- Fine spatial-temporal density mapping with optimized approaches for many-core system
A fine mapping strategy is essential for optimizing the layout and execution speed of large-scale neural networks on many-core systems. However, the benefits of many-core systems diminish when applied to neural networks with significant data and computational demands, due to imbalanced resource utilization between space and time when relying on existing single spatial or temporal mapping strategies. To tackle this challenge, we introduce the concept of spatial-temporal density and propose a spatial-temporal density mapping method to fully leverage both spatial and computational resources. Within the framework of the proposed method, we further introduce two approaches: the Negative Sequence Memory Management (NSM) method, which enhances spatial resource (i.e. core memory) utilization, and the Many-core Parallel Synchronous (MPS) approach, which optimizes computational resource (i.e. core multiply and accumulate units, MACs) utilization. To demonstrate the superiority of these methods, the mapping techniques are implemented on our state-of-the-art many-core chip, TianjicX. The results indicate that the NSM method improves spatial utilization by a factor of 3.05 compared to the traditional Positive Sequence Memory Management (PSM) method. Furthermore, the MPS approach increases computational speed by 6.7% relative to the previously widely adopted pipelined method. Overall, the spatial-temporal density mapping method improves system performance by a factor of 1.85 compared to the commonly employed layer-wise mapping method, effectively balancing spatial and temporal resource utilization. -
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- Comparative study of the effects of prenatal sevoflurane exposure at different cortical stages on forebrain development and maturation in offspring
IntroductionBrain development involves several critical stages, such as proliferation, neuronal migration, axonal pathfinding, and connection formation. Sevoflurane, a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor agonist, is widely used as an inhaled general anesthetic. However, its impact on brain development has raised increasing concerns, particularly regarding prenatal exposure. This study aims to investigate the effects of prenatal sevoflurane exposure (PSE) at different cortical stages, focusing on its impact on the migration of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and neuronal behavior in offspring.MethodsPSE was administered at two critical prenatal stages: embryonic day (E) 12.5 and E18.5. Double in situ hybridization was used to identify the coexpression of GABA receptors in Pax6- and Mash1-positive cells in the forebrain. The radial migration of glutamatergic neurons and the tangential migration of GABAergic neurons were analyzed. Behavioral tests, including the open-field test, elevated plus-maze test, forced swim test, tail suspension test, sucrose preference test, and Morris water maze, were performed on offspring to assess anxiety-like behaviors, depression, and learning and memory impairments.ResultsPSE inhibits the radial migration of glutamatergic neurons and promotes the tangential migration of GABAergic neurons. Specifically, early exposure (E12.5) inhibited the expression of the Pax6–Tbr2–Tbr1 cascade and the radial migration of Tbr1 in the ventral prefrontal cortex (PFC), whereas late exposure (E18.5) inhibited this process on the dorsal side. In addition, offspring mice with PSE exhibited increased anxiety-like behaviors, rather than depression, as demonstrated by reduced time spent in the center of the open-field test and in the open arms of the elevated plus-maze test. No significant differences were observed in the forced swim test, tail suspension test, or sucrose preference test. Furthermore, learning and memory impairments were observed in the Morris water maze.ConclusionOur results indicate that PSE at E12.5 and E18.5 leads to abnormalities in the migration of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, affecting long-term anxiety-like behaviors and causing learning and memory impairments in offspring mice. -
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- Channel component correlation analysis for multi-channel EEG feature component extraction
IntroductionElectroencephalogram (EEG) analysis has shown significant research value for brain disease diagnosis, neuromodulation and brain-computer interface (BCI) application. The analysis and processing of EEG signals is complex since EEG are nonstationary, nonlinear, and often contaminated by intense background noise. Principal component analysis (PCA) and independent component analysis (ICA), as the commonly used methods for multi-dimensional signal feature component extraction, still have some limitations in terms of performance and calculation.MethodsIn this study, channel component correlation analysis (CCCA) method was proposed to extract feature components of multi-channel EEG. Firstly, empirical wavelet transform (EWT) decomposed each channel signal into different frequency bands, and reconstructed them into a multi-dimensional signal. Then the objective optimization function was constructed by maximizing the covariance between multi-dimensional signals. Finally the feature components of multi-channel EEG were extracted using the calculated weight coefficient.ResultsThe results showed that the CCCA method could find the most relevant frequency band between multi-channel EEG. Compared with PCA and ICA methods, CCCA could extract the common components of multi-channel EEG more effectively, which is of great significance for the accurate analysis of EEG.DiscussionThe CCCA method proposed in this study has shown excellent performance in the feature component extraction of multi-channel EEG and could be considered for practical engineering applications. -
