Selective Attention to Visual Stimuli Using Auditory Distractors Is Altered in Alpha-9 Nicotinic Receptor Subunit Knock-Out Mice

During selective attention, subjects voluntarily focus their cognitive resources on a specific stimulus while ignoring others. Top-downfiltering of peripheral sensory responses by higher structures of the brain has been proposed as one of the mechanisms responsible forselective attention. A prerequisite to accomplish top-down modulation of the activity of peripheral structures is the presence of corticofugalpathways. The mammalian auditory efferent system is a unique neural network that originates in the auditory cortex and projectstothe cochlear receptorthroughthe olivocochlear bundle, and it has been proposedtofunction as atop-downfilter of peripheral auditoryresponses during attention to cross-modal stimuli. However, to date, there is no conclusive evidence of the involvement of olivocochlearneurons in selective attention paradigms. Here, wetrained wild-type and-9 nicotinic receptor subunit knock-out (KO) mice, which lackcholinergic transmission between medial olivocochlear neurons and outer hair cells, in a two-choice visual discrimination task andstudied the behavioral consequences of adding different types of auditory distractors. In addition, we evaluated the effects of contralateralnoise on auditory nerve responses as a measure of the individual strength of the olivocochlear reflex. We demonstrate that KO micehave a reduced olivocochlear reflex strength and perform poorly in a visual selective attention paradigm. These results confirm that anintact medial olivocochlear transmission aids in ignoring auditory distraction during selective attention to visual stimuli.Fil: Terreros, Gonzalo. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; ChileFil: Jorratt, Pascal. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; ChileFil: Aedo, Cristian. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; Chile. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Elgoyhen, Ana Belen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Delano, Paul H.. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; Chile. Universidad de Chile; Chil

Determinación de los genotipos de incompatibilidad o compatibilidad en varios cultivares de cacao (Theobroma cacao L.).

En cacao el principal objetivo es la producción de almendras, pero esta es afectada por problemas de incompatibilidad. La siembra de poblaciones que tienen polen con buena afinidad puede solucionar satisfactoriamente el problema. Con tal fín se estudió la fòrmula genética floral de incompatibilidad o compatibilidad de 15 cultivares usados como progenitores en la producción de semilla mejorada de cacao. Se efectuaron 20 autopolinizaciones en cada uno de los 15 cultivares y 20 polinizaciones por cruzamiento, con polen de cada uno de 6 cultivares de fórmula genética, floral conocida. Los registros tomados 15 días después de efectuadas las polinizaciones se interpretaron de acuerdo con la prueba de X2 y las teorias de Knight y Rogers y de Cope. Se determinan varios genotipos y además se propone para el cultivar UF 613 la formula: A-B-S2 ó A-B-S3Cacao-Theobroma caca

New technologies applied to modelling taphonomic alterations

Archaeology is developing considerably through the incorporation and application of several methodologies and techniques from science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. These technologies have significantly improved our ability to document, preserve, study and present highly precise and accurate digital models of whole sites and archaeological elements, as well as specific details of them. In this article, we will review the different 3D documentation techniques currently available in archaeology, focusing on bone taphonomy. Our aim is to characterise the range of alterations that fossil bones may experience. Thus, here we present a review of the existing literature and future perspectives on how to approach the 3D study of carnivore and rodent tooth marks, cut and percussion marks, biochemical alterations and other Bone Surface Modifications (BSMs)

Novelty detection in an auditory oddball task on freely moving rats

The relative importance or saliency of sensory inputs depend on the animal’s environmental context and the behavioural responses to these same inputs can vary over time. Here we show how freely moving rats, trained to discriminate between deviant tones embedded in a regular pattern of repeating stimuli and different variations of the classic oddball paradigm, can detect deviant tones, and this discriminability resembles the properties that are typical of neuronal adaptation described in previous studies. Moreover, the auditory brainstem response (ABR) latency decreases after training, a finding consistent with the notion that animals develop a type of plasticity to auditory stimuli. Our study suggests the existence of a form of long-term memory that may modulate the level of neuronal adaptation according to its behavioural relevance, and sets the ground for future experiments that will help to dis- entangle the functional mechanisms that govern behavioural habituation and its relation to neuronal adaptation

A geometric-morphometric assessment of three-dimensional models of experimental cut-marks using flint and quartzite flakes and handaxes

Developments in methodological approaches to high-resolution morphometrical study of cut-mark morphology further our understanding of butchering activities. Identification of micro-morphological variability between different taphonomical alterations on ancient bone allows detection and comparison of bone-surface modifications and associated taphonomical agents and activities. By taking a geometrical-morphometrical approach, data from 3-D laser-scanning and micro-photogrammetrical models of experimental cut-marks enable statistical analysis to classify and distinguish between cut-marks by bifaces from those by flakes, and, in each case, between marks made by flint from those made by quartzite tools. Analysis of two tool types, each made from two raw materials as independent variables, is a methodological advance in morphometrical studies of experimental cutmarks, which hitherto have tended to focus on the respective parts played by tool types or types of raw material in morphometrical characterization of experimental and archaeological cut-marks

