Frontiers in Human Neuroscience最新文献

{"title":"Social engagement, pleasure, and memory in musical reminiscence workshops for individuals with Alzheimer's disease.","authors":"Mikael Genguelou, Hervé Platel, Cécile Bourgeois, Marie Gambonnet, Sophie Bayard","doi":"10.3389/fnhum.2026.1803210","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1803210","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Social bonding is essential in Alzheimer's Disease (AD), as social withdrawal reduces quality of life and can worsen Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia. Music therapy offer a promising approach. This study examines the effects on social engagement in AD and explores links between verbal interaction, memory, and emotion.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nineteen voluntary residents with moderate to severe AD from four nursing homes participated. Nine musical reminiscence workshops were conducted. A single-group intervention study was conducted, with assessments at baseline, three points during the intervention, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Emotions were assessed using the Observed Emotion Rating Scale. Social engagement was measured via the social interaction domain of the Alzheimer's Disease-Related Quality of Life scale. Episodic memory was evaluated with the simplified Tempau Test and an observational grid. Reminiscences and verbal interactions during workshops were counted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Verbal interactions and memory episodicity increased across workshops. Pleasure correlated positively with interaction frequency. Daily social engagement also improved after the intervention.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Musical reminiscence workshops enhance autobiographical memory and foster social engagement. Pleasure appears to be associated with social interactions. Music interventions can improve the social quality of life in people living with Alzheimer's disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":12536,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Human Neuroscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"1803210"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143991/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"fNIRS-Guided neuronavigated rTMS augments naming recovery in subacute post-stroke aphasia: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Haozheng Li, Dongxiang Fang, Yihao Chen, Shuqi Xu, Ying Wang, Wenwen Wei, Ruofan Zhao, Yixian Lai, Yi Wu, Qing Yang, Ruiping Hu","doi":"10.3389/fnhum.2026.1810169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1810169","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Selecting an optimal stimulation target is a persistent barrier to maximizing the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for subacute post-stroke aphasia. This trial evaluated an individualized, fNIRS-based targeting strategy derived from task-evoked activation during picture naming.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. Patients with first-ever left-hemispheric stroke and subacute aphasia (1-6 months post-onset; 35-80 years) were recruited at Huashan Hospital (2021-2023) and randomized 1:1 to receive fNIRS-guided active rTMS or fNIRS-guided sham stimulation, in addition to 3 weeks of intensive speech-language therapy. Individual targets were defined as the fNIRS channel showing the strongest picture-naming task activation and were delivered under neuronavigation. Active stimulation used 10 Hz, 80% resting motor threshold, 2,000 pulses per session, for 15 sessions (3 weeks); sham used an identical schedule with a sham configuration. Primary/secondary outcomes included the Chinese Boston Naming Test (BNT), WAB-R indices, picture-naming behavioral performance, and task/resting-state fNIRS measures.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-eight participants were enrolled and 27 completed the protocol (active rTMS: <i>n</i> = 14; sham: <i>n</i> = 13). Language performance improved over time in both groups; however, active rTMS produced significantly larger gains in confrontation naming on the BNT (Time × Group: <i>F</i> = 16.04, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and higher picture-naming accuracy (Time × Group: <i>F</i> = 20.10, <i>p</i> < 0.01), with an additional advantage on the WAB-R naming subscore (Time × Group: <i>F</i> = 4.44, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Neurophysiologically, task-based fNIRS indicated increased activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left Broca's area after active treatment, accompanied by strengthened resting-state connectivity between these regions; connectivity change was positively correlated with BNT improvement (<i>r</i> = 0.6405, <i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>fNIRS-guided rTMS protocol based on individualized, task-evoked activation mapping is a safe and effective approach for improving picture-naming performance in patients with subacute post-stroke aphasia. The intervention yields promising short-term therapeutic benefits and is associated with enhanced activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and Broca's area, as well as strengthened functional connectivity between these language-related regions.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=61768, Unique identifier: ChiCTR2000038515.