Search

This paper aims to review the subtypes of childhood trauma and its effects on brain structures and function, especially the hippocampus and amygdala within the limbic system, in the context of clinical psychology. For this purpose, original articles published between 1996 and 2024 were systematically searched in major databases such as PubMed, PsycArticles, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using keywords such as early childhood trauma, psychological trauma, limbic system, hippocampus, amygdala, and neuroimaging. The articles were initially screened based on their titles, and those meeting the search criteria, including study population, investigated brain regions, and types of traumas, were further assessed for relevance. Ultimately, 136 articles were selected and discussed in this review. Trauma experiences in early life can have a significantly negative influence on a person's psychological health by causing neurodevelopmental impairments, especially in the limbic system. While it is understood that trauma influences how individuals think, behave, and feel, the results of neuroimaging studies reveal variations in the amygdala and hippocampus based on different trauma subtypes. These changes merit deeper investigation in future research to fully understand the reasons behind the diverse findings in existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a potentially fatal reaction to various forms of tissue damage and infections that cause damage to various organs. Furthermore, the brain is damaged earlier than other organs, resulting in diffuse brain dysfunction. The central clinical symptom of SIRS is delirium and emotional changes are involved in disease development. Although the amygdala is known to play a major role, the mechanisms underlying emotional changes in the early stages of SIRS have not been elucidated. Therefore, changes to dopamine levels in the amygdala were observed using an in vivo model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- induced SIRS to clarify the biochemical mechanisms activated in the early stages of SIRS. Extracellular dopamine was collected from the amygdala of free moving rats via microdialysis and then analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, emotional changes were assessed with the open field and sucrose preference tests. In the LPS group, dopamine release in the amygdala increased remarkably immediately after LPS administration, peaking at 120 min. Thereafter, dopamine release temporarily decreased, but then significantly increased again after 180 min. The present results suggest that diffuse brain dysfunction in the early stages of SIRS may involve altered dopamine levels in the amygdala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) regulates plasticity in brain systems underlying arousal and memory and is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research in animal models suggests that PACAP modulates entorhinal cortex (EC) input to the hippocampus, contributing to impaired contextual fear conditioning. In PTSD, PACAP is associated with higher activity of the amygdala to threat stimuli and lower functional connectivity of the amygdala and hippocampus. However, PACAP-affiliated structural alterations of these regions have not been investigated in PTSD. Here, we examined whether peripheral PACAP levels were associated with neuronal morphology of the amygdala and hippocampus (primary analyses), and EC (secondary) using Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging. Methods: Sixty-four (44 female) adults (19 to 54 years old) with DSM-5 Criterion A trauma exposure completed the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5), a blood draw, and magnetic resonance imaging. PACAP38 radioimmunoassay was performed and T1-weighted and multi-shell diffusion-weighted images were acquired. Neurite Density Index (NDI) and Orientation Dispersion Index (ODI) were quantified in the amygdala, hippocampus, and EC. CAPS-5 total score and anxious arousal score were used to test for clinical associations with brain structure. Results: Higher PACAP levels were associated with greater EC NDI (β = 0.0099, q = 0.032) and lower EC ODI (β = −0.0073, q = 0.047), and not hippocampal or amygdala measures. Neither EC NDI nor ODI was associated with clinical measures. Conclusions: Circulating PACAP levels were associated with altered neuronal density of the EC but not the hippocampus or amygdala. These findings strengthen evidence that PACAP may impact arousal-associated memory circuits in PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Istanbul Law Review / İstanbul Hukuk Mecmuası is the property of Istanbul Law Review / Istanbul Hukuk Mecmuasi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Estudiantil AGRO - VET is the property of Universidad Mayor de San Andres, Facultad de Agronomia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Alexithymia, an inability to recognise one's emotions, has been associated with trauma-exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous research suggests involvement of the oxytocin system, and socio-emotional neural processes. However, the paucity of neurobiological research on alexithymia, particularly in trauma-exposed populations, warrants further investigation. Objective: Explore associations between alexithymia, endogenous oxytocin levels, and socio-emotional brain function and morphometry in a trauma-exposed sample. Method: