Body into Narrative: Behavioral and Neurophysiological Signatures of Action Text Processing After Ecological Motor Training

Available online 8 November 2022Embodied cognition research indicates that sensorimotor training can influence action concept processing. Yet, most studies employ isolated (pseudo)randomized stimuli and require repetitive single-effector responses, thus lacking ecological validity. Moreover, the neural signatures of these effects remain poorly understood. Here, we examined whether immersive bodily training can modulate behavioral and functional connectivity correlates of action-verb processing in naturalistic narratives. The study involved three phases. First, in the Pretraining phase, 32 healthy persons listened to an action text (rich in movement descriptions) and a non-action text (focused on its characters’ perceptual and mental processes), completed comprehension questionnaires, and underwent resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. Second, in the four-day Training phase, half the participants completed an exergaming intervention (eliciting full-body movements for 60 min a day) while the remaining half played static videogames (requiring no bodily engagement other than button presses). Finally, in the Post-training phase, all participants repeated the Pre-training protocol with different action and non-action texts and a new EEG session. We found that exergaming selectively reduced action-verb outcomes and frontoposterior functional connectivity in the motor-sensitive 10–20 Hz range, both patterns being positively correlated. Conversely, static videogame playing yielded no specific effect on any linguistic category and did not modulate functional connectivity. Together, these findings suggest that action-verb processing and key neural correlates can be focally influenced by full-body motor training in a highly ecological setting. Our study illuminates the role of situated experience and sensorimotor circuits in action-concept processing, addressing calls for naturalistic insights on language embodimentSabrina Cervetto acknowledges the support of Centro Interdisciplinario en Cognición para la Enseñanza y el Aprendizaje and Centro de Investigación Básica en Psicología. Lucía Amoruso is supported with funding from the European Commission (H2020-MSCA-IF-GF- 2020; Grant 101025814), Ikerbasque Foundation, and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Plan Nacional RTI2018- 096216-A-I00. Adolfo García is an Atlantic Fellow at the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) and is supported with funding from GBHI, Alzheimer’s Association, and Alzheimer’s Society (Alzheimer’s Association GBHI ALZ UK-22-865742); ANID, FONDECYT Regular (1210176); and Programa Interdisciplinario de Investigación Experimental en Comunicación y Cognición (PIIECC), Facultad de Humanidades, USACH

Discontinuous roughage delivery on digestion, rumen metabolism, feed efficiency and liveweight gain of beef steers fed a concentrate diet

Two experiments were carried out to study the effect of feeding a total mixed ration (TMR) compared to feeding the roughage portion of the diet once every two days and separated of the daily delivered concentrate mixture on dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, ruminal metabolism, feed efficiency and liveweight gain. In Trial 1, thirty beef steers (Braford and Braford × Criollo; initial BW = 259 ± 27 kg) were used in a 69-d feeding trial. Treatments were: total mixed ration (TMR), and the same proportion of ingredients for the ration but roughage offered once every 2-d and separated from the daily delivered concentrate portion of the diet (REOD). Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design (three pens/ treatment). In both treatments, daily offered ration had on dry matter basis 90% concentrate and 10% grass hay (Setaria italica). Average daily gain (ADG) did not differ among treatment (1013 vs. 1080 g/d for TMR vs. REOD respectively; SEM = 95 g/d). Dry matter intake was greater in TMR compared to REOD (P < 0.01). Gain to feed ratio tended to be better for REOD than TMR (P = 0.07). In Trial 2, four rumen cannulated steers (Braford) were used in an experiment with a crossover design. Treatments were arranged as a 2*2 factorial design, where the first factor consisted of roughage level (RL): (R14) 14% roughage: 86% concentrate and (R7) 7% roughage: 93% concentrate. The second factor was roughage delivery system (RDS; as it was described for Trial 1): TMR and REOD. There were no RL*RDS interactions for intake and digestion (OM, CP, NDF and starch). Both RL were similar for intake and digestion. Roughage delivery system did not significantly affect intake and digestion of OM, CP, NDF, and starch measured by total fecal collection. Total organic acids (TOA), acetate to propionate ratio (A:P), pH, and rumen ammonia concentrations were not affected by RL and RDS. In conclusion, under the conditions of these trials, steers fed a separated roughage source once every 2-d had similar ADG, and tended to be more efficient compared with TMR. Total tract digestibility and rumen environment traits (pH, VFA, and ammonia) were not affected in response to discontinuous roughage delivery.Fil: Arroquy, Jose Ignacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucumán-Santiago del Estero; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Santiago del Estero. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: Nazareno, Mónica Azucena. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Santiago del Estero. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: Avila, M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucumán-Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, M.. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; ArgentinaFil: Cervetto, J.. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; ArgentinaFil: Distel, Roberto Alejandro. Universidad Nacional del Sur; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; ArgentinaFil: Saravia, J. J.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucumán-Santiago del Estero; Argentin

