Pub Date : 2024-02-26DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1358964
Mădălina Iuliana Mușat, Smaranda Ioana Mitran, Ion Udriștoiu, Carmen Valeria Albu, Bogdan Cătălin
Introduction
Depressive-like behavior has been shown to be associated with liver damage. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of three different models of depression on the behavior of mice with liver injury.
Methods
During the 4 weeks of methionine/choline deficiency diet (MCD), adult C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: MCD (no stress protocol, n = 6), chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS, n = 9), acute and repeated forced swim stress [aFSS (n = 9) and rFSS (n = 9)].
Results
All depression protocols induced increased anhedonia and anxiety-like behavior compared to baseline and had no impact on the severity of liver damage, according to ultrasonography. However, different protocols evoked different overall behavior patterns. After the depressive-like behavior induction protocols, animals subjected to aFSS did not exhibit anxiety-like behavior differences compared to MCD animals, while mice subjected to CUMS showed additional weight loss compared to FSS animals. All tested protocols for inducing depressive-like behavior decreased the short-term memory of mice with liver damage, as assessed by the novel object recognition test (NORT).
Discussion
Our results show that the use of all protocols seems to generate different levels of anxiety-like behavior, but only the depressive-like behavior induction procedures associate additional anhedonia and memory impairment in mice with liver injury.
{"title":"The impact of stress on the behavior of C57BL/6 mice with liver injury: a comparative study","authors":"Mădălina Iuliana Mușat, Smaranda Ioana Mitran, Ion Udriștoiu, Carmen Valeria Albu, Bogdan Cătălin","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1358964","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1358964","url":null,"abstract":"<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Depressive-like behavior has been shown to be associated with liver damage. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of three different models of depression on the behavior of mice with liver injury.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>During the 4 weeks of methionine/choline deficiency diet (MCD), adult C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: MCD (no stress protocol, <italic>n</italic> = 6), chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS, <italic>n</italic> = 9), acute and repeated forced swim stress [aFSS (<italic>n</italic> = 9) and rFSS (<italic>n</italic> = 9)].</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>All depression protocols induced increased anhedonia and anxiety-like behavior compared to baseline and had no impact on the severity of liver damage, according to ultrasonography. However, different protocols evoked different overall behavior patterns. After the depressive-like behavior induction protocols, animals subjected to aFSS did not exhibit anxiety-like behavior differences compared to MCD animals, while mice subjected to CUMS showed additional weight loss compared to FSS animals. All tested protocols for inducing depressive-like behavior decreased the short-term memory of mice with liver damage, as assessed by the novel object recognition test (NORT).</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>Our results show that the use of all protocols seems to generate different levels of anxiety-like behavior, but only the depressive-like behavior induction procedures associate additional anhedonia and memory impairment in mice with liver injury.</p></sec>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140044872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-26DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1349672
Zhang Shuanglong, Yuan Jiangyuan, Nie Meng, Wang Zheng, Zhang Yunshui, Sun Wei, Qiao Li, Jiang Rongcai
Background
Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are an important health issue worldwide, which are associated with harmful side effects. This meta-analysis investigates the cognitive and functional outcomes in severe brain trauma cases. It assesses the impact on memory, verbal and visual abilities, attention, learning, and the presence of depression. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the consequences of severe brain trauma injury on cognitive and functional domains.
Objective
The main objective of the current comprehensive meta-analysis study is to assess and analyze the impact of severe TBI on functional and cognitive outcomes, including verbal, visual, attention, learning, memory, and emotional stability.
Methods
We collected data from three online databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Case–control trials related to severe TBI association with cognitive and functional outcomes were included. Verbal strength, visual functions, learning abilities, attention, memory, and depression were considered primary outcomes.
Results
We have included 13 case–control studies with 1,442 subjects in this meta-analysis, which provide adequate data to determine the pooled effect size for targeted outcomes. The effect of severe TBI on the inducement of depression and impairment of memory, verbal, visual, attention, and learning abilities compared to the control group showed statistically significant outcomes (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Severe TBI is strongly associated with impaired cognitive and functional abilities, including visual and verbal disabilities, impaired memory, depression inducement, attention deficits, and learning disabilities.