Dutch trauma-exposed police officers with (n = 38; 18 females) and without PTSD (n = 40; 20 females) were included. Alexithymia was assessed with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Endogenous salivary oxytocin was assessed during rest, using radioimmunoassay. Amygdala and insula reactivity to socio-emotional stimuli were assessed with functional MRI, amygdala and insula grey matter volume were derived using Freesurfer. Results: Alexithymia was higher in PTSD patients compared to trauma-exposed controls (F(1,70) = 54.031, p <.001). Within PTSD patients, alexithymia was positively associated with PTSD severity (ρ(36) = 0.497, p =.002). Alexithymia was not associated with childhood trauma exposure (β = 0.076, p =.509), police work-related trauma exposure (β = −0.107, p =.355), oxytocin levels (β = −0.164, p =.161), insula (β = −0.170, p =.158) or amygdala (β = −0.175, p =.135) reactivity, or amygdala volume (β = 0.146, p =.209). Insula volume was positively associated with alexithymia (β = 0.222, p =.016), though not significant after multiple testing corrections. Bayesian analyses supported a lack of associations. Conclusions: No convincing neurobiological correlates of alexithymia were observed with any of the markers included in the current study. Yet, the current study confirmed high levels of alexithymia in PTSD patients, independent of trauma-exposure, substantiating alexithymia's relevance in the clinical phenotype of PTSD. Little is known about neurobiological correlates of alexithymia in trauma-exposed and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) populations. In this highly trauma-exposed sample, alexithymia was associated with PTSD symptoms, but not with childhood or adult trauma exposure, suggesting alexithymia is not a direct consequence of trauma. Alexithymia was not convincingly associated with salivary oxytocin, amygdala and insula reactivity to socio-emotional stimuli, amygdala or insula grey matter volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundChildhood trauma (CT) is associated with altered brain anatomy. These neuroanatomical changes might be more pronounced in individuals with a psychiatric disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are more prevalent in individuals with a history of CT.ObjectiveIn this study, we examined limbic and total brain volumes in healthy women with and without a history of CT and in females with PTSD or BPD and a history of CT to see whether neuroanatomical changes are a function of psychopathology or CT.MethodIn total, 128 women (N = 70 healthy controls without CT, N = 25 healthy controls with CT, N = 14 individuals with PTSD, and N = 19 individuals with BPD) were recruited. A T1-weighted anatomical MRI was acquired from all participants for Freesurfer-based assessment of total brain, hippocampus, and amygdala volumes. Severity of CT was assessed with a clinical interview and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Group differences in hippocampal and amygdala volumes (adjusted for total brain volume) and total brain volume (adjusted for height) were characterized by analysis of covariance.ResultsVolume of the total brain, hippocampus, and amygdala did not differ between the four groups (p > .05). CT severity correlated negatively with total brain volume across groups (r = -0.20; p = .029).ConclusionsCT was associated with reduced brain volume but PTSD or BPD was not. The association between CT and reduced brain volume as a global measure of brain integrity suggests a common origin for vulnerability to psychiatric disorders later in life.

Copyright of Revista Científica de Ciencias de la Salud is the property of Revista Cientifica de Ciencias de la Salud and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Belügyi Szemle / Academic Journal of Internal Affairs is the property of Ministry of Interior of Hungary and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The work is a pilot study conducted on a small sample of nine subjects of different ages and psychological problems followed in psychotherapy with 3D Therapy®. The study proposes the effects of the manifestations of anxiety behaviors activated by the subjects placed in front of the 3D object which materializes the graphic representation of the dysfunctional emotional experience. The research examines the period of time from the presentation in the Cx phase of the 3D object for the next 10 minutes, a period in which the process of observation and detection of target behaviors manifested by individual subjects starts.

Ovaj rad uključuje pregled neuroznanstvenih istraživanja moralnosti, s naglaskom na moralno rasuđivanje i odlučivanje. Prvi dio rada donosi pregled teorijskih pristupa i konstrukata koji proizlaze iz tradicionalnih pristupa koji razmatraju primarnu ulogu kognitivnih procesa ili emocionalnih procesa u moralnome rasuđivanju. Drugi dio rada pruža uvid u neuroznanstvena istraživanja koja razmatraju i potvrđuju ulogu obaju procesa u moralnome rasuđivanju. Glavna su područja mozga uključena u moralno rasuđivanje prefrontalna moždana kora, cingularna kora, amigdala i inzula. Uz navedena se područja aktiviraju i područja sljepoočnoga i tjemenog režnja moždane kore koja se povezuju s teorijom uma. O njihovim se funkcionalnim doprinosima raspravlja, a mnogobrojna istraživanja ukazuju na to da se u podlozi moralnoga rasuđivanja i odlučivanja nalaze kognitivni, emocionalni i motivacijski mehanizmi.

