Biology subjects

Bruhl, A. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Bruhl, A. B..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Electroconvulsive stimulation drives cortical spreading depression dependent immediate early gene expression in mice

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective treatment for several psychiatric disorders, though its biological mechanisms remain unclear. Its therapeutic action has traditionally been attributed to the generalized seizure ECT induces. However, this view is challenged by the recent finding that electroconvulsive stimulation (ECS) can trigger a cortical spreading depression (CSD). Because CSD triggers massive intracellular molecular changes, we hypothesized that it could be a key mediator of ECTs therapeutic, plasticity-inducing effects. We observed similar neuronal oscillations following ECS in mice and patients undergoing ECT. We show that CSD drives increased expression of the immediate early gene Fos, a key marker of neuronal plasticity, and is associated with factors that predict positive ECT therapeutic outcome. Our results suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of ECT may be mediated by CSD. This challenges the seizure-centric model and implies that CSD, a currently unmonitored neurophysiological event, may serve as a more relevant biomarker for predicting and optimizing therapeutic outcomes of ECT.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Experimentally-induced and real-world acute anxiety have no effect on goal-directed behaviour.

Compulsivity is associated with failures in goal-directed control, an important cognitive faculty that protects against developing habits. But might this effect be explained by co-occurring anxiety? Previous studies have found goal-directed deficits in other anxiety disorders, and to some extent when healthy individuals are stressed, suggesting this is plausible. We carried out a causal test of this hypothesis in two experiments (between-subject N=88; within-subject N=50) that used the inhalation of hypercapnic gas (7.5% CO2) to induce an acute state of anxiety in healthy volunteers. In both experiments, we successfully induced anxiety, assessed physiologically and psychologically, but this did not affect goal-directed performance. In a third experiment (N=1413), we used a correlational design to test if real-life anxiety-provoking events (panic attacks, stressful events) impair goal-directed control. While small effects were observed, none survived controlling for individual differences in compulsivity. These data suggest that anxiety has no meaningful impact on goal-directed control.

animal behavior and cognition↗