Effect of discontinuous roughage delivery on digestion, rumen metabolism, feed efficiency and live weight gain of beef steers fed a concentrate diet

Two experiments were carried out to study the effect of feeding a total mixed ration (TMR) compared to feeding the roughage portion of the diet once every two days and separated of the daily delivered concentrate mixture on dry matter intake, nutrient digestibility, ruminal metabolism, feed efficiency and liveweight gain. In Trial 1, thirty beef steers (Braford and Braford × Criollo; initial BW = 259 ± 27 kg) were used in a 69-d feeding trial. Treatments were: total mixed ration (TMR), and the same proportion of ingredients for the ration but roughage offered once every 2-d and separated from the daily delivered concentrate portion of the diet (REOD). Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design (three pens/ treatment). In both treatments, daily offered ration had on dry matter basis 90% concentrate and 10% grass hay (Setaria italica). Average daily gain (ADG) did not differ among treatment (1013 vs. 1080 g/d for TMR vs. REOD respectively; SEM = 95 g/d). Dry matter intake was greater in TMR compared to REOD (P < 0.01). Gain to feed ratio tended to be better for REOD than TMR (P = 0.07). In Trial 2, four rumen cannulated steers (Braford) were used in an experiment with a crossover design. Treatments were arranged as a 2*2 factorial design, where the first factor consisted of roughage level (RL): (R14) 14% roughage: 86% concentrate and (R7) 7% roughage: 93% concentrate. The second factor was roughage delivery system (RDS; as it was described for Trial 1): TMR and REOD. There were no RL*RDS interactions for intake and digestion (OM, CP, NDF and starch). Both RL were similar for intake and digestion. Roughage delivery system did not significantly affect intake and digestion of OM, CP, NDF, and starch measured by total fecal collection. Total organic acids (TOA), acetate to propionate ratio (A:P), pH, and rumen ammonia concentrations were not affected by RL and RDS. In conclusion, under the conditions of these trials, steers fed a separated roughage source once every 2-d had similar ADG, and tended to be more efficient compared with TMR. Total tract digestibility and rumen environment traits (pH, VFA, and ammonia) were not affected in response to discontinuous roughage delivery.Fil: Arroquy, Jose Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucumán-Santiago del Estero; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; ArgentinaFil: Nazareno, Mónica Azucena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias. Instituto de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: García, Elisa Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias. Instituto de Ciencias Químicas; ArgentinaFil: Cervetto, Juan Jose. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias; ArgentinaFil: Avila, M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucumán-Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: Saravia, J. J.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Tucumán-Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: Distel, Roberto Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentin

Heterodimer of A2A and Oxytocin Receptors Regulating Glutamate Release in Adult Striatal Astrocytes

Background: Roles of astrocytes in the modulatory effects of oxytocin (OT) in central nervous system are increasingly considered. Nevertheless, OT effects on gliotransmitter release have been neglected. Methods: In purified astrocyte processes from adult rat striatum, we assessed OT receptor (OTR) and adenosine A2A receptor expression by confocal analysis. The effects of receptors activation on glutamate release from the processes were evaluated; A2A-OTR heteromerization was assessed by co-immunoprecipitation and PLA. Structure of the possible heterodimer of A2A and OT receptors was estimated by a bioinformatic approach. Results: Both A2A and OT receptors were expressed on the same astrocyte processes. Evidence for A2A-OTR receptor-receptor interaction was obtained by measuring the release of glutamate: OT inhibited the evoked glutamate release, while activation of A2A receptors, per se ineffective, abolished the OT effect. Biochemical and bio-physical evidence for A2A-OTR heterodimers on striatal astrocytes was also obtained. The residues in the transmembrane domains 4 and 5 of both receptors are predicted to be mainly involved in the heteromerization. Conclusions: When considering effects of OT in striatum, modulation of glutamate release from the astrocyte processes and of glutamatergic synapse functioning, and the interaction with A2A receptors on the astrocyte processes should be taken into consideration

Flow synthesis and biological studies of an analgesic adamantane derivative that inhibits P2X7-evoked glutamate release

