scholarly journals Activity or Connectivity? Evaluating neurofeedback training in Huntington’s disease

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Papoutsi ◽  
Joerg Magerkurth ◽  
Oliver Josephs ◽  
Sophia E Pépés ◽  
Temi Ibitoye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Huntington's Disease ◽  
Huntington’S Disease ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Clinical Benefit ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Psychomotor Function ◽  
Neurofeedback Training ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Non Invasive

AbstractNon-invasive methods, such as neurofeedback training (NFT), could support cognitive symptom management in Huntington’s disease (HD) by targeting brain regions whose function is impaired. The aim of our single-blind, sham-controlled study was to collect rigorous evidence regarding the feasibility of NFT in HD by examining two different methods, activity and connectivity real-time fMRI NFT. Thirty-two HD gene-carriers completed 16 runs of NFT training, using an optimized real-time fMRI protocol. Participants were randomized into four groups, two treatment groups, one receiving neurofeedback derived from the activity of the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA), and another receiving neurofeedback based on the correlation of SMA and left striatum activity (connectivity NFT), and two sham control groups, matched to each of the treatment groups. We examined differences between the groups during NFT training sessions and after training at follow-up sessions. Transfer of training was measured by measuring the participants’ ability to upregulate NFT target levels without feedback (near transfer), as well as by examining change in objective, a-priori defined, behavioural measures of cognitive and psychomotor function (far transfer) before and at 2 months after training. We found that the treatment group had significantly higher NFT target levels during the training sessions compared to the control group. However, we did not find robust evidence of better transfer in the treatment group compared to controls, or a difference between the two NFT methods. We also did not find evidence in support of a relationship between change in cognitive and psychomotor function and NFT learning success. We conclude that although there is evidence that NFT can be used to guide participants to regulate the activity and connectivity of specific regions in the brain, evidence regarding transfer of learning and clinical benefit was not robust. Although the intervention is non-invasive, given the costs and absence of reliable evidence of clinical benefit, we cannot recommend real-time fMRI NFT as a potential intervention in HD.

scholarly journals Activity or connectivity? A randomized controlled feasibility study evaluating neurofeedback training in Huntington’s disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Papoutsi ◽  
Joerg Magerkurth ◽  
Oliver Josephs ◽  
Sophia E Pépés ◽  
Temi Ibitoye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Huntington's Disease ◽  
Huntington’S Disease ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Functional Mri ◽  
Supplementary Motor Area ◽  
Motor Area ◽  
Psychomotor Function ◽  
Neurofeedback Training ◽  
Treatment Groups

Abstract Non-invasive methods, such as neurofeedback training, could support cognitive symptom management in Huntington’s disease by targeting brain regions whose function is impaired. The aim of our single-blind, sham-controlled study was to collect rigorous evidence regarding the feasibility of neurofeedback training in Huntington’s disease by examining two different methods, activity and connectivity real-time functional MRI neurofeedback training. Thirty-two Huntington’s disease gene-carriers completed 16 runs of neurofeedback training, using an optimized real-time functional MRI protocol. Participants were randomized into four groups, two treatment groups, one receiving neurofeedback derived from the activity of the supplementary motor area, and another receiving neurofeedback based on the correlation of supplementary motor area and left striatum activity (connectivity neurofeedback training), and two sham control groups, matched to each of the treatment groups. We examined differences between the groups during neurofeedback training sessions and after training at follow-up sessions. Transfer of training was measured by measuring the participants’ ability to upregulate neurofeedback training target levels without feedback (near transfer), as well as by examining change in objective, a priori defined, behavioural measures of cognitive and psychomotor function (far transfer) before and at 2 months after training. We found that the treatment group had significantly higher neurofeedback training target levels during the training sessions compared to the control group. However, we did not find robust evidence of better transfer in the treatment group compared to controls, or a difference between the two neurofeedback training methods. We also did not find evidence in support of a relationship between change in cognitive and psychomotor function and learning success. We conclude that although there is evidence that neurofeedback training can be used to guide participants to regulate the activity and connectivity of specific regions in the brain, evidence regarding transfer of learning and clinical benefit was not robust.

