Hepatic encephalopathy(HE)is a neurological condition that occurs as a complication of liver dysfunction that involves sensorimotor symptoms in addition to cognitive and behavioral changes,particularly in cases of sev...Hepatic encephalopathy(HE)is a neurological condition that occurs as a complication of liver dysfunction that involves sensorimotor symptoms in addition to cognitive and behavioral changes,particularly in cases of severe liver disease or cirrhosis.Previous studies have reported spatially distributed structural and functional abnormalities related to HE,but the exact relationship between the structural and functional alterations with respect to disease progression remains unclear.In this study,we performed surface-based cortical thickness comparisons and functional connectivity(FC)analyses between three cross-sectional groups:healthy controls(HC,N¼51),patients with minimal hepatic en-cephalopathy(MHE,N¼50),patients with overt hepatic encephalopathy(OHE,N¼51).In addition to the distributed cortical thinning that is extensively thought to be associated with cognitive decline in HE,we found significant cortical thickening in the left para-hippocampal gyrus cortex in the OHE group(p<0.001,p¼0.009)as compared to the HC and MHE group respectively,which is further corroborated by the significant correlation between the cortical thickness and digit symbol test(DST)scores.Furthermore,the decreased FC between the right postcentral gyrus and several sensory regions(bilateral somatosensory and visual cortices)was found to be significant in MHE patients as compared to the HC group.Our results revealed cross-sectional structural and functional variations concerning disease progression across different subsystems(e.g.,visual,motor and sensory),providing evidence that can potentially explain the mechanisms underlying the sensorimotor and cognitive deficits related to HE.展开更多
Rhythm,as a prominent characteristic of auditory experiences such as speech and music,is known to facilitate attention,yet its contribution to working memory(WM)remains unclear.Here,human participants temporarily reta...Rhythm,as a prominent characteristic of auditory experiences such as speech and music,is known to facilitate attention,yet its contribution to working memory(WM)remains unclear.Here,human participants temporarily retained a 12-tone sequence presented rhythmically or arrhythmically in WM and performed a pitch change-detection task.Behaviorally,while having comparable accuracy,rhythmic tone sequences showed a faster response time and lower response boundaries in decision-making.Electroencephalographic recordings revealed that rhythmic sequences elicited enhanced non-phase-locked beta-band(16 Hz–33 Hz)and theta-band(3 Hz–5 Hz)neural oscillations during sensory encoding and WM retention periods,respectively.Importantly,the two-stage neural signatures were correlated with each other and contributed to behavior.As beta-band and theta-band oscillations denote the engagement of motor systems and WM maintenance,respectively,our findings imply that rhythm facilitates auditory WM through intricate oscillation-based interactions between the motor and auditory systems that facilitate predictive attention to auditory sequences.展开更多
Over the last decade virtual reality (VR) setups for rodents have been developed and utilized to in-vestigate the neural foundations of behavior. Such VR systems became very popular since theyallow the use of state-...Over the last decade virtual reality (VR) setups for rodents have been developed and utilized to in-vestigate the neural foundations of behavior. Such VR systems became very popular since theyallow the use of state-of-the-art techniques to measure neural activity in behaving rodents that can-not be easily used with classical behavior setups. Here, we provide an overview of rodent VR tech-nologies and review recent results from related research. We discuss commonalities and differ-ences as well as merits and issues of different approaches. A special focus is given to experimental(behavioral) paradigms in use. Finally we comment on possible use cases that may further exploitthe potential of VR in rodent research and hence inspire future studies.展开更多
Very little is known about the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation and rehabilitation training on pyramidal cell dendrites and synapses of the contralateral, unaffected sensorimotor cortex in a rat model of f...Very little is known about the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation and rehabilitation training on pyramidal cell dendrites and synapses of the contralateral, unaffected sensorimotor cortex in a rat model of focal cerebral infarct. The present study was designed to explore the mechanisms underlying improved motor function via transcranial magnetic stimulation and rehabilitation training following cerebral infarction. Results showed that rehabilitation training or transcranial magnetic stimulation alone reduced neurological impairment in rats following cerebral infarction, as well as significantly increased synaptic curvatures and post-synaptic density in the non-injured cerebral hemisphere sensorimotor cortex and narrowed the synapse cleft width. In addition, the percentage of perforated synapses increased. The combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation and rehabilitation resulted in significantly increased total dendritic length, dendritic branching points, and dendritic density in layer V pyramidal cells of the non-injured cerebral hemisphere motor cortex. These results demonstrated that transcranial magnetic stimulation and rehabilitation training altered structural parameters of pyramidal cell dendrites and synapses in the non-injured cerebral hemisphere sensorimotor cortex, thereby improving the ability to compensate for neurological functions in rats following cerebral infarction.展开更多
