bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dimensionality of multichannel EEG (Omega Complexity) during meditation in five traditions
Authors: Faber P.L. , Lehmann D. , Milz P. , Tei S. , Kochi K. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionThe measure of complex dimensionality assesses the number of independent processes that generate an observed time series.ObjectivesTo investigate whether meditation exercises are associated with fewer or more independently active brain processes, and whether different meditation traditions show different results.AimsDoes brain electric complex dimensionality differ between the state of meditation and of task free resting in different meditation traditions?MethodsMultichannel EEG recordings (19 to 25 channels) from experienced meditators of five meditation traditions (13 Tibetan Buddhists, 15 Qigong, 14 Shaja Yoga, 14 Ananda Marga Yoga, and 15 Zen) were analyzed (bandpass 1.5–30 Hz) using ‘Omega Complexity’ that obtains a single value for a set of simultaneously recorded EEG time series from a given person (J. Wackermann, Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 1996;56:197–208). Omega Complexity during meditation was compared to the mean of Omega Complexity during pre- and post-meditation resting.ResultsDuring meditation relative to resting (paired t tests), Omega Complexity was higher in all five traditions, significant for Tibetan Buddhists (p = 0.01), Ananda Marga Yoga (p = 0.007) and Zen (p = 0.0003).ConclusionThe subjectively experienced agreeable feelings during meditation apparently occur, across meditation traditions, during a brain functional state that is characterized by an increase of independent brain processes compared to task free resting.
EEG frequency band sloreta sources during mental arithmetic compared to resting
Authors: Theodoropoulou A. , Tei S. , Lehmann D. , Faber P.L. , Schlegel F. , Milz P. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionArithmetic reportedly involves left parietal areas.ObjectivesTo test this in independent groups of healthy persons.AimsWhich brain regions are activated / inhibited during mental arithmetic compared to task-free resting?MethodsWe examined four independent groups of healthy adults (N = 15, 14, 14, 23, respectively) during simple arithmetic (continuous subtraction of 7) and task-free resting before and after arithmetic, all with closed eyes. Multichannel head surface EEG (19–58 channels) was continually recorded, then recomputed (using sLORETA functional tomography) into current density for 6239 cortical voxels, for each of the eight EEG frequency bands (delta through gamma, 1.5–44 Hz). Pre- and post-arithmetic resting was averaged. Using paired t-tests, frequency band-wise normalized and log-transformed current density was compared between arithmetic and resting for each group. The resulting p-values were combined across groups using Fisher’s combination procedure. For each frequency band, sLORETA voxels differing between conditions at Fisher’s (across groups) p < 0.05 were computed into centers of gravity separately for increased and decreased activation.ResultsActivity that was stronger during arithmetic compared to resting had gravity centers in midline anterior regions for slow frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha-1) and in right posterior regions for fast frequency bands (alpha-2 through gamma). Activity that was weaker during arithmetic compared to resting was centered around left parietal areas for all eight frequency bands.ConclusionsThe results suggest that arithmetic compared to resting involves frontal inhibition coupled with increased right parietal activation, and left parietal reduced facilitatory and reduced inhibitory activity.
Structural Neuroimaging in First-Episode Psychosis: a review of neuroimaging practice in an early intervention service
Authors: Otero S. , Mehrotra R. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionThe UK NICE technology guidance “Structural Neuroimaging in First-Episode Psychosis” concludes that CT/MRI is not routinely recommended as an initial investigation for first-episode psychosis.ObjectivesTo evaluate the use of CT/MRI in a group of Early Intervention Service (EIS) patients with a first-episode psychosis aged 18–35 years at presentation.AimsTo develop practice guidelines for use of neuroimaging in first-episode psychosis.MethodsAll 107 patients registered with the EIS in Hounslow, London, UK, were eligible for inclusion in this review. Data was collected from the medical records and the Picture Archiving and Communications System. Data was analysed using a microsoft excel data analysis tool. Additionally, comparisons were made between the group of patients with normal scans and that with abnormal scans. Statistical significance was determined using the chi-squared method with a significance of P < 0.05.Results17 patients had documented neuroimaging results. 4 scans were abnormal. There was no significant difference between the group with normal and abnormal scans in terms of gender, abnormalities of physical/neurological health, blood tests and whether the patient had any additional medical conditions. Abnormal scan results did not influence treatment or outcome for any patient.ConclusionsThe abnormal scans were not correlated to clinical indices of history, examination and laboratory tests. Abnormal scans appear to have a low yield in terms of clinical effectiveness. The findings support selective use of neuroimaging in this cohort of patients. The indications for it usage would appear to rely on clinical judgement as well clinical findings.
