• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.162-174
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• 2021

Objectives : We aimed to identify the antidepressant effect of liver tonification acupuncture treatment (ACU (LT); KI10, LR8, LU8, LR4) and four gate acupuncture treatment (ACU (FG); LI4, LR3) and its brain neural activity in the normal and chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced mouse model. Methods : Firstly, normal mice were given ACU (LT) or ACU (FG) and the c-Fos expressions in each brain region were analyzed to examine brain neural activity. Secondly, CRS was administered to mice for 4 weeks, then ACU (LT) or ACU (FG) was performed for 2 weeks. The depression-like behavior was evaluated using open field test (OFT) before and after acupuncture treatment. Then, the c-Fos expressions in each brain region were analyzed to examine brain neural activity. Results : In normal mice, ACU (FG) regulated brain neural activities in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and periaqueductal gray. ACU (LT) changed more brain regions in the prefrontal cortex, insular cortex, striatum, and hippocampus, including those altered by ACU (FG). In CRS-induced model, ACU (LT) alleviated depression-like behavior more than ACU (FG). Also, brain neural activities in the motor cortex area 2 (M2), agranular ventral part and piriform of insular cortex (AIV and Pir), and cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and CA3 of hippocampus were changed by ACU (LT), and those of AIV and CA3 were also changed by ACU (FG). As in normal mice, ACU (LT) resulted in changes in more brain regions, including those altered by ACU (FG) in CRS model. M2, Pir, and CA1 were only changed by ACU (LT) in depression model, suggesting that these brain regions reflect the specific effect of ACU (LT). Conclusions : ACU (LT) relieved depression-like behavior more than ACU (FG), and this acupuncture effect was associated with modulation of brain neural activities in the motor cortex, insular cortex, and hippocampus.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for the Gifted Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.137-138
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• 2003

Understanding how and why people differ is a fundamental, if distant, goal of research efforts to bridge psychological and biological levels of analysis. General fluid intelligence (gF) is a major dimension of individual differences and refers to reasoning and novel problemsolving ability. A conceptual integration of evidence from cognitive (behavioral) and anatomical studies suggeststhat gF should covary with both task performance and neural activity in specific brain systems when specific cognitive demands are present, with the neural activity mediating the relation between gF and performance. Direct investigation of this possibility will be a critical step toward a mechanistic model of human intelligence. In turn, a mechanistic model might suggest ways to enhance gF through targeted behavioral or neurobiological intervent ions, We formed two different groups as subjects based on their scholarly attainments. Each group consists of 20 volunteers(aged 16-17 years, right-handed males) from the National Gifted School and a local high school respectively. To test whether individual differences in general intelligence are mediated at a neural level, we first assessed intellectual characteristics in 40 subjects using standard intelligence tests (Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking) administered outside of the MR scanner. We then used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRl) to measure task-related brain activity as participants performed three different kinds of computerized reasoning tasks that were intended to activate the relevant neural systems. To examine the difference of neural activity according to discrepancy in general intelligence, we compared the brain activity of both extreme groups (each, n=10) of the participants based on the standard intelligence test scores. In contrast to the common expectation, there was no significant difference of brain region involved in high-g tasks between both groups. Random effect analysis exhibited that lateral prefrontal, anterior cingulate and parietal cortex are associated with gF. Despite very different task contents in the three high-g-low-g contrasts, recruitment of multiple regions is markedly similar in each case, However, on the task with high 9F correlations, the Prodigy group, (intelligence rank: >99%) showed higher task-related neural activity in several brain regions. These results suggest that the relationship between gF and brain activity should be stronger under high-g conditions than low-g conditions.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.37-51
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• 2008

