A geometric description of the non-Gaussianity generated at the end of multi-field inflation

In this paper we mainly focus on the curvature perturbation generated at the end of multi-field inflation, such as the multi-brid inflation. Since the curvature perturbation is produced on the super-horizon scale, the bispectrum and trispectrum have a local shape. The size of bispectrum is measured by $f_{NL}$ and the trispectrum is characterized by two parameters $\tau_{NL}$ and $g_{NL}$. For simplicity, the trajectory of inflaton is assumed to be a straight line in the field space and then the entropic perturbations do not contribute to the curvature perturbation during inflation. As long as the background inflaton path is not orthogonal to the hyper-surface for inflation to end, the entropic perturbation can make a contribution to the curvature perturbation at the end of inflation and a large local-type non-Gaussiantiy is expected. An interesting thing is that the non-Gaussianity parameters are completely determined by the geometric properties of the hyper-surface of the end of inflation. For example, $f_{NL}$ is proportional to the curvature of the curve on this hyper-surface along the adiabatic direction and $g_{NL}$ is related to the change of the curvature radius per unit arc-length of this curve. Both $f_{NL}$ and $g_{NL}$ can be positive or negative respectively, but $\tau_{NL}$ must be positive and not less than $({6\over 5}f_{NL})^2$.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures; refs added; a correction to \tau_{NL} for n-field inflation added, version accepted for publication in JCA

Bidirectional modulation of anxiety-related and social behaviors by amygdala projections to the medial prefrontal cortex

AbstractThe basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) modulate anxiety and social behaviors. It remains to be elucidated, however, whether direct projections from the BLA to the mPFC play a functional role in these behaviors. We used optogenetic approaches in behaving mice to either activate or inhibit BLA inputs to the mPFC during behavioral assays that assess anxiety-like behavior and social interaction. Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)-mediated activation of BLA inputs to the mPFC produced anxiogenic effects in the elevated plus maze and open field test, whereas halorhodopsin (NpHR)-mediated inhibition produced anxiolytic effects. Furthermore, activation of the BLA-mPFC pathway reduced social interaction in the resident-intruder test, whereas inhibition facilitated social interaction. These results establish a causal relationship between activity in the BLA-mPFC pathway and the bidirectional modulation of anxiety-related and social behaviors

Predicting foreign-accent adaptation in older adults

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