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Motor imagery is a higher-order cognitive brain function that mentally simulates movements without performing the actual physical one. Although motor imagery has attracted the interest of many researchers, and mental practice utilizing motor imagery has been widely used in sports training and post-stroke rehabilitation, neural bases that determine individual differences in motor imagery ability are not well understood. In this study, using controllability of motor imagery (CMI) test that can objectively evaluate individual ability to manipulate one’s imaginary postures, we examined structural and functional features characterizing the brains of individuals with higher controllability of motor imagery, by analyzing T1-weighted structural MRI data obtained from 89 participants and functional MRI data obtained from 28 of 89 participants. The higher CMI test scorers had larger volume in the bilateral superior frontoparietal white matter regions. The CMI test activated the bilateral dorsal premotor cortex (PMD) and superior parietal lobule (SPL); specifically, the left PMD and/or the right SPL enhanced functional coupling with the visual body, somatosensory, and motor/kinesthetic areas in the higher scorers. Hence, controllability of motor imagery is higher for those who well-develop superior frontoparietal network, and for those whose this network accesses these sensory areas to predict the expected multisensory experiences during motor imagery. This study elucidated for the first time the structural and functional features characterizing the brains of individuals with higher controllability of motor imagery, and advanced understanding of individual differences in motor imagery ability.

Purpose To gauge the value of low-vision-specific function and activities of daily living measures (LVFAM) in the assessment of Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Study design Prospective observation study. Methods The May-July 2023 Visual activities of daily living (ADL) Survey of the low-vision-specific function and activities of daily living measure (LVFAM) was conducted on 15 RP patients attending our Ophthalmology outpatient clinic. We used the better corrected visual acuity, and the better Mean Deviation (MD) values of the central 10 degrees of Humphrey’s visual field as macular sensitivity, and examined the total scores after Rasch Analysis for each of the low-vision-specific function of Daily Living (LVFDL) and the low-vision-specific activities of Daily Living (LVADL) among LVFAM, as well as the relationship between the items. Results Age 26–78 (mean 60.8), 5 men and 10 women, corrected visual acuity of 0.01-1.0 (mean 0.45) in the better eye, macular sensitivity of 3.47-40.00 (mean 18.60) dB, mean 52.2 for LVFDL and 66.4 for LVADL. The correlations were positive for visual acuity and LVFDL and LVADL, and negative for macular sensitivity, LVFDL and LVADL. In addition, four items were scored 0 by at least 5 (33%) of the LVFDL respondents, and two items were scored 1 by at least 5 (33%) of the LVADL respondents, suggesting that the results differed by question items. Conclusion The LVFAM was useful not only for the total score but also for each question item in the development strategy of PROs in RP with no treatment.

This study investigated how healthy, right-handed younger adults utilize the typically suppressed ipsilateral sensorimotor cortices [particularly, the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd), primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (S1), and superior parietal cortex of Area 2] to perform a dexterous finger motor task and its age-related changes. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure brain activity in healthy, right-handed younger and older adults during a simple button-press task with the right index finger and a dexterous stick-rotation task involving fine control and coordination of individual right finger movements. The individual performance capacity in stick rotation (the personal trait of finger dexterity) was assessed outside the scanner. The sensorimotor cortices (PMd, M1, S1, and Area 2) in each hemisphere were defined as regions-of-interest (ROIs), and contrast analysis, interparticipant correlation analysis with performance capacity, and interhemispheric functional connectivity analysis were performed. In the younger group, all ipsilateral sensorimotor cortices were deactivated during the button-press task, whereas during the stick-rotation task, the PMd, S1, and Area 2 were activated, and the ipsilateral M1 remained deactivated. The ipsilateral PMd, S1, and Area 2 activity was correlated with performance capacity. During the stick-rotation task, the anterior ipsilateral PMd consistently enhanced interhemispheric functional coupling with all contralateral sensorimotor cortices. In contrast, in the older group, ipsilateral sensorimotor deactivation was not observed during the button-press task, and all ipsilateral cortices were activated during the stick-rotation task; however, none of the activity was correlated with performance capacity. In addition, functional connectivity within the contralateral sensorimotor cortices (rather than interhemispheric connectivity) increased during the stick-rotation task. Our findings indicate that ipsilateral sensorimotor activity during the current dexterous task reflects different physiological mechanisms between younger and older adults. When performing the task, younger adults recruited the ipsilateral PMd, S1, and Area 2 by disinhibiting their interhemispheric inhibition to complement for their clumsiness; the ipsilateral PMd appeared important for the interhemispheric interaction, whereas the ipsilateral sensorimotor activity in older adults did not appear to represent proactive interhemispheric interaction to overcome clumsiness.