</p>","PeriodicalId":12536,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Human Neuroscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"1810169"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144099/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sensory acuity and cross-language phonetic similarity jointly predict second language vowel production accuracy.","authors":"Joanne Jingwen Li, Tara McAllister, Douglas M Shiller, Xing Tian, Maria I Grigos","doi":"10.3389/fnhum.2026.1744572","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1744572","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Research on second language (L2) speech perception and production has yielded mixed findings, suggesting that factors beyond perceptual ability influence L2 production outcomes. This study investigated predictors of inter-speaker variability in L2 vowel production, focusing on individual differences in auditory and somatosensory acuity. The roles of phonological awareness and trial-to-trial production variability were also examined.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty English-speaking adult late learners of Mandarin produced two Mandarin vowels: /u/ (phonetically similar to English /u/) and /y/ (a novel vowel for English speakers). Production accuracy and trial-to-trial variability were measured acoustically. Auditory acuity was assessed using speech identification and discrimination tasks. Somatosensory acuity was measured through a Phonetic Awareness Task (PAT) and a novel Tongue Placement Task (TPT). Linear mixed-effects models were used to identify predictors of production accuracy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Predictors of production accuracy differed by vowel. For the perceptually similar vowel /u/, lower production variability was the only significant predictor of higher accuracy. For the novel vowel /y/, higher somatosensory acuity (PAT) was the only significant predictor of accuracy. No predictors significantly accounted for production variability in either vowel.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings suggest that sensory acuity and L1-L2 phonetic similarity jointly constrain L2 speech learning. Specifically, somatosensory acuity supports the establishment of accurate articulatory targets for novel L2 sounds, while production variability reflects the stability of learners' phonetic category formation for perceptually similar L2 sounds.</p>","PeriodicalId":12536,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Human Neuroscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"1744572"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13147962/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of anti-parkinsonian medication on gait during internal and external rhythmic auditory cueing in PD.","authors":"Sidney T Baudendistel, Lauren E Tueth, Ryan P Duncan, Allison M Haussler, Liza Birov, Gammon M Earhart","doi":"10.3389/fnhum.2026.1808526","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1808526","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>External and internal auditory cueing strategies improve gait function, including velocity and stride length, in people with Parkinson disease (PD). Further, internal cueing can reduce gait variability, a measure associated with falls. In the present study, we asked whether the efficacy of external and internal rhythmic cues depends on dopaminergic status, i.e., OFF vs. ON medication. This question is relevant to the real-world use of cueing, as dopaminergic medication responsiveness fluctuates for individuals. We measured gait while participants with PD walked with an external cue (music playing aloud) and with an internal cue (mentally singing) in both OFF and ON medication states. We hypothesized both cues would improve gait regardless of medication status.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants (<i>n</i> = 36) walked at a preferred pace without cues (Uncued), while a song played aloud at 120% of each participant's uncued cadence (Music), and while singing the same song in their head (Mental) in the OFF state and again after taking their normal dose of anti-PD medication. Variables were collected using Opal Sensors. Two, 2 (ON, OFF) × 3 (Uncued, Music, Mental) repeated-measures multivariate ANOVAs were conducted: one for mean gait outcomes (cadence, velocity, stride length, double limb support) and one for their linear variability.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Medication improved spatial measures of gait but did not change cadence. Both Music and Mental singing increased velocity, stride length, and cadence. For measures of linear variability, Music trials had statistically higher variability than Mental trials. There was an interaction effect between medication and cueing condition for double limb support; in the OFF-medication state, Music had longer double support times than Uncued and Mental singing.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cueing strategies improved gait regardless of medication status, suggesting they may be useful throughout the day despite medication fluctuations. However, internally-based mental singing cues produced greater benefits than external music cues, in both the ON and OFF state, for measures of gait variability. Further investigation of the efficacy of cues within and across anti-PD medication cycles would be helpful to understand their utility in the real world.