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Biomedical subjects

H Shibasaki

Publications and source records attributed to H Shibasaki.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Attention modulates both primary and second somatosensory cortical activities in humans: a magnetoencephalographic study.

To clarify the role of primary and second somatosensory cortex (SI and SII) in somatosensory discrimination, we recorded somatosensory evoked magnetic fields during a stimulus strength discrimination task. The temporal pattern of cortical activation was analyzed by dipole source model coregistered with magnetic resonance image. Stimulus intensity was represented in SI as early as 20 ms after the stimulus presentation. The later components of SI response (latency 37.7 and 67.9 ms) were enhanced by rarely presented stimuli (stimulus deviancy) during passive and active attention. This supports an early haptic memory mechanism in human primary sensory cortex. Contra- and ipsilateral SII responses followed the SI responses (latency 124.6 and 138.3 ms, respectively) and were enhanced by attention more prominently than the SI responses. Active attention increased SII but not SI activity. These results are consistent with the concept of ventral somatosensory pathway that SI and SII are hierarchically organized for passive and active detection of discrete stimuli.

Adult↗

Cortical-hippocampal auditory processing identified by magnetoencephalography.

We recorded magnetic and electrical responses simultaneously in an auditory detection task to elucidate the brain areas involved in auditory processing. Target stimuli evoked magnetic fields peaking at approximately the same latency of around about 400 msec (M400) over the anterior temporal, superior temporal, and parietal regions on each hemisphere. Equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) were analyzed with a time-varying multidipole model and superimposed on each subject's magnetic resonance image (MRI). Multiple independent dipoles located in the superior temporal plane, inferior parietal lobe, and mesial temporal region best accounted for the recorded M400 fields. These findings suggest that distributed activity in multiple structures including the mesial temporal, superior temporal, and inferior parietal regions on both hemispheres is engaged during auditory attention and memory updating.

Adult↗

Cortical myoclonus: sensorimotor hyperexcitability.

Cortical or cortical reflex myoclonus is characterized by abnormally enlarged cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (giant SEPs), which most likely reflect pathologically hyperexcitable sensorimotor cortex. To clarify the pathogenesis of myoclonus of cortical origin, we simultaneously recorded SEPs and whole head somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) following electric stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist in six patients with cortical myoclonus. N20m and enlarged P30m were observed in all patients and were localized at the posterior bank of the central sulcus (Brodmann area 3b of the primary somatosensory cortex). In addition, P25m and N35m components of SEFs were recognized in five and four patients, respectively. P25m component, that is, the magnetic counterpart of P25 in EEG, was the earliest cortical component showing enhancement in patients. Multidipole analysis combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coregistration revealed that the generators of P25m were in the precentral gyrus in four patients and in the postcentral gyrus in one patient. The second SEFs around 200 msec after the single stimulus were recorded in three patients at area 3b (repetitive SEFs); two of whom showed negative as well as positive myoclonus. The importance of motor cortex for the generation of cortical reflex myoclonus was thus demonstrated. The pathologic features of SEFs suggest abnormal excitability of primary sensorimotor cortex.

Adult↗

[A case of hypothalamic hamartoma manifesting gelastic seizure and multifocal independent seizure foci].

A 25-year-old man manifesting gelastic seizure in association with hypothalamic hamartoma was reported. The epileptogenic focus was evaluated by long-term video EEG monitoring, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Multiple independent ictal foci were found in the ictal EEG recording, and glucose metabolism and cerebral blood flow were decreased in scattered cortical areas. Facial asymmetry seen during gelastic seizure in this case may be caused by contraction of mimetic contralateral to the ictal focus in the temporal lobe.

Adult↗

Brain functional activity during gait in normal subjects: a SPECT study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in brain activity during voluntary walking in normal subjects using technetium-99m-hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime single photon emission computed tomography. This study included 14 normal subjects. Statistical parametric mapping analysis revealed that the supplementary motor area, medial primary sensorimotor area, the striatum, the cerebellar vermis and the visual cortex were activated. These results suggested that the cerebral cortices controlling motor functions, visual cortex, basal ganglia and the cerebellum might be involved in the bipedal locomotor activities in humans.

Adult↗

Quantification of corticosteroids in human plasma by liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry using stable isotope dilution.

Liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry (LC-TSP-MS) using isotope dilution was investigated for quantitative analysis of cortisol, cortisone, prednisolone and prednisone in human plasma. Complete separation attained by a LiChroCART Supersupher reversed-phase column and elution with 0.05 M ammonium formate-tetrahydrofuran-methanol (180:53:17, v/v/v) resulted in a significantly large isotope effect of the deuterium-labeled analogs on the HPLC behavior and caused difficulty in quantification. Reduction of the isotope effect on the retention times using 0.05 M ammonium formate-acetonitrile (65:35, v/v) permitted accurate quantification of cortisol and cortisone by the isotope dilution LC-TSP-MS, although separation between cortisol and prednisone was incomplete.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Movement-related cortical potentials and regional cerebral blood flow change in patients with stroke after motor recovery.

