DSpace Collection:
https://opendata.uni-halle.de//handle/1981185920/13537
2024-03-29T07:56:08ZBDNF haploinsufficiency induces behavioral endophenotypes of schizophrenia in male mice that are rescued by enriched environment
https://opendata.uni-halle.de//handle/1981185920/103754
Title: BDNF haploinsufficiency induces behavioral endophenotypes of schizophrenia in male mice that are rescued by enriched environment
Author(s): Harb, Mahmoud; Jagusch, Justina; Durairaja, Archana; Endres, Thomas; Leßmann, Volkmar; Fendt, Markus
Abstract: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in a number of processes that are crucial for healthy functioning
of the brain. Schizophrenia is associated with low BDNF levels in the brain and blood, however, not much is known
about BDNF’s role in the different symptoms of schizophrenia. Here, we used BDNF-haploinsufficient (BDNF+/−) mice
to investigate the role of BDNF in different mouse behavioral endophenotypes of schizophrenia. Furthermore, we
assessed if an enriched environment can prevent the observed changes. In this study, male mature adult wild-type
and BDNF+/− mice were tested in mouse paradigms for cognitive flexibility (attentional set shifting), sensorimotor
gating (prepulse inhibition), and associative emotional learning (safety and fear conditioning). Before these tests, half
of the mice had a 2-month exposure to an enriched environment, including running wheels. After the tests, BDNF
brain levels were quantified. BDNF+/− mice had general deficits in the attentional set-shifting task, increased startle
magnitudes, and prepulse inhibition deficits. Contextual fear learning was not affected but safety learning was absent.
Enriched environment housing completely prevented the observed behavioral deficits in BDNF+/− mice. Notably, the
behavioral performance of the mice was negatively correlated with BDNF protein levels. These novel findings strongly
suggest that decreased BDNF levels are associated with several behavioral endophenotypes of schizophrenia.
Furthermore, an enriched environment increases BDNF protein to wild-type levels and is thereby able to rescue these
behavioral endophenotypes.2021-01-01T00:00:00ZStudying Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with 7-T magnetic resonance
https://opendata.uni-halle.de//handle/1981185920/103751
Title: Studying Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with 7-T magnetic resonance
Author(s): Düzel, Emrah; Costagli, Mauro; Donatelli, Graziella; Speck, Oliver; Cosottini, Mirco
Abstract: Ultra-high-field (UHF) magnetic resonance (MR) scanners, that is, equipment operating at static magnetic field of 7
tesla (7 T) and above, enable the acquisition of data with greatly improved signal-to-noise ratio with respect to
conventional MR systems (e.g., scanners operating at 1.5 T and 3 T). The change in tissue relaxation times at UHF
offers the opportunity to improve tissue contrast and depict features that were previously inaccessible. These
potential advantages come, however, at a cost: in the majority of UHF-MR clinical protocols, potential drawbacks
may include signal inhomogeneity, geometrical distortions, artifacts introduced by patient respiration, cardiac cycle,
and motion. This article reviews the 7 T MR literature reporting the recent studies on the most widespread
neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.2021-01-01T00:00:00Z„Wut im Ohr“: Misophonie : Übersicht und aktueller Wissensstand
https://opendata.uni-halle.de//handle/1981185920/103266
Title: „Wut im Ohr“: Misophonie : Übersicht und aktueller Wissensstand
Author(s): Schwemmle, Cornelia Christiane; Arens, Christoph
Abstract: Die Misophonie ist eine Intoleranz auf bestimmte
Alltagsgeräusche. Hierbei fungieren
als „Trigger“ „menschliche Körpergeräusche“,
z. B. Schlucken/Schmatzen/Atemgeräusche
oder Geräusche, die von Menschen, aber
nicht vom menschlichen Körper erzeugt
werden (z. B. Klicken Kugelschreiberknopf ),
ferner Tier-/Maschinengeräusche. Die
Betroffenen verspüren sofort eine negativemotionale
Reaktion wie Wut, Aggression,
Ekel u.a. Objektivierbare Veränderungen
sind Herzfrequenzerhöhung und Blutdruckveränderungen.
