• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2010

Objectives: The study aims to look into how the application of EA(Electro-acupuncture) in the initial step of ischemic brain injury affects the changes in Bax and Caspase-3 expression among forebrain apoptosis. Methods: It caused GI by using common carotid artery occlusion and conducted the test by dividing into the no applied EA group after 6 hours and 12 hours, the LI 4 EA group that applied EA to LI4, and GV 20 EA group that was applied to GV 20. After that, the following results were obtained by comparing Bax and Caspase-3 expression, which were apoptosis-related factors, with its application time through immunohistochemical staining after extracting brain of each group. Results: According to each group's Bax expression by the application time, the order of expression increase after 6 hours is shown to be the no applied EA group, LI 4 group, and GV 20 group. The stimulation after 12 hours was most lowly expressed in the GV 20 group, and the no applied EA group and LI 4 group showed similar level. Conclusions: EA stimulation in the initial step after ischemia seems to affect positively Bax and Caspase-3 expression that are index of forebrain apoptosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2012

Oroxylin A is a flavone isolated from a medicinal herb reported to be effective in reducing the inflammatory and oxidative stresses. It also modulates the production of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in cortical neurons by the transactivation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). As a neurotrophin, BDNF plays roles in neuronal development, differentiation, synaptogenesis, and neural protection from the harmful stimuli. Adenosine $A2_A$ receptor colocalized with BDNF in brain and the functional interaction between $A2_A$ receptor stimulation and BDNF action has been suggested. In this study, we investigated the possibility that oroxylin A modulates BDNF production in cortical neuron through the regulation of $A2_A$ receptor system. As expected, CGS21680 ($A2_A$ receptor agonist) induced BDNF expression and release, however, an antagonist, ZM241385, prevented oroxylin A-induced increase in BDNF production. Oroxylin A activated the PI3K-Akt-GSK-$3{\beta}$ signaling pathway, which is inhibited by ZM241385 and the blockade of the signaling pathway abolished the increase in BDNF production. The physiological roles of oroxylin A-induced BDNF production were demonstrated by the increased neurite extension as well as synapse formation from neurons. Overall, oroxylin A might regulate BDNF production in cortical neuron through $A2_A$ receptor stimulation, which promotes cellular survival, synapse formation and neurite extension.

• Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2018

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been a gold standard for investigating central motor pathways in humans. Diffusion tensor imaging with fiber tractography (DTI FT) is known for its usefulness in detecting white matter lesion in vivo. We investigated the clinical usefulness of elucidating the integrity and continuity of corticospinal tract (CST) by combined use of TMS and DTI FT in this study. We report two cases who have presented with left hemiparesis and evaluated by both TMS and DTI FT; 10-year-old boy with Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy with Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like episode syndrome and 20-year-old woman with traumatic brain injury. Combined use of TMS and DTI FT successfully led to localize the brain lesion that might cause motor impairment in patients with abnormal signal intensities in MRI. The results of this study suggest that TMS and DTI FT might provide the detailed information between function and anatomy of the CST, complementarily.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.169-180
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• 2013

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to setup a concuurent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-functional MRI (fMRI) system for understanding causality of the functional brain network. Materials and Methods: We manufactured a TMS coil holder using nonmagnetic polyether ether ketone (PEEK). We simulated magnetic field distributions in the MR scanner according to TMS coil positions and angles. To minimize image distortions caused by TMS application, we controlled fMRI acquisition and TMS sequences to trigger TMS during inter-volume intervals. Results: Simulation showed that the magnetic field below the center of the coil was dramatically decreased with distance. Through the MR phantom study, we confirmed that TMS application around inter-volume acquisition time = 100 miliseconds reduced imaging distortion. Finally, the applicability of the concurrent TMS-fMRI was tested in preliminary studies with a healthy subject conducting a motor task within TMS-fMRI and passive motor movement induced by TMS in fMRI. Conclusion: In this study, we confirmed that the developed system allows use of TMS inside an fMRI system, which would contribute to the research of brain activation changes and causality in brain connectivity.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2015