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- Characterization of the white matter networks in schizophrenia patients with metabolic syndrome undergoing risperidone or clozapine treatment
BackgroundThe characteristics of the white matter network in schizophrenia patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) remain unclear. This study analyzed white matter network characteristics in schizophrenia patients with MetS undergoing risperidone or clozapine treatment and explored their potential association with metabolic index and cognitive function.MethodsDiffusion tensor imaging was used to evaluate 19 schizophrenia patients with comorbid MetS (MetS-SZ) and 20 schizophrenia patients without MetS (nMetS-SZ), as well as 25 healthy controls (HC). Differences in these network metrics were compared among these through groups using ANCOVAs and post-hoc testing. Associations between differential network metrics and clinical characteristics were also analyzed.ResultsRelative to HC individuals, both MetS-SZ and nMetS-SZ patients exhibited a reduction in bilateral thalamic degree centrality (DC) and nodal efficiency (NE). Relative to the HC group, MetS-SZ patients exhibited reductions in both global efficiency and local efficiency, lower levels of DC in the superior occipital gyrus, and reduced NE in the prefrontal and occipital cortices. Relative to nMetS-SZ patients, MetS-SZ patients also exhibited reduced global efficiency and local efficiency, together with decreases in NE in the prefrontal cortex, medial and paracentral cingulate gyrus, occipital cortex, angular gyrus, and temporal pole. Impairments in executive function were associated with reduced NE values in the right angular gyrus, left medial and paracingulate gyrus. Increases in waist circumference and hip circumference, as well as impairments in executive function, were associated with reductions in NE among patients with schizophrenia.ConclusionSpecific changes in the structure of the white matter network accompanying cognitive deficits were observed in MetS-SZ patients. These results offer new insight into the mechanisms underlying the neural network in schizophrenia patients with MetS. -
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- Successful treatment of intractable neuralgia in patients with typical and atypical Ramsay Hunt syndrome by transcutaneous facial nerve stimulation: a case series study
ObjectiveTypical Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a rare peripheral facial neuropathy associated with reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus in the geniculate ganglion. Atypical RHS is characterized by the involvement of multiple cranial nerves and cervical roots, leading to more complex manifestations. The primary goal of treatment is to reduce the occurrence of late complications, especially in patients with devastating postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). To date, there is no definitive effective treatment. We present a case series of patients with typical and atypical RHS and severe PHN, who were successfully treated with transcutaneous facial nerve stimulation (FNS).Materials and methodsThis is a retrospective case series including two atypical RHS cases and one typical RHS case. The first patient with atypical RHS suffered from persistent otalgia with severe paroxysmal radiation to the dermatome of fifth cranial nerve (CN V) and IX lesion. The second atypical RHS patient with CN V and VII lesions had persistent frontotemporal neuralgia and otalgia, with severe paroxysmal radiation to the CN V and IX dermatome. The third typical patient had persistent otalgia with severe paroxysmal exacerbations. An FNS in the stylomastoid foramen was successfully performed under ultrasound guidance in combination with DSA. Pain assessment was performed during treatment and follow-up, including the type of pain (persistent pain, breakthrough pain, and tactile allodynia) and pain distribution. Pain intensity was assessed using the Number Rate Scale (NRS) and the Verbal Rating Scale (VRS). The therapeutic effect was assessed using the Pain Relief Scale (PRS). In addition, the Pain Relief Ratio (PRR) was calculated as (NRSPre-T - NRSPost-T)/NRSPre-T × 100%, and the treatment was considered effective if the PRR was greater than 50%.ResultsThe t-FNS showed excellent pain relief, particularly for breakthrough pain. The breakthrough pain completely ceased before the FNS was turned off, and the persistent pain decreased from moderate to mild intensity before the patients were discharged. The mild persistent pain of the first patient on the 3-month follow-up and the third patient on the 2-month follow-up had completely disappeared, but the mild persistent pain of the second patient was still felt in the temporal region for 1 year.ConclusionFor the first time, transcutaneous FNS was successfully used to treat intractable PHN in patients with typical and atypical RHS. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal procedure and specific stimulation parameters. -