The deep cerebellar nuclei(DCN)integrate various inputs to the cerebellum and form the final cerebellar outputs critical for associative sensorimotor learning.However,the functional relevance of distinct neuronal subp...The deep cerebellar nuclei(DCN)integrate various inputs to the cerebellum and form the final cerebellar outputs critical for associative sensorimotor learning.However,the functional relevance of distinct neuronal subpopulations within the DCN remains poorly understood.Here,we examined a subpopulation of mouse DCN neurons whose axons specifically project to the ventromedial(Vm)thalamus(DCNVm neurons),and found that these neurons represent a specific subset of DCN units whose activity varies with trace eyeblink conditioning(tEBC),a classical associative sensorimotor learning task.Upon conditioning,the activity of DCNVm neurons signaled the performance of conditioned eyeblink responses(CRs).Optogenetic activation and inhibition of the DCNVm neurons in well-trained mice amplified and diminished the CRs,respectively.Chemogenetic manipulation of the DCNVm neurons had no effects on non-associative motor coordination.Furthermore,optogenetic activation of the DCNVm neurons caused rapid elevated firing activity in the cingulate cortex,a brain area critical for bridging the time gap between sensory stimuli and motor execution during tEBC.Together,our data highlights DCNVm neurons’function and delineates their kinematic parameters that modulate the strength of associative sensorimotor responses.展开更多
Brain plasticity, including anatomical changes and functional reorganization, is the physiological basis of functional recovery after spinal cord injury(SCI). The correlation between brain anatomical changes and fun...Brain plasticity, including anatomical changes and functional reorganization, is the physiological basis of functional recovery after spinal cord injury(SCI). The correlation between brain anatomical changes and functional reorganization after SCI is unclear. This study aimed to explore whether alterations of cortical structure and network function are concomitant in sensorimotor areas after incomplete SCI. Eighteen patients with incomplete SCI(mean age 40.94 ± 14.10 years old; male:female, 7:11) and 18 healthy subjects(37.33 ± 11.79 years old; male:female, 7:11) were studied by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Gray matter volume(GMV) and functional connectivity were used to evaluate cortical structure and network function, respectively. There was no significant alteration of GMV in sensorimotor areas in patients with incomplete SCI compared with healthy subjects. Intra-hemispheric functional connectivity between left primary somatosensory cortex(BA1) and left primary motor cortex(BA4), and left BA1 and left somatosensory association cortex(BA5) was decreased, as well as inter-hemispheric functional connectivity between left BA1 and right BA4, left BA1 and right BA5, and left BA4 and right BA5 in patients with SCI. Functional connectivity between both BA4 areas was also decreased. The decreased functional connectivity between the left BA1 and the right BA4 positively correlated with American Spinal Injury Association sensory score in SCI patients. The results indicate that alterations of cortical anatomical structure and network functional connectivity in sensorimotor areas were non-concomitant in patients with incomplete SCI, indicating the network functional changes in sensorimotor areas may not be dependent on anatomic structure. The strength of functional connectivity within sensorimotor areas could serve as a potential imaging biomarker for assessment and prediction of sensory function in patients with incomplete SCI. This trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(registration number: Chi CTR-ROC-17013566).展开更多
The study aims to confirm the neuroregenerative effects of bacterial melanin (BM) on central nervous system injury using a special staining method based on the detection of Ca^2+-dependent acid phosphatase activity...The study aims to confirm the neuroregenerative effects of bacterial melanin (BM) on central nervous system injury using a special staining method based on the detection of Ca^2+-dependent acid phosphatase activity. Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to undergo either unilateral destruction of sensorimotor cortex (group I; n = 12) or unilateral rubrospinal tract transection at the cervical level (C3-4) (group II; n = 12). In each group, six rats were randomly selected after surgery to undergo intramuscular injection of BM solution (BM subgroup) and the remaining six rats were intramuscularly in)ected with saline (saline subgroup). Neurological testing confirmed that BM accelerated the recovery of motor function in rats from both BM and saline subgroups. Two months after surgery, Ca^2+-dependent acid phosphatase activity detection in combination with Chilingarian's calcium adenoside triphosphate method revealed that BM stimulated the sprouting of fibers and dilated the capillaries in the brain and spinal cord. These results suggest that BM can promote the recovery of motor function of rats with central nervous system injury; and detection of Ca^2+-dependent acid phosphatase activity is a fast and easy method used to study the regeneration-promoting effects of BM on the injured central nervous system.展开更多
