The influence of low-grade glioma on resting state oscillatory brain activity: a magnetoencephalography study

Purpose In the present MEG-study, power spectral analysis of oscillatory brain activity was used to compare resting state brain activity in both low-grade glioma (LGG) patients and healthy controls. We hypothesized that LGG patients show local as well as diffuse slowing of resting state brain activity compared to healthy controls and that particularly global slowing correlates with neurocognitive dysfunction. Patient and methods Resting state MEG recordings were obtained from 17 LGG patients and 17 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls. Relative spectral power was calculated in the delta, theta, upper and lower alpha, beta, and gamma frequency band. A battery of standardized neurocognitive tests measuring 6 neurocognitive domains was administered. Results LGG patients showed a slowing of the resting state brain activity when compared to healthy controls. Decrease in relative power was mainly found in the gamma frequency band in the bilateral frontocentral MEG regions, whereas an increase in relative power was found in the theta frequency band in the left parietal region. An increase of the relative power in the theta and lower alpha band correlated with impaired executive functioning, information processing, and working memory. Conclusion LGG patients are characterized by global slowing of their resting state brain activity and this slowing phenomenon correlates with the observed neurocognitive deficits

The role of virtual reality in neuropsychology: The virtual multiple errands test for the assessment of executive functions in Parkinson's disease

In recent years, Virtual Reality technologies have emerged as assessment and treatment tools in neuropsychology. In this chapter, we will explore the possibility of using Virtual Reality to improve the traditional neuropsychological assessment of executive functions. First, we will discuss the advantages offered by Virtual Reality to more traditional approaches. Then, the chapter details the characteristics of the Virtual Multiple Errands Test (VMET), a virtual reality tool developed using NeuroVR (http://www.neurovr.org)-a free virtual reality platform useful for the assessment and neurorehabilitation. Specifically, the VMET is an assessment protocol of executive functions, where participants are invited to navigate a virtual supermarket, completing tasks that require certain rules. In the chapter, we will present the detailed description of its clinical rationale and its different phases. Furthermore, a systematic analysis of the results obtained in different studies using the VMET will be outlined. Finally, we will discuss the potentiality of the VMET for integrating the traditional neuropsychological evaluation of patients with Parkinson's disease. Detection of early executive deficits in Parkinson's disease could facilitate the identification of patients at risk to develop dementia, and could give the chance to develop early neurorehabilitation interventions

Fearing Parkinson’s Disease: Relationships Between Cognition and Emotion

There is a growing interest in elucidating the etiopathogenesis of different neurodegenerative processes, and this chapter particularly focuses on Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease affecting 2% of the population over 65 years old, a consequence of the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons associated with age. It is characterized by well-known motor symptoms, whereas the presence of non-motor symptoms, such as cognitive dysfunctions and emotional disturbances, are still underestimated. The degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway results in functional-morphological changes in synaptic plasticity and architecture in fundamental areas for the processing of emotional memory (basolateral amygdala and hippocampus). Thereby, the cognitive–emotional deficit would be a critical predictive sign of motor alterations in the pathology progression. The mechanisms involved are still unknown. Currently, no treatment has been shown to modify the evolution of the degenerative process, much less the associated non-motor symptoms. Besides, several studies are advancing in the comprehension of multiple processes involved in the establishment of this neuropathology. This chapter focuses on cognition and emotion interactions in PD and their relevance to patient and caregiver quality of life. To this end, we will address the latest studies about neurocircuitries, regulation networks and possible therapeutic approaches in different parkinsonism experimental models.Fil: Herrera, Macarena Lorena. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Champarini, Leandro Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Otamendi, Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Hereñú, Claudia Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacología; Argentin