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NEW
Tongue Tracker (TT) as a new tool to assess bulbar dysfunction in older adults & ALS patients Bulbar symptoms, including difficulty swallowing and speaking, are common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological disorders, such as stroke. We developed an open-source tool called Tongue Tracker (TT) to quantify bulbar function by training a neural network to track kinematic tongue features of short video clips of lateral tongue movements. We used TT to detect quantitative markers of bulbar dysfunction in ALS and older adults, and show that the method is sensitive to detect pathology-related alterations in bulbar function. Read the full paper: [link] |
RESEARCH
The organizational principles of 'de-differentiated' cortical maps
A common model of cortical aging assumes more de-differentiated cortical maps that link to worse everyday behavior. We showed using 7 Tesla MRI that older adults' S1 maps are not more de-differentiated then younger adults' maps when looking at standard markers of cortical de-differentiation. Rather, specific local and global map changes characterize aging topographic maps, where smaller distances between D2 and D3 link to better everyday behavior of the hand. We therefore introduce a new feature-based model of cortical topographic aging. Read the full paper: [link]
The organizational principles of 'de-differentiated' cortical maps
A common model of cortical aging assumes more de-differentiated cortical maps that link to worse everyday behavior. We showed using 7 Tesla MRI that older adults' S1 maps are not more de-differentiated then younger adults' maps when looking at standard markers of cortical de-differentiation. Rather, specific local and global map changes characterize aging topographic maps, where smaller distances between D2 and D3 link to better everyday behavior of the hand. We therefore introduce a new feature-based model of cortical topographic aging. Read the full paper: [link]
OHBM
See here Video presentations by Alicia Northall, Peng Liu and Juliane Döhler on human sensorimotor aging described with 7T-MRI
See here Video presentations by Alicia Northall, Peng Liu and Juliane Döhler on human sensorimotor aging described with 7T-MRI
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NEW APPROACH
Topographic layer imaging as a tool to track neurodegenerative disease spread in M1
We here argue that one important feature that is often left out when diagnosing and analyzing disease spread in M1 (for example in motor neuron disease) is the inhomogeneous architecture of M1 with respect to cortical layers but also topographic units. Therefore, we propose that combining 3D layer imaging with topographic mapping serves as ideal tool to understand which microstructural changes in M1 determine disease progression. Read the full article: [link]
Topographic layer imaging as a tool to track neurodegenerative disease spread in M1
We here argue that one important feature that is often left out when diagnosing and analyzing disease spread in M1 (for example in motor neuron disease) is the inhomogeneous architecture of M1 with respect to cortical layers but also topographic units. Therefore, we propose that combining 3D layer imaging with topographic mapping serves as ideal tool to understand which microstructural changes in M1 determine disease progression. Read the full article: [link]
RESEARCH
Preserved body representations in advanced age
The rubber hand illusion is an often used paradigm to investigate multisensory body representations in health and disease. Here, we used the rubber hand paradigm to answer the question whether or not the visual-tactile integration of bodily signals and the associated feeling of bodily ownership changes with increasing age. We show that there is no difference in explicit and implicit markers of the rubber hand illusion between younger adults (aged 20-30 years) and older adults (aged > 65 years). This indicates preserved pathways for establishing a multisensory representation of the bodily self in advanced age. Read the full paper: [link]
Preserved body representations in advanced age
The rubber hand illusion is an often used paradigm to investigate multisensory body representations in health and disease. Here, we used the rubber hand paradigm to answer the question whether or not the visual-tactile integration of bodily signals and the associated feeling of bodily ownership changes with increasing age. We show that there is no difference in explicit and implicit markers of the rubber hand illusion between younger adults (aged 20-30 years) and older adults (aged > 65 years). This indicates preserved pathways for establishing a multisensory representation of the bodily self in advanced age. Read the full paper: [link]
CONCEPT
Changes in embodiment influence cognitive aging
Aging is associated with dramatic deficits in a number of cognitive functions. Our recent review paper outlines that a high number of age-related cognitive deficits arise from body-related processing differences. We propose a novel NFL-framework of bodily aging to conceptualize these changes. Key insight: Sensory and cognitive deficits on older age link to age-related changes in embodiment. Read the full papers: [link]
Changes in embodiment influence cognitive aging
Aging is associated with dramatic deficits in a number of cognitive functions. Our recent review paper outlines that a high number of age-related cognitive deficits arise from body-related processing differences. We propose a novel NFL-framework of bodily aging to conceptualize these changes. Key insight: Sensory and cognitive deficits on older age link to age-related changes in embodiment. Read the full papers: [link]
FUNDING
SFB-1436: Project B04 "Effects of hippocampal vascularization patterns on the neuronal resources of MTL neurocognitive circuits"
DFG-Einzelprojekt: "Cortical Microstructure & Aging"
EKFS-Grant: "Topography and Plasticity of Cortical Microstructure in ALS characterized with 7T MRI"
SFB-1436: Project B04 "Effects of hippocampal vascularization patterns on the neuronal resources of MTL neurocognitive circuits"
DFG-Einzelprojekt: "Cortical Microstructure & Aging"
EKFS-Grant: "Topography and Plasticity of Cortical Microstructure in ALS characterized with 7T MRI"
