BACKGROUND:A prior suicide attempt is the strongest predictor of subsequent suicide mortality in major depressive disorder (MDD); however, the functional network architecture distinguishing individuals with and without a history of suicide attempts remains incompletely characterized. We applied a connectome-wide functional connectivity (FC) framework to identify FC alterations associated with suicide attempt history in MDD and examine their relationships with suicidal ideation and childhood trauma. METHODS:Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained from 204 participants (suicidal depression [SD] = 61, non-suicidal depression [NSD] = 62, healthy controls [HC] = 81). FC matrices were constructed using the Schaefer 400-node atlas. Group differences were examined using network-based statistics (NBS) and graph-theoretical measures. RESULTS:NBS identified a significant subnetwork exhibiting lower FC in the SD group than in the NSD group (pFWE = 0.038), spanning the visual (VIS), somatomotor (SMN), dorsal attention (DAN), frontoparietal (FPN), and default mode (DMN) networks. Compared with the HC group, the SD group exhibited hypo- and hyperconnected subnetworks, whereas the NSD group showed no significant differences in FC. Graph-theoretical analyses revealed reduced strength, global efficiency, and betweenness centrality within the SD < NSD subnetwork. In the MDD group, mean subnetwork FC, SMN-VIS, and DMN-DMN FC were negatively correlated with suicidal ideation. In the SD group, SMN-SMN FC correlated inversely with childhood sexual abuse. CONCLUSIONS:These findings suggest that hypoconnectivity across sensory, attentional, and self-referential systems may represent a connectome-level signature of suicide vulnerability in MDD and link childhood sexual abuse to suicide risk.

Background Suicide attempts are among the most severe outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD), yet the underlying neuroanatomical substrates remain incompletely understood. Prior imaging studies have yielded inconsistent findings, likely reflecting methodological heterogeneity and a reliance on single-modality approaches. Methods In this study, we adopted a multimodal MRI framework to examine structural brain differences with suicide attempts in MDD. Seventy patients with MDD (35 with and 35 without a history of suicide attempts) and 35 healthy controls underwent structural and diffusion MRI. We performed cortical thickness analysis, white matter integrity analyses, and subcortical volume and shape analysis. Results Compared to non-attempters and controls, suicide attempters exhibited significantly thinner cortex in frontoparietal and limbic regions, including the left primary somatosensory cortex, right orbitofrontal cortex, and right anterior intraparietal area. White matter analysis revealed increased mean diffusivity and decreased axial diffusivity in the cingulum, corticospinal tract, and anterior thalamic radiation among attempters. Subcortical volume was significantly reduced in the right hippocampus, thalamus, and left pallidum in attempters compared to non-attempters and controls. Shape analysis further revealed inward deformation of the right putamen in suicide attempters. Conclusions Patients with MDD and a history of suicide attempts demonstrate converging structural abnormalities across cortical, subcortical, and white matter domains. These alterations, particularly in regions implicated in emotion regulation and reward processing, may serve as neuroanatomical signatures of suicide risk. Our findings support the potential utility of multimodal neuroimaging biomarkers in stratifying suicide vulnerability in MDD.

A history of suicide attempts is one of the strongest predictors of future suicidal behavior in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) alterations that specifically differentiate MDD patients with a suicidal attempt history (SD) from those without (NSD) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify suicide attempt–specific rs-FC alterations using a two-stage multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) framework—first contrasting the MDD group with the healthy control (HC) group, then directly comparing the SD group with the NSD group—and to examine whether the identified FC features were related to suicidal ideation or childhood trauma. Rs-FC data were collected from 204 adults (61 SD, 62 NSD, 81 HCs). Significant clusters from each MVPA were used as regions of interest (ROIs) for follow-up ROI-to-ROI and seed-to-voxel analyses, and associations with the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) scores were examined. FC patterns that distinguished the SD group from the NSD group consistently involved visual network regions. The SD group showed lower FC between visual areas and prefrontal regions. Among ROI-level differences, the right intracalcarine cortex–right inferior temporal gyrus FC showed a negative correlation with CTQ–physical neglect subscale scores in the SD group (r = –0.427, pFDR = 0.017). Seed-to-voxel analyses revealed that lower visual–frontal FC was associated with greater suicidal ideation in the MDD group (e.g., left cuneus–left frontal pole, r = –0.341, pFDR = 0.023). These findings suggest a dysfunctional brain network linking childhood trauma, disrupted sensory–cognitive integration, and suicide attempt risk in MDD.