We report the biological evaluation of a class of adamantane derivatives, which were achieved via modified telescoped machine-assisted flow procedure. Among the series of compounds tested in this work, 5 demonstrated outstanding analgesic properties. This compound showed that its action was not mediated through direct interaction with opioid and/or cannabinoid receptors. Moreover, it did not display any significant anti-inflammatory properties. Experiments carried out on rat cerebrocortical purified synaptosomes indicated that 5 inhibits the P2X7-evoked glutamate release, which may contribute to its antinociceptive properties. Nevertheless, further experiments are ongoing to characterize the pharmacological properties and mechanism of action of this molecule

Vesicular glutamate release from feeder-free hiPSC-derived neurons

Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) represent one of the main and powerful tools for the in vitro modeling of neurological diseases. Standard hiPSC-based protocols make use of animal-derived feeder systems to better support the neuronal differentiation process. Despite their efficiency, such protocols may not be appropriate to dissect neuronal specific properties or to avoid interspecies contaminations, hindering their future translation into clinical and drug discovery approaches. In this work, we focused on the optimization of a reproducible protocol in feeder-free conditions able to generate functional glutamatergic neurons. This protocol is based on a generation of neuroprecursor cells differentiated into human neurons with the administration in the culture medium of specific neurotrophins in a Geltrex-coated substrate. We confirmed the efficiency of this protocol through molecular analysis (upregulation of neuronal markers and neurotransmitter receptors assessed by gene expression profiling and expression of the neuronal markers at the protein level), morphological analysis, and immunfluorescence detection of pre-synaptic and post-synaptic markers at synaptic boutons. The hiPSC-derived neurons acquired Ca2+-dependent glutamate release properties as a hallmark of neuronal maturation. In conclusion, our study describes a new methodological approach to achieve feeder-free neuronal differentiation from hiPSC and adds a new tool for functional characterization of hiPSC-derived neurons

Standalone vertex finding in the ATLAS muon spectrometer

A dedicated reconstruction algorithm to find decay vertices in the ATLAS muon spectrometer is presented. The algorithm searches the region just upstream of or inside the muon spectrometer volume for multi-particle vertices that originate from the decay of particles with long decay paths. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated using both a sample of simulated Higgs boson events, in which the Higgs boson decays to long-lived neutral particles that in turn decay to bbar b final states, and pp collision data at √s = 7 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC during 2011

Measurements of Higgs boson production and couplings in diboson final states with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Measurements are presented of production properties and couplings of the recently discovered Higgs boson using the decays into boson pairs, H →γ γ, H → Z Z∗ →4l and H →W W∗ →lνlν. The results are based on the complete pp collision data sample recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider at centre-of-mass energies of √s = 7 TeV and √s = 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 25 fb−1. Evidence for Higgs boson production through vector-boson fusion is reported. Results of combined fits probing Higgs boson couplings to fermions and bosons, as well as anomalous contributions to loop-induced production and decay modes, are presented. All measurements are consistent with expectations for the Standard Model Higgs boson

Measurement of the top quark pair cross section with ATLAS in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV using final states with an electron or a muon and a hadronically decaying τ lepton

A measurement of the cross section of top quark pair production in proton-proton collisions recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is reported. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.05 fb -1. Events with an isolated electron or muon and a τ lepton decaying hadronically are used. In addition, a large missing transverse momentum and two or more energetic jets are required. At least one of the jets must be identified as originating from a b quark. The measured cross section, σtt-=186±13(stat.)±20(syst.)±7(lumi.) pb, is in good agreement with the Standard Model prediction

Measurement of the top quark-pair production cross section with ATLAS in pp collisions at \sqrt{s}=7\TeV

A measurement of the production cross-section for top quark pairs(\ttbar) in $pp$ collisions at \sqrt{s}=7 \TeV is presented using data recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Events are selected in two different topologies: single lepton (electron $e$ or muon $\mu$) with large missing transverse energy and at least four jets, and dilepton ($ee$, $\mu\mu$ or $e\mu$) with large missing transverse energy and at least two jets. In a data sample of 2.9 pb-1, 37 candidate events are observed in the single-lepton topology and 9 events in the dilepton topology. The corresponding expected backgrounds from non-\ttbar Standard Model processes are estimated using data-driven methods and determined to be $12.2 \pm 3.9$ events and $2.5 \pm 0.6$ events, respectively. The kinematic properties of the selected events are consistent with SM \ttbar production. The inclusive top quark pair production cross-section is measured to be \sigmattbar=145 \pm 31 ^{+42}_{-27} pb where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The measurement agrees with perturbative QCD calculations.Comment: 30 pages plus author list (50 pages total), 9 figures, 11 tables, CERN-PH number and final journal adde