Remitted major depression is related to increased functional coupling between ventral striatum and cortical regions in resting state fMRI
Authors: Pail G. , Scharinger C. , Kalcher K. , Huf W. , Boubela R. , Hartinger B. , Windischberger C. , Filzmoser P. , Moser E. , Kasper S. , Pezawas L. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionDysfunction in the basal ganglia has been related to impaired reward processing and anhedonia, a core symptom of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). In particular, the ventral striatum including the nucleus accumbens is increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD, but evidence for a specific role during episodes of full remission is lacking so far.ObjectivesTo investigate functional connectivity patterns of resting-state activity in patients in the remitted phase of MDD (rMDD).AimsTo determine whether rMDD is related to disruptions of functional coupling between the ventral striatum and cortical regions.MethodsForty-three remitted depressed patients and thirty-five healthy controls were recruited at Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, and performed a six minute resting-state fMRI scan. Seed time series were extracted from the preprocessed data using individual masks for ventral striatum and correlated with all nodes in a surface based analysis using FreeSurfer, AFNI and SUMA. The resulting correlation coefficients were then Fishertransformed, group results were determined by comparing group mean smoothed z-scores with a two-sample ttest.ResultsIncreased resting-state functional connectivity was revealed between ventral striatum (seed region) and anterior cingulate cortex as well as orbitofrontal cortex in the rMDD group compared to healthy controls.ConclusionsOur preliminary data is in accordance with the idea that increased functional coupling between the ventral striatum and two major emotion processing regions, the anterior cingulate cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex, may represent a neural mechanism contributing to the maintenance of full remission of MDD.
Tardive dyskinesia induced by quetiapine and confirmed by a Dat-scan
Authors: Rizos E.N. , Chatziioannou S. , Kallergi M. , Douzenis A. , Apostolopoulos A. , Bacalis S. , Kontaxakis V. , Lykouras L. 
Published: May 2011

BackgroundTardive dyskinesia is a serious side effect of antipsychotics’ activity. Imaging of the dopamine transporter could demonstrate the possible involvement of dopaminergic pathway in the appearance of tardive dyskinesia.Methods/resultsWe report a case with paranoid schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia symptoms. A first trial with quetiapine improved TD symptoms while an increase of its dose after a relapse of the underlying disease deteriorated the TD symptoms. Following that, sertindole was initiated which led to improvement of both psychotic and TD symptoms. A DAT scan showed physiologic distribution in the basal ganglia. Six months later after a serious cardiac syncope, sertindole was discontinued. Quetiapine was then started which led again to TD symptoms. A second DAT scan showed decreased dopamine transporter uptake in the area of basal ganglia.ConclusionWe conclude that decreased dopamine transporter uptake seemed to associate with the deterioration of TD.
