313 research outputs found
On the action potential as a propagating density pulse and the role of anesthetics
The Hodgkin-Huxley model of nerve pulse propagation relies on ion currents
through specific resistors called ion channels. We discuss a number of
classical thermodynamic findings on nerves that are not contained in this
classical theory. Particularly striking is the finding of reversible heat
changes, thickness and phase changes of the membrane during the action
potential. Data on various nerves rather suggest that a reversible density
pulse accompanies the action potential of nerves. Here, we attempted to explain
these phenomena by propagating solitons that depend on the presence of
cooperative phase transitions in the nerve membrane. These transitions are,
however, strongly influenced by the presence of anesthetics. Therefore, the
thermodynamic theory of nerve pulses suggests a explanation for the famous
Meyer-Overton rule that states that the critical anesthetic dose is linearly
related to the solubility of the drug in the membranes.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure
Causal connectivity of evolved neural networks during behavior
To show how causal interactions in neural dynamics are modulated by behavior, it is valuable to analyze these interactions without perturbing or lesioning the neural mechanism. This paper proposes a method, based on a graph-theoretic extension of vector autoregressive modeling and 'Granger causality,' for characterizing causal interactions generated within intact neural mechanisms. This method, called 'causal connectivity analysis' is illustrated via model neural networks optimized for controlling target fixation in a simulated head-eye system, in which the structure of the environment can be experimentally varied. Causal connectivity analysis of this model yields novel insights into neural mechanisms underlying sensorimotor coordination. In contrast to networks supporting comparatively simple behavior, networks supporting rich adaptive behavior show a higher density of causal interactions, as well as a stronger causal flow from sensory inputs to motor outputs. They also show different arrangements of 'causal sources' and 'causal sinks': nodes that differentially affect, or are affected by, the remainder of the network. Finally, analysis of causal connectivity can predict the functional consequences of network lesions. These results suggest that causal connectivity analysis may have useful applications in the analysis of neural dynamics
Degenerative Myelopathy in Hovawart Dogs: Molecular Characterization, Pathological Features and Accumulation of Mutant Superoxide Dismutase 1 Protein
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is an adult-onset, progressive neurological disease affecting several breeds of
dog. Homozygosity or compound heterozygosity for the canine superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene mutations,
possibly modulated by the modifier SP110 locus, are associated with a high risk for DM. Although the
pathophysiological mechanisms are largely unknown, a role for mutant SOD1 in causing neuronal degeneration
has been postulated. Three Hovawart dogs, 9e12 years of age, developed slowly progressive incoordination
and weakness of the pelvic limbs leading to non-ambulatory flaccid paraparesis and muscle atrophy.
Neuropathological lesions comprised axonal degeneration and loss of ascending and descending spinal pathways,
which were most severe in the mid- to caudal thoracic segments. Accumulation of mutant SOD1 protein
in neurons and reactive astrocytes was demonstrated by immunolabelling with the 16G9 antibody against the
mutant SOD1 protein (p.E40K amino acid substitution). All three dogs were homozygous for the c.118A allele,
but none had the SP110 âriskâ haplotype, suggesting a weak association of SP110 with the onset of DM in this
breed. Our data suggest that the Hovawart breed is predisposed to the SOD1:c.118G>A mutation, which is
associated with the development of DM. Prevention of DM could be achieved with the help of strategies based
on epidemiological and genetic testing
The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57(Kip2) is epigenetically regulated in carboplatin resistance and results in collateral sensitivity to the CDK inhibitor seliciclib in ovarian cancer
Carboplatin remains a first-line agent in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Unfortunately, platinum-resistant disease ultimately occurs in most patients. Using a novel EOC cell line with acquired resistance to carboplatin: PEO1CarbR, genome-wide micro-array profiling identified the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57(Kip2) as specifically downregulated in carboplatin resistance. Presently, we describe confirmation of these preliminary data with a variety of approaches
Uneven integration for perception and action cues in childrenâs working memory
