242 research outputs found
Investigating established EEG parameter during real-world driving
© 2018 Protzak and Gramann. In real life, behavior is influenced by dynamically changing contextual factors and is rarely limited to simple tasks and binary choices. For a meaningful interpretation of brain dynamics underlying more natural cognitive processing in active humans, ecologically valid test scenarios are essential. To understand whether brain dynamics in restricted artificial lab settings reflect the neural activity in complex natural environments, we systematically tested the auditory event-related P300 in both settings. We developed an integrative approach comprising an initial P300-study in a highly controlled laboratory set-up and a subsequent validation within a realistic driving scenario. Using a simulated dialog with a speech-based input system, increased P300 amplitudes reflected processing of infrequent and incorrect auditory feedback events in both the laboratory setting and the real world setup. Environmental noise and movement-related activity in the car driving scenario led to higher data rejection rates but revealed comparable theta and alpha frequency band pattern. Our results demonstrate the possibility to investigate cognitive functions like context updating in highly artifact prone driving scenarios and encourage the consideration of more realistic task settings in prospective brain imaging approaches
Steps toward the power spectrum of matter. II. The biasing correction with sigma_8 normalization
A new method to determine the bias parameter of galaxies relative to matter
is suggested. The method is based on the assumption that gravity is the
dominating force which determines the formation of the structure in the
Universe. Due to gravitational instability the galaxy formation is a threshold
process: in low-density environments galaxies do not form and matter remains in
primordial form. We investigate the influence of the presence of void and
clustered populations to the power spectrum of matter and galaxies. The power
spectrum of galaxies is similar to the power spectrum of matter; the fraction
of total matter in the clustered population determines the difference between
amplitudes of fluctuations of matter and galaxies, i.e. the bias factor. To
determine the fraction of matter in voids and clustered population we perform
numerical simulations. The fraction of matter in galaxies at the present epoch
is found using a calibration through the sigma_8 parameter.Comment: LaTex (sty files added), 31 pages, 4 PostScript figures embedded,
Astrophysical Journal (accepted
SDSS superclusters: morphology and galaxy content
We compare the galaxy populations in superclusters of different morphology in
the nearby Universe (180 < d < 270 Mpc) to see whether the inner structure and
overall morphology of superclusters are important in shaping galaxy properties
in superclusters. Supercluster morphology has been found with Minkowski
functionals. We analyse the probability density distributions of colours,
morphological types, stellar masses, star formation rates (SFR) of galaxies,
and the peculiar velocities of the main galaxies in groups in superclusters of
filament and spider types, and in the field. We show that the fraction of red,
early-type, low SFR galaxies in filament-type superclusters is higher than in
spider-type superclusters; in low-density global environments their fraction is
lower than in superclusters. In all environments the fraction of red, high
stellar mass, and low SFR galaxies in rich groups is higher than in poor
groups. In superclusters of spider morphology red, high SFR galaxies have
higher stellar masses than in filament-type superclusters. Groups of equal
richness host galaxies with larger stellar masses, a larger fraction of
early-type and red galaxies, and a higher fraction of low SFR galaxies, if they
are located in superclusters of filament morphology. The peculiar velocities of
the main galaxies in groups from superclusters of filament morphology are
higher than in those of spider morphology. Groups with higher peculiar
velocities of their main galaxies in filament-type superclusters are located in
higher density environment than those with low peculiar velocities. There are
significant differences between galaxy populations of the individual richest
superclusters. Therefore both local (group) and global (supercluster)
environments and even supercluster morphology play an important role in the
formation and evolution of galaxies.Comment: Comments: 14 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy
and Astrophysic
Walking through architectural spaces: The impact of interior forms on human brain dynamics
© 2017 Banaei, Hatami, Yazdanfar and Gramann. Neuroarchitecture uses neuroscientific tools to better understand architectural design and its impact on human perception and subjective experience. The form or shape of the built environment is fundamental to architectural design, but not many studies have shown the impact of different forms on the inhabitantsâ emotions. This study investigated the neurophysiological correlates of different interior forms on the perceiversâ affective state and the accompanying brain activity. To understand the impact of naturalistic three-dimensional (3D) architectural forms, it is essential to perceive forms from different perspectives. We computed clusters of form features extracted from pictures of residential interiors and constructed exemplary 3D room models based on and representing different formal clusters. To investigate human brain activity during 3D perception of architectural spaces, we used a mobile brain/body imaging (MoBI) approach recording the electroencephalogram (EEG) of participants while they naturally walk through different interior forms in virtual reality (VR). The results revealed a strong impact of curvature geometries on activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Theta band activity in ACC correlated with specific feature types (rs (14) = 0.525, Ï = 0.037) and geometry (rs (14) = â0.579, Ï = 0.019), providing evidence for a role of this structure in processing architectural features beyond their emotional impact. The posterior cingulate cortex and the occipital lobe were involved in the perception of different room perspectives during the stroll through the rooms. This study sheds new light on the use of mobile EEG and VR in architectural studies and provides the opportunity to study human brain dynamics in participants that actively explore and realistically experience architectural spaces
