Tone Stimulus Detection in Rats Using RRAM-Based Local Field Potential Monitoring

The comprehension of brain activity presents signif-icant challenges in the field of neuroscience. Contrary to spikes, Local Field Potentials (LFPs) present improved stability acqui-sition in chronic implant scenarios and potential reductions in sampling and processing rates. While existing electrophysiology acquisition systems focus predominantly on spike detection and sorting, there is a lack of real-time tools for exploiting LFPs. To address this gap, we present a Resistive-RAM (RRAM) based approach to process LFP traces. Our method follows an improved Memristive Integrating Sensor (MIS) protocol to effectively detect LFP events recorded from the deep-brain of an awake rat, while externally stimulated by a tone. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of real-time neural activity processing, offering insights into detecting meaningful external stimuli and facilitating efficient neural state estimation

Skewed X-inactivation is common in the general female population

X-inactivation is a well-established dosage compensation mechanism ensuring that X-chromosomal genes are expressed at comparable levels in males and females. Skewed X-inactivation is often explained by negative selection of one of the alleles. We demonstrate that imbalanced expression of the paternal and maternal X-chromosomes is common in the general population and that the random nature of the X-inactivation mechanism can be sufficient to explain the imbalance. To this end, we analyzed blood-derived RNA and whole-genome sequencing data from 79 female children and their parents from the Genome of the Netherlands project. We calculated the median ratio of the paternal over total counts at all X-chromosomal heterozygous single-nucleotide variants with coverage ≥10. We identified two individuals where the same X-chromosome was inactivated in all cells. Imbalanced expression of the two X-chromosomes (ratios ≤0.35 or ≥0.65) was observed in nearly 50% of the population. The empirically observed skewing is explained by a theoretical model where X-inactivation takes place in an embryonic stage in which eight cells give rise to the hematopoietic compartment. Genes escaping X-inactivation are expressed from both alleles and therefore demonstrate less skewing than inactivated genes. Using this characteristic, we identified three novel escapee genes (SSR4, REPS2, and SEPT6), but did not find support for many previously reported escapee genes in blood. Our collective data suggest that skewed X-inactivation is common in the general population. This may contribute to manifestation of symptoms in carriers of recessive X-linked disorders. We recommend that X-inactivation results should not be used lightly in the interpretation of X-linked variants