A5051975073- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Treatment of Major Depression
- Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Advanced NMR Techniques and Applications
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Lanthanide and Transition Metal Complexes
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- Mental Health Research Topics
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Ovarian function and disorders
- Biochemical effects in animals
- Anesthesia and Neurotoxicity Research
- Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- scientometrics and bibliometrics research
Medical University of Vienna
2018-2025
Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna
2025
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
2023
University of Vienna
2017-2023
Guided Therapeutics (United States)
2023
Background Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the treatment of choice for severe mental illness including treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Increases in volume hippocampus and amygdala following ECT have consistently been reported. Aims To investigate neuroplastic changes after specific hippocampal subfields nuclei using high-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov – NCT02379767). Method MRI scans were carried out 14 patients (11...
Neural plasticity is a complex process dependent on neurochemical underpinnings. Next to the glutamatergic system which contributes memory formation via long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD), main inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA crucially involved in neuroplastic processes. Hence, we investigated changes glutamate levels brain healthy participants performing an associative learning paradigm. Twenty (10 female, 25 ± 5 years) underwent paired multi-voxel magnetic resonance...
Deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) and quantitative exchange label turnover (QELT) are novel MR spectroscopy techniques for non-invasive of human brain glucose neurotransmitter metabolism with high clinical potential. Following oral or intravenous administration non-ionizing [6,6'-
Objectives Noninvasive, affordable, and reliable mapping of brain glucose metabolism is critical interest for clinical research routine application as metabolic impairment linked to numerous pathologies, example, cancer, dementia, depression. A novel approach map noninvasively in the human has been presented recently on ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance (MR) scanners (≥7T) using indirect detection deuterium-labeled downstream metabolites such glutamate, glutamine, lactate. The aim this...
Converging evidence suggests that ketamine elicits antidepressant effects via enhanced neuroplasticity precipitated by a surge of glutamate and modulation GABA. Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) illustrates changes to cerebral GABA immediately following administration during dissociation. However, few studies assess subacute in the first hours application, when ketamine's emerge. Moreover, metabolites implicated its develop this timeframe. Thus, study aimed investigate Glx...
Impaired cognitive flexibility represents a widespread symptom in psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), disease, characterized by an imbalance of neurotransmitter concentrations. While memory formation is mostly associated with glutamate, also gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin show attributions complex interplay between systems. Treatment selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) does not solely affect the serotonergic system but shows downstream effects on...
Animal studies using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and learning paradigms have demonstrated that is important for flexibility in executive functions learning. SSRIs might facilitate relearning through neuroplastic processes thus exert their clinical effects psychiatric diseases where cognitive functioning affected. However, translation of these mechanisms to humans missing. In this randomized placebo-controlled trial, we assessed functional brain activation during memory...
Abstract Increased cerebral monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) levels have been shown in non-seasonal depression using positron emission tomography (PET). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a sub-form of major depressive and typically treated with bright light therapy (BLT). The serotonergic system affected by season light. Hence, this study aims to assess the relevance brain MAO-A pathophysiology treatment SAD. Changes distribution (1) SAD comparison healthy controls (HC), (2) after BLT (3)...
Humans are considered to be highly prosocial, especially in comparison other species. However, most tests of prosociality conducted artificial settings among anonymous participants. To gain a better understanding how human hyper-cooperation may have evolved, we tested humans' willingness share one the competitive fields our current society: academia. Researchers were generally prosocial with 80% sharing PDF their latest papers, and almost 60% willing send us data. Intriguingly, was prominent...
Learning-induced neuroplastic changes, further modulated by content and setting, are mirrored in brain functional connectivity (FC). In animal models, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been shown to facilitate neuroplasticity. This is especially prominent during emotional relearning, such as fear extinction, which may translate clinical improvements patients. To investigate a comparable modulation of neuroplasticity humans, 99 healthy subjects underwent three weeks...
An essential core function of one's cognitive flexibility is the use acquired knowledge and skills to adapt ongoing environmental changes. Animal models have highlighted influence serotonin has on neuroplasticity. These effects been predominantly demonstrated during emotional relearning which theorized as a possible model for depression. However, translation these mechanisms in its infancy. To this end, we assessed changes effective connectivity at rest associative learning proxy...
Abstract Background Sex-specific differences in brain morphology [1] and specifically gray matter (GM) volume [2, 3], density (GMD) microstructure (GMM) [4] were shown several neuroimaging studies. Sex steroids suggested to have a significant impact on these sex-dependent GM characteristics [5, 6]. Given the accurate monitoring of peripheral sex steroid levels transgender individuals receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy (GHT), effect hormones structural alterations can be reliably...