</p>","PeriodicalId":12536,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Human Neuroscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"1808526"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144043/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Processing long-distance wh-dependency in the Kyengsang dialect of Korean: an ERP study.","authors":"Wonil Chung, Keonwoo Koo","doi":"10.3389/fnhum.2026.1774932","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1774932","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Kyengsang Dialect Korean (KDK) is a wh-in-situ language that morphologically distinguishes content (or wh-) and polar questions via sentence-final question particles (QPs). This study investigates how KDK comprehenders build dependencies between wh-indeterminates and QPs, and how they compute question-answer concord. Two experiments-such as acceptability judgments and event-related potentials (ERPs) - tested sensitivity to feature matching and locality constraints. In the acceptability task, speakers showed robust interactions between QP type and wh-licensing configuration, with additional degradation in island environments. These patterns indicate that dependency resolution is guided by morpho-syntactic agreement while remaining sensitive to structural constraints, even in the absence of overt wh-movement. ERP recordings revealed three dissociable signatures that map onto successive stages of dependency formation. First, a right anterior negativity (RAN) emerged for feature mismatch between a wh-indeterminate's [+WH] feature and a polar QP, consistent with the rapid detection of illicit licensing. Second, a left anterior negativity (LAN) indexed increased working-memory costs when the [+WH] feature had to be maintained or retrieved across an island boundary. Third, an extended anterior negativity (EXAN) reflected ongoing feature-match monitoring under question-answer discord. Together, the behavioral and neural results suggest that KDK speakers actively maintain and retrieve the [+WH] feature of an in-situ wh-indeterminate to establish syntactically licensed dependencies with matrix QPs, including configurations that challenge locality. Comparisons with Japanese and with wh-fronting languages (e.g., English/German) indicate that KDK engages similar incremental, feature-driven mechanisms for dependency resolution. The findings support a feature-based model in which the parser predicts and matches [+WH] with the appropriate QP at the earliest opportunity, providing neurocognitive evidence that wh-in-situ processing parallels filler-gap computation in wh-movement languages.</p>","PeriodicalId":12536,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Human Neuroscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"1774932"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143998/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dementia and cognitive decline in Black Brazilians: a narrative review.","authors":"Natália Rocha Tardelli, Georgia Garcia, Marcio Luiz Figueredo Balthazar","doi":"10.3389/fnhum.2026.1788136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1788136","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dementia prevalence is projected to rise most sharply in low-and middle-income countries, including Brazil. The Brazilian Black population (including individuals identified as Black and Brown) represents 56.5% of the population and is expected to comprise most older adults in the coming decades.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This narrative review aims to synthesize studies on dementia, cognitive decline, and cognitive aging among Black Brazilians, analyzing publication characteristics and key findings to identify knowledge gaps and propose directions for future research.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We searched PubMed, LILACS, and SciELO databases, and the SciSpace AI-powered tool. Eligible studies included those that: (a) examined the Brazilian Black population; and (b) provided descriptions or analyses of characteristics, clinical manifestations, risk factors, or responses to interventions related to cognitive decline, cognitive aging, and dementia. Publications that were not full-length articles were excluded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 18 papers (2000-2025), mostly cross-sectional, published in international journals. The median proportion of Black participants among samples was 39.5%. Seven studies were conducted in the state of São Paulo, and ten were carried out in the Southeast region of Brazil. A recurring sociodemographic feature in nine studies was the low educational attainment among Black participants. Twelve studies identified modifiable risk factors for dementia among black individuals, mainly related to socioeconomic disadvantages. Cognitive performance was assessed using various standardized instruments, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale. We did not find studies about dementia care or any clinical trials.