The relationship between gray matter changes in schizophrenia patients and the number of psychotic episodes
Authors: Rubeša G. , Antulov R. , Ružić Baršic A. , Lerga J. , Miletić D. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionA significant amount of evidence from structural brain imaging studies provide new insights into the neuroanatomical basis of schizophrenia.ObjectivesTo investigate whole brain gray matter (GM) differences between schizophrenia patients grouped according to the number of psychotic episodes and normal controls (NC).AimTo determine regions of GM differences in schizophrenia patients grouped according to the number of psychotic episodes.MethodsA group of 53 schizophrenia patients (23 with up to 3 psychotic episodes, 15 with 4 to 6 and 15 with 7 or more psychotic episodes) and 35 age and gender matched NC were included. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) is an adaptation of the statistical parametric mapping technique that allows investigators to quantitatively examine brain structural changes. VBM data of schizophrenia patients divided into 3 groups: up to 3, 4 to 6 and 7 or more episodes were compared with NC.ResultsPatients with up to 3 episodes had reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the right claustrum, right Brodmann areas 6 and 13 and left Brodmann area 10, patients with 4 to 6 episodes in left Brodmann areas 25, 35 and 37 and in right Brodmann area 13, and those with 7 or more episodes showed decreased GMV in left substantia nigra and left Brodmann area 10 compared with NC.ConclusionGMV reduction in schizophrenia varies depending on the number of psychotic episodes. The affection of different brain areas indicates separated neurobiological mechanisms underlying the stage and the progression of illness.
In vivo molecular imaging reveals distinct distributions of the serotonin transporter, the major inhibitory and excitatory serotonin receptors
Authors: Savli M. , Bauer A. , Häusler D. , Kroll T. , Hahn A. , Rattay F. , Mitterhauser M. , Wadsak W. , Kasper S. , Lanzenberger R. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionBased on evidences in molecular neuroimaging, postmortem and genetic studies, impaired serotonergic neurotransmission has been implicated with affective disorders. Moreover, a growing number of evidences showed strong interrelations within the serotonergic system suggesting a common mechanism in the modulation of receptor and transporter densities.ObjectiveHere we directly investigated the regional expression of the 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and 5-HTT using PET and the three highly selective and specific radioligands [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635, [18F]Altanserin and [11C]DASB in healthy subjects.MethodsA total of 55 healthy subjects (5-HT1A: 36 subjects, 18 males, age = 26.0 ± 4.9; 5-HT2A: 19 subjects, 11 males, age = 28.2 ± 5.9; 5-HTT: 8 males, age = 28.12 ± 3.6) were included in this study. Binding potential (BPND) values were quantified according to the AAL parcellation scheme.ResultsBPND values averaged over both hemispheres ranged from 0.40–6.35 for the 5-HT1A receptor; 0.01–2.01 for the 5-HT2A receptor and 0.09–2.05 for the 5-HTT, respectively. There was a specific topological pattern according to the ratio between the 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A receptors and 5-HTT (“fingerprints”).ConclusionsSuch information can be essential for detecting potential local alterations in the ratio between different binding proteins on a network level in pathological conditions.Moreover, these data might provide further insight in area-specific effects of frequently prescribed selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI): 1)due to the distinct local receptor and transporter availability;2)SSRI application alters the postsynaptic receptor expression and thus;3)leads to a modified interaction of inhibitory and exhibitory receptors.
Prediction error signal correlates with fluid intelligenceand dopamine synthesis across the lifespan
Authors: Schlagenhauf F. , Rapp M. , Huys Q. , Deserno L. , Beck A. , Kalbitzer J. , Kumakura Y. , Buchholz H.-G. , Plotkin M. , Heinz A. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionFluid intelligence expresses the capacity for interpretation of novel stimuli and flexible behavioral adaptation to such cues. Phasic dopamine firing closely matches a temporal difference prediction error (PE) signal important for learning and rapid behavioral adaptation. Both fluid intelligence and dopaminergic neurotransmission decline with age. So far, no study investigated the relationship between fluid IQ, PE signal and direct measures of dopaminergic neurotransmission. Here we used a multimodal imaging approach that combines positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging.MethodsA group of healthy controls was investigated with both 6-[18F]FluoroDOPA PET and functional MRI with a probabilistic reversal task. The task required a constant behavioral adaptation to changes in reward contingencies, while choosing between two abstract stimuli. A reinforcement learning algorithm was used to compute a trial-by-trial prediction error, which was the used as a regressor in the fMRI data analysis with SPM8.ResultsThe prediction error signal was associated with functional activation in the basal ganglia including the ventral striatum and putamen. Fluid intelligence was associated with the PE signal in the ventral striatum, which correlated with age-related changes in dopamine synthesis capacity in the prefrontal cortex.ConclusionThese findings provide insight into the role of age-related changes in dopaminergic neurotransmission on behavioral adaptation. The multimodal imaging approach allows the characterization of interactions between dopamine metabolism and learning-related neuronal activation and may thus be a useful tool to clarify mechanisms underlying learning and plasticity in old age, which are crucial to our understanding of successful aging.
