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• The effects of driving experience and attentional control on the perception of driving scenes were experimentally investigated through the event-related potential P300. • Both driving experience and attentional control elevated the performance of target perception. • Greater improvement in the latency of the P300 and reaction time for the perceptual target was observed in the driving experience than attentional control. • The greater contribution of experience in aiding the performance of visual attention in scene perception rather than attentional control. Numerous types of objects in traffic scenes are visually perceived and recognized to determine safe driving maneuvers. Visual attention is the most important brain function for selecting and processing necessary information in the driving environment. To perceive various targets during driving, attentional resources are distributed across the entire scene. Direct control of attention through instruction and/or cues, which result in tuning the resolution of attentional areas, aids the performance of attention. Additionally, the fixation point distribution of an experienced driver becomes wider and tends to shift to the location where the vehicle will be in the next few seconds. Electroencephalography studies have shown distinct characteristics in the attention-related event-related potential known as P300 between experienced and beginner drivers. These findings suggest that experience allows for the optimization of visual attention and direct attentional control. However, it remains unknown how they differ in altering visual attention performance and related brain activity. This study experimentally investigated the effects of driving experience and attentional control on the perception of driving scenes using the event-related potential P300. Our results showed a greater improvement in P300 latency for perceptual targets with driving experience rather than an increase in visual attention intensity. The results suggest that experience enhances visual attention more effectively than attentional control in terms of acceleration of brain signal processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The survey focuses on non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, highlighting their significance in offering novel perspectives for comprehending and treating neurological disorders. • Focuses on the dynamic landscape of deep brain stimulation, with a special emphasis on the evolving role of microwave technology. • Explores how advancements in antenna structures and optimization strategies are shaping the future of high-frequency microwave stimulation, indicating a transformative journey within the field. • Provides a safer and more precise means of modulating neural activity, potentially leading to more effective and targeted interventions. This survey provides a comprehensive insight into the world of non-invasive brain stimulation and focuses on the evolving landscape of deep brain stimulation through microwave research. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques provide new prospects for comprehending and treating neurological disorders. We investigate the methods shaping the future of deep brain stimulation, emphasizing the role of microwave technology in this transformative journey. Specifically, we explore antenna structures and optimization strategies to enhance the efficiency of high-frequency microwave stimulation. These advancements can potentially revolutionize the field by providing a safer and more precise means of modulating neural activity. Furthermore, we address the challenges that researchers currently face in the realm of microwave brain stimulation. From safety concerns to methodological intricacies, this survey outlines the barriers that must be overcome to fully unlock the potential of this technology. This survey serves as a roadmap for advancing research in microwave brain stimulation, pointing out potential directions and innovations that promise to reshape the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the relationships among cognitive function, symptoms, prefrontal activation, basic driving skills, and collision risk factors using a hazard prediction task in simulated driving. Participants included 42 people with schizophrenia aged 20–50 years who had actual experience of driving. The Trail making test (TMT) A and TMT B, Wechsler Memory Test–Revised (WMS-R), and Zoo Map test (ZMT) were used to evaluate cognitive function. Positive and negative syndrome scale was used to assess symptoms, and brain activity was assessed by evaluating cerebral blood flow during a visual working memory task using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Driving tasks that tested basic skills, such as brake reaction, steering wheel skills, and standard deviation of lateral position, were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Three hazard prediction tasks were performed using discriminant analysis. Brake reaction associated with cerebral blood flow and TMT-A. Steering wheel skills associated with WMS-R, driving experience and depression. Significant differences were found between the collision and noncollision groups in the hazard prediction task, as shown by the ZMT, driving experience, and brake reaction. Brain activity in the frontal lobe during a desk task may be useful data for driving assessment. Assessment of processing speed and learning ability may be particularly important in the evaluation of basic skills for safe driving. In addition, for people with schizophrenia, foresight, as represented by proactive planning, experience, and quick braking may be an essential characteristic to anticipate danger and react quickly enough to avoid collisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesized speech quality evaluation is one of the important steps to ensure the generated speech audio sounds good to humans. There are two main approaches to perform the evaluation; subjective and objective. Subjective approaches use human as the assessor, which is the most natural approach. However, it is time-consuming and expensive. Hence, it has generally been replaced by the quicker and cheaper objective approaches. Nevertheless, since objective approaches only analyze the audio features, the predicted quality might not correlated to what humans would perceive. Recent studies shows that brain activity contains some information that can be useful to enhance the prediction performance. This work proposed a method to extract the common features among participants' brain activity to predict the perceived speech audio quality. The result shows that the proposed approach significantly reduces the prediction error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The welfare of farmed fish has gained increasing attention during recent decades, and as technological advances have facilitated measurements of brain activity in fish, the slaughter process has been highlighted as an area for assessment and potential improvement. Here, we used electroencephalograms (EEG) to assess brain activity in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), and used commercial slaughter practices to guide optimization of stunning conditions in a laboratory setting. Following in-air electro-stunning at processing plants, individual fish responses to the shock varied based on EEG and corresponding ventilation measurements prior to physical euthanasia. Results from laboratory experiments showed stunning efficacy is dependent on shock duration and the location where electrodes contact fish. Electrodes contacting the head for 1 s using 50 Hz 132 AC V RMS , with a current >380 mA RMS , caused immediate loss of consciousness lasting 10–40 s. When the exposure period was prolonged to 6 s, recovery time was significantly longer, ranging from 45 to 240 s (mean 125 s). If the electrodes contacted the body instead of the head, shock delivered for 6 s resulted in a shorter recovery time of 0–100 s (mean 48 s). These findings highlight that shock duration and electrode position are important when stunning channel catfish and presumably other fishes, and indicate the time from stunning to killing should be kept as short as possible. • Electrical stunning can cause unconsciousness in channel catfish. • The effect of electric stunning is often temporary. • Shock duration affect time to recovery. • Electrode position affect time to recovery. • Time between stunning and killing should be kept short. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feline osteoarthritis (OA) leads to chronic pain and somatosensory sensitisation. In humans, sensory exposure can modulate chronic pain. Recently, electroencephalography (EEG) revealed a specific brain signature to human OA. However, EEG pain characterisation or its modulation does not exist in OA cats, and all EEG were conducted in sedated cats, using intradermal electrodes, which could alter sensory (pain) perception. Cats (n =11) affected by OA were assessed using ten gold-plated surface electrodes. Sensory stimuli were presented in random orders: response to mechanical temporal summation, grapefruit scent and mono-chromatic wavelengths (500 nm-blue, 525 nm-green and 627 nm-red light). The recorded EEG was processed to identify event-related potentials (ERP) and to perform spectral analysis (z-score). The procedure was well-tolerated. The ERPs were reported for both mechanical (F3, C3, Cz, P3, Pz) and olfactory stimuli (Cz, Pz). The main limitation was motion artifacts. Spectral analysis revealed a significant interaction between the power of EEG frequency bands and light wavelengths (p <0.001). All wavelengths considered, alpha band proportion was higher than that of delta and gamma bands (p <0.044), while the latter was lower than the beta band (p <0.016). Compared to green and red, exposure to blue light elicited distinct changes in EEG power over time (p <0.001). This is the first demonstration of EEG feasibility in conscious cats with surface electrodes recording brain activity while exposing them to sensory stimulations. The identification of ERPs and spectral patterns opens new avenues for investigating feline chronic pain and its potential modulation through sensory interventions. • Electroencephalography (EEG), using surface electrodes, allowed non-invasive recording of brain activity in conscious cats. • Event-related potentials following mechanical and olfactory stimulations were identified in awake cats using EEG. • Visual stimulations correlated with EEG spectral signatures, showed distinct patterns across different light wavelengths. • This method allows to study brain activity in