Objective: This study aimed to utilise graph theory to explore the functional brain networks in individuals with tic disorders and to investigate resting-state functional connectivity changes in critical brain regions associated with tic disorders. Methods: Participants comprised individuals with tic disorders and age-matched healthy controls, ranging from 6 to 18 years old, all recruited from Korea University Guro Hospital. We ensured a medication-naïve cohort by excluding participants exposed to psychotropic medications for at least three weeks prior to the study. Data included structural and resting-state functional MRI scans, analysed with the CONN-fMRI Functional Connectivity toolbox v20b. The analysis included 22 patients (18 males, 4 females) and 26 controls (14 males, 12 females). Results: Significantly increased global efficiency was observed in the left inferior frontal gyrus pars opercularis among tic disorder patients compared to controls. Furthermore, this region displayed enhanced resting-state functional connectivity with its right counterpart in patients versus controls. Conclusion: The inferior frontal gyrus pars opercularis, known for its inhibitory role, may reflect adaptive functional adjustments in response to tic symptoms. Increased hubness of the inferior frontal gyrus pars opercularis possibly represents functional adjustments in response to tic symptoms. The identified brain region with increased efficiency and connectivity presents a promising avenue for further research into tic expression and control mechanisms.

Objective:This study aims to explore the relationship between symptom severity and cytokine levels in patients with tic disorders by evaluating these parameters at baseline and after a one-year follow-up. Methods:A total of 44 tic disorder patients were recruited, 35 completed baseline assessments, and 20 completed endpoint assessments after one year. Based on changes in Yale Global Tic Severity Scale scores, patients were categorized into 'improved' and 'persistent' groups. Cytokine levels were measured using a LuminexⓇ human cytokine multiplex assay at both time points. Results:Significant increases were found in interferon (IFN)-α2, IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 p40, IL-12 p70, and IL-13, while IL-1ra and IL-4 levels decreased. Changes in IFN-γ levels showed significant correlations with tic severity, with higher endpoint levels being linked to symptom worsening. Baseline IL-5 levels were significantly higher in the improved group compared to the persistent group. Conclusion:This study underscores the potential of IFN-γ and IL-5 as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in tic disorders. The findings suggest that these cytokines could be instrumental in assessing tic disorder severity and developing targeted therapies. Further research involving larger cohorts is needed to validate these findings and explore cytokine-targeted therapies for tic disorders.

BACKGROUND:Tic disorders, characterized by involuntary movements or vocalizations, are influenced by neurological and psychological factors. Although an imbalance in neurotransmitter systems, genetic factors, and environmental influences play a significant role in the expression of tic disorders, the precise mechanisms through which autonomic changes influence tic production are not fully understood yet. This study investigates the relationship between tic disorders and heart rate variability (HRV), a physiological marker of autonomic nervous system function. The study sought to identify correlations among tic symptoms, HRV indices, and perceived quality of life. METHODS:In a cohort of 69 participants (39 with tic disorders and 30 controls), we assessed tic severity using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) and quality of life through the KIDSCREEN-27 instrument. HRV parameters were measured to evaluate autonomic nervous system activity. RESULTS:Patients with tic disorders exhibited significant differences in HRV measures compared to the control group, indicating altered autonomic nervous system functioning. Our findings revealed notable differences in HRV, especially lower Low Frequency (LF) power in the patient group, suggesting altered autonomic responses potentially linked to chronic stress. Correlations between HRV metrics (notably SDNN and RMSSD) and various life quality dimensions were observed in the patient group. These results underscore a potential interplay between tic symptoms, autonomic balance, and adolescents' perceived quality of life. CONCLUSION:The study highlights the importance of considering autonomic nervous system functioning in tic disorders, particularly in the context of stress and perceived quality of life. Our findings, which provide insights into tic disorders' physiological and psychological aspects, have important implications for developing more holistic treatment approaches that consider tic patients' mental and physical well-being.

