Thursday, Jun 26: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Oral Sessions
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Room: M3 (Mezzanine Level)
Presentations
The Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) is the main source of dopaminergic input to the human prefrontal cortex. Studies in non-human primates and human fMRI suggest VTA dopaminergic neurons encode reward prediction error, critical for reinforcement learning. However, direct electrophysiological evidence in humans remains absent.
Presenter
Arjun Ramaswamy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology London, London
United Kingdom
Navigational abilities are fundamental to human survival and daily functioning, enabling us to explore new environments, find resources, and return home safely. In the real world, navigational strategies are suggested to rely on a combination of internal memory representations (e.g. cognitive maps) and external visual cues (e.g. landmarks). However, the neural substrates of these cognitive strategies remain unclear [1]. Through a machine learning-based dimensionality reduction approach with robust cross-validation strategies [2], we first identified two core processes underlying navigational skill: memory-based and map-based navigation. In a large cohort, we then investigated the neural basis of these cognitive processes by examining intrinsic functional interactions of the anterior hippocampus – a key region implicated in human spatial navigation.
Presenter
Zhili Li, Fudan University ShangHai, ShangHai
China
Music, ubiquitous in human cultures across history, plays a crucial role in various therapeutic contexts, including stress relief, pain management, and mental health interventions (Blood, A. J., & Zatorre, R. J., 2001; Koelsch, S. 2009). As one of the well-established methods of pain relief, music holds therapeutic potential for managing pain. Music-induced analgesia (MIA), the subjective reduction of pain perception after listening to music, has been reported not only in healthy individuals (Roy, M. et al., 2008) but also in those with chronic pain conditions, such as low back pain, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia (Pando-Naude, V. et al., 2019). Previous research has demonstrated that self-selected or personally preferred music is particularly effective in enhancing this MIA effect (Lunde, S. J. et al., 2019), suggesting musical pleasure may play a crucial role in mediating the effects of music on pain reduction. In this study, we investigate the role of musical pleasure in MIA and its brain correlates, aiming to uncover how pleasurable music modulates pain.
Presenter
Eui-Jin Jung, Sungkyunkwan University Suwon, Gyeonggi-do
Korea, Republic of
Integrating neuroimaging data with advanced predictive modeling offers a promising avenue for developing predictive biomarkers for complex traits, such as cognitive functioning (Tetereva et al., 2022). However, the predictive utility of these biomarkers has been predominantly tested on healthy participants (Rasero et al., 2021; Sripada et al., 2020; Tetereva et al., 2022, 2024), leaving it unclear how applicable they are to individuals with neurocognitive conditions, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD). Addressing this gap brings us closer to biomarkers that can be clinically utilized to trace brain signals related to cognitive abilities during the progression or treatment of ADHD.
Presenter
Farzane Lal Khakpoor, University of Otago
Department of Psychology
Dunedin, Otago
New Zealand
Cognitive flexibility (CF) is critical for adapting learned behaviours, with the Right-DLPFC (rDLPFC) playing a pivotal role in non-verbal CF, and managing the exploration-exploitation decision-making under uncertainty [1,2]. This flexibility is supported by a dynamic neuronal excitation-inhibition (E/I) balance, mainly mediated by Glu and GABA, respectively. Research indicates that higher GABA in PFC correlated with enhanced learning performance [3], while elevated Glu in ACC associated with improved adaptive learning and flexibility [4]. An optimal Glu/GABA ratio ensures that excitatory signals effectively encode new information, suppressing irrelevant inputs [5]. From structural perspective, myelination and E/I balance contribute to improved structural and functional coupling [6], facilitating synchronized neural activity crucial for complex cognitive tasks and coordination [7].
This study investigates effects of structure learning (SL) training on neuronal and microstructural brain changes and their association with cognitive measures. We hypothesize positive modulation of E/I balance in rDLPFC, associated with enhanced myelination. Furthermore, we anticipate that these modulations will correlate with improvements in cognitive performance.
Presenter
Deepika Shukla, Nanyang Technological University Singapore
Singapore
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 8-12% of school-aged children, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (Delgado, 2009). Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as concussion, is referred to as a frequent form of traumatic brain injury that typically presents symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and cognitive impairments (McInnes et al., 2017). A core deficit of ADHD is inhibitory control impairment (Johnstone et al., 2009). Similarly, previous research indicates that both children with mTBI and ADHD exhibit deficits in response inhibition, a critical component of executive functioning (Ornstein et al., 2013). Our study examined whether Event-Related Potential (ERP) indices of components can effectively differentiate children and adolescents with ADHD from neurobehavioral typical and mTBI.
Presenter
Xiaoqian Yu, Wenzhou-Kean University Wenzhou, Zhejiang
China