animals affected by chronic pain and its modulation with sensory stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occlusal function stimulates different areas of the cerebral cortex. The purpose of this narrative review was to identify the relationship between occlusion and brain activity so as to provide theoretical support to enable future studies on the subject. Relevant case-control studies, clinical trials, and systematic reviews available in English were retrieved from the following databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, and Biblioteca Virtual en Salud (BVS). Of the 53 articles obtained, 12 were included. The sensorimotor cortex is affected by changes in occlusion. It is speculated that occlusion could play an important role in the development of diseases, from anxiety and stress to Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia. Further investigations into the interactions between occlusion and brain function are needed to elucidate the parts of the brain that are affected when occlusion is disturbed and to determine whether brain function is altered. Dentists must consider that alterations in the occlusal pattern during mastication can lead to changes in the activation of different brain regions related to memory, learning, anticipatory pain, and anxiety. This suggests that mastication maintains the integrity of certain brain areas and that it may be a key factor in the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a spatial localization method for scalp electroencephalography (EEG). The technique allows reliable and unambiguous identification of the activity for any intracerebral source by its spatial coordinates. Our "virtually implanted electrode" is based on the dynamics and correlation analysis of signals in the EEG leads with the addition of artificially generated data. The generated data helps us accurately model the electrical potential distribution between the studied source and the scalp electrodes. Each modeled intracerebral source is analyzed independently, so the proposed method does not require an estimate of the possible number of sources. The method produces output values that can be interpreted as the "local field" elec-trical activity for the implanted electrode in the corresponding brain point. The signal cleaning procedure makes it possible to exclude the influence from neighboring regions and detect a given brain region's isolated electrical activity. For verification, the method was applied in the empathy study on a sample of 16 people. We compared the background EEG of calm wakefulness with the EEG of empathic behavior for the 33 preselected brain regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have reported existence of coordinated brain and muscle activity patterns that affect postural control. However, differences in these activity patterns that affect postural control are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify brain and muscle activity pattern affecting postural control.Research Question: Does the difference in brain and muscle activity patterns during postural control affect postural control ability?Method: Nineteen healthy men (mean age: 24.8 ± 4.1 years, height: 171.8 ± 5.5 cm, and weight: 63.5 ± 12.5 kg) performed a postural control task on a balance board, and their brain and muscle activities and body sway during the task were measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, surface electromyography, and three-dimensional accelerometry. Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted to extract subgroups based on brain and muscle activities and postural control, and correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between brain activity, muscle activity, and postural control.Results: Two subgroups were found. Subgroup 1 (n = 9) showed higher brain activity in the supplementary motor area (p = 0.04), primary motor cortex (p = 0.04) and stable postural control in the mediolateral (p < 0.01) planes, and subgroup 2 (n = 10) showed higher muscle activity in the tibialis anterior (p < 0.01), a higher shank muscles co-contraction (p = 0.02) and unstable postural control. Furthermore, the supplementary motor area activity is negatively correlated with body sway of mediolateral plane (r = -0.51, p = 0.02), and tibialis anterior activity is positively correlated with body sway on the mediolateral plane (r = 0.62, p = 0.004).Significance: Higher brain activity in motor-related areas, lower activity in the lower limb muscles and lower co-contraction of shank muscles were observed in stable postural control. These results will facilitate the planning of new rehabilitation methods for improving postural control ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From an ethical standpoint, it is imperative that rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are humanely slaughtered, which entails that they are rendered unconscious immediately by a stunning method and remain so until death. The efficacy of electrical stunning following dewatering (i.e. , in-air electrical stunning at intensities of 50 to 920 mA and durations of 5 to 30 s) and percussive stunning, both advocated as humane stunning and/or killing methods, are evaluated here for this species via the presence or absence of visually evoked responses (VERs). In addition, ventilatory and cardiac responses were evaluated to elucidate the physiological basis for the lethality of both methods. While the present study was unable to determine the capability of in-air electrical stunning to induce immediate unconsciousness, our findings revealed that irreversible stuns were induced by both in-air electrical stunning (i.e. , ∼25 to 70% of individuals did not recover VERs across the various combinations of stunning intensities and/or durations) and percussive stunning (i.e. , ∼100% of individuals did not recover VERs). The efficacy of in-air electrical stunning for permanently abolishing VERs was marginally, but significantly, impacted by stun intensity (i.e. , explained 8% of the variation). Furthermore, due to substantial inter-specific variability and a limited sample size, significant impacts of stun intensity and/or duration on the recovery of VERs in reversibly stunned individuals were not detected in the present study (i.e. , VERs recovered between <0.5 to 28.8 min). Further investigation is therefore necessary before in-air electrical stunning can be endorsed as a standalone humane slaughter method for rainbow trout. This includes determining its capacity to induce immediate unconsciousness, as well as to identify additional factors that could be modified or enhanced to improve its efficacy. Furthermore, since death following in-air electrical stunning likely entails a prolonged process involving ventilatory failure, hypoxemia, and subsequent vital organ malfunction, rather than immediate cardiac arrest or central nervous system failure, the sequential use of methods such as percussive stunning is recommended to safeguard the welfare of rainbow trout during slaughter. • In-air electrical stunning can induce an irreversible loss of consciousness. • Factors underlying efficacy of electrical stunning require further investigation. • Lethality following electrical stunning is triggered by ventilatory failure. • Percussive stunning halted ventilation instantly, followed by a gradual decrease in heart rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) is treated with daily oral hormone replacements for cortisol and aldosterone. The current treatment is sub-optimal, and frequently results in supra- and infra-physiological cortisol levels that might negatively affect the brain and cognitive functioning. It is currently unclear if the brains of these patients need to be better protected. The present study investigates brain function during working memory in young adults with AAD compared to healthy controls. All participants (56 AAD (33 females), 62 controls (39 females), 19–43 years), underwent MRI brain scanning while performing a visuo-spatial and verbal working memory task. No main group differences in accuracy, reaction time or brain activity during the tasks were found. These findings suggest that patients perform equal to controls, and achieve similar levels of brain activity during working memory. However, variations in the patient population may have confounded this outcome. Controlled studies on larger cohorts are therefore needed to confirm these findings and test if having AAD affects the brain on the long term. • Brain activity during verbal and visuo-spatial working memory was assessed in patients with autoimmune Addison's disease. • Patients did not differ from healthy controls in performance on the working memory tasks. • Patients did not differ from healthy controls in brain activity during the working memory tasks. • Patients that experienced more mental fatigue had stronger activity in the cerebellum and occipital cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music is present in every culture and affects humans in numerous ways. Music-related technologies, such as music generation, can extend the application scenarios of human–computer interaction systems. Despite its important role in cognitive and social domains, the brain networks involved in music listening remain unclear. To further explore the relationship between music and brain networks, in this study, we analyzed the brain networks of 29 participants under different musical conditions based on electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Specifically, we utilized a public dataset that provided EEG signals of participants listening to music under different rhythmic and processing conditions. After EEG source localization, we selected 22 regions of interest (ROIs) that were relevant to music. The effective networks were subsequently established, where the ROIs are regarded as nodes, and the Granger causality relationships between nodes are considered as edges. We explored the differences among these effective networks and analyzed them further based on graph theory. The results demonstrate that different processing methods of music generate changes in the brain network. The results indicate the crucial role of the inferior parietal lobe in information transmission. The findings of this study provide new insights into the relationship between music and brain activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A complete C4 quadriplegia patient underwent gait training using robot suit HAL. • We evaluated his brain activity using task-induced functional MRI. • His cerebral cortex was hyperactive during the imagery task. • His cortical activation was reduced with the progression of the HAL treatment. Hybrid