Shifting visual perspective during retrieval shapes autobiographical memories

The dynamic and flexible nature of memories is evident in our ability to adopt multiple visual perspectives. Although autobiographical memories are typically encoded from the visual perspective of our own eyes they can be retrieved from the perspective of an observer looking at our self. Here, we examined the neural mechanisms of shifting visual perspective during long-term memory retrieval and its influence on online and subsequent memories using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants generated specific autobiographical memories from the last five years and rated their visual perspective. In a separate fMRI session, they were asked to retrieve the memories across three repetitions while maintaining the same visual perspective as their initial rating or by shifting to an alternative perspective. Visual perspective shifting during autobiographical memory retrieval was supported by a linear decrease in neural recruitment across repetitions in the posterior parietal cortices. Additional analyses revealed that the precuneus, in particular, contributed to both online and subsequent changes in the phenomenology of memories. Our findings show that flexibly shifting egocentric perspective during autobiographical memory retrieval is supported by the precuneus, and suggest that this manipulation of mental imagery during retrieval has consequences for how memories are retrieved and later remembered

Visuospatial Integration: Paleoanthropological and Archaeological Perspectives

The visuospatial system integrates inner and outer functional processes, organizing spatial, temporal, and social interactions between the brain, body, and environment. These processes involve sensorimotor networks like the eye–hand circuit, which is especially important to primates, given their reliance on vision and touch as primary sensory modalities and the use of the hands in social and environmental interactions. At the same time, visuospatial cognition is intimately connected with memory, self-awareness, and simulation capacity. In the present article, we review issues associated with investigating visuospatial integration in extinct human groups through the use of anatomical and behavioral data gleaned from the paleontological and archaeological records. In modern humans, paleoneurological analyses have demonstrated noticeable and unique morphological changes in the parietal cortex, a region crucial to visuospatial management. Archaeological data provides information on hand–tool interaction, the spatial behavior of past populations, and their interaction with the environment. Visuospatial integration may represent a critical bridge between extended cognition, self-awareness, and social perception. As such, visuospatial functions are relevant to the hypothesis that human evolution is characterized by changes in brain–body–environment interactions and relations, which enhance integration between internal and external cognitive components through neural plasticity and the development of a specialized embodiment capacity. We therefore advocate the investigation of visuospatial functions in past populations through the paleoneurological study of anatomical elements and archaeological analysis of visuospatial behaviors

Faut-il préserver la surrénale lors d’une néphro-uréterectomie pour tumeur urothéliale ?

National audienceObjectifs Si les indications d’exérèse de la surrénale lors d’une néphrectomie pour cancer rénal sont à présent bien définies, l’impact de l’exérèse surrénalienne lors de la néphro-uréteréctomie pour tumeur urothélial du haut appareil n’a jamais été évalué. L’objectif de ce travail était d’évaluer l’impact de l’exérèse surrénalienne lors d’une néphro-urétérectomie pour tumeur urothéliale. Méthodes Les dossiers de tous les patients ayant eu une néphro-uréterectomie pour carcinome urothélial du haut appareil dans un centre entre 1994 et 2014 ont été revus rétrospectivement. Les patients étaient divisés en 2 groupes : exérèse concomittante de la surrénale (ES) et pas d’exérèse concomittante de la surrénale (PES). Les résultats périopératoires (durée opératoire, complications, marges positives…) ont été comparés entre les 2 groupes à l’aide des tests du Chi2 et de Mann-Whitney. L’impact de la surrénalectomie concomittante sur les survies spécifiques et sans récidive a été évalué à l’aide du test de Log-Rank. Résultats Cent-quarante-cinq patients ont été inclus dans l’étude. Parmi eux 21 avaient eu une surrénalectomie concomittante mais seule une pièce d’exérèse surrénalienne était histologiquement envahie par la tumeur urothéliale (4,8 %). Cet envahissement avait été diagnostiqué sur l’imagerie préopératoire. La réalisation d’une surrénalectomie concomittante n’avait pas d’impact significatif sur la durée opératoire (265 vs 241 min ; p = 0,22), le taux de transfusions (20 % vs 18,4 % ; p = 0,87), le taux de complications (38,1 % vs 39,8 % ; p = 0,89) ou le taux de marges positives (9,6 % vs 13,2 % ; p = 0,64). Les survies spécifiques (79,6 % vs 62,8 % ; p = 0,18) et sans récidive (70 % vs 56,6 % ; p = 0,33) à 5 ans étaient comparables entre les groupes ES et PES (Fig. 1 et 2). Conclusion Dans cette série monocentrique, l’exérèse surrénalienne lors de la néphro-urétérectomie pour tumeur urothéliale du haut appareil n’augmentait pas la morbidité du geste mais n’apportait pas de bénéfice carcinologique. L’envahissement surrénalien par la tumeur urothélial était rare (4,8 %) et diagnosticable sur l’imagerie préopératoire. Aux vues de ces résultats, l’exérèse surrénalienne systématique lors d’une néphro-uréterectomie n’apparaît pas justifié

Impact de l’acquisition d’un urétéroscope souple sur le traitement des calculs du haut appareil urinaire chez l’enfant [Impact of the acquisition of a flexible ureteroscope on the management of upper urinary tract stones in children]

National audienceIntroduction - Firstly reported in the early 1990s for the treatment of upper urinary tract stones in adult patients, flexible ureteroscopy (F-URS) has been used in children during the past 10 years and is now considered as a viable, but still second-line alternative to extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in these patients (ESWL). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the acquisition of a F-URS on the management of upper urinary tract stones in children. Patients and methods - Data of all ESWL, F-URS and percutaneous nephrolithotomy performed for upper urinary tract stones in children from 0 to 18 years old in a single center from 2000 to 2014 have been collected retrospectively. Patients have been divided into two groups: group 1 before the acquisition of the F-URS (2000-2008) and group 2 after the acquisition of the F-URS (2008-2014). Preoperative data and peri-operative outcomes were compared between both groups using the χ(2) test and Fisher exact test for discrete variables and the Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. Results - Thirty-seven children have been treated during the first era and 32 during the second one. The two groups were similar in terms of age (7.2 years vs 8.1 years; P=0.54), size of the largest stone (15 mm vs 16.2mm; P=0,56) and number of stones per patient (1.4 vs 2; P=0,07) but the sum of stone diameters was higher in group 2 (16.9 mm vs 24.2mm; P=0,048). The stone-free rates were comparable in both groups (28.1% vs 32.2% after the first procedure; P=0.72), as were the mean number of procedures per patient (2.4 vs 2.5; P=0.78), the total length of stay (2.7 days vs 2.9 days; P=0.77), and the number of patients who experienced at least one complication (37.8% vs 40.6%; P=0.87). Conclusion - The acquisition of a F-URS allowed the treatment of more complex stones with a similar efficacy and without increasing morbidity. Further studies are needed to define the role of F-URS in the management of upper urinary tract stones in children

PASTA repeats of the protein kinase StkP interconnect cell constriction and separation of Streptococcus pneumoniae

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