Examining disjointedness of dot patterns based on a three-stage serial processing model of symmetry cognition

Rotational and reflectional transformations were applied to dot patterns in a square grid generating cyclic (Cn) and dihedral (Dn) groups (n = 1, 2, 4). Judgments of disjointedness (the inverse of unifiedness) of 8-, 13- and 21-dot patterns were compared with poorness (the inverse of goodness) and complexity (the inverse of simplicity) judgments. Results found were (a) disjointedness and complexity of 8-dot D2 linear patterns decreased by an anisotropic spatial filter, (b) three cognitive judgments for the patterns other than the linear patterns monotonically decreased as a function of group order, (c) disjointedness of C2n and Dn (n = 1, 2) were indistinguishable and were processed in a former-stage of group theoretical model, and poorness and complexity were distinguished in C2n and Dn while being processed in a latter-stage, (d) complexity increased monotonically as the number of dots increased. While 13- and 21-dot patterns results were insignificant, disjointedness judgments were lowest in 8-dot patterns, and influence of poorness was ineffectual. We have proposed a three-stage serial processing model of symmetry cognition

Reversal of neuroinflammation in novel GS model mice by single i.c.v. administration of CHO-derived rhCTSA precursor protein

Galactosialidosis (GS) is a lysosomal cathepsin A (CTSA) deficiency. It associates with a simultaneous decrease of neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) activity and sialylglycan storage. Central nervous system (CNS) symptoms reduce the quality of life of juvenile/adult-type GS patients, but there is no effective therapy. Here, we established a novel GS model mouse carrying homozygotic Ctsa IVS6+1g→a mutation causing partial exon 6 skipping with concomitant deficiency of Ctsa/Neu1. The GS mice developed juvenile/adult GS-like symptoms, such as gargoyle-like face, edema, proctoprosia due to sialylglycan accumulation, and neurovisceral inflammation, including activated microglia/macrophage appearance and increase of inflammatory chemokines. We produced human CTSA precursor proteins (proCTSA), a homodimer carrying terminal mannose 6-phosphate (M6P)-type N-glycans. The CHO-derived proCTSA was taken up by GS patient-derived fibroblasts via M6P receptors and delivered to lysosomes. Catalytically active mature CTSA showed a shorter half-life due to intralysosomal proteolytic degradation. Following single i.c.v. administration, proCTSA was widely distributed, restored the Neu1 activity, and reduced the sialylglycans accumulated in brain regions. Moreover, proCTSA suppressed neuroinflammation associated with reduction of activated microglia/macrophage and up-regulated Mip1α. The results show therapeutic effects of intracerebrospinal enzyme replacement utilizing CHO-derived proCTSA and suggest suppression of CNS symptoms

A group theoretical model of symmetry cognition

We report on two experiments, published originally in Japanese, on judged goodness and simplicity of dot patterns with reflectional and rotational symmetries (with 1–4 reflection axes and repeats, respectively) under free-viewing tasks. We found that (a) both goodness and simplicity increase monotonously with the number of transformations under which a pattern is invariant; (b) stimulus outlines, such as squares and hexagons, affect both goodness and simplicity; and (c) factors such as contrast polarity and collinearity affect simplicity rather than goodness. The employed free-viewing tasks contrast with detection tasks involving short presentation times, and based on behavioural and neurophysiological evidence, we conclude that this transformational approach captures late rather than early aspects of visio-cognitive processing of visual regularities.status: publishe