Structural changes in brain morphology induced by brief periods of repetitive sensory stimulation
Structural changes in brain morphology induced by brief periods of repetitive sensory stimulation
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DOI：
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.10.016
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发表时间：
2018-01
期刊：
影响因子：
5.7
通讯作者：
T. Schmidt-Wilcke;Niklas Wulms;S. Heba;B. Pleger;N. Puts;B. Glaubitz;T. Kalisch;M. Tegenthoff;H. Dinse
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
T. Schmidt-Wilcke;Niklas Wulms;S. Heba;B. Pleger;N. Puts;B. Glaubitz;T. Kalisch;M. Tegenthoff;H. Dinse
人们越来越感兴趣的是识别人类大脑允许提高性能的神经机制。触觉感知测量，例如两点辨别（2ptD），可用于研究感知的神经机制以及感知改善。可以以不依赖于实践的方式诱导改善，例如通过重复体感刺激（rSS）在触觉领域。关于触觉感知，皮质兴奋性和躯体感觉皮质内的激活的作用已被广泛研究。然而，结构特性的作用，如区域灰质（GM）的体积，是未知的。使用高分辨率成像和基于体素的形态测定法（VBM），我们试图研究区域GM体积与个体2ptD性能的关系。此外，我们想确定是否电rSS区域GM体积的影响。2ptD阈值的食指进行了评估双边。在刺激前和刺激后使用3T扫描仪获得高分辨率（1 mm3）T1加权图像。RSS应用于优势的右手，特别是所有finger.At基线的指尖，在2ptD任务的性能与区域GM在丘脑，初级体感皮层，初级视觉皮层（负相关）的体积。在45分钟的rSS后，我们观察到受刺激的手的2ptD的改善，而在非刺激侧没有看到触觉性能的改善。这些知觉的变化是伴随着左体感皮层的GM体积的增加和改善程度与GM体积的变化在岛叶cort.Our研究结果表明，在大脑中的结构变化，特别是在接受传入输入的区域从刺激的身体部位可以诱导通过短期干预持续只有45分钟。然而，这些变化的神经生物学相关性和动力学需要进一步阐明。
There is a growing interest in identifying the neural mechanisms by which the human brain allows for improving performance. Tactile perceptual measurements, e.g. two-point discrimination (2ptD), can be used to investigate neural mechanisms of perception as well as perceptual improvement. Improvement can be induced in a practice-independent manner, e.g. in the tactile domain through repetitive somatosensory stimulation (rSS). With respect to tactile perception, the role of cortical excitability and activation within the somatosensory cortex has been investigated extensively. However, the role of structural properties, such as regional gray matter (GM) volume, is unknown. Using high resolution imaging and voxel-based morphometry (VBM), we sought to investigate how regional GM volume relates to individual 2ptD performance. Furthermore, we wanted to determine if electrical rSS has an influence on regional GM volume.2ptD thresholds of the index fingers were assessed bilaterally. High-resolution (1 mm3), T1-weighted images were obtained using a 3T scanner pre-and post-stimulation. RSS was applied for 45 min to the dominant right hand, specifically to the fingertips of all fingers.At baseline, performance in the 2ptD task was associated with regional GM volume in the thalamus, primary somatosensory cortex, and primary visual cortex (negative association). After 45 min of rSS, we observed an improvement in 2ptD of the stimulated hand, whereas no improvement in tactile performance was seen on the non-stimulated side. These perceptual changes were accompanied by an increase in GM volume in the left somatosensory cortex and the degree of improvement correlated with GM volume changes in the insular cortex.Our results show that structural changes in the brain, specifically in regions receiving afferent input from the stimulated body site can be induced via a short-term intervention lasting only 45 min. However, the neurobiological correlates of these changes and the dynamics need to be further elucidated.