Purpose: Accuracy and variability of movement in daily life require synchronization of muscular activities through a specific chronological order of motor performance, which is controlled by higher neural substrates and/or lower motor centers. We attempted to investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over primary sensorimotor areas (SM1) could influence movement variability in healthy subjects, using a tapping task. Methods: Twenty six right-handed healthy subjects with no neurological or psychiatric disorders participated in this study. They were randomly and equally assigned to the real tDCS group or sham control group. Direct current with intensity of 1 mA was delivered over their right SM1 for 15 minutes. For estimation of movement variability before and after tDCS, tapping task was measured, and variability was calculated as standard deviation of the inter-tap interval (SD-ITI). Results: At the baseline test, there was no significant difference in SD-ITI between the two groups. In two-way ANOVA with repeated measurement no significant differences were found in a large main effect of group and interaction effect between two main factors (i.e., group factor and time factor (pre-post test)). However, significant findings were observed in a large main effect of the pre-post test. Conclusion: Our findings showed that the anodal tDCS over SM1 for 15 minutes with intensity of 1 mA could enhance consistency of motor execution in a repetitive-simple tapping task. We suggest that tDCS has potential as an adjuvant brain facilitator for improving rhythm and consistency of movement in healthy individuals.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2011

For effective stimulation with tDCS, spatial focality of induced electrical field(EF) and current density(CD) is one of the important factors to be considered. Recently, there have been some studies to improve the spatial focality via different types of electrodes and their new configurations: some improvements using ring electrodes were reported over the conventional pad electrodes. However, most of these studies assumed isotropic conductivities in the head. In this work, we have investigated the effect of tissue anisotropy on the spatial focality of tDCS with the 4 + 1 ring electrode configuration via a 3-D high-resolution finite element(FE) head model with anisotropic conductivities in the skull and white matter. By examining the profiles of the induced EF from the head models with isotropic and anisotropic conductivities respectively, we found that the spatial focality of the induced EF significantly drops and get diffused due to tissue anisotropy. Our analysis suggests that it is critical to incorporate tissue anisotropy in the effective stimulation of the brain via tDCS.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.18-26
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• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) at acupoints suggested by oriental medicine to be related to the treatment of cerebrovascuiar diseases. Materials and Methods : Rest/electroaeupuncture-stimulation Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT using a same-dose subtraction method was performed on 5 normal male volunteers (age range from 27 to 30 years) using electroacupuncture at acupoint, ST 36. In the control study, needle location was chosen on a non-meridian focus 1cm posterior to the right fibular head. All images were spatially normalized and the differences between rest and acupuncture stimulation were statistically analyzed using SPM$^{(R)}$ for Windows$^{(R)}$. Results : Electroacupuncture applied at ST36 increased rCBF in the left hemisphere, that is, the left parietal lobe(angular gyrus), the left temporal lobe, the left inferior frontal lobe around rectus gyrus and the left cerebellar hemisphere, a part of the left inferior frontal lobe. In the control stimulation, no significant rCBF increase was observed. Conclusion : The results demonstrate that electroacupuncture increases rCBF in the contralateral cerebral hemisphere.

• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.777-787
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• 2018

Objective To examine the long-term effects of the low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) combined with task-specific training on paretic hand function following subacute stroke. Methods Sixteen participants were randomly selected and grouped into two: the experimental group (real LF-rTMS) and the control group (sham LF-rTMS). All the 16 participants were then taken through a 1-hour task-specific training of the paretic hand. The corticospinal excitability (motor evoke potential [MEP] amplitude) of the non-lesioned hemisphere, and the paretic hand performance (Wolf Motor Function Test total movement time [WMFT-TMT]) were evaluated at baseline, after the LF-rTMS, immediately after task-specific training, 1 and 2 weeks after the training. Results Groups comparisons showed a significant difference in the MEP after LF-rTMS and after the training. Compared to the baseline, the MEP of the experimental group significantly decreased after LF-rTMS and after the training and that effect was maintained for 2 weeks. Group comparisons showed significant difference in WMFT-TMT after the training. Only in the experimental group, the WMFT-TMT of the can lifting item significantly reduced compared to the baseline and the effect was sustained for 2 weeks. Conclusion The results of this study established that the improvement in paretic hand after task-specific training was enhanced by LF-rTMS and it persisted for at least 2 weeks.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.222-230
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• 2000

