Jessica Samogin, Sara Zago, Alessandro Tonin, Maura Seynaeve, Toon de Beukelaar, Camillo Porcaro, Daniele Marinazzo, Giorgio Arcara, Dante Mantini
{"title":"Resting-state brain dynamics: insights from oscillatory activity in brain networks.","authors":"Jessica Samogin, Sara Zago, Alessandro Tonin, Maura Seynaeve, Toon de Beukelaar, Camillo Porcaro, Daniele Marinazzo, Giorgio Arcara, Dante Mantini","doi":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0094","DOIUrl":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Our understanding of brain function has shifted from a focus on localized processing to an emphasis on dynamic interactions among distributed neuronal assemblies connected through structural networks. The resting state provides an ideal condition to study these processes, free from task-related influences. Early work highlighted the role of electrophysiological oscillations in facilitating long-range synchronization, while later neuroimaging studies revealed large-scale networks characterized by correlated hemodynamic activity. Multimodal approaches have linked these hemodynamic signals to their electrophysiological origins, offering insights into the neural basis of resting-state connectivity. Electrophysiological studies also show that synchronization patterns evolve rapidly, underscoring the brain's dynamic nature. These oscillatory changes in distributed networks are thought to support behavioral flexibility by modulating task representations in real time. Importantly, altered oscillatory dynamics are implicated in a range of neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders, and neuromodulatory interventions often aim to normalize oscillatory patterns. This review synthesizes evidence from electrophysiology and neuroimaging on resting-state brain dynamics, with a focus on synchronized oscillatory activity. We will examine how oscillations contribute to long-range neuronal communication, discuss models describing mechanisms underlying functional interactions between distant regions, and highlight the promise of multimodal approaches for clarifying the temporal structure of brain networks and their relevance to flexible cognition.</p>","PeriodicalId":49623,"journal":{"name":"Reviews in the Neurosciences","volume":"37 3","pages":"217-230"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147663471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prognostic factors in prolonged disorders of consciousness: a narrative review.","authors":"Yanhua Li, Liping Ning, Xiaohua Fan","doi":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0106","DOIUrl":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0106","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Elucidating the factors that influence the recovery of impaired consciousness in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDoC) is essential for guiding neurorehabilitation strategies and improving prognostic accuracy. This review synthesizes evidence from multiple studies that investigated prognostic factors in pDoC using various approaches, including clinical and demographic characteristics, biomarkers, behavioral assessments, pharmacological treatments, neuromodulation techniques, neuroimaging, and electroencephalography. Results indicate that several indicators show significant correlations with functional outcomes at follow-up intervals ranging from 2 months to several years. These findings assist in selecting appropriate assessment tools and support clinical decision-making for pDoC patients. However, limitations such as small sample sizes, absence of control groups, and heterogeneity in follow-up durations were noted across studies. The development of large-scale, multimodal prognostic models is warranted to enhance clinical applicability and predictive power.</p>","PeriodicalId":49623,"journal":{"name":"Reviews in the Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"127-140"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145193776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yanxue Li, Hongjian Gao, Lan Lin, Yutong Wu, Xinyu Zhu
{"title":"UK Biobank-centric advances in brain age prediction: a comprehensive review.","authors":"Yanxue Li, Hongjian Gao, Lan Lin, Yutong Wu, Xinyu Zhu","doi":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0055","DOIUrl":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the accelerating global population aging, establishing effective brain health assessment systems has emerged as a critical challenge in public health. Neuroimaging-based brain age prediction, serving as a potential biomarker for evaluating individual brain aging, has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in recent years. However, the accuracy of current brain age prediction models remains substantially dependent on the quality and representativeness of their training datasets. Consequently, constructing larger-scale, population-representative, and high-quality datasets is essential for enhancing the reliability of brain age prediction. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 70 peer-reviewed studies (2014-2024) that utilized the UK Biobank (UKB) for brain age prediction, focusing on paradigm-shifting advancements in machine learning and deep learning algorithms. We comprehensively analyze influential factors associated with brain age and their clinical implications, while critically evaluating the unique advantages and inherent limitations of the UKB dataset in this research domain. Furthermore, this work proposes future research directions to address existing methodological gaps and enhance clinical applicability. This study systematically elucidates the advancements in brain age prediction research based on the UKB dataset, aiming to promote deeper exploration in this field and provide theoretical foundations and practical guidance for the precise diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the formulation of individualized intervention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":49623,"journal":{"name":"Reviews in the Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"19-42"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prefrontal cortex cytosolic and synaptosome proteome reveal molecular signatures of resilience to chronic social isolation stress in rats.","authors":"Dragana Filipović, Christoph W Turck","doi":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0081","DOIUrl":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0081","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic social isolation stress (CSIS) is a well-established preclinical model for studying stress-induced neurobiological changes and their effects on behavior and brain function in depression. The prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region essential for emotional regulation, cognitive control, and social interactions, is particularly susceptible to stress. While CSIS exposure triggers molecular and behavioral changes characteristic of depression-like behavior, a subset of animals displays a resilient phenotype, maintaining normal neurobiological and behavioral function despite experiencing adverse conditions. Understanding the molecular differences between resilient and susceptible phenotypes is crucial for identifying biomarkers and developing novel therapeutic targets for depression. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics, combined with bioinformatics approaches, provides a powerful tool for exploring these complex cellular processes. This review focuses on proteomic changes in cytosolic and synaptosome-enriched fractions of the PFC in adult male rats following CSIS exposure, with particular emphasis on differences between resilient and susceptible animals. We summarize findings of differential protein expression across multiple biological systems, including energy metabolism, cytoskeletal organization, cellular stress defense mechanisms, neurotransmitter regulation, and synaptic function. Additionally, we present protein predictors of resilience to CSIS identified through machine learning-based analyses, highlighting potential pathways for preventing and mitigating depression-like outcomes following CSIS.</p>","PeriodicalId":49623,"journal":{"name":"Reviews in the Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"113-125"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145139217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mechanisms and parameters of photobiomodulation for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders: whether and how to apply?","authors":"Qi Cao, Zhongqi Liu, Hongxiang Kang, Lifeng Wang","doi":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0073","DOIUrl":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders are among the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide, with current treatment modalities including traditional therapies, psychological and supportive interventions, and emerging therapeutic approaches. Photobiomodulation (PBM), a neuromodulatory technique using lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), has emerged as a promising intervention for enhancing brain function by stimulating neural activity, thereby protecting brain tissue and restoring function. Despite its widespread application, the precise mechanisms underlying the selection of critical parameters and their associated therapeutic effects remain incompletely understood. This systematic review synthesizes data from multiples studies over the past decade, investigating the effects of PBM on neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and healthy subjects. Emerging evidence suggests that the therapeutic mechanisms of PBM may involve enhanced energy metabolism, increased cerebral blood flow (CBF), modulation of oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory effects, neuroprotection and regeneration, enhanced synaptic plasticity, and regulation of resting-state brain networks. Regarding parameter selection, wavelength has emerged as a critical factor influencing penetration depth and the specific chromophore responsible for photon absorption and therapeutic efficacy. This review focuses on the characteristics of diverse wavelengths, as well as the roles of multiple chromophores and associated signaling pathways. Different irradiation modalities, including both non-invasive and invasive approaches, are examined, alongside optimal treatment windows for power and fluence. Additionally, less frequently addressed aspects, such as spot area and power density patterns, are considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":49623,"journal":{"name":"Reviews in the Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"77-91"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145126213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Visual rating scales of brain atrophy in dementia: a systematic review of reliability and diagnostic accuracy.","authors":"Chiara Fornari, Giorgio G Fumagalli","doi":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0066","DOIUrl":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Visual rating scales of brain atrophy allow to quantify brain regional atrophy and could be used as a diagnostic marker for differentiating neurodegenerative diseases. This paper aims to review the visual rating scales for dementia, focusing on their reliability, the correlation with volumetric imaging measures, and their predictive accuracy. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched in Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, and MEDLINE databases until November 4, 2024. Of the 441 articles extracted, we included in the review 28 papers. All the scales reached a fair to excellent level of inter and intra rater agreement. Furthermore, negative correlations were found between the rating in each scale and brain volumetric measures. Lastly, the discriminative abilities exhibited variability according to the scale and the population comparisons. Visual rating scales of atrophy provide a reliable method for distinguishing physiological aging from pathological conditions, and among neurodegenerative forms. For an accurate differential diagnosis, it is essential to employ scales with the highest diagnostic precision.</p>","PeriodicalId":49623,"journal":{"name":"Reviews in the Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Data fusion of medical imaging in neurological disorders.","authors":"Golrokh Mirzaei, Aaditya Gupta, Hojjat Adeli","doi":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0062","DOIUrl":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medical imaging plays a crucial role in the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of various medical conditions, with each modality offering unique and complementary insights into the body's structure and function. However, no single imaging technique can capture the full spectrum of necessary information. Data fusion has emerged as a powerful tool to integrate information from different perspectives, including multiple modalities, views, temporal sequences, and spatial scales. By combining data, fusion techniques provide a more comprehensive understanding, significantly enhancing the precision and reliability of clinical analyses. This paper presents an overview of data fusion approaches - covering multi-view, multi-modal, and multi-scale strategies - across imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, PET, SPECT, EEG, and MEG, with a particular emphasis on applications in neurological disorders. Furthermore, we highlight the latest advancements in data fusion methods and key studies published since 2016, illustrating the progress and growing impact of this interdisciplinary field.</p>","PeriodicalId":49623,"journal":{"name":"Reviews in the Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"43-60"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145087958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammad Javad Yousefi, Ali Rezvanimehr, Kiarash Saleki, Aida Mehrani, Erfan Barootchi, Mohammad Ramezankhah, Amirreza Mazloomi, Abdolrahman S Nateri, Shayan Barootchi, Nima Rezaei