Introducción: Recientemente hemos mostrado que la estimulación eléctrica de la amígdala 15 min después del entrenamiento de una tarea de memoria espacial puede facilitar el aprendizaje espacial en animales con lesión de fimbria-fórnix. Objetivos: estudiar los mecanismos de plasticidad neural involucrados en la recuperación funcional en los animales con lesión de fimbria-fórnix por efecto de la estimulación eléctrica de la amígdala basolateral. Métodos: Las proteínas y genes relacionados con la plasticidad neural se midieron en el hipocampo y la corteza prefrontal de ratas con lesión en la fimbria-fórnix después de cuatro días de entrenamiento en el laberinto acuático y estimulación de la amígdala basolateral. Resultados: La estimulación de la amígdala aumenta en el hipocampo los niveles de BDNF; así como los genes relacionados con la plasticidad neural bdnf y arc en los animales lesionados. Estas evidencias sugieren que estos pueden ser algunos de los mecanismos involucrados en la recuperación de las funciones perdidas en animales con lesión de fimbria-fórnix con estimulación de amígdala. Además, la estimulación de la amígdala aumenta la expresión transitoria de la proteína c-Fos; e incrementa las proteínas MAP-2 y GAP-43 que son indicadores del crecimiento dendrítico y axonal respectivamente en la corteza prefrontal y el hipocampo. Conclusiones: En consecuencia, la estimulación de la amígdala puede activar regiones cerebrales relevantes para los procesos de memoria y activar todas las formas de plasticidad neural, lo que lleva a la restauración neurológica.

This paper includes a review of moral neuroscience research with an emphasis on moral reasoning and decision-making. The first part of the paper includes an overview of theoretical approaches and constructs which elaborate the primary role of cognitive or emotional processes in moral reasoning. The second part of the paper provides insights into neuroscience research that considers and confirms the role of both processes in moral reasoning. The main brain areas in moral reasoning are the regions of the prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, amygdala, and insula. In addition to the above areas, the regions of the temporal and parietal lobe of the cerebral cortex that are associated with the theory of mind are also activated. This review includes a discussion about functional contributions to different brain parts and numerous studies indicate that cognitive, emotional, and motivational mechanisms are underlying moral reasoning and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Lymphangiomas are congenital malformations that frequently affect head and neck. The majority are diagnosed within the first two decades of life and the most common symptom is the presence of a mass in the head or neck. Lymphangiomas of the tonsils are yet rarer and can be asymptomatic, or according to the size and extension of the lesion, they can present dysphagia, sore throat, bleeding or cough. CLINICAL CASE: A 27-year-old female patient with a lymphangioma of the left tonsil, debuting with shortness of breath and stridor. CONCLUSIONS: This disease is established as an entity located in the upper airway more than just a histopathological finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta-analytic results indicate that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with hypoactivation of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hyperactivation of the amygdala, and volume reductions of the hippocampus. Effective psychotherapeutic treatments were hypothesized to normalize these neural patterns via upregulation of prefrontal structures, which in turn downregulate limbic regions. To gain a sound understanding of the effects of successful psychotherapy on the brain, neural changes from pre- to post-treatment in PTSD patients will be aggregated. A systematic literature search identified 24 original studies employing structural or functional MRI measurements both before and after treatment of patients diagnosed with PTSD. In conjunction, the review returned little evidence of an activation increase in the mPFC/rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) following successful treatment. Five out of 12 studies observed such an increase (especially during emotion processing tasks), albeit in partially non-overlapping brain regions. Conversely, neither the putative related activation decrease in the amygdala nor volumetric changes or altered activation during the resting state could be convincingly established. Successful psychological treatments might potentially work via upregulation of the mPFC, which thus may be involved in symptom reduction. However, the role of the amygdala in recovery from PTSD remains unclear. There is currently no indication that the various PTSD treatment approaches employed by the reviewed studies differ regarding their action mechanisms, but further research on this topic is needed. There is little evidence for an activation increase in mPFC/rACC following successful PTSD treatment. Most studies detected no significant activation changes in amygdala, insula, or hippocampus. There is no consistent evidence for post-treatment volume changes in any brain region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with dysregulated neural, cortisol, and cardiac stress reactivity and recovery. This understanding is predominantly based on studies in adults applying emotional-cognitive and trauma-related stimuli inducing negative