Purpose : Resection of the epileptogenic zone in the parietal and occipital lobes may be relevant although only few studies have been reported. Methods : Eight patients with parietal epilepsy and nine patients with occipital epilepsy were included for this study. Preoperatively, all had video-EEG monitoring with extracranial electrodes, MRI, 3D-surface rendering of MRI using Allegro(ISG Technologies Inc., Toronto, Canada), and PET scans. Sixteen patients underwent invasive recording with subdural grid. Eight had parietal resection including the sensory cortex in two. Seven had partial occipital resection. Two underwent total unilateral occipital lobectomy. The extent of the resection was made based mainly on the data of invasive EEG recordings, MRI, and 3D-surface rendering of MRI, not on the intraoperative electrocorticographic findings as usually done. During resection, electrocortical stimulation was performed on the motor cortex and speech area. Results : Out of eight patients with parietal epilepsy, three had sensory aura, two had gustatory aura, and two had visual aura. Six of nine patients with occipital epilepsy had visual auras. All had complex partial seizures with lateralizing signs in 15 patients. Four had quadrantopsia. One had mild right hemiparesis. Abnormality in MRI was noticed in six out of eight parietal epilepsy and in eight out of nine occipital epilepsy. 3D-surface rendering of MRI visualized volumetric abnormality with geometric spatial relationships adjacent to the normal brain, in all of parietal and occipital epilepsy. Surface EEG recording was not reliable in localizing the epileptogenic zone in any patient. The subdural grid electrodes can be implanted on the core of the structural abnormality in 3D-reconstructed brain. Ictal onset zone was localized accurately by subdural grid EEGs in 16 patients. Motor cortex in nine and sensory speech area in two were identified by electrocortical stimulation. Histopathologic findings revealed cortical dysplasia in 10 patients ; tuberous sclerosis was combined in two, hamartoma and ganglioglioma in one each, and subpial gliosis in six. Eleven patients were seizure free at follow-up of 6 months to 37 months(mean 19.7 months) after surgery. Seizures recurred in two and were unchanged in one. Six produced transient sensory loss and one developed hemiparesis and tactile agnosia. One revealed transient apraxia. Two patients with preoperative quadrantopsia developed homonymous hemianopsia. Conclusion : This study suggests that surgical treatment was relevant in parietal and occipital epilepsies with good surgical outcome, without significant neurologic sequelae. Neuroimaging studies including conventional MRI, 3Dsurface rendering of MRI were necessary in identifying the epileptogenic zone. In particular, 3D-surface rendering of MRI was very helpful in presuming the epileptogenic zone in patients with unidentifiable lesion in the conventional MRI, in planning surgical approach to lesions, and also in making a decision of the extent of the epileptogenic zone in patients with identifiable lesion in conventional MRI. Invasive EEG recording with the subdural grid electrodes helped to confirm a core of the epileptogenic zone which was revealed in 3D-surface rendered brain.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.393-433
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• 2015

Creativity refers to the ability to generate novel and useful ideas. Understanding the mechanism of creativity and its enhancement is important in order to solve major problems of the modern society and to improve the wellness of mankind. Creativity is a highly heterogeneous and complex ability which should not be conceptualized as a single entity. Thus, the current literature on creativity is based on a component process approach to creativity. The present study introduces cognitive neuroscience research studying the mechanism of divergent thinking, insight, relational thinking and artistic creativity which are the major components of creativity. Based on an expansive review, the early hypothesis of hemispheric asymmetry emphasizing the importance of the right as opposed to the left hemisphere is not supported by scientific evidence. In addition, there is no consensus or consistency on which specific brain region is related to a certain component of creativity. In fact, there is a mixture of studies reporting involvement of various brain regions across all four lobes of the brain. This inconsistency in the literature most likely reflects heterogeneity of the component processes of creativity and sensitivity of the neural response to differences across tasks and cognitive strategy. The present study introduces examples of representative studies reporting seminal findings on the neural basis and the enhancement of creativity based on innovative methodology. In addition, we discuss limitations of the current cognitive neuroscience approach to creativity and present directions for future research.