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings indicate the underrepresentation of Black individuals in dementia research. Ensuring the inclusion of Black populations in research requires investment in recruiting Black professionals into research teams, conducting interventions, and developing partnerships within Black communities. Existing Brazilian evidence suggests socioeconomic factors exert greater influence on cognitive function than genetic factors, underscoring the need for public policies that address social, income, healthcare access, and educational inequities. Beyond social investments, local research should develop culturally appropriate cognitive assessment tools and culturally compatible protective activities and lifestyles among marginalized populations. Finally, culturally tailored strategies for person-centered dementia care and carers' support are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":12536,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Human Neuroscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"1788136"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143976/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The virtue of temperance: a neurobiological perspective.","authors":"Julia Palacios, Lauren Gordon, Erick Messias","doi":"10.3389/fnhum.2026.1674301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1674301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The virtue of temperance is a unique psychological characteristic that has been long regarded as a positive quality throughout many cultures. While it is colloquially recognized and appreciated, the neural underpinnings of temperance remain largely unexplored. In order to better understand the positive influence of this virtue, it would be useful to explore the following components of temperance: forgiveness, humility, prudence and emotional self-regulation. Our review outlines a theorized model connecting these components to specific neuroanatomical locations and overall psychological effects to highlight the areas of the brain associated with temperance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In reviewing the literature regarding the four components of temperance, a neurobiological model of temperance is proposed. Each component was analyzed independently, combining findings from various neuroimaging studies deemed relevant to the virtue of temperance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our neurobiological model for temperance highlights the intricate balance required between various reasoning areas of the brain and emotional centres. The reasoning areas of the brain involved with temperance include the following: dorsolateral prefrontal cortex located within the middle frontal gyrus, ventral/medial prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal lobule, supramarginal gyrus, temporoparietal junction, medial parietal cortex, and reduced activity of the posterior cingulate cortex. The emotional centers involved in temperance include the orbitofrontal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, dorsal/ventral cingulate regions, PFC-hippocampal-amygdala circuitry, paralimbic network and autonomic processes including the vagus nerve, sympathetic response and neuroendocrine systems. Namely, the vmPFC and dlPFC display significant overlap in relevant neurobiology and together represent all 4 components of temperance.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This review aims to open a scientific dialog about the virtue of temperance by defining positive psychological qualities and neurobiological activity of temperance in the human mind. Viewing temperance through the lens of neuroplasticity, is it suggested that the practice of temperance may alleviate symptoms across numerous mental disorders and even aid in disease prevention. Future work should utilize neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI/MRI and molecular transmission studies to examine each component more precisely and define areas of interaction between components. In doing so, the neural underpinnings of temperance proposed in this model can be refined to outline a dynamic pathway with targets for clinical intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":12536,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Human Neuroscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"1674301"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144145/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brain-computer interface: an update for the clinicians.","authors":"Agam Jain, Sreelakshmi Raveendran, Krishnan Padmakumari Sivaraman Nair, Subasree Ramakrishnan","doi":"10.3389/fnhum.2026.1777024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1777024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This narrative review critically examines the fundamental principles and clinical applications of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) in neuroscience and mental health. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and PEDro databases using pre-defined keywords, with inclusion restricted to clinical studies. The manuscript provides an evidence-based assessment of current indications, technological limitations, and emerging solutions, offering insights into both the opportunities and challenges for clinical integration. Clinical decision-making pathways are outlined to guide the adoption of BCI technologies in patient care. This article aims to increase awareness among clinicians and to equip them with the essential knowledge required as BCI systems advance toward mainstream clinical use.</p>","PeriodicalId":12536,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Human Neuroscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"1777024"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144110/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vagus nerve stimulation: anti-inflammatory effects in epilepsy.","authors":"Veronika Abzalova, Sholpan Kauynbekova, Gabit Makhambayev, Aleksandr Dmitriev, Berik Tuleubayev, Adil Koshkinbayev, Arsen Dauletov","doi":"10.3389/fnhum.2026.1797556","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1797556","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is an established standard of care for drug-resistant epilepsy; however, the biological mechanisms underlying its cumulative therapeutic effect remain incompletely understood. This study aims to evaluate the monitoring value of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration biomarkers to objectify the therapeutic response.