Probabilistic trend detection in different levels of consciousness

We aimed to explore how alertness modulates the management of probabilistic information in order to accurately detect changing patterns in a stream of conflicting evidence. We hypothesized that a decreased level of alertness might disrupt the strategy deployed to approach a probabilistic reversal learning task by impairment of working memory, of integration and value-updating of each piece of evidence, and decreased cognitive control. Our results showed that performance in probabilistic reversal learning is altered in decreased alertness, in relation to a higher frequency of spontaneous switching between patterns. Besides, response time and type suggest an impaired ability to generate a stable evidence-based strategy, although evidence-driven responses are present even in heavy drowsiness

Direct brain recordings reveal continuous encoding of structure in random stimuli

The brain excels at processing sensory input, even in rich or chaotic environments. Mounting evidence attributes this to the creation of sophisticated internal models of the environment that draw on statistical structures in the unfolding sensory input. Understanding how and where this modeling takes place is a core question in statistical learning and predictive processing. In this context, we address the role of transitional probabilities as an implicit structure supporting the encoding of a random auditory stream. Leveraging information-theoretical principles and the high spatiotemporal resolution of intracranial electroencephalography, we analyzed the trial-by-trial high-frequency activity representation of transitional probabilities. This unique approach enabled us to demonstrate how the brain continuously encodes structure in random stimuli and revealed the involvement of a network outside of the auditory system, including hippocampal, frontal, and temporal regions. Linking the frame-works of statistical learning and predictive processing, our work illuminates an implicit process that can be crucial for the swift detection of patterns and unexpected events in the environment.Fil: Fuhrer, Julian. University of Oslo; NoruegaFil: Kyrre, Glette. University of Oslo; NoruegaFil: Ivanovic, Jugoslav. University of Oslo; NoruegaFil: Gunnar Larsson, Pål. University of Oslo; NoruegaFil: Bekinschtein, Tristán Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. University of Cambridge; Reino UnidoFil: Kochen, Sara Silvia. Universidad Nacional Arturo Jauretche. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Alta Complejidad en Red El Cruce Dr. Néstor Carlos Kirchner Samic. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos; ArgentinaFil: Knight, Robert T.. University of California at Berkeley; Estados UnidosFil: Tørresen, Jim. University of Oslo; NoruegaFil: Solbakk, Anne Kristin. University of Oslo; Noruega. Helgeland Hospital; NoruegaFil: Endestad, Tor. University of Oslo; Noruega. Helgeland Hospital; NoruegaFil: Blenkmann, Alejandro Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. University of Oslo; Norueg

Ritmos biológicos y uso del tiempo en una comunidad mapuche aislada

Este proyecto persigue establecer la influencia de factores ambientales y culturales sobre los patrones temporales de poblaciones humanas. Estudiamos la comunidad mapuche de Milaín Currical (Neuquén) en distintas estaciones, registrando el ciclo diario sueño-vigilia y otros parámetros relacionados con cambios cíclicos en el comportamiento y la fisiología de los habitantes. El objetivo es lograr una explicación englobadora del uso del tiempo en poblaciones bajo distintas condiciones ambientales. Asimismo, se registró la variación estacional en los procesos migratorios y en variables epidemiológicas. Las variables ambientales (fotoperíodo, temperatura, lluvias) exhibieron ciclos anuales de gran amplitud. La comunidad presenta variaciones estacionales con claras diferencias entre verano e invierno, incluyendo cambios de horario de sus actividades y del ciclo sueño-vigilia, que correlacionan con variaciones ambientales. Las consultas médicas tuvieron un pico hacia el final del invierno. La comunidad realiza una migración anual entre las tierras de veranada y de invernada, que puede ser correlacionada con las variables ambientales, en particular el fotoperíodo. El estudio de comunidades sujetas a cambios temporales profundos en el ambiente (sin sincronizadores artificiales) ofrece un excelente modelo para la investigación del sistema cronobiológico humano.Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentin

Ritmos biológicos y uso del tiempo en una comunidad mapuche aislada

Este proyecto persigue establecer la influencia de factores ambientales y culturales sobre los patrones temporales de poblaciones humanas. Estudiamos la comunidad mapuche de Milaín Currical (Neuquén) en distintas estaciones, registrando el ciclo diario sueño-vigilia y otros parámetros relacionados con cambios cíclicos en el comportamiento y la fisiología de los habitantes. El objetivo es lograr una explicación englobadora del uso del tiempo en poblaciones bajo distintas condiciones ambientales. Asimismo, se registró la variación estacional en los procesos migratorios y en variables epidemiológicas. Las variables ambientales (fotoperíodo, temperatura, lluvias) exhibieron ciclos anuales de gran amplitud. La comunidad presenta variaciones estacionales con claras diferencias entre verano e invierno, incluyendo cambios de horario de sus actividades y del ciclo sueño-vigilia, que correlacionan con variaciones ambientales. Las consultas médicas tuvieron un pico hacia el final del invierno. La comunidad realiza una migración anual entre las tierras de veranada y de invernada, que puede ser correlacionada con las variables ambientales, en particular el fotoperíodo. El estudio de comunidades sujetas a cambios temporales profundos en el ambiente (sin sincronizadores artificiales) ofrece un excelente modelo para la investigación del sistema cronobiológico humano.Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentin

Haploinsufficiency of EHMT1 improves pattern separation and increases hippocampal cell proliferation

Contains fulltext : 169681.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Heterozygous mutations or deletions of the human Euchromatin Histone Methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) gene are the main causes of Kleefstra syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by impaired memory, autistic features and mostly severe intellectual disability. Previously, Ehmt1+/- heterozygous knockout mice were found to exhibit cranial abnormalities and decreased sociability, phenotypes similar to those observed in Kleefstra syndrome patients. In addition, Ehmt1+/- knockout mice were impaired at fear extinction and novel- and spatial object recognition. In this study, Ehmt1+/- and wild-type mice were tested on several cognitive tests in a touchscreen-equipped operant chamber to further investigate the nature of learning and memory changes. Performance of Ehmt1+/- mice in the Visual Discrimination &Reversal learning, object-location Paired-Associates learning- and Extinction learning tasks was found to be unimpaired. Remarkably, Ehmt1+/- mice showed enhanced performance on the Location Discrimination test of pattern separation. In line with improved Location Discrimination ability, an increase in BrdU-labelled cells in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus was observed. In conclusion, reduced levels of EHMT1 protein in Ehmt1+/- mice does not result in general learning deficits in a touchscreen-based battery, but leads to increased adult cell proliferation in the hippocampus and enhanced pattern separation ability

Sedation Modulates Frontotemporal Predictive Coding Circuits and the Double Surprise Acceleration Effect

Two important theories in cognitive neuroscience are predictive coding (PC) and the global workspace (GW) theory. A key research task is to understand how these two theories relate to one another, and particularly, how the brain transitions from a predictive early state to the eventual engagement of a brain-scale state (the GW). To address this question, we present a source-localization of EEG responses evoked by the local-global task—an experimental paradigm that engages a predictive hierarchy, which encompasses the GW. The results of our source reconstruction suggest three phases of processing. The first phase involves the sensory (here auditory) regions of the superior temporal lobe and predicts sensory regularities over a short timeframe (as per the local effect). The third phase is brain-scale, involving inferior frontal, as well as inferior and superior parietal regions, consistent with a global neuronal workspace (GNW; as per the global effect). Crucially, our analysis suggests that there is an intermediate (second) phase, involving modulatory interactions between inferior frontal and superior temporal regions. Furthermore, sedation with propofol reduces modulatory interactions in the second phase. This selective effect is consistent with a PC explanation of sedation, with propofol acting on descending predictions of the precision of prediction errors; thereby constraining access to the GNW

Dietary levels of pure flavonoids improve spatial memory performance and increase hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Evidence suggests that flavonoid-rich foods are capable of inducing improvements in memory and cognition in animals and humans. However, there is a lack of clarity concerning whether flavonoids are the causal agents in inducing such behavioral responses. Here we show that supplementation with pure anthocyanins or pure flavanols for 6 weeks, at levels similar to that found in blueberry (2% w/w), results in an enhancement of spatial memory in 18 month old rats. Pure flavanols and pure anthocyanins were observed to induce significant improvements in spatial working memory (p = 0.002 and p = 0.006 respectively), to a similar extent to that following blueberry supplementation (p = 0.002). These behavioral changes were paralleled by increases in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (R = 0.46, p<0.01), suggesting a common mechanism for the enhancement of memory. However, unlike protein levels of BDNF, the regional enhancement of BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus appeared to be predominantly enhanced by anthocyanins. Our data support the claim that flavonoids are likely causal agents in mediating the cognitive effects of flavonoid-rich foods

Detecting Awareness in the Vegetative State: Electroencephalographic Evidence for Attempted Movements to Command

Patients in the Vegetative State (VS) do not produce overt motor behavior to command and are therefore considered to be unaware of themselves and of their environments. However, we recently showed that high-density electroencephalography (EEG) can be used to detect covert command-following in some VS patients. Due to its portability and inexpensiveness, EEG assessments of awareness have the potential to contribute to a standard clinical protocol, thus improving diagnostic accuracy. However, this technique requires refinement and optimization if it is to be used widely as a clinical tool. We asked a patient who had been repeatedly diagnosed as VS for 12-years to try to move his left and right hands, between periods of rest, while EEG was recorded from four scalp electrodes. We identified appropriate and statistically reliable modulations of sensorimotor beta rhythms following commands to try to move, which could be significantly classified at a single-trial level. These reliable effects indicate that the patient attempted to follow the commands, and was therefore aware, but was unable to execute an overtly discernable action. The cognitive demands of this novel task are lower than those used previously and, crucially, allow for awareness to be determined on the basis of a 20-minute EEG recording made with only four electrodes. This approach makes EEG assessments of awareness clinically viable, and therefore has potential for inclusion in a standard assessment of awareness in the VS