Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · Oct 2019
ReviewPrefrontal excitatory/inhibitory balance in stress and emotional disorders: Evidence for over-inhibition.
Chronic stress-induced emotional disorders like anxiety and depression involve imbalances between the excitatory glutamatergic system and the inhibitory GABAergic system in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the precise nature and trajectory of excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalances in these conditions is not clear, with the literature reporting glutamatergic and GABAergic findings that are at times contradictory and inconclusive. ⋯ In this review, we will synthesize research about how glutamatergic and GABAergic systems are perturbed by chronic stress and in related emotional disorders like anxiety and depression and propose ideas for reconciling contradictory findings in support of the hypothesis of over-inhibition. We will also discuss evidence for how aspects of the GABAergic system such as parvalbumin (PV) cells can be targeted therapeutically for reinstating activity and plasticity in the PFC and treating stress-related disorders.
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · Sep 2019
ReviewTrust in socially assistive robots: Considerations for use in rehabilitation.
Incorporation of social robots into rehabilitation calls for understanding what factors affect user motivation and success of the interaction. Trust between the user and the robot has been identified as important in human-robot interaction and in human-human interactions in therapy. Trust has been studied in the context of automation technology, (e.g., autonomous cars), but not in the context of social robots for rehabilitation. ⋯ We suggest design guidelines for fostering trust and methods for measuring trust in human-robot interactions in rehabilitation. We stress the need to create measures of trust that are accessible to people who suffer from speech or cognitive impairments. This review is pertinent to researchers, roboticists, and clinicians interested in designing and using social robots for rehabilitation.
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · Aug 2019
ReviewReframing schizophrenia and autism as bodily self-consciousness disorders leading to a deficit of theory of mind and empathy with social communication impairments.
Prior observations and studies suggest self-consciousness disorders in schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), two neurodevelopmental disorders sharing social communication impairments. First, the relationships between schizophrenia and autism are explored regarding social communication impairments. Then, self-consciousness disorders in schizophrenia and autism are described and discussed in relation with impairments of body self leading to impairments of self-other differentiation, a deficit of theory of mind and empathy, and their consequences on social communication. ⋯ In conclusion, a new model is proposed integrating results of studies presented here and stating the existence of bodily self-consciousness disorders in schizophrenia and autism associated with altered/absent intermodal sensory integration (especially visual-kinesthetic-tactile integration). This would result in problems of self-other differentiation, leading in turn to a deficit of theory of mind and empathy as well as social communication impairments. This model opens new perspectives to understand better self-consciousness disorders and social communication impairments in schizophrenia and ASD and to develop therapeutic strategies.
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · Jul 2019
Meta AnalysisNeurofilament light chain protein in neurodegenerative dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.
The diagnostic value of neurofilament light chain protein in neurodegenerative dementia diseases is still controversial. A systematic literature search was performed to identify relevant case-control studies conducted through October 2018. Traditional and net meta-analyses were performed based on 42 studies that tested the diagnostic performance of neurofilament light chain protein (NfL) concentration in CSF and serum/plasma from patients with neurodegenerative dementia. ⋯ Network meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in CSF NfL levels during mild cognitive impairment, whereas an increase was observed in vascular dementia compared to Alzheimer's disease. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve and cluster analysis showed that the NfL concentration in CSF (vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer's disease) and serum/plasma (frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease) ranked first among neurodegenerative dementia diseases. NfL is an important biomarker that can help clinical neurologists make early diagnoses of neurodegenerative diseases, so patients can receive prompt treatment.
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · May 2019
ReviewPros and Cons of Clinically Relevant Methods to Assess Pain in Rodents.
The primary objective of preclinical pain research is to improve the treatment of pain. Decades of research using pain-evoked tests has revealed much about mechanisms but failed to deliver new treatments. Evoked pain-tests are often limited because they ignore spontaneous pain and motor or disruptive side effects confound interpretation of results. ⋯ A brief description of each method is presented along with an analysis of the advantages and limitations. The pros and cons of each test will help researchers identify the assessment tool most appropriate to meet their particular objective to assess pain in rodents. These tests provide another tool to unravel the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and help overcome the translational gap in drug development.