The 19th annual congress organized by the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT), established in 2013 and bringing together distinguished researchers in the field of neuroscience, especially from the USA, was concluded with the participation of researchers from Üsküdar Üniversitesi and NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi from Turkey.
Tarhan Explained the 'Artificial intelligence and image processing-based hospital information management system'
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who was elected President of the Brain Initiative (MeBrain+ Initiative), which covers neighboring countries including the Middle East and Balkans by the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT), chaired a session titled "NeuroTech - In silico applications in Neuroscience" focusing on neurotechnologies, the new frontier of brain research. Tarhan shared his presentation, which discussed the importance of biomarkers in psychiatric diseases, classical biomarkers, and new-generation biomarkers derived using big data-supported deep learning methods. He also shared information about projects supported by university research and the "Artificial intelligence and image processing-based hospital information management system" for which NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi obtained patent protection.
Less Activated in Individuals with Attention Deficit…
Prof. Dr. Barış Metin gave the second presentation of the same session with his study titled "Distinct neural correlates of attention problems and delay discounting deficits in ADHD". Metin discussed attention disorders and impairments in reward evaluation due to dysfunctions in different brain regions in individuals with attention deficit. In this study, he shared the results of functional MRI imaging with adults with attention deficit, and how their brains worked when asked to perform tasks requiring sustained attention and choose between different rewards. He shared the finding that the anterior cingulate cortex region of the brain was less activated in individuals with attention deficit during tasks requiring intense attention compared to healthy individuals. In contrast, Metin pointed out that regions related to language and movement were more activated during reward evaluation, and conveyed that they believe the study results will help us better understand attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Promising Genetic Treatment Approaches for Autism Were Explained.
Dr. Cihan Taştan, a faculty member at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, presented his study on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with his work titled "Gene editing in Autism Spectrum Disorder and its Promising Results in Near Future". Taştan stated that autism is characterized by a series of neurodevelopmental disorders including abnormalities in social interaction, communication, and obsessive behavior, adding, “The prevalence of autism is around 60 per 10,000 children. Studies have reported approximately 102 genes strongly linked to ASD. Syndromes linked to only one gene mutation, such as Angelman, Rett, and Fragile X, may have promising gene therapy approaches in the near future.” In his presentation titled 'Gene Editing in Autism Spectrum Disorder & its Promising Results in Near Future', Taştan explained the promising genetic treatment approaches being developed for autism, and stated, “One of the first gene therapy clinical trials was reported for Angelman syndrome, considered a 'syndromic' form of ASD. DNA Antisense Oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy has been reported to be an effective treatment for Angelman Syndrome by producing short modified DNA sequences that complete the RNA reading of UBE3a-AS and inhibit the protein synthesis translation process.”
Women and Men in rTMS Treatment…
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel, Head of the Software Engineering Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, with his presentation titled "A deep learning approach to evaluating sex differences in antidepressant response to neuromodulation using EEG in major depressive disorder", a study conducted in collaboration with Stanford University and completed with the International Brain Research Consortium, accepted by the Brain and Behaviour journal, shared striking results regarding women's proximity to treatment response in his study comparing the rTMS treatment responses of women and men.
Brain Imaging in Addiction Treatment…
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cemal Onur Noyan, a psychiatrist from Üsküdar Üniversitesi NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi, who contributed to two different sessions of SBMT with his research, contributed to the session titled "Opioid Addiction: Risk Identification, Avoidance and Prevention" with his presentation titled "Behind addiction brain: from neuroimaging to neuroscience", and largely pointed out the importance of brain imaging techniques in understanding addiction as a brain disease. Noyan stated, "Methodological differences in neuroimaging studies can add complexity to this picture. The use of multivariate approaches integrating neuroscience studies with other disciplines such as behavioral, genetic, and pharmacology provides a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of addiction. Neuroimaging techniques provide the ability to measure electrophysiological, functional, and structural analyses of the brain. Brain imaging techniques provide evidence for the relationships between brain structure and function and the behavioral manifestations of addiction. Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the behavioral symptoms of addiction is important for identifying potential targets for therapeutic interventions."
Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression…
Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz, a psychiatrist from Üsküdar Üniversitesi NPİSTANBUL Beyin Hastanesi, in another session titled 'Anxiety, depression, and mood disorders', addressed the symptoms, prevalence, and treatment methods of pregnancy and postpartum depression in her presentation titled "TMS during pregnancy and postpartum depression". Dilbaz drew attention to the study conducted on a group of 30 people, particularly examining the effects of rTMS use in treatment, and the follow-up results of children of mothers who received this treatment, emphasizing the significant treatment outcomes of rTMS.
ME+Brain's First Summit to be Hosted by Üsküdar…
The ME+Brain Initiative for Brain Research in Middle Eastern and Balkan countries, chaired by Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, will hold its first summit meeting hosted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi between July 1-3, 2022, with the participation of researchers from dozens of countries from Canada to Australia.