Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · Jan 2020
ReviewBeyond labeled lines: A population coding account of the thermal grill illusion.
Heat and pain illusions (synthetic heat and the thermal grill illusion) can be generated by simultaneous cold and warm stimulation on the skin at temperatures that would normally be perceived as innocuous in isolation. Historically, two key questions have dominated the literature: which specific pathway conveys the illusory perceptions of heat and pain, and where, specifically, does the illusory pain originate in the central nervous system? Two major theories - the addition and disinhibition theories - have suggested distinct pathways, as well as specific spinal or supraspinal mechanisms. ⋯ We argue that a population coding framework, based on distributed activity across non-nociceptive and nociceptive pathways, offers a more powerful explanation of illusory heat and pain. This framework offers new hypotheses regarding the neural mechanisms underlying temperature and pain perception.
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · Oct 2019
ReviewPrefrontal excitatory/inhibitory balance in stress and emotional disorders: Evidence for over-inhibition.
Chronic stress-induced emotional disorders like anxiety and depression involve imbalances between the excitatory glutamatergic system and the inhibitory GABAergic system in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the precise nature and trajectory of excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) imbalances in these conditions is not clear, with the literature reporting glutamatergic and GABAergic findings that are at times contradictory and inconclusive. ⋯ In this review, we will synthesize research about how glutamatergic and GABAergic systems are perturbed by chronic stress and in related emotional disorders like anxiety and depression and propose ideas for reconciling contradictory findings in support of the hypothesis of over-inhibition. We will also discuss evidence for how aspects of the GABAergic system such as parvalbumin (PV) cells can be targeted therapeutically for reinstating activity and plasticity in the PFC and treating stress-related disorders.
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · Sep 2019
ReviewTrust in socially assistive robots: Considerations for use in rehabilitation.
Incorporation of social robots into rehabilitation calls for understanding what factors affect user motivation and success of the interaction. Trust between the user and the robot has been identified as important in human-robot interaction and in human-human interactions in therapy. Trust has been studied in the context of automation technology, (e.g., autonomous cars), but not in the context of social robots for rehabilitation. ⋯ We suggest design guidelines for fostering trust and methods for measuring trust in human-robot interactions in rehabilitation. We stress the need to create measures of trust that are accessible to people who suffer from speech or cognitive impairments. This review is pertinent to researchers, roboticists, and clinicians interested in designing and using social robots for rehabilitation.
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · Aug 2019
ReviewReframing schizophrenia and autism as bodily self-consciousness disorders leading to a deficit of theory of mind and empathy with social communication impairments.
Prior observations and studies suggest self-consciousness disorders in schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), two neurodevelopmental disorders sharing social communication impairments. First, the relationships between schizophrenia and autism are explored regarding social communication impairments. Then, self-consciousness disorders in schizophrenia and autism are described and discussed in relation with impairments of body self leading to impairments of self-other differentiation, a deficit of theory of mind and empathy, and their consequences on social communication. ⋯ In conclusion, a new model is proposed integrating results of studies presented here and stating the existence of bodily self-consciousness disorders in schizophrenia and autism associated with altered/absent intermodal sensory integration (especially visual-kinesthetic-tactile integration). This would result in problems of self-other differentiation, leading in turn to a deficit of theory of mind and empathy as well as social communication impairments. This model opens new perspectives to understand better self-consciousness disorders and social communication impairments in schizophrenia and ASD and to develop therapeutic strategies.
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · Jul 2019
Meta AnalysisNeurofilament light chain protein in neurodegenerative dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.
The diagnostic value of neurofilament light chain protein in neurodegenerative dementia diseases is still controversial. A systematic literature search was performed to identify relevant case-control studies conducted through October 2018. Traditional and net meta-analyses were performed based on 42 studies that tested the diagnostic performance of neurofilament light chain protein (NfL) concentration in CSF and serum/plasma from patients with neurodegenerative dementia. ⋯ Network meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in CSF NfL levels during mild cognitive impairment, whereas an increase was observed in vascular dementia compared to Alzheimer's disease. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve and cluster analysis showed that the NfL concentration in CSF (vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer's disease) and serum/plasma (frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease) ranked first among neurodegenerative dementia diseases. NfL is an important biomarker that can help clinical neurologists make early diagnoses of neurodegenerative diseases, so patients can receive prompt treatment.