Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation Affects Theory of Mind Network: A PET Study in Parkinson's Disease

Background: There appears to be an overlap between the limbic system, which is modulated by subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the brain network that mediates theory of mind (ToM). Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of STN DBS on ToM of PD patients and to correlate ToM modifications with changes in glucose metabolism. Methodology/Principal Findings: To this end, we conducted 18 FDG-PET scans in 13 PD patients in pre- and post-STN DBS conditions and correlated changes in their glucose metabolism with modified performances on the Eyes test, a visual ToM task requiring them to describe thoughts or feelings conveyed by photographs of the eye region. Postoperative PD performances on this emotion recognition task were significantly worse than either preoperative PD performances or those of healthy controls (HC), whereas there was no significant difference between preoperative PD and HC. Conversely, PD patients in the postoperative condition performed within the normal range on the gender attribution task included in the Eyes test. As far as the metabolic results are concerned, there were correlations between decreased cerebral glucos

Assessing the Predictive Validity of Simple Dementia Risk Models in Harmonized Stroke Cohorts

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke is associated with an increased risk of dementia. To assist in the early identification of individuals at high risk of future dementia, numerous prediction models have been developed for use in the general population. However, it is not known whether such models also provide accurate predictions among stroke patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether existing dementia risk prediction models that were developed for use in the general population can also be applied to individuals with a history of stroke to predict poststroke dementia with equivalent predictive validity. METHODS: Data were harmonized from 4 stroke studies (follow-up range, ≈12–18 months poststroke) from Hong Kong, the United States, the Netherlands, and France. Regression analysis was used to test 3 risk prediction models: the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia score, the Australian National University Alzheimer Disease Risk Index, and the Brief Dementia Screening Indicator. Model performance or discrimination accuracy was assessed using the C statistic or area under the curve. Calibration was tested using the Grønnesby and Borgan and the goodness-of-fit tests. RESULTS: The predictive accuracy of the models varied but was generally low compared with the original development cohorts, with the Australian National University Alzheimer Disease Risk Index (C-statistic, 0.66) and the Brief Dementia Screening Indicator (C-statistic, 0.61) both performing better than the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia score (area under the curve, 0.53). CONCLUSIONS: Dementia risk prediction models developed for the general population do not perform well in individuals with stroke. Their poor performance could have been due to the need for additional or different predictors related to stroke and vascular risk factors or methodological differences across studies (eg, length of follow-up, age distribution)

Network impact score is an independent predictor of post-stroke cognitive impairment: A multicenter cohort study in 2341 patients with acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common consequence of stroke. Accurate prediction of PSCI risk is challenging. The recently developed network impact score, which integrates information on infarct location and size with brain network topology, may improve PSCI risk prediction. AIMS: To determine if the network impact score is an independent predictor of PSCI, and of cognitive recovery or decline. METHODS: We pooled data from patients with acute ischemic stroke from 12 cohorts through the Meta VCI Map consortium. PSCI was defined as impairment in ≥ 1 cognitive domain on neuropsychological examination, or abnormal Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Cognitive recovery was defined as conversion from PSCI 24 months) and cognitive recovery or decline using logistic regression. Models were adjusted for age, sex, education, prior stroke, infarct volume, and study site. RESULTS: We included 2341 patients with 4657 cognitive assessments. PSCI was present in 398/844 patients (47%) 24 months. Cognitive recovery occurred in 64/181 (35%) patients and cognitive decline in 26/287 (9%). The network impact score predicted PSCI in the univariable (OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.34-1.68) and multivariable (OR 1.27, 95%CI 1.10-1.46) GEE model, with similar ORs in the logistic regression models for specified post-stroke intervals. The network impact score was not associated with cognitive recovery or decline. CONCLUSIONS: The network impact score is an independent predictor of PSCI. As such, the network impact score may contribute to a more precise and individualized cognitive prognostication in patients with ischemic stroke. Future studies should address if multimodal prediction models, combining the network impact score with demographics, clinical characteristics and other advanced brain imaging biomarkers, will provide accurate individualized prediction of PSCI. A tool for calculating the network impact score is freely available at https://metavcimap.org/features/software-tools/lsm-viewer/