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- Identification of ferroptosis-related gene signatures in temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis
BackgroundFerroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that damages neurons in the central nervous system. In this study, we aimed to construct ferroptosis-related gene signatures in temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-HS) and explore their diagnostic role in TLE-HS.MethodsThe GSE205661 dataset was acquired for training purposes, while the GSE71058 was obtained to serve as the validation dataset. Subsequently, ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (FR-DEGs) in TLE-HS were further analyzed. We used weighed gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) algorithm, single-factor logistic regression analysis, and LASSO algorithm to screen characteristic FR-DEGs. Then, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to evaluate the value of these characteristic genes in disease diagnosis. Finally, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)–microRNA (miRNA)–messenger RNA (mRNA) network was constructed.ResultsWe identified 141 FR-DEGs in TLE-HS, and these genes were enriched in T-cell activation involved in immune response and signaling pathways related to lipids and atherosclerosis. Further WGCNA was performed to select 47 overlapping FR-DEGs, which were significantly enriched in 13 biological processes and 14 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, including the negative regulation of apoptotic process and ferroptosis. Four genes, namely PDK4, SMPD1, GPT2, and METTL14, were identified as signature genes in TLE-HS. Moreover, the ROC derived from the four genes in GSE205661 and GSE71058 for predicting TLE-HS had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.988 and 0.929, respectively. Furthermore, the lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA network constructed from the 4 FR-DEGs consisted of 5 lncRNAs and 14 miRNAs. The signatures based on four FR-DEGs were found to be a strong predictor of TLE-HS, and they may represent valuable therapeutic targets for TLE-HS. -
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- Abnormal response to chronic social defeat stress and fear extinction in a mouse model of Lynx2-based cholinergic dysregulation
Nicotinic receptor signaling is influential in modulating appropriate responses to salient stimuli within a complex environment. The cholinergic neurotransmitter system drives attention to salient stimuli such as stressors, and aids in orchestrating the proper neural and behavioral responses. Dysregulation of this system, however, has been implicated in altered anxiety regulation and mood disorders. Among the multiple layers of regulation are protein modulators such as Lynx2/Lypd1, which provides negative nicotinic acetylcholine receptor regulation within anxiety-related circuits, such as the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex, among other brain regions. Mice null for Lynx2/Lypd1 (Lynx2 KO) show elevated basal anxiety-like behavior in tests such as elevated plus maze, light-dark box and social interaction assays. Here, we queried how a line predisposed to basal anxiety-like behavior would respond to specific stressors, using validated models of experiential-based affective disorders such as fear extinction, acute and chronic social defeat stress assays. We discovered that Lynx2 KO mice demonstrate an inability to extinguish learned fear during fear extinction tests even during milder stress conditions. In social defeat studies, contrary to our predictions, the Lynx2 KO mice switched from a socially avoidant phenotype (which could be considered susceptible) before defeat to a social approach/resilient phenotype after defeat. Consistent with reports of the inverse relationship between resilience and BDNF levels, we observed reduced BDNF levels in the VTA of Lynx2 KO mice. Furthermore, we provide evidence for the functional role of α7 nicotinic receptor subtypes by phenotypic rescue of fear extinction and social defeat phenotypes by MLA antagonism of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, or by crossing with α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor null mutant mice. A stable physical interaction between LYNX2 and α7 nAChRs was observed by co-immunoprecipitation of complexes from mouse amygdalae extracts. Together, these data indicate that responses to specific stressors can become aberrant when baseline genetic factors predispose animals to anxiety dysregulation. These studies underscore the critical nature of well-regulated nicotinic receptor function in the adaptive response to environmental stressors. -
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- Interbrain synchronization in classroom during high-entropy music listening and meditation: a hyperscanning EEG study