Purpose : This paper focuses on the emerging concept that adult central nervous system neurogenesis can be regulated by various physical activity, enriched environment, and pathological conditions. Neurogenesis-the production of new neuron-is an ongoing process that persists in the adult brain of mammalian, including humans. Result : The adult brain was thought be limited in its regenerative function. However, this concepts changed, recent evidence of neurogenesis in certain adult brain areas such as SVZ(subventricular zone) and SGZ(subgranular zone) in hippocampus, raised possibility for improved treatment for patient with stroke. Neural plasticity has an adaptive purpose, because an ability of the brain to change in response to peripheral stimulation, physical activity, experience, and injury. Conclusions : The major function of the neurogenesis in adult brain seems to be replacing the neuron that die regularly in discrete adult brain regions. These cells are capable of functionally integrating into neighboring neural cells, and reconnecting to the correct neural networks. This review suggest that various intervention, including physical activity, voluntary movement training, skilled forelimb reaching training, and enriched environment, induced neural cell production in certain adult brain, and associated with functional recovery after stroke.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.79-89
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• 2024

Objectives : We aimed to identify the effects of acupuncture treatment on alleviating pain and depression and modulating brain neural activity in the neuropathic pain and depression comorbidity mouse model (PDCM). Methods : We performed partial sciatic nerve ligation on the right hind paw of mice to induce neuropathic pain and injected reserpine (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 10 days from the day of the surgery to induce pain and depression. Acupuncture treatment was performed for 10 days at the following locations: 1) ST36 and SP6 (Joksamni and Sameumgyo; JS), 2) KI1 and HT7 (Yongcheon and Sinmun; YS), 3) LR1, PC9, KI10, and PC3 (Pericardium tonification; PT), or 4) LR1, HT9, KI10, and HT3 (Heart tonification; HT). Pain-like behavior was measured using the von Frey test and depressive-like behavior was assessed using the open field test. Then, the c-Fos expression was analyzed in the brain regions of neocortex, striatum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, midbrain, and medulla to examine brain neural activity. Results : In PDCM, pain-like behavior was alleviated by acupuncture treatment on the JS, YS, PT, and HT, and depressive-like behavior was improved by acupuncture treatment on the JS and YS. JS and YS were derived as an optimized acupoint combination for improving neuropathic pain and depression comorbidity. Brain neural activities in the neocortex (infralimbic cortex) and hypothalamus (paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus; PVN) were commonly altered by both JS and YS acupuncture treatments. In addition, neural activities in the neocortex (prelimbic cortex; PrL) and midbrain (substantia nigra, lateral part of the dorsal raphe nucleus) were altered exclusively by JS acupuncture treatment, while changes in the area 2 of the anterior cingulate cortex and the cornu ammonis 3 of the hippocampus were specific to YS acupuncture treatment. Brain neural activity in the PrL and PVN regions was significantly correlated with changes in pain behavior. Conclusions : Both JS and YS acupuncture treatments alleviated pain and depressive-like behaviors, which were associated with modulation of neural activities in the neocortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and midbrain.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.7 s.172
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• pp.200-207
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• 2005

This study compares two different methods of measuring brain-BOLD activation. By comparing two different methods of measurement i.e., one method calculating the neural activation area (the number of activated voxels), while the other measured the neural activation intensity (the mean intensity of selected activated yokels), this study identified the more precise method of measuring brain activation which results from the completion of a visuospatial task. 16 right-handed male college students (mean age 23.2 years) participated in this study as subjects. Functional brain images were scanned on them using a 3T MRI single-shot EPI method. No correlation was found between the levels of cognitive performance and number of activated yokels in the activated brain areas. However, a significant correlation was found between the levels of cognitive performance and the mean intensity of selected activated yokels in the parietal, frontal, and other areas. In conclusion, the method of mean intensity was considered a better index of brain activity rather than the activated yokels measurement method.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.82-91
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• 2020

Electroencephalography (EEG) produces time-series data of neural oscillations in the brain, and is one of the most commonly used methods for investigating both normal brain functions and brain disorders. Quantitative EEG analysis enables identification of frequencies and brain activity that are activated or impaired. With studies on the structural and functional networks of the brain, the concept of the brain as a complex network has been fundamental to understand normal brain functions and the pathophysiology of various neurological disorders. Functional connectivity is a measure of neural synchrony in the brain network that refers to the statistical interdependency between neural oscillations over time. In this review, we first discuss the basic methods of EEG analysis, including preprocessing, spectral analysis, and functional-connectivity and graph-theory measures. We then review previous EEG studies of brain network characterization in several neurological disorders, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Identifying the EEG-based network characteristics might improve the understanding of disease processes and aid the development of novel therapeutic approaches for various neurological disorders.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.791-797
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• 2001