emotions or perceived threat. Despite large numbers of adolescents with PTSD, few studies are available on neurobiological stress reactivity in this population. Moreover, no previous studies investigated neural reactivity to social-evaluative stress. Objective: To investigate functional brain connectivity, cortisol and cardiac reactivity to acute social-evaluative stress, and additional cortisol measures in trauma-exposed adolescents with and without high PTSD symptoms. Method: A speech preparation task to induce acute social-evaluative stress elicited by anticipatory threat, was used in a subsample of the Amsterdam Born Child and their Development (ABCD) birth cohort, consisting of trauma-exposed adolescents with (n = 20) and without (n = 29) high PTSD symptoms. Psychophysiological interaction analyses were performed to assess group differences in functional connectivity of the hippocampus, mPFC and amygdala during social-evaluative stress and recovery, measured by fMRI. Additionally, perceived stress, heart rate and cortisol stress reactivity and recovery, cortisol awakening response and day curve were compared. Results: The stressor evoked significant changes in heart rate and perceived stress, but not cortisol. The PTSD symptom and control groups differed in functional connectivity between the hippocampus and cerebellum, middle and inferior frontal gyrus, and the mPFC and inferior frontal gyrus during social-evaluative stress versus baseline. Mostly, the same patterns were found during recovery versus baseline. We observed no significant group differences in amygdala connectivity, and cortisol and cardiac measures. Conclusions: Our findings suggest threat processing in response to social-evaluative stress is disrupted in adolescents with PTSD symptoms. Our findings are mainly but not entirely in line with findings in adults with PTSD, which denotes the importance to investigate adolescents with PTSD as a separate population. Adolescents with PTSD symptoms showed different functional brain connectivity for the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex during social-evaluative stress. Amygdala connectivity was not different. Functional connectivity findings seem mostly similar to adults with PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tradicionalment, la qüestió de les emocions humanes (origen, significat, implicacions, regulació, etcètera) s’ha analitzat des d’un punt de vista metafísic des de les branques de la filosofia, la teologia i la religió. Tanmateix, la neurociència moderna ha obert nous horitzons en la comprensió de l’humà i la seva relació amb el món, descobrint que les emocions s’originen al cervell, en les anomenades amígdales cerebrals, i es gestionen des de l’escorça prefrontal, en conjunt amb altres funcions executives. Es pot establir un paral·lelisme entre les propostes filosòfiques i els coneixements actuals en neurociència? L’objectiu d’aquesta revisió és fer una recerca bibliogràfica sobre el tema des d’aquestes dos vessants per establir tots els paral·lelismes i diferències possibles, per avaluar conjuntament les propostes humanistes i científiques al voltant del tema de les emocions.

U posljednjih se desetak godina u medijima često govori o povećanom broju dijagnosticiranih slučajeva autizma u djetinjstvu. U ovom sustavnom pregledu razmatramo razvoj razumijevanja percepcije lica, jedne od specifičnijih značajki autizma, u svjetlu komorbiditeta s aleksitimijom i uznapredovalih statističkih metodologija istraživanja. Navodimo literaturu koja se bavi percepcijom lica u autizmu u različitim kognitivnim zadacima i upućuje na važnost često komorbidne aleksitimije, kao i literaturu koja koristi neuroslikovne metode istraživanja i potvrđuje važnost različitih uzoraka gledanja u autizmu pri analizi rezultata. U svrhu poboljšane obrazovne i socijalne integracije osoba s autizmom i/ili aleksitimijom predlažemo teme za daljnje istraživanje.

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı normal bireylerde parasingulat sulkus (PCS) uzunluğunun, yaş, cinsiyete göre hemisferler arasındaki farklılıklarını ve PCS uzunluğu ile amigdala, talamus ve hipokampus hacimleri arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: 3T manyetik rezonans görüntüleme (MR) cihazında çekilen kranial MR’de patoloji saptanmamış, 20-40 yaşlarında, 48 hasta (26 K, 22 E) çalışmaya alındı. PCS uzunluğu, her iki hemisferde manuel çizildi. PCS uzunluğu 40 mm’den yüksek olanlar belirgin, 20-40 mm arasındakiler kısa, 20 mm’den düşükler yok olarak sınıflandırıldı. Üç grup, hemisferler arasında, yaş ve cinsiyete göre karşılaştırıldı. Amigdala, talamus, hipokampus hacimleri, 3D T1A sagital görüntülerden BrainSuite yazılımıyla hesaplandı. Hacimler ile PCS uzunlukları istatistiksel olarak karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: PCS uzunlukları belirgin, kısa, yok gruplarında hemisferler arasında, cinsiyet ve yaşa bağlı anlamlı fark saptanmadı. Sağ hemisferde PCS belirginlerde, sağ amigdala hacmi anlamlı yüksek; PCS kısalarda, sağ hipokampus hacmi en düşük; PCS-belirginlerde sağ hipokampus hacmi yüksekti.Sonuç: Normal bireylerde PCS uzunluğunda, hemisferler arasında, cinsiyet ve yaşa bağlı fark görülmemesi, PCS’nin, hastalıklarda değişmesinin güvenilir bir bulgu olduğu sonucuna varılabilir. Sağ hemisferde PCS uzunluğu ile amigdala, hipokampus hacminin korele olması, anterior singulat korteks, medial prefrontal korteks bağlantılarının, PCS uzunluğu ile ilişkili olabileceğini düşündürmektedir.