We investigated brain activity during the self-initiated, simple, repetitive hand movement in two patients with hemiparesis due to stroke, who showed relatively good motor recovery, using movement-related cortical potential (MRCP) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurements with positron emission tomography (PET). One patient had cortical lesions in the left premotor and left parietal cortices due to cerebral thrombosis, and the other had lesions in the right Rolandic area and several subcortical areas due to the occlusion of the right internal carotid artery. MRCPs in both patients showed lack of the contralateral predominance in amplitude of the late component of slow negative shift prior to the movement of the recovered hand. PET activation study showed increased rCBF in the ipsilateral hemisphere during the movement of the recovered hand. These findings suggest that the ipsilateral hemisphere to the recovered hand may play an important role in the process of motor recovery in patients with cortical infarction, especially within the time period of several hundred ms before the onset of each movement.

Aged↗

Functional localization of pain perception in the human brain studied by PET.

To elucidate the functional localization and somatotopic organization of pain perception in the human cerebral cortex, we studied the regional cerebral blood flow using positron emission tomography during selective painful stimulation in six normal subjects. Response to a painful stimulus was elicited using a special CO2 laser, which selectively activates nociceptive receptors, to the hand and foot. Multiple brain areas, including bilateral secondary somatosensory cortices (SII) and insula, and the frontal lobe and thalamus contralateral to the stimulus side, were found to be involved in the response to painful stimulation. While our data indicate that the bilateral SII play an important role in pain perception, they also indicate that there is no pain-related somatotopic organization in the human SII or insula.

Adult↗

Familial cortical myoclonic tremor as a unique form of cortical reflex myoclonus.

Previously it was reported that some patients with tremor had the same electrophysiological findings as those seen in patients with cortical reflex myoclonus, and consequently the tremor was named "cortical tremor." In the present study, we examined six patients from three families with cortical tremor of relatively late onset. The inheritance pattern of cortical tremor was compatible with autosomal dominant trait. Those patients had relatively rhythmic involuntary movements (tremor) in the distal upper and lower limbs, especially during posture and/or fine movements. There was no cerebellar ataxia or dementia, and fits of loss of consciousness occurred only infrequently. Electrophysiologically, they had generalized spikes on electroencephalogram (EEG), giant cortical components of somatosensory evoked potential, an enhanced long-loop reflex (C-reflex), and cortical spikes preceding the rhythmic jerk demonstrable by the jerk-locked back averaging method, thus fulfilling the criteria of cortical reflex myoclonus. Furthermore, they had slow negative EEG shift starting 1-2 s prior to voluntary movements, suggesting that, as opposed to the conventional form of progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME), the cerebellar efferent input to the motor cortices was normal. These clinical and electrophysiological pictures are distinct from those of familial essential tremor, familial essential myoclonus, or the conventional form of PME, and the term "familial cortical myoclonic tremor" will represent the clinical and electrophysiological features of this unique entity most appropriately.

Adult↗

Cerebral glucose metabolism in corticobasal degeneration: comparison with progressive supranuclear palsy and normal controls.

The regional metabolic rate of glucose was estimated using 18F-labeled 2-deoxyglucose and positron-emission tomography (PET) in eight patients with corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Measures of cerebral glucose metabolism in these patients were compared with those for nine age-matched normal controls and eight patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Compared with that in the normal controls, the CBD patients showed significantly reduced cerebral glucose metabolism in the contralateral hemisphere to the clinically most affected side in the dorsolateral frontal, medial frontal, inferior parietal, sensorimotor, and lateral temporal cortex, as well as in the corpus striatum and the thalamus. In comparison with that in PSP, in CBD the glucose metabolism in the contralateral hemisphere was significantly decreased in the inferior parietal, sensorimotor, lateral temporal cortex, and the corpus striatum. These results confirm the marked asymmetric cerebral involvement in CBD and suggest that there are significant differences between CBD and PSP in the cerebral metabolism in some cerebral regions such as the inferior parietal cortex and sensorimotor cortex, which might reflect the differences in their clinical characteristics.

Aged↗

Simultaneous recording of epileptiform discharges by MEG and subdural electrodes in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Spontaneous epileptiform discharges were recorded by whole head magnetoencephalography (MEG) and subdural electrodes simultaneously from two patients with medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. In one patient whose epileptiform discharges emerged from the lateral temporal lobe, simultaneously recorded MEG could estimate equivalent current dipole reliably near the tumor. The amplitude of the dipole was in proportion not only to the amplitude of epileptiform discharge but also to the number of subdural electrodes involved. In the other patient, MEG detected only a small proportion of epileptiform discharges, even when they were recorded by subdural electrodes from the mesial temporal lobe. It is concluded that the amplitude and the depth of epileptiform discharges would largely affect the sensitivity of dipole localization by MEG.

Adult↗

Presurgical identification of epileptic foci with iodine-123 iomazenil SPET: comparison with brain perfusion SPET and FDG PET.