Incidence rate and morphyology of cavum septum pellucidum in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, major depression: A structural MRI study
Authors: Sun J. , Maller J.J. , Guo L. , Daskalakis Z.J. , Fitzgerald P.B. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionSeveral studies have independently suggested that schizophrenia patients are more likely to have an enlarged cavum septum pellucidum (CSP). However, neither finding has been consistently replicated.ObjectivesWe recruited the relatively homogeneity population: treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and treatment resistant depression (TRD).To investigate whether CSP was present more frequently in TRS or TRD patients than controls and the difference of CSP morphological characteristic between groups.Methods1.5-Tesla MRI was used to evaluate the prevalence of CSP and morphology changes in 42 TRS, 45 TRD patients and 30 healthy controls. The CSP length, width and volume were measured using MRIcro and Analyze™ 8.1 software. A CSP equal to or greater than 6 mm in length was defined as big CSP.ResultsTRS Patients had a significantly higher prevalence (6%) of the big CSP than TRD patients (0%) or controls (3.3%) while no significant difference on the prevalence of all CSP (TRS: 64.3%, TRD: 48.9%, controls: 50.0%) or small CSP between groups. Compared with controls or TRD patients, the values of CSP maximum width in patients with TRS were significant lower and CSP length were higher. There was no significant difference in the CSP volume between groups.ConclusionsThe incidence in Big CSP in TRS patients was higher than that of TRS patients or controls. The small CSP may be a kind of normal variant. There were different CSP developmental characteristics between TRS and TRD patients based on the MRI study.
P02 - 360 Magnetic resonance imaging study of basal ganglia in the first-episode tic disorders onset during child and adolescent
Authors: Sun J. , Guo L. , Huang M. , Huang X. , Gong Q. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionDespite strong evidence that the pathophysiology of tic disorders (TD) involves structural and functional disturbances of the basal ganglia, inconsistent findings from several TD imaging studies have supported contradictory conclusions.ObjectiveTo find brain structural differences between children with of TD and the health children and verify the pathogenesis hypothesis of that basal ganglia play an important role in this disorder.MethodThe right handedness, first-episode TD children were chosen. Yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS) was used to assess the tic severity. MRI scan was performed on TD children and the controls. The volumes of caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus and total intracranial volume were measured on high resolution MR images. We compared the volumes, relative volumes and asymmetry index, AI between groups.ResultsTotally 11 patients finished this study with two excluded for the unclear image caused by tic and 18 subjects (9 TD patients and 9 controls) were finally analyzed. The right globus pallidus is significantly larger in TD patients. The volumes of left caudate increased significantly in both TD patients and controls. There was no significant difference in asymmetry index between two groups, relative volumes did not correlate significantly with the severity of tic and the course of disease.ConclusionThe right globus pallidus may be the primary pathological change of TD. Asymmetry indexes between the two groups are not significantly different. The relative volume of any structure of basal ganglia has no significant correlation with the severity of tic and the course of disease.
P02 - 362 - Schizencephaly and psychosis
Authors: Tibrewal P. , English L. , Foo E. , Dhillon R.S. 
