Chair: Daniel Wójcik (Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, PAS, Warsaw, Poland)

Symposium 7: EEG/ECoG based functional connectivity neuroimaging in the rat – towards standardization and translation in neuropsychopharmacology

Resting state functional networks (RSN) are used to characterize patient cognitive state or as disease biomarkers but are underutilized in rats. Here we propose and validate a standard approach for high-throughput systematic EEG-based functional connectivity biomarkers for rats with high translational potential and broad applicability in translational pharmaco-EEG research.


Ing. Ivana Chrtkova, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic

Exploring Brain Activity Modulated by Psychoactive Substances in Rats and Humans

Animal models play a critical role in elucidating complex neural processes, yet translating these findings into human studies remains challenging. Our research employs a cross-species approach to examine the effects of psychedelics on brain activity, focusing on functional connectivity and neural network dynamics. We analyze visual evoked potentials in rats to explore how sensory stimuli influence brain activity and identify event-related potential patterns associated with these neural responses. Further, we investigate the effect of psilocybin on resting-state EEG both in rats and humans. We utilize EEG source localization technique to identify the brain regions involved in these processes1. By integrating these diverse methodologies, we aim to bridge the gap between preclinical research and clinical applications.

References:
1. Jiricek S, et al. Electrical Source Imaging in Freely Moving Rats: Evaluation of a 12-Electrode Cortical Electroencephalography System. Front Neuroinform., 2021. doi: 10.3389/fninf.2020.589228


Prof. Theodor Doll, Medical University Hannover (MHH), Hannover, Germany

Clinical perspective on Anti-IgLON5 Disease: Bridging Autoimmunity and Neurodegeneration in a Novel Neurological Disorder

For high-resolution data, electro-neurophysiology needs the lowest electrical impedances, high signal-to-noise ratios and high local resolution. While the latter could be realized by a high density of electrodes, the former requires highly flexible mechanical solutions. In both cases, the density of the electrical supply lines forms the bottleneck, so a lot can be achieved with elastic silicone on which conductive channels are printed, and for human applications the cortical implants can be made to fit snugly against the target tissue1. However, the rat experiments conducted as part of the RATCON project are pushing the technologists to the limits of what is feasible. New approaches are therefore required that go beyond the state of the art, e.g. hybrid and multiplexing approaches2.

References:
1. Fütterer L, et al. Microdispenser 3D Printing. Transactions on Additive Manufacturing Meets Medicine, 2023. https://doi.org/10.18416/AMMM.2023.2309844
2. Foremny K, et al. Biocompatibility Testing of Liquid Metal as an Interconnection Material for Flexible Implant Technology. Nanomaterials, 2021.
doi: 10.3390/nano11123251


Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jaroslav Láčík, Brno Technical University, Faculty of electronics and communications technology, Brno, Czech Republic

Assessing Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity and Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disease Using Mass Cytometry

Since location of electrodes on the skull is considered in the newly developed implant, the effect of the skull on the measured EEG signals has to be evaluated. The forward EEG modeling plays a crucial role in solving source localisation and consequently in the detection of EEG connectivity networks in the rat brain.In this contribution we present the results of our investigation related to the influence of skull tissue electrical parameters, the spatial distribution of inhomogeneities and anisotropy, and the thickness of the skull on the measured potentials on the skull surface. The investigation is carried out on a simplified and realistic shape of a rat head phantom.


Dr. Marian Dovgialo, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, PAS, Warsaw, Poland

Effects of geometry and conductivity on current source density estimation in realistic scenarios

Multielectrode EEG and intracranial recordings suffer from volume conductivity blurring out the signals in the spatial domain. To counter this we estimate current source density. Our kernel current source density distribution estimation method (kCSD1), unlike eLORETA, MNE or dSPM methods, is monopolar and well suited for high density implanted electrodes, where sources could be estimated on a cellular level and point dipole assumption might not hold true. KCSD can also be applied to estimate CSD in the whole brain and arbitrary meaningful regions. Here we discuss the effects of brain geometry and varying conductivity on the resulting solutions. We illustrate the results with examples of rat and human cases.

References:
1. Chintaluri C, et al. What we can and what we cannot see with extracellular multielectrodes. PLoS Comput. Biol., 2021. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008615

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