Perceiving pitch is a central function of the human auditory system;congenital amusia is a disorder of pitch perception.The underlying neural mechanisms of congenital amusia have been actively discussed.However,little...Perceiving pitch is a central function of the human auditory system;congenital amusia is a disorder of pitch perception.The underlying neural mechanisms of congenital amusia have been actively discussed.However,little attention has been paid to the changes in the motor rain within congenital amusia.In this case-control study,17 participants with congenital amusia and 14 healthy controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while resting with their eyes closed.A voxel-based degree centrality method was used to identify abnormal functional network centrality by comparing degree centrality values between the congenital amusia group and the healthy control group.We found decreased degree centrality values in the right primary sensorimotor areas in participants with congenital amusia relative to controls,indicating potentially decreased centrality of the corresponding brain regions in the auditory-sensory motor feedback network.We found a significant positive correlation between the degree centrality values and the Montreal Battery of Evaluation of Amusia scores.In conclusion,our study identified novel,hitherto undiscussed candidate brain regions that may partly contribute to or be modulated by congenital amusia.Our evidence supports the view that sensorimotor coupling plays an important role in memory and musical discrimination.The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,China(No.WDX20180101GZ01)on February 9,2019.展开更多
Mice subjected to an irregular light-dark cycle are known to lose their capacity to synchronize their behavioral rhythm to environmental light, and to show endophenotypes related to depressive disorders. Here we obser...Mice subjected to an irregular light-dark cycle are known to lose their capacity to synchronize their behavioral rhythm to environmental light, and to show endophenotypes related to depressive disorders. Here we observed that a susceptible strain of mice (C3H/HeJ) subjected to an irregular 3.5 hr:3.5 hr light-dark cycle showed an enhanced acoustic startle reflex and deficits in prepulse inhibition. As impaired sensorimotor gating is associated with the onset of a variety of mental disorders such as schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, irregular environmental light without circadian photo-entrainment may cause stress that has the potential to be involved in humans’ susceptibility to neuropsychiatric abnormalities.展开更多
Background:Warm acupuncture,or warm-needle acupuncture,is a traditional external treatment widely used in China for thousands of years.However,the effects of different treatment times on limb spasticity post-stroke ha...Background:Warm acupuncture,or warm-needle acupuncture,is a traditional external treatment widely used in China for thousands of years.However,the effects of different treatment times on limb spasticity post-stroke have not been evaluated.Methods:We searched PubMed,Embase,the Cochrane Library,the Web of Science,the China National Knowledge Infrastructure,the Chinese Scientific and Journal Database,the Wanfang database,and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database from inception to May 21st,2020,to seek information regarding randomized controlled trials studying warm-needle acupuncture for limb spasticity post-stroke.Two authors selected 24 studies fitting the eligibility criteria and developed this systematic review and meta-analysis.Results:Warm-needle acupuncture is shown to be more effective than other treatments used in the control groups(odds ratio(OR)=3.61,95%confidence intervals(CI)(2.51,5.19),P<0.001).This treatment decreased limb spasticity as assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale(mean differences(MD)=−0.78,95%CI(−1.00,−0.56),P<0.001)and the Clinic Spasticity Index(MD=1.06,95%CI(0.51,1.60),P=0.0002),improved sensorimotor impairments according to the Fugl-Meyer Assessment(MD=9.51,95%CI(6.99,12.03),P<0.001),and improved activities of daily living according to the Barthel Index(MD=9.70,95%CI(6.27,13.12),P<0.001).Subgroup analysis based on the length of the treatment using the Modified Ashworth Scale,Fugl-Meyer Assessment,and Barthel Index showed better outcomes for patients who received more than 20 days of treatments(P<0.001).Conclusion:Warm-needle acupuncture is an effective treatment for limb spasticity post-stroke.A treatment frequency of more than 20 days appears to have better effectiveness than that of less than 20 days.展开更多
Brain functional impairment after stroke is common;however,the molecular mechanisms of post-stroke recovery remain unclear.It is well-recognized that age is the most important independent predictor of poor outcomes af...Brain functional impairment after stroke is common;however,the molecular mechanisms of post-stroke recovery remain unclear.It is well-recognized that age is the most important independent predictor of poor outcomes after stroke as older patients show poorer functional outcomes following stroke.Mounting evidence suggests that axonal regeneration and angiogenesis,the major forms of brain plasticity responsible for post-stroke recovery,diminished with advanced age.Previous studies suggest that Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate(Rac)1 enhances stroke recovery as activation of Rac1 improved behavior recovery in a young mice stroke model.Here,we investigated the role of Rac1 signaling in long-term functional recovery and