The VLPFC-Engaged Voluntary Emotion Regulation: Combined TMS-fMRI Evidence for the Neural Circuit of Cognitive Reappraisal.

A clear understanding of the neural circuit underlying emotion regulation (ER) is important for both basic and translational research. However, a lack of evidence based on combined neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques calls into question (1) whether the change of prefrontal-subcortical activity intrinsically and causally contributes to the ER effect; and (2) whether the prefrontal control system directly modulates the subcortical affective system. Accordingly, we combined fMRI recordings with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to map the causal connections between the PFC and subcortical affective structures (amygdala and insula). A total of 117 human adult participants (57 males and 60 females) were included in the study. The results revealed that TMS-induced ventrolateral PFC (VLPFC) facilitation led to enhanced activity in the VLPFC and ventromedial PFC (VMPFC) as well as attenuated activity in the amygdala and insula during reappraisal but not during nonreappraisal (i.e., baseline). Moreover, the activated VLPFC intensified the prefrontal-subcortical couplings via the VMPFC during reappraisal only. This study provides combined TMS-fMRI evidence that downregulating negative emotion involves the prefrontal control system suppressing the subcortical affective system, with the VMPFC serving as a crucial hub within the VLPFC-subcortical network, suggesting an indirect pathway model of the ER circuit. Our findings outline potential protocols for improving ER ability by intensifying the VLPFC-VMPFC coupling in patients with mood and anxiety disorders.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Using fMRI to examine the TMS effect, we uncovered that the opposite neural changes in prefrontal (enhanced) and subcortical (attenuated) regions are not a byproduct of emotion regulation (ER); instead, this prefrontal-subcortical activity per se causally contributes to the ER effect. Furthermore, using TMS to amplify the neural changes within the ER circuit, the "bridge" role of the VMPFC is highlighted under the reappraisal versus nonreappraisal contrast. This "perturb-and-measure" approach overcomes the correlational nature of fMRI data, helping us to identify brain regions that causally support reappraisal (the VLPFC and VMPFC) and those that are modulated by reappraisal (the amygdala and insula). The uncovered ER circuit is important for understanding the neural systems underlying reappraisal and valuable for translational research.

A Novel Multi-view Bi-clustering method for identifying abnormal Co-occurrence medical visit behaviors.

Abnormal co-occurrence medical visit behavior is a form of medical insurance fraud. Specifically, an organized gang of fraudsters hold multiple medical insurance cards and purchase similar drugs frequently at the same time and the same location in order to siphon off medical insurance funds. Conventional identification methods to identify such behaviors rely mainly on manual auditing, making it difficult to satisfy the needs of identifying the small number of fraudulent behaviors in the large-scale medical data. On the other hand, the existing single-view bi-clustering algorithms only consider the features of the time-location dimension while neglecting the similarities in prescriptions and neglecting the fact that fraudsters may belong to multiple gangs. Therefore, in this paper, we present a multi-view bi-clustering method for identifying abnormal co-occurrence medical visit behavioral patterns, which performs cluster analysis simultaneously on the large-scale, complex and diverse visiting record dimension and prescription dimension to identify bi-clusters with similar time-location features. The proposed method constructs a matrix view of patients and visit records as well as a matrix view of patients and prescriptions, while decomposing multiple data matrices into sparse row and column vectors to obtain a consistent patient population across views. Subsequently the proposed method identifies the corresponding abnormal co-occurrence medical visit behavior and may greatly facilitate the safe operations and the sustainability of medical insurance funds. The experimental results show that our proposed method leads to more efficient and more accurate identifications of abnormal co-occurrence medical visit behavior, demonstrating its high efficiency and effectiveness.

[Brain basis of physical pain and social pain].

Increasing studies have provided cognitive and neuron evidence for not only the similarities, but also the differences between physical pain and social pain in the brain basis. Comparing the similarities and differences of the brain basis of physical pain and social pain helps us to clarify the mechanism of the occurrence and change of pain, and provide theoretical evidence for clinical pain treatment. In this review, we summarized studies to delineate the brain mechanisms of physical pain and social pain. Through the review of existing studies, we found that both physical pain and social pain can invoke the same brain regions that process emotional experience (the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula), emotion regulation (lateral prefrontal cortex) and somatosensory (the posterior insula, secondary sensory cortex). However, the voxel-level activated patterns of physical and social pain differ in the same brain region (dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, etc.), and the overlapping brain regions (for example, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex) have varied effect on these two types of pain. In addition, studies have shown that the brain activation pattern for social pain may be influenced by the experimental paradigm. Future studies should actively adopt a data-driven way to examine the brain basis of physical pain and social pain, especially the nerve activation mode, aiming to consummate the theory of pain.