Iodine-123 iomazenil (IMZ) has excellent characteristics for the quantification of central benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) binding with single-photon emission tomography (SPET). In order to evaluate the clinical value of IMZ SPET for presurgical identification of epileptic foci in patients with medically intractable seizures, we measured the binding potential (BP) of BZR using two IMZ SPET scans and compared the results with brain perfusion SPET and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). A total of ten patients with intractable partial epilepsy were examined by electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging, FDG PET, brain perfusion SPET and IMZ SPET. After neuroimaging examinations, five patients underwent selective surgery, and all of them have since been free of seizures. Two SPET scans were performed at 15 min (early) and 3 h (late) after intravenous injection of 123I-IMZ (167 MBq). Parametric images of the ligand transport (K1) and binding potential (BP) were calculated by the table look-up method, which is based on a three-compartment two-parameter model, using the standard arterial input function obtained by averaging of six normal volunteers' input functions. BP images delineated the epileptic foci more precisely than either FDG PET or ictal perfusion SPET. FDG PET showed widespread reduction, including the area surrounding the focus, and ictal increase in the cerebral blood flow was seen in possibly activated areas spread from the focus. In four epilepsy cases which originated from the mesial temporal lobe without lateral temporal abnormality, there was no significant decrease in the BP images in the lateral temporal structures, which showed decreased uptake of FDG. It is concluded that parametric images of BP with IMZ are valuable for precise presurgical localization of epileptic foci.

Adult↗

Age-related changes in cerebral blood flow activation during a Card Sorting Test.

To determine the age-related changes in the neural processing involved in the Modified Card Sorting Test (MCST), we measured cerebral blood flow (CBF) during performance of the MCST and of the number-matching task in young and elderly subjects using positron emission tomography. Compared with that during the number-matching task, CBF during the MCST was increased in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), left inferior parietal lobule, and left striate and prestriate cortices in both age groups. However, CBF activation in these areas was significantly lower in the elderly subjects than the young subjects. Furthermore, CBF activation was reduced in the left DLPFC, right parahippocampal gyrus, and prestriate cortex in proportion to the increase in the number of perseverative errors with aging. These results suggest that the impaired MCST performance in elderly subjects may be due, in part, to dysfunction of the network involving certain cortical areas such as the prefrontal and parahippocampal cortices, although the essential neural circuits for MCST performance were still preserved even in the elderly subjects.

Adult↗

Afferent mechanism of cortical myoclonus studied by proprioception-related SEPs.

Proprioception-related somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to passive flexion movement of the middle finger at proximal interphalangeal joint were recorded in 7 patients with myoclonus of cortical origin who demonstrated enlarged electrical SEPs (giant SEPs). In 3 out of the 7 patients, the proprioception-related SEPs were also enlarged. The remaining 4 patients showed giant electrical SEPs without enhancement of proprioception-related SEPs. Long loop electromyographic response was recorded during the resting condition in all of the 3 patients with enlarged proprioception-related SEPs. We have previously reported that proprioception-related SEPs are mainly generated by muscle afferent inputs, though electrical SEPs are thought to reflect mostly cutaneous inputs with some contribution from muscle afferents. Therefore, it is concluded that hyperexcitability of the sensorimotor cortex in cortical myoclonus is modality-specific. Cortical excitability is exaggerated to both cutaneous and deep receptor inputs in some patients, but only to cutaneous input in others.

Adult↗

Modality-specific organization for cutaneous and proprioceptive sense in human primary sensory cortex studied by chronic epicortical recording.

Modality specificity of human primary somatosensory cortex was studied by recording somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) from subdural electrodes in a patient with intractable focal motor seizure. A newly developed device was used for selectively activating proprioception. The spatial and temporal distributions of proprioception-related SEPs elicited by brisk passive flexion movement at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the middle finger (4 degrees in 25 ms) were quite different from those to cutaneous sense evoked by electric stimulation of the digital nerve at the same site. It was for the first time demonstrated that proprioception-related SEPs following passive finger movement do not originate in area 3b, which was clearly activated by cutaneous stimulation, and that other sites at the sensorimotor cortex such as areas 2, 3a and 4 possibly contribute to the cortical processing of proprioception.

Adult↗

Estimate of physiological variability of peak latency in single sweep P300.

Among single sweep records of event-related potentials (ERPs), the peak latency of P300, which is one of the most prominent positive peaks in the ERP obtained in the oddball paradigm, may vary depending on the conditions of the subject. In the analysis of characteristics of the variability in the peak latency, it is important to know to what extent the variability of the measured peak latency (measured variability) is actually caused by physiological factors (physiological variability). In our previous study, a method was developed for judging whether the physiological variability really exists or not, and if it does exist, the developed method extracts the physiological variability from the measured variability based on a limited number of single sweep records. In the present study, based on the P300 waveforms which were detected by blinded visual inspection of the ERP data obtained by an auditory oddball paradigm from 12 healthy adults, the physiological variability was shown to exist with a confidence level of 95% for all subjects. Furthermore, its interval estimate was calculated by subtracting noise variability from the measured variability with a confidence level of 80%, and it was found to range from 17 to 57 ms for all subjects.

Adult↗