Brain Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Skin Lesions as Signs of Neuroenhancement in Sport.","authors":"Sorana-Cristiana Popescu, Roman Popescu, Vlad Voiculescu, Carolina Negrei","doi":"10.3390/brainsci15030315","DOIUrl":"10.3390/brainsci15030315","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Neuroenhancement in sports, through pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods, is a complex and highly debated topic with no definitive regulatory framework established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The hypothesis that dermatological changes could serve as observable biomarkers for neurodoping introduces a novel and promising approach to detecting and understanding the physiological impacts of cognitive enhancers in athletes. As neurodoping methods become increasingly sophisticated, developing objective, reliable, and non-invasive detection strategies is imperative. Utilizing dermatological signs as a diagnostic tool for internal neurophysiological changes could offer critical insights into the safety, fairness, and ethical considerations of cognitive enhancement in competitive sports. A systematic correlation between skin manifestations, the timeline of neurodoping practices, and the intensity of cognitive enhancement methods could provide healthcare professionals valuable tools for monitoring athletes' health and ensuring strict compliance with anti-doping regulations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Due to the limited body of research on this topic, a systematic review of the literature was conducted, spanning from 2010 to 31 December 2024, using databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. This study followed the 2020 PRISMA guidelines and included English-language articles published within the specified period, focusing on skin lesions as adverse reactions to pharmacological and non-pharmacological neuroenhancement methods. The research employed targeted keywords, including \"skin lesions AND rivastigmine\", \"skin lesions AND galantamine\", \"skin lesions AND donepezil\", \"skin lesions AND memantine\", and \"skin lesions AND transcranial direct electrical stimulation\". Given the scarcity of studies directly addressing neurodoping in sports, the search criteria were broadened to include skin reactions associated with cognitive enhancers and brain stimulation. Eighteen relevant articles were identified and analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The review identified rivastigmine patches as the most used pharmacological method for neuroenhancement, with pruritic (itchy) skin lesions as a frequent adverse effect. Donepezil was associated with fewer and primarily non-pruritic skin reactions. Among non-pharmacological methods, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was notably linked to skin burns, primarily due to inadequate electrode-skin contact, prolonged exposure, or excessive current intensity. These findings suggest that specific dermatological manifestations could serve as potential indicators of neurodoping practices in athletes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although specific neuroenhancement methods demonstrate distinctive dermatological side effects that might signal neurodoping, the current lack of robust clinical data involving athletes limits the ability to d","PeriodicalId":9095,"journal":{"name":"Brain Sciences","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940593/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727965","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 Markers of Resilience to Psychosis in High-Risk Individuals: A Systematic Review and Label-Based Meta-Analysis of Multimodal MRI Studies.","authors":"Guusje Collin, Joshua E Goldenberg, Xiao Chang, Zhenghan Qi, Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli, Wiepke Cahn, Jijun Wang, William S Stone, Matcheri S Keshavan, Martha E Shenton","doi":"10.3390/brainsci15030314","DOIUrl":"10.3390/brainsci15030314","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Most individuals who have a familial or clinical risk of developing psychosis remain free from psychopathology. Identifying neural markers of resilience in these at-risk individuals may help clarify underlying mechanisms and yield novel targets for early intervention. However, in contrast to studies on risk biomarkers, studies on neural markers of resilience to psychosis are scarce. The current study aimed to identify potential brain markers of resilience to psychosis. <b>Methods</b>: A systematic review of the literature yielded a total of 43 MRI studies that reported resilience-associated brain changes in individuals with an elevated risk for psychosis. Label-based meta-analysis was used to synthesize findings across MRI modalities. <b>Results</b>: Resilience-associated brain changes were significantly overreported in the default mode and language network, and among highly connected and central brain regions. