Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 September 2021) | Viewed by 23442

Special Issue Editors

Departamento de Psicología Cognitiva, Social y Organizacional, Universidad de La Laguna, Campus de Guajara Apartado 465, 38200 La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Interests: non-invasive brain stimulation, embodied cognition; language and inhibition; language and emotion; neurophysiology of language; neuroanatomy of language; spatial cognition
Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, 47521 Cesena, Italy
Interests: noninvasive brain stimulation; motor-evoked potentials; emotion perception; action control; action inhibition; fear confitioning; empathy; emotional body language; motor resonance
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A growing methodological approach in cognitive neuroscience consists of modulating the neural activity of specific regions of the brain, using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial electrical stimulation (tDCS). These non-invasive techniques temporarily interfere with the activity of a target brain region and measure the consequences on behavioral or physiological processes. Unlike “correlational” techniques, such as neuroimaging or electroencephalography, which measure brain activity associated with functions, neuromodulation makes it possible to estimate causal links between neural regions and specific functions. In addition, neuromodulation can be combined with electromyography (EMG) measures to explore the cortico-spinal excitability, or with brain measures of BOLD or EEG signals to explore functional connectivity at rest or during tasks performance. Neuromodulation can also be applied in clinical settings to induce long lasting neuroplasticity and behavioral changes.

This Special Issue invites original manuscripts involving neuromodulation methods to map brain functions, in a broad sense. That is, the study of language and cognitive functions (perception, memory, attention) as well as emotional or affective functions are welcome. In addition to single-pulse, repetitive, or theta-burst TMS, cutting-edge brain stimulation methods are of interest, such as cortico-cortical paired pulse protocols, or the co-registering of TMS and neurobiological signals (BOLD, EEG, or EMG). Finally, studies of neural or psychopathological disorders aiming at diagnostic, therapeutical, and rehabilitation purposes are also welcome.  

Dr. Manuel de Vega
Dr. Sara Borgomaneri
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • non-invasive brain stimulation
  • TMS
  • tDCS
  • mapping of brain functions
  • functional connectivity
  • neuroplasticity
  • neural diagnostic
  • neural rehabilitation

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 184 KiB  
Editorial
Editorial: “Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion”
by Sara Borgomaneri and Manuel de Vega
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(2), 136; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci12020136 - 20 Jan 2022
Viewed by 1674
Abstract
Neuromodulation can be defined as the alteration of brain activity by delivering physical stimuli to a specific neural region [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion)

