• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2015

Introduction : The Understanding of neurological lesion relating to apraxia will help to predict symptoms according to a lesion and to establish a proper treatment and goal. So, This study will explain causes and mechanism of a movement error of ideomotor apraxia through literature review and also will suggest the evidence using in treatment. Body : Ideomotor apraxia may occur a damage of the production part in praxis system, and is common in damage of a cortex rater than damage of a subcortex. According to study with gesture, movement of upper limbs is relate of left parietal lobe but finger movement is relate of frontal lobe. The visual and tactile stimulation through using real objects could guide into proper movement aside from memory of a skilled action. Conclusion : Praxis can occur through diverse neurological processing and various external stimulations can help praxis processing. Therefore, the treatment of ideomotor apraxia need to use this stimulations.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.418-424
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• 2012

Repeated stress induces corticosterone release. However, it is not clear that stress results in further elevation of corticosterone levels, and the roles of released corticosterone to aggravate stress-related symptoms are also not clear. This study investigated whether neuronal modulation was induced in the amygdala after two kinds of stress, that is, such as electric shock and corticosterone injection. It was found that stress by electric shock decreased the expression of tyrosine hydoroxylase (TH) in the amygdala while the expression of pERK was increased. However, there is no difference in the expressions of TH and pERK in the frontal cortex compared with those of the control group. The level of corticosterone was significantly increased in the serum after stress. To determine the effect of corticosterone on the induction of anxiety and the expression of TH, the rats received corticosterone (20 mg or 40 mg/kg i.p.) for 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks, respectively. The spent time in open arms of the EPM (elevated plus maze) test was significantly decreased after 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks. The time spent in open arms of the EPM test after repeated injections of corticosterone was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of TH in the amygdala was reduced after following repeated corticosterone treatment for 2 weeks and 3 weeks. Collectively, this study suggests that corticosterone has a major role in the induction of anxiety and the modulation of TH expression, at least, in the amygdala.

• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1149-1155
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• 2018

Epileptic encephalopathies are genetically heterogeneous disorders which leads to epilepsy and cause neurological disorders. Seizure threshold 2 (SZT2) gene located on chromosome 1p34.2 encodes protein mainly expressed predominantly in the parietal and frontal cortex and dorsal root ganglia in the brain. Previous studies in mice showed that mutation in this gene can confers low seizure threshold, enhance epileptogenesis and in human may leads to facial dysmorphism, intellectual disability, seizure and macrocephaly. Objective of this study was to find out novel gene or novel mutation related to the gene phenotype. We have identified a large consanguineous Saudi family segregating developmental delay, intellectual disability, epilepsy, high forehead and macrocephaly. Exome sequencing was performed in affected siblings of the family to study the novel mutation. Whole exome sequencing data analysis, confirmed by subsequent Sanger sequencing validation study. Our results showed a novel homozygous mutation (c.9368G>A) in a substitution of a conserved glycine residue into a glutamic acid in the exon 67 of SZT2 gene. The mutation was ruled out in 100 unrelated healthy controls. The missense variant has not yet been reported as pathogenic in literature or variant databases. In conclusion, the here detected homozygous SZT2 variant might be the causative mutation that further explain epilepsy and developmental delay in this Saudi family.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.75-99
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze animal behavioral changes and related neurobiological mechanisms in recent studies using animal models with pain and depression. Methods : We conducted database search in Pubmed, NDSL, and EMBASE up to January 2021. Included studies were classified as depression-like behavior observed in pain model, pain-like behavior observed in depression model, and pain and depression comorbidity model. The results of pain- and depression-like behaviors, the changes of neurobiological mechanisms, and the treatment methods such as drugs, natural substance-derived chemicals, or acupuncture were analyzed. Results : We included 124 studies (81 studies in depression-like behavior observed in pain model, 19 studies in pain-like behavior observed in depression model, and 24 studies in pain and depression comorbidity model). Pain and depression comorbidity animal models were induced using various methods by drugs or surgery. Von frey test, a method for evaluating mechanical allodynia was the most commonly used for measuring pain-like behavior and the forced swimming test was the most commonly used for measuring depression-likes behavior. The changes of neurobiological factors, such as decrease of 5-hydroxytryptamine and increase of oxidative stress and pro-inflammation cytokines were generally changed in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and spinal cord in all types of models. For treating pain and depression-like behaviors, various types of drugs such as antidepressant, tranquilizer, analgesic, and natural substance-derived chemicals were used. Acupuncture treatment was used in 4 studies. Conclusions : In the future, more diverse studies on the combined model of pain and depression need to be conducted. In addition, it is necessary to establish a mechanistic basis for the development of various treatments by identifying the common mechanisms of pain and depression.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.539-550
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• 2020

