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Objective This study was designed to observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Hegǔ (合谷LI4), or Houxī (后溪SI3) or Waiguān (外关TE5) acupoints on the function of the brain regions of a healthy human, and to explore the neural information mechanism of a specific connection between LI4 and the facial-oral area from the point of view of the brain function connection network. A further objective was to enrich knowledge of the specific connection between the body surface and the meridian route, and the specificity of acupoint effects. Methods A total of 30 healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to LI4, SI3, and TE5 groups. The members of each group were stimulated with electroacupuncture, and their heads were scanned using fMRI. DPARSFA 2.4 and REST 1.8 software were used for data preprocessing and statistical analysis. The paired t-test was used within group and the double sample t-test was used for two-group comparisons. Results In healthy people, left LI4 with electroacupuncture mainly caused a decrease of the functional connection of the right orofacial motor area of the brain, which remained decreased after removing the needle. When LI4 was compared with SI3 and TE5, LI4 caused a more significant decline in the functional connection of the right side of the brain during acupuncture. Conclusions Acupuncture at LI4 has a significant effect on the function of the face- and mouth-related areas in the brain, and there is a continuous effect. It is suggested that LI4 and the face and mouth have a specific relationship in the brain, which is most obvious during acupuncture.

The role of age in perception and production of facial expressions is still unclear. Therefore, this work compared, in aged and young subjects, the effects of passive viewing of faces expressing different emotions on perceptive brain regions, such as occipital and temporal cortical areas and on the primary motor cortex (M1) innervating lower face muscles. Seventeen young (24.41 ± 0.71 yr) and seventeen aged (63.82 ± 0.99 yr) subjects underwent recording of event-related potentials (ERP), of motor potentials evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation of face M1 in the depressor anguli oris muscle and reaction time assessment. In both groups, the P100 and N170 waves, as well as short-latency intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) were probed in face M1 after 300 ms from the presentation of images reporting faces expressing happy, sad, and neutral emotions. ERP data evidenced a major involvement of the right hemisphere in perceptual processing of faces, regardless of age. Compared with young subjects, the aged group showed a delayed N170 wave and a smaller P100 wave following the view of sad but not happy or neutral expressions, along with less accuracy and longer reaction times for recognition of the emotion expressed by faces. Aged subjects presented less SICI than young subjects, but facial expressions of happiness increased the excitability of face M1 with no differences between groups. In conclusion, data suggest that encoding of sad face expressions is impaired in the aged compared with the young group, whereas perception of happiness and its excitatory effects on face M1 remains preserved.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study shows that aged subjects have less visual attention and impaired perception for sad, but not for happy, face expressions. Conversely, the view of happy, but not sad, faces increases excitability in face M1 bilaterally, regardless of age. The impaired attention for sad expressions, the preserved perception of faces expressing happiness, along with the enhancing effects of the latter on face M1 excitability, likely makes the aged subjects more motivated in approaching positive emotions.

This study was aimed at investigating the effectiveness of assisted therapy (ACT) on manual dexterity in older adults with Down syndrome (DS). Nine older participants with DS, aged 31–52 years old, completed a 30-min stationary cycling session, three times per week for eight weeks of ACT intervention, pedaling at 35% higher than voluntary speed. Another eight older participants with DS, aged 30–51 years old, participated in the voluntary cycling (VC) intervention, pedaling at voluntary speed, as the comparison group. Manual dexterity measured by the Purdue Pegboard Test, and outcome expectations measured by the Exercise Perception Scale, were tested before and after the interventions. After both exercise interventions, the results showed that the non-dominant hand and bimanual subtests of the Purdue Pegboard were significantly improved. The outcome expectations were elevated at marginally statistical level as well. It is speculated that continuous cycling exercise, VC and ACT, may stimulate peripheral sensory input to the motor areas that led to the improvements in manual dexterity and exercise perception. Even though the exact mechanisms are still unknown, the implication of our results showed that VC and ACT can improve manual dexterity in aging DS population.