assistive limb (HAL) is a wearable robot, which has recently been used for the treatment of patients with movement disorders including spinal cord injury (SCI). Although several studies have indicated the effectiveness of HAL for SCI patients, changes in brain activity during the HAL intervention have not yet been fully characterized. A 19-year-old man with a chronic SCI resulting in complete C4 quadriplegia underwent five weeks of HAL training for a total of ten sessions. We evaluated his brain activity using task-induced functional MRI (fMRI) after the fourth, sixth and tenth HAL sessions. We also assessed the spasticity of this patient using the modified Ashworth scale (mAs). As controls for the task-induced fMRI, we examined the brain activity in two healthy subjects. The fMRI findings indicated an increased response to a motor imagery task in the patient's cerebral cortex compared to controls. In addition, the activation pattern in his cortex changed during the five weeks of HAL intervention. We observed increased cerebral lateralization in his primary motor cortex. We also found that the laterality index calculated for the precentral gyrus had a significant negative correlation with the total mAs score over the course of the HAL treatment. Our results indicate that the cerebral cortex of the present SCI patient was hyperactive during the imagery task, and the cortical activation was reduced with progression of the HAL treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that perennial Chan training leads to improvements in brain functioning. However, few studies have investigated the effects of short-term Huatou Chan training. The current study explored the effects of a three-day Huatou Chan training on physical and emotional health, as well as brain state. Seventy healthy subjects were recruited and divided into two groups: the Huatou Chan group and the Control group. The Huatou Chan group received a 3-day Huatou Chan training, while the Control group waited for three days. Both groups completed a 6 min Brain State Index recording, the SCL-90, the brief profile of mood state, the meaning in life questionnaire, and the Index of Well-being, prior to and after the training or waiting period. Results showed that short-term Huatou Chan training had significant benefits on some aspects such as physical and emotional health (obsessive-compulsive, depression, hostility, and psychoticism), negative emotions (tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, fatigue-inertia, and confusion-bewilderment), well-being, and attitude towards life. In addition, short-term Chan training can significantly improve brain state, as shown by the index of depression, anxiety, alerting and intelligence. This is the first study to provide direct evidence for the benefits of short-term intensive Huatou Chan training on physical and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Patients with writer's cramp do not respond to probabilistic cues indicating that an object will probably be light in a grip-lift task. • The results fit with the pathophysiological concept of a hyperfunctional direct basal ganglia pathway in writer's cramp patients. • Writer's cramp patients' brain activity does not differ significantly from that of control subjects in the grip-lift task with probabilistic cues. Planning of voluntary object-related movements requires the estimation of the most probable object properties. We investigated how 14 writer's cramp (WC) patients compared to 14 controls use probabilistic weight cues in a serial grip-lift task. In every grip-lift trial, an object of either light, medium or heavy weight had to be grasped and lifted after a visual cue gave a probabilistic prediction of the object weights (e.g. 32.5% light, 67.5% medium, 0 % heavy). We determined peak (1) grip force GF, (2) load force LF, (3) grip force rate GFR, (4) load force rate LFR, while we registered brain activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging. In both groups, GFR, LFR and GF increased when a higher probability of heavy weights was announced. When a higher probability of light weights was indicated, controls reduced GFR, LFR and GF, while WC patients did not downscale their forces. There were no inter-group differences in blood oxygenation level dependent activation. WC patients could not utilize the decision range in motor planning and adjust their force in a probabilistic cued fine motor task. The results support the pathophysiological model of a hyperfunctional dopamine dependent direct basal ganglia pathway in WC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We provide an overview of two prevalent conceptual accounts of brain aging. • We assess older adult brain function during walking and evaluate fit with accounts. • Findings suggest different interpretations based on methods and difficulty of task. • We provide suggestions for future aging, locomotion, and imaging experiments. A prominent trend in the functional brain imaging literature is that older adults exhibit increased brain activity compared to young adults to perform a given task. This phenomenon has been extensively studied for cognitive tasks, with the field converging on interpretations described in two alternative accounts. One account interprets over-activation in older adults as reflecting neural dysfunction (increased brain activity – indicates poorer performance), whereas another interprets it as neural compensation (increased brain activity - supports better performance). Here we review studies that have recorded brain activity and walking measurements in older adults, and we categorize their findings as reflecting either neural dysfunction or neural compensation. Based on this synthesis, we recommend including multiple task difficulty levels in future work to help differentiate if and when compensation fails as the locomotion task becomes more difficult. Using multiple task difficulty levels with neuroimaging will lead to a more advanced understanding of how age-related changes in locomotor brain activity fit with existing accounts of brain aging and support the development of targeted neural rehabilitation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity has one of the highest refractory rates of all chronic diseases, in part because weight loss induced by calorie restriction, the first-line treatment for obesity, elicits biological adaptations that promote weight regain. Although acute feeding trials suggest a role for macronutrient composition in modifying brain activity related to hunger and satiety, relevance of these findings to weight-loss maintenance has not been studied.Objectives: We investigated effects of weight-loss maintenance diets varying in macronutrient content on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in brain regions involved in hunger and reward.Methods: In conjunction with a randomized controlled feeding trial, we investigated the effects of weight-loss maintenance diets varying in carbohydrate content [high, 60% of total energy: n = 20; 6 men/14 women; mean age: 32.5 y; mean BMI (in kg/m 2): 27.4; moderate, 40% of total energy: n = 22; 10 men/12 women; mean age: 32.5 y; mean BMI: 29.0; low, 20% of total energy: n = 28; 12 men/16 women; mean age: 33.2 y; mean BMI: 27.7] on rCBF in brain regions involved in hunger and reward preprandial and 4 h postprandial after 14-20 wk on the diets. The primary outcome was rCBF in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) at 4 h postprandial; the secondary outcome was preprandial rCBF in the hypothalamus.Results: Consistent with a priori hypothesis, at 4 h postprandial, NAcc rCBF was 43% higher in adults assigned to the high- compared with low-carbohydrate diet {P[family-wise error (FWE)-corrected] < 0.05}. Preprandial hypothalamus rCBF was 41% higher on high-carbohydrate diet [P(FWE-corrected) < 0.001]. Exploratory analyses revealed that elevated rCBF on high-carbohydrate diet was not specific to prandial state: preprandial NAcc rCBF [P(FWE-corrected) < 0.001] and 4 h postprandial rCBF in hypothalamus [P(FWE-corrected) < 0.001]. Insulin secretion predicted differential postprandial activation of the NAcc by diet.Conclusions: We report significant differences in rCBF in adults assigned to diets varying in carbohydrate content for several months, which appear to be partially associated with insulin secretion. These findings suggest that chronic intake of a high-carbohydrate diet may affect brain reward and homeostatic activity in ways that could impede weight-loss maintenance. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02300857. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination display of the background color and font is one of the factors that affect psychological functioning. Many studies investigated the contrast effect on psychological well-being in connection with cognitive activity and task performance. These studies including our previous study, demonstrated the significant effects on brain activity and memory task, especially on elderly subjects. In this paper, we further discussed the contrast effects on the brain activity measured in the frontal lobe of young and elderly subjects. We measured hemoglobin (Hb) concentration changes by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) when the subjects performing the working memory task (reading span task) on three different display background colors (white, blue, green). Elderly subjects had a lower score on the task compared to younger subjects, which expressed a significant effect of aging, but no significant differences between background colors. On the other hand, the increment trend of the cognitive activity throughout the experiment showed task difficulty induced the blood flow in the brain. Between background colors, the brain activity of the young subject had a negative correlation on the contrast ratio where the low contrast ratio activated their brain activity the most. However, the elderly subject had the opposite results where the higher the contrast ratio, the more activation occurred in their brain. In conclusion, our finding is a key needed to keep activating the brain of elderly people where it tends to experience ability deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is significant interest in uncovering the mechanisms through which exercise enhances cognition, memory, and mood, and lowers the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we utilize forced treadmill running and distance-matched voluntary wheel running, coupled with light sheet 3D brain imaging and c-Fos immunohistochemistry, to generate a comprehensive atlas of exercise-induced brain activation in mice. To investigate the effects of exercise