This study establishes the scientific basis for the use of digital learning materials through the education-neurological research method and derives implications for education based on education-neurological understandings. The main findings of the education-neurological analysis of digital learning materials are as follows: First, various sensory stimuli go through multiple sensory neurons and deep sections of the upper sphere and make possible the cooperative processing of information. Second, indirect experience from digital learning materials helps students understand the learning contents vividly through the mirror neuron system. Third, positive emotions originating from digital learning materials promote functions of dopamine, the reticular activating system, frontal-striatal circuit, cerebrum cortex. Based on the findings, the study suggests the following educational implications. First of all, when selecting digital learning materials, teachers should consider expression forms, learning contents, the flow of classes, and the adverse effects of digital learning materials. Next, it is effective to utilize digital learning materials in the lecture for provoking curiosity and enjoyment, maintaining interest and effort, and reviewing what students learned.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.263-273
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate effect of scalp acupuncture (SA) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) intervention on neuromotor function in photothrombotic cerebral infarction (PCI) rat model. Sixty male SD rats were used. PCI was induced on M1 cortex of right frontal lobe. SA was performed at the Qianding (GV21), Xuanli (GB6) acupoints of ipsilesional M1. Low-frequency rTMS was delivered to contralesional M1. All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A, normal (n, 15); group B, PCI without any stimulation intervention (n, 15); group C, PCI with SA (n, 15); group D, PCI with rTMS (n, 15). Rota-rod test and Ladder rung walking test (LWT) were done weekly for 8 weeks after PCI. SA or rTMS was started from post-PCI 4^th day as protocol for 8 weeks. H/E stain and IHC were done. Western blot and qRT-PCR study were performed for MAP2 and BDNF from ipsilesional M1 peri-infarction tissue. Brain MRI study was conducted to quantify the volume of cerebral infarction. As a result, left forelimb and hindlimb function significantly improved more in group C and D than control group, with expressed more BDNF and MAP2. And brain MRI showed focal infarction of right M1 after PCI, and infarction volume progressively decreased in group C and D than group B from post-PCI 5^th to 8^th week. SA or rTMS was more effective than no intervention group on neuromotor function of PCI rat model. The functional recovery was associated with stimulation intervention-related neurogenesis.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.84-92
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate biologists' brain activation patterns during the generation of scientific questions on biological phenomena. Eight right-handed healthy biologists volunteered to be participants in the present study. The question-generation tasks were presented in a block design. The BOLD signals of the biologists' brain were measured by 3.0T fMRI system and data were analyzed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM2). According to our results, the left inferior and middle frontal gyri, the medial prefrontal cortex, the bilateral hippocampus, the occipito-parietal route, the fusiform gyrus, and the cerebellum were activated significantly during the generation of scientific questions. Therefore, we suggested that generating scientific question is associated with analyzing observed situations, using verbal strategy, retrieving episodic memories for comparisons, and feeling cognitive conflicts.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.299-314
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• 1996

The purpose of the present study was to validate the use of tissue radioactivity ratios instead of regional metabolic rates for the assessment of regional metabolic changes in Alzheimer's disease(AD) with [$^{18}F$]FDG PET and to examine the correlation of ratio indices with the severity of cognitive impairment in AD. Thirty-seven AD Patients(age $68{\pm}9 yrs$, $mean{\pm}s.d.$; 36 probable and 1 definite AD), 28 patients with dementia of non-Alzheimer type(age $66{\pm}7 yrs$), and 17 healthy controls(age $66{\pm}4 yrs$) underwent [$^{18}F$]FDG PET imaging. Two simplified radioactivity ratio indices were calculated from 37-66 min image: region-to-cerebellar radioactivity ratio(RCR) and a composite radioactivity ratio(a ratio of radioactivity in the most typically affected regions over the least typically affected regions: CRR). Local cerebral metabolic rate for glucose(LCMRglu) was also measured using a three-compartment, five-parameter tracer kinetic model. The ratio indices were significantly lower in AD patients than in controls(RCR in temporoparietal cortex, $0.949{\pm}0.136$ vs. $1.238{\pm}0.129$, p=0.0004; RCR in frontal cortex, $1.027{\pm}0.128$ vs. $1.361{\pm}0.151$, p<0.0001; CRR, $0.886{\pm}0.096$ vs. $1.032{\pm}0.042$. p=0.0024). On the RCR analysis, 86% of AD patients showed a pattern of bilateral temporoparietal hypometabolism with or without frontal involvement; hypometabolism was unilateral in 11% of the patients. When bilateral temporoparietal hypometabolism was considered to be suggestive of AD, the sensitivity and specificity of the RCR analysis for the differential diagnosis of AD were 86% and 73%, respectively. The RCR was correlated significantly with the macroparameter K [$K_1k_3/(k_2+k_3)$] (r=0.775, p<0.0001) and LCMRglu(r=0.633, p=0.0002) measured using the kinetic model. In patients with AD, both average RCR of cortical association areas and CRR were correlated with Mini-Mental Status Examination(r=0.565, p=0.0145; r=0.642, p=0.0031, respectively), Clinical Dementia Rating(r=-0.576, p=0.0124; r=-0.591, p=0.0077), and total score of Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (r=0.574, p=0.0648; r=0.737, p=0.0096). There were also significant correlations between memory and language impairments and corresponding regional RCRs. The results suggest that the [$^{18}F$]FDG PET ratio indices, RCR and CRR, reflect global and regional metabolic rates and correlate with the severity of cognitive impairment in AD. The simplified ratio analysis may be clinically useful for the differential diagnosis and serial monitoring of the disease.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1065-1072
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• 2004