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings suggest that the DMN and language-associated areas and central brain hubs may be hotspots for resilience-associated brain changes. These neural systems are thus of key interest as targets of inquiry and, possibly, intervention in at-risk populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":9095,"journal":{"name":"Brain Sciences","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939873/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728586","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":"Altered Hemispheric Asymmetry of Functional Hierarchy in Schizophrenia.","authors":"Yi Zhen, Hongwei Zheng, Yi Zheng, Zhiming Zheng, Yaqian Yang, Shaoting Tang","doi":"10.3390/brainsci15030313","DOIUrl":"10.3390/brainsci15030313","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by deficits in perception and advanced cognitive functions. Prior studies have reported abnormal lateralization in cortical morphology and functional connectivity in schizophrenia. However, it remains unclear whether schizophrenia affects hemispheric asymmetry in the hierarchical organization of functional connectome.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Here, we apply a gradient mapping framework to the hemispheric functional connectome to estimate the first three gradients, which characterize unimodal-to-transmodal, visual-to-somatomotor, and somatomotor/default mode-to-multiple demand hierarchy axes. We then assess between-group differences in intra- and inter-hemispheric asymmetries of these three functional gradients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We find that, compared to healthy controls, patients with schizophrenia exhibit significantly altered hemispheric asymmetry in functional gradient across multiple networks, including the dorsal attention, ventral attention, visual, and control networks. Region-level analyses further reveal that patients with schizophrenia show significantly abnormal hemispheric gradient asymmetries in several cortical regions in the dorsal prefrontal gyrus, medial superior frontal gyrus, and somatomotor areas. Lastly, we find that hemispheric asymmetries in functional gradients can differentiate between patients and healthy controls and predict the severity of positive symptoms in schizophrenia.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Collectively, these findings suggest that schizophrenia is associated with altered hemispheric asymmetry in functional hierarchy, providing novel perspectives for understanding the atypical brain lateralization in schizophrenia.</p>","PeriodicalId":9095,"journal":{"name":"Brain Sciences","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940334/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728581","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":"Olfactory Testing and Gray Matter Volume: A Combined Approach to Predict the Conversion to Alzheimer.","authors":"Claudia Casadio, Daniela Ballotta, Francesco Ricci, Vanessa Zanelli, Omar Carpentiero, Maria Giulia Corni, Elisa Bardi, Nicola Filippini, Fausta Lui, Paolo Frigio Nichelli, Maria Angela Molinari, Francesca Benuzzi","doi":"10.3390/brainsci15030310","DOIUrl":"10.3390/brainsci15030310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Olfactory decline is common in normal aging and frequent in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, it has been suggested as a marker for the Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) progression to AD. Although suggested, the relationship between olfactory deficits and cerebral atrophy in MCI conversion to AD is still debated. This study aims at investigating the olfaction-related morphological and behavioural alterations in MCI in order to understand whether they can predict the progression to AD. <b>Methods</b>: Twenty-seven MCI patients and thirty-five healthy controls (HCs) took part in the study, with follow-up showing conversion to AD in thirteen patients (converter-MCI, cMCI). The Burgarth Sniffin' Sticks Tests (threshold-TT, discrimination-DT, identification-IT) assessed the olfactory capacities. The Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) analysis investigated the atrophic patterns. <b>Results</b>: The Receiving Operating Characteristics analyses demonstrated that DT and IT could distinguish HC from MCI (DT Area Under Curve-AUC = 0.8; IT AUC = 0.8), as well as cMCI from sMCI (stable) patients (DT AUC = 0.7; IT AUC = 0.6), similarly to memory and executive functions tests. Olfactory performance positively correlated with memory tests in sMCI (all <i>rho</i>s ≥ 0.8, all <i>p</i>s < 0.01), whereas it positively correlated with executive functions in cMCI (all <i>rho</i>s ≥ 0.6, all <i>p</i>s < 0.05). VBM results revealed distinct atrophic patterns in cMCI, especially in the olfactory cortex, that were already present at the MCI diagnosis, before AD conversion. A larger volume of the olfactory cortex was associated with better memory and executive functions. <b>Conclusions</b>: Quantitative olfactory and morphological patterns represent non-invasive, predictive biomarkers of the MCI progression to AD; thus, their assessments at MCI onset allows earlier interventions for MCI patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":9095,"journal":{"name":"Brain Sciences","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940542/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728496","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":"Presence of Psychotic Spectrum Symptoms Before Age 12 in Schizophrenia Patients: A Retrospective Study on Clinical Implications for Early Detection and Intervention.","authors":"Pietro Carmellini, Alessandro Cuomo, Annarita Vignapiano, Francesco Monaco, Simone Pardossi, Bernardo Firenzuoli, Andrea