Altered motivation of effortful decision-making for self and others in subthreshold depression.

BACKGROUND: Amotivation is a typical feature in major depressive disorders and refers to individuals exhibiting reduced willingness to exert effort for rewards. However, the motivation pattern when deciding whether to exert effort for self versus others in people with depression remains unclear. METHODS: We conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging study and employed an adapted Effort-Expenditure for Rewards Task in subthreshold depressive (SD) participants (n = 33) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 32). This required participants to choose between a fixed low-effort/low-reward and a variable high-effort/high-reward option, and then immediately exert effort to obtain corresponding rewards for themselves or for unfamiliar people. RESULTS: Compared with the HC group, the SD group showed blunted activity in the left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex/dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, bilateral anterior insula (AI), and right putamen-left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex functional connectivity when choosing to exert effort for themselves. Additionally, the SD group exhibited increased willingness and greater activation in the bilateral AI when choosing to exert effort for others. Furthermore, these brain activations and functional connectivity were positively related to self-reported motivation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show altered motivation during effort-based decision-making in individuals with the mild depressive state, particularly with higher motivation for others. Thus, this suggests that motivational behaviors and prefrontal-striatal circuitry are altered in individuals with SD, which can be utilized to discover treatment targets and develop strategies to address mental illness caused by motivation disorders.

The causal role of the bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortices on emotion regulation of social feedback.

The ventrolateral prefrontal cortices (VLPFC) are crucial regions involved in voluntary emotion regulation. However, the lateralization of the VLPFC in downregulating negative emotions remains unclear; and whether the causal role of the VLPFC is generalizable to upregulating positive emotions is unexplored. This study used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to examine the causal relationship between the left/right VLPFC and social emotion reappraisal. One hundred and twenty participants were randomly assigned to either active (left and right VLPFC groups, n = 40/40) or sham (vertex, n = 40) TMS groups. Participants were instructed to passively receive social feedback or use reappraisal strategies to positively regulate their emotions. While the subjective emotional rating showed that the bilateral VLPFC facilitated the reappraisal success, the electrophysiological measure of the late positive potential (LPP) demonstrated a more critical role of the right VLPFC on social pain relief (decreased LPP amplitudes) and social reward magnification (enhanced LPP amplitudes). In addition, the influence of emotion regulation on social evaluation was found to be mediated by the memory of social feedback, indicating the importance of memory in social behavioral shaping. These findings suggest clinical protocols for the rehabilitation of emotion-regulatory function in patients with affective and social disorders.

Modulating social feedback processing by deep TMS targeting the medial prefrontal cortex: Behavioral and electrophysiological manifestations.

Neuroimaging studies have suggested that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a key brain region for social feedback processing, but previous findings are largely based on correlational approaches. In this study, we use the deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) to manipulate mPFC activity, then investigate participants' behavioral performance and event-related potentials (ERPs) during the Social Judgment Paradigm. A between-subject design was applied, such that both the active dTMS group and the sham group consisted of 30 participants. We found that the sham group was more likely to predict that they would be socially accepted (rather than rejected) by peers, but the same was not true in the active group. Additionally, this study is the first one to observe ERP signal changes in response to dTMS manipulation. ERP results show that both the expectation stage and the experience stage of social feedback processing were modulated by dTMS: (1) at the expectation stage, the P1 component was smaller in the active group than the sham group, while the stimulus-preceding negativity showed a stronger differentiating effect between positive and negative prediction in the sham group than the active group; (2) at the experience stage, the sensitivity of the late positive potential to the valence and predictability of social feedback was stronger in the sham group than the active group. These results improve our understanding about the relationship between the mPFC and social feedback processing.

The impact of action observation and motor imagery on the aesthetic preference of Chinese calligraphy.