El Síndrome de Asperger (SA) forma parte de los Trastornos del Neurodesarrollo, afectando el área cognitiva, social y motriz de quien lo presenta. Se asocia a déficits en la Función Ejecutiva (FE) que promueven problemas en la interacción y la comunicación social, y en el desarrollo académico desde edades tempranas. Propósito. Analizar la asociación de los síntomas de SA y déficits en la FE, y los índices de prevalencias de sintomatología de SA en edad preescolar. Método. A partir de la aplicación de instrumento de cribado de las psicopatologías infantiles, y un instrumento para la evaluación de la FE, se realizaron correlaciones. Resultados. En una muestra de 539 niños, se encontró una prevalencia de 0.6% (reportada por padres) y 0.2% (reportada por maestras) de síntomas de SA; correlaciones significativas con déficits de la FE, y con síntomas de trastornos internalizantes. Conclusiones. Las deficiencias en la FE asociadas al SA pueden ser detectadas desde edad preescolar, así resulta necesario intervenir desde entonces para disminuir las dificultades académicas, emocionales y sociales típicas en los niños con SA.

OBJECTIVE Identification of the motor area during awake craniotomy is crucial for preservation of motor function when resecting gliomas located within or close to the motor area or the pyramidal tract. Nevertheless, sometimes the surgeon cannot identify the motor area during awake craniotomy. However, the factors that influence failure to identify the motor area have not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess whether tumor localization was correlated with a negative cortical response in motor mapping during awake craniotomy in patients with gliomas located within or close to the motor area or pyramidal tract. METHODS Between April 2000 and May 2019 at Tokyo Women’s Medical University, awake craniotomy was performed to preserve motor function in 137 patients with supratentorial glioma. Ninety-one of these patients underwent intraoperative cortical motor mapping for a primary glioma located within or close to the motor area or pyramidal tract and were enrolled in the study. MRI was used to evaluate whether or not the tumors were localized to or involved the precentral gyrus. The authors performed motor functional mapping with electrical stimulation during awake craniotomy and evaluated the correlation between identification of the motor area and various clinical characteristics, including localization to the precentral gyrus. RESULTS Thirty-four of the 91 patients had tumors that were localized to the precentral gyrus. The mean extent of resection was 89.4%. Univariate analyses revealed that identification of the motor area correlated significantly with age and localization to the precentral gyrus. Multivariate analyses showed that older age (≥ 45 years), larger tumor volume (> 35.5 cm3), and localization to the precentral gyrus were significantly correlated with failure to identify the motor area (p = 0.0021, 0.0484, and 0.0015, respectively). Localization to the precentral gyrus showed the highest odds ratio (14.135) of all regressors. CONCLUSIONS Identification of the motor area can be difficult when a supratentorial glioma is localized to the precentral gyrus. The authors’ findings are important when performing awake craniotomy for glioma located within or close to the motor area or the pyramidal tract. A combination of transcortical motor evoked potential monitoring and awake craniotomy including subcortical motor mapping may be needed for removal of gliomas showing negative responses in the motor area to preserve the motor-related subcortical fibers.

Mobile Electroencephalography (EEG) provides insights into cortical contributions to postural control. Although changes in theta (4–8 Hz) and alpha frequency power (8–12 Hz) were shown to reflect attentional and sensorimotor processing during balance tasks, information about the effect of stance leg on cortical processing related to postural control is lacking. Therefore, the aim was to examine patterns of cortical activity during single-leg stance with varying surface stability. EEG and force plate data from 21 healthy males (22.43 ± 2.23 years) was recorded during unipedal stance (left/right) on a stable and unstable surface. Using source-space analysis, power spectral density was analyzed in the theta, alpha-1 (8–10 Hz) and alpha-2 (10–12 Hz) frequency bands. Repeated measures ANOVA with the factors leg and surface stability revealed significant interaction effects in the left (p = 0.045, ηp2 = 0.13) and right motor clusters (F = 16.156; p = 0.001, ηp2 = 0.41). Furthermore, significant main effects for surface stability were observed for the fronto-central cluster (theta), left and right motor (alpha-1), as well as for the right parieto-occipital cluster (alpha-1/alpha-2). Leg dependent changes in alpha-2 power may indicate lateralized patterns of cortical processing in motor areas during single-leg stance. Future studies may therefore consider lateralized patterns of cortical activity for the interpretation of postural deficiencies in unilateral lower limb injuries.