brain plasticity in an aged(male,18 to 22 months old C57BL/6J)brain after ischemic stroke.We found that as mice aged,Rac1 expression declined in the brain.Delayed overexpression of Rac1,using lentivirus encoding Rac1 injected day 1 after ischemic stroke,promoted cognitive(assessed using novel object recognition test)and sensorimotor(assessed using adhesive removal tests)recovery on days 14–28.This was accompanied by the increase of neurite and proliferative endothelial cells in the periinfarct zone assessed by immunostaining.In a reverse approach,pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 by intraperitoneal injection of Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 for 14 successive days after ischemic stroke worsened the outcome with the reduction of neurite and proliferative endothelial cells.Furthermore,Rac1 inhibition reduced the activation of p21-activated kinase 1,the protein level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor,and increased the protein level of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the ischemic brain on day 28 after stroke.Our work provided insight into the mechanisms behind the diminished plasticity after cerebral ischemia in aged brains and identified Rac1 as a potential therapeutic target for improving functional recovery in the older adults after stroke.展开更多
《射雕英雄传》英译本第二卷A Bond Undone的译者张菁通过修习太极拳激活感觉运动系统,充分体验武侠世界,深入理解金庸小说的武打场景。在此基础上,她凭借识解重构、主观化操作等多种认知加工方式,采用增译、节译、改写等各种“映射”...《射雕英雄传》英译本第二卷A Bond Undone的译者张菁通过修习太极拳激活感觉运动系统,充分体验武侠世界,深入理解金庸小说的武打场景。在此基础上,她凭借识解重构、主观化操作等多种认知加工方式,采用增译、节译、改写等各种“映射”和“创仿”手段,再现武打场景的精彩纷呈,增强译文的“到肉”感。通过剖析张菁的“体验式翻译”路径与“见招拆招”的翻译过程,本文旨在探究身体运动及感官如何影响翻译实践,进一步揭示文学翻译过程中的体认运作机制,拓展体认翻译学的研究对象。展开更多
The current prevailing embodied cognitive science is essentially the result of the pragmatic turn of cognitive science, and enactivism is the epitome of this turn. For a long time, most advocates of enactivism have co...The current prevailing embodied cognitive science is essentially the result of the pragmatic turn of cognitive science, and enactivism is the epitome of this turn. For a long time, most advocates of enactivism have consciously regarded phenomenology as their important source of thought but ignored its pragmatic roots. In fact, there are many similarities between enactivism and pragmatism, and pragmatism has foreshadowed some core ideas and principles of enactivism. In particular, enactivism contains a pragmatic assumption that there is interaction between organisms and their environment, and cognitive ability is evolved and developed by organisms in the history of interactions with their environment. Their interpretations of cognition both rely on the theoretical support of biology and emphasize the basic role of organisms' active capacities and environment in the formation of cognition. They hold a neutral monism position ontologically.Undoubtedly, pragmatism is the precursor of cognitive enactivism. Pragmatism not only provides rich conceptual resources for the development of enactivism, but also provides a unique perspective and method to solve some problems in its theory. Pragmatism is a rich mine for enactivists to further explore.展开更多
The sensorimotor cortex participates in diverse functions with different reciprocally connected subregions and projection-defined pyramidal neuron types therein,while the fundamental organizational logic of its circui...The sensorimotor cortex participates in diverse functions with different reciprocally connected subregions and projection-defined pyramidal neuron types therein,while the fundamental organizational logic of its circuit elements at the single-cell level is still largely unclear.Here,using mouse Cre driver lines and highresolution whole-brain imaging to selectively trace the axons and dendrites of cortical pyramidal tract(PT)and intratelencephalic(IT)neurons,we reconstructed the complete morphology of 1,023 pyramidal neurons and generated a projectome of 6 subregions within the sensorimotor cortex.Our morphological data revealed substantial hierarchical and layer differences in the axonal innervation patterns of pyramidal neurons.We found that neurons located in the medial motor cortex had more diverse projection patterns than those in the lateral motor and sensory cortices.The morphological characteristics of IT neurons in layer 5 were more complex than those in layer 2/3.Furthermore,the soma location and morphological characteristics of individual neurons exhibited topographic correspondence.Different subregions and layers were composed of different proportions of projection subtypes that innervate downstream areas differentially.While the axonal terminals of PT neuronal population in each cortical subregion were distributed in specific subdomains of the superior colliculus(SC)and zona incerta(Zl),single neurons selectively innervated a combination of these projection targets.Overall,our data provide a comprehensive list of projection types of pyramidal neurons in the sensorimotor cortex and begin to unveilthe organizational principle of these projection types in different subregions and layers.展开更多
基金the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China(82071994,82202249)Tianjin Health High Level Talent Selection and Training Project(TJSQNYXXR-D2-143)+4 种基金Natural Scientific Foundation of Tianjin(21CYBJC01580,21JCQNJC01480)Tianjin Health Research Project(TJWJ2023QN031,TJWJ2023XK012)Tianjin Health Science and technology project(Specific projects of key disciplines)(TJWJ2022XK019)Tianjin Key Medical Discipline(Specialty)Construction Project(TJYXZDXK-041A)Tianjin Natural Science Foundation(21JCYBJC01290).