IntroductionSocial interaction is a vital source of human development, yet neuroscientific research delineating its neural correlates in large groups is scarce. Music as a rhythmic signal, and meditation, have been shown to induce group synchronization and pro-social behavior. However, their impact on adolescents may vary, and the related brain functions remain underexplored. This study investigates the effects of mindfulness meditation and 6 Hz high-entropy music on brain synchronization and complexity in high school students.MethodsTwenty-eight adolescents underwent single-channel EEG at the forehead during three 5-minute conditions: rest, meditation, and 6 Hz high-entropy music. Alpha band power correlations assessed synchronization. Graph analyses quantified network properties.ResultsMean correlation was highest during music, then meditation, and lowest during rest, with significant differences between music and both rest and meditation. Meditation had the highest clustering coefficient and small-world index, suggesting more integrated and efficient networks. Music demonstrated the largest information cascades and synergy, indicating extensive information integration.Conclusion6 Hz high-entropy music induced the strongest synchronization. While meditation and music altered brain dynamics compared to rest, they worked distinctly. Meditation yielded more integrated connectivity; music yielded the greatest element-wise correlation. Future research with larger samples is recommended to optimize interventions for adolescent well-being and social connectedness. -
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- Evaluation of cortical venous drainage in patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
The emergence of Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has changed the treatment modalities for Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). But still 45 to 55% of patients cannot achieve functional independence after sufficient recanalization through endovascular treatment, defined as “futile reperfusion.” Poor collateral circulation and microcirculation are key factors affecting prognosis. In the past, the assessment of these mainly focused on intracranial arteries and their collateral, neglecting the important role of the venous system in acute brain injury. More and more studies have found that “poor venous drainage” is associated with poor prognosis. However, there is currently no unified standard for the assessment of “cortical venous drainage.” This paper reviews the pathophysiology of the relationship between “cortical venous drainage” and prognosis, as well as the assessment methods and indicators of “cortical venous drainage,” aiming to provide a strong basis for the preoperative assessment of AIS patients and the selection of treatment plans. -
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- Intrastriatal injection of alpha-synuclein preformed fibrils to rats results in L-DOPA reversible sensorimotor impairments and alterations in non-motor function
IntroductionThe alpha-synuclein (α-syn) preformed fibril (PFF) model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is widely used in rodents to understand the mechanisms contributing to progression of pathology and neurodegeneration in the disorder. While the time course of pathology in the α-syn PFF rat model has been well characterized, it has been more challenging to determine reliable and reproducible behavior impairments. This is mainly due to α-syn PFF injections resulting in a partial nigrostriatal lesion that make motor anomalies more subtle and difficult to detect, just as in patients with PD. In the present study we sought to examine the effect of increased striatal distribution and injection quantity of α-syn PFFs in rats on accumulation of phosphorylated α-syn inclusions, nigrostriatal degeneration, sensorimotor behavior, and nonmotor function related to PD.MethodsMale Fischer 344 rats were injected unilaterally in the striatum with a total of 24μg α-syn PFFs distributed into three sites, or an equal volume of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as a control condition. Sensorimotor function was assessed using a battery of behavioral tests sensitive to varying degrees of nigrostriatal neurodegeneration. Non-motor testing included assays for olfaction, emotional reactivity, cognitive function, and sleep.ResultsAt six months post injection, α-syn PFF rats displayed significant movement and somatosensory asymmetries compared with control rats. Time to initiate a forelimb step and time to contact an adhesive stimulus on the forepaw took significantly longer with the contralateral limb compared with the ipsilateral limb in α-syn PFF rats. Further, hindlimb stepping in the cylinder was significantly reduced in α-syn PFF-injected rats compared with controls. Cognitive function was also affected in the α-syn PFF rats, with investigation time significantly decreased in an object recognition test. Levodopa reversibility was observed in the movement initiation and cylinder tests. Postmortem analysis revealed a 55% loss of nigral tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons and a 63% reduction in striatal dopamine content in α-syn PFF-injected rats.ConclusionThus, using the present α-syn PFF surgical parameters, sufficient nigrostriatal degeneration can be achieved to manifest significant motor and non-motor deficits. These rat α-syn PFF surgical parameters will be important for preclinical assessment of novel diseasemodifying therapies. -
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- A meta-analysis of resting-state fMRI in postherpetic neuralgia using AES-SDM