Esta revisión pretende comprobar si el entrenamiento de Neurofeedback (NFB) es eficaz para la mejora sintomática del Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático (TEPT) en población adulta. Se realiza una búsqueda de estudios en las bases de datos PubMed y Science Direct. Los cinco estudios encontrados se centran en la regulación de la amplitud alfa con el entrenamiento de Neurofeedback a través del electroencefalograma (EEG) e imagen por resonancia magnética funcional (fMRI). En ellos se obtiene un aumento de amplitud alfa (“rebote”) tras el entrenamiento, asociado con la mejora sintomática, una mayor relajación y una conexión significativa entre amígdala y prefrontal. En base a la literatura, los resultados no reportan la eficacia y evidencia suficiente, pero se considera que la neuromodulación obtenida con NFB y asociada a la mejora sintomática, puede potenciar un progreso para el tratamiento tanto del TEPT como de otras patologías.

In the last few decades, the media have continuously reported on the increased number of diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This systematic review looks at the evolution of research on face perception, one of the characteristics of ASD, in the light of recently reported prevalence of alexythimia comorbidity, as well as improved statistical methods in cognitive research. We review the literature on behavioural face perception testing in autism, showing the importance of a prevalent comorbidity of alexythimia, as well as neural evidence showing the importance of differential eye gaze patterns in autism for data analysis. We suggest outstanding questions in the field in order to improve the integration of people with ASD and alexithymia into the educational and social contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous years of theory and research have informed our understanding of the caregiving experiences that confer vulnerability for dissociation. This work has resulted in widespread agreement on the role of childhood maltreatment as an aetiological factor. Objective: With clear integration of this perspective, the current paper draws attention to the spectrum of vulnerability that can exist over and above the trauma of maltreatment within early caregiving experiences. Method: An integrative review of the developmental literature on dissociation is presented. Results: We first review and integrate existing developmental theories of dissociation into a more unified perspective, highlighting a combination of defensive and intersubjective pathways towards dissociative outcomes. Next, we present empirical research demonstrating which specific caregiving experiences are associated with dissociation. Lastly, we review recent neurodevelopmental research demonstrating that (non-extreme) caregiving stressors during infancy impact the developing limbic structures in the brain. We conclude by offering directions for future research. Conclusion: Findings make the case for approaching assessments of the caregiver-child relationship with discernment of factors beyond the presence/absence of maltreatment when conceptualizing risk pathways toward dissociation. • Dissociation develops from infancy in the context of stressors in the caregiver-child relationship. • These stressors canoccur with, but also without maltreatment. • Changes in limbic brain regions may partly explain why such early stressors increase risk for dissociation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Surgery & Medicine (JOSAM) is the property of Journal of Surgery & Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Recent research has identified a general psychopathology factor (GPF), which explains overlap in presentation of psychopathological symptoms. Unresolved–disorganized attachment (Ud) is another transdiagnostic risk factor that may be relevant to explain differences in patient characteristics within diagnostic classifications. Objective: In the current study, we examined unique relations of resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) with Ud and GPF. Method: RSFC data were collected from a mixed group of adolescents (N = 74) with and without psychiatric disorder, as part of the Emotional Pathways’ Imaging Study in Clinical Adolescents (EPISCA) study. Ud was measured using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Associations between Ud, GPF, and RSFC of the amygdala and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and with amygdala–medial frontal connectivity were examined. Results: Ud was positively associated with greater functional connectivity between the left amygdala and the left lateral occipital cortex, precuneus, and superior parietal lobule. Furthermore, Ud was negatively associated with left amygdala–medial frontal cortex connectivity. GPF was not significantly associated with dACC or amygdala connectivity. Conclusions: Atypical amygdala connectivity may reflect a vulnerability factor rather than a biomarker of psychopathology. The unique association of Ud and amygdala RSFC, adjusted for a GPF, across participants with and without various classifications of psychopathology illustrates that dimensional approaches based on the AAI may complement psychiatric classifications in clinical research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La neurobiología de la agresión y la violencia es de interés para la psicología jurídica porque buena parte de la conducta delictiva tiene componentes violentos. En esta revisión se definen en primer lugar ambos conceptos, para diferenciar a continuación los tipos de agresión (impulsiva vs. instrumental) que aparecen en la literatura científica y finalmente analizar las estructuras nerviosas que según los estudios sobre lesiones cerebrales o de neuroimagen están asociadas con la agresión. Esta revisión destaca: a) las estructuras subcorticales como el hipotálamo/tronco del encéfalo, donde se genera la conducta agresiva y la amígdala, implicada en procesar estímulos emocionalmente destacados; b) las estructuras corticales como la corteza prefrontal (que comprende la corteza orbitofrontal, la corteza prefrontal ventromedial y la corteza cingulada anterior), que parecen ser hipofuncionales en los sujetos violentos. Por último, se revisan estudios sobre el papel del neurotransmisor serotonina en la manifestación del comportamiento agresivo.