Background The concepts of brain excitability are still re-wiring in response to changes in environment. Ambulation is often limited in stroke patients. Objective To determine the effect of cycling exercise on motor excitability and consequences on spatiotemporal gait parameters in stroke patients. Methods Forty male ischemic stroke patients were included; their age ranged from 45 to 60 years. The patients were assigned into two equal groups: control group (GI) and study group (GII). The GI is treated by a design physical therapy program in the form of task-oriented progressive resistance exercise for lower limb muscles, and the GII is treated by the same program in addition to cycling exercise for 30 min. Treatment was conducted three times per week for 10 weeks. The excitability over motor area (Cz) was assessed by the quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG). The spatiotemporal gait parameters were assessed by the Biodex Gait Trainer 2TM. Results There was a significant increase of speed, step cycle, and step length of the affected side (P < 0.05) and a non-significant difference of step length of the non-affected side in the study group compared with that of the control group (P > 0.05). There was a significant increase of excitability over motor area (Cz) in the study group compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Cycling exercise has a positive effect on excitability over motor area of lower limbs and can improve gait parameters in stroke patients.

Reversed visual feedback during unimanual training increases transfer of skills to the opposite untrained hand and modulates plasticity in motor areas of the brain. However, it is unclear if unimanual training with reversed visual feedback also affects somatosensory areas. Here we manipulated visual input during unimanual training using left-right optical reversing spectacles and tested whether unimanual training with reversed vision modulates somatosensory cortical excitability to facilitate motor performance. Thirty participants practiced a unimanual ball-rotation task using the right hand with either left-right reversed vision (incongruent visual and somatosensory feedback) or direct vision (congruent feedback) of the moving hand. We estimated cortical excitability in primary somatosensory cortex (S1) before and after unimanual training by measuring somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). This was done by electrically stimulating the median nerve in the wrist while participants rested, and recording potentials over both hemispheres using electroencephalography. Performance of the ball-rotation task improved for both the right (trained) and left (untrained) hand after training across both direct and reversed vision conditions. Participants with direct vision of the right hand during training showed SEPs amplitudes increased bilaterally. In contrast, participants in the reversed visual condition showed attenuated SEPs following training. The results suggest that cortical suppression of S1 activity supports skilled motor performance after unimanual training with reversed vision, presumably by sensory gating of afferent signals from the movement. This finding provides insight into the mechanisms by which visual input interacts with the sensorimotor system and induces neuroplastic changes in S1 to support skilled motor performance.

Cortical connectivity analysis is a widely used method for understanding the causes of neurological disorders and related brain mechanisms. Although there exist numerous activity analysis toolboxes for functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), there are only a few cortical connectivity analysis toolboxes. In 2019, we released a MATALB toolbox named OptoNet , which has helped researchers to analyze brain networks using fNIRS. In this study, we developed an advanced MATLAB toolbox, named OptoNet II, to add new features that overcome the shortcomings of OptoNet . With these new features, OptoNet II can efficiently analyze cortical connectivity according to brain region using any fNIRS channel sets and can present the results of two connectivity analyses with auto-thresholding based on surrogate tests. To evaluate the efficacy of the new functions, the finger-tapping task experiment was carried out before and after transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the primary motor area. OptoNet II can efficiently show the effects of tDCS on functional brain region connectivity, which has been difficult to confirm by conventional methods. In this article, we propose the OptoNet II as a useful and efficient toolbox for researchers who want to perform cortical connectivity analysis using fNIRS.

In the macaque brain, projections from distant, interconnected cortical areas converge in specific zones of the striatum. For example, specific zones of the motor putamen are targets of projections from frontal motor, inferior parietal, and ventrolateral prefrontal hand-related areas and thus are integral part of the so-called “lateral grasping network.” In the present study, we analyzed the laminar distribution of corticostriatal neurons projecting to different parts of the motor putamen. Retrograde neural tracers were injected in different parts of the putamen in 3Macaca mulatta(one male) and the laminar distribution of the labeled corticostriatal neurons was analyzed quantitatively. In frontal motor areas and frontal operculum, where most labeled cells were located, almost everywhere the proportion of corticostriatal labeled neurons in layers III and/or VI was comparable or even stronger than in layer V. Furthermore, within these regions, the laminar distribution pattern of corticostriatal labeled neurons largely varied independently from their density and from the projecting area/sector, but likely according to the target striatal zone. Accordingly, the present data show that cortical areas may project in different ways to different striatal zones, which can be targets of specific combinations of signals originating from the various cortical layers of the areas of a given network. These observations extend current models of corticostriatal interactions, suggesting more complex modes of information processing in the basal ganglia for different motor and nonmotor functions and opening new questions on the architecture of the corticostriatal circuitry.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTProjections from the ipsilateral cerebral cortex are the major source of input to the striatum. Previous studies have provided evidence for distinct zones of the putamen specified by converging projections from specific sets of interconnected cortical areas. The present study shows that the distribution of corticostriatal neurons in the various layers of the primary motor and premotor areas varies depending on the target striatal zone. Accordingly, different striatal zones collect specific combinations of signals from the various cortical layers of their input areas, possibly differing in terms of coding, timing, and direction of information flow (e.g., feed-forward, or feed-back).

