Your search for: 'author:("Caltagirone, Carlo")' has returned 75 results. (0.01s) Save search

Authors: Oliveri, Massimiliano | Caltagirone, Carlo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: We review a series of studies exemplifying some applications of single-pulse and paired-transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the study of spatial attention and of its deficits. We will focus primarily on sensory extinction, the failure to consciously perceive a contralesional sensory stimulus only during bilateral stimulation of homologous surfaces. TMS studies in healthy controls show that it is possible either to interfere or modulate the excitability of the parietal cortex during sensory (i.e. tactile and visual) attentional tasks, thus reproducing a condition of virtual extinction. TMS studies in patients with unilateral (mainly right) brain damage show that the modulation of …the unbalance in cortical excitability between the two cerebral hemispheres transiently improves contralesional sensory extinction. These studies show the possible application of TMS not only as a research method in healthy subjects, but also as a tool for inducing brain excitability changes in patients with sensory extinction, which could be useful for supporting the rehabilitation of this deficit. Show more

Citation: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 17, no. 3-4, pp. 163-167, 2006

Authors: Di Paola, Margherita | Spalletta, Gianfranco | Caltagirone, Carlo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The corpus callosum (CC), which connects the two cerebral hemispheres, is the largest white matter fiber bundle in the human brain. This structure presents a peculiar myelination pattern: it has small diameter fibers, located in the genu, which myelinate much later in normal development, and large diameter fibers of the splenium, which myelinate early in development. Although the pathology of AD mainly involves the cerebral gray matter structure, there is evidence that white matter may also be involved. To illustrate callosal white matter changes in AD pathology, in this review we summarize in vivo imaging studies in humans, focusing on …region of interest, voxel-based morphometry, diffusion-weighted imaging, and diffusion tensor imaging techniques. Our aims were to identify where in the CC, when in the different stages of AD, and how callosal changes can be detected with different MRI techniques. Results showed that changes in the anterior (genu and anterior body) as well as in the posterior (isthmus and splenum) portions of the CC might already be present in the early stages of AD. These findings support the hypothesis that two mechanisms, Wallerian degeneration and myelin breakdown, might be responsible for the region-specific changes detected in AD patients. Wallerian degeneration affects the posterior CC subregion, which receives axons directly from those brain areas (temporo-parietal lobe regions) primarily affected by the AD pathology. Instead, the myelin breakdown process affects the later-myelinating CC subregion and explains the earlier involvement of the genu in CC atrophy. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, corpus callosum, diffuse tensor imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, mild cognitive impairment, region of interest, voxel-based morphometry

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-1370

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 67-95, 2010

Authors: Caltagirone, Carlo | Carlesimo, Giovanni Augusto | Fadda, Lucia | Roncacci, Sabina

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In order to evaluate cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) neuropsychological tests were administered to 25 patients with clinically definite disease. Four (16%) showed diffuse cognitive impairment, whereas the others, compared with controls showed a specific deficit on tests known to be sensitive to frontal lobe damage. These results are interpreted in the light of current hypotheses relating to subcortical contributions in cognition.

DOI: 10.3233/BEN-1991-4301

Citation: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 129-141, 1991

Authors: Spalletta, Gianfranco | Girardi, Paolo | Caltagirone, Carlo | Orfei, Maria Donata

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Anosognosia is a multidimensional phenomenon that negatively affects course of illness. This study aimed to explore the association between anosognosia and neuropsychiatric phenomena in mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The Anosognosia Questionnaire for Dementia to assess anosognosia, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory to assess neuropsychiatric symptoms were administered to 209 patients (103 mild AD, 52 amnestic-MCI, and 54 amnestic multidomain-MCI). Categorical diagnoses of apathy, depression, and psychosis were made using specific criteria for dementia. With regard to continuous scores, in mild AD, we found positive correlation between symptoms of anosognosia and apathy, agitation and aberrant motor …behaviors, while in MCI, we did not find significant association. At a categorical level, the diagnosis of anosognosia in mild AD was associated with the diagnosis of apathy. In mild AD, the frequent co-occurrence of frontally mediated behavioral disorders and anosognosia, particularly apathy, supports the hypothesis of a shared neuropsychogenic process due to the disruption of frontal brain networks. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, apathy, awareness, behavioral symptoms, depression

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2012-111886

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 761-772, 2012

Authors: Perri, Roberta | Fadda, Lucia | Caltagirone, Carlo | Carlesimo, Giovanni Augusto

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Different roles have been attributed to mesio-temporal areas and frontal lobes in declarative memory functioning, and qualitative differences have been observed in the amnesic symptoms due to pathological damage of these two portions of the central nervous system. Objective: The aim of the present study was to look for memory profiles related to pathological involvement in the temporal and frontal structures in patients with different dementia syndromes on word-list and prose memory tasks. Methods: 20 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), 20 with frontal variant of FTD (fvFTD), 20 with subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD), and 20 with Lewy body …dementia (LBD) and 34 healthy subjects (NCs) were submitted to word-list and prose memory tasks. Results: All groups performed similarly on both the immediate and delayed recall of the word-list. Conversely, AD patients performed worse than all the other dementia groups on the immediate prose recall. On delayed prose recall, AD patients performed worse than fvFTD and SIVD patients but similar to LBD patients. Differential scores between word-list and prose tests were minimal in the AD group and very pronounced in fvFTD and SIVD groups. Conclusion: The combined use of the prose and word-list tasks evidenced a “mesio-temporal” memory profile in AD patients as opposed to a “frontal” one in fvFTD and SIVD patients and a mixed profile in the LBD patients. In particular, a differential score between the two tests can be useful in differentiating AD patients from patients with other forms of dementia. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, memory recall, subcortical ischemic vascular disease