BackgroundResting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) has revealed a range of neural activity patterns in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). However, inconsistencies in study design have led to conflicting findings in previous research studies. This meta-analysis used the anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping (AES-SDM) approach to evaluate rs-fMRI studies on PHN and to provide more robust insights into the brain networks involved in processing PHN pain.Materials and methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database was performed for rs-fMRI studies comparing PHN patients with healthy controls, up until 1 November 2024. The AES-SDM approach was then employed to meta-analyze the abnormal brain activity patterns observed in PHN patients.ResultsA total of eight articles were included in the analysis comprising 148 patients with PHN and 179 healthy controls. The meta-analysis found that patients with PHN exhibited increased activity in the right middle temporal gyrus (MTG.R), right precuneus (PCUN.R), and right superior frontal gyrus, orbital part (ORBsup.R). In contrast, a reduction in functional activity was observed in the left superior frontal gyrus, medial (SFGmed.L), left calcarine fissure/surrounding cortex (CAL.L), right precentral gyrus (PreCG.R), and right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG.R). Sensitivity analysis revealed that all of these regions exhibited high reproducibility, and no significant publication bias was identified.ConclusionThis meta-analysis reveals altered specific brain activity in PHN patients, providing a foundation for targeted treatments that address both sensory and affective aspects of chronic pain.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO, registration no. CRD42024614718; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024614718. -
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- Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis with gradual symptom onset: Case Report and literature review
This report highlights an atypical case of acute hemorrhagic Leukoencephalitis (AHLE) in a 73-year-old male, contributing valuable insights into the disease’s progression in older adults. AHLE, a rare and often fatal central nervous system disorder typically affecting younger individuals, with a median age of 33. Our patient experienced atypical subacute symptoms over 3 months, the longest duration reported, and ultimately achieved a functional outcome with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 2. A comprehensive review of 152 cases available through PubMed, revealing a 58% mortality rate with a median survival of just 2 days, and a mean mRS of 4.3, though survivor exhibited a more favorable mean mRS of 1.8. Only 6% of cases had a subacute onset of 3 weeks or more. -
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- Experimentally induced colitis impacts myelin development and home-cage behavior in young pigs regardless of supplementation with oral gamma-cyclodextrin-encapsulated tributyrin
IntroductionColitis, a chronic intestinal disorder that causes inflammation of the colonic mucosa, has been linked with structural brain abnormalities. To combat intestinal inflammation, researchers have investigated how nutritional supplementation, such as butyric acid, may ameliorate untoward effects. By encapsulating and using conjugates of butyrate, such as butyrate glycerides (i.e., tributyrin), slower release to the lower portions of the gastrointestinal tract can be achieved. Additionally, butyrate supplementation has been linked with supporting brain function and regulating integrity.MethodsIn the present study, a total of 24 intact male pigs were artificially reared and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment conditions: (1) a control milk replacer (CON), (2) control plus oral dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to induce colitis, or (3) control supplemented with 9.0 mM of gamma-cyclodextrin encapsulated tributyrin (TBCD) plus oral DSS (TBCD+DSS). Pigs were orally administered DSS treatments daily from postnatal day (PND) 14–18. Continuous video recording began on PND 3 and ceased on PND 27 or 28, with videos processed and analyzed for home-cage tracking behavior. On PND 26 or 27, pigs underwent neuroimaging procedures to assess overall brain anatomy (MPRAGE), microstructure (DTI), and myelin (MWF).Results and discussionHome-cage spatial preference was not altered prior to DSS dosing or during the overall study period. However, TBCD+DSS pigs spent less (p < 0.05) time within quadrant 4 when compared with CON pigs. Across almost all 29 brain regions assessed, absolute volumes were observed to be smaller in the TBCD+DSS group compared with CON and DSS groups. However, once individual volumes were assessed relative to the whole brain, most treatment effects dissipated other than for gray matter volume (p = 0.041). Diffusivity was found to be altered in several regions across treatment groups, thereby indicating differences in fiber organization. In areas like the hippocampus and thalamus, when fractional anisotropy (FA) values were highest for a given treatment, in the other diffusion metrics (mean, radial, axial diffusivity) values were lowest for that same treatment, indicating more organized cellular structure. Several other diffusion trends and differences were observed across various regions. Lastly, myelin water fraction (MWF) values were lowest in DSS-treated groups compared with CON (p < 0.05) for the whole brain and left/right cortices.ConclusionOverall, fiber organization and myelination were observed to be altered by experimentally induced colitis and contrary to expectations, tributyrin supplementation did not ameliorate these effects. Future work is warranted to investigate other protective nutritional mechanisms for colitis. -