Published: May 2011

Schizencephaly is an uncommon congenital disorder of cerebral cortical development, defined as a gray matter-lined cleft extending from the pial surface to the ventricle. It is a neuronal migration anomaly, caused by insults to migrating neuroblasts during 3rd to 5th gestational months.Ischemia, germline mutations, intrauterine infections and exposure to drugs have been implicated in its etiology. The outcome relates with the severity of pathology. Unilateral closed lip schizencephaly has the mildest clinical picture and bilateral open lip the most severe. The most prominent manifestations are motor deficits and seizures.Schizencephaly has been related with psychosis. However, there is paucity of literature exploring this relation. Pubmed search with “Schizencephaly AND Psychotic disorders OR Bipolar Disorders” as Mesh terms resulted in 9 results. Of these four discussed Schizencephaly. Rest five reports were related to other disorders of cortical malformation. We present an interesting case of schizencephaly associated with psychosis and congenital hemiparesis. We also present a review of literature available for this rare association.This case points towards the role of neurodevelopmental abnormalities in the manifestation of psychosis and bipolar affective disorder. It indicates that presence of neurodevelopmental anomalies may have pathoplastic effects on the presentation of psychosis and may also influence treatment response adversely. A possible mechanism explaining the development of psychosis in schizencephaly is the disruption in intracortical connections. There is also a possibility of underlying ictal phenomenon leading to psychosis. The above case provides support to the neurodevelopmental theory of Schizophrenia.
Exploration of irony comprehension in schizophrenia with fMRI
Authors: Varga E. , Schell Z. , Simon M. , Hajnal A. , Tényi T. , Fekete S. , Herold R. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionIrony is a form of speech used to convey feelings in an indirect way. Schizophrenic patients usually demonstrate impaired irony processing, associated with poor theory of mind.AimsWe used fMRI to examine neural circuitry underlying deficits in understanding irony in schizophrenia.Methods21 schizophrenic patients and 24 healthy subjects were studied. Short scenarios and three conditions were used: irony condition (IC), irony with linguistic help condition (IHC), and control condition (CC). We used event-related design. Scenarios started with a contextual part, followed by a 2–4s ISI. The ironic sentence appeared next, and a question followed. Between trials an ITI of 5–7s were used.ResultsPatients performed significantly worse in the conditions (IC:p = 0.0003;IHC:p = 0.0034;CC:p = 0.0036). In the IC: patients activated the left insula, left anterior cingulum, right and left superior frontal gyrus (SFG), right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) during the contextual part, and activated the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and right superior temporal gyrus during the statement. In the IHC: patients activated the left precuneus, left IFG, left SFG, left and right MFG, right cuneus and left MTG during the context, and activated right SFG and left posterior cingulum during the statement.ConclusionsPatients probably have an abnormal contextual processing and a missing activation of the theory of mind network during the interpretation of ironic statements. The given linguistic help proved to be efficient help for many patients in processing the context correctly, and in understanding ironic situations more successfully.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) findings in schizophrenia: A review
Authors: Villegas Martínez J.L. , Blanco Garrote J.A. , Uribe Ladrón de Cegama F. , Arribas Simón B. , Cabús Piñol G. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance imaging technique that have increasingly being used for the non-invasive evaluation of brain white matter (WM) abnormalities. Several studies suggest that the normal integration of cerebral function may be compromised in schizophrenia. Abnormalities in WM tracts may be directly relevant for the neuropathology of schizophrenia.ObjetivesThe purpose of this review was to discuss recent DTI findings in schizophrenia and a methodologic analysis.MethodsThe literature search was performed with the search engine PubMed of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Search strategy used was based on the Cochrane review technique, limited to the period between 1998 (first report on DTI and schizophrenia) and May 2010. And limited to ‘Title/Abstract’. The reference lists of these studies were used to identify additional studies.ResultsThere is a striking amount of heterogeneity in findings, probably by methodologic problems. Brain regions such as the cingulate bundle, corpus callosum, and regions within frontal and temporal WM have a proportionally larger number of positive findings across the studies. In addition, WM tracts as The superior longitudinal fasciculus, fronto-occipital longitudinal fasciculi, uncinate fasciculi, frontal longitudinal fasciculus and the arcuate fasciculus have also positive findings in patients with schizophrenia. Other brain structures as the cerebellar peduncles, the fornix, the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus, the thalamic and optic radiations have been evaluated and shown positive findings. However, these findings are not present in all studies. DTI abnormalities in first-episode patients are less robust than in chronic patients.ConclusionsRecent DTI findings further support the hypothesis of structural dysconnectivity in schizophrenia.