern without a gold standard treatment. The mainstay therapy for chronic pruritus includes topical ointments such as corticosteroids, capsaicin, local anesthetics, antihistamines, and immunomodulators. There are many different subtypes of chronic pruritus, and each unique subtype may benefit from specialized treatments. This review article sheds light on the role of psychiatric, analgesic, and antiepileptic medications in chronic pruritus. We believe that further large-scale studies are needed to determine the true effectiveness of these medications in treating chronic pruritus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parth Patel
- Dermatology, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, San Diego, USA
| | - Keshav Patel
- Internal Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Kalamazoo, USA
| | - Karan Pandher
- Dermatology, Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, USA
| | - Ruqiya Shama Tareen
- Psychiatry, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, USA
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7
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Acton D, Ren X, Di Costanzo S, Dalet A, Bourane S, Bertocchi I, Eva C, Goulding M. Spinal Neuropeptide Y1 Receptor-Expressing Neurons Form an Essential Excitatory Pathway for Mechanical Itch. Cell Rep 2020; 28:625-639.e6. [PMID: 31315043 PMCID: PMC6709688 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute itch can be generated by either chemical or mechanical stimuli,
which activate separate pathways in the periphery and spinal cord. While
substantial progress has been made in mapping the transmission pathway for
chemical itch, the central pathway for mechanical itch remains obscure. Using
complementary genetic and pharmacological manipulations, we show that excitatory
neurons marked by the expression of the neuropeptide Y1 receptor
(Y1Cre neurons) form an essential pathway in the dorsal spinal
cord for the transmission of mechanical but not chemical itch. Ablating or
silencing the Y1Cre neurons abrogates mechanical itch, while
chemogenetic activation induces scratching. Moreover, using Y1
conditional knockout mice, we demonstrate that endogenous neuropeptide Y (NPY)
acts via dorsal horn Y1-expressing neurons to suppress light punctate touch and
mechanical itch stimuli. NPY-Y1 signaling thus regulates the transmission of
innocuous tactile information by establishing biologically relevant thresholds
for touch discrimination and mechanical itch reflexes. Acton et al. identify the excitatory neurons in the dorsal spinal cord
that drive mechanical itch. These cells mediate responses to light punctate
touch and are inhibited by neuropeptide Y (NPY)::Cre interneurons. Light touch
sensitivity and mechanical itch responses are gated by NPY signaling mediated by
Y1-expressing neurons in the dorsal horn.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Acton
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Xiangyu Ren
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Biology Graduate Program, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Stefania Di Costanzo
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Biology Graduate Program, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Antoine Dalet
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Steeve Bourane
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ilaria Bertocchi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Neuroscience Institute of the Cavalieri-Ottolenghi Foundation, Regione Gonzole 1, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Carola Eva
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Neuroscience Institute of the Cavalieri-Ottolenghi Foundation, Regione Gonzole 1, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Martyn Goulding
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Adams MS, Niechwiej-Szwedo E, McIlroy WE, Staines WR. A History of Concussion Affects Relevancy-Based Modulation of Cortical Responses to Tactile Stimuli. Front Integr Neurosci 2020; 14:33. [PMID: 32719591 PMCID: PMC7350857 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2020.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Modulating cortical excitability based on a stimulus’ relevance to the task at hand is a component of sensory gating, and serves to protect higher cortical centers from being overwhelmed with irrelevant information (McIlroy et al., 2003; Kumar et al., 2005; Wasaka et al., 2005). This study examined relevancy-based modulation of cortical excitability, and corresponding behavioral responses, in the face of distracting stimuli in participants with and without a history of concussion (mean age 22 ± 3 SD years; most recent concussion 39.1 ± 30 SD months). Participants were required to make a scaled motor response to the amplitudes of visual and tactile stimuli presented individually or concurrently. Task relevance was manipulated, and stimuli were occasionally presented with irrelevant distractors. Electroencephalography (EEG) and task accuracy data were collected from participants with and without a history of concussion. The somatosensory-evoked N70 event-related potential (ERP) was significantly modulated by task relevance in the control group but not in those with a history of concussion, and there was a significantly greater cost to task accuracy in the concussion history group when relevant stimuli were presented with an irrelevant distractor. This study demonstrated that relevancy-based modulation of electrophysiological responses and behavioral correlates of sensory gating differ in people with and without a history of concussion, even after patients were symptom-free and considered recovered from their injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan S Adams
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | | | - William E McIlroy
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - William R Staines
