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| Schematic illustration of the stroke and major cortical efferent pathways. (A) The sensorimotor cortex and other right hemisphere structures were damaged unilaterally by occluding the right middle cerebral artery. The pathways originating from the intact left hemisphere that were traced include the corticorubral (green) and corticospinal (blue) tracts. (B) Coronal section through the forebrain showing the extent of injury (black) and the cells of origin of the intact corticospinal (blue) and corticorubral (green) tracts. (C) Projections
Source publication
An important development in behavioral neuroscience in the past 20 years has been the demonstration that it is possible to stimulate functional recovery after cerebral injury in laboratory animals. Rodent models of cerebral injury provide an important tool for developing such rehabilitation programs. The models include analysis at different levels...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... et al. (2002) showed that in adult rats with unilateral cortical strokes inosine stimulated neurons on the undamaged side of the brain to extend new projections to denervated areas of the midbrain and spinal cord. This growth was paralleled by improved performance on several measures of forelimb motor skills (Figure 4; see also Zai et al., 2009). More recently, inosine has also proved effective in stimulating recovery from traumatic brain injury ( Smith et al., 2007). ...
Citations
... The neurophysiological hallmark of brain aging is characterized by a loss of synapses and neuronal apoptosis, leading to age-dependent decline of cognitive (but also motor and sensory) functions [49,50]. Importantly, however, growing evidence has shown plastic compensatory mechanisms that maintain neural functions, as in the case of the neuronal and synaptic death that may occur in the absence of cognitive symptoms for an unknown duration [51]. A combination of cognitive strategies and adjuvant interventions, such as EEG-neurofeedback training, might strengthen such mechanisms. ...
Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) stands as a pivotal non-invasive tool, capturing brain signals with millisecond precision and enabling real-time monitoring of individuals' mental states. Using appropriate biomarkers extracted from these EEG signals and presenting them back in a neurofeedback loop offers a unique avenue for promoting neural compensation mechanisms. This approach empowers individuals to skillfully modulate their brain activity. Recent years have witnessed the identification of neural biomarkers associated with aging, underscoring the potential of neuromodulation to regulate brain activity in the elderly. Methods and Objectives: Within the framework of an EEG-based brain-computer interface, this study focused on three neural biomarkers that may be disturbed in the aging brain: Peak Alpha Frequency, Gamma-band synchronization, and Theta/Beta ratio. The primary objectives were twofold: (1) to investigate whether elderly individuals with subjective memory complaints can learn to modulate their brain activity, through EEG-neurofeedback training, in a rigorously designed double-blind, placebo-controlled study; and (2) to explore potential cognitive enhancements resulting from this neuromodulation. Results: A significant self-modulation of the Gamma-band synchronization biomarker, critical for numerous higher cognitive functions and known to decline with age, and even more in Alzheimer's disease (AD), was exclusively observed in the group undergoing EEG-neurofeedback training. This effect starkly contrasted with subjects receiving sham feedback. While this neuromodulation did not directly impact cognitive abilities, as assessed by pre-versus post-training neuropsycho-logical tests, the high baseline cognitive performance of all subjects at study entry likely contributed to this result. Conclusion: The findings of this double-blind study align with a key criterion for successful neuromodulation, highlighting the significant potential of Gamma-band synchronization in such a process. This important outcome encourages further exploration of EEG-neurofeedback on this specific neural biomarker as a promising intervention to counter the cognitive decline that often accompanies brain aging and, eventually, to modify the progression of AD.
... At the molecular level, an enriched environment (EE) induces the expression of growth factors such as neurotrophins (known to be implicated in young and adult plasticity 9-12 ) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1; involved in mediating growth and development 13,14 ). At a higher scale, an EE causes an increase in dendritic arborization 15 , and synapse size and number in various cortical areas [16][17][18][19][20] . Studies have also demonstrated that exposure to an EE promotes neuronal plasticity 21 and functional recovery 22 . ...
Optimal conditions of development have been of interest for decades, since genetics alone cannot fully explain how an individual matures. In the present study, we used optical brain imaging to investigate whether a relatively simple enrichment can positively influence the development of the visual cortex of mice. The enrichment paradigm was composed of larger cages housing multiple mice that contained several toys, hiding places, nesting material and a spinning wheel that were moved or replaced at regular intervals. We compared C57BL/6N adult mice (> P60) that had been raised either in an enriched environment (EE; n = 16) or a standard (ST; n = 12) environment from 1 week before birth to adulthood, encompassing all cortical developmental stages. Here, we report significant beneficial changes on the structure and function of the visual cortex following environmental enrichment throughout the lifespan. More specifically, retinotopic mapping through intrinsic signal optical imaging revealed that the size of the primary visual cortex was greater in mice reared in an EE compared to controls. In addition, the visual field coverage of EE mice was wider. Finally, the organization of the cortical representation of the visual field (as determined by cortical magnification) versus its eccentricity also differed between the two groups. We did not observe any significant differences between females and males within each group. Taken together, these data demonstrate specific benefits of an EE throughout development on the visual cortex, which suggests adaptation to their environmental realities.
