In memory of Prof. Giuseppe Amato (1944-2004)

Held by Prof. Giuseppe Crescimanno on November 25th 2014 at the Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences University of Palermo, Italy.peer-reviewe

The OpenPicoAmp : an open-source planar lipid bilayer amplifier for hands-on learning of neuroscience

Neuroscience education can be promoted by the availability of low cost and engaging teaching materials. To address this issue, we developed an open-source lipid bilayer amplifier, the OpenPicoAmp, which is appropriate for use in introductory courses in biophysics or neurosciences dealing with the electrical properties of the cell membrane. The amplifier is designed using the common lithographic printed circuit board fabrication process and off-the-shelf electronic components. In addition, we propose a specific design for experimental chambers allowing the insertion of a commercially available polytetrafluoroethylene film. This experimental setup can be used in simple experiments in which students monitor the bilayer formation by capacitance measurement and record unitary currents produced by ionic channels like gramicidin A. Used in combination with a low-cost data acquisition board this system provides a complete solution for hands-on lessons, therefore improving the effectiveness in teaching basic neurosciences or biophysics.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures and supplementary information (9 files including one movie). Added references, added figure, corrected typos, corrected board components list, more detailled implementation documen

Neurosciences au service de la communication commerciale : manipulation et éthique - Une critique du neuromarketing

title : Neurosciences in the service of marketing communication: manipulation and ethics- A critique of neuromarketing Abstract : By using knowledge in neurosciences, the neuromarketing claims to be capable of influencing the purchasing behavior of the persons without they are conscious of it, and thus, improve commercial communication strategies. We defend another hypothesis: the neuromarketing would be essentially a "marketing trick". Through a critical analysis of this instrumentalization of neurosciences, we show how the communication researchers can use their skills in the service of organizations by highlighting the uselessness of certain "fashionable" scientific applications and the importance of an ethical reflection in the interest of organizations.Le neuromarketing prétend être capable de tirer des enseignements des neurosciences pour influencer les comportements d'achat des personnes, notamment à leur insu, et permettre l'amélioration des stratégies de communication commerciale. Nous défendons une autre hypothèse : le neuromarketing serait essentiellement un " coup marketing ". A travers une analyse critique de cette instrumentalisation des neurosciences, nous ouvrons une réflexion critique sur le neuromarketing et la manipulation des personnes. Nous montrons l'importance d'une réflexion éthique dans l'intérêt même des organisations et des entreprises

Pourquoi et comment doit-on tenir compte des neurosciences en éthique ? Esquisse d’une approche neurophilosophique émergentiste et interdisciplinaire

Un débat est présentement en cours sur l’opportunité ou non d’établir des liens entre l’éthique et les neurosciences. À première vue, cette proposition remet en question une conception traditionnelle de l’éthique qui se distingue des sciences empiriques. Elle semble, entre autres, suggérer une façon déterministe et réductionniste de voir l’éthique. Nous soutenons dans cet article que, contrairement à ce que laissent entendre certaines critiques, les neurosciences peuvent être pertinentes pour l’éthique. Cinq arguments contre l’apport des neurosciences en éthique sont présentés et discutés (déterminisme, paralogisme naturaliste, dualisme, réductionnisme et hégémonie de l’objectivité). Nous soutenons que ces arguments n’impliquent pas l’impossibilité d’intégrer les neurosciences en éthique, sinon qu’ils suggèrent des façons plus nuancées de le faire. Suivant cette discussion, nous présentons une approche neurophilosophique émergentiste et interdisciplinaire qui se distingue de la « neurophilosophie de l’éthique » proposée par Patricia Churchland. Nous enchaînons ensuite avec la présentation d’un secteur de recherche en neurosciences (neurosciences du raisonnement moral et des émotions morales) qui illustrent l’intérêt de l’approche proposée. L’article conclut en présentant quelques commentaires critiques.Debates are taking place on the opportunity or not of establishing links between ethics and neuroscience. At first glance, this proposition jeopardizes a traditional conception of ethics that distinguishes it clearly from the empirical sciences. Taking this step seems to involve a deterministic and reductionist view of ethics. We argue in this article that, contrary to the views of some critics, neuroscience can be useful for ethics. Five arguments against integrating neurosciences in ethics are presented (determinism, naturalistic fallacy, dualism, reductionism and the hegemony of objectivity). We claim that these arguments do not imply the impossibility of the integration of neuroscience in ethics but constitute rather important qualifications that must be taken into account. Our next step is to present an emergentist and interdisciplinary neurophilosophical approach, which we distinguish from the neurophilosophy of ethics proposed by Patricia Churchland. We go on with the presentation of a research sector in neurosciences (neuroscience of moral reasoning and moral emotions) that illustrates the interest of the proposed neurophilosophical approach. The article concludes with critical remarks

Neuroscience discipline science plan

Over the past two decades, NASA's efforts in the neurosciences have developed into a program of research directed at understanding the acute changes that occur in the neurovestibular and sensorimotor systems during short-duration space missions. However, the proposed extended-duration flights of up to 28 days on the Shuttle orbiter and 6 months on Space Station Freedom, a lunar outpost, and Mars missions of perhaps 1-3 years in space, make it imperative that NASA's Life Sciences Division begin to concentrate research in the neurosciences on the chronic effects of exposure to microgravity on the nervous system. Major areas of research will be directed at understanding (1) central processing, (2) motor systems, (3) cognitive/spatial orientation, and (4) sensory receptors. The purpose of the Discipline Science Plan is to provide a conceptual strategy for NASA's Life Sciences Division research and development activities in the comprehensive area of neurosciences. It covers the significant research areas critical to NASA's programmatic requirements for the Extended-Duration Orbiter, Space Station Freedom, and exploration mission science activities. These science activities include ground-based and flight; basic, applied, and operational; and animal and human research and development. This document summarizes the current status of the program, outlines available knowledge, establishes goals and objectives, identifies science priorities, and defines critical questions in the subdiscipline areas of nervous system function. It contains a general plan that will be used by NASA Headquarters Program Offices and the field centers to review and plan basic, applied, and operational intramural and extramural research and development activities in this area

From brain to earth and climate systems: Small-world interaction networks or not?

We consider recent reports on small-world topologies of interaction networks derived from the dynamics of spatially extended systems that are investigated in diverse scientific fields such as neurosciences, geophysics, or meteorology. With numerical simulations that mimic typical experimental situations we have identified an important constraint when characterizing such networks: indications of a small-world topology can be expected solely due to the spatial sampling of the system along with commonly used time series analysis based approaches to network characterization

Consciousness And Self-Identity: A Phenomenological View on a Cognitive Issue

The paper aims at analyzing the inner development of self-identity from its pre-reflective level to the full awareness one. The recent findings of neurosciences and cognitive studies suggest focusing attention on the complex relation between self as consciousness and self as subjectivity, both with regard to their interdependency and to their reference to a shared context. Phenomenology, thanks to the careful consideration of the issues regarding the constitution of mental life articulated by its classic researches and current inquires, offers a valuable opportunity to set the scientific outcomes in an authentically philosophical perspective