Background: An imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in multiple sclerosis (MS) may lead to cognitive impairment, such as impaired working memory. The 1/f slope of electroencephalography/magnetoencephalography (EEG/MEG) power spectra is shown to be a non-invasive proxy of excitation/inhibition balance. A flatter slope is associated with higher excitation/lower inhibition. Objectives: To assess the 1/f slope modulation induced by stimulus and its association with behavioral and cognitive measures. Methods: We analyzed MEG recordings of 38 healthy controls (HCs) and 79 people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) while performing an n-back task including target and distractor stimuli. Target trials require an answer, while distractor trials do not. We computed the 1/f spectral slope through the fitting oscillations and one over f (FOOOF) algorithm within the time windows 1 second before and after each stimulus presentation. Results: We observed a flatter 1/f slope after distractor stimuli in pwMS compared to HCs. The 1/f slope was significantly steeper after stimulus for both HCs and pwMS and was significantly correlated with reaction times. This modulation in 1/f slope was significantly correlated with visuospatial memory assessed by the BVMT-R test. Conclusion: Our results suggest possible inhibitory mechanism deficits in pwMS during a working memory task.
Akbarian, F, Rossi, C, Costers, L, D'Hooghe, MB, D'Haeseleer, M, Nagels, G & Van Schependom, J 2024, 'Stimulus-related modulation in the 1/f spectral slope suggests an impaired inhibition during a working memory task in people with multiple sclerosis', Multiple Sclerosis Journal, vol. 30, no. 8. https://doi.org/10.1177/13524585241253777
Akbarian, F., Rossi, C., Costers, L., D'Hooghe, M. B., D'Haeseleer, M., Nagels, G., & Van Schependom, J. (2024). Stimulus-related modulation in the 1/f spectral slope suggests an impaired inhibition during a working memory task in people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 30(8). https://doi.org/10.1177/13524585241253777
@article{b08f8dea3d9f4e2aa6d5e7ecce3021be,
title = "Stimulus-related modulation in the 1/f spectral slope suggests an impaired inhibition during a working memory task in people with multiple sclerosis",
abstract = "Background: An imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in multiple sclerosis (MS) may lead to cognitive impairment, such as impaired working memory. The 1/f slope of electroencephalography/magnetoencephalography (EEG/MEG) power spectra is shown to be a non-invasive proxy of excitation/inhibition balance. A flatter slope is associated with higher excitation/lower inhibition. Objectives: To assess the 1/f slope modulation induced by stimulus and its association with behavioral and cognitive measures. Methods: We analyzed MEG recordings of 38 healthy controls (HCs) and 79 people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) while performing an n-back task including target and distractor stimuli. Target trials require an answer, while distractor trials do not. We computed the 1/f spectral slope through the fitting oscillations and one over f (FOOOF) algorithm within the time windows 1 second before and after each stimulus presentation. Results: We observed a flatter 1/f slope after distractor stimuli in pwMS compared to HCs. The 1/f slope was significantly steeper after stimulus for both HCs and pwMS and was significantly correlated with reaction times. This modulation in 1/f slope was significantly correlated with visuospatial memory assessed by the BVMT-R test. Conclusion: Our results suggest possible inhibitory mechanism deficits in pwMS during a working memory task.",
author = "Fahimeh Akbarian and Chiara Rossi and Lars Costers and D'Hooghe, {Marie Beatrice} and Miguel D'Haeseleer and Guy Nagels and {Van Schependom}, Jeroen",
note = "Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by the VUB Steunfonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek and innoviris. G.N. is a senior clinical research fellow of the FWO Flanders (1805620N). C.R. is funded by Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO, Grant numbers: 11K2823N, 11K2821N). The MEG data collection was enabled by a grant from the Belgian Charcot Foundation and an unrestricted research grant by Genzyme-Sanofi awarded to G.N. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), 2024.",
year = "2024",
month = may,
day = "20",
doi = "10.1177/13524585241253777",
language = "English",
volume = "30",
journal = "Multiple Sclerosis Journal",
issn = "1352-4585",
publisher = "SAGE Publications Ltd",
number = "8",
}