The role of working memory and verbal fluency in autobiographical memory in early Alzheimer’s disease and matched controls

Retrieval of autobiographical memories (AMs) is important for “sense of self”. Previous research and theoretical accounts suggest that working memory (WM) and semantic and phonemic fluency abilities facilitate the hierarchical search for, and reliving of past, personal events in the mind’s eye. However, there remains a lack of consensus as to the nature of the relationships between these cognitive functions and the truly episodic aspects of AM. The present study therefore aimed to explore the associations between these variables in a sample with a wide range of cognitive abilities. The study incorporated a between-groups component, and a correlational component with multiple regression. Participants with Alzheimer’s disease (n = 10) and matched healthy controls (n = 10) were assessed on measures of semantic and episodic AM search and retrieval, auditory and spatial WM, and semantic and phonemic fluency. The AD group produced less episodic AM content compared to controls. Semantic fluency predicted episodic AM retrieval independent of age effects but there were no significant relationships between measures of phonemic fluency, WM and episodic AM. The results suggest that the ability to maintain hierarchical search of the semantic knowledge-base is important for truly episodic reliving, and interventions for people with AM impairment might therefore benefit from incorporating structured, individualised external memory-aids to facilitate AM search and retrieval

Post-Cimmerian (Jurassic–Cenozoic) paleogeography and vertical axis tectonic rotations of Central Iran and the Alborz Mountains

According to previous paleomagnetic analyses, the northward latitudinal drift of Iran related to the closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean resulted in the Late Triassic collision of Iran with the Eurasian plate and Cimmerian orogeny. The post-Cimmerian paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of Iran is instead less well known. Here we present new paleomagnetic data from the Upper Jurassic Bidou Formation of Central Iran, which we used in conjunction with published paleomagnetic data to reconstruct the history of paleomagnetic rotations and latitudinal drift of Iran during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Paleomagnetic inclination values indicate that, during the Late Jurassic, the Central-East-Iranian Microcontinent (CEIM), consisting of the Yazd, Tabas, and Lut continental blocks, was located at low latitudes close to the Eurasian margin, in agreement with the position expected from apparent polar wander paths (APWP) incorporating the so-called Jurassic massive polar shift, a major event of plate motion occurring in the Late Jurassic from 160 Ma to 145–140 Ma. At these times, the CEIM was oriented WSW–ENE, with the Lut Block bordered to the south by the Neo-Tethys Ocean and to the southeast by the Neo-Sistan oceanic seaway. Subsequently, the CEIM underwent significant counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation during the Early Cretaceous. This rotation may have resulted from the northward propagation of the Sistan rifting- spreading axis during Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous, or to the subsequent (late Early Cretaceous?) eastward subduction and closure of the Sistan oceanic seaway underneath the continental margin of the Afghan Block. No rotations of, or within, the CEIM occurred during the Late Cretaceous–Oligocene, whereas a second phase of CCW rotation occurred after the Middle-Late Miocene. Both the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous and post Miocene CCW rotations are confined to the CEIM and do not seem to extend to other tectonic regions of Iran. Finally, an oroclinal bending mechanism is proposed for the origin of the curved Alborz Mountains, which acquired most of its curvature in the last 8 Myr

Introduction: Palaeomagnetism in fold and thrust belts: new perspectives

Palaeomagnetism, that is, the study of the ancient magnetic field recorded in rocks, is the only vectorial indicator in the Earth sciences that is capable of associating geological bodies with their original location (primary vectors) or with intermediate locations (secondary vectors) during their geological history. For this reason, palaeomagnetism has played a key role in supporting continental drift theory. Beyond tectonic plate-scale applications, palaeomagnetism has become a fundamental tool for assessing the evolution of mountain ranges owing to its unique potential for quantifying vertical axis rotations (VAR). Since the pioneering applications of authors such as Norris & Black (1961) and Tarling (1969), palaeomagnetism has been applied to problems at a variety of scales in many orogenic systems (e.g. Elredge et al. 1985; Kissel & Laj 1989; Weil & Sussman 2004; Elmore et al. 2012). In particular, palaeomagnetic data have been increasingly used as key quantitative information for determining the timing, distribution and magnitude of vertical axis rotations (Van der Voo & Channell 1980; McCaig & McClelland 1992; Allerton 1998)...