Depression is associated with a dysfunctional serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) system. More recently, several lines of evidence suggest that an important factor in the development of depression may be a deficit in the function and expression of $5-HT_{1A}$ receptors. The present study assessed if Nelumbinis Semen (N. s.) had an anti-depression effect through reversing a decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding in rats with depression-like symptoms induced by chronic mild stress. Using a $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor binding assay, with a specific $5-HT_{1A}$receptor agonist, 8- OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin), the mechanism of the anti-depression effect of N. s. on rats was investigated, and the effects compared with two well-known antidepressants, Hyperium Perforatum (St. Johns Wort) and fluoxetine (Prozac). Animals were divided into five groups: the normal (N) group without chronic mild stress (CMS), the control (C) group under CMS for 8 weeks, the Nelumbinis Semen (N. s.) treatment group under CMS for 8 weeks, the Hyperium Perforatum (H. p.) treatment group under CMS for 8 weeks and finally, the fluoxetine (F) treatment group under CMS for 8 weeks. Each treatment was administered to rats during the last 4 weeks of the 8-week CMS. A sucrose intake test was performed to test the anti-depression effect of N. s. The N. s. treatment significantly reversed the decreased sucrose intake under CMS (P<0.05 compared to control group under CMS). In the CA2 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, both N. s. and H. p. reversed the CMS-induced decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding. In the I to II regions of the frontal cortex, N. s. and H. p. also reversed the CMS-induced decrease in$5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding, and even showed a significant increase in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding compared to the F treatment group (N. s. vs. P, p<0.05, H. p. vs. P, p<0.05). However, in the hypothalamus, all treatments reversed the CMSinduced decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding. This reversal effect of N. s. on the decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus of rat brains was very similar to that of H. p, but different from that of F. It is concluded that N. s. presents an anti-depression effect through enhancing $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.280-290
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• 2007

Purpose: Gender differences in personality are considered to have biological bases. In an attempt to understand the gender differences of personality on neurobiological bases, we conducted correlation analyses between regional brain glucose metabolism and temperament factors of personality in males and females. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six healthy right-handed volunteers (18 males, 33.8$\pm$17.6 y; 18 females, 36.2$\pm$20.4 y) underwent FDG PET at resting state. Three temperament factors of personality (novelty seeking (NS), harm avoidance (HA), reward dependence (RD)) were assessed using Cloninger's 240-item Temperament and Character Inventory (TCD within 10 days of FOG PET scan. Correlation between regional glucose metabolism and each temperament factor was tested using SPM2. Results: In males, a significant negative correlation between NS score and glucose metabolism was observed in the bilateral superior temporal gyri, the hippocampus and the insula, while it was found in the bilateral middle frontal gyri, the right superior temporal gyrus and the left cingulate cortex and the putamen in females. A positive HA correlation was found in the right midbrain and the left cingulate gyrus in males, but in the bilateral basal ganglia in females. A negative RD correlation was observed in the right middle frontal and the left middle temporal gyri in males, while the correlation was found in the bilateral middle frontal gyri and the right basal ganglia and the superior temporal gyrus in females. Conclusion: These data demonstrate different cortical and subcortical metabolic correlates of temperament factors of personality between males and females. These results may help understand biological substrate of gender differences in personality and susceptibility to neuropsychiatric illnesses.