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Walker S, Monto S, Piirainen JM, Avela J, Tarkka IM, Parviainen TM, Piitulainen H. Older Age Increases the Amplitude of Muscle Stretch-Induced Cortical Beta-Band Suppression But Does not Affect Rebound Strength. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:117. [PMID: 32508626 PMCID: PMC7248310 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Healthy aging is associated with deterioration of the sensorimotor system, which impairs balance and somatosensation. However, the exact age-related changes in the cortical processing of sensorimotor integration are unclear. This study investigated primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1) oscillations in the 15-30 Hz beta band at rest and following (involuntary) rapid stretches to the triceps surae muscles (i.e., proprioceptive stimulation) of young and older adults. A custom-built, magnetoencephalography (MEG)-compatible device was used to deliver rapid (190°·s-1) ankle rotations as subjects sat passively in a magnetically-shielded room while MEG recorded their cortical signals. Eleven young (age 25 ± 3 years) and 12 older (age 70 ± 3 years) adults matched for physical activity level demonstrated clear 15-30 Hz beta band suppression and rebound in response to the stretches. A sub-sample (10 young and nine older) were tested for dynamic balance control on a sliding platform. Older adults had greater cortical beta power pre-stretch (e.g., right leg: 4.0 ± 1.6 fT vs. 5.6 ± 1.7 fT, P = 0.044) and, subsequently, greater normalized movement-related cortical beta suppression post-proprioceptive stimulation (e.g., right leg: -5.8 ± 1.3 vs. -7.6 ± 1.7, P = 0.01) than young adults. Furthermore, poorer balance was associated with stronger cortical beta suppression following proprioceptive stimulation (r = -0.478, P = 0.038, n = 19). These results provide further support that cortical processing of proprioception is hindered in older adults, potentially (adversely) influencing sensorimotor integration. This was demonstrated by the impairment of prompt motor action control, i.e., regaining perturbed balance. Finally, SM1 cortex beta suppression to a proprioceptive stimulus seems to indicate poorer sensorimotor functioning in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Walker
- NeuroMuscular Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Simo Monto
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Research, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jarmo M Piirainen
- NeuroMuscular Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Janne Avela
- NeuroMuscular Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Ina M Tarkka
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences and Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Research, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tiina M Parviainen
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Research, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Harri Piitulainen
- NeuroMuscular Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.,Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
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10
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Tamè L, Azañón E, Longo MR. A Conceptual Model of Tactile Processing across Body Features of Size, Shape, Side, and Spatial Location. Front Psychol 2019; 10:291. [PMID: 30863333 PMCID: PMC6399380 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The processing of touch depends of multiple factors, such as the properties of the skin and type of receptors stimulated, as well as features related to the actual configuration and shape of the body itself. A large body of research has focused on the effect that the nature of the stimuli has on tactile processing. Less research, however, has focused on features beyond the nature of the touch. In this review, we focus on some features related to the body that have been investigated for less time and in a more fragmented way. These include the symmetrical quality of the two sides of the body, the postural configuration of the body, as well as the size and shape of different body parts. We will describe what we consider three key aspects: (1) how and at which stages tactile information is integrated between different parts and sides of the body; (2) how tactile signals are integrated with online and stored postural configurations of the body, regarded as priors; (3) and how tactile signals are integrated with representations of body size and shape. Here, we describe how these different body dimensions affect integration of tactile information as well as guide motor behavior by integrating them in a single model of tactile processing. We review a wide range of neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological data and suggest a revised model of tactile integration on the basis of the one proposed previously by Longo et al.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Tamè
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom.,School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Azañón
- Institute of Psychology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Matthew R Longo
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Jovanic T, Winding M, Cardona A, Truman JW, Gershow M, Zlatic M. Neural Substrates of Drosophila Larval Anemotaxis. Curr Biol 2019; 29:554-566.e4. [PMID: 30744969 PMCID: PMC6380933 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Animals use sensory information to move toward more favorable conditions. Drosophila larvae can move up or down gradients of odors (chemotax), light (phototax), and temperature (thermotax) by modulating the probability, direction, and size of turns based on sensory input. Whether larvae can anemotax in gradients of mechanosensory cues is unknown. Further, although many of the sensory neurons that mediate taxis have been described, the central circuits are not well understood. Here, we used high-throughput, quantitative behavioral assays to demonstrate Drosophila larvae anemotax in gradients of wind speeds and to characterize the behavioral strategies involved. We found that larvae modulate the probability, direction, and size of turns to move away from higher wind speeds. This suggests that similar central decision-making mechanisms underlie taxis in somatosensory and other sensory modalities. By silencing the activity of single or very few neuron types in a behavioral screen, we found two sensory (chordotonal and multidendritic class III) and six nerve cord neuron types involved in anemotaxis. We reconstructed the identified neurons in an electron microscopy volume that spans the entire larval nervous system and found they received direct input from the mechanosensory neurons or from each other. In this way, we identified local interneurons and first- and second-order subesophageal zone (SEZ) and brain projection neurons. Finally, silencing a dopaminergic brain neuron type impairs anemotaxis. These findings suggest that anemotaxis involves both nerve cord and brain circuits. The candidate neurons and circuitry identified in our study provide a basis for future detailed mechanistic understanding of the circuit principles of anemotaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tihana Jovanic
