scholarly journals Viewing pictures triggers rapid morphological enlargement in the human visual cortex

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.N.T. Månsson ◽  
D.S. Cortes ◽  
A. Manzouri ◽  
S. Hau ◽  
H. Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Everyday Clinical Practice ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Fixation Cross ◽  
Passive Viewing ◽  
Anatomical Images

AbstractBrain morphology change over the course of weeks, days, and hours, and can be detected by non-invasive structural magnetic resonance imaging. Rapid morphological changes at scanning has yet not been investigated. In a randomized within-group study, high-resolution anatomical images were acquired during passive viewing of pictures or a fixation cross. Forty-seven individuals gray matter volume and cortical thickness were investigated, and both measures increased in the visual cortex while viewing pictures relative to a fixation cross. Thus, brain morphology enlargements were detected in less than 263 seconds. Neuroplasticity is a far more dynamic process than previously shown, suggesting that individuals’ current mental state affects indices of brain morphology. This needs to be taken into account in future morphology studies and in everyday clinical practice.

scholarly journals Viewing Pictures Triggers Rapid Morphological Enlargement in the Human Visual Cortex

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 851-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristoffer N T Månsson ◽  
Diana S Cortes ◽  
Amir Manzouri ◽  
Tie-Qiang Li ◽  
Stephan Hau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Everyday Clinical Practice ◽  
Brain Images ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Fixation Cross ◽  
Passive Viewing ◽  
Anatomical Images

Abstract Measuring brain morphology with non-invasive structural magnetic resonance imaging is common practice, and can be used to investigate neuroplasticity. Brain morphology changes have been reported over the course of weeks, days, and hours in both animals and humans. If such short-term changes occur even faster, rapid morphological changes while being scanned could have important implications. In a randomized within-subject study on 47 healthy individuals, two high-resolution T1-weighted anatomical images were acquired (á 263 s) per individual. The images were acquired during passive viewing of pictures or a fixation cross. Two common pipelines for analyzing brain images were used: voxel-based morphometry on gray matter (GM) volume and surface-based cortical thickness. We found that the measures of both GM volume and cortical thickness showed increases in the visual cortex while viewing pictures relative to a fixation cross. The increase was distributed across the two hemispheres and significant at a corrected level. Thus, brain morphology enlargements were detected in less than 263 s. Neuroplasticity is a far more dynamic process than previously shown, suggesting that individuals’ current mental state affects indices of brain morphology. This needs to be taken into account in future morphology studies and in everyday clinical practice.

scholarly journals The expectant brain: Being pregnant causes changes in brain morphology in the early postpartum period

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Chechko ◽  
Juergen Dukart ◽  
Svetlana Tchaikovski ◽  
Christian Enzensberger ◽  
Irene Neuner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Cortical Thinning ◽  
Nulliparous Women ◽  
Maternal Brain ◽  
Multiparous Women ◽  
The Right

There is growing evidence that pregnancy may have a significant impact on the maternal brain, causing changes in its structure. However, the patterns of these changes have not yet been systematically investigated. Using voxel-based (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM), we compared a group of healthy primiparous women (n = 40) with healthy multiparous mothers (n = 37) as well as nulliparous women (n = 40). Compared to the nulliparous women, the young mothers showed decreases in gray matter volume in the bilateral hippocampus/amygdala, the orbitofrontal cortex/subgenual prefrontal area, the right superior temporal gyrus, the right insula, and the cerebellum. However, these pregnancy-related changes in brain structure did not predict the quality of mother-infant attachment at either 3 or 12 weeks postpartum, nor were they more pronounced among the multiparous women. SBM analyses showed significant cortical thinning especially in the frontal and parietal cortices, with the parietal cortical thinning likely potentiated by multiple pregnancies. We conclude, therefore, that the widespread morphological changes seen in the brain shortly after childbirth reflect substantial neuroplasticity. Also, the experience of pregnancy alone may not be the underlying cause of the adaptations for mothering and caregiving. As regards the exact biological function of the changes in brain morphology as well as the long-term effect of pregnancy on the maternal brain, further longitudinal research with larger cohorts will be needed to draw any definitive conclusions.

scholarly journals Empirical examination of the replicability of associations between brain structure and psychological variables

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahrzad Kharabian Masouleh ◽  
Simon B Eickhoff ◽  
Felix Hoffstaedter ◽  
Sarah Genon ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Structure ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Empirical Examination ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
Psychological Measures ◽  
Exploratory Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cognitive Neurosciences ◽  
Brain Behavior