Fagiolini","doi":"10.3390/brainsci15030311","DOIUrl":"10.3390/brainsci15030311","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder, with onset typically occurring in late adolescence or early adulthood. Early identification of psychotic symptoms, especially those occurring before age 12, has been linked to better long-term outcomes. This study aims to assess the presence of psychotic spectrum symptoms before the age of 12 in adult schizophrenia patients and explore their clinical implications for early detection and intervention. <b>Methods</b>: This retrospective, observational study included 170 adult patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, confirmed by the SCID-5. Patients were recruited from the University of Siena Medical Center and completed the modified lifetime version of the Psychotic Spectrum Self-Report (PSY-SR) questionnaire, which assessed the onset of specific psychotic symptoms before and after age 12. Symptom severity was evaluated using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). This study also examined the impact of the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) on symptom severity. <b>Results</b>: In our cohort, 21% of patients exhibited prodromal symptoms before age 12 (95% CI: 15-27%). Prodromal symptoms were linked to a 9.53-point increase in the BPRS scores (<i>p</i> = 0.0478) and a 0.50-point increase in the CGI scores (<i>p</i> = 0.0347). The age of symptom onset negatively correlated with the BPRS scores (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), with each year of delay resulting in a 1.33-point decrease. The DUP correlated significantly with both the BPRS (ρ = 0.97) and CGI scores (ρ = 0.94). The multivariate analysis revealed that a longer DUP was associated with significant increases in both scores: a 27.16-point increase in the BPRS (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) for a moderate DUP and a 67.51-point increase (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) for a severe DUP. The CGI scores increased by 1.11 points with a moderate DUP and 3.17 points with a severe DUP (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). However, the interaction between the DUP and prodromal symptoms at age 12 was not significant, indicating similar impacts of the DUP regardless of early symptom onset. <b>Conclusions</b>: The results support the critical importance of early detection and intervention in schizophrenia. Early psychotic spectrum symptoms, particularly those occurring before age 12, are significant predictors of later severity and functional impairment. This study underscores the value of screening tools like the PSY-SR for identifying prodromal symptoms and facilitating timely intervention. Our findings highlight the need for the early identification of psychotic symptoms, particularly in at-risk populations, to improve long-term outcomes. Intervening before the onset of full-blown psychosis may reduce the severity of schizophrenia and promote better clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9095,"journal":{"name":"Brain Sciences","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939880/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728473","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":"Differences in Gaze Behavior Between Male and Female Elite Handball Goalkeepers During Penalty Throws.","authors":"Wojciech Jedziniak, Krystian Panek, Piotr Lesiakowski, Beata Florkiewicz, Teresa Zwierko","doi":"10.3390/brainsci15030312","DOIUrl":"10.3390/brainsci15030312","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Recent research suggests that an athlete's gaze behavior plays a significant role in expert sport performance. However, there is a lack of studies investigating sex differences in gaze behavior during technical and tactical actions.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the eye movements of elite female and male handball goalkeepers during penalty throws.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In total, 40 handball goalkeepers participated in the study (female: <i>n</i> = 20; male: <i>n</i> = 20). Eye movements were recorded during a series of five penalty throws in real-time conditions. The number of fixations and dwell time, including quiet eye, for selected areas of interest were recorded using a mobile eye-tracking system.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant differences were found in quiet-eye duration between effective and ineffective goalkeeper interventions (females: mean difference (MD) = 92.26; <i>p</i> = 0.005; males: MD = 122.83; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Significant differences in gaze behavior between female and male handball goalkeepers were observed, specifically in the number of fixations and fixation duration on the selected areas of interest (AOIs). Male goalkeepers primarily observed the throwing upper arm AOI, the throwing forearm (MD = 15.522; <i>p</i> < 0.001), the throwing arm AOI (MD = 6.83; <i>p</i> < 0.001), and the ball (MD = 7.459; z = 3.47; <i>p</i> < 0.001), whereas female goalkeepers mainly observed the torso AOI (MD = 14.264; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and the head AOI (MD = 11.91; <i>p</i> < 0.001) of the throwing player.