{"title":"A meta-analysis of cognitive and functional outcomes in severe brain trauma cases","authors":"Zhang Shuanglong, Yuan Jiangyuan, Nie Meng, Wang Zheng, Zhang Yunshui, Sun Wei, Qiao Li, Jiang Rongcai","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1349672","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1349672","url":null,"abstract":"<sec><title>Background</title><p>Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are an important health issue worldwide, which are associated with harmful side effects. This meta-analysis investigates the cognitive and functional outcomes in severe brain trauma cases. It assesses the impact on memory, verbal and visual abilities, attention, learning, and the presence of depression. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the consequences of severe brain trauma injury on cognitive and functional domains.</p></sec><sec><title>Objective</title><p>The main objective of the current comprehensive meta-analysis study is to assess and analyze the impact of severe TBI on functional and cognitive outcomes, including verbal, visual, attention, learning, memory, and emotional stability.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>We collected data from three online databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Case–control trials related to severe TBI association with cognitive and functional outcomes were included. Verbal strength, visual functions, learning abilities, attention, memory, and depression were considered primary outcomes.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>We have included 13 case–control studies with 1,442 subjects in this meta-analysis, which provide adequate data to determine the pooled effect size for targeted outcomes. The effect of severe TBI on the inducement of depression and impairment of memory, verbal, visual, attention, and learning abilities compared to the control group showed statistically significant outcomes (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Severe TBI is strongly associated with impaired cognitive and functional abilities, including visual and verbal disabilities, impaired memory, depression inducement, attention deficits, and learning disabilities.</p></sec>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140126870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-21eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1303393
Marina Fuertes, Joana L Gonçalves
{"title":"Continuity and discontinuity in infant and maternal behavior from 3 to 9 months according to prematurity status.","authors":"Marina Fuertes, Joana L Gonçalves","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1303393","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1303393","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10915242/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140049169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-21eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1383393
Francesca Starita, Yoann Stussi, Sara Garofalo, Damiano Terenzi
{"title":"Editorial: The neurobiological and cognitive underpinnings of appetitive and aversive motivation.","authors":"Francesca Starita, Yoann Stussi, Sara Garofalo, Damiano Terenzi","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1383393","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1383393","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10915259/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140049170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-20eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1383542
Willie M U Daniels, Duyilemi C Ajonijebu, Olayemi J Olajide
{"title":"Editorial: Neuroepigenetics and biological mechanisms of stress-induced socio-cognitive changes.","authors":"Willie M U Daniels, Duyilemi C Ajonijebu, Olayemi J Olajide","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1383542","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1383542","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10912563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140039078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-20DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1349053
Aliza A. Le, Linda C. Palmer, Jasmine Chavez, Christine M. Gall, Gary Lynch
Context contributes to multiple aspects of human episodic memory including segmentation and retrieval. The present studies tested if, in adult male and female mice, context influences the encoding of odors encountered in a single unsupervised sampling session of the type used for the routine acquisition of episodic memories. The three paradigms used differed in complexity (single vs. multiple odor cues) and period from sampling to testing. Results show that males consistently encode odors in a context-dependent manner: the mice discriminated novel from previously sampled cues when tested in the chamber of initial cue sampling but not in a distinct yet familiar chamber. This was independent of the interval between cue encounters or the latency from initial sampling to testing. In contrast, female mice acquired both single cues and the elements of multi-cue episodes, but recall of that information was dependent upon the surrounding context only when the cues were presented serially. These results extend the list of episodic memory features expressed by rodents and also introduce a striking and unexpected sex difference in context effects.