Die emotionale
Reaktion ist individuell und hängt z. B. von
Geräuschart, persönlicher Vorerfahrung,
sozialem Kontext oder psychologischem Profil
ab. Die Misophonie ist bisher als Krankheit
nicht definiert und keinem offiziellen
Diagnosesystem zugeordnet, sie scheint eine
eigenständige Störung zu sein: Assoziationen
bestehen u. a. mit Aufmerksamkeits-/Zwangsstörungen,
Tinnitus, Hyperakusis, Autismus-
Spektrum-Krankheiten. Definitionskriterien
wurden 2013 veröffentlicht; verschiedene,
validierte Fragebögen wurden bisher zur
Misophonieausprägung entwickelt. Studien
mit funktionellenMRT-Untersuchungen des
Kopfes zeigten eine übermäßige Aktivierung
des anterioren Inselkortex (AIC) und seiner
benachbarten Regionen, die für Emotionsverarbeitung/-
regulation verantwortlich
sind. Bisher gibt es keine randomisierten
kontrollierten Studien zur Therapie. Einzelne
Publikationen beschreiben kognitive Verhaltensinterventionen,
Retrainingtherapien und
Schallmaskierungssysteme. Zur Triggerreduktion
werden Ohrstöpsel/Musikkopfhörer
verwendet. Auch HNO-Ärzte können mit
Misophoniepatienten konfrontiert werden,
z. B. zur Klärung des Hörvermögens oder
Beratung von Therapiemöglichkeiten. Der
Bericht stellt eine Übersicht des aktuellen
Wissensstands zur Misophonie sowie ihrer
Diagnostik und Therapie dar.2022-01-01T00:00:00ZCortical hemodynamics as a function of handgrip strength and cognitive performance : a cross-sectional fNIRS study in younger adults
https://opendata.uni-halle.de//handle/1981185920/103241
Title: Cortical hemodynamics as a function of handgrip strength and cognitive performance : a cross-sectional fNIRS study in younger adults
Author(s): Herold, Fabian; Behrendt, Tom; Törpel, Alexander; Hamacher, Dennis; Müller, Notger Germar; Schega, Lutz
Abstract: Background: There is growing evidence for a positive correlation between measures of muscular strength and
cognitive abilities. However, the neurophysiological correlates of this relationship are not well understood so far. The
aim of this study was to investigate cortical hemodynamics [i.e., changes in concentrations of oxygenated (oxyHb)
and deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxyHb)] as a possible link between measures of muscular strength and cognitive
performance.
Methods: In a cohort of younger adults (n = 39, 18–30 years), we assessed (i) handgrip strength by a handhold
dynamometer, (ii) short-term working memory performance by using error rates and reaction times in the Sternberg
task, and (iii) cortical hemodynamics of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Results: We observed low to moderate negative correlations (
rp = ~ − 0.38 to − 0.51; p < 0.05) between reaction
time and levels of oxyHb in specific parts of the PFC. Furthermore, we noticed low to moderate positive correlations
(
rp = ~ 0.34 to 0.45; p < 0.05) between reaction times and levels of deoxyHb in distinct parts of the PFC. Additionally,
higher levels of oxyHb (
rp (35) = 0.401; p = 0.014) and lower levels of deoxyHb (
rp (34) = − 0.338; p = 0.043) in specific
parts of the PFC were linked to higher percentage of correct answers. We also found low to moderate correlations
(p < 0.05) between measures of handgrip strength and levels of oxyHb (
rp = ~ 0.35; p < 0.05) and levels of deoxyHb
(
rp = ~ − 0.25 to − 0.49; p < 0.05) in specific parts of the PFC. However, there was neither a correlation between cognitive
performance and handgrip strength nor did cortical hemodynamics in the PFC mediate the relationship between
handgrip strength and cognitive performance (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The present study provides evidence for a positive neurobehavioral relationship between cortical
hemodynamics and cognitive performance. Our findings further imply that in younger adults higher levels of handgrip
strength positively influence cortical hemodynamics although the latter did not necessarily culminate in better
cognitive performance. Future research should examine whether the present findings can be generalized to other
cohorts (e.g., older adults).2021-01-01T00:00:00Z