Designing computer-based rewards with and for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Intellectual Disability Computers in Human Behavior

<p>The acupuncture induced increased functional connectivity for the AD patients (t = 1.61, p = 0.056). There was no significant difference for healthy controls (t = 0.403,p = 0.345).</p

In extreme conditions, stay in the zone

<p>The left thalamus, MFG and insula showed increased connectivity to right hippocampus in controls after acupuncture. Left in picture is left in the brain. The color scale represents t values.</p

Location of acupoints used in the experiment.

<p>The left acupoint represent Taichong, which is located in the dorsal foot, the first and second metatarsal cavity before integration. The right acupoint represent Hegu, which is located in the dorsal hand, between the first and second metacarpal and the midpoint of the second metacarpal radial side.</p

Brain regions showing decreased connectivity to right hippocampus in AD group comparing to control group.

<p>Left in picture is left in the brain. The color scale represents t values. Warm color represents decreased connectivity.</p

Acupuncture Modulates Resting State Hippocampal Functional Connectivity in Alzheimer Disease

<div><p>Our objective is to clarify the effects of acupuncture on hippocampal connectivity in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Twenty-eight right-handed subjects (14 AD patients and 14 healthy elders) participated in this study. Clinical and neuropsychological examinations were performed on all subjects. MRI was performed using a SIEMENS verio 3-Tesla scanner. The fMRI study used a single block experimental design. We first acquired baseline resting state data during the initial 3 minutes and then performed acupuncture stimulation on the Tai chong and He gu acupoints for 3 minutes. Last, we acquired fMRI data for another 10 minutes after the needle was withdrawn. The preprocessing and data analysis were performed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM5) software. Two-sample t-tests were performed using data from the two groups in different states. We found that during the resting state, several frontal and temporal regions showed decreased hippocampal connectivity in AD patients relative to control subjects. During the resting state following acupuncture, AD patients showed increased connectivity in most of these hippocampus related regions compared to the first resting state. In conclusion, we investigated the effect of acupuncture on AD patients by combing fMRI and traditional acupuncture. Our fMRI study confirmed that acupuncture at Tai chong and He gu can enhance the hippocampal connectivity in AD patients.</p></div

Characteristics of the AD patients and Normal controls.

<p>MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; Plus-minus values are means ± S.D. AVLT, Auditory verbal learning test; immediate, immediate recall of learning verbal; delayed; delayed recall of learning verbal; recognition, recognition of learning verbal; CDR, clinical dementia rate. *The <i>P</i> values were obtained by one-way analysis of variance tests.</p

Brain regions showing decreased connectivity to left hippocampus in AD group comparing to control group.

<p>Left in picture is left in the brain. The color scale represents t values. Warm color represents decreased connectivity.</p

Regions showing decreased and increased hippocampal connectivity in AD subjects during resting state.

<p><i>P</i><0.01, uncorrected, extent threshold = 10. BA Broadman area. MNI, Montreal Neurological Institute; x, y, z, coordinates of primary peak locations in the MNI space. T value represents differences of hippocampal connectivity in AD and normal controls. MPFC, medial prefrontal cortex; MTG, middle temporal gyrus; ITG, inferior temporal gyrus; STG, superior temporal gyrus.</p

Regions showing decreased and increased hippocampal connectivity in AD subjects after acupuncture comparing to before acupuncture.

<p><i>P</i><0.01 uncorrected, extent threshold = 20. BA, Broadman area. MNI, Montreal Neurological Institute; x, y, z, coordinates of primary peak locations in the MNI space. T value represents differences of hippocampal connectivity in AD and normal controls. MFG, middle frontal gyrus.</p

Demographic characteristics of the three groups of participants including NC, aMCI-s and aMCI-m.

<p>Demographic characteristics of the three groups of participants including NC, aMCI-s and aMCI-m.</p