Restorative neurology and neuroscience
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyCounteracting tinnitus by acoustic coordinated reset neuromodulation.
Subjective tinnitus is associated with pathologic enhanced neuronal synchronization. We used a model based desynchronization technique, acoustic coordinated reset (CR) neuromodulation, to specifically counteract tinnitus-related neuronal synchrony thereby inducing an unlearning of pathological synaptic connectivity and neuronal synchrony. ⋯ The CR-induced reduction of tinnitus and underlying neuronal characteristics indicates a new non-invasive therapy which might also be applicable to other conditions with neuronal hypersynchrony.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialThe impact of rhythm complexity on brain activation during simple singing: an event-related fMRI study.
Since rhythmical aspects of singing have been neglected up to now our objective was to investigate if it was possible to specify areas concerned with rhythm processing during simple singing. ⋯ Rhythm structure is a decisive factor concerning lateralization as well as activation of specific areas during simple singing. This finding suggests a directed use of the singing voice e.g., in order to support language rehabilitation in patients.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on post-stroke dysphagia.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with swallowing training might improve swallowing function in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. We investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with swallowing training on post-stroke dysphagia. ⋯ Anodal tDCS applied over the affected pharyngeal motor cortex can enhance the outcome of swallowing training in post-stroke dysphagia. Our results suggest that non-invasive cortical stimulation has a potential role as an adjuvant strategy during swallowing training in patients with post-stroke dysphagia.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2012
Sciatic nerve grafting and inoculation of FGF-2 promotes improvement of motor behavior and fiber regrowth in rats with spinal cord transection.
Failure of severed adult central nervous system (CNS) axons to regenerate could be attributed with a reduced intrinsic growing capacity. Severe spinal cord injury is frequently associated with a permanent loss of function because the surviving neurons are impaired to regrow their fibers and to reestablish functional contacts. Peripheral nerves are known as good substrate for bridging CNS trauma with neurotrophic factor addition. We evaluated whether fibroblastic growth factor 2 (FGF-2) placed in a gap promoted by complete transection of the spinal cord may increase the ability of sciatic nerve graft to enhance motor recovery and fibers regrow. ⋯ FGF-2 added to the nerve graft favored the motor recovery and fiber regrowth. Thus, these results encourage us to explore autologous transplantation as a novel and promising cell therapy for treatment of spinal cord lesion.