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-130347

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 99-107, 2013

Authors: Costa, Alberto | Torriero, Sara | Oliveri, Massimiliano | Caltagirone, Carlo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Introduction: Understanding the mental states of others entails a number of cognitive processes known as Theory of Mind (ToM). Behavioural and functional neuroimaging evidence suggests that prefrontal and temporo-parietal cortices are involved in these abilities. The present study was aimed at investigating the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and temporo-parietal junction in ToM by using a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) paradigm. Material and methods: Eleven healthy subjects participated in the study. The experimental ToM procedure was constituted by false belief and faux-pas written stories. Subjects were evaluated in baseline condition (Sham) and after 1Hz rTMS over the left/right …dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and temporo-parietal junction. A score for accuracy and response times were recorded. Results: As regards false beliefs, rTMS over right prefrontal and temporo-parietal areas significantly interfered with response times (p<0.05$). The application of rTMS over right/left prefrontal and right temporo-parietal cortices also significantly worsened accuracy in the ability to take the others' perspective in faux-pas tasks as compared to Sham (p ⩽ 0.05 in all cases). Conclusions: The results of the present study are consistent with previous findings supporting the hypothesis that prefrontal and temporo-parietal regions are part of a neural network specifically underpinning the ability to attribute mental states to others. Show more

Keywords: Theory of mind, mentalizing, transcranial magnetic stimulation

Citation: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 19, no. 1-2, pp. 71-74, 2008

Authors: Serra, Laura | Gelfo, Francesca | Petrosini, Laura | Di Domenico, Carlotta | Bozzali, Marco | Caltagirone, Carlo

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: The concept of brain, cognitive , and neural reserves has been introduced to account for the apparent discrepancies between neurological damage and clinical manifestations. However, these ideas are yet theoretical suggestions that are not completely assimilated in the clinical routine. The mechanisms of the reserves have been extensively studied in neurodegenerative pathologies, in particular in Alzheimer’s disease. Both human and animal studies addressed this topic by following two parallel pathways. The specific aim of the present review is to attempt to combine the suggestions derived from the two different research fields to deepen the knowledge about reserves. In fact, the …achievement of a comprehensive theoretical framework on reserve mechanisms is an essential step to propose well-timed interventions tailored to the clinical characteristics of patients. The present review highlights the importance of addressing three main aspects: the definition of reserve proxy measures, the interaction between reserve level and therapeutic interventions, and the specific time-window of reserve efficacy. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, animal studies, environmental enrichment, human studies, MRI, reserve mechanisms

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-180609

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 65, no. 4, pp. 1065-1078, 2018

Authors: Barban, Francesco | Carlesimo, Giovanni Augusto | Macaluso, Emiliano | Caltagirone, Carlo | Costa, Alberto

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In this study we tested the gateway hypothesis of Broadmann area 10 (BA10). With a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) protocol we manipulated the saliency – stimulus-oriented (SO) attending – and the memory load – stimulus-independent (SI) attending – during a prospective memory (PM) task. We found a significant main effect of the SO manipulation within the medial BA10 and a significant interaction between SI attending and PM task within the left lateral BA10. Our results give experimental support to the gateway hypothesis.

Keywords: Prospective memory, BA10, Gateway hypothesis

DOI: 10.3233/BEN-2012-129012

Citation: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 207-209, 2013

Authors: Marangolo, Paola | Fiori, Valentina | Di Paola, Margherita | Cipollari, Susanna | Razzano, Carmelina | Oliveri, Massimiliano | Caltagirone, Carlo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Purpose: In aphasic patients, some studies have already emphasized the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) during the treatment of noun retrieval deficits. To date, in the same population, there are have been no studies addressing tDCS effects in the recovery of verb retrieval deficits. In this study, we wanted to test the potential of tDCS to improve verb production in a group of aphasic patients. Methods: Seven chronic subjects participated in an intensive language training for their difficulties in action naming. Each subject was treated with tDCS (20 min., 1 mA) over the left hemisphere in three different …conditions: anodic tDCS over Wernicke's area, anodic tDCS and sham stimulation over Broca's area. Each experimental condition was performed in five consecutive daily sessions over three weeks with 6 days of intersession interval. Results: In all patients, results showed a significantly better response accuracy during the anodic tDCS over Broca's area with respect to the other two conditions which still persisted at one month after the end of the treatment suggesting a long-term effect on the recovery of their verb retrieval deficits. Conclusion: These findings further confirm that tDCS represents a useful new therapeutic interventions for the rehabilitation of lexical deficits in aphasic patients. Show more

Keywords: Verb naming, tDCS, brain stimulation, aphasia rehabilitation, language recovery

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-120268

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 63-72, 2013

Authors: Serra, Laura | Fadda, Lucia | Buccione, Ivana | Caltagirone, Carlo | Carlesimo, Giovanni A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Psychogenic amnesia is a complex disorder characterised by a wide variety of symptoms. Consequently, in a number of cases it is difficult distinguish it from organic memory impairment. The present study reports a new case of global psychogenic amnesia compared with two patients with amnesia underlain by organic brain damage. Our aim was to identify features useful for distinguishing between psychogenic and organic forms of memory impairment. The findings show the usefulness of a multidimensional evaluation of clinical, neuroradiological, neuropsychological and psychopathological aspects, to provide convergent findings useful for differentiating the two forms of memory disorder.

Keywords: Amnesia, psychogenic origin, organic origin

Citation: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 53-64, 2007