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this prospective longitudinal study, we evaluated 40 pediatric patients (20 receiving active VNS therapy and 20 age-matched controls). Plasma levels of UCHL-1, HMGB1, and NSE were investigated as potential indicators of blood-brain barrier status, neuroinflammation, and metabolic stress, respectively. Measurements were performed at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. Clinical efficacy was defined by the reduction in seizure frequency.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The primary focus of the analysis was on the active VNS therapy group, where median seizure frequency decreased by 44.4% (<i>p</i> < 0.001) by month 12. For comparison, the clinical profile and biomarker levels in the control cohort did not change significantly throughout the year (all <i>p</i> > 0.05), confirming the specificity of neurostimulation effects. In the active group, biomarker profiling revealed a temporal dissociation in the biological response. UCH-L1 levels demonstrated a significant decrease by month 6 (<i>p</i> = 0.009), potentially reflecting an early functional stabilization of the blood-brain barrier. In contrast, HMGB1 concentrations showed a significant reduction only by month 12 (<i>p</i> < 0.001), which strongly correlated with clinical improvement (<i>r</i> = 0.63). Notably, NSE levels exhibited no significant longitudinal changes during the observation period.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>VNS efficacy appears to be associated with a complex, multi-phasic biological response. The temporal dynamics of peripheral biomarkers may reflect a potential early stabilization of the blood-brain barrier, followed by delayed systemic immunomodulation. While blood-based analysis precludes direct conclusions regarding central neuroinflammation, the delayed reduction of circulating inflammatory signals points to a systemic anti-inflammatory effect that likely contributes to the cumulative therapeutic benefits. Thus, dynamic assessment of these accessible neuroimmune proteins provides an objective systemic correlate of clinical improvement. This biomarker panel may serve as a valuable supportive tool for monitoring VNS therapeutic response and guiding personalized neuromodulation parameters.</p>","PeriodicalId":12536,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Human Neuroscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"1797556"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144033/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Threshold optimization in separating cortical and extracerebral hemodynamics using principal component analysis.","authors":"Wakana Kawai, Kazuki Hyodo, Yuki Yamamoto, Tatsuya Hayashi, Daisuke Yamaguchi, Aiko Ueno, Simone Cutini, Ippeita Dan","doi":"10.3389/fnhum.2026.1778201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1778201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>When trying to differentiate between hemodynamic cortical and extracerebral signals identified by devices used to detect cortical activity, statistical methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) are commonly employed as alternative approaches to using short separation measurements to reduce the influence of extracerebral hemodynamics. PCA requires a threshold value to separate cortical and extracerebral signals; however, existing methods often rely on fixed thresholds that fail to account for inter-individual variability and differences in experimental design, potentially leading to over- or under-correction. Rather than introducing a novel extracerebral hemodynamics removal method, the present study aims to optimize the use of existing methodologies. Specifically, we proposed a method to optimize the threshold that differentiates cortical from extracerebral hemodynamics in PCA-based analyses.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Each of the four analyses were applied to a dataset obtained from older participants performing a verbal n-back task: (1) no correction (NC), (2) short separation regression (SSR), (3) PCA with our proposed threshold optimization (PCA_opt), and (4) PCA with the individual maximum as threshold (PCA_max). Bayesian <i>t</i>-tests were then conducted to evaluate the equivalence between SSR and PCA_opt.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>NC displayed the strongest cortical activation, PCA_max the weakest. SSR and PCA_opt produced intermediate results, and Bayesian t-tests revealed that the BF₀₁ values for most of the channels were greater than 3.0, whereas no channels exhibited corresponding BF₁₀ values exceeding 3.0.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Optimizing the threshold for separating cortical and extracerebral hemodynamics is a practical and effective strategy when using PCA as an alternative to short-separation measurements. This approach enables appropriate correction even in the absence of short-separation channels.</p>","PeriodicalId":12536,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Human Neuroscience","volume":"20 ","pages":"1778201"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143948/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}