Objective:: Tic disorders can affect the quality of life in both childhood and adolescence. Many factors are involved in the etiology of tic disorders, and the genetic and epigenetic factors of tic disorders are considered complex and heterogeneous.Methods:: In this study, the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between normal controls (n = 24; aged 6-15; 7 females) and patients with tic disorders (n = 16; aged 6-15; 5 females) were analyzed. We performed an epigenome-wide association study of tic disorders in Korean children. The tics were assessed using Yale Global Tic Severity Scale. The DNA methylation data consisted of 726,945 cytosine phosphate guanine (CpG) sites, assessed using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC (850k) BeadChip. The DNA methylation data of the 40 participants were retrieved, and DMRs between the four groups based on sex and tic disorder were identified. From 28 male and 16 female samples, 37 and 38 DMRs were identified, respectively. We analyzed the enriched terms and visualized the network, heatmap, and upset plot.Results:: In male, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed hypomethylated patterns in the ligand, receptor, and second signal transductors of the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathway (most cells were indicated as green color), and in female, the opposite patterns were revealed (most cells were indicated as red color). Five mental disorder-related enriched terms were identified in the network analysis.Conclusion:: Here, we provide insights into the epigenetic mechanisms of tic disorders. Abnormal DNA methylation patterns are associated with mental disorder-related symptoms.

Tic disorder begins at a very young age and is associated with various levels of life-threatening difficulties, yet its pathophysiology is understudied. fMRI studies included areas related to activating and suppressing motor symptoms and premonitory urges. This study aimed to use graph theory to understand the functional network of brains from individuals with tic disorder and further investigate the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) changes of significant regions.

Tic disorder is a neuropsychiatric condition that affects 3% of all children and can have a significant impact on their quality of life. Cytokines, interferons, interleukins, lymphokines, and tumor necrosis factors are involved in the neuroinflammatory circuitry of tic disorders. This study aimed to identify the cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of tic disorders. We enrolled 44 patients with tic disorder and 38 healthy controls. Patients were free of psychotropic medications for at least 3 weeks. Whole blood samples were analyzed using a Luminex® human cytokine multiplex assay kit. Patients were divided into groups with “mild tics” and “above moderate tics” based on Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores for comparison. The final analysis included 35 patients (28 male and 7 female) and 31 controls (20 male and 11 female). In the mild tic group, interleukin (IL)-12 p70 negatively correlated with motor tic scores. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IL-4, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were positively correlated to phonic tic scores. IL-12 p40 and TNF-α were positively correlated to total tic scores. IL-12 p70 and IL-17a negatively correlated to impairment scores and total YGTSS scores. Tic disorder patients and healthy controls exhibit different cytokine profiles. Only patients with mild symptoms exhibit significant correlations, suggesting that the correlations between cytokine levels and tic symptoms are more relevant during the mild or remission phases. Our results present the importance of IL-1β and TNF-α, among others, but the identification of key cytokines are still necessary.

Abstract Tic disorders can affect the quality of life in both childhood and adolescence. Many factors are involved in the etiology of tic disorders, and the genetic and epigenetic factors of tic disorders are considered complex and heterogeneous. In this study, the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between normal controls (n = 24; aged 6–15; 7 females) and patients with tic disorders (n = 16; aged 6–15; 5 females) were analyzed. We performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of tic disorders in Korean children. The severity of the tics was measured using a self-report version of the YGTSS. The DNA methylation data consisted of 726,945 CpG sites, assessed using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC (850k) BeadChip. The DNA methylation data of the 40 participants were retrieved, and DMRs between the four groups based on sex and tic disorder were identified. From 28 male and 16 female samples, 37 and 38 DMRs were identified, respectively. We analyzed the enriched terms and visualized the network, heatmap, and upset plot. In male, KEGG enrichment analysis revealed hypomethylated patterns in the ligand, receptor, and second signal transductors of the MAPK, Ras, Rap1, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and in female, the opposite patterns were revealed. Five mental disorder-related enriched terms were identified in the network analysis. Here, we provide insights into the epigenetic mechanisms of tic disorders. Abnormal DNA methylation patterns are associated with mental disorder-related symptoms.

