Clinical Research Directory

Motor Evoked Potential and Cortical Silent Period in Migraine

The primary objective of this study is to assess the level of inhibitory control in the motor cortex of migraine patients using objective and non-invasive methods. To this end, Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) and Cortical Silence Period (CSP) parameters obtained using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) will be measured and comparisons will be made between migraine patients and healthy controls. Since CSP duration is used specifically in the evaluation of GABA-B-mediated inhibitory mechanisms, it has the potential to directly measure the effect of migraine on cortical inhibition.

Hemodynamic Responses and Brain Activity During Dual Tasks in COPD Patients Versus Healthy Individuals

Abstract Cognitive dysfunction is joint in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In particular, there are effects in tasks that require attention, executive functions, and working memory related to the prefrontal cortex. These effects make it difficult to perform two tasks simultaneously and cause performance errors. The number of studies investigating the effects of cognitive impairments on dual-task performance in COPD is limited. In these studies, no tests were applied specifically for attention and working memory areas; therefore, the brain's neural activity was not investigated during these tests. Multimodal approaches are recommended for a comprehensive assessment of the functional activity of the brain. Multimodal approaches provide more accurate results than single-modality approaches. In the integrated electroencephalography (EEG)-functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) approach, EEG provides adequate temporal resolution, while fNIRS offers better spatial resolution and is robust to noise. There is no study in COPD where simultaneous fNIRS-EEG measurements were made during both cognitive tests and dual tasks. In our study, the simultaneous measurement of frontal hemodynamic responses and electrical brain activity in both cognitive tests and dual-task conditions and the examination of the relationship between the results and arterial stiffness, balance, exercise capacity, anxiety, depression, and quality of life scores, which are reported to be related to cognitive function in COPD, constitute the original aspect of our study. The study will include 16 COPD and 16 healthy individuals. The same assessments will be made in both groups, and the results will be compared. General and task-specific cognitive tests, prefrontal cortex oxygenation (fNIRS), electrical brain activity (EEG), exercise capacity, muscle oxygenation, arterial stiffness, balance, respiratory function, dyspnea, depression, anxiety, and quality of life will be evaluated. As a result of this study is expected to determine the effects of cognitive function and dual-task on frontal hemodynamic responses and electrical brain activity in COPD.