TY - JOUR A1 - Haberstumpf, Sophia A1 - Forster, André A1 - Leinweber, Jonas A1 - Rauskolb, Stefanie A1 - Hewig, Johannes A1 - Sendtner, Michael A1 - Lauer, Martin A1 - Polak, Thomas A1 - Deckert, Jürgen A1 - Herrmann, Martin J. T1 - Measurement invariance testing of longitudinal neuropsychiatric test scores distinguishes pathological from normative cognitive decline and highlights its potential in early detection research JF - Journal of Neuropsychology N2 - Objective Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a growing challenge worldwide, which is why the search for early-onset predictors must be focused as soon as possible. Longitudinal studies that investigate courses of neuropsychological and other variables screen for such predictors correlated to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, one often neglected issue in analyses of such studies is measurement invariance (MI), which is often assumed but not tested for. This study uses the absence of MI (non-MI) and latent factor scores instead of composite variables to assess properties of cognitive domains, compensation mechanisms, and their predictability to establish a method for a more comprehensive understanding of pathological cognitive decline. Methods An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a set of increasingly restricted confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted to find latent factors, compared them with the composite approach, and to test for longitudinal (partial-)MI in a neuropsychiatric test battery, consisting of 14 test variables. A total of 330 elderly (mean age: 73.78 ± 1.52 years at baseline) were analyzed two times (3 years apart). Results EFA revealed a four-factor model representing declarative memory, attention, working memory, and visual–spatial processing. Based on CFA, an accurate model was estimated across both measurement timepoints. Partial non-MI was found for parameters such as loadings, test- and latent factor intercepts as well as latent factor variances. The latent factor approach was preferable to the composite approach. Conclusion The overall assessment of non-MI latent factors may pose a possible target for this field of research. Hence, the non-MI of variances indicated variables that are especially suited for the prediction of pathological cognitive decline, while non-MI of intercepts indicated general aging-related decline. As a result, the sole assessment of MI may help distinguish pathological from normative aging processes and additionally may reveal compensatory neuropsychological mechanisms. KW - Alzheimer’s disease KW - early-onset predictors KW - mild cognitive impairment Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-318932 VL - 16 IS - 2 SP - 324 EP - 352 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Farmer, Adam D. A1 - Strzelczyk, Adam A1 - Finisguerra, Alessandra A1 - Gourine, Alexander V. A1 - Gharabaghi, Alireza A1 - Hasan, Alkomiet A1 - Burger, Andreas M. A1 - Jaramillo, Andrés M. A1 - Mertens, Ann A1 - Majid, Arshad A1 - Verkuil, Bart A1 - Badran, Bashar W. A1 - Ventura-Bort, Carlos A1 - Gaul, Charly A1 - Beste, Christian A1 - Warren, Christopher M. A1 - Quintana, Daniel S. A1 - Hämmerer, Dorothea A1 - Freri, Elena A1 - Frangos, Eleni A1 - Tobaldini, Eleonora A1 - Kaniusas, Eugenijus A1 - Rosenow, Felix A1 - Capone, Fioravante A1 - Panetsos, Fivos A1 - Ackland, Gareth L. A1 - Kaithwas, Gaurav A1 - O'Leary, Georgia H. A1 - Genheimer, Hannah A1 - Jacobs, Heidi I. L. A1 - Van Diest, Ilse A1 - Schoenen, Jean A1 - Redgrave, Jessica A1 - Fang, Jiliang A1 - Deuchars, Jim A1 - Széles, Jozsef C. A1 - Thayer, Julian F. A1 - More, Kaushik A1 - Vonck, Kristl A1 - Steenbergen, Laura A1 - Vianna, Lauro C. A1 - McTeague, Lisa M. A1 - Ludwig, Mareike A1 - Veldhuizen, Maria G. A1 - De Couck, Marijke A1 - Casazza, Marina A1 - Keute, Marius A1 - Bikson, Marom A1 - Andreatta, Marta A1 - D'Agostini, Martina A1 - Weymar, Mathias A1 - Betts, Matthew A1 - Prigge, Matthias A1 - Kaess, Michael A1 - Roden, Michael A1 - Thai, Michelle A1 - Schuster, Nathaniel M. A1 - Montano, Nicola A1 - Hansen, Niels A1 - Kroemer, Nils B. A1 - Rong, Peijing A1 - Fischer, Rico A1 - Howland, Robert H. A1 - Sclocco, Roberta A1 - Sellaro, Roberta A1 - Garcia, Ronald G. A1 - Bauer, Sebastian A1 - Gancheva, Sofiya A1 - Stavrakis, Stavros A1 - Kampusch, Stefan A1 - Deuchars, Susan A. A1 - Wehner, Sven A1 - Laborde, Sylvain A1 - Usichenko, Taras