Research

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14 pages, 1830 KiB  
Article
Multisession Anodal tDCS on the Right Temporo-Parietal Junction Improves Mentalizing Processes in Adults with Autistic Traits
by Iván Padrón, Enrique García-Marco, Iván Moreno, Agustina Birba, Valentina Silvestri, Inmaculada León, Carlos Álvarez, Joana López and Manuel de Vega
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(1), 30; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci12010030 - 28 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1993
Abstract
Persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have impaired mentalizing skills. In this study, a group of persons with ASD traits (high-AQ scores) initially received sham tDCS before completing a pre-test in two mentalizing tasks: false belief and self-other judgments. Over the next week, [...] Read more.
Persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have impaired mentalizing skills. In this study, a group of persons with ASD traits (high-AQ scores) initially received sham tDCS before completing a pre-test in two mentalizing tasks: false belief and self-other judgments. Over the next week, on four consecutive days, they received sessions of anodal electrical stimulation (a-tDCS) over the right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ), a region frequently associated with the theory of mind. On the last day, after the stimulation session, they completed a new set of mentalizing tasks. A control group (with low-AQ scores) matched in age, education and intelligence received just sham stimulation and completed the same pre-test and post-test. The results showed that the high-AQ group improved their performance (faster responses), after a-tDCS, in the false belief and in the self-other judgments of mental features, whereas they did not change performance in the false photographs or the self-other judgments of physical features. These selective improvements cannot be attributed to increased familiarity with the tasks, because the performance of the low-AQ control group remained stable about one week later. Therefore, our study provides initial proof that tDCS could be used to improve mentalizing skills in persons with ASD traits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion)
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20 pages, 1503 KiB  
Article
Visual Short-Term Memory for Coherent and Sequential Motion: A rTMS Investigation
by Andrea Pavan, Filippo Ghin and Gianluca Campana
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1471; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11111471 - 06 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1728
Abstract
We investigated the role of the human medio-temporal complex (hMT+) in the memory encoding and storage of a sequence of four coherently moving random dot kinematograms (RDKs), by applying repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) during an early or late phase of the retention [...] Read more.
We investigated the role of the human medio-temporal complex (hMT+) in the memory encoding and storage of a sequence of four coherently moving random dot kinematograms (RDKs), by applying repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) during an early or late phase of the retention interval. Moreover, in a second experiment, we also tested whether disrupting the functional integrity of hMT+ during the early phase impaired the precision of the encoded motion directions. Overall, results showed that both recognition accuracy and precision were worse in middle serial positions, suggesting the occurrence of primacy and recency effects. We found that rTMS delivered during the early (but not the late) phase of the retention interval was able to impair not only recognition of RDKs, but also the precision of the retained motion direction. However, such impairment occurred only for RDKs presented in middle positions along the presented sequence, where performance was already closer to chance level. Altogether these findings suggest an involvement of hMT+ in the memory encoding of visual motion direction. Given that both position sequence and rTMS modulated not only recognition but also the precision of the stored information, these findings are in support of a model of visual short-term memory with a variable resolution of each stored item, consistent with the assigned amount of memory resources, and that such item-specific memory resolution is supported by the functional integrity of area hMT+. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion)
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13 pages, 1119 KiB  
Article
Personality Traits Modulate the Effect of tDCS on Reading Speed of Social Sentences
by Cristian Reyes, Iván Padrón, Sara Nila Yagual and Hipólito Marrero
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1464; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11111464 - 05 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1725
Abstract
In this case, 62 university students participated in the study, in which a between-subjects design was adopted. Participants were also given the behavioral approach system (BAS) and behavioral inhibition system (BIS) scales. Participants had to read a list of 60 sentences with interpersonal [...] Read more.
In this case, 62 university students participated in the study, in which a between-subjects design was adopted. Participants were also given the behavioral approach system (BAS) and behavioral inhibition system (BIS) scales. Participants had to read a list of 60 sentences with interpersonal and neutral content: 20 approach (“Pedro accepted Rosa in Whatsapp”), 20 avoidance (“Pedro Blocked Rosa in Whatsapp”) and 20 neutral (“Marta thought about the causes of the problem”). After reading them, they were subjected to 20 min of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in one of the two conditions: anodal (31) or sham (31). After tDCS, they had to read other list of 60 sentences matched in approach, avoidance and neutral contents with the former list. We found significant improvement in reading speed after anodal stimulation for social and neutral sentences. Regarding affective traits, we found that anodal stimulation benefitted reading speed in low-BIS and low-BAS participants and had no effect in either high BAS or high BIS participants. In addition, tDCS improvement in reading speed was significantly lower in avoidance sentences in low-BIS (avoidance) participants. We discuss these results at the light of previous research and highlight the importance of approach and avoidance traits as moderators of tDCS effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion)
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10 pages, 735 KiB  
Article
Functional Connectivity at Rest between the Human Medial Posterior Parietal Cortex and the Primary Motor Cortex Detected by Paired-Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
by Rossella Breveglieri, Sara Borgomaneri, Matteo Filippini, Marina De Vitis, Alessia Tessari and Patrizia Fattori
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(10), 1357; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11101357 - 15 Oct 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2020
Abstract
The medial posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is involved in the complex processes of visuomotor integration. Its connections to the dorsal premotor cortex, which in turn is connected to the primary motor cortex (M1), complete the fronto-parietal network that supports important cognitive functions in [...] Read more.
The medial posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is involved in the complex processes of visuomotor integration. Its connections to the dorsal premotor cortex, which in turn is connected to the primary motor cortex (M1), complete the fronto-parietal network that supports important cognitive functions in the planning and execution of goal-oriented movements. In this study, we wanted to investigate the time-course of the functional connectivity at rest between the medial PPC and the M1 using dual-site transcranial magnetic stimulation in healthy humans. We stimulated the left M1 using a suprathreshold test stimulus to elicit motor-evoked potentials in the hand, and a subthreshold conditioning stimulus was applied over the left medial PPC at different inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs). The conditioning stimulus affected the M1 excitability depending on the ISI, with inhibition at longer ISIs (12 and 15 ms). We suggest that these modulations may reflect the activation of different parieto-frontal pathways, with long latency inhibitions likely recruiting polisynaptic pathways, presumably through anterolateral PPC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion)
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16 pages, 1049 KiB  
Article
Early Right Motor Cortex Response to Happy and Fearful Facial Expressions: A TMS Motor-Evoked Potential Study
by Sara Borgomaneri, Francesca Vitale, Simone Battaglia and Alessio Avenanti
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1203; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11091203 - 13 Sep 2021
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 4061
Abstract
The ability to rapidly process others’ emotional signals is crucial for adaptive social interactions. However, to date it is still unclear how observing emotional facial expressions affects the reactivity of the human motor cortex. To provide insights on this issue, we employed single-pulse [...] Read more.
The ability to rapidly process others’ emotional signals is crucial for adaptive social interactions. However, to date it is still unclear how observing emotional facial expressions affects the reactivity of the human motor cortex. To provide insights on this issue, we employed single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate corticospinal motor excitability. Healthy participants observed happy, fearful and neutral pictures of facial expressions while receiving TMS over the left or right motor cortex at 150 and 300 ms after picture onset. In the early phase (150 ms), we observed an enhancement of corticospinal excitability for the observation of happy and fearful emotional faces compared to neutral expressions specifically in the right hemisphere. Interindividual differences in the disposition to experience aversive feelings (personal distress) in interpersonal emotional contexts predicted the early increase in corticospinal excitability for emotional faces. No differences in corticospinal excitability were observed at the later time (300 ms) or in the left M1. These findings support the notion that emotion perception primes the body for action and highlights the role of the right hemisphere in implementing a rapid and transient facilitatory response to emotional arousing stimuli, such as emotional facial expressions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion)
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16 pages, 999 KiB  
Article
Rekindling Action Language: A Neuromodulatory Study on Parkinson’s Disease Patients
by Diana M. A. Suárez-García, Agustina Birba, Máximo Zimerman, Jesús A. Diazgranados, Pamela Lopes da Cunha, Agustín Ibáñez, Johan S. Grisales-Cárdenas, Juan Felipe Cardona and Adolfo M. García
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 887; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11070887 - 01 Jul 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3716
Abstract
Impairments of action semantics (a cognitive domain that critically engages motor brain networks) are pervasive in early Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, no study has examined whether action semantic skills in persons with this disease can be influenced by non-invasive neuromodulation. Here, we recruited [...] Read more.
Impairments of action semantics (a cognitive domain that critically engages motor brain networks) are pervasive in early Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, no study has examined whether action semantic skills in persons with this disease can be influenced by non-invasive neuromodulation. Here, we recruited 22 PD patients and performed a five-day randomized, blinded, sham-controlled study to assess whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) over the primary motor cortex, combined with cognitive training, can boost action–concept processing. On day 1, participants completed a picture–word association (PWA) task involving action-verb and object-noun conditions. They were then randomly assigned to either an atDCS (n = 11, 2 mA for 20 m) or a sham tDCS (n = 11, 2 mA for 30 s) group and performed an online PWA practice over three days. On day 5, they repeated the initial protocol. Relative to sham tDCS, the atDCS group exhibited faster reaction times for action (as opposed to object) concepts in the post-stimulation test. This result was exclusive to the atDCS group and held irrespective of the subjects’ cognitive, executive, and motor skills, further attesting to its specificity. Our findings suggest that action-concept deficits in PD are distinctively grounded in motor networks and might be countered by direct neuromodulation of such circuits. Moreover, they provide new evidence for neurosemantic models and inform a thriving agenda in the embodied cognition framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion)
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Review