The creation of artwork requires motor activity. However, few empirical studies have directly explored the relationship between the experience of an artist's action and aesthetic experience. This study aimed to examine the effect of observing and imagery of the artist's action on the participants' aesthetic preferences. In Experiment 1 and 2, we took hard-pen and brush-pen Chinese calligraphy images as the stimulus, respectively, to explore the influence of action observation on the aesthetic preference by manipulating the artists' actions. The results of both Experiment 1 and 2 show that when participants observed the artists' actions, they tended to report a higher preference for calligraphy images compared with the control condition. In Experiments 3 and 4, we used instructions to manipulate the motor imagery tasks and investigated the effect of imaging the artist's action on the participants' aesthetic preferences. The results showed that both kinesthetic imagery and visual imagery increased the participants' preference. In general, our study shows that both action observation and motor imagery contribute to participants' aesthetic preferences. The results are discussed in terms of how artists' actions possibly influence the aesthetic preference of Chinese calligraphy.

ISIEA: An image database of social inclusion and exclusion in young Asian adults.

Human beings have a fundamental need to belong. Evaluating and dealing with social exclusion and social inclusion events, which represent negative and positive social interactions, respectively, are closely linked to our physical and mental health. In addition to traditional paradigms that simulate scenarios of social interaction, images are utilized as effective visual stimuli for research on socio-emotional processing and regulation. Since the current mainstream emotional image database lacks social stimuli based on a specific social context, we introduced an open-access image database of social inclusion/exclusion in young Asian adults (ISIEA). This database contains a set of 164 images depicting social interaction scenarios under three categories of social contexts (social exclusion, social neutral, and social inclusion). All images were normatively rated on valence, arousal, inclusion score, and vicarious feeling by 150 participants in Study 1. We additionally examined the relationships between image ratings and the potential factors influencing ratings. The importance of facial expression and social context in the image rating of ISIEA was examined in Study 2. We believe that this database allows researchers to select appropriate materials for socially related studies and to flexibly conduct experimental control.

Medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols reduce body fat and blood triacylglycerols in hypertriacylglycerolemic, overweight but not obese, Chinese individuals.

In contrast to the consumption of long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT), consumption of medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) reduces the body fat and blood triacylglycerols (TAG) level in hypertriacylglycerolemic Chinese individuals. These responses may be affected by BMI because of obesity-induced insulin resistance. We aimed to compare the effects of consuming MLCT or LCT on reducing body fat and blood TAG level in hypertriacylglycerolemic Chinese subjects with different ranges of BMI. Employing a double-blind, randomized and controlled protocol, 101 hypertriacylglycerolemic subjects (including 67 men and 34 women) were randomly allocated to ingest 25-30 g/day MLCT or LCT oil as the only cooking oil for 8 consecutive weeks. Anthropometric measurements of body weight, BMI, body fat, WC, HC, blood biochemical variables, and subcutaneous fat area and visceral fat area in the abdomen were measured at week 0 and 8. As compared to subjects with BMI 24-28 kg/m(2) in the LCT group, corresponding subjects in the MLCT group showed significantly greater decrease in body weight, BMI, body fat, WC, ratio of WC to HC, total fat area and subcutaneous fat area in the abdomen, as well as blood TAG and LDL-C levels at week 8. Based upon our results, consumption of MLCT oil may reduce body weight, body fat, and blood TAG and LDL-C levels in overweight hypertriacylglycerolemic Chinese subjects but may not induce these changes in normal or obese hypertriacylglycerolemic subjects.

A good response to oil with medium- and long-chain fatty acids in body fat and blood lipid profiles of male hypertriglyceridemic subjects.

A double blind clinical trial was carried out to clarify the effects of oil with medium- and long-chain triglyceride (MLCT) on body fat and blood lipid profiles in hypertriglyceridemic subjects. One-hundred-and-twelve subjects were enrolled and divided into two groups; those that consumed MLCT oil and those that consumed long-chain triglyceride (LCT) oil for 8 weeks. All subjects were requested to consume 25-30 g of the oils daily and maintain a fixed level of energy intake and exercise. Anthropometric and blood biochemical parameters were measured when the study was initiated and completed. The LCT group consisted of 50 subjects (34 men and 16 women), while the MLCT group consisted of 51 subjects (33 men and 18 women) who completed the study. Larger decreases in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat, total fat area and subcutaneous fat area in the abdomen and serum triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, C2, C3 and E were observed in male subjects in the MLCT group than those in the LCT group. However, no significant differences in these parameters between the female subjects in the two groups were observed. Data from this study indicate that consumption of medium-and long-chain triglycerides can reduce body weight and body fat and improve blood lipid profiles in male hypertriglyceridemic subjects.

Chinese hypertriglycerideamic subjects of different ages responded differently to consuming oil with medium- and long-chain fatty acids.