An integrated structural and magnetic fabric study to constrain the progressive extensional tectonics of the Rio do Peixe Basin, Brazil

We constrained the tectonic evolution of the intracratonic Cretaceous Rio do Peixe Basin (RPB) in NE Brazil, combining structural and Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) data. We analyzed the structural features of four sites along two major faults bordering the basin, the NE-striking Portalegre Fault and the E-W-striking Malta Fault. AMS data from 42 sites in the syn-rift sandstone suggest two stretching directions driving the opening of the RPB. The early syn-rift phase I resulted from N-S to NNE-SSW stretching direction with vertical sigma 1, producing normal fault displacement along the E-W-striking Malta Fault and right-lateral transtension along the NE-striking Portalegre Fault, Sitio Sagui and Lagoa do Forno faults. The syn-rift phase II resulted from NW-SE stretching direction with vertical sigma 1, causing normal displacement on NE-striking major faults and left-lateral transtension on E-W-striking major faults. Additionally, the NW-SE extension was responsible for forming NE-striking extensional faults and deformation bands in sedimentary units. The RPB developed due to the intraplate deformation of the Borborema Province during the early stage of the Pangea Breakup and recorded two stretching directions that gradually shifted from NNE-SSW to NW-SE as a consequence of the South America clockwise rotation. The extensional stress orthogonal to the main E-W-striking and NE-striking Precambrian shear zones facilitated the opening and evolution of the RPB

Tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the intermontane Tarom Basin (NW sectors of the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone): insights into the vertical growth of the Iranian Plateau margin

The intermontane Tarom Basin of NW Iran (Arabia-Eurasia collision zone) is located at the transition between the Iranian Plateau (IP) to the SW and the Alborz Mountains to the NE. This basin was filled by Late Cenozoic synorogenic red beds that retain first-order information on the erosional history of adjacent topography, the vertical growth of the plateau margin and its lateral (orogen perpendicular) expansion. Here, we perform a multidisciplinary study including magnetostratigraphy, sedimentology, geochronology and sandstone petrography on these red beds. Our data show that widespread Eocene arc volcanism in NW Iran terminated at ~ 38-36 Ma, while intrabasinal synorogenic sedimentation occurred between ~ 16.5 and < 7.6 Ma, implying that the red beds are stratigraphically equivalent to the Upper Red Formation. After 7.6 Ma, the basin experienced intrabasinal deformation, uplift and erosion in association with the establishment of external drainage. Fluvial connectivity with the Caspian Sea, however, was interrupted by at least four episodes of basin aggradation. During endorheic conditions the basin fill did not reach the elevation of the plateau interior and hence the Tarom Basin was never integrated into the plateau realm. Furthermore, our provenance data indicate that the northern margin of the basin experienced a greater magnitude of deformation and exhumation than the southern one (IP margin). This agrees with recent Moho depth estimates, suggesting that crustal shortening and thickening cannot be responsible for the vertical growth of the northern margin of the IP, and hence surface uplift must have been driven by deep-seated processes

Tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the intermontane Tarom Basin (NW sectors of the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone): insights into the vertical growth of the Iranian Plateau margin

The intermontane Tarom Basin of NW Iran (Arabia-Eurasia collision zone) is located at the transition between the Iranian Plateau (IP) to the SW and the Alborz Mountains to the NE. This basin was filled by Late Cenozoic synorogenic red beds that retain first-order information on the erosional history of adjacent topography, the vertical growth of the plateau margin and its lateral (orogen perpendicular) expansion. Here, we perform a multidisciplinary study including magnetostratigraphy, sedimentology, geochronology and sandstone petrography on these red beds. Our data show that widespread Eocene arc volcanism in NW Iran terminated at ~ 38-36 Ma, while intrabasinal synorogenic sedimentation occurred between ~ 16.5 and < 7.6 Ma, implying that the red beds are stratigraphically equivalent to the Upper Red Formation. After 7.6 Ma, the basin experienced intrabasinal deformation, uplift and erosion in association with the establishment of external drainage. Fluvial connectivity with the Caspian Sea, however, was interrupted by at least four episodes of basin aggradation. During endorheic conditions the basin fill did not reach the elevation of the plateau interior and hence the Tarom Basin was never integrated into the plateau realm. Furthermore, our provenance data indicate that the northern margin of the basin experienced a greater magnitude of deformation and exhumation than the southern one (IP margin). This agrees with recent Moho depth estimates, suggesting that crustal shortening and thickening cannot be responsible for the vertical growth of the northern margin of the IP, and hence surface uplift must have been driven by deep-seated processes

Geochronology, geochemistry and geodynamics of the Cabo de Gata volcanic zone, Southeastern Spain

