Patrick Manser , Eling D. de Bruin , Jean-Jacques Temprado , Louis Bherer , Fabian Herold
{"title":"Beyond “just” fun: The role of exergames in advancing health promotion and disease prevention","authors":"Patrick Manser , Eling D. de Bruin , Jean-Jacques Temprado , Louis Bherer , Fabian Herold","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106260","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106260","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Applying innovations in digital health technologies, such as exergames, has been recommended by official bodies like the World Health Organization for health promotion and disease prevention across various populations and age groups. Given a key advantage of interactive and gamified digital health technologies is promoting user engagement, a substantial proportion of studies have implemented recreational exergames - games primarily designed to make specific activities more fun and entertaining. In this article, we aim to move beyond the benefits of \"just\" providing a more engaging environment for physical and motor-cognitive activities/exercises by shedding light on serious exergame features that enhance the ecological validity of exercises and offer unique advantages for tailoring interventions beyond conventional approaches. To this end, we review the roles and mechanisms of specific exergame features in supporting adherence to relevant behavior change, neuroscience, and exercise science principles, and integrate our findings into the ‘Beyond “Just” Fun of Exergames Framework’. This framework (i) implements a definition and classification approach to harmonize and provide more nuanced terminology for specific application scenarios of exergame technologies, and (ii) delineates best practices for the theoretically grounded selection and implementation of exergame features in health promotion and primary through tertiary disease prevention (including rehabilitation). By introducing this framework, we aim to support a paradigm shift by guiding game designers, researchers, and exercise and therapy practitioners from entertainment-centered recreational solutions towards serious exergames that are purposefully designed with adequate theoretical underpinnings, thereby unlocking the full potential of exergame-enhanced interventions for individuals and public health needs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 106260"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Laura Priego-González, Paula Perez Pardo, Frank Redegeld
{"title":"The role of mast cells in Autism Spectrum Disorder","authors":"Laura Priego-González, Paula Perez Pardo, Frank Redegeld","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106263","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106263","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) comprises a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by alterations in communication, repetitive behaviors and impaired socialization. The precise etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear, and there is currently no effective treatment for this condition. Emerging research highlights the role of immune dysregulation in ASD pathophysiology. Mast cells (MCs) are immune cells traditionally associated with allergic diseases but also play a crucial role in other inflammatory and immune processes. Increased MC activity may be linked to the development of ASD in certain patients. This review explores the potential mechanisms involving MCs in ASD, including neuroinflammation, autoimmunity, and disruptions in the gut-brain axis. Evidence suggests that MC mediators such as histamine, serotonin, and cytokines influence neuroinflammatory pathways that are altered in ASD, and MCs can interact with other immune and neuronal cells contributing to ASD symptoms. Autoimmunity is frequently present in both ASD patients and their mothers, and MCs could originate these processes by modulation of lymphocyte populations or secretion of self-antigens. Finally, MC involvement in gut permeability and microbiota dysbiosis underscores their role in gastrointestinal comorbidities frequent in ASD. Targeting MC activity through pharmacological agents offers promising therapeutic avenues. This comprehensive review sheds light on immune-mediated processes underlying ASD and discusses potential future strategies for intervention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 106263"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144297844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
G. Auer , L. Pruewasser , C. Scharinger , C. Laczkovics , E. Zesch , P. Plener , A. Antal , J. Koenig , L. Konicar
{"title":"Neurotherapy for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders: a state-of-the-art umbrella review of selected clinical methodologies","authors":"G. Auer , L. Pruewasser , C. Scharinger , C. Laczkovics , E. Zesch , P. Plener , A. Antal , J. Koenig , L. Konicar","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106258","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106258","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This umbrella review focuses on the clinical application of four neurotherapeutic treatment approaches, namely (1) Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), (2) Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), (3) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and (4) Neurofeedback (NF) in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Following theoretical descriptions, explaining the mechanisms of action and general modes of operation of each neurotherapy, the scientific evidence for its clinical application, with a focus on children and adolescents is reviewed, summarized and discussed. In a third step, an overview of clinical protocols and treatment procedures in relation to the different clinical populations is provided, followed by a section summarising safety and tolerability assessments for each neurotherapy. Finally, a conclusion is drawn for each neurotherapeutic method, highlighting possible shortcomings and drawbacks, but also discussing future directions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 106258"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144307128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of age differences in neural representations for memory performance","authors":"Claire Pauley , Myriam C. Sander","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106262","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106262","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The specificity with which information is reflected in neural activity is reduced in older adults compared with younger adults, a phenomenon termed ‘age-related neural dedifferentiation’. Accumulating evidence indicates the significant role of neural dedifferentiation in episodic memory decline. Based on recent studies implementing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and pattern similarity analyses (PSA) in order to investigate neural dedifferentiation in humans, we conclude that dedifferentiation is a ubiquitous phenomenon in the aging brain. First, age influences neural representations throughout memory processes, however, dedifferentiation during encoding seems particularly relevant for memory performance. Second, dedifferentiation spans multiple levels of neural representation: items, categories, and functional networks. Finally, while most work features the interindividual relationship of neural distinctiveness and memory performance, here, we emphasize how age might influence the <em>intra</em>individual distinctiveness-memory relationship.