Non-pharmacological modulation of cerebral white matter organization: A systematic review of non-psychiatric and psychiatric studies. (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kristensen, Tina D.; Mandl, Rene C.W.; Jepsen, Jens R.M.; Rostrup, Egill; Glenthøj, Louise B.; Nordentoft, Merete; Glenthøj, Birte Y.; Ebdrup, Bjørn H.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 88(2018)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: Diffusion weighted imaging -- White matter -- Psychiatry -- Longitudinal -- Intervention -- Non-pharmacological -- Training -- Learning -- Cognition; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.03.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Non-pharmacological interventions can induce changes in white matter. Minimal intervention duration of 8 weeks is required to induce consistent WM-changes. Associations between cognitive interventions and WM is substantiated. DWI is a relevant correlate of cognitive training in RCTs of psychiatric patients. Abstract: Objective: Neuroplasticity is a well-described phenomenon, but effects of non-pharmacological interventions on white matter (WM) are unclear. Here we review associations between active non-pharmacological interventions and WM organization in healthy subjects and in psychiatric patients. Method: A systematic review of non-psychiatric and psychiatric studies in MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. We included longitudinal, controlled studies in human participants aged 18–60 years published in peer-reviewed journals between 2000 and 2017. Studies required active interventions lasting between one day and one year, targeting cognitive-, motor- or sensory domains. The primary outcome was intervention-related brain changes in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) derived measures. Results: We included 25 studies. Twenty studies reported positive findings. Five studies investigated psychiatric patients. Nine randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) reported DWI changes following cognitive interventions. Interventions were too heterogeneous to perform a meta-analysis. Intervention duration of at least eight weeks appeared required to induce consistent WM changes. Conclusions: Non-pharmacological interventions can induce changes in WM. DWI is a relevant correlate of e.g. cognitive training in prospective, long-term RCTs of psychiatric patients.