A1 - Polak, Thomas A1 - Zaehle, Tino A1 - Borges, Uirassu A1 - Teckentrup, Vanessa A1 - Jandackova, Vera K. A1 - Napadow, Vitaly A1 - Koenig, Julian T1 - International Consensus Based Review and Recommendations for Minimum Reporting Standards in Research on Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (Version 2020) JF - Frontiers in Human Neuroscience N2 - Given its non-invasive nature, there is increasing interest in the use of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) across basic, translational and clinical research. Contemporaneously, tVNS can be achieved by stimulating either the auricular branch or the cervical bundle of the vagus nerve, referred to as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation(VNS) and transcutaneous cervical VNS, respectively. In order to advance the field in a systematic manner, studies using these technologies need to adequately report sufficient methodological detail to enable comparison of results between studies, replication of studies, as well as enhancing study participant safety. We systematically reviewed the existing tVNS literature to evaluate current reporting practices. Based on this review, and consensus among participating authors, we propose a set of minimal reporting items to guide future tVNS studies. The suggested items address specific technical aspects of the device and stimulation parameters. We also cover general recommendations including inclusion and exclusion criteria for participants, outcome parameters and the detailed reporting of side effects. Furthermore, we review strategies used to identify the optimal stimulation parameters for a given research setting and summarize ongoing developments in animal research with potential implications for the application of tVNS in humans. Finally, we discuss the potential of tVNS in future research as well as the associated challenges across several disciplines in research and clinical practice. KW - transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation KW - minimum reporting standards KW - guidelines & recommendations KW - transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation KW - transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-234346 SN - 1662-5161 VL - 14 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Guhn, Anne A1 - Dresler, Thomas A1 - Andreatta, Marta A1 - Müller, Laura D. A1 - Hahn, Tim A1 - Tupak, Sara V. A1 - Polak, Thomas A1 - Deckert, Jürgen A1 - Herrmann, Martin J. T1 - Medial prefrontal cortex stimulation modulates the processing of conditioned fear N2 - The extinction of conditioned fear depends on an efficient interplay between the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In rats, high-frequency electrical mPFC stimulation has been shown to improve extinction by means of a reduction of amygdala activity. However, so far it is unclear whether stimulation of homologues regions in humans might have similar beneficial effects. Healthy volunteers received one session of either active or sham repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) covering the mPFC while undergoing a 2-day fear conditioning and extinction paradigm. Repetitive TMS was applied offline after fear acquisition in which one of two faces (CS+ but not CS−) was associated with an aversive scream (UCS). Immediate extinction learning (day 1) and extinction recall (day 2) were conducted without UCS delivery. Conditioned responses (CR) were assessed in a multimodal approach using fear-potentiated startle (FPS), skin conductance responses (SCR), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and self-report scales. Consistent with the hypothesis of a modulated processing of conditioned fear after high-frequency rTMS, the active group showed a reduced CS+/CS− discrimination during extinction learning as evident in FPS as well as in SCR and arousal ratings. FPS responses to CS+ further showed a linear decrement throughout both extinction sessions. This study describes the first experimental approach of influencing conditioned fear by using rTMS and can thus be a basis for future studies investigating a complementation of mPFC stimulation to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). KW - fear conditioning KW - memory consolidation and extinction KW - learning KW - transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) KW - medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-111309 ER -