Humans and other primate species are experts at recognizing body expressions. To understand the underlying perceptual mechanisms, we computed postural and kinematic features from affective whole-body movement videos and related them to brain processes. Using representational similarity and multivoxel pattern analyses, we showed systematic relations between computation-based body features and brain activity. Our results revealed that postural rather than kinematic features reflect the affective category of the body movements. The feature limb contraction showed a central contribution in fearful body expression perception, differentially represented in action observation, motor preparation, and affect coding regions, including the amygdala. The posterior superior temporal sulcus differentiated fearful from other affective categories using limb contraction rather than kinematics. The extrastriate body area and fusiform body area also showed greater tuning to postural features. The discovery of midlevel body feature encoding in the brain moves affective neuroscience beyond research on high-level emotion representations and provides insights in the perceptual features that possibly drive automatic emotion perception.

The ability to inhibit prepotent responses is critical for survival. Action inhibition can be investigated using a stop-signal task (SST), designed to provide a reliable measure of the time taken by the brain to suppress motor responses. Here we review the major research advances using the combination of this paradigm with the use of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in the last fifteen years. We highlight new methodological approaches to understanding and exploiting several processes underlying action control, which is critically impaired in several psychiatric disorders. In this review we present and discuss existing literature demonstrating i) the importance of the use of non-invasive brain stimulation in studying human action inhibition, unveiling the neural network involved ii) the critical role of prefrontal areas, including the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) and the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), in inhibitory control iii) the neural and behavioral evidence of proactive and reactive action inhibition. As the main result of this review, the specific literature demonstrated the crucial role of pre-SMA and IFG as evidenced from the field of noninvasive brain stimulation studies. Finally, we discuss the critical questions that remain unanswered about how such non-invasive brain stimulation protocols can be translated to therapeutic treatments.

The cognitive reappraisal of emotion is hypothesized to involve frontal regions modulating the activity of subcortical regions such as the amygdala. However, the pathways by which structurally disparate frontal regions interact with the amygdala remains unclear. In this study, 104 healthy young people completed a cognitive reappraisal task. Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) was used to map functional interactions within a frontoamygdalar network engaged during emotion regulation. Five regions were identified to form the network: the amygdala, the presupplementary motor area (preSMA), the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Bayesian Model Selection was used to compare 256 candidate models, with our winning model featuring modulations of vmPFC-to-amygdala and amygdala-to-preSMA pathways during reappraisal. Moreover, the strength of amygdala-to-preSMA modulation was associated with the habitual use of cognitive reappraisal. Our findings support the vmPFC serving as the primary conduit through which prefrontal regions directly modulate amygdala activity, with amygdala-to-preSMA connectivity potentially acting to shape ongoing affective motor responses. We propose that these two frontoamygdalar pathways constitute a recursive feedback loop, which computes the effectiveness of emotion-regulatory actions and drives model-based behavior.

Objective The aim of the present study was to compare localization of the language cortex using electrical cortical stimulation (ECS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to establish the relevance of fMRI language mapping. Methods Language mapping with fMRI and functional ECS mapping were retrospectively compared in ten patients with refractory epilepsy who underwent fMRI language mapping and functional ECS mapping between June 2012 and April 2019. A shiritori task, a popular Japanese word chain game, was used for fMRI language mapping. Results BOLD signal activation was observed in the left inferior frontal gyrus (including the pars opecularis and the pars triangularis), and superior temporal gyrus, which is a language-related area, as well as in the left superior and middle frontal gyri, the intraparietal sulcus, and fusiform gyrus. These results were compared with ECS to elucidate the functional role of the activated areas during fMRI language tasks. These activated areas included language areas, negative motor areas, supplementary motor areas (SMAs), and non-functional areas. Conclusion The activated areas of fMRI language mapping include language-related areas, the negative motor area, and SMAs. These findings suggest the involvement of language and higher order motor networks in verbal expression.