... In the depression model, RehaCom focuses on divided attention, figural memory, verbal memory, and planning (plan a day and shopping [47,48]). The suggested effect mechanism of both these computer-based models is mobilizing brain neuroplasticity and improving the synaptic communication between neurons by simulating the environmental change and learning new skills by repetitive practices [42,47,48,70]. This mechanism can be a possible rational for improvement of the cognitive functions of MDD patients but it was not effective on their symptom severity. ...
Introduction
Nearly 40% of patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have been found to experience cognitive impairment in at least one domain. Cognitive impairment associated with MDD is disproportionately represented in patients that have not fully returned to psychosocial functioning. As awareness regarding cognitive dysfunction in MDD patients grows, so does the interest in developing newer treatments that specifically address these deficits.
Method
In the present study, we conduct a systematic review of controlled randomized clinical trials that used cognitive training and remediation interventions for improving cognitive functions and reducing symptom severity in adult patients with MDD. We selected studies published before March 2022 using search databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google scholar. For conducting the meta-analysis, standard differences in means with the random effect model and with a 95% confidence interval of change in outcome measures from baseline to post-intervention between the cognitive rehabilitation and the control groups were calculated.
Results
The database search resulted in identifying 756 studies of interest, which ultimately 15 studies with 410 participants in the cognitive rehabilitation group and 339 participants in the control group were included. The meta-analysis of the data extracted from these studies, shows a moderate and significant effect on the executive function (d = 0.59 (95% CI, 0.25 to 0.93) p -value = 0.001, I ² = 15.2%), verbal learning (d = 0.45 (95% CI, 0.12 to 0.78) p -value = 0.007, I ² = 0.00%), and working memory (d = 0.41 (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.64) p -value < 0.001, I ² = 33%) of MDD patients. Although, there were no significant difference between intervention and control group in attention (d = 0.32 (95% CI, -0.01 to 0.66) p -value = 0.058, I ² = 0.00%) or depressive symptoms.
Conclusion
This systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that cognitive rehabilitation is an effective intervention for the executive function, verbal learning, and working memory of MDD patients. Due to the importance of these neuropsychological deficits in day-to-day life and the core symptoms of MDD, cognitive rehabilitation should be considered an important part of treating MDD. Further research in this area and concentrated on these particular deficits is warranted.
... 15 Many factors that affect neuroplasticity include age, hormones, sleep patterns, and daily activities. 16 Neuroplasticity in older people is lower than in younger people. 17 This is because, after the brain has fully developed, a physiological neurodegeneration process occurs alongside the aging process in humans. ...
... Kolb et al., proved a 5% increase in brain weight and the number of synapses, angiogenesis, and the number and complexity of astrocytes in experimental animals exposed to an environment that stimulated socialization and activity for a month or more. 16 Given the importance of daily activities and social interactions in the rehabilitation process, intensive cognitive and physical therapy is required. ...
Highlight: Until today, Traumatic Brain Injury is still a major cause of death, disability, and a serious health issue Traumatic Brain Injury patients have a good quality of life if they get adequate therapy and on time interventions ABSTRACT Introduction: Approximately 90 million traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases worldwide exist yearly. TBI pathophysiology varies, which may cause diverse complications. These complications may decrease the patients’ quality of life. Objective: Describing the quality of life of traumatic brain-injured patients after being treated at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital Period 2018-2020. Methods: This research is a descriptive cross-sectional study using SF-36 questionnaire data from patients with post-severe brain injury at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital in 2018-2020. Results: The value of the physical component (59.9) and mental component (68.6) in patients with severe brain injury at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital showed a good quality of life, with values in the SF-36 domains, namely physical function (58.2), physical limitations (46.7), body pain (73.6), general health (61.3), vitality (65.3), social functioning (72.5), emotional limitations (60), and mental health (76.5) is above the threshold value (50) except for physical limitations (46.7).Conclusion: Patients with severe brain injury had a good quality of life after receiving treatment in Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital.