Two groups of Chinese hypertriacylglycerolemic subjects were recruited and randomized to medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) oil or long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT) oil. Two subgroups were divided by age at less or more 60 years in both groups. Both oils were consumed at 25-30 g daily for 8 weeks. Anthropometry, blood biochemicals, and computed tomography (CT) scanning were done at the initial and final times. In subjects of age less than 60 years on MLCT, the body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body fat, total fat area, and subcutaneous fat area were significantly lower than those of the initial values, and the change values in these indicators and visceral fat area lowered significantly as compared with those on LCT. The levels of apoB, apoA2, apoC2, and apoC3 decreased significantly, and the change in values in the levels of triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apoA1, apoB, apoA2, apoC2, apoC3 were significantly lower on MLCT of age under 60 years as compared with those on LCT.

[Medium- and long-chain fatty acid triacylglycerol reduce body fat and serum triglyceride in overweight and hypertriglyceridemic subjects].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of medium- and long-chain fatty acid triacylglycerols (MLCT) on body fat and serum lipid in overweight and hypertriglyceridemic subjects. METHODS: A double-blind, controlled clinical trial was carried out, in which 112 subjects with hypertriglyceridemia were enrolled and divided into two groups, there were 56 subjects in each group. One group was randomized to consume long-chain fatty acid triacylglycerol (LCT), and the other to MLCT. All volunteers were asked to consume 25 - 30 g test oil daily for consecutive 8 weeks. Anthropometric measurements of body weight, body fat weight, waist circumference(WC), hip circumference(HC), WHR (ratio of WC/HC), total fat weight, subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, and serum biochemical variables of glucose, total cholesterols(TC), triglycerides(TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)were measured at the initial and final time of the study. RESULTS: 11 subjects were excluded from the study because of various reasons. Of the 101 included cases, there were 50 (male subject 34, 68.0%) and 51 (male subject 33, 64.7%) subjects left in LCT and MLCT group respectively. The proportion of men in MLCT (64.7%, 33/51) was not significantly different (chi(2) = 0.1227, P > 0.05) compared to those in LCT (68.0%, 34/50). The average age of MLCT was (54.2 +/- 12.5) which was not significantly different (t = 0.39, P > 0.05) compared to those in LCT (53.2 +/- 13.0); Body mass index (BMI) of MLCT was (25.9 +/- 3.3) kg/m(2), which was not significantly different (t = 0.08, P > 0.05) compared to those of LCT (25.9 +/- 2.4) kg/m(2). After consumption of test oil for 8 weeks, extent of decrease in BMI, percent of body fat, subcutaneous fat, serum TG and serum LDL-C in overweight subjects of MLCT were (-0.73 +/- 0.61) kg/m(2), (-1.53 +/- 1.32)%, (-16.29 +/- 19.25) cm(2), (-0.57 +/- 0.86) mmol/L and (-0.05 +/- 0.64) mmol/L respectively, those in overweight subjects of LCT were (-0.19 +/- 0.61) kg/m(2), (-0.58 +/- 1.02)%, (4.69 +/- 19.06) cm(2), (0.65 +/- 1.10) mmol/L and (0.38 +/- 0.58) mmol/L respectively, all of them were significantly different (the value of t were -2.70, -2.43, -3.20, -3.81 and -2.09 respectively, all of P value were less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Consumption of MLCT can reduce body fat weight and serum triacylglycerol and LDL-C in overweight hypertriglyceridemic subjects under an appropriate dietary regime.

[The hypoglycemic effects of crude polysaccharides extract from Momordica charantia in mice].

OBJECTIVE: In order to study the hypoglycemic effects of crude polysaccharides extract from Momordica charantia in normal and diabetic mice. METHODS: Oral glucose tolerance test was carried out in 24 normal mice, CPS was orally administered in experiment group at 1 g/kg BW. 80 diabetic mice (type 1 and type 2 diabetic model) were divided into two groups randomly, CPS was administered at ad lib and fasted condition in experiment group at 1 g/kg BW, blood glucose was measured at different time. RESULTS: In normal mice, after administered glucose (3g/kgBW) the blood glucose level of experiment group at 0.5, 1 h was significantly lower than that of control group (16.4% and 16.5% lower than control group respectively, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). In diabetic mice, the fasted and ad lib blood glucose after administering CPS orally 2h, 4h were lower than that of control group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). CONCLUSION: CPS can improve OGTT in normal mice, and has significant hypoglycemic effect in two types diabetic mice.