Lipoid proteinosis (LP) is a very rare autosomal-recessive disease characterized by multisystem involvement due to intracellular deposition of amorphous hyaline material. Clinical manifestations include hoarness, acne-like facial scarring and neurological manifestation including seizures. We describe the clinical, genetics and radiological features of LP in a refractory epileptic patient with genetic confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the hemispheric differences of paracingulate sulcus (PCS) length in otherwise, healthy subjects based on age and gender and to demonstrate the association between the PCS length and volumes of the amygdala, thalamus and hippocampus. Materials and Methods: Forty eight patients (26 F, 22 M; ages 20-40) with non-pathologic cranial MRI's from 3T MRI were included. PCS length was manually measured in both hemispheres. PCS lengths =40 mm were classified as prominent, those between 20 and 40 mm were classified as short, and those =20 mm were classified as absent. Volumes of amygdala, thalamus and hippocampus were calculated from 3D T1W sagittal images using the BrainSuite program and compared statistically with PCS length. Results: No significant differences were found between hemispheres of patients with prominent, short or absent PCS in respect to age or gender. If prominent PCS, amygdala of the right hemisphere was significantly larger and right hippocampus volume was increased. In individuals with short PCS, right hippocampus was smaller. Conclusion: Absence of PCS length variation with gender and age indicates changes in PCS as a reliable finding in disease. Correlation between PCS length and volumes of amygdala, hippocampus and thalamus in the right hemisphere, can indicate an association between anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex connections and length of the PCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose was to investigate the volume changes of hippocampus and amygdala in Social anxiety disorder (SAD) patients and healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 22 patients diagnosed with SAD, who were being treated as either inpatients or outpatients at the psychiatric clinic of our hospital, were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of a total of 20 healthy volunteers who don't have exclusion criteria. Exclusion criteria were as follows: the presence of depression and other comorbidities, severe systemic diseases including diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and hypertension, a low level of education preventing a healthy interview, and the presence of mental retardation. No preliminary preventive measures were implemented before imaging. The volume of hippocampus and amygdala in all patients was measured on MRI examinations. No intravenous contrast agent was administered. Results: The mean volume of right hippocampus and left hippocampus in patient group were 3.47±0.57 cm3 and 3.44±0.48 cm3, respectively. The mean volume of right hippocampus and left hippocampus in control group were 3.00±0.24 cm3 and 2.98±0.27 cm3, respectively. The right and left hippocampus volume of patient group was significantly higher than control group. The mean volume of right and left amygdala in patient group were 2.05±0.36 cm3 and 2.04±0.37 cm3, respectively. The mean volume of right and left amygdala in control group were 2.03±0.25cm3 and 1.98±0.33 cm3, respectively. The amygdala volume of patient and control group was not significantly different. By the way the correlation of amygdala in patient group was impaired. Conclusion: Our study revealed abnormalities of amygdala and hippocampus which may be associated with physiopathology of SAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Amygdala neuronal responses play a key role in fear conducts. Principal Neuron (PN) is one of the most important generators of the output in the amygdala neuronal network. PN has excitatory connections to other PN and receives inhibitory synapsis from GABAergic interneurons acting on gGABAA, also receives thalamic and cortical inputs which activate postsynaptic gNMDA, gAMPA and gL (L-type Ca2+ channels). It has been proposed that main neurotransmission in amygdala could be modulated by estradiol (ES) and/or progesterone (PRG). Objetive: To implement a deterministic PN model with reported membrane conductances and to evaluate discharge changes induced by ES and/or PRG. Methods: Seven different scenarios were tested: a) Control conditions running unchanged membrane ion and synaptic currents; b) 20% reduction in GABAA current for ES effect; c) 20% increase in AMPA and NMDA currents for ES effect; d) b + c; e) 20% reduction AMPA/Kainate for PRG effects; f) 20% increase GABAA current for PRG effects; and, g) e + f. Results: ES shows a strong excitatory effect more dependent on gGABAA reduction associated with a long lasting increase of gAMPA than for the increase on gAMPA and gNMDA when evaluated separately, however, a combination of these factors, which are the actual situation, shows a more intense and lasting neuronal excitation. PRG shows a strong inhibitory effect avoiding any discharge that was more depended to the fast increase and long lasting effect on gGABAA than due to decrease in gAMPA and gNMDA. Combination of these factors shows no synergic, not even additive inhibitory effects.Conclusion: These results strongly support the notion that ES and/or PRG participate on amygdala principal neuronal responses involved in fear, anxiety and nocifensive behavior probably associated to gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emotional memory is an important type of memory that is triggered by positive and negative emotions. It is characterized by an enhanced memory for emotional stimuli which is usually coupled