© 2014 Societa Geologica Italiana, Roma. New 40Ar/39Ar ages and major and trace element geochemistry of the middle-late Miocene Cabo de Gata volcanic complex, southeast Spain, indicate that the volcanic activity of the Cabo de Gata volcanic zone developed over a short period through several pulses of geochemically and isotopically different parental magmas. The oldest volcanic rocks exposed in the Cabo de Gata volcanic zone are the shoshonite and high-K calc-Alkaline rocks of Bujo group, which cry - stallised from a parental magma transitional from calc-Alkaline to alkaline potassic generated through large degrees of partial melting, and then affected by a minor contribution from metasomatised veins and a larger one from the surrounding mantle wedge, in comparison to ultrapotassic melts. Subsequent partial melting of the mantle source produced typical calc-Alkaline parental magmas belonging to the Rodalquilar and Agua Amarga groups. Sr-Nd-Pb isotope and incompatible trace element distributions of Cabo de Gata rocks are in agreement with a mantle-wedge source affected by a two-fold metasomatism. The data suggested that mild potassic to sub-Alkaline subduction-related parental magmas (i.e., high-K calc-Alkaline and calc-Alkaline) were generated in the Cabo de Gata sector within a mantle wedge metasomatised by a fluid-dominated agent. In contrast, the enrichment in K2O of shoshonitic to ultrapotassic magmas was achieved through recycling of subducted sediments through melts that enriched the mantle wedge in K and related elements. Such a scenario can be easily reconciled with a geodynamic setting at the edge of a destructive plate margin with the subducted slab responsible for the recycling of sediments within the mantle wedge.Geochemical, petrographic and analytical work were supported by the Italian MIUR through Cofin_2004 (grants #2004040502_001 and 2004040502_002), Cofin_2008 (grants #2008HMHYFP_002 and 2008HMHYFP_004) and Cofin_2010-2011 (grants #2010TT22SC_001, 2010TT22SC_005 and 2010TT22SC_006; 2010TT22SC_003) projects, to Sandro Conticelli and Massimo Mattei, respectively. Further financial support for geochronological analyses was provided by Spanish projects CGL2009-06968-E, CGL2005-03511/BTE and HI2006-0073 to Carles C. Soriano.Peer Reviewe

Geologic map, volcanic stratigraphy and structure of the Cabo de Gata volcanic zone, Betic-Rif orogen, SE Spain

The geologic map of the Neogene Cabo de Gata volcanic zone is presented together with a comprehensive volcanic stratigraphy and structure based on logging, correlation and mapping. Volcanic rocks are interbedded with sedimentary rocks throughout the Cabo de Gata volcanic zone. The volcano-sedimentary succession of Cabo de Gata has been divided into formations according to lithology, age, composition and stratigraphic position. The contacts between sedimentary units and volcanic units and between formations are unconformities. Sedimentary units were deposited during periods of volcanic repose. The depositional environment of volcanism in Cabo de Gata is characterized as shallow-water submarine to emergent based on lithofacies of volcanic rocks and on fossil content and sedimentary structures of sedimentary rocks. The eruptive style in Cabo de Gata is dominantly effusive, although small-volume explosive eruptions due to magma-water interaction processes and to explosions of lava flow and domes complexes occurred.Peer Reviewe

Exceptional skull of huayqueriana (mammalia, litopterna, macraucheniidae) from the late miocene of Argentina: Anatomy, systematics, and peleobiological implications

The Huayquerías Formation (Late Miocene, Huayquerian SALMA) is broadly exposed in westcentral Argentina (Mendoza). The target of several major paleontological expeditions in the first half of the 20th century, the Mendozan Huayquerías (badlands) have recently yielded a significant number of new fossil finds. In this contribution we describe a complete skull (IANIGLA-PV 29) and place it systematically as Huayqueriana cf. H. cristata (Rovereto, 1914) (Litopterna, Macraucheniidae). The specimen shares some nonexclusive features with H. cristata (similar size, rostral border of the orbit almost level with distal border of M3, convergence of maxillary bones at the level of the P3/P4 embrasure, flat snout, very protruding orbits, round outline of premaxillary area in palatal view, and small diastemata between I3/C and C/P1). Other differences (e.g., lack of sagittal crest) may or may not represent intraspecific variation. In addition to other features described here, endocast reconstruction utilizing computer tomography (CT) revealed the presence of a derived position of the orbitotemporal canal running below the rhinal fissure along the lateroventral aspect of the piriform lobe. CT scanning also established that the maxillary nerve (CN V2) leaves the skull through the sphenoorbital fissure, as in all other litopterns, a point previously contested for macraucheniids. The angle between the lateral semicircular canal and the plane of the base of the skull is about 26°, indicating that in life the head was oriented much as in modern horses. Depending on the variables used, estimates of the body mass of IANIGLA-PV 29 produced somewhat conflicting results. Our preferred body mass estimate is 250 kg, based on the centroid size of 36 3D cranial landmarks and accompanying low prediction error. The advanced degree of tooth wear in IANIGLA-PV 29 implies that the individual died well into old age. However, a count of cementum lines on the sectioned left M2 is consistent with an age at death of 10 or 11 years, younger than expected given its body mass. This suggests that the animal had a very abrasive diet. Phylogenetic analysis failed to resolve the position of IANIGLA-PV 29 satisfactorily, a result possibly influenced by intraspecific variation. There is no decisive evidence for the proposition that Huayqueriana, or any other litoptern, were foregut fermenters.Fil: Forasiepi, Analia Marta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: MacPhee, Ross D. E.. American Museum Of Natural History; Estados UnidosFil: Hernández del Pino, Santiago Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Schmidt, Gabriela Ines. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Amson, Eli. Universitat Zurich; SuizaFil: Grohé, Camille. American Museum Of Natural History; Estados Unido