Segregation of cortical head direction cell assemblies on alternating theta cycles

High-level cortical systems for spatial navigation, including entorhinal grid cells, critically depend on input from the head direction system. We examined spiking rhythms and modes of synchrony between neurons participating in head direction networks for evidence of internal processing, independent of direct sensory drive, which may be important for grid cell function. We found that head direction networks of rats were segregated into at least two populations of neurons firing on alternate theta cycles (theta cycle skipping) with fixed synchronous or anti-synchronous relationships. Pairs of anti-synchronous theta cycle skipping neurons exhibited larger differences in head direction tuning, with a minimum difference of 40 degrees of head direction. Septal inactivation preserved the head direction signal, but eliminated theta cycle skipping of head direction cells and grid cell spatial periodicity. We propose that internal mechanisms underlying cycle skipping in head direction networks may be critical for downstream spatial computation by grid cells.We kindly thank S. Gillet, J. Hinman, E. Newman and L. Ewell for their invaluable consultations and comments on previous versions of this manuscript, as well as M. Connerney, S. Eriksson, C. Libby and T. Ware for technical assistance and behavioral training. This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH60013 and MH61492) and the Office of Naval Research Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (N00014-10-1-0936). (R01 MH60013 - National Institute of Mental Health; MH61492 - National Institute of Mental Health; N00014-10-1-0936 - Office of Naval Research Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative)Accepted manuscrip

Introduction to the Special Issue: an International Partnership in Vocational Psychology and Career Guidance Practice

This thematic issue of the International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance includes a selection of papers presented at the IAEVG-SVP-NCDA Symposium, entitled “Vocational Psychology and Career Guidance Practice: An International Partnership”. The articles in this special issue deal with topics that highlight the interconnection between vocational psychology and career guidance. The authors, because of their different geographical and cultural backgrounds, address these points from their own perspectives. The outcome of the general discussion that centred on these topics at the International Symposium is jointly published in a special issue of the Career Development Quarterly, Vol. 57, No. 4

Le rôle des relations socio-émotionnelles dans les transitions scolaires et professionnelles

Le fait que le développement de la carrière soit imbriqué dans le contexte plus large des rôles sociaux et des transitions caractérisant le cours de la vie est devenu un des centres d’intérêts remarquables en psychologie de l’orientation. Des travaux de plus en plus nombreux ont mis en évidence les rapports existant entre la carrière et la qualité des relations interpersonnelles dans la vie de l’individu (par exemple, Blustein, 2001 ; Blustein, Schultheiss & Flum, 2004 ; Hall, 1996). L’intégration des dimensions relationnelles dans une conceptualisation élargie des transitions scolaires et professionnelles a permis l’élaboration d’un cadre conceptuel plus intégratif, qui prend en compte la complexité de la vie des individus, avec leurs contextes sociaux et culturels. L’article examine l’importance et la fonction des relations interpersonnelles dans la négociation par l’individu des tâches qui, dans sa carrière, le remettent en cause, telles que celles rencontrées lors des transitions scolaires et professionnelles. Les travaux théoriques et empiriques sont passés en revue et les implications pour la recherche et la pratique sont présentées.The embedded nature of career development within the broader context of life roles and transitions has emerged as a prominent focus in the vocational psychology literature. A growing literature base points to the interconnectedness of career and the quality of relationships in one’s life (e.g., Blustein, 2001 ; Blustein, Schultheiss, & Flum, 2004 ; Hall, 1996). By integrating relational dimensions into a broad-based conceptualization of school and work transitions, a holistic conceptual framework emerges that reflects the complexity of people’s lives embedded within social and cultural contexts. This paper will examine the importance and function of interpersonal connection in navigating challenging career tasks such as those encountered in school and work transitions. The theoretical and empirical literature will be reviewed, and implications for research and practice will be offered

Introduction to the Special Issue: an International Partnership in Vocational Psychology and Career Guidance Practice

This thematic issue of the International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance includes a selection of papers presented at the IAEVG-SVP-NCDA Symposium, entitled “Vocational Psychology and Career Guidance Practice: An International Partnership”. The articles in this special issue deal with topics that highlight the interconnection between vocational psychology and career guidance. The authors, because of their different geographical and cultural backgrounds, address these points from their own perspectives. The outcome of the general discussion that centred on these topics at the International Symposium is jointly published in a special issue of the Career Development Quarterly, Vol. 57, No. 4

On the Identifiability and Estimation of Causal Location-Scale Noise Models

We study the class of location-scale or heteroscedastic noise models (LSNMs), in which the effect $Y$ can be written as a function of the cause $X$ and a noise source $N$ independent of $X$, which may be scaled by a positive function $g$ over the cause, i.e., $Y = f(X) + g(X)N$. Despite the generality of the model class, we show the causal direction is identifiable up to some pathological cases. To empirically validate these theoretical findings, we propose two estimators for LSNMs: an estimator based on (non-linear) feature maps, and one based on neural networks. Both model the conditional distribution of $Y$ given $X$ as a Gaussian parameterized by its natural parameters. When the feature maps are correctly specified, we prove that our estimator is jointly concave, and a consistent estimator for the cause-effect identification task. Although the the neural network does not inherit those guarantees, it can fit functions of arbitrary complexity, and reaches state-of-the-art performance across benchmarks.Comment: ICML 202

Validation of the Childhood Career Development Scale Among Italian Middle School Students

During early adolescence, individuals engage in exploring educational opportunities, beginning to develop a career identity, contemplate future careers, and make tentative career decisions. Choices made during this period may have a strong effect on one\u2019s academic and career future, and in many countries, young adolescents must make important and sometimes final academic and career choices that impact the rest of their lives. Despite this, research on early adolescence is severely lacking. To address this gap, a validation study of the Childhood Career Development Scale (CCDS) was conducted with a young adolescent Italian sample. Consistent with previous research with younger samples, support was found for an eight-factor structure of the CCDS. Convergent validity was supported by positive associations with exploration, students\u2019 ideas, attitudes, and behaviors regarding their academic and career future and career self-efficacy. These findings support Super\u2019s dimensional model of childhood career development through early adolescence as originally theorized