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- Accrued reductions in heart rate following transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder
BackgroundPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition marked by chronic autonomic dysregulation, including heightened arousal and increased heart rate, contributing to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). tcVNS has been shown in prior work to decrease arousal and reduce heart rate in participants with PTSD during stimulation and 2–3 min afterward. No studies have investigated effects of tcVNS on objective physiological markers such as heart rate over hour-long timescales.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of active versus sham tcVNS on heart rate responses to stress in traumatized individuals with and without PTSD undergoing a 3 h traumatic stress reminder protocol. Understanding the effects of tcVNS on heart rate over extended periods lasting several hours is crucial to better assess its potential cardiovascular benefits and inform treatment strategies for this population.MethodsA total of 41 participants, including 22 with PTSD (sex: 16 female, six male; age: 41.5 ± 12.89 years) and 19 without (sex: nine female, 10 male; age: 32.79 ± 7.10 years), participated in a mechanistic clinical trial that elicited trauma-incited stress responses by replaying recorded traumatic scripts followed by active or sham tcVNS (double-blind, randomized). Continuous electrocardiogram data were collected and used to measure heart rate and temporal alignment and resampling of the beat-by-beat heart rate time series were performed to distinctively enable timepoint by timepoint averaging for the entire 3 h research visit. We then aggregated the responses across participants of the same group (active/sham × PTSD/non-PTSD) and investigated the effects of tcVNS on heart rate over the multi-hour protocol.ResultsAnalysis revealed accrued reductions in heart rate among participants with PTSD who received active tcVNS compared to those who received sham stimulation (P < 0.05). These effects were not observed in non-PTSD participants. Notably, heart rate reduced approximately 5% below baseline levels for participants with PTSD who received active tcVNS by the end of the ∼3 h-long protocol, indicating accrued effects of tcVNS on cardiac autonomic function.ConclusiontcVNS induces accrued reductions in heart rate for participants with PTSD, potentially suggesting a temporary reduction of chronic cardiac arousal associated with PTSD. -
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- Dynamic reconstruction of electroencephalogram data using RBF neural networks
IntroductionElectroencephalography (EEG) is widely used for analyzing brain activity; however, the nonlinear and nature of EEG signals presents significant challenges for traditional analysis methods. Machine has shown great promise in addressing these limitations. This study proposes a novel approach using Radial Function (RBF) neural networks optimized by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to reconstruct EEG dynamics and extract age-related neural characteristics.MethodsEEG recordings were collected from 142 participants spanning multiple age groups. Signals were preprocessed through bandpass filtering (1–35 Hz) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) for artifact removal. neural network was trained on EEG time-series data with PSO employed to optimize model parameters identify fixed points in the reconstructed neural system. Statistical analyses including ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to assess age-related differences in fixed-point coordinates.ResultsThe RBF network demonstrated high accuracy in EEG signal reconstruction across different frequency a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 0.0671 ± 0.0074 and a Pearson correlation coefficient ± 0.0678. Spectral and time-frequency analyses confirmed the model s capability to accurately capture oscillations. Importantly analysis of RBF network fixed-point coordinates revealed distinct age-related.DiscussionThese findings suggest that fixed-point coordinates of RBF networks can serve as quantitative markers aging providing new insights into age-dependent changes in brain dynamics. The proposed method offers computationally efficient and interpretable approach for EEG analysis with potential applications in neurological diagnosis and cognitive research. -
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- Voice attractiveness affects cooperative behavior in the Stag Hunt Game: evidence from neural electrophysiology
IntroductionThe halo effect of attractiveness influences not only physical appearance but also vocal characteristics, impacting people’s lives and behaviors. Previous research has shown that voice attractiveness may affect decision-making and social interactions, but its influence on cooperative behavior has not been thoroughly investigated.MethodsThis study used neurophysiological methods, specifically EEG, to examine the impact of voice attractiveness on cooperative behavior in the Stag Hunt Game. Participants played a two-person version of the game with a virtual partner whose voice was either highly attractive or less attractive. EEG data was recorded during the game, focusing on brain responses during the voice processing phase and outcome feedback phase.ResultsThe results revealed a “beauty premium” effect: participants were more likely to