Brain functional specialization and cooperation in Parkinson's disease
Jinmei Sun1,2,3, Xiaoran Gao4,2,3, Qiang Hua4,2,3
1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230000, China.
Brain Imaging and Behavior
|August 24, 2021
Summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) patients exhibit altered brain function, showing increased leftward cerebral specialization and decreased inter-hemispheric cooperation. These changes in brain networks are linked to cognitive function in PD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Brain Imaging
- Neurology
Background:
- Cerebral specialization and inter-hemispheric cooperation are key brain functional architectures.
- Dysfunctions in these architectures may underlie Parkinson's disease (PD) pathophysiology and motor symptoms.
- Understanding these hemispheric functions is crucial for PD research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize cerebral specialization (Autonomy index, AI) and inter-hemispheric cooperation (Connectivity between Functionally Homotopic voxels, CFH) in idiopathic PD patients.
- To compare AI and CFH between PD patients and healthy controls using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).
- To explore the relationship between these brain network alterations and cognitive function in PD.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 70 idiopathic PD patients and 70 matched healthy controls.
- Utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) for brain scanning.
- Calculated cerebral specialization (AI) and inter-hemispheric cooperation (CFH) and performed imaging-cognitive correlation analysis.
Main Results:
- PD patients demonstrated significantly stronger leftward cerebral specialization (AI) in the left angular gyrus compared to controls.
- This increased specialization involved increased ipsilateral and decreased contralateral functional connectivity (FC).
- PD patients exhibited significantly decreased inter-hemispheric cooperation (CFH) between bilateral sensorimotor regions.
Conclusions:
- Parkinson's disease is characterized by a strong leftward cerebral specialization and weak inter-hemispheric coordination.
- Altered functional connectivity patterns are associated with cognitive performance in PD patients.
- These findings offer new insights into the pathological mechanisms of PD.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview
887
Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is...
887
01:37Neural Regulation
40.6K
Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
40.6K
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
469
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
469
01:19Brainstem
3.7K
The brainstem, located inferior to the brain and superior to the spinal cord, serves as a bridge between the cerebrum and the spinal cord. It plays a vital role in relaying information and controlling critical life functions. It comprises three primary regions: the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
The Midbrain
The midbrain is located beneath the diencephalon and connects the cerebrum with the lower parts of the brain. The cerebral peduncles are prominent midbrain structures that house the...
The Midbrain
The midbrain is located beneath the diencephalon and connects the cerebrum with the lower parts of the brain. The cerebral peduncles are prominent midbrain structures that house the...
3.7K
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
671
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
671