Trait impulsivity is a known risk factor for suicidality, and the prefrontal cortex plays a key role in impulsivity and its regulation. However, the relationship between trait impulsivity, neural basis, and suicidality has been inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationship between impulsivity and its structural correlates (prefrontal gray matter volume), suicidal ideation, and actual suicide attempts. A total of 87 individuals with major depressive disorder participated in study, and the gray matter volume of the prefrontal regions was extracted from T1 images based on region of interest masks. The variables for the mediation models were selected based on correlation analysis and tested for their ability to predict suicide attempts, with impulsivity and suicidal ideation as the mediation variables and gray matter volume as the independent variable. A significant correlation was observed between suicidal ideation and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. The dual-mediation model revealed a significant indirect relationship between gray matter volume in both regions and suicide attempts mediated by motor impulsivity and suicidal ideation. The counterintuitive positive relationship between gray matter volume and suicidality was also discussed.

Specific emotions and colors are associated. The current study tested whether the interference of colors with affective processing occurs solely in the semantic stage or extends to a more complex stage like the lexical processing of emotional words. We performed two experiments to determine the effect of colors on affective processing. In Experiment 1, participants completed a color-emotion priming task. The priming stimulus included a color-tinted (blue, red, and gray) image of a neutral face, followed by a target stimulus of gray-scaled emotional (angry and sad) and neutral faces after 50 ms. Experiment 2 used a modified emostroop paradigm and superimposed emotion words on the center of the color-tinted emotional and neutral faces. Results showed the priming effect of red for the angry face compared to the control, but not in blue for the sad face compared to the control. However, responses to the blue-sad pair were significantly faster than the red-sad pair. In the color-emostroop task, we observed a significant interaction between color and emotion target words in the modified emostroop task. Participants detected sad targets more accurately and faster in blue than red, but only in the incongruent condition. The results indicate that the influence of color in the processing of emotional information exists at the semantic level but found no evidence supporting the lexical level effect.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Recent evidence has suggested that hyposmia in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may be due to impaired central processing. Furthermore, the hippocampus has been regarded as a critical structure linking olfactory impairment and cognitive impairment in PD patients. This study aimed to identify significant structural alterations of the hippocampus in PD patients with hyposmia, and to determine whether these structural changes are significantly associated with olfactory impairment severity.METHODS:Eighteen idiopathic PD patients with hyposmia and 18 age- and sex-matched PD patients without hyposmia were enrolled. Hippocampal volume and its subfields were measured using FreeSurfer software and compared between hyposmic and normosmic PD patients. We also compared hippocampal substructures' volumes and correlated the hippocampal volumes with hyposmia severity.RESULTS:PD patients with hyposmia had significantly smaller hippocampal volumes. Among the three components of the hippocampus, the hippocampal body showed a markedly lower volume, which correlated significantly with the cross-cultural smell identification test score that represents olfactory function status. Hippocampal subfield analysis showed that substructures (subiculum, molecular layer) that constitute the hippocampal body showed the most significant volume difference.CONCLUSIONS:We suggest that atrophy of the bilateral hippocampus implies underlying problems in the central olfaction process in PD patients. In particular, the hippocampus might not only play a critical role in olfaction but could also be important for elucidating possible mechanisms of broad nonmotor symptoms in PD patients.

Background: Elderly patients with late-life depression (LLD) often report mild cognitive impairment (MCI), so Alzheimer's disease (AD) is hard to identify in these patients. We aimed to identify the structural and functional differences between prodromal AD and LLD-related MCI. Methods: We performed voxel-based morphometry and functional connectivity (FC) analyses in elderly patients with both LLD and MCI to compare alterations between those with cerebral amyloidopathy and those without. We subdivided patients into subthreshold depression (STD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) groups. Using florbetaben positron emission tomography (PET), we compared volume and connectivity between healthy controls and four STD and MDD groups with or without amyloid deposition(A): STD-MCI-A(+), MDD-MCI-A(+), STD-MCI-A(-), and MDD-MCI-A(-). Results: Subjects with MDD or amyloid deposition showed greater volume reduction in the left middle temporal gyrus. MDD groups had lower FC than STD groups in the frontal, cortical, and limbic areas. The STD-MCI-A(+) group showed greater FC reduction than the MDD-MCI-A(-) and STD-MCI-A(-) groups, particularly in the hippocampus, parahippocampus, and frontal and temporal cortices. The functional differences associated with amyloid plaques were more evident in the STD group than in the MDD group. Limitations: Limitations include disproportional sex ratios, inability to determine the longitudinal effects of amyloidopathy in large populations. Conclusions: Regional gray matter loss and alterations in brain networks may reflect impairments caused by amyloid deposition and depression. Such changes may facilitate the detection of prodromal AD in elderly patients with both depression and cognitive dysfunction, allowing earlier intervention and more appropriate treatment.