We examined the development of visual cue integration in a desktop working-memory task using boxes with different visual action cues (opening actions) and perceptual surface cues (colours, monochromatic textures, or images of faces). Children had to recall which box held a hidden toy, based on (a) the action cue, (b) the surface cue, or (c) a conjunction of the two. Results from three experiments show a set of asymmetries in children's integration of action and surface cues. The 18â24-month-olds disregarded colour in conjunction judgements with action; 30â36-month-olds used colour but disregarded texture. Images of faces were not disregarded at either age. We suggest that 18â24-month-olds' disregard of colour, seen previously in reorientation tasks (Hermer & Spelke, 1994), may represent a general phenomenon, likened to uneven integration between the dorsal and ventral streams in early development
Ring closing reaction in diarylethene captured by femtosecond electron crystallography
The photoinduced ring-closing reaction in diarylethene, which serves as a model system for understanding reactive crossings through conical intersections, was directly observed with atomic resolution using femtosecond electron diffraction. Complementary ab initio calculations were also performed. Immediately following photoexcitation, subpicosecond structural changes associated with the formation of an open-ring excited-state intermediate were resolved. The key motion is the rotation of the thiophene rings, which significantly decreases the distance between the reactive carbon atoms prior to ring closing. Subsequently, on the few picosecond time scale, localized torsional motions of the carbon atoms lead to the formation of the closed-ring photoproduct. These direct observations of the molecular motions driving an organic chemical reaction were only made possible through the development of an ultrabright electron source to capture the atomic motions within the limited number of sampling frames and the low data acquisition rate dictated by the intrinsically poor thermal conductivity and limited photoreversibility of organic materials
Visual adaptation alters the apparent speed of real-world actions
The apparent physical speed of an object in the field of view remains constant despite variations in retinal velocity due to viewing conditions (velocity constancy). For example, people and cars appear to move across the field of view at the same objective speed regardless of distance. In this study a series of experiments investigated the visual processes underpinning judgements of objective speed using an adaptation paradigm and video recordings of natural human locomotion. Viewing a video played in slow-motion for 30seconds caused participants to perceive subsequently viewed clips played at standard speed as too fast, so playback had to be slowed down in order for it to appear natural; conversely after viewing fast-forward videos for 30seconds, playback had to be speeded up in order to appear natural. The perceived speed of locomotion shifted towards the speed depicted in the adapting video (âre-normalisationâ). Results were qualitatively different from those obtained in previously reported studies of retinal velocity adaptation. Adapting videos that were scrambled to remove recognizable human figures or coherent motion caused significant, though smaller shifts in apparent locomotion speed, indicating that both low-level and high-level visual properties of the adapting stimulus contributed to the changes in apparent speed
The `Parahippocampal Place Area' Responds Selectively to High Spatial Frequencies
Defining the exact mechanisms by which the brain processes visual objects and scenes remains an unresolved challenge. Valuable clues to this process have emerged from the demonstration that clusters of neurons (âmodulesâ) in inferior temporal cortex apparently respond selectively to specific categories of visual stimuli, such as places/scenes. However, the higher-order âcategory-selectiveâ response could also reflect specific lower-level spatial factors. Here we tested this idea in multiple functional MRI experiments, in humans and macaque monkeys, by systematically manipulating the spatial content of geometrical shapes and natural images. These tests revealed that visual spatial discontinuities (as reflected by an increased response to high spatial frequencies) selectively activate a well-known place-selective region of visual cortex (the âparahippocampal place areaâ) in humans. In macaques, we demonstrate a homologous cortical area, and show that it also responds selectively to higher spatial frequencies. The parahippocampal place area may use such information for detecting object borders and scene details during spatial perception and navigation.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH Grant R01 MH6752)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant R01 EY017081)Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical ImagingNational Center for Research Resources (U.S.)Mind Research Institut
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