Objective To propose a method for intraoperative mapping and monitoring of the medial frontal motor areas (MFMA). Methods We estimated the location of the MFMA using the corticocortical evoked potential (CCEP) provoked by electric stimuli to the primary motor area (M1) of the upper limb. We localized or defined the MFMA by recording the motor evoked potentials (MEPs) provoked by electric stimuli to the medial frontal cortex around the estimated area. We monitored the patients' motor function during awake craniotomy and sequentially recorded the MEPs of the upper and/or lower limbs. This method was applied to 8 patients. Results Four patients who had part of the areas identified as the MFMA removed showed transient hemiparesis postoperatively (supplementary motor area [SMA] syndrome). The MEP from the M1 was preserved in the 4 patients. The resection of the identified MFMA might have caused their SMA syndrome. The CCEP showed a strong connection between the M1 and the SMA of the upper limb. Our method did not provoke any seizures. Conclusions This is a safe and sensitive method for intraoperative mapping and monitoring of the MFMA by combining electrophysiologic monitoring and awake craniotomy. It is clinically useful for mapping the MFMA and can prevent permanent motor deficits.

Background: The traditional inhibition of contralesional primary motor area (cM1) with low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) fails to improve post-stroke severe motor impairment. The role of contralesional motor areas in post-stroke motor recovery is still questionable. While the previous data suggested that cM1 exerts transcallosal inhibitory effect on ipsilesional M1 (iM1) following stroke, there isan evidence that contralesional motor areas, particularly the contralesional dorsal premotor area (cPMd), have compensatory roles in severely impaired patients who have extensive ipsilesional damage. Objectives: To study whether facilitating cPMd with high frequency rTMS as a novel approach, instead of conventionally suppressing cM1, has beneficial effect on motor recovery of post-stroke severely impaired upper extremity (UE) or not. Patients and Methods: Forty right handed, first ever stroke patients (3 months post event) with severe stroke symptoms, severe motor deficit, and radio logically evident massive right cerebral infarctions at baseline were randomly assigned to two equal groups, to receive, as adjunct to ordinary rehabilitation techniques, ten consecutive sessions of either: (1) High frequency rTMS at 5 Hz on cPMd; or (2) Sham rTMS. The Medical Research Council (MRC) for muscle strength and UE- Fugl Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: By using the one way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), we found significant improvements in grand means of MRC in the active rTMS group in relation to the sham group. The improvements included in particular the mean proximal MRC, whereas no significant improvement in the mean distal MRC. Similarly, we found that the UE-FMA totals were markedly improved in the active group in relation to the sham group, mainly in the proximal UE-FMA. Stepwise regression showed that lower baseline MRC of the affected UE muscles is an independent predictor of better response to the novel rTMS approach. Conclusion: Applying high frequency rTMS to cPMd can improve motor functions of the disabled UE, mainly proximal functions, in more severely impaired stroke patients.

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo identificar las diferencias en el desarrollo infantil en los niños con y sin antecedentes de consumo materno de sustancias en etapa gestacional, a través de la aplicación de la Escala Abreviada de Desarrollo Infantil “Nelson Ortiz”, en una muestra de niños de entre 0 y 3 años de edad en situación de acogimiento institucional. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y comparativo de grupos, en 36 participantes, de los cuales 18 tuvieron antecedentes de consumo materno y 18 sin antecedentes de consumo materno en etapa gestacional. Los niños estaban incorporados en Instituciones Públicas y las sustancias consumidas por los progenitores fueron: alcohol, cocaína, cannabinoides, cafeína y disolventes volátiles. Los resultados obtenidos a través del análisis de varianza con un factor ANOVA revelan que, existe diferencias significativas entre los valores (F=4,405; p< 0,01), lo cual permite determinar que, el consumidor que influye en mayor magnitud en el desarrollo global del niño es la madre consumidora y la sustancia más perjudicial es el alcohol. El análisis comparativo obtenidos a través de la prueba no paramétrica “U” de Mann-Whitney indica que, existen diferencias significativas de p

This study aims toward an investigation and comparison of the digital force control and the brain activities of older adults and young groups during digital pressing tasks. A total of 15 young and 15 older adults were asked to perform force ramp tasks at different force levels with a custom pressing system. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to collect the brain activities in the prefrontal cortex and primary motor area. The results showed that the force independence and hand function of the older adults were worse than that of the young adults. The cortical activations in the older adults were higher than those in the young group during the tasks. A significant hemodynamic between-group response and mild negative correlations between brain activation and force independence ability were found. Older adults showed poor force independence ability and manual dexterity and required additional brain activity to compensate for the degeneration.