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.
| | - Michael Winding
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Albert Cardona
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - James W Truman
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, USA
| | - Marc Gershow
- Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY, USA; Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Marta Zlatic
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA; Department of Zoology, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.
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Hagenmuller F, Heekeren K, Roser P, Haker H, Theodoridou A, Walitza S, Rössler W, Kawohl W. Early Somatosensory Processing Over Time in Individuals at Risk to Develop Psychosis. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:47. [PMID: 30890966 PMCID: PMC6413704 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) enable the investigation of thalamocortical and early cortical processing. Previous studies reported alterations of SEPs in patients with schizophrenia as well as in individuals in the prodromal stage. Moreover, cannabis use as an environmental risk factor for the development of schizophrenia has been demonstrated to influence SEP parameters in individuals at risk to develop psychosis. The aim of this study was to explore the course of SEP changes and the impact of concomitant cannabis use in individuals at risk to develop psychosis who sought medical help. Methods: Median nerve SEPs including high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) superimposed on the primary cortical response (N20) were investigated using multichannel EEG in individuals (n = 54 at baseline) remaining at risk to develop psychosis at follow-up after 1 year (high-risk: n = 19; ultra-high-risk: n = 27) vs. subjects with conversion to psychosis (n = 8) and a healthy control group (n = 35). Longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses of SEP components as estimated by dipole source analysis were performed. Results: The longitudinal development of the N20 strength depended on cannabis use. In cannabis non-users, a greater decrease of N20 strengths over time was associated with more negative symptoms at baseline. At baseline, converters did not differ from subjects remaining at risk. At follow-up, converters showed increased low- and high-frequency activity than at-risk subjects and did not differ from controls. Conclusion: The results of this study lead to the suggestion that the deficits in early somatosensory processing in individuals at risk to develop psychosis may not represent a marker for a genetic risk for psychosis but rather reflect state-dependent factors such as negative symptoms. On the other hand, the transition to psychosis seems to represent an interstage between reduced sensory registration from the at-risk state and gating deficits in the chronic state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Hagenmuller
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karsten Heekeren
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrik Roser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Services Aargau, Academic Hospital of the University of Zurich, Brugg, Switzerland
| | - Helene Haker
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Translational Neuromodeling Unit, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anastasia Theodoridou
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Walitza
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wulf Rössler
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM 27), Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolfram Kawohl
- The Zurich Program for Sustainable Development of Mental Health Services (ZInEP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Services Aargau, Academic Hospital of the University of Zurich, Brugg, Switzerland
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Calzolari E, Azañón E, Danvers M, Vallar G, Longo MR. Adaptation aftereffects reveal that tactile distance is a basic somatosensory feature. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:4555-60. [PMID: 28396426 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1614979114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The stage at which processing of tactile distance occurs is still debated. We addressed this issue by implementing an adaptation-aftereffect paradigm with passive touch. We demonstrated the presence of a strong aftereffect, induced by the simultaneous presentation of pairs of tactile stimuli. After adaptation to two different distances, one on each hand, participants systematically perceived a subsequent stimulus delivered to the hand adapted to the smaller distance as being larger. We further investigated the nature of the aftereffects, demonstrating that they are orientation- and skin-region-specific, occur even when just one hand is adapted, do not transfer either contralaterally or across the palm and dorsum, and are defined in a skin-centered, rather than an external, reference frame. These characteristics of tactile distance aftereffects are similar to those of low-level visual aftereffects, supporting the idea that distance perception arises at early stages of tactile processing.