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results suggest that female goalkeepers' gaze behavior is based on a relatively constant observation of body areas to recall task-specific information from memory, whilst male goalkeepers mainly observe moving objects in spatio-temporal areas. From a practical perspective, these results can be used to develop perceptual training programs tailored to athletes' sex.</p>","PeriodicalId":9095,"journal":{"name":"Brain Sciences","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940369/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728418","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":"Neurobiological Relationships Between Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Mood Disorders.","authors":"Amanda Gollo Bertollo, Camila Ferreira Puntel, Brunna Varela da Silva, Marcio Martins, Margarete Dulce Bagatini, Zuleide Maria Ignácio","doi":"10.3390/brainsci15030307","DOIUrl":"10.3390/brainsci15030307","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of conditions that arise early in development and are characterized by deficits in personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning. These disorders frequently co-occur and include conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Mood disorders (MDs), such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, also pose significant global health challenges due to their high prevalence and substantial impact on quality of life. Emerging evidence highlights overlapping neurobiological mechanisms between NDDs and MDs, including shared genetic susceptibilities, neurotransmitter dysregulation (e.g., dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways), neuroinflammation, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. Environmental factors such as early-life adversity further exacerbate these vulnerabilities, contributing to the complexity of their clinical presentation and comorbidity. Functional neuroimaging studies reveal altered connectivity in brain regions critical for emotional regulation and executive function, such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, across these disorders. Despite these advances, integrative diagnostic frameworks and targeted therapeutic strategies remain underexplored, limiting effective intervention. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the shared neurobiological underpinnings of NDDs and MDs, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary research, including genetic, pharmacological, and psychological approaches, for unified diagnosis and treatment. Addressing these intersections can improve clinical outcomes and enhance the quality of life for individuals affected by these disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":9095,"journal":{"name":"Brain Sciences","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940368/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728461","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":"Current Applications of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing in Glioblastoma: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Edgar G Ordóñez-Rubiano, Nicolás Rincón-Arias, William J Shelton, Andres F Salazar, María Alejandra Sierra, Raphael Bertani, Diego F Gómez-Amarillo, Fernando Hakim, Matías Baldoncini, César Payán-Gómez, Alba Lucia Cómbita, Sandra C Ordonez-Rubiano, Rafael Parra-Medina","doi":"10.3390/brainsci15030309","DOIUrl":"10.3390/brainsci15030309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background and Objective:</b> The discovery of novel molecular biomarkers via next-generation sequencing technologies has revolutionized how glioblastomas (GBMs) are classified nowadays. This has resulted in more precise diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches to address this malignancy. The present work examines the applications of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in GBM, focusing on its potential to address tumor complexity and therapeutic resistance and improve patient outcomes. <b>Methods:</b> A scoping review of original studies published between 2009 and 2024 was conducted using the PUBMED and EMBASE databases. Studies in English or Spanish related to single-cell analysis and GBM were included. <b>Key Findings:</b> The database search yielded 453 publications. Themes related to scRNA-seq applied for the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and understanding of the cancer biology of GBM were used as criteria for article selection. Of the 24 studies that were included in the review, 11 focused on the tumor microenvironment and cell subpopulations in GBM samples, 5 investigated the use of sequencing to elucidate the GBM cancer biology, 3 examined disease prognosis using sequencing models, 3 applied translational research through scRNA-seq, and 2 addressed treatment-related problems in GBM elucidated by scRNA-seq. <b>Conclusions:</b> This scoping review explored the various clinical applications of scRNA-seq technologies in approaching GBM. The findings highlight the utility of this technology in unraveling the complex cellular and immune landscapes of GBM, paving the way for improved diagnosis and personalized treatments. This cutting-edge approach might strengthen treatment strategies against tumor progression and recurrence, setting the stage for multi-targeted interventions that could significantly improve outcomes for patients with aggressive, treatment-resistant GBMs.