As social robots are increasingly deployed, the interaction between human and robot is becoming more important. Affective theory of mind (ToM) is one of the core components of emotional communication between human, enabling recognize and understand other’s emotional state as an independent agent separate from oneself. Current study developed robot version of widely adopted test of affective ToM, Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) using a social robot, Vector. In the preliminary study, we compared the participants performance in both robot version, ingroup (East Asian) and outgroup (Caucasian) human version of RMET, the individual variance of affective ToM toward human expression is reproduced to the expressions of the Vector robot. Moreover, only the performance toward the expressions of same ethnicity (RMET-K) predicts the performance on the robot expression (RMET-R). The result suggests that not only the quality of robot’s expression but the variance of social cognition level of the human should be considered in social robot development.

Objective The relation between female emotional laborers’ sleep quality and autonomic nervous system activity was investigated. Methods Thirty-three subjects’ heart rate variability (HRV) data and results of self-reported scale on sleep, depression, anxiety and suicidality, were collected. Subjects were classified into good sleeper (GS) and poor sleeper (PS) groups relying on sleep quality. Changes of HRV between working time and resting time in each group were compared. Results The PS group showed significantly lower difference in root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), percentage of successive normal-to-normal intervals that differ by more than 50 ms (pNN50), and natural logarithm high-frequency (LnHF) when they were working as compared to when they were resting, which means decreased function of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Repeated measures analysis of covariance showed that the group effect was significant only for LnHF, with score of depression scale as a covariate. Conclusion Female emotional laborers who complain of sleep difficulty may have decreased function of the PNS. Therefore, good sleep quality is essential for maintaining and promoting mental and physical health of women engage in emotional labor.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are the most common nonmotor symptoms usually occurring mid-stage of Parkinson's disease (PD); however, its underlying mechanisms are unknown. We aimed to assess whether corticometry or volumetry can identify a pattern of cerebral cortical changes in PD patients with LUTS. METHODS We recruited 85 idiopathic PD patients and performed corticometry and volumetry on various cortical regions using each patient's magnetic resonance imaging. To identify a correlation between the cortical thickness/volume and nonmotor symptoms scale domain 7 scores, which represent the severity of LUTS, we performed general linear model and region of interest analyses. RESULTS Significant regional thinning of the left precuneus, left temporal pole, left precentral, right precuneus, and right pars opercularis was correlated with nonmotor symptoms scale domain 7 scores. We also found that cortical volumes of left precuneus and left frontal pole were inversely correlated with the severity of urinary symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that the thicknesses and volumes of several cortical regions were significantly correlated with the severity of LUTS in PD patients. The findings of regional atrophy and thinning of specific cortical regions in this study provide additional evidence that multiple cortical regions, especially the precuneus cortex, not only may be involved in urinary dysfunctions of PD patients but also may help to elucidate the exact underlying mechanisms for LUTS in PD patients.

OBJECTIVE:Emotional labor is known to be a risk factor for emotional distress. This study aimed to evaluate specific stressors according to the type of occupation and identify protective and adverse factors.METHODS:We recruited 349 workers engaged in emotional labor in a suburban city. They were assessed using scales regarding emotional status, job stress, resilience, and job satisfaction. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to evaluate their emotional state according to their stress level. A mediation model using structural equation modeling was utilized to identify the mediating effects of resilience and workplace satisfaction.RESULTS:The correlation analysis indicated that the level of workplace stress was statistically correlated with depressed mood and anxiety and showed a significant inverse correlation with individuals' resilience and job satisfaction. According to the regression analysis, in private institution workers, "emotional disharmony and hurt" had a statistically significant negative effect on their emotional state, and in public institution workers, "emotional demands and regulation" were prominent. Resilience partially mediated the relationship between emotional stress and anxiety/depressive symptoms.CONCLUSION:Our findings indicate that the causes of stress differed according to the working environment. Preventive strategies such as resilience training and relieving stress on individual factors are needed to promote mental health.