Neuropsychological approach of emotional disorders in schizophrenia

Les troubles schizophréniques stabilisés s'accompagnent souvent de déficits cognitifs et émotionnels. Les plus récents travaux mettent en relation la cognition, la motivation et les émotions dans la présentation cliniques des troubles schizophréniques. L'objectif de ce travail est de décrire les troubles de la reconnaissance des émotions, du sentiment subjectif et des réactions physiologiques liées aux émotions dans les troubles schizophréniques stabilisés. L'influence des troubles cognitifs et de l'apathie sur les processus émotionnels est également explorée. Dans une première étude, nous avons mis en évidence l'introduction de biais dans la reconnaissance des émotions dans deux modalités sensorielles (visuelle et auditive).Dans l'étude suivante, nous nous sommes intéressés à l'influence des troubles des fonctions exécutives dans le sentiment subjectif des émotions. A l'aide d'extrait de films, nous avons montré qu'un trouble des fonctions exécutives pouvait entraîner l'introduction d'un ressenti émotionnel nuancé dans les troubles schizophréniques stabilisés. L'apathie est un trouble fréquent dans la schizophrénie et peut influencer les processus émotionnels. Dans un troisième travail, nous avons étudié l'impact de l'apathie sur les réactions physiologiques induites par les émotions. Nous avons montré que la sévérité de l'apathie était corrélée à une diminution de l'activité électrodermale lors de l'induction d'émotions positives. Les résultats de ces travaux montrent un impact des troubles cognitifs et motivationnels sur les processus émotionnels dans les troubles schizophréniques stabilisés. Ces travaux nous encouragent à explorer les bases cérébrales de l'interaction entre émotion et cognition dans la schizophrénie. Des applications cliniques sont également discutées.Stabilized schizophrenia is characterized by cognitive and emotional deficits. Recent works adopted a dynamic view of the relationship between cognition; motivation and emotion in schizophrenia. The objective of this work was to describe the impairments of recognition; subjective feelings and physiological reactions related to emotions in stabilized schizophrenia. The influence of cognitive impairment and apathy on the emotional processes was also explored. In a first study on a group of 23 patients with schizophrenia; we highlighted the introduction of bias in the recognition of emotion in two sensory modalities (visual and auditory). In the next study; we investigated the influence of executive function disorders in the subjective feeling of emotions. With film excerpts; we showed that a disorder in executive functions could lead the introduction of a mixed subjective feeling in schizophrenia. Apathy is a common disorder in schizophrenia and may influence emotional processes. In a third study; we investigated the impact of apathy on physiological reactions induced by emotion. We have shown that the severity of apathy was correlated with a decrease in electrodermal activity during induction of positive emotions. The results of these studies show an impact of cognitive and motivational disturbances in emotional processes in stabilized schizophrenia. This work encourages us to explore the neural bases of the interaction between emotion and cognition in schizophrenia. Clinical applications are also discussed