on brain activity, we compared whole-brain activation profiles of mice subjected to treadmill running with mice subjected to distance-matched wheel running. Male mice were assigned to one of four groups: a) an acute bout of voluntary wheel running, b) confinement to a cage with a locked running wheel, c) forced treadmill running, or d) placement on an inactive treadmill. Immediately following each exercise or control intervention, blood samples were collected for plasma analysis, and brains were collected for whole-brain c-Fos quantification. Our dataset reveals 255 brain regions activated by acute exercise in mice, the majority of which have not previously been linked to exercise. We find a broad response of 140 regulated brain regions that are shared between voluntary wheel running and treadmill running, while 32 brain regions are uniquely regulated by wheel running and 83 brain regions uniquely regulated by treadmill running. In contrast to voluntary wheel running, forced treadmill running triggers activity in brain regions associated with stress, fear, and pain. Our findings demonstrate a significant overlap in neuronal activation signatures between voluntary wheel running and distance-matched forced treadmill running. However, our analysis also reveals notable differences and subtle nuances between these two widely used paradigms. The comprehensive dataset is accessible online at www.neuropedia.dk , with the aim of enabling future research directed towards unraveling the neurobiological response to exercise. • 3D imaging and c-Fos immunohistochemistry uncover activation in 255 brain regions following acute exercise in mice. • Voluntary wheel running and forced treadmill running have overlapping and distinct neuronal activation patterns. • Forced treadmill running triggers activation in brain regions linked to stress, pain, and fear. • Access the online activity-induced brain map resource at www.neuropedia.dk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have attempted to analyze the main neurophysiological characteristics of emotional response, but few have been carried out at early ages, including adolescence or early adulthood. The main objective of the present study is to assess the electrophysiological correlates of emotional response in adolescents and young adults through electroencephalography (EEG) measures. Sample, composed of 25 subjects (18.44 ± 0.71 years old), were exposed to different sequences of images belonging to the IAPS, which were selected following the dimensional model, based on their valence and arousal, while their neural activity was evaluated through EEG. Results indicated differences in cortical neural activity in response to the valence of the images and the level of arousal. Specifically, we observed that exposure to positive images (high valence) with high arousal produced an increase in alpha, beta, and delta wave activity but not in theta activity. In the case of positive images with low arousal, however, the results indicated an increase in beta waves only and a decrease in alpha, delta, and theta activity. For negative images (low valence) with high arousal, an increase in alpha, beta, and delta waves but not in theta was observed, while negative images with low arousal induced an increase in beta, delta, and theta wave response. This study demonstrates that activated cortical areas indicated significant differences based on the different emotional responses in adolescents and young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have linked unilateral hand contractions to subsequent changes in hemispheric asymmetric activity, as reflected in the electroencephalographic alpha (8–12 Hz) range in each hemisphere. However, debate continues regarding the state of asymmetry induced by unilateral contractions. We have previously found a bilateral enhancement of alpha amplitude that occurs after contractions, reflecting cortical downregulation instead of changes in asymmetric activity. To corroborate our observations, we examined the effects of 45 s of unilateral dynamic handgrip contractions on subsequent resting alpha activity. Twenty-two right-handed participants were recruited (M = 25 years, 17 female). The study used a within-subjects design consisting of a pre- and post-test (2 min resting; eyes open) for the intervention (dynamic handgrip; at a self-determined pace of approximately twice a second for 45 s for each hand). Following the handgrip task, an increase in alpha amplitude above the baseline was observed over the entire cortex, which was greater after left-hand squeezing. This observation confirms our previous findings and we have extended them by adding more electrodes to gain further insights into the handgrip exercise as an external brain stimulator. Moreover, we grouped electrodes according to scalp regions to facilitate the visualization of the effects on the frequency spectrum. Our findings can be used to develop targeted interventions aimed at modifying behavioral outcomes affected by alpha activity. • A significant increase in alpha amplitude above the baseline observed only after left-hand squeezing. • Left-hand may trigger a greater inhibitory reaction due to more wide connectivity of the right-hemisphere across the brain. • These results might proposed mechanism underlying the behavioral observations reported in handgrip experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of mirror neurons in humans during observation, pronunciation and mental pronunciation of emotional and neutral words depending on the lateral organization of the brain. To achieve this goal, the methods of electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were used to examine brain activity in young men when observing, pronouncing and mental pronouncing emotional and neutral words. EEG was recorded monopolar using a 24-channel encephalograph-analyzer "Encephalan-131-03" (Medicom, Taganrog, Russia), fMRI were obtained on a 3 T Magnetom Verio tomograph (Siemens). Research have shown that the performance of activities related to observation, pronouncing and mental pronouncing of words is accompanied by a depression of the mu rhythm and, most often, increased levels of cortical communication at the frequency of this rhythm between the central and frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital zones of brain. The results of fMRI - studies showed the participation of a complex of structures represented by neurons of the left inferior frontal gyrus, the right posterior region of the middle temporal gyrus, and the right region of the angular gyrus, which, presumably, is part of the system of mirror neurons and the complex of structures represented by the neurons of the area of precuneus right areas of the gyrus, which are likely to be part of the system of production of speech directly in the provision of cognitive activity associated with observation, associated with the observation, pronunciation and mental pronunciation of emotional and neutral words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We conducted a multimodal coordinate-based meta-analysis (CBMA) to investigate structural and functional brain alterations in first-degree relatives of schizophrenia patients (FRs).Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search from electronic databases to find studies that examined differences between FRs and healthy controls using whole-brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or voxel-based morphometry (VBM). A CBMA of 30 fMRI (754 FRs; 959 controls) and 11 VBM (885 FRs; 775 controls) datasets were conducted using the anisotropic effect-size version of signed differential mapping. Further, we conducted separate meta-analyses about functional alterations in different cognitive tasks: social cognition, executive functioning, working memory, and inhibitory control.Results: FRs showed higher fMRI activation in the right frontal gyrus during cognitive tasks than healthy controls. In VBM studies, there were no differences in gray matter density between FRs and healthy controls. Furthermore, multi-modal meta-analysis obtained no differences between FRs and healthy controls. By utilizing the BrainMap database, we showed that the brain region which showed functional alterations in FRs (i) overlapped only slightly with the brain regions that were affected in the meta-analysis of schizophrenia patients and (ii) correlated positively with the brain regions that exhibited increased activity during cognitive tasks in healthy individuals.Conclusions: Based on this meta-analysis, FRs may exhibit only minor functional alterations in the brain during cognitive tasks, and the alterations are much more restricted and only slightly overlapping with the regions that are affected in schizophrenia patients. The familial risk did not relate to structural alterations in the gray matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Research on inattentional blindness (IB) with neural measures is reviewed. • Intermediate stages of visual processing reliably occur during IB. • IB research favours visual awareness negativity over p300 as a marker of awareness. • Temporoparietal junction and intra-parietal sulcus are implicated in IB. • More work is needed to establish the reliability of reported correlates. The neuroscientific study of consciousness involves examining candidate markers of consciousness under conditions where awareness varies. One such method for manipulating awareness is inattentional blindness. Whereas other methods of studying consciousness have been reviewed elsewhere, there has been little effort toward cataloguing work which has studied inattentional blindness using neuroscientific methodology. I address this by reviewing this body of literature, with key importance placed on how research informs a neuroscience of consciousness and the degree to which visual processing occurs in the absence of attention and awareness. Findings demonstrate clear evidence that processing up to intermediate stages (e.g. visual features, orthographic processing) occurs, even during inattentional blindness. The most commonly observed neurophysiological correlates associated with awareness include the visual awareness negativity and post-stimulus alpha suppression, whereas neuroanatomical markers include the lateral occipital cortex, the temporoparietal junction, and the intraparietal sulcus. I conclude by addressing the limitations this literature has been challenged with and offer recommendations for how future work on inattentional blindness can aid in advancing neuroscientific theories of consciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotion plays a vital role in human health and many aspects of life, including