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Galilee A, McCleery JP. Neural mechanisms of the observation of human and non-human object touch in children: An event-related potential study. Br J Dev Psychol 2015; 34:86-100. [PMID: 26659431 DOI: 10.1111/bjdp.12119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous behavioural research on the development of self-other tactile processing and perception suggests that this system may develop in a somewhat protracted manner relative to other aspects of social development. Neuroimaging research has shown that somatosensory mechanisms are activated when adults observe another person or object being touched. In this study, we measured event-related potentials from 4- to 5-year-old children to investigate the development of the neural correlates of the observation of human and object touch. Participants were presented with video clips of an arm or a cylindrical object being touched. Touch versus non-touch effects were observed in the amplitudes of the LSW component (600-700 ms) measured from electrodes over somatosensory region. Additionally, human versus non-human stimulus effects were reflected in the amplitudes of the parietal-central N100 component, as well as in the latencies of the N170 component recorded from parietal-occipital electrodes in children, as in adults in a previous study using this same paradigm. These findings provide evidence that relatively mature tactile mirroring mechanisms are activated during the observation of touch in children, and further suggest the possibility that these mechanisms are not particularly slow in their development relative to other aspects of social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph P McCleery
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK.,Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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15
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Papadelis C, Ahtam B, Nazarova M, Nimec D, Snyder B, Grant PE, Okada Y. Cortical somatosensory reorganization in children with spastic cerebral palsy: a multimodal neuroimaging study. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:725. [PMID: 25309398 PMCID: PMC4162364 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although cerebral palsy (CP) is among the most common causes of physical disability in early childhood, we know little about the functional and structural changes of this disorder in the developing brain. Here, we investigated with three different neuroimaging modalities [magnetoencephalography (MEG), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and resting-state fMRI] whether spastic CP is associated with functional and anatomical abnormalities in the sensorimotor network. Ten children participated in the study: four with diplegic CP (DCP), three with hemiplegic CP (HCP), and three typically developing (TD) children. Somatosensory (SS)-evoked fields (SEFs) were recorded in response to pneumatic stimuli applied to digits D1, D3, and D5 of both hands. Several parameters of water diffusion were calculated from DTI between the thalamus and the pre-central and post-central gyri in both hemispheres. The sensorimotor resting-state networks (RSNs) were examined by using an independent component analysis method. Tactile stimulation of the fingers elicited the first prominent cortical response at ~50 ms, in all except one child, localized over the primary SS cortex (S1). In five CP children, abnormal somatotopic organization was observed in the affected (or more affected) hemisphere. Euclidean distances were markedly different between the two hemispheres in the HCP children, and between DCP and TD children for both hemispheres. DTI analysis revealed decreased fractional anisotropy and increased apparent diffusion coefficient for the thalamocortical pathways in the more affected compared to less affected hemisphere in CP children. Resting-state functional MRI results indicated absent and/or abnormal sensorimotor RSNs for children with HCP and DCP consistent with the severity and location of their lesions. Our findings suggest an abnormal SS processing mechanism in the sensorimotor network of children with CP possibly as a result of diminished thalamocortical projections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Papadelis
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA ; Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Banu Ahtam
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA ; Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Maria Nazarova
- Department of Neurorehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Research Center of Neurology , Moscow , Russia ; Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Faculty of Psychology, Higher School of Economics , Moscow , Russia
| | - Donna Nimec
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Brian Snyder
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Patricia Ellen Grant
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA ; Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA ; Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