... The adult brain has a remarkable plasticity potential after brain damage, which helps to cope with brain lesions and prevent permanent functional deficits (Kolb et al. 2010). In the case of brain tumors, plasticity often occurs preoperatively, which can delay the onset of functional deficits and enable safer resection of the invaded area (Duffau 2008(Duffau , 2014Pallud et al. 2013;Kessel et al. 2017), and in the meanwhile complicates the prediction of postoperative recovery (Kristo et al. 2015). ...
Vision is a key source of information input for humans, which involves various cognitive functions and a great range of neural networks inside and beyond the visual cortex. There has been increasing observation that the cognitive outcomes after a brain lesion cannot be well predicted by the attributes of the lesion itself but are influenced by the functional network plasticity. However, the mechanisms of impaired or preserved visual cognition have not been probed from direct function-execution conditions and few works have observed it on whole-brain dynamic networks. We used high-resolution electroencephalogram recordings from 25 patients with brain tumors to track the dynamical patterns of functional reorganization in visual processing tasks with multilevel complexity. By comparing with 24 healthy controls, increased cortical responsiveness as functional compensation was identified in the early phase of processing, which was highly localized to the visual cortex and functional networks and less relevant to the tumor position. Besides, a spreading wide enhancement in whole-brain functional connectivity was elicited by the visual word-recognition task. Enhanced early rapid-onset cortical compensation in the local functional networks may contribute to largely preserved basic vision functions, and higher-cognitive tasks are vulnerable to impairment but with high sensitivity of functional plasticity being elicited.
... Kolb's concept of cerebral plasticity began to gain attention in regards to aphasia in the 1980s and suggests that the right hemisphere could take over the major language functions of the left hemisphere [39]. With the development of imaging techniques, studies on the recovery process of language function using functional neuroimaging techniques (PET and fMRI) have been reported, and further focus has been placed on activation of the right cerebral hemisphere and the results of language recovery for PSA [40][41][42]. ...
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for post-stroke aphasia (PSA) has been suggested to promote improvement of language function when used in combination with rehabilitation. However, many challenges remain. In some reports examined by category of language function, only naming has good evidence of improvement, and the improvement effect on other language modalities is low. Therefore, it is necessary to establish methods that contribute to the improvement of language functions other than naming. Therapeutic methods for PSA based on the mechanism of rTMS are mainly inhibitory stimulation methods for language homologous areas. However, the mechanisms of these methods are controversial when inferred from the process of recovery of language function. Low-frequency rTMS applied to the right hemisphere has been shown to be effective in the chronic phase of PSA, but recent studies of the recovery process of language function indicate that this method is unclear. Therefore, it has been suggested that evaluating brain activity using neuroimaging contributes to confirming the effect of rTMS on PSA and the elucidation of the mechanism of functional improvement. In addition, neuroimaging-based stimulation methods (imaging-based rTMS) may lead to further improvements in language function. Few studies have examined neuroimaging and imaging-based rTMS in PSA, and further research is required. In addition, the stimulation site and stimulation parameters of rTMS are likely to depend on the time from onset to intervention. However, there are no reports of studies in patients between 90 and 180 days after onset. Therefore, research during this period is required. New stimulation methods, such as multiple target methods and the latest neuroimaging methods, may contribute to the establishment of new knowledge and new treatment methods in this field.
... Several factors are likely to affect neural functional changes and by knowing how they affect the brain can benefit the stroke recovery. These may include stroke type and severity, time of post-stroke onset, motivation, mood, stress level, surroundings, learning and participation skills, and plasticity capacity of the brain's viable networks 10) . Other factors, such as structural 11) and functional 12) integrity of white matter tracts in motor recovery, may contribute. ...
Purpose] Understanding the essential mechanisms in post-stroke recovery not only provides important basic insights into brain function and plasticity but can also guide the development of new therapeutic approaches for stroke patients. This review aims to give an overview of how various variables of Magnetic Resonance-Diffusion Tensor Imaging (MR-DTI) metrics of fractional anisotropy (FA) can be used as a reliable quantitative measurement and indicator of corticospinal tract (CST) changes, particularly in relation to functional motor outcome correlation with a Fugl-Meyer assessment in stroke rehabilitation. [Methods] PubMed electronic database was searched for the relevant literature, using key words of diffusion tensor imaging (dti), corticospinal tract, and stroke. [Results] We reviewed the role of FA in monitoring CST remodeling and its role of predicting motor recovery after stroke. We also discussed the mechanism of CST remodeling and its modulation from the value of FA and FMA-UE. [Conclu-sion] Heterogeneity of post-stroke brain disorganization and motor impairment is a recognized challenge in the development of accurate indicators of CST integrity. DTI-based FA measurements offer a reliable and evidence-based indicator for CST integrity that would aid in predicting motor recovery within the context of stroke rehabilitation.