Electroencephalography (EEG) as a biomarker of neuromodulation by High Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) offers promise as both techniques are deployable and can be integrated into a single head-gear. The present research addresses experimental design for separating focal EEG effect of HD-tDCS in the ‘4-cathode × 1-anode’ (4 × 1) montage over the left motor area (C3). We assessed change in offline EEG at the homologous central (C3, C4), and occipital (O1, O2) locations. Interhemispheric asymmetry was accessed for background EEG at standard frequency bands; and for the intermittent photic stimulation (IPS). EEG was compared post- vs pre-intervention in three HD-tDCS arms: Active (2 mA), Sham (ramp up/down at the start and end), and No-Stimulation (device was not powered), each intervention lasting 20 min. The asymmetric background EEG changes were only in the central areas with right-side amplitude spectra prevalence, most pronounced in the no-stimulation arm, where they depended on comparison time-points and were consistent with markers of transition between drowsiness and vigilance – bilateral decrease in the delta and asymmetric central increase in the alpha and beta1 bands. For the active arm, similar but less pronounced changes occurred in the alpha band. In contrast, responses to IPS developed similar asymmetric amplitude increase at four harmonics of the IPS of 3 Hz only in the active arm, against a background of a brain-wide symmetric increase in both active and sham arms. Our protocols and analyses suggest methodological caveats for how EEG of tDCS studies could be conducted to isolate putative brain polarization outcomes.

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar las características Dermatoglíficas y Motoras en niños con trastorno específico del lenguaje mixto (TEL-m) y desarrollo típico del lenguaje (DTL). El diseño de investigación fue no experimental de carácter descriptivo, comparativo y transversal. La muestra estuvo conformada por 60 niños de 5 a 6 años 11 meses. Se utilizó el Test de aprendizaje y desarrollo infantil (TADI) y el protocolo de Cummings y Midlo (1961) para evaluar las características dermatoglíficas. Los resultados indican que los niños con TEL-m obtuvieron un puntaje T de 44.8 y los niños con DTL un puntaje T de 58.8 puntos y que el diseño más frecuente fue Presilha (L) 64% en niños con TEL-m y 66% en niños con DTL. Además, se observan diferencias significativas p

Objective – to analyze the results of combined microsurgical and endovascular treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVM).Materials and methods. Radiological and clinical data of 19 patients who underwent preoperative endovascular embolization and resection of the AVM at the SO «Scientific-practical Center of endovascular neuroradiology NAMS of Ukraine» in 2014–2019 were analyzed. Among patients were 11 (57.9 %) women and 8 (42.1 %) men. The average age of patient was 28.4 year (from 15 to 54 years). All AVMs were I–III grade according to the Spetzler–Martin scale.Results. The average AVM size in its maximum dimension was 3.2 cm (range 3.1–6.8 cm). 14 (73.7 %) AVMs were supratentorial and 5 (26.3 %) – subtentorial, in 9 (47.4 %) cases AVMs were located in eloquent areas of the brain, in 1 (5.3 %) – in the motor area. Cerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage were observed in 12 (63.2 %) cases, seizures – in 4 (21.1 %), headache not associated with bleeding – in 2 (10.5 %) and neurological deficiency not related to the bleeding – in 1 (3.7 %). In 16 (84.2 %) patients total AVM resection was achieved, 3 (15.8 %) patients underwent subtotal resection. Fourteen (73.7 %) patients had good results at discharge (10 (52.6 %) patients had 0 or 1 according to modified Rankin score, and 4 (21.1%) patients had 2), 5 (26.3 %) – 3 and 4. There were no mortality cases after combined endovascular and microsurgical treatment. Onset of new neurological deficits occurred in 5 (26.3 %) patients, and in 3 (15.8 %) cases it regress at discharge and in 2 (10.5 %) cases was permanent.Conclusions. Combined treatment (endovascular embolization and microsurgical resection) of AVMs of the low grade AVM (I–III grade of the Spetzler–Martin scale) allows achieving good treatment results. The use of preoperative endovascular embolization reduces blood flow through the AVM and prevents postoperative hemodynamic overload, intraoperative and/or postoperative bleeding.