Xin-Xin Yao, Hua-Liang Li, Shu Wang, Si-Yu Gu, Jian-Bin Hu, Wen-Hui Li, Ping-Lei Pan
{"title":"Brain functional network topology and connectivity in primary blepharospasm.","authors":"Xin-Xin Yao, Hua-Liang Li, Shu Wang, Si-Yu Gu, Jian-Bin Hu, Wen-Hui Li, Ping-Lei Pan","doi":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1654795","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2025.1654795","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The pathophysiology of primary blepharospasm (BSP) remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to characterize whole-brain functional network topology in treatment-naive BSP patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-nine treatment-naive BSP patients and 39 matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state fMRI. Graph theoretical analysis was applied to assess global and nodal network metrics. Network-Based Statistics (NBS) identified subnetworks with altered functional connectivity (FC). Correlations between network metrics and clinical variables [Jankovic Rating Scale (JRS), illness duration] were explored.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to HCs, BSP patients exhibited significantly lower local efficiency [<i>p</i> = 0.0002, false discovery rate (FDR) corrected], while global efficiency, characteristic path length, clustering coefficient, normalized clustering coefficient, normalized characteristic path length, or small-worldness were preserved (all <i>p</i> > 0.05, FDR corrected). Nodal analysis revealed decreased efficiency/degree in the bilateral thalamus and left supplementary motor area, and increased efficiency/degree in the bilateral precentral gyri, right postcentral gyrus, and left insula (all <i>p</i> < 0.05, FDR corrected). NBS identified subnetworks with altered FC across sensorimotor, limbic-subcortical, frontoparietal, and default mode networks, featuring both hyper- and hypo-connectivity (<i>p</i> < 0.05, NBS-corrected). Notably, left thalamic efficiency negatively correlated with illness duration (<i>r</i> = -0.481, <i>p</i> = 0.0019), and right precentral gyrus efficiency positively correlated with JRS total score (<i>r</i> = 0.395, <i>p</i> = 0.0129).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>BSP is characterized by complex functional network disruptions, including impaired local information processing, altered nodal importance in key motor and relay hubs, and widespread connectivity changes. These findings reinforce BSP as a network disorder. These network alterations may serve as objective markers for disease progression and could guide the development of targeted neuromodulation therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12649,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1654795"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12540509/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145354468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shabbir Chowdhury, Ahmed Munis Alanazi, Eyad Talal Attar
{"title":"Correction: Caffeine on the mind: EEG and cardiovascular signatures of cortical arousal revealed by wearable sensors and machine learning-a pilot study on a male group.","authors":"Shabbir Chowdhury, Ahmed Munis Alanazi, Eyad Talal Attar","doi":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1708544","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2025.1708544","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2025.1611293.].</p>","PeriodicalId":12649,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1708544"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12538293/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145344701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hai-Hua Sun, Hu-Cheng Yang, Xiao-Yi Liu, Feng-Mei Zhang, Shu Wang, Zhen-Yu Dai, Si-Yu Gu, Ping-Lei Pan
{"title":"Network-based mapping and neurotransmitter architecture of brain gray matter correlates of extraversion.","authors":"Hai-Hua Sun, Hu-Cheng Yang, Xiao-Yi Liu, Feng-Mei Zhang, Shu Wang, Zhen-Yu Dai, Si-Yu Gu, Ping-Lei Pan","doi":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1640639","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1640639","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To identify common functional brain networks underlying heterogeneous gray matter (GM) correlates of extraversion and to characterize the neurotransmitter receptor and transporter architecture associated with these networks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic literature search identified 13 voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies reporting GM correlates of extraversion in healthy individuals (<i>N</i> = 1,478). Functional connectivity network mapping (FCNM) approach using normative resting-state functional MRI data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP, <i>N</i> = 1,093) mapped divergent GM correlates extraversion onto common networks. Robustness was assessed via replication using an independent Southwest University Adult Lifespan Dataset (SALD, <i>N</i> = 329) and sensitivity analyses varying seed radii. Spatial relationships between the identified brain networks and the distribution of major neurotransmitter receptors/transporters were subsequently characterized using the JuSpace toolbox.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>FCNM analysis revealed that reported GM correlates of extraversion converge onto specific functional networks. Spatial overlap analysis showed the highest association with the frontoparietal network (FPN) (37.32%) and the default mode network (DMN) (32.99%). Furthermore, JuSpace analysis indicated that these extraversion-linked networks exhibited significant positive spatial correlations with 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (5HT2a; <i>p</i> = 0.021, <i>r</i> = 0.215), cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1; <i>p</i> = 0.005, <i>r</i> = 0.392), and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5; <i>p</i> = 0.01, <i>r</i> = 0.330), and negative correlations with the norepinephrine transporter (NAT; <i>p</i> = 0.018, <i>r</i> = -0.221) and serotonin transporter (SERT; <i>p</i> = 0.023, <i>r</i> = -0.201).