Frontiers in neuroscience
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Frontiers in neuroscience · Jan 2019
Differential Influence of Acupuncture Somatosensory and Cognitive/Affective Components on Functional Brain Connectivity and Pain Reduction During Low Back Pain State.
The underlying mechanism of pain reduction by acupuncture is still unclear, because acupuncture treatment involves multidimensional factors. In this study, we investigated the differential influence of acupuncture components on brain functional connectivity and on pain reduction. We used a specific form of sham acupuncture (phantom acupuncture; PHNT), which only has a needling-credibility (a belief that they were treated with real acupuncture needles), while real acupuncture (REAL) has a somatosensory needling stimulation, as well as a needling-credibility. ⋯ Our findings might suggest different brain mechanisms of observed pain reduction; REAL seems to involve detachment of the self from the sensory aspect of pain, while PHNT does to shift attention to self and disengages physical pain processing hubs. This exploratory study proposes a sham methodology to dissociate the influence of different acupuncture components in acupuncture research. Further studies need to be followed with more elaborated hypothesis, study design, and analysis considering various cognitive/affective factors for better understanding of brain mechanisms of pain reduction regarding the different acupuncture aspects.
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Frontiers in neuroscience · Jan 2019
Cerebellar Lobules Optimal Stimulation (CLOS): A Computational Pipeline to Optimize Cerebellar Lobule-Specific Electric Field Distribution.
Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) is challenging due to the complexity of the cerebellar structure which is reflected by the well-known variability in ctDCS effects. Therefore, our objective is to present a freely available computational modeling pipeline for cerebellar lobules' optimal stimulation (CLOS). ⋯ Our freely available CLOS pipeline can be leveraged to optimize electromagnetic stimulation to target cerebellar lobules related to different cognitive and motor functions.
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Frontiers in neuroscience · Jan 2018
Effects of Non-invasive Neuromodulation on Executive and Other Cognitive Functions in Addictive Disorders: A Systematic Review.
Background: In order to improve the current treatment of addictive disorders non-invasive neuromodulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has gained attention. The DLPFC is crucially involved in executive functioning, functions which are related to the course of addictive disorders. Non-invasive stimulation of the DLPFC may lead to changes in executive functioning. ⋯ Nevertheless, the results of these studies are promising in light of improvement of current treatment. Therefore, we recommend future studies that compare the effect of different types of stimulation, stimulation sides and number of stimulation sessions in larger clinical trials. This will significantly increase the comparability of the studies and thereby accelerate and clarify the conclusion on whether non-invasive neuromodulation is an effective add-on treatment for substance dependence.
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Frontiers in neuroscience · Jan 2018
Electroacupuncture Inhibits Visceral Nociception via Somatovisceral Interaction at Subnucleus Reticularis Dorsalis Neurons in the Rat Medulla.
Electroacupuncture (EA) is an efficacious treatment for alleviating visceral pain, but the underlining mechanisms are not fully understood. This study investigated the role of medullary subnucleus reticularis dorsalis (SRD) neurons in the effects of EA on visceral pain. We recorded the discharges of SRD neurons extracellularly by glass micropipettes on anesthetized rats. ⋯ Yet, the responses of SRD neurons to EA stimulation reached a plateau when EA exceeded 6 mA. In addition, 0.5-1 mA of EA had no effect on CRD-induced nociceptive responses of SRD neurons. In conclusion, EA produced an inhibiting effect on visceral nociception in an intensity-dependent manner, which probably is due to the somatovisceral interaction at SRD neurons.
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Frontiers in neuroscience · Jan 2018
Neurochemical Modifications in the Hippocampus, Cortex and Hypothalamus of Mice Exposed to Long-Term High-Fat Diet.
Metabolic syndrome and diabetes impact brain function and metabolism. While it is well established that rodents exposed to diets rich in saturated fat develop brain dysfunction, contrasting results abound in the literature, likely as result of exposure to different high-fat diet (HFD) compositions and for varied periods of time. In the present study, we investigated alterations of hippocampal-dependent spatial memory by measuring Y-maze spontaneous alternation, metabolic profiles of the hippocampus, cortex and hypothalamus by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and levels of proteins specific to synaptic and glial compartments in mice exposed for 6 months to different amounts of fat (10, 45, or 60% of total energy intake). ⋯ For both HFD levels, reductions of the vesicular glutamate transporter vGlut1 and levels of the vesicular GABA transporter were observed in the hippocampus and hypothalamus, relative to controls. Immunoreactivity against GFAP and/or Iba-1 in the hypothalamus was higher in mice exposed to HFD than controls, suggesting occurrence of gliosis. We conclude that different levels of dietary fat result in distinct neurochemical alterations in the brain.