cooperate when paired with a highly attractive voice. Electrophysiological data showed that high-attractiveness voices elicited larger P2, P3, and LPC amplitudes and smaller theta oscillations during the voice processing phase. During the outcome feedback phase, both highly attractive voices and gain feedback resulted in smaller FRN amplitudes and larger P300 amplitudes. In contrast, under less attractive conditions, loss feedback triggered larger theta oscillations.DiscussionThese findings suggest that voice attractiveness significantly influences cooperative behavior in social decision-making contexts. The neural responses indicate that the attractiveness of a voice can modulate both early sensory processing (P2, P3, LPC) and feedback evaluation (FRN, P300, theta). This study highlights the role of voice attractiveness in shaping cooperative behavior and provides new insights into the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying social decisions. -
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- Functional connectivity in EEG: a multiclass classification approach for disorders of consciousness
Characterizing functional connectivity (FC) in the human brain is crucial for understanding and supporting clinical decision making in disorders of consciousness. This study investigates FC using sliding window correlation (SWC) analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) applied to three connectivity measures: phase-lag index (PLI) and weighted phase-lag index (wPLI), which quantify phase synchronization, and amplitude envelope correlation (AEC), which captures amplitude-based coactivation patterns between pairs of channels. SWC analysis is performed across the five canonical frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma) of EEG data from four distinct groups: coma, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, minimally conscious state, and healthy controls. The extracted SWC metrics, mean, reflecting the stability of connectivity, and standard deviation, indicating variability, are analyzed to discern FC differences at the group level. Multiclass classification is attempted using various models of artificial neural networks that include different multilayer perceptrons (MLP), recurrent neural networks, long-short-term memory networks, gated recurrent units, and a hybrid CNN-LSTM model that combines convolutional neural networks (CNN) and long-short-term memory network to validate the discriminative power of these FC features. The results show that MLP model 2 achieves a classification accuracy of 96.3% using AEC features obtained with a window length of 16s, highlighting the effectiveness of AEC. An evaluation of the model performance for different window sizes (16 to 20 s) shows that MLP model 2 consistently achieves high accuracy, ranging from 95.5% to 96.3%, using AEC features. When AEC and wPLI features are combined, the maximum accuracy increases to 96.9% for MLP model 2 and 96.7% for MLP model 3, with a window size of 17 seconds in both cases. -
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- Mechanistic insights into the sleep-glymphopathy-cerebral small vessel disease loop: implications for epilepsy pathophysiology and therapy
Epilepsy is the second most common neurological disorder and affects approximately 50 million people worldwide. Despite advances in antiepileptic therapy, about 30% of patients develop refractory epilepsy. Recent studies have shown sleep, glymphatic function, cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), and epilepsy are interrelated by sharing a multidirectional relationship in influencing their severity and progression. Sleep plays a vital role in brain homeostasis and promotes glymphatic clearance responsible for the removal of metabolic wastes and neurotoxic substances from the brain. Disrupted sleep is a common feature in epilepsy and can lead to impairment in glymphatic efficiency or glymphopathy, promoting neuroinflammation and accrual of epileptogenic factors. CSVD, occurring in up to 60% of the aging population, further exacerbates neurovascular compromise and neurodegeneration by increasing seizure susceptibility and worsening epilepsy outcomes. This narrative review aims to discuss the molecular and pathophysiological inter-relationships between these factors, providing a new framework that places glymphopathy and CSVD as contributors to epileptogenesis in conditions of sleep disruption. We propose an integrative model wherein the glymphopathy and vascular insufficiency interact in a positive feedback loop of sleep disruption and increased seizure vulnerability mediated by epileptic activity. Acknowledging these interactions has significant impacts on both research and clinical practice. Targeting sleep modulation, glymphatic function, and cerebrovascular health presents a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention. Future research should focus on developing precision medicine approaches that integrate neuro-glial-vascular mechanisms to optimize epilepsy management. Clinically, addressing sleep disturbances and CSVD in epilepsy patients may improve treatment effectiveness, reduce seizure burden, and improve overall neurological outcomes. This framework highlights the need for interdisciplinary approaches to break the vicious cycle of epilepsy, sleep disturbance, and cerebrovascular pathology, paving the way for innovative treatment paradigms. -
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