relationships, behaviors and decision-making. An intelligent emotion recognition system may provide a flexible method to monitor emotion changes in daily life and send warning information when unusual/unhealthy emotional states occur. Here, we proposed a novel unsupervised learning-based emotion recognition system in an attempt to decode emotional states from electroencephalography (EEG) signals. Four dimensions of human emotions were examined: arousal, valence, dominance and liking. To better characterize the trials in terms of EEG features, we used hypergraph theory. Emotion recognition was realized through hypergraph partitioning, which divided the EEG-based hypergraph into a specific number of clusters, with each cluster indicating one of the emotion classes and vertices (trials) in the same cluster sharing similar emotion properties. Comparison of the proposed unsupervised learning-based emotion recognition system with other recognition systems using a well-known public emotion database clearly demonstrated the validity of the proposed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Animals' need to move forces neuroscientists to record from the brain in motion. • Most neural recording techniques have been adapted to record from the moving brain. • Free movement of animals plays a vital role in many cognitive functions. • Viewed as an active behavioural state, it also impacts brain function in general. • In summary, animal research is very valuable to research on the human moving brain. Animals, just like humans, can freely move. They do so for various important reasons, such as finding food and escaping predators. Observing these behaviors can inform us about the underlying cognitive processes. In addition, while humans can convey complicated information easily through speaking, animals need to move their bodies to communicate. This has prompted many creative solutions by animal neuroscientists to enable studying the brain during movement. In this review, we first summarize how animal researchers record from the brain while an animal is moving, by describing the most common neural recording techniques in animals and how they were adapted to record during movement. We further discuss the challenge of controlling or monitoring sensory input during free movement. However, not only is free movement a necessity to reflect the outcome of certain internal cognitive processes in animals, it is also a fascinating field of research since certain crucial behavioral patterns can only be observed and studied during free movement. Therefore, in a second part of the review, we focus on some key findings in animal research that specifically address the interaction between free movement and brain activity. First, focusing on walking as a fundamental form of free movement, we discuss how important such intentional movements are for understanding processes as diverse as spatial navigation, active sensing, and complex motor planning. Second, we propose the idea of regarding free movement as the expression of a behavioral state. This view can help to understand the general influence of movement on brain function. Together, the technological advancements towards recording from the brain during movement, and the scientific questions asked about the brain engaged in movement, make animal research highly valuable to research into the human "moving brain". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Increased ALFF was found in the left cerebellum and left ITG in PT patients by rs-fMRI. • An increased FC was focused on the left cerebellum and ITG, right STG and occipital gyrus; the ITG and the thalamus in PT patients. • A negative relationship was noted between the values of PSQI, SAS and FC in the ITG and the thalamus in PT patients. The study investigated the alteration of brain functional connectivity (FC) patterns and analyzed the relationship between FC and psychological statue in pulsatile tinnitus (PT) patients by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The eligible PT patients (29) and healthy subjects (29) were enrolled. Brain activity, FC and clinical characteristics, including tinnitus handicap inventory, duration, sleep quality, anxiety, and depression were evaluated. A significantly increased brain activity in the left cerebellum and left inferior temporal gyrus was observed in PT patients. An abnormally increased FC was focused on the left cerebellum and left inferior temporal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, and right occipital gyrus, as well as, the inferior temporal gyrus and thalamus, the putamen and caudate nucleus. Decreased FC was demonstrated between the left cerebellum and bilateral angular gyrus, as well as, the left inferior temporal gyrus and orbital gyrus of the medial prefrontal lobe. A negative correlation was established between the scores of sleep quality and anxiety and the values of FC (in the inferior temporal gyrus and bilateral thalamus). These results suggest an abnormal activity of non-auditory cortex (the cerebellum and inferior temporal gyrus), and the alteration of FC patterns are responsible for PT. Some psychological factors may not be correlated with FC in PT patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human beings perform various motion ranging from simple motion to advanced motion. In addition, sensory information is used as a feedback information of the motion state during operations which require fine adjustment. It is necessary for performing advanced motion to acquire the corresponding skills. To learn such skills efficiently, it is necessary to construct a skill learning system. Grasping skill acquisition status is effective for the skill learning system. Currently, there is no other method than evaluating skill acquisition status by using learners' task scores. However, this method may not be enough to evaluate skill acquisition status. On the other hand, brain has the function of motion commands and sensory acceptance when moving the body. Therefore, it might be possible to sufficiently evaluate skill acquisition status by using the changes of brain activity. In the paper, we measured the changes of cerebral blood flow on learning of force adjustment skill. The obtained data was analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). The result of PCA shows that there are some channels which have the changes of the principal component score before and after learning. In the classification by RNN, when the first principal component scores of the cerebral blood flow data before and after learning were used for input data, high classification accuracy was obtained. In addition, higher classification accuracy was obtained when using only channels which have changes in the principal component scores before and after the learning are used as input data, rather than all channels were inputted. From these results, it is shown that characteristics of the prefrontal cerebral blood flow changes according to the motor skill learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effects of task load variations as a function of flight complexity on combat pilots' gaze behavior (i.e., entropy) while solving in-flight emergencies. The second company of the Spanish Army Attack Helicopter Battalion (n = 15) performed three sets of standardized flight exercises with different levels of complexity (low [recognition flights], medium and high [emergency flights]). Throughout the flight exercises we recorded pilots' gaze entropy, as well as pilots' performance (assessed by an expert flight instructor) and subjective ratings of task load (assessed by the NASA-Task Load Index). Furthermore, we used pilots' electroencephalographic (EEG) activity as a reference physiological index for task load variations. We found that pilots' gaze entropy decreased ∼2% (i.e., visual scanning became less erratic) while solving the emergency flight exercises, showing a significant decreasing trend with increasing complexity (p < .05). This is in consonance with the ∼12% increase in the frontal theta band of their EEG spectra during said exercises. Pilots' errors and subjective ratings of task load increased as flight complexity increased (p-values < .05). Gaze data suggest that pilots used nondeterministic visual patterns when the aircraft was in an error-free state (low complexity), and changed their scanning behavior, becoming more deterministic, once emergencies occurred (medium/high complexity). Overall, our findings indicate that gaze entropy can serve as a sensitive index of task load in aviation settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We propose a method to analyze cortico-muscular and cortico-cardiac coupling during a cycling exercise in order to study the development of muscular fatigue. • The proposed experimental protocol allows any person to be assessed based on their own individualized fatigue thresholds, then our proposal can be used not only for training, but also for clinical purposes. • We use the coherence as a metric to understand the coupling between electroencephalography, electromyography, and electrocardiography signals, then we relate such coupling to the influence that performance fatigability and the perception of fatigue may have between each other. Abstract We propose a method to analyze cortico-muscular and cortico-cardiac coupling during a cycling exercise in order to study the development of muscular fatigue. Our analysis is based in finding statistically significant changes in the coherence between electromyography (EMG) and electrocardiography (ECG) when compared against electroencephalography (EEG) signals. The coherence is a measure of the degree of correlation of the spectral power in an specified bandwidth between two signals, then EMG-EEG and ECG-EEG coherences are here analyzed during the development of muscular fatigue. For that purpose, we propose an experimental protocol in which a personalized fatigue threshold is found for the volunteers, then different levels of physical exertion are considered. Our results showed significant changes in the maximum cortico-muscular coherence in the β brain rhythm as the exercise progresses and fatigue develops, as well as changes in the maximum cortico-cardiac coherence, again in the β band, from the beginning to the end of the exercise protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study captured neurophysiological, muscular, and perceptual adaptations to shoulder exoskeleton use during overhead work with competing physical-cognitive demands. Twenty-four males and females, randomly divided into control and exoskeleton groups, performed an overhead reaching and pointing task over three days without (single task) and with (dual task) a working memory task. Task performance, electromyography (EMG), neural activity, heart rate, and subjective responses were collected. While task completion time reduced for both groups at the same rate over days, EMG activity of shoulder muscles was lower for the exoskeleton group for both tasks, specifically for females during the dual task. Dual task reduced the physiological benefits of exoskeletons and neuromotor strategies to adapt to the dual task demands differed between the groups. Neuromuscular benefits of exoskeleton use were immediately realized irrespective of cognitive demand, however the perceptual, physiological, and neural adaptations with exoskeleton use were task- and sex-specific. • Sex differences in muscular effort during overhead tasks diminish with exoskeleton use. • Exoskeleton-related physiological adaptation during overhead tasks is longer in women. • Physiological benefits of exoskeleton use diminish with dual task demands. • Wearers don't perceive exoskeleton benefits with dual task demands. • Exoskeleton-related neural adaptation strategies differ with dual task demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Comprehensive review of deep learning studies using EEG signals for neuropsychiatric disorder classification. • Analysis of factors impacting classification performance and guidelines for EEG-based diagnostic tool design. • Emphasis on EEG feature extraction for improved classification and need for further research on interpretable features. • Potential of deep neural networks for accurate neuropsychiatric disorder diagnosis using EEG signals. The use of deep neural networks for electroencephalogram (EEG) classification has rapidly progressed and gained popularity in recent years, but automatic feature extraction from EEG signals remains a challenging task. The classification of neuropsychiatric disorders demands the extraction of neuro-markers for use in automated EEG classification. Numerous advanced deep learning algorithms can be used for this purpose. In this article, we present a comprehensive review of the main factors and parameters that affect the performance of deep neural networks in classifying different neuropsychiatric disorders using EEG signals. We also analyze the EEG features used for improving classification performance. Our analysis includes 82 scientific journal papers that applied deep neural networks for subject-wise classification based on EEG signals. We extracted information on the EEG dataset and types of disorders, deep neural network structures, performance, and hyperparameters. The results show that most studies have focused on clinical classification, achieving an average accuracy of 91.83 ± 7.34, with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) being the most frequently used network architecture and resting-state EEG signals being the most commonly used data type. Additionally, the review reveals that depression (N = 18), Alzheimer's (N = 11), and schizophrenia (N = 11) were studied more frequently than other types of neuropsychiatric disorders. Our review provides insight into the performance of deep neural networks in EEG classification and highlights the importance of EEG feature extraction in improving classification accuracy. By identifying the main factors and parameters that affect deep neural network performance in EEG classification, our review can guide future research in this area. We hope that our findings will encourage further exploration of deep learning methods for EEG classification and contribute to the development of more accurate and effective methods for diagnosing and monitoring neuropsychiatric disorders using EEG signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decoding brain activity is conducive to the breakthrough of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. The development of artificial intelligence (AI) continually promotes the progress of brain language decoding technology. Existent research has mainly focused on a single modality and paid insufficient attention to AI methods. Therefore, our objective is to provide an overview of relevant decoding research from the perspective of different modalities and methodologies. The modalities involve text, speech, image, and video, whereas the core method is using AI-built decoders to translate brain signals induced by multimodal stimuli into text or vocal language. The semantic information of brain activity can be successfully decoded into a language at various levels, ranging from words through sentences to discourses. However, the decoding effect is affected by various factors, such as the decoding model, vector representation model, and brain regions. Challenges and future directions are also discussed. The advances in brain language decoding and BCI technology will potentially assist patients with clinical aphasia in regaining the ability to communicate. • Brain language decoding flourishes across text, speech, images and videos. • Suitable AI models are critical to language decoding across modalities. • Factors affecting multimodal brain language decoding are discussed. • Future work is expected for decoding beyond sentence level and universal decoders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal comfort is a crucial aspect of building design that can have a direct impact on people's health, productivity, and overall comfort. Evaluating indoor thermal comfort could be done through various methods, and this paper explored the feasibility of using electroencephalogram (EEG) critical dynamic parameters to evaluate thermal comfort. The study aimed to determine the critical dynamic characteristics of brain activity under different thermal conditions, and to establish the relationship between comfort and brain energy consumption. The experiment involved three conditions of cold, neutral, and hot environment, with 20 participants' EEG, thermal sensation vote (TSV), and thermal comfort vote (TCV) collected. The study calculated the critical dynamic parameters of EEG, including the mean frequency, avalanche size, avalanche duration, and branch parameters of brain activity at different temperature levels. The results showed that the parietal occipital lobe, right frontal lobe, and temporal lobe were sensitive to cold and hot, with brain activity tending to be large-scale and long-term during cold environment. In addition, 80% and 35% of the participants had higher brain activity energy consumption in cold environment and hot environment, respectively, compared to the neutral environment. This study represents a new interdisciplinary approach combining medicine and engineering to evaluate indoor thermal comfort, and provides a new research framework and knowledge system for understanding the cognitive activities of the brain in indoor thermal environments, as well as the application of smart buildings. • The critical dynamic features of brain activity were analyzed under thermal comfort. • Attempt to demonstrate that the brain consumes less energy during comfort state. • This research provided a new method for assessing thermal comfort. • A research framework based on EEG dynamic parameters was proposed. • The regions of the brain that are sensitive to cold and heat were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the functions of the visual system has been one of the major targets in neuroscience for many years. However, the relation between spontaneous brain activities and visual saliency in natural stimuli has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we developed an optimized machine learning-based decoding model to explore the possible relationships between the electroencephalography (EEG) characteristics and visual saliency. The optimal features were extracted from the EEG signals and saliency map which was computed according to an unsupervised saliency model ( Tavakoli and Laaksonen, 2017 ). Subsequently, various unsupervised feature selection/extraction techniques were examined using different supervised regression models. The robustness of the presented model was fully verified by means of ten-fold or nested cross validation procedure, and promising results were achieved in the reconstruction of saliency features based on the selected EEG characteristics. Through the successful demonstration of using EEG characteristics to predict the real-time saliency distribution in natural videos, we suggest the feasibility of quantifying visual content through measuring brain activities (EEG signals) in real environments, which would facilitate the understanding of cortical involvement in the processing of natural visual stimuli and application developments motivated by human visual processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inducing a growth mindset in students has been shown to impact positively on motivation, academic achievement, and brain activity. However, some studies have yielded different results and authors rarely provide reasons to explain this inconsistency. In an effort to better understand the conflicting evidence, we conducted a meta-analysis of 10 peer-reviewed studies including participants from age 7 to adulthood. Results show that inducing a growth mindset by teaching neuroplasticity has an overall positive effect on motivation, achievement, and brain activity. The results also reveal that this intervention seems more beneficial for at-risk students, especially regarding mathematics achievement. These findings thus suggest that inconsistent evidence across empirical studies could be explained by students’ characteristics and subject area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose A vast literature finds that low self-control is associated with a myriad of antisocial behaviors. Consequently, increasing attention has focused on the causes of low self-control. While criminologists have directed significant attention to studying its social causes, fewer studies have considered its neural bases. Methods We add to this nascent body of research by using data collected on an at-risk sample of adolescents participating in the ongoing Michigan Longitudinal Study. We examine the functioning of prefrontal and limbic regions of the brain during failed inhibitory control, assessed using the go/no-go task and functional magnetic resonance imaging, in relation to low self-control and self-reported delinquency. Results Results indicate that greater activation localized in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during failed inhibitory control is negatively associated with low self-control. Moreover, the association between ACC activity and later delinquency is mediated through low self-control. Conclusions Findings of this study