The Experts below are selected from a list of 417 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Hilleke E. Hulshoff Pol - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Functional diffusion tensor imaging: measuring task-related fractional anisotropy changes in the human brain along white matter Tracts.
PloS one, 2008Co-Authors: René C.w. Mandl, Hugo G. Schnack, Marcel P. Zwiers, Arjen Van Der Schaaf, René S. Kahn, Hilleke E. Hulshoff PolAbstract:BACKGROUND: Functional neural networks in the human brain can be studied from correlations between activated gray matter regions measured with fMRI. However, while providing important information on gray matter activation, no information is gathered on the co-activity along white matter Tracts in neural networks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We report on a functional diffusion tensor imaging (fDTI) method that measures task-related changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) along white matter Tracts. We hypothesize that these fractional anisotropy changes relate to morphological changes of glial cells induced by axonal activity although the exact physiological underpinnings of the measured FA changes remain to be elucidated. As expected, these changes are very small as compared to the physiological noise and a reliable detection of the signal change would require a large number of measurements. However, a substantial increase in signal-to-noise ratio was achieved by pooling the signal over the complete fiber Tract. Adopting such a Tract-based statistics enabled us to measure the signal within a practically feasible time period. Activation in the sensory Thalamocortical Tract and optic radiation in eight healthy human subjects was found during tactile and visual stimulation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results of our experiments indicate that these FA changes may serve as a functional contrast mechanism for white matter. This noninvasive fDTI method may provide a new approach to study functional neural networks in the human brain.
Michael Bynevelt - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Discovering the sense of touch: protocol for a randomised controlled trial examining the efficacy of a somatosensory discrimination intervention for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy
BMC Pediatrics, 2018Co-Authors: Belinda Mclean, Misty Blakeman, Leeanne Carey, Roslyn Ward, Iona Novak, Jane Valentine, Eve Blair, Susan Taylor, Natasha Bear, Michael ByneveltAbstract:Background Of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, 75% have impaired somatosensory function, which contributes to learned non-use of the affected upper limb. Currently, motor learning approaches are used to improve upper-limb motor skills in these children, but few studies have examined the effect of any intervention to ameliorate somatosensory impairments. Recently, Sense© training was piloted with a paediatric sample, seven children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, demonstrating statistically and clinically significant change in limb position sense, goal performance and bimanual hand-use. This paper describes a protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial of S ense© for Kids training, hypothesising that its receipt will improve somatosensory discrimination ability more than placebo (dose-matched Goal Directed Therapy via Home Program). Secondary hypotheses include that it will alter brain activation in somatosensory processing regions, white-matter characteristics of the Thalamocortical Tracts and improve bimanual function, activity and participation more than Goal Directed Training via Home Program. Methods and design This is a single blind, randomised matched-pair, placebo-controlled trial. Participants will be aged 6–15 years with a confirmed description of hemiplegic cerebral palsy and somatosensory discrimination impairment, as measured by the sense©_assess Kids . Participants will be randomly allocated to receive 3h a week for 6 weeks of either S ense© for Kids or Goal Directed Therapy via Home Program. Children will be matched on age and severity of somatosensory discrimination impairment. The primary outcome will be somatosensory discrimination ability, measured by sense©_assess Kids score. Secondary outcomes will include degree of brain activation in response to a somatosensory task measured by functional MRI, changes in the white matter of the Thalamocortical Tract measured by diffusion MRI, bimanual motor function, activity and participation. Discussion This study will assess the efficacy of an intervention to increase somatosensory discrimination ability in children with cerebral palsy. It will explore clinically important questions about the efficacy of intervening in somatosensation impairment to improve bimanual motor function, compared with focusing on motor impairment directly, and whether focusing on motor impairment alone can affect somatosensory ability. Trial registration This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, registration number: ACTRN12618000348257. World Health Organisation universal trial number: U1111–1210-1726.
René C.w. Mandl - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Functional diffusion tensor imaging: measuring task-related fractional anisotropy changes in the human brain along white matter Tracts.