IV amantadine improves chorea in Huntington's disease An acute randomized, controlled study

Neurology ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 60 (12) ◽  
pp. 1995-1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Lucetti ◽  
P. Del Dotto ◽  
G. Gambaccini ◽  
G. Dell' Agnello ◽  
S. Bernardini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Huntington's Disease ◽  
Huntington’S Disease ◽  
Randomized Controlled Study ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Randomized Controlled

scholarly journals The VIRI (Virtual, Interactive, Real-Time, Instructor-Led) Classroom: The Impact of Blended Synchronous Online Courses on Student Performance, Engagement, and Satisfaction

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 78-91
Author(s):  
Anthony Francescucci ◽  
Mary Foster
Keyword(s):  
Student Engagement ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Course Offerings ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Blended Course ◽  
Virtual Interactive

Previous research on blended course offerings focuses on the addition of asynchronous online content to an existing course. While some explore synchronous communication, few control for differences between treatment groups. This study investigates the impact of teaching a blended course, using a virtual, interactive, real-time, instructor-led (VIRI) classroom, on student engagement, performance, and satisfaction. We use an experimental design with both a control group and a treatment group. Up to 90 students in a large urban university are randomly assigned by the registrar into two sections of an introductory marketing course. Using a pre- and post-semester questionnaire, the study measures student engagement, performance, and satisfaction. There are no statistical differences in student performance between the control and treatment groups. The only student engagement factor with a statistically significant difference between groups is student interest in their courses. Compared with the control group, the treatment group appears to be more interested (+10%) in their courses at the end of the semester. Finally, fewer than 2 in 10 students express dissatisfaction with their participation in a VIRI course. Blended course offerings are increasing in importance in marketing and business education. The study provides guidance for fine-tuning the features of those course offerings by demonstrating how a VIRI classroom leverages the capabilities of technology without compromising learning outcomes.  

scholarly journals A novel imaging ligand as a biomarker for mutant huntingtin-lowering in Huntington's disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Bertoglio ◽  
Jonathan Bard ◽  
Manuela Hessmann ◽  
Longbin Liu ◽  
Annette Gaertner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Huntington's Disease ◽  
Huntington’S Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Trinucleotide Expansion ◽  
Imaging Markers ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Polyq Tract

Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene that encodes the pathologic mutant HTT (mHTT) protein with an expanded polyglutamine (PolyQ) tract. While several therapeutic programs targeting mHTT expression have advanced to clinical evaluation, no method is currently available to visualize mHTT levels in the living brain. Here we demonstrate the development of a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging radioligand with high affinity and selectivity for mHTT aggregates. This small molecule radiolabeled with 11C ([11C]CHDI-180R) enables non-invasive monitoring of mHTT pathology in the brain and can track region- and time-dependent suppression of mHTT in response to therapeutic interventions targeting mHTT expression. We further show that therapeutic agents that lower mHTT in the striatum have a functional restorative effect that can be measured by preservation of striatal imaging markers, enabling a translational path to assess the functional effect of mHTT lowering.

IV amantadine improves chorea in Huntington's disease: An acute randomized, controlled study

Neurology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 597-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Heckmann ◽  
P. Legg ◽  
D. Sklar ◽  
J. Fine ◽  
A. Bryer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Huntington's Disease ◽  
Huntington’S Disease ◽  
Randomized Controlled Study ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Randomized Controlled

scholarly journals Cerebellar Direct Current Stimulation (ctDCS) in the Treatment of Huntington's Disease: A Pilot Study and a Short Review of the Literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommaso Bocci ◽  
Davide Baloscio ◽  
Roberta Ferrucci ◽  
Ferdinando Sartucci ◽  
Alberto Priori
Keyword(s):  
Huntington's Disease ◽  
Huntington’S Disease ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Matched Pairs ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Disease Rating

Introduction: In recent years, a growing body of literature has investigated the use of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques as a putative treatment in Huntington's Disease (HD). Our aim was to evaluate the effects of cerebellar transcranial Direct Current Simulation (ctDCS) on the motor outcome in patients affected by HD, encompassing at the same time the current knowledge about the effects of NIBS both on motor and non-motor dysfunctions in HD.Materials and Methods: Four patients (two females) were enrolled and underwent ctDCS (both anodal or sham, elapsed by at least 3 months: 2.0 mA, 20 min per day, 5 days a week). Clinical scores were assessed by using the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale – part I (UHDRS-I), immediately before ctDCS (T0), at the end of the 5-days treatment (T1) and 4 weeks later (T2).Results: Anodal ctDCS improved motor scores compared to baseline (p = 0.0046), whereas sham stimulation left them unchanged (p = 0.33, Friedman test). In particular, following anodal ctDCS, UHDRS-I score significantly improved, especially regarding the subitem “dystonia,” both at T1 and T2 compared to sham condition (p < 0.05; Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed test).Conclusions: ctDCS improved motor scores in HD, with effects lasting for about 4 weeks after tDCS completion. This is the first study discussing the putative role of cerebellar non-invasive simulation for the treatment of HD.

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