Simplified Attachable EEG Revealed Child Development Dependent Neurofeedback Brain Acute Activities in Comparison with Visual Numerical Discrimination Task and Resting

The development of an easy-to-attach electroencephalograph (EEG) would enable its frequent use for the assessment of neurodevelopment and clinical monitoring. In this study, we designed a two-channel EEG headband measurement device that could be used safely and was easily attachable and removable without the need for restraint or electrode paste or gel. Next, we explored the use of this device for neurofeedback applications relevant to education or neurocognitive development. We developed a prototype visual neurofeedback game in which the size of a familiar local mascot changes in the PC display depending on the user’s brain wave activity. We tested this application at a local children’s play event. Children at the event were invited to experience the game and, upon agreement, were provided with an explanation of the game and support in attaching the EEG device. The game began with a consecutive number visual discrimination task which was followed by an open-eye resting condition and then a neurofeedback task. Preliminary linear regression analyses by the least-squares method of the acquired EEG and age data in 30 participants from 5 to 20 years old suggested an age-dependent left brain lateralization of beta waves at the neurofeedback stage (p = 0.052) and of alpha waves at the open-eye resting stage (p = 0.044) with potential involvement of other wave bands. These results require further validation

Light-dependent development of asymmetry in the ipsilateral and contralateral thalamofugal visual projections of the chick

Light-exposure of the chick embryo induces development of asymmetry in the thalamofugal visual projections to the Wulst regions of the forebrain since the embryo is turned so that it occludes its left and not its right eye. This asymmetry can be reversed by occluding the embryo's right eye and exposing its left eye to light. Here we show that three sub-regions of the thalamus (two in the dorsolateral anterior thalami (DLA) and one more caudal) have differing asymmetries of contralateral and/or ipsilateral projections. Hence the effect of asymmetrical light stimulation is regionally specific within the thalamus. Lateralised light stimulation appears to promote the development of ipsilateral projections from DLA pars dorsolateralis pars anterioris and contralateral projections from the caudal regions (the nucleus superficialis parvocellularis especially) but it may suppress the development of contralateral projections from the nucleus dorsolateralis anterior thalami pars lateralis rostralis. We also show that the light stimulation causes lateralised expression of c-fos and receptors for neurotransmitters

A social eating party induced affiliation behavior of chick reared in socially deprived condition

CINP Pacific-Asia Regional Meetin

Social behavior modulates songbird interpeduncular nucleus function

International audienceMale zebra finches produce the same song while alone and during courtship of a female. However, singing-related activity in the anterior forebrain nuclei lateral magnocellular anterior nidopallium and Area X markedly depends on the social context. Thus, the anterior forebrain should receive a signal of social context from outside the song system. Here we investigated a possible source of such modulation, the midbrain interpeduncular nucleus, by monitoring immediate early genes and synaptic activity. The level of immunoreactivity for egr1 was high and calretinin was low following courtship directed singing, but the opposite pattern was seen after solo undirected singing. Further, pairs of stimulation caused depression of synaptic responses after directed singing, but facilitation after undirected singing

Investigation of behavioral and anatomical lateralization in courtship singing

International audience[No abstract

Modulation of singing-related gene expression by social context in diencephalon and midbrain cholinergic nuclei

International audienceBirdsong may have several functions as a communicative signal. Zebra finches?produce acoustically similar songs while alone (undirected) and to female birds (directed). Recent studies have shown that the level of neural activity and of expression of the immediate early gene egr-1 in the anterior forebrain (AF) nuclei LMAN and Area X are much higher during undirected than directed singing. To investigate possible sources of this modulation, we examined singing-related gene expression in the medial Habenula (Hb) and interpeduncular (IPN) nuclei. Consistently there is an opposite pattern of expression in these nuclei, compared to AF nuclei; a high level of egr-1 expression is seen only after directed singing. Furthermore, expression is stronger in limited subregions of IPN, in a pattern suggesting that the synaptic inputs from MHb to IPN may be lateralized. We are combining anterograde tracer injection into left and right MHb with egr-1 expression after courtship singing to test this possiblility. As a possible behavioral source of such lateralization, in initial behavioral results 4 of 5 birds tested viewed the female during initial courtship preferentially with the right eye

Familiarity perception call elicited under restricted sensory cues in peer-social interactions of the domestic chick.

Social cognitive mechanisms are central to understanding developmental abnormalities, such as autistic spectrum disorder. Peer relations besides parent-infant or pair-bonding interactions are pivotal social relationships that are especially well developed in humans. Cognition of familiarity forms the basis of peer socialization. Domestic chick (Gallus gallus) studies have contributed to our understanding of the developmental process in sensory-motor cognition but many processes remain unknown. In this report, we used chicks, as they are precocial birds, and we could therefore focus on peer interaction without having to consider parenting. The subject chick behavior towards familiar and unfamiliar reference peers was video-recorded, where the subject and the reference were separated by either an opaque or transparent wall. Spectrogram and behavior correlation analyses based on principal component analysis, revealed that chicks elicited an intermediate contact call and a morphologically different distress call, more frequently towards familiar versus unfamiliar chicks in acoustic only conditions. When both visual and acoustic cues were present, subject chicks exhibited approaching and floor pecking behavior, while eliciting joyful (pleasant) calls, irrespective of whether reference peers were familiar or unfamiliar. Our result showed that chicks recognized familiarity using acoustic cues and expressed cognition through modified distress calls. These finding suggests that peer affiliation may be established by acoustic recognition, independent of visual face recognition, and that eventually, both forms of recognition are integrated, with modulation of acoustic recognition

Timing of changes from a primitive reflex to a voluntary behavior in infancy as a potential predictor of socio-psychological and physical development during juvenile stages among common marmosets

AbstractWith regard to socio-psychology, the complexity of a human’s neuronal function develops from initial primitive function to multimodal networking gradually through interaction between innate biological mechanisms and the surrounding environment. To study these developmental systems, we attempted to find a comparative-behavioral model among non-human primate species, common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). In this research, we explored the correlation between the timing of change from involuntary- to voluntary-like movement in early stage and later the socio-emotional behavior, comparatively with the probable psychological development disabilities defined by our social behavior test (SBT). Using the ‘Infant Antigravity Task (IAT)’ and multivariate analysis, we quantitatively observed the neurological development from simple to complex behavior through interaction between motor and gravity environment. At the same time, we recorded the physiological and psychological development of two marmoset siblings (a male and a female) from their neonate stages to adult stages with their parents. In their lives, the male marmoset spontaneously showed his developmental delay in terms of body weight, blood glucose and socio-emotional difficulties under their own parental care. Based from the SBT results, the male demonstrated less social interaction with other family members compared to his sibling in the juvenile stage. Between these siblings, we looked for any predictable information in the earlier stage for future developmental issues particularly focusing on their behavioral expression during IAT from the 10th postnatal day until the 36thday.Consequently, we found that both subjects expressed climbing-up behavior in the initial early period, but only the female who developed typically later, switched to jumping-down behavior with pre-facing to ‘down’ direction. Meanwhile, the male who would have developmental delay later, clearly did not show the switching pattern. The results suggest that the switch timing from involuntary to voluntary movement may be a possible predictor of juvenile and adolescent physiological and psychological retardation. The results also suggest that the primate model allows more methods to be developed for early detection of developmental disabilities that could be utilized in humans to pave the way for interventions and possible psychological or psychiatric treatment