文摘Hepatic encephalopathy(HE)is a neurological condition that occurs as a complication of liver dysfunction that involves sensorimotor symptoms in addition to cognitive and behavioral changes,particularly in cases of severe liver disease or cirrhosis.Previous studies have reported spatially distributed structural and functional abnormalities related to HE,but the exact relationship between the structural and functional alterations with respect to disease progression remains unclear.In this study,we performed surface-based cortical thickness comparisons and functional connectivity(FC)analyses between three cross-sectional groups:healthy controls(HC,N¼51),patients with minimal hepatic en-cephalopathy(MHE,N¼50),patients with overt hepatic encephalopathy(OHE,N¼51).In addition to the distributed cortical thinning that is extensively thought to be associated with cognitive decline in HE,we found significant cortical thickening in the left para-hippocampal gyrus cortex in the OHE group(p<0.001,p¼0.009)as compared to the HC and MHE group respectively,which is further corroborated by the significant correlation between the cortical thickness and digit symbol test(DST)scores.Furthermore,the decreased FC between the right postcentral gyrus and several sensory regions(bilateral somatosensory and visual cortices)was found to be significant in MHE patients as compared to the HC group.Our results revealed cross-sectional structural and functional variations concerning disease progression across different subsystems(e.g.,visual,motor and sensory),providing evidence that can potentially explain the mechanisms underlying the sensorimotor and cognitive deficits related to HE.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12171373)supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(GK202207018).
文摘Rhythm,as a prominent characteristic of auditory experiences such as speech and music,is known to facilitate attention,yet its contribution to working memory(WM)remains unclear.Here,human participants temporarily retained a 12-tone sequence presented rhythmically or arrhythmically in WM and performed a pitch change-detection task.Behaviorally,while having comparable accuracy,rhythmic tone sequences showed a faster response time and lower response boundaries in decision-making.Electroencephalographic recordings revealed that rhythmic sequences elicited enhanced non-phase-locked beta-band(16 Hz–33 Hz)and theta-band(3 Hz–5 Hz)neural oscillations during sensory encoding and WM retention periods,respectively.Importantly,the two-stage neural signatures were correlated with each other and contributed to behavior.As beta-band and theta-band oscillations denote the engagement of motor systems and WM maintenance,respectively,our findings imply that rhythm facilitates auditory WM through intricate oscillation-based interactions between the motor and auditory systems that facilitate predictive attention to auditory sequences.
文摘Over the last decade virtual reality (VR) setups for rodents have been developed and utilized to in-vestigate the neural foundations of behavior. Such VR systems became very popular since theyallow the use of state-of-the-art techniques to measure neural activity in behaving rodents that can-not be easily used with classical behavior setups. Here, we provide an overview of rodent VR tech-nologies and review recent results from related research. We discuss commonalities and differ-ences as well as merits and issues of different approaches. A special focus is given to experimental(behavioral) paradigms in use. Finally we comment on possible use cases that may further exploitthe potential of VR in rodent research and hence inspire future studies.
基金Yantai Science and Technology Development Projects, No. 2008142-5
文摘Very little is known about the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation and rehabilitation training on pyramidal cell dendrites and synapses of the contralateral, unaffected sensorimotor cortex in a rat model of focal cerebral infarct. The present study was designed to explore the mechanisms underlying improved motor function via transcranial magnetic stimulation and rehabilitation training following cerebral infarction. Results showed that rehabilitation training or transcranial magnetic stimulation alone reduced neurological impairment in rats following cerebral infarction, as well as significantly increased synaptic curvatures and post-synaptic density in the non-injured cerebral hemisphere sensorimotor cortex and narrowed the synapse cleft width. In addition, the percentage of perforated synapses increased. The combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation and rehabilitation resulted in significantly increased total dendritic length, dendritic branching points, and dendritic density in layer V pyramidal cells of the non-injured cerebral hemisphere motor cortex. These results demonstrated that transcranial magnetic stimulation and rehabilitation training altered structural parameters of pyramidal cell dendrites and synapses in the non-injured cerebral hemisphere sensorimotor cortex, thereby improving the ability to compensate for neurological functions in rats following cerebral infarction.