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20 pages, 1037 KiB  
Review
Photographs of Actions: What Makes Them Special Cues to Social Perception
by Leopold Kislinger
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1382; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11111382 - 22 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1911
Abstract
I have reviewed studies on neural responses to pictured actions in the action observation network (AON) and the cognitive functions of these responses. Based on this review, I have analyzed the specific representational characteristics of action photographs. There has been consensus that AON [...] Read more.
I have reviewed studies on neural responses to pictured actions in the action observation network (AON) and the cognitive functions of these responses. Based on this review, I have analyzed the specific representational characteristics of action photographs. There has been consensus that AON responses provide viewers with knowledge of observed or pictured actions, but there has been controversy about the properties of this knowledge. Is this knowledge causally provided by AON activities or is it dependent on conceptual processing? What elements of actions does it refer to, and how generalized or specific is it? The answers to these questions have come from studies that used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to stimulate motor or somatosensory cortices. In conjunction with electromyography (EMG), TMS allows researchers to examine changes of the excitability in the corticospinal tract and muscles of people viewing pictured actions. The timing of these changes and muscle specificity enable inferences to be drawn about the cognitive products of processing pictured actions in the AON. Based on a review of studies using TMS and other neuroscience methods, I have proposed a novel hypothetical account that describes the characteristics of action photographs that make them effective cues to social perception. This account includes predictions that can be tested experimentally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion)
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Other

17 pages, 3162 KiB  
Systematic Review
Intervention Effect of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation on Cognitive Functions among People with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu, Emma Sethina Adjaottor and Bess Yin Hung Lam
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 840; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11070840 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2953
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis aggregated and examined the treatment effect of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) (transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation) on cognitive functions in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). A systematic search was conducted using databases (PubMed, Web [...] Read more.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aggregated and examined the treatment effect of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) (transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation) on cognitive functions in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). A systematic search was conducted using databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, EMBASE) for studies with keywords related to non-randomized and randomized control trials of NIBS among people with TBI. Nine out of 1790 NIBS studies with 197 TBI participants (103 active vs. 94 sham) that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the present study were finally selected for meta-analysis using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 3). Results showed that the overall effect of NIBS on cognition in people with TBI was moderately significant (g = 0.304, 95% CI = 0.055 to 0.553) with very low heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 0.000, Tau = 0.000). Specifically, significant and marginally significant moderate effect sizes were found for cognitive sub-domains including attention, memory, and executive function. The present findings suggest that NIBS is moderately effective in improving cognitive functions among people with TBI. In particular, NIBS may be used as an alternative and/or an adjunct treatment to the traditional approach in rehabilitating cognitive functions in people with TBI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuromodulation of Language, Cognition and Emotion)
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