Purpose To determine the frequency and characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) that develop after an intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent. Study design A retrospective review of the medical charts. Methods The charts of patients who received intravitreal injections for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), or myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) between 2013 and 2020 were reviewed. We included the RRD cases that developed within 90 days of the most recent intravitreal injection. The baseline characteristics and surgical outcomes were analyzed. Results A total of 3040 patients received 28,190 intravitreal injections. Seven eyes of 7 cases developed a RRD. There were 6 cases of AMD and one of DME, with an incidence of one in 4027 injections (0.025%). The retinal break was in the superior quadrants in 5 eyes (71%), and in the inferior quadrants in 2 eyes. All eyes had a posterior vitreous detachment. The average number of injections before the development of RRD was 14.1 (range: 2–39). Four eyes were treated by vitrectomy, and 3 by scleral buckling. The primary success rate was 86%, and the final reattachment rate was 100%. The best-corrected visual acuity was 0.41 ± 0.26 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) units before developing the RRD, 0.78 ± 0.78 logMAR units before the surgery for RRD, and 0.45 ± 0.47 logMAR units at the final visit. Conclusions The incidence of RRD after an intravitreal injection is very low (0.025%), and it can be reattached with recovery of the visual acuity.

Visual evoked potentials (VEP) are visually evoked signals that extract electroencephalographic activity in the visual cortex that can detect retinal ganglion cells, optic nerves, chiasmal and retrochiasmal dysfunction, including optic radiations, and the occipital cortex. Because diabetes causes diabetic retinopathy due to microangiopathy and neuropathy due to metabolic abnormalities and intraneural blood flow disorders, assessment of diabetic visual pathway impairment using VEP has been attempted. In this review, evidence on the attempts to assess the visual pathway dysfunction due to abnormal blood glucose levels using VEP is presented. Previous studies have provided significant evidence that VEP can functionally detect antecedent neuropathy before fundus examination. The detailed correlations between VEP waveforms and disease duration, HbA1c, glycemic control, and short-term increases and decreases in blood glucose levels are evaluated. VEP may be useful for predicting postoperative prognosis and evaluating visual function before surgery for diabetic retinopathy. Further controlled studies with larger cohorts are needed to establish a more detailed relationship between diabetes mellitus and VEP.

PurposeTo determine the difference between the attempted and the achieved postoperative refractive error after sutureless intrascleral fixation of the haptics of an implanted intraocular lens (IOL).Patients and methodsThis was a retrospective study of the medical charts of patients who had undergone sutureless intrascleral fixation of an IOL. The IOLs were fixed by inserting the haptics into scleral tunnels with or without flanges. The differences between the attempted and achieved postoperative refractive error (spherical equivalent) were determined. The relationships between the surgical options and the differences of the refractive error and degree of astigmatism were also determined.ResultsTwo hundred and twenty-three eyes were studied. There was a myopic shift of − 0.38 ± 1.13 diopters (D). The mean of the differences between the achieved postoperative and the attempted refractive error was 0.89 ± 0.79 D. The achieved refractive error was significantly correlated with the attempted refractive error (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.631). The surgical procedures selected were not significantly associated with the differences between the attempted and achieved refractive error. The size of sclerocorneal incision and presence of sutures were significantly associated with the final degree of astigmatism (P = 0.006 and 0.008, respectively).ConclusionsThe postoperative refractive error was significantly correlated with the attempted refractive error after intrascleral fixation of an IOL. The wound construction was associated with the postoperative degree of astigmatism.

Abstract This is a retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative case series of 6 eyes of 5 retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. The aim of this case series was to report the long-term outcomes of PPV with IOL implantation in patients with RP). The surgical procedures, visual function, refractive error, corneal endothelial cell density, intraocular pressure, and retinal morphology were evaluated before and 3 years after the surgery. Six eyes of 5 RP patients that had undergone PPV and IOL implantation with or without suturing for lens dislocation were studied. The visual acuity was maintained or improved at 3 years after surgery in all 6 eyes. No intraoperative complications occurred in any of the cases. The mean deviation of the Humphrey Field Analyzer 10–2 program and the retinal morphology evaluated by optical coherence tomography did not show any abnormal changes before and after surgery. In two eyes, the postoperative refractive error was more myopic than the attempted refractive error. In conclusion, PPV with IOL implantation can be performed safely in RP patients, and the long-term visual acuity can be maintained.

We reviewed medical records of 121 patients/235 eyes of typical retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients who could be followed up for at least 5 years with the aim of investigating the long-term course of visual function progression at each RP stage and appropriate assessment methods. Patients were classified into three groups: mild RP (baseline mean deviation MD≥−5), moderate RP (−25

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