Geometric Morphometrics and Machine Learning Models Applied to the Study of Late Iron Age Cut Marks from Central Spain

Recently the incorporation of artificial intelligence has allowed the development of valuable methodological advances in taphonomy. Some studies have achieved great precision in identifying the carnivore that produced tooth marks. Additionally, other works focused on human activity have managed to specify what type of tool or raw material was used in the filleting processes identified at the sites. Through the use of geometric morphometrics and machine learning techniques, the present study intends to analyze the cut marks of the Ulaca oppidum (Solosancho, Ávila, Spain) in order to identify the type of tools used during carcass modification. Although the Ulaca oppidum is an Iron Age site, the results suggest that most of the cut marks were produced with flint tools.During the development of the present work J.A. was funded by the Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea [ESPDOC21/05]. This work has been partially funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (project PID2021-123721OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE) and Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (FCT-21-17318). M.Á.M.-G. and C.S.B. acknowledges the grant RYC2021-034813-I and RYC2021-034720-I respectively, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by European Union “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR

Preventing presbycusis in mice with enhanced medial olivocochlear feedback

"Growing old" is the most common cause of hearing loss. Agerelated hearing loss (ARHL) (presbycusis) first affects the ability to understand speech in background noise, even when auditory thresholds in quiet are normal. It has been suggested that cochlear denervation ("synaptopathy") is an early contributor to agerelated auditory decline. In the present work, we characterized age-related cochlear synaptic degeneration and hair cell loss in mice with enhanced α9α10 cholinergic nicotinic receptors gating kinetics ("gain of function" nAChRs). These mediate inhibitory olivocochlear feedback through the activation of associated calciumgated potassium channels. Cochlear function was assessed via distortion product otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem responses. Cochlear structure was characterized in immunolabeled organ of Corti whole mounts using confocal microscopy to quantify hair cells, auditory neurons, presynaptic ribbons, and postsynaptic glutamate receptors. Aged wild-type mice had elevated acoustic thresholds and synaptic loss. Afferent synapses were lost from inner hair cells throughout the aged cochlea, together with some loss of outer hair cells. In contrast, cochlear structure and function were preserved in aged mice with gain-of-function nAChRs that provide enhanced olivocochlear inhibition, suggesting that efferent feedback is important for long-term maintenance of inner ear function. Our work provides evidence that olivocochlear-mediated resistance to presbycusis-ARHL occurs via the α9α10 nAChR complexes on outer hair cells. Thus, enhancement of the medial olivocochlear system could be a viable strategy to prevent age-related hearing loss.Fil: Boero, Luis Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Castagna, Valeria Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Terreros, Gonzalo. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Moglie, Marcelo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Silva, Sebastián. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Maass, Juan C.. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Fuchs, Paul A.. University Johns Hopkins; Estados UnidosFil: Delano, Paul H.. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Elgoyhen, Ana Belen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Gomez Casati, Maria Eugenia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentin

Metodología docente y nuevos recursos en Arqueología Prehistórica

La idea ha sido crear un instrumento capaz de albergar información y documentación docente que irá aumentando progresivamente, en función de las necesidades didácticas que puedan ir surgiendo en las asignaturas citadas, y que periódicamente debe ser revisado, por las constantes actualizaciones que sufran los enlaces seleccionados

Zooarchaeology of the Iron Age in Western Iberia: new insights from the Celtic oppidum of Ulaca

The Vettones were one of the most important Celtic peoples of the Late Iron Age in Western Iberia (between the Duero and Tagus Rivers). It is a period recognised from the spread of the cremation ritual in the cemeteries, the development of iron metallurgy, and the emergence of large fortified settlements—the characteristic oppida—that would finally be abandoned with the conquest of Hispania by Rome. Different types of evidence suggest that the Vetton economy was based on livestock. Palaeobotanical and carpological analyses reveal a major deforestation of the landscape, the conversion of large areas into pastures and cultivated fields, and the use of enclosures as cattle pens. The stone sculptures of bulls and pigs found throughout the mountainous areas of the region—the famous verracos—also reflect the value the Vettones placed on livestock. However, there have been very few studies devoted to the identification of faunal remains. In this text, we offer previously unpublished data on the animals found in the oppidum of Ulaca (Solosancho, Ávila, Spain), one of the largest in Celtic Iberia (third–first centuries BC), which we relate to other evidence from neighbouring sites. Thus, the state of the research into Vetton zooarchaeology is offered in the broader context of the Iberian Peninsula