with a decrease in memory of neutral preceding events. Emotional memory is strongly associated with amygdala function and therefore could be disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders. To our knowledge, there is no translated and culturally adapted instrument for the Brazilian Portuguese speaking population to assess emotional memory. Objective: To report the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Emotional Memory Scale, originally published by Strange et al. in 2003. Methods: The author of the original scale provided 36 lists with 16 words each. Translation was performed by three independent bilingual translators. Healthy subjects assessed how semantically related each word was within the list (0 to 10) and what the emotional valence of each word was (-6 to +6). Lists without negative words were excluded (negative selection), most positive and most unrelated words were excluded (positive and semantic selection, respectively), and lists with low semantic relationship were excluded (semantic assessment). Results: Five lists were excluded during negative selection, four words from each list were excluded in positive and semantic selection, and 11 lists were excluded during semantic assessment. Finally, we reached 20 lists of semantically related words; each list had one negative word and 11 neutral words. Conclusion: A scale is now available to evaluate emotional memory in the Brazilian population and requires further validation on its psychometrics properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Acadêmica: Ciência Animal is the property of Revista Academica: Ciencia Animal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Psychopathy is characterised by emotional disturbances that affect interpersonal behaviour and decisionmaking. The objective of this paper is to review the most recent contributions to the field of neuroscience of psychopathy and the implications that this disorder has on the criminal legal field. In regards to this last aspect, we evaluate the issue of psychopaths' accountability and the incidence of psychopathy in many other penal institutions. In terms of the contributions of neuroscience, we will focus on the orbitofrontal (ofPFC) and ventromedial (vmPFC) regions of the frontal lobes and on the amygdala. Data spanning from the nineteenth century to the present indicate that damage to the ofPFC and vmPFC is the basis of behaviours that have been referred to as pseudopsychopathic. The earlier during brain development the damage occurs, the more likely these behaviours will resemble those of psychopaths. The damage to the amygdala is rather related to impairments in the ability to distinguish facial expressions of fear and the capacity to feel emotions. Damage to ofPFC, vmPFC, and amygdala are highly relevant to the expression of pseudopsychopathic behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Auditory hallucinations (AH) are one of the most prevalent symptoms of schizophrenia. They might cause several brain alterations, especially changes in the volumes of hippocampus and amygdala, regions related to the relay and processing of auditory cues and emotional memories., Material and Methods: We have recruited 41 patients with schizophrenia and persistent AH, 35 patients without AH, and 55 healthy controls. Using their MRIs, we have performed semiautomatic segmentations of the hippocampus and amygdala using Freesurfer. We have also performed bilateral correlations between the total PSYRATS score and the volumes of affected subregions and nuclei., Results: In the hippocampus, we found bilateral increases in the volume of its hippocampal fissure and decreases in the right fimbria in patients with and without AH. The volume of the right hippocampal tail and left head of the granule cell layer from the dentate gyrus were decreased in patients with AH. In the amygdala, we found its left total volume was shrunk, and there was a decrease of its left accessory basal nucleus in patients with AH., Conclusions: We have detected volume alterations of different limbic structures likely due to the presence of AH. The volumes of the right hippocampal tail and left head of the granule cell layer from the dentate gyrus, and total volume of the amygdala and its accessory basal nucleus, were only affected in patients with AH. Bilateral volume alterations in the hippocampal fissure and right fimbria seem inherent of schizophrenia and due to traits not contemplated in our research., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

OBJETIVO: Verificar alterações na fala em crianças respiradoras orais e relacioná-las com o tipo respiratório, a etiologia, o gênero e a idade. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 439 respiradores orais com idade entre quatro e 12 anos. Considerou-se atraso no desenvolvimento de fala a presença de alterações em crianças acima de cinco anos de idade. As alterações observadas foram interposição de língua (IL), ceceio frontal (CF), troca articulatória (TA), omissões (OM) e ceceio lateral (CL). Relacionou-se etiologia da respiração oral, gênero, idade, tipo respiratório e alterações de fala. RESULTADOS: Alterações de fala foram diagnosticadas em 31,2% dos pacientes sem relação com o tipo respiratório: oral ou misto. Maior frequência de trocas articulatórias e mais de uma alteração de fala ocorreram no gênero masculino. IL foi documentada em 53,3% pacientes, seguida por TA em 26,3% e CF em 21,9%. Concomitância de duas ou mais alterações de fala ocorreu em 24,8% das crianças. CONCLUSÃO: Respirar pela boca pode afetar o desenvolvimento da fala, a socialização e o desempenho escolar. A detecção precoce da respiração oral é essencial para prevenir e minimizar seus efeitos negativos sobre o desenvolvimento global dos indivíduos.

