Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation

Self-affirmation theory posits that people are motivated to maintain a positive self-view and that threats to perceived self-competence are met with resistance. When threatened, self-affirmations can restore self-competence by allowing individuals to reflect on sources of self-worth, such as core values. Many questions exist, however, about the underlying mechanisms associated with self-affirmation. We examined the neural mechanisms of self-affirmation with a task developed for use in a functional magnetic resonance imaging environment. Results of a region of interest analysis demonstrated that participants who were affirmed (compared with unaffirmed participants) showed increased activity in key regions of the brain’s self-processing (medial prefrontal cortex + posterior cingulate cortex) and valuation (ventral striatum + ventral medial prefrontal cortex) systems when reflecting on future-oriented core values (compared with everyday activities). Furthermore, this neural activity went on to predict changes in sedentary behavior consistent with successful affirmation in response to a separate physical activity intervention. These results highlight neural processes associated with successful self-affirmation, and further suggest that key pathways may be amplified in conjunction with prospection.     

Absolute serum neurofilament light chain levels and its early kinetics predict brain injury after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Journal of Neurology - To test if the early kinetics of neurofilament light (NFL) in blood adds to the absolute values of NFL in the prediction of outcome, and to evaluate if NFL can discriminate...     

Visualization of the amygdalo–hippocampal border and its structural variability by 7T and 3T magnetic resonance imaging

The amygdala and the hippocampus are two adjacent structures in the medial temporal lobe that have been broadly investigated in functional and structural neuroimaging due to their central importance in sensory perception, emotion, and memory. Exact demarcation of the amygdalo‐hippocampal border (AHB) is, however, difficult in conventional structural imaging. Recent evidence suggests that, due to this difficulty, functional activation sites with high probability of being located in the hippocampus may erroneously be assigned to the amygdala, and vice versa. In the present study, we investigated the potential of ultra‐high‐field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in single sessions for detecting the AHB in humans. We show for the first time the detailed structure of the AHB as it can be visualized in T1‐weighted 7T in vivo images at 0.5‐mm³ isotropic resolution. Compared to data acquired at 3T, 7T images revealed considerably more structural detail in the AHB region. Thus, we observed a striking inter‐hemispheric and interindividual variability of the exact anatomical configuration of the AHB that points to the necessity of individual imaging of the AHB as a prerequisite for accurate anatomical assignment in this region. The findings of the present study demonstrate the usefulness of ultra‐high‐field structural MRI to resolve anatomical ambiguities of the human AHB. Highly accurate morphometric and functional investigations in this region at 7T may allow addressing such hitherto unexplored issues as whether the structural configuration of the AHB is related to functional differences in amygdalo‐hippocampal interaction. Hum Brain Mapp 35:4316–4329, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .     

The human amygdala is sensitive to the valence of pictures and sounds irrespective of arousal: an fMRI study

With the advent of studies showing that amygdala responses are not limited to fear-related or highly unpleasant stimuli, studies began to focus on stimulus valence and stimulus-related arousal as predictors of amygdala activity. Recent studies in the chemosensory domain found amygdala activity to increase with the intensity of negative and positive chemosensory stimuli. This has led to the proposal that amygdala activity might be an indicator of emotional arousal, at least in the chemosensory domain. The present study investigated amygdala activity in response to visual and auditory stimuli. By selecting stimuli based on individual valence and arousal ratings, we were able to dissociate stimulus valence and stimulus-related arousal, both on the verbal and the peripheral physiological level. We found that the amygdala was sensitive to stimulus valence even when arousal was controlled for, and that increased amygdala activity was better explained by valence than by arousal. The proposed difference in the relation between amygdala activity and stimulus-related arousal between the chemosensory and the audiovisual domain is discussed in terms of the amygdala''s embedding within these sensory systems and the processes by which emotional meaning is derived.     

Health Services Use and Costs in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Germany: Results from a Survey in ASD Outpatient Clinics

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with high services use, but European data on costs are scarce. Utilisation and annual costs of 385...     

Effect of high‐frequency subthalamic neurostimulation on gait and freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

The aim of this meta‐analysis was to summarize the short‐ and long‐term effects of bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN‐DBS) on gait and freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease and to detect predictors of post‐stimulation outcome. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted up to October 2015 using Medline Ovid databases for studies analyzing the effect of bilateral STN‐DBS on FOG and/or gait. Sixteen studies with available data for the gait item (no. 29) of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and six studies with the FOG item (no. 14) were included. Data were summarized for the following follow‐up periods: 6–15, 24–48 and >48 months. For the medication (Med)‐Off/stimulation(Stim)‐On condition compared with baseline Med‐Off, STN‐DBS significantly improved gait on average from 2.43 to 0.96, 2.53 to 1.31 and 2.56 to 1.40 points at 6–15, 24–48 and >48 months, respectively (P < 0.05). Pre‐operative levodopa responsiveness of UPDRS‐III and Med‐Off severity of gait were the predictors of this beneficial effect. STN‐DBS significantly improved FOG for the Med‐Off/Stim‐On condition compared with baseline on average from 2.26 to 0.82, 2.43 to 1.13 and 2.48 to 1.38 points at 6–15, 24–48 and >48 months, respectively (P < 0.05). There was no significant effect in the Med‐On/Stim‐On condition. This meta‐analysis showed a robust improvement of gait and FOG by STN‐DBS for more than 4 years in the Med‐Off/Stim‐On condition. No beneficial effect was found for the On state of medication. Pre‐operative levodopa responsiveness of global motor performance (UPDRS‐III) is the strongest predictor of the effect of deep brain stimulation on gait.     

广西鼠疫指示动物犬血清IHA、ELISA检测鼠疫F1抗体的一致性研究

目的 了解应用IHA、ELISA检测鼠疫F1抗体的一致性,评价方法的优劣,以便更好地制订鼠疫监测的方法及防治策略.方法 对广西鼠疫监测点隆林、西林县的犬血清使用IHA及ELISA两种试验方法,并进行一致性研究,评价IHA与ELISA方法的可靠性.结果 IHA检测鼠疫F1抗体阳性率为0,ELISA检测鼠疫F1抗体的总阳性率为4.4%(12/273);IHA与ELISA之间的一致性为95.6%,其Kappa值等于0,呈轻度一致.结论 间接血凝试验方法特异、操作简便是传统的鼠疫监测手段之一;酶联免疫吸附试验具有敏感性高、特异性强、操作简便等特点,且与间接血凝试验有轻度一致性,适宜在鼠疫监测中推广应用.