Biology subjects

Zhao, Y.-J.

Publications and source records attributed to Zhao, Y.-J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Executive control in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A worldwide mega-analysis of task-based functional neuroimaging data of the ENIGMA-OCD consortium

ObjectiveObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with impaired executive function and altered activity in associated neural circuits, contributing to reduced goal-directed behavior. To investigate neural activation during executive control, we conducted a mega-analysis in the ENIGMA-OCD consortium pooling individual participant data from 475 individuals with OCD and 345 healthy controls across 15 fMRI tasks collected worldwide. MethodsIndividual participant data was uniformly processed using HALFpipe to construct voxelwise statistical images of executive control and task load contrasts. Parameter estimates extracted from regions of interest were entered into multilevel Bayesian models to examine regional and whole-brain effects of diagnosis, and, within OCD, the influence of medication status, symptom severity, and age of onset on task activation. ResultsWe observed a robust task activation pattern across individuals with OCD and control participants in executive control regions across tasks. Relative to controls, individuals with OCD showed moderate to very strong evidence of weaker activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, precuneus, frontal eye fields, and inferior parietal lobule during executive control (all positive posterior probabilities [P+]<0.1). Individuals with OCD also showed stronger activation in regions of the default mode network during executive function relative to controls. We found little evidence for differential activation during executive control in task- positive regions related to disease onset, severity and medication status. ConclusionIn the first mega-analysis of fMRI studies of executive function in OCD, we found strong evidence of weaker frontoparietal activation during executive control tasks. Our findings also suggest a failure of default mode network regions to appropriately disengage during task performance in OCD.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Moving towards precision TMS? Evaluating individual differences and reproducibility of personalized stimulation targets in UK Biobank

ObjectivePersonalized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) targeting, guided by functional connectivity (FC), shows potential in treating depression. The present study aims to map individual FC peak location using UK Biobank, to evaluate individual differences and reproducibility of FC-based targets. MethodsWe analyzed UK Biobank resting-state fMRI (rfMRI) of 35,423 participants, identifying individual FC peak locations on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) that functionally connected to the subcallosal cingulate, amygdala, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, respectively. Euclidean distance between each participants individual peak and group-average peak was calculated. With follow-up rfMRI of 1341 participants, within-subject FC peak location changes were calculated. We also compared common TMS targets and random locations for their median distance to individual peaks in a permutation test. ResultsSeed-based FC analyses revealed large differences in the individual FC peak location on DLPFC: the mean distance from the individual peaks to group-average peak ranged from 14.24 to 29.92mm; 70% to 94% of participants were >10mm away from the group-average peak and potentially located outside of the TMS effective area with common TMS coils. Similar variability was observed in within-subject peak locations across two fMRI assessments. Common TMS targets and the group-average FC peak showed no significant difference in median distances to individual FC peaks when compared to random locations. ConclusionsFC peak location shows wide inter- and intra-individual variability. We emphasize a role for individualized TMS neuronavigation targeting but emphasize the need for more reliable biomarker studies.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

The effect of problem-based learning on improving problem-solving, self-directed learning, and critical thinking ability for the pharmacy students

ObjectiveThis study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effect of PBL on problem-solving, self-directed learning, and critical thinking ability of pharmaceutical students through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and meta-analysis of RCTs. MethodsIn 2021, 57 third-year pharmacy students from China Pharmaceutical University were randomly divided into a PBL group and a lecture-based learning (LBL) group. Mean scores were compared between the two groups for problem-solving, self-directed learning, communication skills, critical thinking, and final exam grades. Students feedback on the implementation of PBL was also collected. A meta-analysis was subsequently performed on eight studies involving 1,819 students. ResultsThe PBL group had significantly higher mean scores for problem-solving (8.43{+/-}1.56) and self-directed learning (7.39{+/-}1.19) than the LBL group (7.02{+/-}1.72 and 6.41{+/-}1.28, respectively). The PBL group also showed better communication skills (8.86{+/-}1.47) than the LBL group (7.68{+/-}1.89). The mean level of critical thinking was significantly higher in the PBL group than the LBL group (p=0.02). The PBL group also had better final exam grades (79.86{+/-}1.38) compared to the LBL group (68.1{+/-}1.76). Student feedback on PBL implementation was positive. The subsequent meta-analysis confirmed these findings. ConclusionThis study found that PBL is an effective teaching method for pharmacy students.

scientific communication and education↗