PloS one, 2008Co-Authors: René C.w. Mandl, Hugo G. Schnack, Marcel P. Zwiers, Arjen Van Der Schaaf, René S. Kahn, Hilleke E. Hulshoff PolAbstract:BACKGROUND: Functional neural networks in the human brain can be studied from correlations between activated gray matter regions measured with fMRI. However, while providing important information on gray matter activation, no information is gathered on the co-activity along white matter Tracts in neural networks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We report on a functional diffusion tensor imaging (fDTI) method that measures task-related changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) along white matter Tracts. We hypothesize that these fractional anisotropy changes relate to morphological changes of glial cells induced by axonal activity although the exact physiological underpinnings of the measured FA changes remain to be elucidated. As expected, these changes are very small as compared to the physiological noise and a reliable detection of the signal change would require a large number of measurements. However, a substantial increase in signal-to-noise ratio was achieved by pooling the signal over the complete fiber Tract. Adopting such a Tract-based statistics enabled us to measure the signal within a practically feasible time period. Activation in the sensory Thalamocortical Tract and optic radiation in eight healthy human subjects was found during tactile and visual stimulation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results of our experiments indicate that these FA changes may serve as a functional contrast mechanism for white matter. This noninvasive fDTI method may provide a new approach to study functional neural networks in the human brain.
Hugo G. Schnack - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Functional diffusion tensor imaging: measuring task-related fractional anisotropy changes in the human brain along white matter Tracts.
PloS one, 2008Co-Authors: René C.w. Mandl, Hugo G. Schnack, Marcel P. Zwiers, Arjen Van Der Schaaf, René S. Kahn, Hilleke E. Hulshoff PolAbstract:BACKGROUND: Functional neural networks in the human brain can be studied from correlations between activated gray matter regions measured with fMRI. However, while providing important information on gray matter activation, no information is gathered on the co-activity along white matter Tracts in neural networks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We report on a functional diffusion tensor imaging (fDTI) method that measures task-related changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) along white matter Tracts. We hypothesize that these fractional anisotropy changes relate to morphological changes of glial cells induced by axonal activity although the exact physiological underpinnings of the measured FA changes remain to be elucidated. As expected, these changes are very small as compared to the physiological noise and a reliable detection of the signal change would require a large number of measurements. However, a substantial increase in signal-to-noise ratio was achieved by pooling the signal over the complete fiber Tract. Adopting such a Tract-based statistics enabled us to measure the signal within a practically feasible time period. Activation in the sensory Thalamocortical Tract and optic radiation in eight healthy human subjects was found during tactile and visual stimulation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results of our experiments indicate that these FA changes may serve as a functional contrast mechanism for white matter. This noninvasive fDTI method may provide a new approach to study functional neural networks in the human brain.
René S. Kahn - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Functional diffusion tensor imaging: measuring task-related fractional anisotropy changes in the human brain along white matter Tracts.
PloS one, 2008Co-Authors: René C.w. Mandl, Hugo G. Schnack, Marcel P. Zwiers, Arjen Van Der Schaaf, René S. Kahn, Hilleke E. Hulshoff PolAbstract:BACKGROUND: Functional neural networks in the human brain can be studied from correlations between activated gray matter regions measured with fMRI. However, while providing important information on gray matter activation, no information is gathered on the co-activity along white matter Tracts in neural networks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We report on a functional diffusion tensor imaging (fDTI) method that measures task-related changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) along white matter Tracts. We hypothesize that these fractional anisotropy changes relate to morphological changes of glial cells induced by axonal activity although the exact physiological underpinnings of the measured FA changes remain to be elucidated. As expected, these changes are very small as compared to the physiological noise and a reliable detection of the signal change would require a large number of measurements. However, a substantial increase in signal-to-noise ratio was achieved by pooling the signal over the complete fiber Tract. Adopting such a Tract-based statistics enabled us to measure the signal within a practically feasible time period. Activation in the sensory Thalamocortical Tract and optic radiation in eight healthy human subjects was found during tactile and visual stimulation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results of our experiments indicate that these FA changes may serve as a functional contrast mechanism for white matter. This noninvasive fDTI method may provide a new approach to study functional neural networks in the human brain.