Linking interindividual differences in psychological phenotype to variations in brain structure is an old dream for psychology and a crucial question for cognitive neurosciences. Yet, replicability of the previously-reported ‘structural brain behavior’ (SBB)-associations has been questioned, recently. Here, we conducted an empirical investigation, assessing replicability of SBB among heathy adults. For a wide range of psychological measures, the replicability of associations with gray matter volume was assessed. Our results revealed that among healthy individuals 1) finding an association between performance at standard psychological tests and brain morphology is relatively unlikely 2) significant associations, found using an exploratory approach, have overestimated effect sizes and 3) can hardly be replicated in an independent sample. After considering factors such as sample size and comparing our findings with more replicable SBB-associations in a clinical cohort and replicable associations between brain structure and non-psychological phenotype, we discuss the potential causes and consequences of these findings.

scholarly journals Attentional bias to threat and gray mater volume morphology in high anxious individuals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Carlson ◽  
Lin Fang
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Parietal Cortex ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Posterior Parietal Cortex ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Posterior Parietal ◽  
The Right

AbstractIn a sample of highly anxious individuals, the relationship between gray matter volume brain morphology and attentional bias to threat was assessed. Participants performed a dot-probe task of attentional bias to threat and gray matter volume was acquired from whole brain structural T1-weighted MRI scans. The results replicate previous findings in unselected samples that elevated attentional bias to threat is linked to greater gray matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex, middle frontal gyrus, and striatum. In addition, we provide novel evidence that elevated attentional bias to threat is associated with greater gray matter volume in the right posterior parietal cortex, cerebellum, and other distributed regions. Lastly, exploratory analyses provide initial evidence that distinct sub-regions of the right posterior parietal cortex may contribute to attentional bias in a sex-specific manner. Our results illuminate how differences in gray matter volume morphology relate to attentional bias to threat in anxious individuals. This knowledge could inform neurocognitive models of anxiety-related attentional bias to threat and targets of neuroplasticity in anxiety interventions such as attention bias modification.

scholarly journals In vivo STED microscopy visualizes PSD95 sub-structures and morphological changes over several hours in the mouse visual cortex

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Waja Wegner ◽  
Alexander C. Mott ◽  
Seth G. N. Grant ◽  
Heinz Steffens ◽  
Katrin I. Willig
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Sted Microscopy ◽  
Mouse Visual Cortex

scholarly journals A comprehensive preclinical assessment of late-term imaging markers of radiation-induced brain injury

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tien T Tang ◽  
Janice A Zawaski ◽  
Shelli R Kesler ◽  
Christine A Beamish ◽  
Wilburn E Reddick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Image Features ◽  
Functional Markers ◽  
Tumor Treatment ◽  
Radiation Induced ◽  
Imaging Markers

Abstract Background Cranial radiotherapy (CRT) is an important part of brain tumor treatment, and although highly effective, survivors suffer from long-term cognitive side effects. In this study we aim to establish late-term imaging markers of CRT-induced brain injury and identify functional markers indicative of cognitive performance. Specifically, we aim to identify changes in executive function, brain metabolism, and neuronal organization. Methods Male Sprague Dawley rats were fractionally irradiated at 28 days of age to a total dose of 30 Gy to establish a radiation-induced brain injury model. Animals were trained at 3 months after CRT using the 5-choice serial reaction time task. At 12 months after CRT, animals were evaluated for cognitive and imaging changes, which included positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results Cognitive deficit with signs of neuroinflammation were found at 12 months after CRT in irradiated animals. CRT resulted in significant volumetric changes in 38% of brain regions as well as overall decrease in brain volume and reduced gray matter volume. PET imaging showed higher brain glucose uptake in CRT animals. Using MRI, irradiated brains had an overall decrease in fractional anisotropy, lower global efficiency, increased transitivity, and altered regional connectivity. Cognitive measurements were found to be significantly correlated with six image features that included myelin integrity and local organization of the neural network. Conclusions These results demonstrate that CRT leads to late-term morphological changes, reorganization of neural connections, and metabolic dysfunction. The correlation between imaging markers and cognitive deficits can be used to assess late-term side effects of brain tumor treatment and evaluate efficacy of new interventions.

The effects of AMPA blockade on the spectral profile of human early visual cortex recordings studied with non-invasive MEG

Cortex ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 266-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh D. Muthukumaraswamy ◽  
Bethany Routley ◽  
Wouter Droog ◽  
Krish D. Singh ◽  
Khalid Hamandi
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Spectral Profile ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Early Visual Cortex

scholarly journals Childhood Sexual Abuse Is Associated with Reduced Gray Matter Volume in Visual Cortex of Young Women

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (7) ◽  
pp. 642-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akemi Tomoda ◽  
Carryl P. Navalta ◽  
Ann Polcari ◽  
Norihiro Sadato ◽  
Martin H. Teicher
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume
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