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Recent methodological advances prompted numerous neuroactivation studies on the anatomical localization of language functions. As a principal reference, the term "Broca's area" was anatomically connected to the inferior frontal gyrus and functionally related to expressive speech function. The increase in spatial resolution of functional imaging tools yielded a fractionation of "Broca's area". We analyzed the current use of the term with regard to the various functional ascriptions and anatomical descriptions. We followed a literal approach using the given definitions and complemented it by cluster analyses of imaging data. (1) The literal approach revealed that 79% of the authors provided a definition of their use of "Broca's area". The spatial range of anatomical correlates varied considerably. (2) Neither of the cluster analyses supported the hypothesis of functionally and anatomically distinct subdivisions. With regard to functional definitions, no consensus across studies became apparent. We conclude that bridging the gap between the anatomically based term "Broca's area" and the increasing amount of its supposed subfunctions is arbitrary.

Key Clinical Message We report a case of several autoimmune disorders eventually presenting as severe multi organ dysfunction syndrome caused by adult hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis ( HLH). Clinical and laboratory tests might lead to fatal misinterpretation without awareness of its diagnostic evaluation, as HLH shares common features with sepsis and immune-mediated systemic inflammatory response syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The long preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease provides opportunities for potential disease-modifying interventions in prodromal stages such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (anodal-tDCS), with its potential to enhance neuroplasticity, may allow improving cognition in MCI. Methods In a double-blind, cross-over, sham-controlled study, anodal-tDCS was administered to the left inferior frontal cortex during task-related and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess its impact on cognition and brain functions in MCI. Results During sham stimulation, MCI patients produced fewer correct semantic-word-retrieval responses than matched healthy controls, which was associated with hyperactivity in bilateral prefrontal regions. Anodal-tDCS significantly improved performance to the level of controls, reduced task-related prefrontal hyperactivity and resulted in “normalization” of abnormal network configuration during resting-state fMRI. Discussion Anodal-tDCS exerts beneficial effects on cognition and brain functions in MCI, thereby providing a framework to test whether repeated stimulation sessions may yield sustained reversal of cognitive deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising proportion of elderly people worldwide will yield an increased incidence of age-associated cognitive impairments, imposing major burdens on societies. Consequently, growing interest emerged to evaluate new strategies to delay or counteract cognitive decline in aging. Here, we assessed immediate effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) on cognition and previously described detrimental changes in brain activity attributable to aging. Twenty healthy elderly adults were assessed in a crossover shamcontrolled design using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and concurrent transcranial DCS administered to the left inferior frontal gyrus. Effects on performance and task-related brain activity were evaluated during overt semantic word generation, a task that is negatively affected by advanced age. Task-absent resting-state fMRI (RS-fMRI) assessed atDCS-induced changes at the network level independent of performance. Twenty matched younger adults served as controls. During sham stimulation, task-related fMRI demonstrated that enhanced bilateral prefrontal activity in older adults was associated with reduced performance. RS-fMRI revealed enhanced anterior and reduced posterior functional brain connectivity. atDCS significantly improved performance in older adults up to the level of younger controls; significantly reduced task-related hyperactivity in bilateral prefrontal cortices, the anterior cingulate gyrus, and the precuneus; and induced a more "youth-like" connectivity pattern during RS-fMRI. Our results provide converging evidence from behavioral analysis and two independent functional imaging paradigms that a single session of atDCS can temporarily reverse nonbeneficial effects of aging on cognition and brain activity and connectivity. These findings may translate into novel treatments to ameliorate cognitive decline in normal aging in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: It is thought that following a stroke the contralesional motor region exerts an undue inhibitory influence on the lesional motor region which might limit recovery. Pilot studies have shown that suppressing the contralesional motor region with cathodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) can induce a short lasting functional benefit; greater and longer lasting effects might be achieved with combining tDCS with simultaneous occupational therapy (OT) and applying this intervention for multiple sessions. Methods: We carried out a randomized, double blind, sham controlled study of chronic stroke patients receiving either 5 consecutive days of cathodal tDCS (for 30 minutes) applied to the contralesional motor region and simultaneous OT, or sham tDCS+OT. Results: we showed that cathodal tDCS+OT resulted in significantly more improvement in Range-Of-Motion in multiple joints of the paretic upper extremity and in the Upper-Extremity Fugl-Meyer scores than sham tDCS+OT, and that the effects lasted at least one week post-stimulation. Improvement in motor outcome scores was correlated with decrease in fMRI activation in the contralesional motor region exposed to cathodal stimulation. Conclusions: This suggests that cathodal tDCS combined with OT leads to significant motor improvement after stroke due to a decrease in the inhibitory effect that the contralesional hemisphere exerts onto the lesional hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A patient with typical features of Henoch-Schoenlein purpura is presented. Endoscopic features of this syndrome, not previously reported in the English-language literature, are described and illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The long preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease provides opportunities for potential disease-modifying interventions in prodromal stages such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (anodal-tDCS), with its potential to enhance neuroplasticity, may allow improving cognition in MCI., Methods: In a double-blind, cross-over, sham-controlled study, anodal-tDCS was administered to the left inferior frontal cortex during task-related and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess its impact on cognition and brain functions in MCI., Results: During sham stimulation, MCI patients produced fewer correct semantic-word-retrieval responses than matched healthy controls, which was associated with hyperactivity in bilateral prefrontal regions. Anodal-tDCS significantly improved performance to the level of controls, reduced task-related prefrontal hyperactivity and resulted in "normalization" of abnormal network configuration during resting-state fMRI., Discussion: Anodal-tDCS exerts beneficial effects on cognition and brain functions in MCI, thereby providing a framework to test whether repeated stimulation sessions may yield sustained reversal of cognitive deficits., (Copyright © 2015 The Alzheimer's Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)