Flux- and volume-limited groups/clusters for the SDSS galaxies: catalogues and mass estimation
We provide flux-limited and volume-limited galaxy group and cluster
catalogues, based on the spectroscopic sample of the SDSS data release 10
galaxies. We used a modified friends-of-friends (FoF) method with a variable
linking length in the transverse and radial directions to identify as many
realistic groups as possible. The flux-limited catalogue incorporates galaxies
down to m_r = 17.77 mag. It includes 588193 galaxies and 82458 groups. The
volume-limited catalogues are complete for absolute magnitudes down to M_r =
-18.0, -18.5, -19.0, -19.5, -20.0, -20.5, and -21.0; the completeness is
achieved within different spatial volumes, respectively. Our analysis shows
that flux-limited and volume-limited group samples are well compatible to each
other, especially for the larger groups/clusters. Dynamical mass estimates,
based on radial velocity dispersions and group extent in the sky, are added to
the extracted groups. The catalogues can be accessed via http://cosmodb.to.ee
and the Strasbourg Astronomical Data Center (CDS).Comment: 16 pages, 18 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in A&
Neuroscience and architecture:modulating behavior through sensorimotor responses to the built environment
SEREEGA: Simulating Event-Related EEG Activity
Abstract Electroencephalography (EEG) is a popular method to monitor brain activity, but it can be difficult to evaluate EEG-based analysis methods because no ground-truth brain activity is available for comparison. Therefore, in order to test and evaluate such methods, researchers often use simulated EEG data instead of actual EEG recordings, ensuring that it is known beforehand which e ects are present in the data. As such, simulated data can be used, among other things, to assess or compare signal processing and machine learn-ing algorithms, to model EEG variabilities, and to design source reconstruction methods. In this paper, we present SEREEGA, short for Simulating Event-Related EEG Activity . SEREEGA is a MATLAB-based open-source toolbox dedicated to the generation of sim-ulated epochs of EEG data. It is modular and extensible, at initial release supporting ve different publicly available head models and capable of simulating multiple different types of signals mimicking brain activity. This paper presents the architecture and general work ow of this toolbox, as well as a simulated data set demonstrating some of its functions. Highlights Simulated EEG data has a known ground truth, which can be used to validate methods. We present a general-purpose open-source toolbox to simulate EEG data. It provides a single framework to simulate many different types of EEG recordings. It is modular, extensible, and already includes a number of head models and signals. It supports noise, oscillations, event-related potentials, connectivity, and more
The Power Spectrum of Clusters of Galaxies and the Press-Schechter Approximation
We examine the power spectrum of clusters in the Press-Schechter (PS) theory
and in N-body simulations to see how the power spectrum of clusters is related
to the power spectrum of matter density fluctuations in the Universe. An
analytic model for the power spectrum of clusters for their given number
density is presented, both for real space and redshift space. We test this
model against results from N-body simulations and find that the agreement
between the analytic theory and the numerical results is good for wavelengths
Mpc. On smaller scales non-linear processes that are not
considered in the linear PS approximation influence the result. We also use our
analytic model to study the redshift-space power spectrum of clusters in cold
dark matter models with a cosmological constant (CDM) and with a
scale-invariant Harrison-Zel'dovich initial spectrum of density fluctuations.
We find that power spectra of clusters in these models are not consistent with
the observed power spectra of the APM and Abell-ACO clusters. One possible
explanation for the observed power spectra of clusters is an inflationary
scenario with a scalar field with the potential that has a localized steplike
feature. We use the PS theory to examine the power spectrum of clusters in this
model.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures. Accepted by Ap
Regulation of zebrafish melanocyte development by ligand-dependent BMP signaling
Preventing terminal differentiation is important in the development and progression of many cancers including melanoma. Recent identification of the BMP ligand GDF6 as a novel melanoma oncogene showed GDF6-activated BMP signaling suppresses differentiation of melanoma cells. Previous studies have identified roles for GDF6 orthologs during early embryonic and neural crest development, but have not identified direct regulation of melanocyte development by GDF6. Here, we investigate the BMP ligand gdf6a, a zebrafish ortholog of human GDF6, during the development of melanocytes from the neural crest. We establish that the loss of gdf6a or inhibition of BMP signaling during neural crest development disrupts normal pigment cell development, leading to an increase in the number of melanocytes and a corresponding decrease in iridophores, another neural crest-derived pigment cell type in zebrafish. This shift occurs as pigment cells arise from the neural crest and depends on mitfa, an ortholog of MITF, a key regulator of melanocyte development that is also targeted by oncogenic BMP signaling. Together, these results indicate that the oncogenic role ligand-dependent BMP signaling plays in suppressing differentiation in melanoma is a reiteration of its physiological roles during melanocyte development
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