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81871039)the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Municipality(cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0424)+1 种基金the Frontier Interdisciplinary Project of the College of Basic Sciences(2020JCZX02)the Special Training Program for Undergraduates of Army Medical University(2020XBK09 and 2021XBK45).
文摘The deep cerebellar nuclei(DCN)integrate various inputs to the cerebellum and form the final cerebellar outputs critical for associative sensorimotor learning.However,the functional relevance of distinct neuronal subpopulations within the DCN remains poorly understood.Here,we examined a subpopulation of mouse DCN neurons whose axons specifically project to the ventromedial(Vm)thalamus(DCNVm neurons),and found that these neurons represent a specific subset of DCN units whose activity varies with trace eyeblink conditioning(tEBC),a classical associative sensorimotor learning task.Upon conditioning,the activity of DCNVm neurons signaled the performance of conditioned eyeblink responses(CRs).Optogenetic activation and inhibition of the DCNVm neurons in well-trained mice amplified and diminished the CRs,respectively.Chemogenetic manipulation of the DCNVm neurons had no effects on non-associative motor coordination.Furthermore,optogenetic activation of the DCNVm neurons caused rapid elevated firing activity in the cingulate cortex,a brain area critical for bridging the time gap between sensory stimuli and motor execution during tEBC.Together,our data highlights DCNVm neurons’function and delineates their kinematic parameters that modulate the strength of associative sensorimotor responses.
基金supported by a grant from Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program,No.2014081266,20131089382the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.61171002,60372023
文摘Brain plasticity, including anatomical changes and functional reorganization, is the physiological basis of functional recovery after spinal cord injury(SCI). The correlation between brain anatomical changes and functional reorganization after SCI is unclear. This study aimed to explore whether alterations of cortical structure and network function are concomitant in sensorimotor areas after incomplete SCI. Eighteen patients with incomplete SCI(mean age 40.94 ± 14.10 years old; male:female, 7:11) and 18 healthy subjects(37.33 ± 11.79 years old; male:female, 7:11) were studied by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Gray matter volume(GMV) and functional connectivity were used to evaluate cortical structure and network function, respectively. There was no significant alteration of GMV in sensorimotor areas in patients with incomplete SCI compared with healthy subjects. Intra-hemispheric functional connectivity between left primary somatosensory cortex(BA1) and left primary motor cortex(BA4), and left BA1 and left somatosensory association cortex(BA5) was decreased, as well as inter-hemispheric functional connectivity between left BA1 and right BA4, left BA1 and right BA5, and left BA4 and right BA5 in patients with SCI. Functional connectivity between both BA4 areas was also decreased. The decreased functional connectivity between the left BA1 and the right BA4 positively correlated with American Spinal Injury Association sensory score in SCI patients. The results indicate that alterations of cortical anatomical structure and network functional connectivity in sensorimotor areas were non-concomitant in patients with incomplete SCI, indicating the network functional changes in sensorimotor areas may not be dependent on anatomic structure. The strength of functional connectivity within sensorimotor areas could serve as a potential imaging biomarker for assessment and prediction of sensory function in patients with incomplete SCI. This trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(registration number: Chi CTR-ROC-17013566).
