WIP Special

What are the neural correlates of combined inverse occlusion and physical exercise training for adult amblyopia?

Hannah Willis

Abstract: Moderate exercise can enhance visual plasticity in both normally sighted and people with lazy eye. We have shown that moderate cycling on a stationary bike boosts effects of plasticity induced by covering one eye and that this effect can improve visual acuity and stereopsis in lazy eye above and beyond enhancements from covering one eye alone (Lunghi et al, 2018). The aim of the current study is to test if reverse patching + exercise over several days can enhance plasticity by modulating cortical inhibition in individuals with lazy eye. To study the mechanisms behind the interaction of visual plasticity and physical exercise, we will use non-invasive MRI to study changes in inhibitory neurochemical GABA and excitatory neurochemical glutamate, as well as measures of cortical activity brain activity. Our research may provide critical information in the design of adjunct therapies to lazy eye.

Measuring task-induced and drug-induced cholinergic modulations with ultra-high field MRS (WIN Seed Award)

Polytimi Frangou, William Clarke, Lauryn Foster, Charlotte Stagg

Abstract: Acetylcholine, an important but low-concentration neurotransmitter, is thought to be on the edge of detectability of MRS. Harnessing the upgraded capabilities of our 7T scanner, we wish to demonstrate MRS sensitivity to cholinergic modulation using a pharmacological intervention, known to modulate Acetylcholine. If successful, our method could have wide applications involving investigating cholinergic modulation during neuromodulation, plasticity induction, motor execution, etc, as well as clinical applications studying disorders characterised by cholinergic deficits. 

Optimising sensory stimulation for glymphatic clearance

Benoit Duchet, Thomas Okell, Wenchuan Wu, Karla Miller

Abstract: Visual stimulation using a 40Hz light flicker improves memory in patients with Alzheimer's disease by activating the glymphatic system, which clears pathological proteins. However, consistent improvements were not observed in all studies, and the therapy requires daily one-hour sessions over many months. To make this therapy practical and more effective, we aim to optimise stimulation to maximise clearance of pathological proteins. This will involve developing mathematical models of stimulation effects on glymphatic function, and validating these models through non-invasive MRI measurements in humans. The validated models will inform the design of optimal stimulation protocols, which will be refined in healthy participants and tested in Alzheimer’s disease patients.

Impact of tonic pain on neural correlates of sustained attention and threat sensitivity (WIN Seed Award)

Danielle Hewitt, Eoin Kelleher, Anushka Irani, Ben Seymour

Abstract: Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition often accompanied by “brain-fog”, a debilitating symptom characterised by impaired attention and concentration. Recent work in our group has shown significant attention deficits in fibromyalgia patients, with pain intensity strongly linked to task performance. Furthermore, in pain-free adults, ongoing (tonic) pain is associated with increased threat anticipation and poorer performance on collision estimation tasks, which require continuous (spatial) attention to potential threats. However, the neural mechanisms of these deficits remain unclear. This project will examine how tonic pain affects functional connectivity during sustained attention and spatial attention tasks in healthy volunteers. Results will enhance our understanding of the relationship between attention and tonic pain and will facilitate comparison with existing data from both fibromyalgia patients and pain-free individuals.