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 106262"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Signaling molecules and callous-unemotional traits in young people: A systematic review and methodological and future considerations","authors":"Natalie Goulter , Silvana Kaouar , Eva R. Kimonis","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106259","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106259","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Burgeoning evidence supports multiple developmental pathways to antisocial behavior. However, a comprehensive mechanistic understanding is lacking, and insights into the development of different presentations might be gained by investigating concentration levels of signaling molecules from physiological systems related to socioaffective functioning and adverse experiences. Thus, we aimed to systematically review correlates of all signaling molecules currently examined in the literature in relation to callous-unemotional (CU) traits (and the affective dimension of psychopathy) in samples of young people (≤18 years old). Given established variability in physiological activity across developmental stage and biological sex, we further aimed to assess evidence of developmental stages and sex differences. Finally, we aimed to analyze methodologies applied to test molecule levels. In total, we identified 32 articles for summary, across which seven distinct molecules were identified: cortisol, testosterone, oxytocin, dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol, α-amylase, and C-reactive protein. Overall, findings were mixed including for cortisol that was the most widely studied molecule. Studies used a wide variety of methodological approaches, with scant research on inflammatory markers. We discuss how two key factors might contribute to the lack of clarity: diverse conceptualization of adversity (e.g., acute <em>v</em>. chronic, proximate <em>v</em>. distal) across studies, and limited consideration of primary and secondary variants of CU/psychopathic traits that are expected to show opposing physiological patterns. Best methodological practices are offered, and implications of findings for informing CU theory, future research, and intervention efforts are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 106259"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bryan W Jenkins, Catherine F Moore, Lauren L Jantzie, Elise M Weerts
{"title":"Corrigendum to \"Prenatal cannabinoid exposure and the developing brain: Evidence of lasting consequences in preclinical rodent models\" [Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 175 (2025), 1-26. NBR_106207 [250531-006231].","authors":"Bryan W Jenkins, Catherine F Moore, Lauren L Jantzie, Elise M Weerts","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106246","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"106246"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144295465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"High rates of Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in the autistic population: True co-occurrence or a product of overlapping traits?","authors":"Lydia J. Hickman , Jennifer L. Cook","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Older autistic adult literature is sparse, and little is known about the aging autistic population. However, recent evidence suggests an increased prevalence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis in the autistic population. It may initially be assumed that autistic individuals are genetically more likely to develop PD, but extant genetic studies do not provide strong evidence for a link between the two conditions. An underappreciated body of evidence may shed light upon why autistic individuals score highly on PD diagnostic criteria: movement differences in autism have been likened to PD. Given that PD diagnosis is primarily movement-based, if it is the case that autistic movement appears parkinsonian, this may facilitate autistic individuals meeting diagnostic criteria for PD. If validated, this theory could have serious implications for the specificity of the PD diagnostic process. Here, we set out the evidence for high rates of PD diagnosis and parkinsonism in the autistic population and subsequently question why this might be the case, making reference to genetic and behavioural similarities between autism and PD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 106261"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Madelon M.E. Riem , Marinus H. van IJzendoorn , Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg
{"title":"Oxytocin in clinical settings: A three-stage roadmap for responsible translation","authors":"Madelon M.E. Riem , Marinus H. van IJzendoorn , Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106257","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 106257"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vanessa Martins , Mark S. Allen , Uirassu Borges , Pauline Laterza , Marko Jackovič , Emma Mosley , Florian Javelle , Sylvain Laborde
{"title":"Effects of light exposure on vagally-mediated heart rate variability: A systematic review","authors":"Vanessa Martins , Mark S. Allen , Uirassu Borges , Pauline Laterza , Marko Jackovič , Emma Mosley , Florian Javelle , Sylvain Laborde","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Light therapy is increasingly used to address disorders such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and seasonal affective disorder. Autonomic dysfunction, common in these conditions, may be modulated by light through its effects on cardiac vagal activity, indexed by vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV).</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This systematic review synthesized evidence on the effects of ocular exposure to visible light (illuminance and color) on vmHRV in healthy and clinical populations.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Following PRISMA guidelines, an electronic search of MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, Cochrane, and ProQuest was conducted in June 2024. Using the PICOS criteria, 24,673 records were screened, with 25 studies included. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All included studies were rated as high risk of bias. High-illuminance blue light was generally associated with reduced vmHRV, likely due to its arousal-promoting effects. Conversely, lower-illuminance warm-colored light (e.g., red or dim white light) showed potential to increase vmHRV, indicating a calming effect. However, findings were inconsistent due to methodological heterogeneity, including variability in populations, exposure protocols, and control conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>While ocular light exposure shows promise for modulating vmHRV, the high risk of bias and variability across studies limit clinical application. Future research should adopt standardized protocols, account for confounding variables, and explore long-term interventions to better evaluate light’s therapeutic potential for autonomic regulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 106241"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144276819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"My personal goodbye to all the NBR community.","authors":"Giovanni Laviola","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106256","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"106256"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144276820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}