Experiments conducted in animals have repeatedly demonstrated the ability of exercise to enhance cognitive function. This study examines the effects of chronic swimming exercise on non-spatial memory in adult rats after 12 weeks of swimming exercise in object recognition and elevated T-maze tests. In the object recognition test, repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a group effect (F1,42 = 26,093; p < 0.001), control rats had lower discrimination ratios than the exercise group. However, the swimming exercise did not affect the performance of inhibitory avoidance and escapes, when memory was tested in elevated T-maze. Analysis of variance showed a significant reduction in inhibitory avoidance 24h after the first training (F1,42 = 14,552; p < 0.001). Results indicated that regular swimming exercise significantly increased non-spatial memory in object recognition behavior, but did not affect the performance of inhibitory avoidance and escape on elevated T-maze test in adult rats. These findings suggest that the perirhinal cortex plays a role in memory consolidation and storage in addition to that of the amygdala, which could be regarded as the center of a second memory system, separate from those governed by the perirhinal cortex.As experiências realizadas em animais mostram a capacidade do exercício em melhorar as funções cognitivas. Este estudo analisa os efeitos do exercício crônico de natação sobre a memória não-espacial em ratos adultos após 12 semanas de exercício de natação nos testes de reconhecimento de objetos e labirinto em T elevado. O teste de reconhecimento de objetos, pelas repetidas análises de variância revelaram um efeito de grupo (F1,42 = 26.093; p < 0,001), os ratos controles discriminaram uma razão inferior ao do grupo de exercício. Entretanto, o exercício de natação não afetou o desempenho de esquiva inibitória e escape, quando a memória foi testada no labirinto em T elevado. Análise de variância mostrou redução significativa na esquiva inibitória 24h após o primeiro treino (F1,42 = 14.552; p < 0,001). Os resultados indicam que o exercício regular de natação aumenta significativamente a memória não-espacial no comportamento de reconhecimento de objetos, mas não afeta o medo condicionado no teste do labirinto em T elevado em ratos adultos. Estes resultados sugerem que o córtex peririnal desempenha papel nos processos de consolidação e armazenamento de memória além da amígdala, podendo esta ser encarada como um segundo centro de sistema de memória, separada dos regidos pelo córtex peririnal.

El trabajo revisa los mecanismos neurales que hacen posible la relación entre actividad cerebral, percepción-evaluación de acontecimientos y contexto social en el desenlace del estrés. Sostiene la tesis de que dicha secuencia cristaliza la relación psiconeural y de que ésta reside en las conexiones entre el córtex prefrontal y el circuito núcleo talámico dorsomedialamígdala.

Objectives: Activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and interrelated alterations of calmodulin and ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluN1) levels are unknown in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were exposed to dirty cat litter, and then placed on an elevated plus maze. An anxiety index was calculated and tissue samples from hippocampus and amygdala were prepared in order to detect calmodulin, NOS and GluN1 by immunoblotting. Results: The anxiety indices of the traumatized rats were markedly higher than those of the controls (p<0.05). GluN1 and calmodulin levels were decreased in the dorsal hippocampus and amygdaloid complex of the traumatized rats. NOS expression increased significantly in both the amygdaloid complex and dorsal hippocampus where the increase was statistically more prominent in the amygdaloid complex (p< 0.001) than in the dorsal hippocampus of the traumatized rats (p<0.05). Conclusion: Predator exposure in rats causes long-lasting anxiogenic effects associated with increases in NOS and decreases in GluN1 expressions in brain areas related to PTSD symptoms and excitotoxicity. The results suggest that excitotoxicity occurs through other mechanisms rather than GluN1 receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legal psychology has become interested in the neurobiology of agression and violence because in many cases criminal behaviour has violent components. The objective of this review is triple: to give a definition of both concepts; to show the different kinds of aggression (impulsive vs. instrumental) described in the scientific literature; and to analyse the neural structures that have been associated with aggression through lesion or neuroimaging studies. This review highlights mainly: a) subcortical structures such as hypothalamus and brain stem, where aggression is generated, and the amygdala, involved in processing emotionally salient stimuli; b) cortical structures such as the prefrontal cortex (which includes the orbitofrontal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex) which seem to be hypofunctional in the aggressive subjects. Finally, studies about the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin and its role in aggressive behavior are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novos neurônios continuam sendo gerados no cérebro adulto de diversas espécies animais. Muitos estudos têm demonstrado que diversos fatores ambientais, inclusive o estresse, influenciam a proliferação de células hipocampais. Nesse sentido, a diminuição da neurogênese induzida pelo estresse parece ser um importante fator na etiologia da depressão. Nessa revisão, a relação entre neurogênese e depressão é enfatizada.New hippocampal neurons are continuously generated in the adult brain of several animal species. Several studies have demonstrated that a variety of enviromental factors, including stress, influence the proliferation of hippocampal cells. Thus, stress induced decrease of hippocampal neurogenesis seem to be an important factor in the etiology of depression. In this review the relationship between neurogenesis and depression has been emphasized.