基金supported by the Armenian National Science and Education Fund for Project in New York,USA(No.ANSEF biotech-4241)
文摘The study aims to confirm the neuroregenerative effects of bacterial melanin (BM) on central nervous system injury using a special staining method based on the detection of Ca^2+-dependent acid phosphatase activity. Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to undergo either unilateral destruction of sensorimotor cortex (group I; n = 12) or unilateral rubrospinal tract transection at the cervical level (C3-4) (group II; n = 12). In each group, six rats were randomly selected after surgery to undergo intramuscular injection of BM solution (BM subgroup) and the remaining six rats were intramuscularly in)ected with saline (saline subgroup). Neurological testing confirmed that BM accelerated the recovery of motor function in rats from both BM and saline subgroups. Two months after surgery, Ca^2+-dependent acid phosphatase activity detection in combination with Chilingarian's calcium adenoside triphosphate method revealed that BM stimulated the sprouting of fibers and dilated the capillaries in the brain and spinal cord. These results suggest that BM can promote the recovery of motor function of rats with central nervous system injury; and detection of Ca^2+-dependent acid phosphatase activity is a fast and easy method used to study the regeneration-promoting effects of BM on the injured central nervous system.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.61375086)the Key Project of Science and Technique Plan of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education(No.KZ201210005001)+1 种基金the National Basic Research Program(973)of China(No.2012CB720000)the China Scholarship Council Program(No.201406540017)
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81771172(to DXW),81671671(to JL)the Second Xiangya Hospital Start-Up Fund,China。
文摘Perceiving pitch is a central function of the human auditory system;congenital amusia is a disorder of pitch perception.The underlying neural mechanisms of congenital amusia have been actively discussed.However,little attention has been paid to the changes in the motor rain within congenital amusia.In this case-control study,17 participants with congenital amusia and 14 healthy controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while resting with their eyes closed.A voxel-based degree centrality method was used to identify abnormal functional network centrality by comparing degree centrality values between the congenital amusia group and the healthy control group.We found decreased degree centrality values in the right primary sensorimotor areas in participants with congenital amusia relative to controls,indicating potentially decreased centrality of the corresponding brain regions in the auditory-sensory motor feedback network.We found a significant positive correlation between the degree centrality values and the Montreal Battery of Evaluation of Amusia scores.In conclusion,our study identified novel,hitherto undiscussed candidate brain regions that may partly contribute to or be modulated by congenital amusia.Our evidence supports the view that sensorimotor coupling plays an important role in memory and musical discrimination.The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,China(No.WDX20180101GZ01)on February 9,2019.
文摘Mice subjected to an irregular light-dark cycle are known to lose their capacity to synchronize their behavioral rhythm to environmental light, and to show endophenotypes related to depressive disorders. Here we observed that a susceptible strain of mice (C3H/HeJ) subjected to an irregular 3.5 hr:3.5 hr light-dark cycle showed an enhanced acoustic startle reflex and deficits in prepulse inhibition. As impaired sensorimotor gating is associated with the onset of a variety of mental disorders such as schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, irregular environmental light without circadian photo-entrainment may cause stress that has the potential to be involved in humans’ susceptibility to neuropsychiatric abnormalities.
文摘Background:Warm acupuncture,or warm-needle acupuncture,is a traditional external treatment widely used in China for thousands of years.However,the effects of different treatment times on limb spasticity post-stroke have not been evaluated.Methods:We searched PubMed,Embase,the Cochrane Library,the Web of Science,the China National Knowledge Infrastructure,the Chinese Scientific and Journal Database,the Wanfang database,and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database from inception to May 21st,2020,to seek information regarding randomized controlled trials studying warm-needle acupuncture for limb spasticity post-stroke.Two authors selected 24 studies fitting the eligibility criteria and developed this systematic review and meta-analysis.Results:Warm-needle acupuncture is shown to be more effective than other treatments used in the control groups(odds ratio(OR)=3.61,95%confidence intervals(CI)(2.51,5.19),P<0.001).This treatment decreased limb spasticity as assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale(mean differences(MD)=−0.78,95%CI(−1.00,−0.56),P<0.001)and the Clinic Spasticity Index(MD=1.06,95%CI(0.51,1.60),P=0.0002),improved sensorimotor impairments according to the Fugl-Meyer Assessment(MD=9.51,95%CI(6.99,12.03),P<0.001),and improved activities of daily living according to the Barthel Index(MD=9.70,95%CI(6.27,13.12),P<0.001).Subgroup analysis based on the length of the treatment using the Modified Ashworth Scale,Fugl-Meyer Assessment,and Barthel Index showed better outcomes for patients who received more than 20 days of treatments(P<0.001).Conclusion:Warm-needle acupuncture is an effective treatment for limb spasticity post-stroke.A treatment frequency of more than 20 days appears to have better effectiveness than that of less than 20 days.