{"title":"Inflammation-related microRNA alterations in epilepsy: a systematic review of human and animal studies.","authors":"Mohammad Javad Yousefi, Ali Rezvanimehr, Kiarash Saleki, Aida Mehrani, Erfan Barootchi, Mohammad Ramezankhah, Amirreza Mazloomi, Abdolrahman S Nateri, Shayan Barootchi, Nima Rezaei","doi":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0041","DOIUrl":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects around 50 million people globally. While the underlying mechanism of epilepsy is not fully understood, emerging evidence demonstrates that inflammation is a key player in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. MicroRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, particularly through regulating oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation. In this systematic review, we analyzed and summarized data from the literature regarding the role of inflammatory miRNAs in the pathophysiology of epilepsy, through human and animal studies. Twenty one reports on humans and 44 reports on animals were included in the current analysis. Kainic acid (KA) and pilocarpine were broadly used approaches in inducing epilepsy in animal models. Among upregulated microRNAs, miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-132 were more emphasized for their inflammatory role involved in epilepsy. MiR-221, miR-222, and miR-29a were downregulated and were associated with anti-inflammatory effects. Notably, microRNAs demonstrated tissue-specific expression patterns in different samples, including brain cortex, hippocampus, and body fluids, which is considerable in further investigations in the pathophysiologic and diagnostic roles of inflammatory microRNAs in epilepsy. Furthermore, inflammatory miRNAs regulate critical signaling pathways like TLR4/NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, and IL-1β-mediated neuroinflammation. Conclusively, these findings highlight the possibility of using inflammatory miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of epilepsies.</p>","PeriodicalId":49623,"journal":{"name":"Reviews in the Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"901-923"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144776743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bingbing Wang, Shenghao Qian, Caizhen Shi, Li Dan, Tianyu Zhai, Can Zhang, Juan Shen, Yanling Yang, Lin Zhao
{"title":"From lactate to lactylation: potential targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.","authors":"Bingbing Wang, Shenghao Qian, Caizhen Shi, Li Dan, Tianyu Zhai, Can Zhang, Juan Shen, Yanling Yang, Lin Zhao","doi":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0068","DOIUrl":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Traditionally, lactate is regarded as a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism. With the deepening of related research, the roles of lactate in cellular energy metabolism, signal transduction, and microenvironment regulation have attracted increasing attention. Against this research background, the discovery of a novel post-translational modification - lactylation modification - has further expanded its biological functions. In the context of the increasingly aging global population, neurodegenerative diseases (ND) have become a significant challenge threatening global public health. Studies have reported that lactate metabolic disorders are common metabolic characteristics in the occurrence and development of ND. In summary, this article focuses on reviewing lactate and lactylation in the brain and their roles in ND. It comprehensively outlines the process from lactate to lactylation, highlights the close connection between brain lactate metabolism and ND, and explores potential molecular mechanisms underlying disease development - providing new perspectives for understanding ND pathogenesis. Additionally, this review systematically summarizes potential therapeutic strategies for ND based on regulating lactate metabolism, aiming to offer innovative approaches for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":49623,"journal":{"name":"Reviews in the Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"925-949"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144745825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Autism spectrum disorder genetics; a comprehensive review.","authors":"Farhad Mashayekhi, Zivar Salehi","doi":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0040","DOIUrl":"10.1515/revneuro-2025-0040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that is defined by difficulties in social interactions, communication challenges, and repetitive behaviors. ASD is a common condition, with a significant rise in the number of diagnosed children observed in recent decades. As of 2021, it is estimated that 1 in 44 children in the USA is affected by ASD. The disorder shows a notably higher prevalence in boys compared to girls, with a ratio exceeding four to one. Several genetic changes have been linked to ASD. Various common gene variations are believed to influence the likelihood of developing the condition. Genetic factors are estimated to contribute to 40-80 % of the overall risk associated with ASD. The combined risk from genetic variations along with environmental influences - such as older parental age, birth complications, and various unknown factors - determines an individual's likelihood of developing this intricate condition. Many of the genes associated with ASD play a role in processes related to brain development. The proteins encoded by these genes impact various elements of brain development, including the proliferation, growth, and organization of neurons and synaptogenesis. Some genes control the number of neurons produced, while others are essential for the development and functioning of synapses. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between genetic variants and the risk of ASD. In this article, we discuss the functions of key genes associated with synapse formation and environmental factors including valproic acid and immunological perturbation with the development of ASD.</p>","PeriodicalId":49623,"journal":{"name":"Reviews in the Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"881-900"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144700148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}