After brain injury, patients show a wide range in the degree of recovery. By a variety of mechanisms, the human brain is constantly undergoing plastic changes. Spontaneous recovery from brain injury in the chronic stage omes about because of plasticity. The brain regions are altered. resulting in functionally modified cortical network. This review cnsidered the neural plasticity from cellular and molecular mechanisms of synapse formation to behavioural recovery from brain injury in elderly humans. The stimuli required to elicit plasticity are thought to be activity-dependent elements. especially exercise and learning. Knowledge about the physiology of brain plasticity has led to the development of methods for rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.51-64
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• 2003

Objective : This study investigated the alteration of neural activity and effect of Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (Lianggesanhuo-tang) on cerebral ischemia of rats. Methods : Considering age-related impact on cerebral ischemia, aged rats (18 months old) were used for this study. Ischemic damage was induced by the transient occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries (BCAO) with hypotension. Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (Lianggesanhuo-tang) was administered twice a day orally. Then alterations of neural activities in the brain of aged BCAO rats were measured by the [$^{14}C$]2-deoxyglucose autoradiography method. Results : The BCAO in aged rats led to significant decrease of neural activity in the whole brain. Treatment with Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (Lianggesanhuo-tang) significantly attenuated the decrease of neural activity in the whole brain following BCAO ischemia. Treatment significantly attenuated the decrease of neural activity in the CA1, CA2, CA3, dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, activated barrel, barrel cortex, somatosensory cortex, cingulate cortex, caudate putamen, and medial septal nucleus following BCAO in aged rats. Treatment with Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (Lianggesanhuo-tang) also significantly attenuated the decrease of neural activity in the anteroventral thalamic nucleus, ventral anterior thalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus, posterior hypothalamic area, medial mammillary nucleus, lateral periaqueductal gray, dorsal raphe nucleus, interpeduncular nucleus, median raphe nucleus, and medial pontine nucleus. Conclusion : It can be suggested that Yanggyuksanhwa-tang (Lianggesanhuo-tang) has a neuroprotecuve effect on cerebral ischemia through the control of glucose metabolic rate and cerebral blood flow.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-62
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• 2007

The higher cognitive functions of the human brain including teaming are hypothesized to be selectively distributed across large-scale neural networks interconnected to the cortical and subcortical areas. Recently, advances in functional imaging have made it possible to visualize the brain areas activated by certain cognitive activities in vivo. Neural substrates for teaming and motivation have also begun to be revealed. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides a non-invasive indirect mapping of cerebral activity, based on the blood- oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast which is based on the localized hemodynamic changes following neural activities in certain areas of the brain. The fMRI method is now becoming an essential tool used to define the neuro-functional mechanisms of higher brain functions such as memory, language, attention, learning, plasticity and emotion. Further research in the field of education will accelerate the verification of the effects on loaming or help in the selection of model teaching strategies. Thus, the purpose of this study was to review brain study methods using fMRI in science education. In conclusion, a number of possible strategies using fMRI for the study of elementary science education were suggested.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.409-417
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• 2006

Research on neural circuit is a difficult area due to complexity and inaccessibility. Due to recent developments, the research using multi-electrode array of cells or tissues has become an important research area. However, there are some difficulties to decode the submerged meaning from huge and complex neural data. Moreover, it needs a harmonic collaboration between informatics and bioscience. In this paper, we have developed a custom-designed signal processing technique for multi-electrode array measured neural responses induced by electrical stimuli to the hippocampal tissue slices of the rat brain. The raw data from hippocampal slice using the multi-electrode array system were saved in a computer. Then we estimated characteristic points in each channel and calculated the total activity. To estimate the points, we used the Polynomial Fitting Approximation Method. Using the calculated total activity, we could provide the histogram or pseudo-image matrix to help interpretation of results.