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite regional heterogeneity in prior VBM studies, structural GM correlates of extraversion consistently map onto the DMN and FPN. This network-based approach reconciles previous inconsistencies and highlights the importance of these large-scale networks as a plausible functional substrate underlying structural variations associated with extraversion. These findings advance a systems-level understanding of the neural basis of this core personality dimension and suggest a distinct neurochemical architecture within these networks.</p>","PeriodicalId":12649,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1640639"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12531143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145329100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MariNieves Pardo-Rodriguez, Erik Bojorges-Valdez, Oscar Arias-Carrion, Oscar Yanez-Suarez
{"title":"Conscious breathing enhances bidirectional cortical-autonomic modulation: dynamics of EEG band power and heart rate variability.","authors":"MariNieves Pardo-Rodriguez, Erik Bojorges-Valdez, Oscar Arias-Carrion, Oscar Yanez-Suarez","doi":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1650475","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1650475","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The mechanisms by which conscious breathing influences brain-body signaling remain largely unexplored. Understanding how controlled breathing modulates neural and autonomic activity can offer insights into self-regulation and adaptive physiological control. This study investigates how conscious breathing affects cortical-autonomic communication by analyzing bidirectional interactions between EEG band power time series (BPts), heart rate variability (HRV), and breathing signals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were collected from fifteen healthy subjects during three experimental conditions: a spontaneous breathing state (Rest) and two controlled breathing tasks (CBT 1 and CBT 2). EEG recordings were analyzed to compute BPts across the δ, θ, α, β, and γ frequency bands, while HRV and breathing signals were derived from ECG data. Cross-spectrum analysis and Granger causality tests were performed between HRV and BPts. To further investigate directional interactions, Granger-causal relationships were explored between components of the BPts extracted using empirical mode decomposition and the HRV and breathing signals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Bidirectional Granger-causal relationships were found between neural and autonomic systems, emphasizing the dynamic interaction between the brain and body. Specific BPts components mediated neural-autonomic communication, with one component consistently aligning with the frequency of conscious breathing (~0.05 Hz) during the CBTs. Cross-spectral peaks at this frequency and its harmonics highlight the role of respiratory entrainment in optimizing neuro-autonomic synchronization. Frequency-specific mechanisms observed in both fast and slow components reflect the complex regulation of autonomic functions through cortical modulation. The most prominent causal effects were observed in the γ band, suggesting its pivotal role in dynamic autonomic regulation, potentially acting as a communication pathway between the brain and body.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Our results demonstrate that conscious breathing enhances bidirectional cortical-autonomic modulation through frequency-specific dynamic neural mechanisms. These findings support a closed-loop model of physiological regulation driven by neural-respiratory entrainment and suggest that respiration can serve as a top-down mechanism for autonomic control. By clarifying how conscious breathing shapes brain-body dynamics, this work lays the foundation for research on neural self-regulation and supports the development of non-pharmacological interventions for improving mental and physiological health.</p>","PeriodicalId":12649,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1650475"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12515808/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145291941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jared B Smith, Sean S Hong, Damian J Murphy, Shrivaishnavi Chandrasekar, Evelynne Dangcil, Jacqueline Nacipucha, Aaron Tucker, Nicolas L Carayannopoulos, Sofia Carayannopoulos, Eran Peci, Matthew Y Kiel, Nikhil Suresh, Maureen Guirguis, Umut A Utku, Nihaad Paraouty, Jennifer D Gay, P Ashley Wackym, Justin D Yao, Todd M Mowery