</p>","PeriodicalId":9095,"journal":{"name":"Brain Sciences","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940614/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728460","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":"Identifying Cardiovascular Risk by Nonlinear Heart Rate Dynamics Analysis: Translational Biomarker from Mice to Humans.","authors":"Torben Hager, Agorastos Agorastos, Sven Ove Ögren, Oliver Stiedl","doi":"10.3390/brainsci15030306","DOIUrl":"10.3390/brainsci15030306","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The beat-by-beat fluctuation of heart rate (HR) in its temporal sequence (HR dynamics) provides information on HR regulation by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and its dysregulation in pathological states. Commonly, linear analyses of HR and its variability (HRV) are used to draw conclusions about pathological states despite clear statistical and translational limitations.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The main aim of this study was to compare linear and nonlinear HR measures, including detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), based on ECG recordings by radiotelemetry in C57BL/6N mice to identify pathological HR dynamics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We investigated different behavioral and a wide range of pharmacological interventions which alter ANS regulation through various peripheral and/or central mechanisms including receptors implicated in psychiatric disorders. This spectrum of interventions served as a reference system for comparison of linear and nonlinear HR measures to identify pathological states.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Physiological HR dynamics constitute a self-similar, scale-invariant, fractal process with persistent intrinsic long-range correlations resulting in physiological DFA scaling coefficients of α~1. Strongly altered DFA scaling coefficients (α ≠ 1) indicate pathological states of HR dynamics as elicited by (1) parasympathetic blockade, (2) parasympathetic overactivation and (3) sympathetic overactivation but not inhibition. The DFA scaling coefficients are identical in mice and humans under physiological conditions with identical pathological states by defined pharmacological interventions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Here, we show the importance of tonic vagal function for physiological HR dynamics in mice, as reported in humans. Unlike linear measures, DFA provides an important translational measure that reliably identifies pathological HR dynamics based on altered ANS control by pharmacological interventions. Central ANS dysregulation represents a likely mechanism of increased cardiac mortality in psychiatric disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":9095,"journal":{"name":"Brain Sciences","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11940095/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728034","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":"Methodological Approaches to Pain Memory Assessment in Chronic Pain: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Carlos Forner-Álvarez, Ferran Cuenca-Martínez","doi":"10.3390/brainsci15030308","DOIUrl":"10.3390/brainsci15030308","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> Pain memory refers to the ability to encode, store, and recall information related to a specific pain event. Reviewing its common features is crucial, as it provides researchers with a foundational guide for designing studies that assess pain memory in individuals with chronic pain. The primary objective of this study was to examine the common characteristics-particularly the methodological approaches-of existing research on pain memory in adults with chronic pain. <b>Methods:</b> A scoping review was conducted using PubMed and Embase as search databases. Studies were included if they met the following criteria. (a) It involved only adults with chronic pain and (b) assessed at least one of the following parameters: pain intensity or pain unpleasantness. The exclusion criteria were the following: (a) not having pain memory assessment as a primary objective, (b) including participants under 18 years of age, (c) involving individuals without chronic pain (e.g., those with acute pain or healthy participants), (d) lacking essential information, or (e) unavailability of the full text. <b>Results:</b> From an initial pool of 4585 papers, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies exclusively involved adults with chronic pain, and all reported pain intensity, while only 27% assessed pain unpleasantness. Additionally, psychosocial variables were the most frequently reported non-pain-related outcomes. Regarding study protocols, most relied on daily data collection, with the most common recall period being within the first 48 h. <b>Conclusions:</b> The methodological characteristics identified in this review-particularly those with a high frequency of occurrence-should serve as fundamental guidelines for future research on pain memory in adults with chronic pain, and should be carefully considered by investigators in this field.</p>","PeriodicalId":9095,"journal":{"name":"Brain Sciences","volume":"15 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11939875/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143728419","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}