Approche neuropsychologique des troubles émotionnels dans la schizophrénie

Stabilized schizophrenia is characterized by cognitive and emotional deficits. Recent works adopted a dynamic view of the relationship between cognition; motivation and emotion in schizophrenia. The objective of this work was to describe the impairments of recognition; subjective feelings and physiological reactions related to emotions in stabilized schizophrenia. The influence of cognitive impairment and apathy on the emotional processes was also explored. In a first study on a group of 23 patients with schizophrenia; we highlighted the introduction of bias in the recognition of emotion in two sensory modalities (visual and auditory). In the next study; we investigated the influence of executive function disorders in the subjective feeling of emotions. With film excerpts; we showed that a disorder in executive functions could lead the introduction of a mixed subjective feeling in schizophrenia. Apathy is a common disorder in schizophrenia and may influence emotional processes. In a third study; we investigated the impact of apathy on physiological reactions induced by emotion. We have shown that the severity of apathy was correlated with a decrease in electrodermal activity during induction of positive emotions. The results of these studies show an impact of cognitive and motivational disturbances in emotional processes in stabilized schizophrenia. This work encourages us to explore the neural bases of the interaction between emotion and cognition in schizophrenia. Clinical applications are also discussed.Les troubles schizophréniques stabilisés s'accompagnent souvent de déficits cognitifs et émotionnels. Les plus récents travaux mettent en relation la cognition, la motivation et les émotions dans la présentation cliniques des troubles schizophréniques. L'objectif de ce travail est de décrire les troubles de la reconnaissance des émotions, du sentiment subjectif et des réactions physiologiques liées aux émotions dans les troubles schizophréniques stabilisés. L'influence des troubles cognitifs et de l'apathie sur les processus émotionnels est également explorée. Dans une première étude, nous avons mis en évidence l'introduction de biais dans la reconnaissance des émotions dans deux modalités sensorielles (visuelle et auditive).Dans l'étude suivante, nous nous sommes intéressés à l'influence des troubles des fonctions exécutives dans le sentiment subjectif des émotions. A l'aide d'extrait de films, nous avons montré qu'un trouble des fonctions exécutives pouvait entraîner l'introduction d'un ressenti émotionnel nuancé dans les troubles schizophréniques stabilisés. L'apathie est un trouble fréquent dans la schizophrénie et peut influencer les processus émotionnels. Dans un troisième travail, nous avons étudié l'impact de l'apathie sur les réactions physiologiques induites par les émotions. Nous avons montré que la sévérité de l'apathie était corrélée à une diminution de l'activité électrodermale lors de l'induction d'émotions positives. Les résultats de ces travaux montrent un impact des troubles cognitifs et motivationnels sur les processus émotionnels dans les troubles schizophréniques stabilisés. Ces travaux nous encouragent à explorer les bases cérébrales de l'interaction entre émotion et cognition dans la schizophrénie. Des applications cliniques sont également discutées

Opening the « black box » of electrodermal activity in consumer neuroscience research

International audienceFor 30 years, the study of emotional reactions of consumers has been a topic of research based on electrophysiological indices. To date, more than 20 studies using the measurement of electrodermal activity (EDA) have been published in marketing. This recording method is experiencing a renewed interest with the emergence of consumer neuroscience and participates in investigative techniques of brain functions. Although the implementation of EDA measurement is an attainable technique, its signal analysis is nonetheless complex. Recently, researchers in psychophysiology have developed a new digital tool for EDA signal processing, thus optimizing the evaluation of the “activation” component of an emotional episode. A careful reading of the literature has identified several methods of collecting and processing the EDA signal which are discussed. Recommendations are proposed and illustrated in an exploratory study using seven TV commercials. The results show that the application of standards for signal processing by means of nonnegative deconvolution improves the robustness of measures thus contributing to the enhancement of consumer neuroscience research

Modulatory effects of happy mood on performance monitoring: Insights from error-related brain potentials

International audienceGoal-adaptive behavior requires the rapid detection of conflicts between actions and intentions or goals. Although many studies have focused in the past on the influence of negative affect on this cognitive control process (and more specifically, on error monitoring), little is known about the possible modulatory effects of positive affect on it. To address this question, we used a standard (positive) mood induction procedure (based on guided imagery) and asked participants to carry out a speeded go/no-go task while high-density electroencephalography was recorded concurrently. As a control condition, we used a group with neutral mood. Event-related potential results showed that the error-related negativity (ERN) component, reflecting early error detection within the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, was not influenced by happy mood. In contrast, the subsequent error positivity (Pe) component, related to the appraisal of the motivational significance of errors, was reliably smaller in the happy than in the neutral mood group. Complementing source localization analyses showed that this effect was explained by decreased activation within the posterior cingulate and insular cortices. These results were obtained in the absence of group differences regarding behavioral performance and tonic arousal. These findings suggest that happy mood likely decreases and changes the motivational significance of worse-than-expected events (Pe), while leaving their earlier automatic detection (ERN) unaltered. We discuss these new results in terms of dynamic changes in the complex interplay of performance monitoring with motivation