{"title":"Formation of an auditory sensory representation in posterior striatum emerges during a brief temporal window of associative learning in normal and hearing-impaired gerbils.","authors":"Jared B Smith, Sean S Hong, Damian J Murphy, Shrivaishnavi Chandrasekar, Evelynne Dangcil, Jacqueline Nacipucha, Aaron Tucker, Nicolas L Carayannopoulos, Sofia Carayannopoulos, Eran Peci, Matthew Y Kiel, Nikhil Suresh, Maureen Guirguis, Umut A Utku, Nihaad Paraouty, Jennifer D Gay, P Ashley Wackym, Justin D Yao, Todd M Mowery","doi":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1642595","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1642595","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The posterior tail of the striatum receives dense inputs from sensory regions of cortex and thalamus, as well as midbrain dopaminergic innervation, providing a neural substrate for associative sensory learning. Previously, we have demonstrated that developmental hearing loss is associated with aberrant physiological states in striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Here we directly investigated auditory associative learning impairments in the striatum of adult Mongolian gerbils that underwent transient developmental hearing loss or sham hearing loss during the critical period of auditory development. We used electrophysiology to reveal significant changes to neuronal population responses <i>in vivo</i> and intrinsic and synaptic properties to medium spiny neurons <i>in vitro</i> as animals learned an appetitive \"Go/No-Go\" auditory discrimination task. For <i>in vivo</i> experiments a 64-channel electrode was implanted in the auditory region of the posterior tail of the striatum and neuronal recordings were carried out as animals learned the task. For <i>in vitro</i> experiments, corticostriatal slice preparations were made from animals on each day of training.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In naïve animals from both groups there was limited to no phase locking to either auditory stimulus <i>in vivo</i>, and long term depression resulted from theta burst stimulation <i>in vitro</i>. Furthermore, intrinsic and synaptic properties in normal hearing animals were unaffected; however, the hearing loss group continued to show lowered synaptic inhibition, synaptic hyperexcitation, and suppressed intrinsic excitability in the hearing loss group. Starting around day 3-4 in both groups, the emergence of striatal medium spiny neuron phase locking to the auditory conditioning stimuli was observed <i>in vivo</i>. This occurred contemporaneous to an increased probability of theta burst induced LTP during MSN whole cell recording <i>in vitro</i>, and acquisition of the task as the correct rejection response significantly increased in the behaving animals. During the acquisition phase MSNs in the normal hearing group showed a significant decrease in synaptic inhibition and increase in synaptic excitation with no change to intrinsic excitability, while the MSNs in the hearing loss group showed a significant increase in synaptic inhibition, reduction of synaptic hyper excitability, and compensatory changes to intrinsic excitability that supported normal action potential generation. In both groups, synaptic properties were resolved to similar level of E/I balance that could be part of a conserved learning state.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These changes to the intrinsic and synaptic properties likely support LTP induction <i>in vivo</i> and the strengthening of synapses between auditory inputs and MSNs that facilitate neuronal phase locking. These findings have significant implications for our ","PeriodicalId":12649,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1642595"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12515963/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145292007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A valuation based theory of learning's origin and development.","authors":"Vincent B Moneymaker","doi":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1649748","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1649748","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper proposes that learning in animals occurs thru sleep and is fundamentally driven by dynamic information valuation processes. These take the form of either pain and pleasure sensations or the more nuanced emotions that evolved from them. Acting as value identifiers, these sensations and emotions enable animals, from the simplest to the most complex, to mark valuable experiences for both retention and later recall. In this way, the paper argues that learning itself is made possible. The remainder of the paper explores the cognitive, neurological and behavioral implications of this framework, including several novel, testable hypotheses derived from it.</p>","PeriodicalId":12649,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1649748"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12507708/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145279969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"tDCS and neurofeedback in ADHD treatment.","authors":"Alexandra Bernadotte, Oksana Zinchenko","doi":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1444283","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1444283","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) stands as one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders, affecting millions worldwide. While traditional pharmacological interventions have been the cornerstone of ADHD treatment, emerging novel methods such as transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and neurofeedback offer promising avenues for addressing the multifaceted challenges of ADHD management. This review paper critically synthesizes the current literature on tDCS and neurofeedback techniques in ADHD treatment, elucidating their mechanisms of action, efficacy, and potential as adjunct or alternative therapeutic modalities. By exploring these innovative approaches, this review aims to deepen our understanding of neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD and pave the way for more personalized and effective interventions, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for individuals grappling with ADHD symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":12649,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1444283"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12488617/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shabbir Chowdhury, Ahmed Munis Alanazi, Eyad Talal Attar
