Clinical Trial Arena lists five of the most popular tweets on neurology in Q3 2021 based on data from GlobalData’s Pharmaceuticals Influencer Platform. The top tweets are based on total engagements (likes and retweets) received on tweets from more than 150 neurology experts tracked by GlobalData’s Pharmaceuticals Influencer platform during the third quarter (Q3) of 2021.

The most popular tweets on neurology in Q3 2021: Top five

1. Li-Huei Tsai’s tweet on the role played by the hippocampus in recognising image sequences

Li-Huei Tsai, professor and director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), shared an article on a study conducted by the institute to analyse how the mammalian brain recognises image sequences. The study showed that individual images are preserved in the visual cortex of the brain, but guidance from the hippocampus is essential to recognise a sequence of sights although the mechanism of the process is still unknown.

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The findings can help neuroscientists understand how the brain integrates long-term visual memory across important regions of the brain. It can also help in understanding the role played by the hippocampus in memory storage in the visual cortex, which is responsible for encoding simple visual stimuli as well as temporal sequences.

Additional findings of the study indicate that a clear distinction of labour exists in the visual memory between simple tasks such as recognition of the image and more intricate tasks of recognising them in a sequence.

Username: Li-Huei Tsai

Twitter handle: @DrLiHueiTsai

Likes: 156

Retweets: 31

2. Earl K. Miller’s tweet on neuromodulation of prefrontal cortex cognitive function in primates

Earl K. Miller, Picower professor of neuroscience at MIT, shared an article on the role played by neuromodulators such as monoamines, acetylcholine, serotonin and catecholamines in the modulation of prefrontal cortex cognitive function in primates. The primate prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for cognitive activities, but its optimal functioning is heavily reliant on a specific neurochemical environment. The loss of noradrenaline, dopamine, or acetylcholine from the dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) can be as damaging as removing the cortex itself. Furthermore, serotonergic effects are essential for the orbital and medial PFC to function efficiently. Studies conducted in monkeys have found the molecular signalling pathways that are responsible for the production and modulation of mental representations by the dlPFC.

Human brain imaging investigations further discovered drug and genotype effects on a variety of cognitive activities and PFC circuit functional connectivity including the effect of catecholamines in maintaining mental representations. Examining the mechanisms of neuromodulatory influences on the PFC are essential to finding the causes of cognitive disorders and developing effective therapeutics, the article detailed.

Username: Earl K. Miller

Twitter handle: @MillerLabMIT

Likes: 142

Retweets: 39

3. Hugo Spiers’ tweet on hippocampal activity patterns in humans

Hugo Spiers, director of the spatial cognition laboratory at University College London (UCL), shared a study conducted to examine the hippocampal activity patterns in humans. Researchers in the study looked at the activity patterns in a goal-directed navigation task to examine the role played by contextual and goal information in the design and implementation of navigational plans in the hippocampus.

The study indicated that the hippocampus may aid planning, imagination, and navigation by building mental maps that record the structure of physical environments, tasks, and circumstances. The findings also revealed that the hippocampus maintains a context-specific image of a future objective during planning. The study demonstrated that hippocampus activity patterns are strongly influenced by context and intentions, rather than merely representing overlapping associations.

Username: Prof Hugo Spiers

Twitter handle: @hugospiers

Likes: 63

Retweets: 15

4. Gavin Giovannoni’s tweet on the side effects of using Amitriptyline

Gavin Giovannoni, professor at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, shared his article on the side effects of using Amitriptyline, the first tricyclic antidepressant developed in the 1950s. The medicine has anticholinergic effects both centrally and peripherally that disrupt cognition. It can also cause mouth dryness and aggravate constipation and has been linked to excessive daytime sedation.

Furthermore, amitriptyline and other tricyclics increase the risk of falls and fractures in the elderly. The medicine has been linked to hypotension or low blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias, as well as interactions with a variety of other medications. Giovannoni cautioned that other drugs such as duloxetine with fewer anticholinergic effects should be explored instead of taking amitriptyline.

Username: Gavin Giovannoni

Twitter handle: @GavinGiovannoni

Likes: 48

Retweets: 17

5. David Perlmutter’s tweet on how proper sleep can prevent dementia

David Perlmutter, neurologist and president at Perlmutter Health Center, shared an article on how sleep deprivation can cause dementia. A study conducted in people aged 50, 60 and 70 years who slept for six hours or less revealed that they were at a higher risk of acquiring dementia during the later stages of life. The study examined data from more than 8,000 people over the course of 25 years.

The risk of having dementia increased by 30% across all three age groups regardless of their sociodemographic, behavioural, cardiometabolic, or mental health conditions, according to the study’s findings. Insufficient sleep also led to various other issues including inflammation in the brain, atherosclerosis, and impaired clearance of amyloid beta. Limiting coffee consumption, tracking sleep patterns using wearable devices and reducing the use of digital devices in the evening can help in achieving a restful sleep, the article highlighted.

Username: David Perlmutter, MD

Twitter handle: @DavidPerlmutter

Likes: 45

Retweets: 11