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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique that has garnered significant interest for its ability to modulate cortical excitability and brain function. The technique involves the application of a weak electrical current through electrodes placed on the scalp, which influences neuronal membrane potential and alters synaptic plasticity. The following research hypotheses were defined: (1) a single tDCS stimulation of the motor cortex on the left side in combination with mirror therapy (MT) improves the function of the right hand which is dominant; and (2) a single stimulation in combination with MT for the dominant hand (right hand) also improves the function of the non-dominant hand (left hand). A total of 106 subjects aged 51.5 ± 12.02 participated in the study, including 63 women and 43 men. We used tests for assessment before and after tDCS stimulation: Tapping Tablet, Reaction Test on a tablet, Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT), exercises for dominant hands, tDCS stimulation with MT. The obtained results of this conducted study, although preliminary, seem to indicate that in each of the analyzed age groups in men and women, a single tDCS stimulation in combination with MT directly improved the function of the dominant hand and indirectly improved the function of the non-dominant hand. The use of tDCS stimulation appears promising to improve hand function.

Recently, transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) has gained increasing popularity among researchers, especially for recovery and improvement, but interpretation of these results is difficult due to variations in study methods and outcome measurements. The main goal of this study was to better understand the postural and balance indicators affected by cerebellar tES, as the cerebellum is the main brain region responsible for controlling balance. For this systematic literature review, three databases were searched for articles where the cerebellum was stimulated by any type of tES in either healthy participants or those with neurologic disorders. Postural, dynamic, and/or static stability measurements were recorded, and risk of bias was assessed on the PEDro scale. A total of 21 studies were included in the analysis. 17 studies reported improvements after application of tES. 14 studies stimulated the cerebellum unilaterally and 15 used this modality for 20 min. Moreover, all studies exclusively used transcranial direct current as the type of stimulation. Evaluation of PEDro results showed that studies included in the analysis utilized good methodology. Although there were some inconsistencies in study results, overall, it was demonstrated that tES can improve balance and postural index under both healthy and neurological conditions. Further research of bilateral cerebellar stimulation or the use of transcranial alternating current stimulation, transcranial random noise stimulation, and transcranial pulsed current stimulation is needed for a more comprehensive assessment of the potential positive effects of cerebellar tES on the balance system.

This study investigated whether a single morning session of bright light exposure modulates alertness, cognition, mood, and EEG activity in well-rested and partially sleep-deprived adolescents. Forty-seven subjects (15-21 years) were assigned to a well-rested (8 h sleep; 9 men, 15 women) or a sleep-deprived group (4 h sleep; 11 men, 12 women). All underwent 30 min of morning bright light exposure, with EEG, cognitive testing, and ratings of sleepiness and affect conducted pre- and post-intervention. Behavioral and electrophysiological changes were compared within and between groups. Associations between changes in EEG activity and behavioral outcomes were explored using correlation analyses. Bright light significantly reduced negative affect and improved Digit Span Forward task performance. No changes were observed in positive affect, subjective sleepiness, or Digit Span Backward scores. EEG analysis revealed decreased delta activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and increased beta activity in the right insula and fronto-parietal regions. Behavioral and EEG effects were similar across groups; however, only in the sleep-deprived group changes in beta activity significantly correlated with reduced negative affect. These results suggest that bright light may acutely enhance emotional state, cognitive performance, and cortical arousal in adolescents. The link between beta activity and affective improvement under sleep deprivation suggests a potential mechanism by which light supports emotional regulation.

Spasticity is a component of upper motor neuron disorders and can be seen in neurological conditions like stroke and multiple sclerosis. Although the incidence rate of spasticity is unknown, it can put pressure on the health condition of those with spasticity, and there is no absolute effective way to control it. In the past, stretching exercises were an accessible tool for physical therapists to manage and control spasticity, but opinions on the optimal dose, aftereffects, and mechanism of effects were controversial. Therefore, this article tries to provide an overview of the effectiveness and risks of stretching exercises. Furthermore, there are several adjunct therapies, such as brain stimulation and botulinum injection, that can increase the effectiveness of a simple stretch by increasing cortical excitability and reducing muscle tone and their role is evaluated in this regard. The results of this study propose that several prospective and case studies have demonstrated the benefits of stretching to control spasticity, but it seems that other methods such as casting can be more effective than a simple stretch. Therefore, it is better to use stretching in combination with other therapeutic regimes to increase its effectivity of it.