Abstract Introduction Several studies aimed to deepen our understanding of the relationship between sex hormones and neurotransmitter levels. While, mainly differences in concentrations could be revealed, one study reported an influence during menstrual cycle on cortical GABA levels women [1], but did not investigate subcortical regions. In a previous study, we were able demonstrate effects gender-affirming hormone therapy female-to-male transgender participants hippocampal [2]. Aims &...
Abstract Background Major threatening life events can impact the functionality of brain networks as revealed by neuroimaging studies [1]. The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented global event that associated with extensive restrictions to daily life. These measures greatly challenged whole population including specific subgroups such patients depression. Here, we investigated pandemic-associated lockdowns on functional connectivity (FC) major networks. Aims and objectives We hypothesized...
Abstract Background The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine has found broad application in the field of psychiatry. Due to its rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal properties, it is used as treatment for major depressive disorder. Furthermore, evokes dissociative psychotropic states, which allows modelling schizophrenic symptoms. thalamus, a main target ketamine’s actions, consists different nuclei responsible sensory gating, attention consciousness. Thus, we here examine...
The accurate segmentation of in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data is a crucial prerequisite for the reliable assessment disease progression, patient stratification or establishment putative biomarkers. This especially important hippocampal formation, brain area involved memory formation and often affected by neurodegenerative psychiatric diseases. FreeSurfer, widely used automated software, offers subfield delineation with multiple input options. While single T1-weighted (T1)...
Purpose: Advanced analysis methods for multi-voxel MRS are crucial neurotransmitter quantification, especially showing different distributions across tissue types. So far, only a handful of studies have used region interested (ROI)-based labeling approaches data. Hence, this study aims to provide an automated ROI-based tool 3D-multi-voxel Methods: data, labeling, was acquired using spiral‐encoded, 3D‐MRS sequence with MEGA‐LASER editing. Corresponding structural T1-weighted images were...
Abstract Background Treatment-resistant depression is among the most debilitating conditions in psychiatry. Recent studies have associated alterations white matter microstructure measured with magnetic resonance imaging poor antidepressant response. Therefore, extent to which electroconvulsive therapy, effective therapeutic option for treatment-resistant depression, affects warrants investigation. Methods A total 13 patients suffering from severe unipolar underwent a diffusion tensor...
Recently, a 3D-concentric ring trajectory (CRT)-based free induction decay (FID)-MRSI sequence was introduced for fast high-resolution metabolic imaging at 7 T. This technique provides ratio maps of almost the entire brain within clinically feasible scan times, but its robustness has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, we have assessed quantitative concentration estimates and their variability in healthy volunteers using this approach.
MAO-A catalyzes the oxidative degradation of monoamines and is thus implicated in sex-specific neuroplastic processes that influence gray matter (GM) density (GMD) microstructure (GMM). Given exact monitoring plasma hormone levels sex steroid intake, transgender individuals undergoing gender-affirming therapy (GHT) represent a valuable cohort to potentially investigate steroid-induced changes GM concomitant density. Here, we investigated effects GHT over median time period 4.5 months on GMD...
Background: Theta burst stimulation (TBS) belongs to one of the biological antidepressant treatment options. When applied bilaterally, excitatory intermittent TBS (iTBS) is commonly targeted left and inhibitory continuous (cTBS) right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. was shown influence neurotransmitter systems, while iTBS thought interfere with glutamatergic circuits cTBS mediate GABAergic neurotransmission. Objectives: We aimed expand insights into therapeutic effects on system utilizing...
Abstract Seasonal changes in neurotransmitter systems have been demonstrated imaging studies and are especially noticeable diseased states such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). These modulatory neurotransmitters, serotonin, influencing glutamatergic GABAergic neurotransmission. Furthermore, central components of the circadian pacemaker regulated by GABA (the suprachiasmatic nucleus) or glutamate (e.g., retinohypothalamic tract). Therefore, we explored differences system 159 healthy...
Ketamine is a powerful glutamatergic long-lasting antidepressant, efficient in intractable major depression. Whereas ketamine's immediate psychomimetic side-effects were linked to glutamate changes, proton MRS (1H-MRS) showed an association between the ratio of and glutamine delayed antidepressant effect emerging ∼2 h after ketamine administration. While most 1H-MRS studies focused on anterior cingulate, recent functional MRI connectivity revealed disturbed patterns posterior cingulate...