| | - Yoshio Okada
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA ; Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
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Abstract
Attentional selectivity in touch is modulated by the position of the body in external space. For instance, during endogenous attention tasks in which tactile stimuli are presented to the hands, the effect of attention is reduced when the hands are placed far apart than when they are close together and when the hands are crossed as compared to when they are placed in their anatomical position. This suggests that both somatotopic and external spatial reference frames coding the hands’ locations contribute to the spatial selection of the relevant hand. Here we investigate whether tactile selection of hands is also modulated by the position of other body parts, not directly involved in tactile perception, such as eye-in-orbit (gaze direction). We asked participants to perform the same sustained tactile attention task while gazing laterally toward an eccentric fixation point (Eccentric gaze) or toward a central fixation point (Central gaze). Event-related potentials recorded in response to tactile non-target stimuli presented to the attended or unattended hand were compared as a function of gaze direction (Eccentric vs. Central conditions). Results revealed that attentional modulations were reduced in the Eccentric gaze condition as compared to the Central gaze condition in the time range of the Nd component (200–260 ms post-stimulus), demonstrating for the first time that the attentional selection of one of the hands is affected by the position of the eye in the orbit. Directing the eyes toward an eccentric position might be sufficient to create a misalignment between external and somatotopic frames of references reducing tactile attention. This suggests that the eye-in-orbit position contributes to the spatial selection of the task relevant body part.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Gherri
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh UK
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17
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Riquelme I, Zamorano A, Montoya P. Reduction of pain sensitivity after somatosensory therapy in adults with cerebral palsy. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:276. [PMID: 23805086 PMCID: PMC3690353 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Pain and deficits in somatosensory processing seem to play a relevant role in cerebral palsy (CP). Rehabilitation techniques based on neuroplasticity mechanisms may induce powerful changes in the organization of the primary somatosensory cortex and have been proved to reduce levels of pain and discomfort in neurological pathologies. However, little is known about the efficacy of such interventions for pain sensitivity in CP individuals. Methods: Adults with CP participated in the study and were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 17) or the control group (n = 20). The intervention group received a somatosensory therapy including four types of exercises (touch, proprioception, vibration, and stereognosis). All participants were asked to continue their standardized motor therapy during the study period. Several somatosensory (pain and touch thresholds, stereognosis, proprioception, texture recognition) and motor parameters (fine motor skills) were assessed before, immediately after and 3 months after the therapy (follow-up). Results: Participants of the intervention group showed a significant reduction on pain sensitivity after treatment and at follow-up after 3 months, whereas participants in the control group displayed increasing pain sensitivity over time. No improvements were found on touch sensitivity, proprioception, texture recognition, or fine motor skills. Conclusion: Data suggest the possibility that somatosensory therapy was effective in eliciting changes in central somatosensory processing. This hypothesis may have implications for future neuromodulatory treatment of pain complaints in children and adults with CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Riquelme
- Research Institute on Health Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca , Spain ; Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca , Spain
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Stornetta RL, Macon CJ, Nguyen TM, Coates MB, Guyenet PG. Cholinergic neurons in the mouse rostral ventrolateral medulla target sensory afferent areas. Brain Struct Funct 2013; 218:455-75. [PMID: 22460939 PMCID: PMC3459297 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-012-0408-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) primarily regulates respiration and the autonomic nervous system. Its medial portion (mRVLM) contains many choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-immunoreactive (ir) neurons of unknown function. We sought to clarify the role of these cholinergic cells by tracing their axonal projections. We first established that these neurons are neither parasympathetic preganglionic neurons nor motor neurons