Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit

About: Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit is a facility organization based out in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cognition & Semantic memory. The organization has 801 authors who have published 3055 publications receiving 257962 citations.

Theory of mind in frontotemporal dementia.

Abstract: Patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) exhibit marked changes in social and emotional functioning including lack of empathy, disinhibition, altered emotional reactivity, apathy and lack of insight. These changes are believed to be dependent on progressive frontal and temporal lobe degeneration. In this review, we discuss the nature of defective theory of mind and empathy in this group and relate it to regional dysfunction in the orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortex, based on evidence from several recent studies. The role of executive ability and co-existing emotional deficits are also considered.

Sequential effects of propofol on functional brain activation induced by auditory language processing: an event‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Abstract: Background We have investigated the effect of propofol on language processing using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods Twelve healthy male volunteers underwent MRI scanning at a magnetic field strength of 3 Tesla while performing an auditory language processing task. Functional images were acquired from the perisylvian cortical regions that are associated with auditory and language processing. The experiment consisted of three blocks: awake state (block 1), induction of anaesthesia with 3 mg kg−1 propofol (block 2), and maintenance of anaesthesia with 3 mg kg−1 h−1 propofol (block 3). During each block normal sentences and pseudo-word sentences were presented in random order. The subjects were instructed to press a button to indicate whether a sentence was made up of pseudo-words or not. All subjects stopped responding during block two. The data collected before and after the subjects stopped responding during this block were analyzed separately. In addition, propofol plasma concentrations were measured and the effect-site concentrations of propofol were calculated. Results During wakefulness, language processing induced brain activation in a widely distributed temporofrontal network. Immediately after unresponsiveness, activation disappeared in frontal areas but persisted in both temporal lobes (block 2 second half, propofol effect-site concentration: 1.51 μg ml−1). No activation differences related to the task were observed during block 3 (propofol effect-site concentration: 4.35 μg ml−1). Conclusion Our findings suggest sequential effects of propofol on auditory language processing networks. Brain activation firstly declines in the frontal lobe before it disappears in the temporal lobe.