... Therefore, the need to determine the how of the process of navigating paradox and assigning it to practical approach, steps and/or guidelines is vital. Brain plasticity dictates that a change in behaviour towards doing a certain task ignites the plasticity abilities of the brain to adjust to the chosen behaviour (Costandi, 2016;Doidge, 2008;Kolb, Teskey, & Gibb, 2010;Kolb & Whishaw, 1998;Lövdén, Wenger, Mårtensson, Lindenberger, & Bäckman, 2013;Marzouk, 2017;Rivera, Carlson, & David Zelazo, 2017). Thus, an intellectual practice is a key to both changing a behaviour and to igniting plasticity. ...
The search to uncover the implications of combining paradox with real life practice have led scholars into an impasse and yielded paradoxical results that are still theoretical in nature. This qualitative research draws on a variety of studies to frame an approach to paradox using insights from Zen psychology, brain plasticity and behaviour. Considering a change in behaviour entails plasticity in the brain, and willingly engaging in attempts to navigate paradox is per se a change in behaviour, thus, it is apparent that once we push a brain by means of behaviour change to become plastic to the chaotic, irrational and ambiguous nature of paradox, it adjusts itself to satisfy this newly adopted behaviour considering that literature contributed little to merge paradox theory with practice. The change in behaviour is facilitated by a stimulus model which will be the ultimate product of my research on paradox.
... It is now ascertained that the adult brain has a remarkable plasticity potential, too. This helps coping with brain lesions and preventing the onset of permanent functional deficits (see Kolb et al., 2010). Plasticity reflects the capacity of the brain to reorganize itself, for instance through development or unmasking of alternative neuronal patterns supporting brain functions. ...
Brain plasticity potential is a central theme in neuro-oncology and is currently receiving increased attention. Advances in treatment have prolonged life expectancy in neuro-oncological patients and the long-term preservation of their quality of life is, therefore, a new challenge. To this end, a better understanding of brain plasticity mechanisms is vital as it can help prevent permanent deficits following neurosurgery.
Indeed, reorganization processes can be fundamental to prevent or recover neurological and cognitive deficits by reallocating brain functions outside the lesioned areas. According to more recent studies in the literature, brain reorganization taking place following neurosurgery is associated with good neurofunctioning at follow-up. Interestingly, in the last few years, the number of reports on plasticity has notably increased.
Aim of the current review was to provide a comprehensive overview of pre- and postoperative neuroplasticity patterns. Within this framework, we aimed to shed light on some tricky issues, including i) involvement of the contralateral healthy hemisphere, ii) role and potential changes of white matter and connectivity patterns, and iii) reorganization in low- versus high-grade gliomas.
We finally discussed the practical implications of these aspects and role of additional potentially relevant factors to be explored. Final purpose was to provide a guideline helpful in promoting increase in the extent of tumor resection while preserving the patients’ neurological and cognitive functioning.
... Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) allows the non-invasive modulation of spontaneous brain network activity . By promoting changes in cortical excitability, the application of a low-intensity (typically 0.5-2 mA) (Zaghi et al., 2010) constant electrical current can drive brain activity and facilitate/interfere with a cognitive function (see review by Kolb et al., 2010; and comprehensive technical guide to tDCS by Woods et al., 2016). Given its potential to affect plasticity, tDCS may be a particularly useful tool to enhance cognition in the context of neurorehabilitation (Vallar & Bolognini, 2011). ...
Neglect is a disabling neuropsychological syndrome that is frequently observed following right-hemispheric stroke. Affected individuals often present with multiple attentional deficits, ranging from reduced orienting towards contralesional space to a generalized impairment in maintaining attention over time. Although a degree of spontaneous recovery occurs in most patients, in some individuals this condition can be treatment-resistant with prominent ongoing non-spatial deficits. Further, there is a large inter-individual variability in response to different therapeutic approaches. Given its potential to alter neuronal excitability and affect neuroplasticity, non-invasive brain stimulation is a promising tool that could potentially be utilized to facilitate recovery. However, there are many outstanding questions regarding its implementation in this heterogeneous patient group. Here we provide a critical overview of the available evidence on the use of non-invasive electrical brain stimulation, focussing on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), to improve neglect and associated attentional deficits after right-hemispheric stroke. At present, there is insufficient robust evidence supporting the clinical use of tDCS to alleviate symptoms of neglect. Future research would benefit from careful study design, enhanced precision of electrical montages, multi-modal approaches exploring predictors of response, tailored dose-control applications and increased efforts to evaluate standalone tDCS versus its incorporation into combination therapy.