demonstrate the utility of integrating neuroscientific and criminological perspectives on the causes of antisocial behavior. Concluding remarks address the theoretical and policy implications of the findings, as well as directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) recordings has attracted increasing interest in recent decades and provides the pivotal scientific tool for researchers to quantitatively study brain activity during sleep, and has extended our knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms of sleep physiology. Conventional EEG analyses are mostly based on Fourier transform technique which assumes linearity and stationarity of the signal being analyzed. However, due to the complex and dynamical characteristics of EEG, nonlinear approaches are more appropriate for assessing the intrinsic dynamics of EEG and exploring the physiological mechanisms of brain activity during sleep. Therefore, this article introduces the most commonly used nonlinear methods based on the concepts of fractals and entropy, and we review the novel findings from their clinical applications. We propose that nonlinear measures may provide extensive insights into brain activities during sleep. Further studies are proposed to mitigate the limitations and to expand the applications of nonlinear EEG analysis for a more comprehensive understanding of sleep dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current study aimed to examine the neural correlates of processing genuine compared with posed emotional expressions, in depressed and healthy subjects using a novel functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm METHOD: During fMRI scanning, sixteen depressed patients and ten healthy controls performed an Emotion Categorisation Task, whereby participants were asked to distinguish between genuine and non-genuine (posed or neutral) facial displays of happiness and sadness.Results: Compared to controls, the depressed group showed greater activation whilst processing genuine versus posed facial displays of sadness, in the left medial orbitofrontal cortex, caudate and putamen. The depressed group also showed greater activation whilst processing genuine facial displays of sadness relative to neutral displays, in the bilateral medial frontal/orbitofrontal cortex, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, right dorsal anterior cingulate, bilateral posterior cingulate, right superior parietal lobe, left lingual gyrus and cuneus. No differences were found between the two groups for happy facial displays.Limitations: Relatively small sample sizes and due to the exploratory nature of the study, no correction was made for multiple comparisons.Conclusion: The findings of this exploratory study suggest that depressed individuals may show a different pattern of brain activation in response to genuine versus posed facial displays of sadness, compared to healthy individuals. This may have important implications for future studies that wish to examine the neural correlates of facial emotion processing in depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driver fatigue can impair performance as much as alcohol does. It is the most important road safety concern, causing thousands of accidents and fatalities every year. Thanks to technological developments, wearable, single-channel EEG devices are now getting considerable attention as fatigue monitors, as they could help drivers to assess their own levels of fatigue and, therefore, prevent the deterioration of performance. However, the few studies that have used single-channel EEG devices to investigate the physiological effects of driver fatigue have had inconsistent results, and the question of whether we can monitor driver fatigue reliably with these EEG devices remains open. Here, we assessed the validity of a single-channel EEG device (TGAM-based chip) to monitor changes in mental state (from alertness to fatigue). Fifteen drivers performed a 2-h simulated driving task while we recorded, simultaneously, their prefrontal brain activity and saccadic velocity. We used saccadic velocity as the reference index of fatigue. We also collected subjective ratings of alertness and fatigue, as well as driving performance. We found that the power spectra of the delta EEG band showed an inverted U-shaped quadratic trend (EEG power spectra increased for the first hour and half, and decreased during the last thirty minutes), while the power spectra of the beta band linearly increased as the driving session progressed. Coherently, saccadic velocity linearly decreased and speeding time increased, suggesting a clear effect of fatigue. Subjective data corroborated these conclusions. Overall, our results suggest that the TGAM-based chip EEG device is able to detect changes in mental state while performing a complex and dynamic everyday task as driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most controversial scopes in clinical studies is chronic low back pain (CLBP), especially chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP). In addition to tissue changes, functional changes, and brain connections have been proven in studies after the onset of chronic low back pain. In the studies conducted in this field, many interventions have been compared in clinical (pain, limited range of motion, disability, and other related symptoms) and paraclinical (imaging and laboratory findings) results. One of the causes of low back pain is the involvement of the thoracolumbar fascia and, as a result, the disruption of the fascial receptors. on the other hand, myofascial release techniques are considered as a manual treatment with a specific transient effect on fascia receptors that can lead to changes in clinical outcomes. In recent years, the recording of brain parameters through electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, the following hypothesis was proposed that the myofascial release technique may modulate/regulate brain activities and connections in patients with CNSLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Neuroticism is a complex personality trait encompassing diverse aspects. Notably, high levels of neuroticism are related to the onset of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety and mood disorders. Personality traits are stable individual features; therefore, they can be expected to be associated with stable neurobiological features, including the Brain Resting State (RS) activity as measured by fMRI. Several metrics have been used to describe RS properties, yielding rather inconsistent results. This inconsistency could be due to the fact that different metrics portray different RS signal properties and that these properties may be differently affected by neuroticism. To explore the distinct effects of neuroticism, we assessed several distinct metrics portraying different RS properties within the same population. Method Neuroticism was measured in 31 healthy subjects using the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire; RS was acquired by high-resolution fMRI. Using linear regression, we examined the modulatory effects of neuroticism on RS activity, as quantified by the Amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF, fALFF), regional homogeneity (REHO), Hurst Exponent (H), global connectivity (GC) and amygdalae functional connectivity. Results Neuroticism modulated the different metrics across a wide network of brain regions, including emotional regulatory, default mode and visual networks. Except for some similarities in key brain regions for emotional expression and regulation, neuroticism affected different metrics in different ways. Discussion Metrics more related to the measurement of regional intrinsic brain activity (fALFF, ALFF and REHO), or that provide a parsimonious index of integrated and segregated brain activity (HE), were more broadly modulated in regions related to emotions and their regulation. Metrics related to connectivity were modulated across a wider network of areas. Overall, these results show that neuroticism affects distinct aspects of brain resting state activity. More in general, these findings indicate that a multiparametric approach may be required to obtain a more detailed characterization of the neural underpinnings of a given psychological trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome, characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain with diffuse tenderness at multiple tender points. Despite intense investigations, the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia remains elusive. Evidence shows that it could be due to changes in either the peripheral or central nervous system (CNS). For the CNS changes, alterations in the high brain area of fibromyalgia patients have been investigated but the definite mechanisms are still unclear. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Functional Magnetic Resonance (fMRI) have been used to gather evidence regarding the changes of brain morphologies and activities in fibromyalgia patients. Nevertheless, due to few studies, limited knowledge for alterations in brain activities in fibromyalgia is currently available. In this review, the changes in brain activity in various brain areas obtained from reports in fibromyalgia patients are comprehensively summarized. Changes of the grey matter in multiple regions such as the superior temporal gyrus, posterior thalamus, amygdala, basal ganglia, cerebellum, cingulate cortex, SII, caudate and putamen from the MRI as well as the increase of brain activities in the cerebellum, prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, thalamus, somatosensory cortex, insula in fMRI studies are presented and discussed. Moreover, evidence from pharmacological interventions offering benefits for fibromyalgia patients by reducing brain activity is presented. Because of limited knowledge regarding the roles of brain activity alterations in fibromyalgia, this summarized review will encourage more future studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved in the brains of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In art therapy, it is assumed that art materials and the given instructions during art making evoke different experiences that contribute to mental health. It is theorized that cognitive, affective and sensory experiences during art therapy engage several brain networks. Electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements appears to be a promising way to measure brain activity during art making. The aim of this study was to investigate whether brain activity patterns will differ during the use of specific art material properties and instructions during art making. In this