Understanding the neuroplastic capacity of people with Down syndrome (PwDS) can potentially reveal the causal relationship between aberrant brain organization and phenotypic characteristics. We used resting-state EEG recordings to identify how a neuroplasticity-triggering training protocol relates to changes in the functional connectivity of the brain’s intrinsic cortical networks. Brain activity of 12 PwDS before and after a 10-week protocol of combined physical and cognitive training was statistically compared to quantify changes in directed functional connectivity in conjunction with psychosomatometric assessments. PwDS showed increased connectivity within the left hemisphere and from left-to-right hemisphere, as well as increased physical and cognitive performance. Our findings reveal a strong adaptive neuroplastic reorganization as a result of the training that leads to a less-random network with a more pronounced hierarchical organization. Our results go beyond previous findings by indicating a transition to a healthier, more efficient, and flexible network architecture, with improved integration and segregation abilities in the brain of PwDS. Resting-state electrophysiological brain activity is used here for the first time to display meaningful relationships to underlying Down syndrome processes and outcomes of importance in a translational inquiry. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04390321.
Understanding the neuroplastic capacity of people with Down Syndrome (PwDS) can reveal the cause-effect relationship between aberrant brain organization and phenotypic characteristics. Non-invasive, neuroplasticity-triggering, training protocols, coupled with conventional evaluation methods, have reported promising results. However, the, so far, sparse neurophysiological and network science evidence, are also crucial in quantifying the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. Using electroencephalography (EEG)-acquired data, as well as connectivity and graph-theory approach, we aim to evaluate the effect of a non-invasive intervention on PwDS and track neuroplastic shifts in the DS brain network. 12 PwDS (6 males, average age 29) completed our 10-week protocol (combined physical and cognitive training). Prior to and after the intervention, they underwent eyes-open, resting-state EEG measurements in conjunction with psychosomatometric assessments. After the short-term training, the evaluations reflect increases in physical and cognitive capabilities, while the functional connectivity analysis showed a significant reorganization of the brain network of PwDS (i.e., calibration of connection intensity) and graph-theory analysis indicated significantly increased global and local efficiency and clustering and decreased path length between nodes. These differences delineate the effects of adaptational neuroplasticity, revealing a transition to a healthier, more efficient, and flexible network architecture, with improved integration and segregation abilities and a possible deceleration of neurodegenerative processes in the brain of PwDS. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04390321.
Recent advancements in the field of network science allow us to quantify inter-network information exchange and model the interaction within and between task-defined states of large-scale networks. Here, we modeled the inter- and intra- network interactions related to multisensory statistical learning. To this aim, we implemented a multifeatured statistical learning paradigm and measured evoked magnetoencephalographic responses to estimate task-defined state of functional connectivity based on cortical phase interaction. Each network state represented the whole-brain network processing modality-specific (auditory, visual and audiovisual) statistical learning irregularities embedded within a multisensory stimulation stream. The way by which domain-specific expertise re-organizes the interaction between the networks was investigated by a comparison of musicians and non-musicians. Between the modality-specific network states, the estimated connectivity quantified the characteristics of a supramodal mechanism supporting the identification of statistical irregularities that are compartmentalized and applied in the identification of uni-modal irregularities embedded within multisensory stimuli. Expertise-related re-organization was expressed by an increase of intra- and a decrease of inter-network connectivity, showing increased compartmentalization.
Physical exercise is an effective non-pharmaceutical treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms, both motor and non-motor. Despite the numerous reports on the neuroplastic role of physical exercise in patients with PD (PwPD), its effects have not been thoroughly explored via brain network science, which can provide a coherent framework for understanding brain functioning. We used resting-state EEG data to investigate the functional connectivity changes of the brain's intrinsic cortical networks due to physical exercise. The brain activity of 14 PwPD before and after a ten-week protocol of computerized physical training was statistically compared to quantify changes in directed functional connectivity in conjunction with psychometric and somatometric assessments. PwPD showed a significant reorganization of the post-training brain network along with increases in their physical capacity. Specifically, our results revealed significant adjustments in clustering, increased characteristic path length, and decreased global efficiency, in correlation to the improved physical capacity. Our results go beyond previous findings by indicating a transition to a reparative network architecture of enhanced connectivity. We present a meaningful relationship between network characteristics and motor execution capacity which support the use of motor treatment in tandem with medication. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04426903.
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