{"title":"Caffeine on the mind: EEG and cardiovascular signatures of cortical arousal revealed by wearable sensors and machine learning-a pilot study on a male group.","authors":"Shabbir Chowdhury, Ahmed Munis Alanazi, Eyad Talal Attar","doi":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1611293","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1611293","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance, and its stimulant properties are well documented, but few investigations have examined its acute effects on brain and cardiovascular responses during cognitively demanding tasks under ecologically valid conditions.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study used wearable biosensors and machine learning analysis to evaluate the effects of moderate caffeine (162 mg) on heart rate variability (HRV), entropy, pulse transit time (PTT), blood pressure, and EEG activity. Twelve healthy male participants (20-30 years) completed a within-subjects protocol with pre-caffeine and post-caffeine sessions. EEG was recorded from seven central electrodes (C3, Cz, C4, CP1, CP2, CP5, CP6) using the EMOTIV EPOC Flex system, and heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were continuously monitored via the Huawei Watch D. Data analysis included power spectral density (PSD) estimation, FOOOF decomposition, and unsupervised k-means clustering.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Paired-sample t-tests assessed physiological and EEG changes. Although systolic and diastolic BP showed a non-significant upward trend, HR decreased significantly after caffeine intake (77 ± 5.3 bpm to 72 ± 2.5 bpm, <i>p</i> = 0.027). There was a significant increase in absolute alpha power suppression (from -5.1 ± 0.8 dB to -6.9 ± 0.9 dB, <i>p</i> = 0.04) and beta power enhancement (-4.7 ± 1.2 dB to -2.3 ± 1/1, <i>p</i> = 0.04). The surface data from FOOOF shows these are real oscillatory changes. Based on the changes in clustering prior and post-caffeine, a machine-learning change in the brain activity differentiated pre/post-caffeine states with unsupervised clustering. The study results show that moderate caffeine resulted in synchronized EEG and cardiovascular changes, indicating increased arousal and cortical activation that are detectable with wearable biosensors and classifiable with machine learning.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A fully integrated, non-invasive methodology based on a wearable device for real-time monitoring of cognitive states holds promise in the context of digital health, fatigue detection, and public health awareness efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":12649,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1611293"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12477153/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A functional systems view on neural tracking of natural speech.","authors":"Anton Rogachev, Olga Sysoeva","doi":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1658243","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1658243","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12649,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1658243"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12442733/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145085891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Randa Salalha, Micky Holzman, Federica Cruciani, Gil Ben David, Yam Amir, Firas Mawase, Kobi Rosenblum
{"title":"Licking microstructure behavior classifies a spectrum of emotional states in mice.","authors":"Randa Salalha, Micky Holzman, Federica Cruciani, Gil Ben David, Yam Amir, Firas Mawase, Kobi Rosenblum","doi":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1623084","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnsys.2025.1623084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Measuring precise emotional tagging for taste information, with or without the use of words, is challenging. While affective taste valence and salience are core components of emotional experiences, traditional behavioral assays for taste preference, which often rely on cumulative consumption, lack the resolution to distinguish between different affective states, such as innate versus learned aversion, which are known to be mediated by distinct neural circuits. To overcome this limitation, we developed an open-source system for high-resolution microstructural analysis of licking behavior in freely moving mice. Our approach integrates traditional lick burst analysis with a proprietary software pipeline that utilizes interlick interval (ILI) distributions and principal component analysis (PCA) to create a multidimensional behavioral profile of the animal. Using this system, we characterized the licking patterns associated with innate appetitive, aversive, and neutral tastants. While conventional burst analysis failed to differentiate between two palatable stimuli (water and saccharin), our multidimensional approach revealed distinct and quantifiable behavioral signatures for each. Critically, this approach successfully dissociates innate and learned aversive taste valences, a distinction that cannot be achieved using standard metrics. By providing the designs for our custom-built setup and analysis software under an open-source license, this study offers a comprehensive and accessible methodology for examining hedonic responses in future studies. This powerful toolkit enhances our understanding of sensory valence processing and provides a robust platform for future investigations of the neurobiology of ingestive behavior.</p>","PeriodicalId":12649,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1623084"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12380781/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144951117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}