study, a quantitative EEG experiment (n = 50) using a within subject design with three conditions was conducted; art making with pencil without instruction, art making with pencil with instruction and art making with clay without instruction. Results showed that working with clay resulted in more delta activity compared to working with pencil. The different physical properties of clay and pencil seem to activate different brain activity with clay leading to more delta activity than working with pencil, which may be explained by a more relaxed state. In addition, results show that art making with instruction leads to more relaxation than working without instruction. During the condition with a specific instruction, there was less alpha and beta1 activity, compared to the pencil condition without a specific instruction. All art making conditions led to more activity in the parietal lobe compared to the frontal lobe. We discuss these findings and their implications for future research and clinical art therapy practice. • qEEG activity differs during art making with specific art material properties. • Art making with clay leads to more delta activity compared to working with pencil. • Art making with clay leads to more alpha activity in the left hemisphere. • Structured instructions lead to less alpha and beta1 activity than no instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Internal state and low-dimensional dynamics of human brain with acupuncture stimulation was investigated with EEG. • Flexible transition of internal states in the whole brain under acupuncture was inferred with Gaussian Hidden Markov Model. • Latent factors of EEG signals were estimated with learning methods and periodic manifolds were observed in state space. • Different acupuncture manipulations induce brain state transition in independent pathways with distinct attractor dynamics. Acupuncture can improve the brain cognition and have therapeutic effects on neural disorders. However, the mechanism underlying the acupuncture for modulating functional brain activity is still unclear. Electroencephalography (EEG) signals of human subjects with different acupuncture manipulations at "Zusanli" were recorded. Machine learning and time-series analysis methods, including power spectral density, Gaussian Hidden Markov Model (GHMM), and Variational Auto-Encoder (VAE) were applied to extract dynamic features of brain activity, with the aim to probe the modulation effect of acupuncture on internal brain state and explain nonlinear dynamical response of the brain to acupuncture stimulations. Spatial and temporal analysis exhibited that brain activity in delta band (1–4 Hz) and alpha band (8–12 Hz) was enhanced significantly during acupuncture phase, especially in frontal and parietal lobe areas. Furthermore, internal states of the whole brain were inferred with GHMM, which transited along with acupuncture process. It was shown that acupuncture can activate new brain states and different acupuncture manipulations induced state transitions in independent pathways, which indicated the diversity of their regulation effects on brain activities. In addition, latent factors of multi-channel EEG signals were further estimated. Neural manifolds observed in a low-dimensional state space were periodic, which derived distinct attractor dynamics for different acupuncture manipulations and could explain the nonlinear dynamical response of the brain to external stimulation. The findings provide a new perspective to enhance the understanding of the dynamics of the human brain during acupuncture and improve its therapeutic effectiveness in clinical applications for neural disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the relationship between religious fundamentalism and brain activity, investigating whether religious beliefs, especially in a fundamentalist form, act as a bulwark against uncertainty that mitigates feelings of threat and worthlessness. We hypothesize that this muted response to uncertainty would manifest neurophysiologically, such that under uncertainty (vs. certainty), religious fundamentalism is associated with reduced activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and evinced in the N2 component. Religious fundamentalism was measured on a scale and electroencephalographic neural reactivity in the ACC was recorded as participants completed a Stroop task. We found that greater religious fundamentalism is associated with lower conflict-related anterior cingulate activity (N2 component), suggesting lower sensitivity to cues that might alter a habitual response pattern. This study provides evidence that religious fundamentalism, by providing a sense of coherency and control, may offer relief from distress and uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noninvasive recordings of electrophysiological activity have limited anatomic specificity and depth. We hypothesized that spatially tagging a small volume of brain with a unique electroencephalography (EEG) signal induced by pulsed focused ultrasound could overcome those limitations. As a first step toward testing this hypothesis, we applied transcranial ultrasound (2 MHz, 200-ms pulses applied at 1050 Hz for 1 s at a spatial peak temporal average intensity of 1.4 W/cm(2)) to the brains of anesthetized rats while simultaneously recording EEG signals. We observed a significant 1050-Hz electrophysiological signal only when ultrasound was applied to a living brain. Moreover, amplitude demodulation of the EEG signal at 1050 Hz yielded measurement of gamma band (>30 Hz) brain activity consistent with direct measurements of that activity. These results represent preliminary support for use of pulsed focused ultrasound as a spatial tagging mechanism for non-invasive EEG-based mapping of deep brain activity with high spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent evidence of obesity-related changes in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive and seated motor activities has surfaced; however, the impact of obesity on neural activity during ambulation remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine obesity-specific neural cost of simple and complex ambulation in older adults. Methods Twenty non-obese and obese individuals, 65 years and older, performed three tasks varying in the types of complexity of ambulation (simple walking, walking + cognitive dual-task, and precision walking). Maximum oxygenated hemoglobin, a measure of neural activity, was measured bilaterally using a portable functional near infrared spectroscopy system, and gait speed and performance on the complex tasks were also obtained. Findings Complex ambulatory tasks were associated with ~ 2–3.5 times greater cerebral oxygenation levels and ~ 30–40% slower gait speeds when compared to the simple walking task. Additionally, obesity was associated with three times greater oxygenation levels, particularly during the precision gait task, despite obese adults demonstrating similar gait speeds and performances on the complex gait tasks as non-obese adults. Interpretation Compared to existing studies that focus solely on biomechanical outcomes, the present study is one of the first to examine obesity-related differences in neural activity during ambulation in older adults. In order to maintain gait performance, obesity was associated with higher neural costs, and this was augmented during ambulatory tasks requiring greater precision control. These preliminary findings have clinical implications in identifying individuals who are at greater risk of mobility limitations, particularly when performing complex ambulatory tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is one of the self-management relaxation techniques that can be used in the general population and patients with specific issues. However, no study to date has revealed the brain activity associated with PMR. Therefore, we assessed the changes in brain activity induced by PMR using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).Design and Setting: We conducted an intervention study with PMR and control sessions. The subjects were twelve healthy adult men who had no prior experience of PMR.Interventions: Subjects performed a control session in which muscles were repeatedly simply tensed and relaxed. Subsequently, a PMR session took place, during which muscle tension was reduced through a systematic procedure of tensing and relaxing of muscle groups combined with structured breathing.Main Outcome Measures: We identified and visualised brain activity based on individual and group-level analysis of fMRI data.Results: Eleven subjects' data were analysed. In the control session, brain activity broadly changed, while the change was limited to specific parts of the cerebral cortex and limbic system in the PMR session. PMR gradually decreased activity in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). In a region of interest (ROI) analysis, interactions between sessions were observed in the putamen, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), postcentral gyrus (PCG), and insula.Conclusions: That PMR led to few areas showing changed activity suggests that the technique may suppress brain activity. Even novices may be able to induce such a focused mental state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study was to find pain-related brain activity which corresponds to self-report pain ratings based on degree of response and repeatability. Methods Three painful mechanical stimuli were applied to the right hands of 25 healthy volunteers using monofilaments (forces of 0.98 N, 2.94 N, and 5.88 N). Simultaneously, brain activities were evaluated using functional MRI for a constant stimulus conducted three times in a session. In first assessment, the average percent signal change (PSC) of neuronal response was measured for each region of interest (ROI), secondary repeatability of PSC conducted three times over the session was evaluated for each ROI. Results Although the average PSCs for trice stimuli conducted in one session increased in accordance with pain ratings in the somatosensory cortex (S1) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), there was a different response between S1 and ACC when subjects rated intense pain; a stable response in S1 against a variable response in ACC. Conclusions These results imply that there are different cognitive responses between sensory discrimination and affective component to constant painful stimulus each time. Significance Consistency of brain activity based on PSC may be an important biomarker which, along with its neuronal activity, gauges self-report pain ratings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]