基金supported by NIH grants RF1 AG069466(to JL and LDM),R01 NS099628(to JL),and AG069466(to JL and LDM)the American Heart Association award 20POST35180172(to FB)。
文摘Brain functional impairment after stroke is common;however,the molecular mechanisms of post-stroke recovery remain unclear.It is well-recognized that age is the most important independent predictor of poor outcomes after stroke as older patients show poorer functional outcomes following stroke.Mounting evidence suggests that axonal regeneration and angiogenesis,the major forms of brain plasticity responsible for post-stroke recovery,diminished with advanced age.Previous studies suggest that Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate(Rac)1 enhances stroke recovery as activation of Rac1 improved behavior recovery in a young mice stroke model.Here,we investigated the role of Rac1 signaling in long-term functional recovery and brain plasticity in an aged(male,18 to 22 months old C57BL/6J)brain after ischemic stroke.We found that as mice aged,Rac1 expression declined in the brain.Delayed overexpression of Rac1,using lentivirus encoding Rac1 injected day 1 after ischemic stroke,promoted cognitive(assessed using novel object recognition test)and sensorimotor(assessed using adhesive removal tests)recovery on days 14–28.This was accompanied by the increase of neurite and proliferative endothelial cells in the periinfarct zone assessed by immunostaining.In a reverse approach,pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 by intraperitoneal injection of Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 for 14 successive days after ischemic stroke worsened the outcome with the reduction of neurite and proliferative endothelial cells.Furthermore,Rac1 inhibition reduced the activation of p21-activated kinase 1,the protein level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor,and increased the protein level of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the ischemic brain on day 28 after stroke.Our work provided insight into the mechanisms behind the diminished plasticity after cerebral ischemia in aged brains and identified Rac1 as a potential therapeutic target for improving functional recovery in the older adults after stroke.
文摘《射雕英雄传》英译本第二卷A Bond Undone的译者张菁通过修习太极拳激活感觉运动系统,充分体验武侠世界,深入理解金庸小说的武打场景。在此基础上,她凭借识解重构、主观化操作等多种认知加工方式,采用增译、节译、改写等各种“映射”和“创仿”手段,再现武打场景的精彩纷呈,增强译文的“到肉”感。通过剖析张菁的“体验式翻译”路径与“见招拆招”的翻译过程,本文旨在探究身体运动及感官如何影响翻译实践,进一步揭示文学翻译过程中的体认运作机制,拓展体认翻译学的研究对象。
基金supported by the Youth Program of National Social Science Fund of China‘A Cognitive Phenomenological Study of Enactivism’(grant number 19CZX013)the Major Program of National Social Science Fund of China‘Philosophical Research on the Challenge of Artificial Cognition to Natural Cognition’(grant number 21&ZD061)the General Program of Philosophy and Social Science Research in Shanxi Province’s Universities‘Research on Philosophical Problems of Enactive Cognition’(grant number201803071)
文摘The current prevailing embodied cognitive science is essentially the result of the pragmatic turn of cognitive science, and enactivism is the epitome of this turn. For a long time, most advocates of enactivism have consciously regarded phenomenology as their important source of thought but ignored its pragmatic roots. In fact, there are many similarities between enactivism and pragmatism, and pragmatism has foreshadowed some core ideas and principles of enactivism. In particular, enactivism contains a pragmatic assumption that there is interaction between organisms and their environment, and cognitive ability is evolved and developed by organisms in the history of interactions with their environment. Their interpretations of cognition both rely on the theoretical support of biology and emphasize the basic role of organisms' active capacities and environment in the formation of cognition. They hold a neutral monism position ontologically.Undoubtedly, pragmatism is the precursor of cognitive enactivism. Pragmatism not only provides rich conceptual resources for the development of enactivism, but also provides a unique perspective and method to solve some problems in its theory. Pragmatism is a rich mine for enactivists to further explore.
基金supported by the STI2030-Major Projects(nos.2021ZD0201001 and 2021ZD0201002)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(no.32192412)the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(no.2019-12M-5-014).
文摘The sensorimotor cortex participates in diverse functions with different reciprocally connected subregions and projection-defined pyramidal neuron types therein,while the fundamental organizational logic of its circuit elements at the single-cell level is still largely unclear.Here,using mouse Cre driver lines and highresolution whole-brain imaging to selectively trace the axons and dendrites of cortical pyramidal tract(PT)and intratelencephalic(IT)neurons,we reconstructed the complete morphology of 1,023 pyramidal neurons and generated a projectome of 6 subregions within the sensorimotor cortex.Our morphological data revealed substantial hierarchical and layer differences in the axonal innervation patterns of pyramidal neurons.We found that neurons located in the medial motor cortex had more diverse projection patterns than those in the lateral motor and sensory cortices.The morphological characteristics of IT neurons in layer 5 were more complex than those in layer 2/3.Furthermore,the soma location and morphological characteristics of individual neurons exhibited topographic correspondence.Different subregions and layers were composed of different proportions of projection subtypes that innervate downstream areas differentially.While the axonal terminals of PT neuronal population in each cortical subregion were distributed in specific subdomains of the superior colliculus(SC)and zona incerta(Zl),single neurons selectively innervated a combination of these projection targets.Overall,our data provide a comprehensive list of projection types of pyramidal neurons in the sensorimotor cortex and begin to unveilthe organizational principle of these projection types in different subregions and layers.