According to recent findings schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as separate disease entities manifest similarities in neuropsychological functioning. Typical disturbances in both disorders are related to sensory gating deficits characterized by decreased inhibitory functions in responses to various insignificant perceptual signals which are experimentally tested by event related potentials (ERP) and measured P50 wave. In this context, recent findings implicate that disrupted binding and disintegration of consciousness in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder that are related to inhibitory deficits reflected in P50 response may explain similarities in psychotic disturbances in both disorders. With this aim, this review summarizes literature about P50 in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Rationale Disruption of auditory event-related evoked potentials (ERPs) P300 and mismatch negativity (MMN), electrophysiological markers of attentive and pre-attentive cognitive processing, is repeatedly described in psychosis and schizophrenia. Similar findings were observed in a glutamatergic model of psychosis, but the role of serotonergic 5-HT 2A receptors in information processing is less clear. Objectives We studied ERPs in a serotonergic model of psychosis, induced by psilocybin, a psychedelic with 5-HT 2A/C agonistic properties, in healthy volunteers. Methods Twenty subjects (10M/10F) were given 0.26 mg/kg of psilocybin orally in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design. ERPs (P300, MMN) were registered during the peak of intoxication. Correlations between measured electrophysiological variables and psilocin serum levels and neuropsychological effects were also analyzed. Results Psilocybin induced robust psychedelic effects and psychotic-like symptoms, decreased P300 amplitude ( p  = 0.009) but did not affect the MMN. Psilocybin’s disruptive effect on P300 correlated with the intensity of the psychedelic state, which was dependent on the psilocin serum levels. We also observed a decrease in N100 amplitude ( p  = 0.039) in the P300 paradigm and a negative correlation between P300 and MMN amplitude ( p  = 0.014). Conclusions Even though pre-attentive cognition (MMN) was not affected, processing at the early perceptual level (N100) and in higher-order cognition (P300) was significantly disrupted by psilocybin. Our results have implications for the role of 5-HT 2A receptors in altered information processing in psychosis and schizophrenia.

Stanislav Holubec: Sociologie světových systémů Praha, Sociologické nakladatelství 2009, 207 s.

Sensory gating disturbances in schizophrenia are often described as an inability to filter redundant sensory stimuli that typically manifest as inability to gate neuronal responses related to the P50 wave, characterizing a decreased ability of the brain to inhibit various responses to insignificant stimuli. It implicates various deficits of perceptual and attentional functions, and this inability to inhibit, or \"gate\", irrelevant sensory inputs leads to sensory and information overload that also may result in neuronal hyperexcitability related to disturbances of habituation mechanisms. These findings seem to be particularly important in the context of modern electrophysiological and neuroimaging data suggesting that the filtering deficits in schizophrenia are likely related to deficits in the integrity of connections between various brain areas. As a consequence, this brain disintegration produces disconnection of information, disrupted binding, and disintegration of consciousness that in terms of modern neuroscience could connect original Bleuler's concept of \"split mind\" with research of neural information integration.

This study investigated whether a single morning session of bright light exposure modulates alertness, cognition, mood, and EEG activity in well-rested and partially sleep-deprived adolescents. Forty-seven subjects (15 – 21 years) were assigned to a well-rested (8 h sleep; 9 men, 15 women) or a sleep-deprived group (4 h sleep; 11 men, 12 women). All underwent 30 minutes of morning bright light exposure, with EEG, cognitive testing, and ratings of sleepiness and affect conducted pre- and post-intervention. Behavioral and electrophysiological changes were compared within and between groups. Associations between changes in EEG activity and behavioral outcomes were explored using correlation analyses. Bright light significantly reduced negative affect and improved Digit Span Forward task performance. No changes were observed in positive affect, subjective sleepiness, or Digit Span Backward scores. EEG analysis revealed decreased delta activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and increased beta activity in the right insula and fronto-parietal regions. Behavioral and EEG effects were similar across groups; however, only in the sleep-deprived group changes in beta activity significantly correlated with reduced negative affect. These results suggest that bright light may acutely enhance emotional state, cognitive performance, and cortical arousal in adolescents. The link between beta activity and affective improvement under sleep deprivation suggests a potential mechanism by which light supports emotional regulation.