Journal of neuroscience methods
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Sep 2016
Meta AnalysisDemonstration and validation of a new pressure-based MRI-safe pain tolerance device.
One of the barriers to studying the behavioral and emotional effects of pain using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is the absence of a commercially available, MRI-compatible, pressure-based algometer to elicit pain. The present study sought to address this barrier through creation and validation of a novel MRI-safe apparatus capable of delivering incremental, measurable amounts of pressure inside a scanning bore. ⋯ Our novel MRI-safe device is a valid instrument to measure and administer pressure-based pain.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Sep 2016
Where's Waldo? The utility of a complicated visual search paradigm for transcranial Doppler-based assessments of neurovascular coupling.
The concept of neurovascular coupling has been postulated since the late 1800s and has been demonstrated most commonly in humans using visual stimuli (e.g. reading, checkerboards). These traditional paradigms evoke only a moderate cerebral blood flow response due to the relative simplicity of the visual stimuli. ⋯ We recommend complicated visual search paradigms such as Where's Waldo be considered for future transcranial Doppler-based neurovascular coupling studies.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Aug 2016
Adaptation of the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale for use in a clinical model of spinal cord injury in dogs.
Naturally occurring acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in pet dogs provides an important clinical animal model through which to confirm and extend findings from rodent studies; however, validated quantitative outcome measures for dogs are limited. ⋯ These results support the use of the cBBB to assess locomotor recovery in canine clinical translational models of SCI.
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Typical electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings often contain substantial artifact. These artifacts, often large and intermittent, can interfere with quantification of the EEG via its power spectrum. To reduce the impact of artifact, EEG records are typically cleaned by a preprocessing stage that removes individual segments or components of the recording. However, such preprocessing can introduce bias, discard available signal, and be labor-intensive. With this motivation, we present a method that uses robust statistics to reduce dependence on preprocessing by minimizing the effect of large intermittent outliers on the spectral estimates. ⋯ In the presence of large intermittent outliers, the robust method can reduce dependence on data preprocessing as compared to standard methods of spectral estimation.
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Jul 2016
Feasibility of nTMS-based DTI fiber tracking of language pathways in neurosurgical patients using a fractional anisotropy threshold.
Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) provides language maps in brain tumor patients. Yet, corresponding data on the visualization of language-related subcortical pathways is lacking. Therefore, this study evaluates the feasibility of nTMS-based diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking (DTI FT) for subcortical language pathways by a fractional anisotropy (FA) protocol. ⋯ This study shows that nTMS language maps are feasible for DTI FT of language-related pathways within the scope of a FAT-based protocol. Although this approach is novel and might be helpful during scientific neuroimaging and tumor resection, intraoperative validation is needed to go beyond the level of feasibility.