Merging AI With Targeted Electrical Brain Stimulation to Improve Specific Human Brain Functions

AHA Publisher — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 07:00:18 +0000

University of Minnesota Medical School via News-Medical – In a pilot human study, researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital show it is possible to improve specific human brain functions related to self-control and mental flexibility by merging artificial intelligence with targeted electrical brain stimulation. Alik Widge, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry and member of the Medical Discovery Team on Addiction at the U of M Medical School, is the senior author of the research published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. The findings come from a human study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston among 12 patients undergoing brain surgery for epilepsy -; a procedure that places hundreds of tiny electrodes throughout the brain to record its activity and identify where seizures originate. In this study, Widge collaborated with Massachusetts General Hospital’s Sydney Cash, MD, PhD, an expert in epilepsy research; and Darin Dougherty, MD, an expert in clinical brain stimulation. Together, they identified a brain region -; the internal capsule -; that improved patients’ mental function when stimulated with small amounts of electrical energy. That part of the brain is responsible for cognitive control -; the process of shifting from one thought pattern or behavior to another, which is impaired in most mental illnesses. “An example might include a person with depression who just can’t get out of a ‘stuck’ negative thought. Because it is so central to mental illness, finding a way to improve it could be a powerful new way to treat those illnesses,” Widge said. The team developed algorithms, so that after stimulation, they could track patients’ cognitive control abilities, both from their actions and directly from their brain activity. The controller method provided boosts of stimulation whenever the patients were doing worse on a laboratory test of cognitive control. “This system can read brain activity, ‘decode’ from that when a patient is having difficulty, and apply a small burst of electrical stimulation to the brain to boost them past that difficulty. The analogy I often use is an electric bike. When someone’s pedaling but having difficulty, the bike senses it and augments it. We’ve made the equivalent of that for human mental function.” Alik Widge, MD, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry, U of M Medical School The study is the first to show that: A specific human mental function linked to mental illness can be reliably enhanced using precisely targeted electrical stimulation; There are specific sub-parts of the internal capsule brain structure that are particularly effective for cognitive enhancement; and A closed-loop algorithm used as a controller was twice as effective than stimulating at random times. Some of the patients had significant anxiety in addition to their epilepsy. When given the cognitive-enhancing stimulation, they reported that their anxiety got better, because they were more able to shift their thoughts away from their distress and focus on what they wanted. Widge says that this suggests this method could be used to treat patients with severe and medication-resistant anxiety, depression or other disorders. “This could be a totally new approach in treating mental illness. Instead of trying to suppress symptoms, we could give patients a tool that lets them take control of their own minds,” Widge said. “We could put them back in the driver’s seat and let them feel a new sense of agency.” The research team is now preparing for clinical trials. Because the target for improving cognitive control is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration for deep brain stimulation, Widge says this research can be done with existing tools and devices -; once a trial is formally approved -; and the translation of this care to current medical practice could be rapid. “The wonderful thing about these findings is that we are now in a position to conduct clinical trials to further demonstrate effectiveness and then hopefully move to helping treatment-resistant patients who are in desperate need for additional interventions to treat their illnesses,” Dougherty said. To read the original article click here.

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Discover How Eating Mixed Berries Can SUPERCHARGE Your Brain Function

AHA Publisher — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 07:00:39 +0000

Joy Jensen via NaturalHealth365 – You probably know about the popular adage, “you are what you eat.” Right? Well, science continues to back that saying up … especially when it comes to your brain function. Growing research supports the positive (and negative) effects of the foods you eat on your body, mind and spirit – in particular the brain. That’s especially true of foods containing flavonoids, which are found in many vegetables, fruits, and other plant products. Rich in antioxidants, they work by powerfully warding off the threat of toxins, as well as other health benefits. Flavonoids have been shown to help protect the brain and support brain function. In fact, new research shows that eating mixed berries, which are high in flavonoids, can help improve brain function and cognitive performance. New study concludes: Eating the right foods can really boost brain function Researchers wanted to test findings from previous animal models and conducted research on a group of 40 healthy adults between 20 and 30 years of age. Participants were provided with a berry smoothie that included blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries blended with water. A placebo was matched for vitamin C and carbohydrates. After consuming the smoothies, participants in the study engaged in tasks designed to measure mental flexibility, response times, and more at two, four, and six hours after drinking the smoothie. The results showed that those drinking the berry smoothie had increased accuracy on cognitive tests even up to six hours after consumption. They also had quicker response times! Those who had the placebo saw a decreased performance throughout the day as cognitive fatigue set in. Researchers concluded that consuming mixed berries, which are an excellent source of flavonoids, improve cognitive brain functions in the test subjects. While this new study backs up the brain function benefits of mixed berries, it’s not the first study to show the benefits of a high intake of berries. A previous study published in Annals of Neurology reported that a high intake of blueberries, strawberries, and other flavonoid-rich berries delayed memory decline in aging women. Best of all, it’s a simple dietary modification you can make to reduce memory decline and boost brain function. Understanding the extra health benefits of consuming enough flavonoids Beyond improving brain function and slowing age-related memory decline, a high intake of flavonoids offers many other health benefits, too! Additional benefits include: Decreased diabetes risk: One meta-analysis showed that a high intake of flavonoids was associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Cancer-fighting benefits: Some flavonoids may keep cancer cells from multiplying, although additional research is needed. Reduced heart attack risk: Flavonoids found in soy, coffee, and tea may reduce the risk of having a stroke or heart attack. How can you enjoy the benefits of flavonoids? I’m glad you asked! One of the best ways is to start eating more berries: blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Organic, of course. (To avoid eating unwanted chemicals in your diet.) Toss them into your salads, slice them in cereal, top your yogurt with berries, or eat them alone as a healthy snack. Sources for this article include: NaturalHealthResearch.org, Harvard.edu, Healthline.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Merging AI With Targeted Electrical Brain Stimulation to Improve Specific Human Brain Functions

Discover How Eating Mixed Berries Can SUPERCHARGE Your Brain Function