Sensitive period for the plasticity of alpha activity in humans

Campus, Claudio; Signorini, Sabrina; Giorgis, Valentina De; Papalia, G.; Morelli, Federica; Gori, Monica

doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2021.100965

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Additionally, even minimal visual experience (e.g., congenital but incomplete cataracts) was shown to establish the neural mechanisms for alpha generation, whereas the total lack of vision immediately after birth seems to result in permanent impairments ( Bottari et al, 2016 ;Innocenti et al, 1985 ;Novikova, 1973 ). Other studies conclude that despite weaker alpha activity during the first three years of life, the main differentiation in terms of alpha activity between sighted and blind subjects happens between 3 and 6 years of life ( Campus et al, 2021 ). These reductions were proposed to reflect a decrease of inhibitory processes as a result of reduced thalamic connectivity ( Shimony et al, 2006 ;Singer and Tretter, 1976 ) and the reduced activity of pyramidal cells, which are modulated by fast-spiking inhibitory interneurons ( Buffalo et al, 2011 ;Jensen et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tactile expectancy modulates occipital alpha oscillations in early blindness

et al. 2023

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tactile expectancy modulates occipital alpha oscillations in early blindness

et al. 2023

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“…This is consistent with reports of occipital alpha loss in congenitally blind individuals, particularly in those with more severe vision loss (Jan and Wong, 1988; Bottari et al, 2016). Posterior alpha is present early (Campus et al, 2021), suggesting a regressive process disassembles alpha generators in the absence of light in the blind. Loss of alpha and beta was specific to movement periods, when low-frequency (delta and alpha) activity is already low (Niell and Stryker, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is consistent with reports of occipital alpha loss in congenitally blind individuals, particularly those with severe congenital vision loss (Bottari et al, 2016; Jan and Wong, 1988). Posterior alpha is present during development even in the blind (Campus et al, 2021), suggesting a regressive process disassembles alpha generators in the absence of retinal input. Interestingly the low-frequency loss we observed was specific to movement periods, when these frequency bands are suppressed as part of the activation resulting from arousal and movement (McCormick et al, 2014; Niell and Scanziani, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If, on the other hand, mice and humans have similar visual-dependent cortical rhythms, our data suggest that the low and medium frequencies that remain during movement and arousal (Einstein et al, 2017) may be the mouse form of alpha. The 3-5 Hz oscillations occurring during quiet wakefulness are likely homologues of human delta1/2 (0.5-4 Hz) which have increased power in blind adults and infants (Campus et al, 2021), similar to the increase in low frequencies observed in enucleated mice in the third postnatal week (Riyahi et al, 2021). The role of alpha and other frequencies in the loss and recovery of visual processing following cataract reversal is unclear (Bottari et al, 2016), but our results suggest ways to tractably study them in an animal model.…”

Section: Cortical 'Alpha' and Blindnessmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Experience dependence of alpha rhythms and neural dynamics in mouse visual cortex

Riyahi

Phillips

Boley

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Early-life blindness causes lasting visual impairment, for which the circuit basis is only partially understood. Degradation of visual connections as well as the network dynamics supporting neural oscillations and arousal states are likely contributors. To define how blindness affects dynamics, we examined the effects of two forms of blindness, bilateral loss of retinal input (enucleation) and degradation of visual input (eyelid-suture), on emergent network properties and their state-dependence in the visual cortex of awake head-fixed mice. Neither form of early visual deprivation fundamentally altered the state-dependent regulation of firing-rates or local field potential oscillations. However, each form of deprivation did cause a unique set of changes in network behavior. Enucleation caused a loss of low-frequency synchronization specifically during movement, suggesting a mouse model for human alpha oscillations. Neurons were also less correlated and fired more regularly, with no change in mean firing rates. Chronic lid-suture decreased firing rates during quiet-wakefulness, but not during movement, and had no effect on neural correlations or firing regularity. Sutured animals also had a broadband increase in LFP power and increased occurrence, but reduced central frequency, of narrowband gamma oscillations. The complementary, rather than additive, effects of lid-suture vs.enucleation suggest that the development of these emergent network properties does not require vision but is plastic to modified input. Our results suggest that the etiology of human blindness will be a crucial determinant of circuit pathology and its capacity to respond to clinical interventions.

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“…Afterward, it has been observed that the cortical visual pathways mature during the late infancy period (8–12 years old), leading to the development of alpha rhythms within the frequency range of adults ( Anderson and Perone, 2018 ). Recognizing the sensitive period for the plasticity of this alpha activity, it has been revealed that visual experiences between the ages of 3–6 are crucial ( Campus et al, 2021 ). It has been demonstrated that not only do visual input restrictions such as darkness or closing one’s eyes ( Webster and Ro, 2020 ), but also instances where mothers read picture books to their children ( Hasegawa et al, 2021 ), trigger alpha activity.…”

Section: Two Visual Systems In Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary origin of alpha rhythms in vertebrates

Shibata,

Hattori,

Nishijo

et al. 2024

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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The purpose of this review extends beyond the traditional triune brain model, aiming to elucidate the evolutionary aspects of alpha rhythms in vertebrates. The forebrain, comprising the telencephalon (pallium) and diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus), is a common feature in the brains of all vertebrates. In mammals, evolution has prioritized the development of the forebrain, especially the neocortex, over the midbrain (mesencephalon) optic tectum, which serves as the prototype for the visual brain. This evolution enables mammals to process visual information in the retina-thalamus (lateral geniculate nucleus)-occipital cortex pathway. The origin of posterior-dominant alpha rhythms observed in mammals in quiet and dark environments is not solely attributed to cholinergic pontine nuclei cells functioning as a 10 Hz pacemaker in the brainstem. It also involves the ability of the neocortex’s cortical layers to generate traveling waves of alpha rhythms with waxing and waning characteristics. The utilization of alpha rhythms might have facilitated the shift of attention from external visual inputs to internal cognitive processes as an adaptation to thrive in dark environments. The evolution of alpha rhythms might trace back to the dinosaur era, suggesting that enhanced cortical connectivity linked to alpha bands could have facilitated the development of nocturnal awakening in the ancestors of mammals. In fishes, reptiles, and birds, the pallium lacks a cortical layer. However, there is a lack of research clearly observing dominant alpha rhythms in the pallium or organized nuclear structures in fishes, reptiles, or birds. Through convergent evolution, the pallium of birds, which exhibits cortex-like fiber architecture, has not only acquired advanced cognitive and motor abilities but also the capability to generate low-frequency oscillations (4-25 Hz) resembling alpha rhythms. This suggests that the origins of alpha rhythms might lie in the pallium of a common ancestor of birds and mammals.

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Sensitive period for the plasticity of alpha activity in humans

Cited by 9 publications

References 67 publications

Tactile expectancy modulates occipital alpha oscillations in early blindness

Tactile expectancy modulates occipital alpha oscillations in early blindness

Experience dependence of alpha rhythms and neural dynamics in mouse visual cortex

Evolutionary origin of alpha rhythms in vertebrates

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