because they did not accumulate intraperitoneally administered Fluorogold. We traced their axonal projections by injecting a Cre-dependent vector (floxed-AAV2) expressing either GFP or mCherrry into the mRVLM of ChAT-Cre mice. Transduced neurons expressing GFP or mCherry were confined to the injection site and were exclusively ChAT-ir. Their axonal projections included the dorsal column nuclei, medullary trigeminal complex, cochlear nuclei, superior olivary complex and spinal cord lamina III. For control experiments, the floxed-AAV2 (mCherry) was injected into the RVLM of dopamine beta-hydroxylase-Cre mice. In these mice, mCherry was exclusively expressed by RVLM catecholaminergic neurons. Consistent with data from rats, these catecholaminergic neurons targeted brain regions involved in autonomic and endocrine regulation. These regions were almost totally different from those innervated by the intermingled mRVLM-ChAT neurons. This study emphasizes the advantages of using Cre-driver mouse strains in combination with floxed-AAV2 to trace the axonal projections of chemically defined neuronal groups. Using this technique, we revealed previously unknown projections of mRVLM-ChAT neurons and showed that despite their close proximity to the cardiorespiratory region of the RVLM, these cholinergic neurons regulate sensory afferent information selectively and presumably have little to do with respiration or circulatory control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth L Stornetta
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia Health System, P.O. Box 800735, 1300 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0735, USA.
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Abstract
Recent functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported activation of primary and secondary somatosensory cortices when participants observe another person or object being touched. In this study, we used event-related potentials to examine the nature and time-course of the neural mechanisms associated with the observation of humans and non-human objects being touched. Participants were presented with short video clips of a human arm or a non-human cylindrical object being touched by an object, compared with an object moving in front of the arms or cylinders without touching them. Touch vs non-touch effects were observed in the amplitudes of the N100 and N250 components, as well as a late slow wave component (500-600 ms), measured from electrodes over primary somatosensory cortex. Human vs non-human stimulus effects were reflected in the latencies of the N100, P170 and N250 components recorded over somatosensory cortex, as well as the temporal-parietal visual-perceptual N170 and N250 components. These findings suggest that human and non-human touch observation are associated with somatosensory processing at both an early sensory-perceptual stage and a relatively late cognitive stage, both preceding and following the perceptual encoding of the humanness of stimuli that typically occurs in extrastriate visual areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Streltsova
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands B15 2TT, UK.
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Mancini F, Bricolo E, Mattioli FC, Vallar G. Visuo-haptic interactions in unilateral spatial neglect: the cross modal judd illusion. Front Psychol 2011; 2:341. [PMID: 22164149 PMCID: PMC3222222 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) has been mainly investigated in the visual modality; only few studies compared spatial neglect across different sensory modalities, and explored their multisensory interactions, with controversial results. We investigated the integration between vision and haptics, through a bisection task of a cross modal illusion, the Judd variant of the Müller-Lyer illusion. We examined right-brain-damaged patients with (n = 7) and without (n = 7) left USN, and neurologically unimpaired participants (n = 14) in the bisection of Judd stimuli under visual, haptic, and visuo-haptic presentation. Neglect patients showed the characteristic rightward bias in the bisection of the baseline stimuli in the visual modality, but not in the haptic and visuo-haptic conditions. The illusory effects were preserved in each group and in each modality, indicating that the processing of the cross modal illusion is independent of the presence of deficits of spatial attention and representation. Spatial neglect can be modality-specific, but visual and tactile sensory inputs are properly integrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Mancini
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-BicoccaMilano, Italy
- Neuropsychological Laboratory, IRCCS Italian Auxological InstituteMilano, Italy
| | - Emanuela Bricolo
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-BicoccaMilano, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Vallar
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-BicoccaMilano, Italy
- Neuropsychological Laboratory, IRCCS Italian Auxological InstituteMilano, Italy
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