{"title":"Sex differences in the context dependency of episodic memory","authors":"Aliza A. Le, Linda C. Palmer, Jasmine Chavez, Christine M. Gall, Gary Lynch","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1349053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1349053","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Context contributes to multiple aspects of human episodic memory including segmentation and retrieval. The present studies tested if, in adult male and female mice, context influences the encoding of odors encountered in a single unsupervised sampling session of the type used for the routine acquisition of episodic memories. The three paradigms used differed in complexity (single vs. multiple odor cues) and period from sampling to testing. Results show that males consistently encode odors in a context-dependent manner: the mice discriminated novel from previously sampled cues when tested in the chamber of initial cue sampling but not in a distinct yet familiar chamber. This was independent of the interval between cue encounters or the latency from initial sampling to testing. In contrast, female mice acquired both single cues and the elements of multi-cue episodes, but recall of that information was dependent upon the surrounding context only when the cues were presented serially. These results extend the list of episodic memory features expressed by rodents and also introduce a striking and unexpected sex difference in context effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140004493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-19DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1354390
Mael De Clerck, Martin Manguin, Nadia Henkous, Marion N. d’Almeida, Daniel Beracochea, Nicole Mons
Introduction
Epigenetic modifications have emerged as key contributors to the enduring behavioral, molecular and epigenetic neuroadaptations during withdrawal from chronic alcohol exposure. The present study investigated the long-term consequences of chronic alcohol exposure on spatial working memory (WM) and associated changes of transcriptionally repressive histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC).
Methods
Male C57BL/6 mice were allowed free access to either 12% (v/v) ethanol for 5 months followed by a 3-week abstinence period or water. Spatial WM was assessed through the spontaneous alternation T-maze test. Alcoholic and water mice received daily injections of GABAB agonist baclofen or saline during alcohol fading and early withdrawal. Global levels of histone modifications were determined by immunohistochemistry.
Results
Withdrawal mice displayed WM impairments along with reduced prefrontal H3K9me2 levels, compared to water-drinking mice. The withdrawal-induced decrease of H3K9me2 occurred concomitantly with increased level of permissive H3K9 acetylation (H3K9ac) in the PFC. Baclofen treatment rescued withdrawal-related WM deficits and fully restored prefrontal H3K9me2 and H3K9ac. Alcohol withdrawal induced brain region-specific changes of H3K9me2 and H3K9ac after testing, with significant decreases of both histone marks in the dorsal hippocampus and no changes in the amygdala and dorsal striatum. Furthermore, the magnitude of H3K9me2 in the PFC, but not the hippocampus, significantly and positively correlated with individual WM performances. No correlation was observed between H3K9ac and behavioral performance. Results also indicate that pre-testing intraperitoneal injection of UNC0642, a selective inhibitor of histone methyltransferase G9a responsible for H3K9me2, led to WM impairments in water-drinking and withdrawal-baclofen mice. Collectively, our results demonstrate that alcohol withdrawal induced brain-region specific alterations of H3K9me2 and H3K9ac, an effect that persisted for at least three weeks after cessation of chronic alcohol intake.
Conclusion
The findings suggest a role for long-lasting decreased H3K9me2 specifically in the PFC in the persistent WM impairments related to alcohol withdrawal.
{"title":"Chronic alcohol-induced long-lasting working memory deficits are associated with altered histone H3K9 dimethylation in the prefrontal cortex","authors":"Mael De Clerck, Martin Manguin, Nadia Henkous, Marion N. d’Almeida, Daniel Beracochea, Nicole Mons","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1354390","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1354390","url":null,"abstract":"<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Epigenetic modifications have emerged as key contributors to the enduring behavioral, molecular and epigenetic neuroadaptations during withdrawal from chronic alcohol exposure. The present study investigated the long-term consequences of chronic alcohol exposure on spatial working memory (WM) and associated changes of transcriptionally repressive histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me<sup>2</sup>) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC).</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Male C57BL/6 mice were allowed free access to either 12% (v/v) ethanol for 5 months followed by a 3-week abstinence period or water. Spatial WM was assessed through the spontaneous alternation T-maze test. Alcoholic and water mice received daily injections of GABAB agonist baclofen or saline during alcohol fading and early withdrawal. Global levels of histone modifications were determined by immunohistochemistry.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Withdrawal mice displayed WM impairments along with reduced prefrontal H3K9me<sup>2</sup> levels, compared to water-drinking mice. The withdrawal-induced decrease of H3K9me<sup>2</sup> occurred concomitantly with increased level of permissive H3K9 acetylation (H3K9ac) in the PFC. Baclofen treatment rescued withdrawal-related WM deficits and fully restored prefrontal H3K9me<sup>2</sup> and H3K9ac. Alcohol withdrawal induced brain region-specific changes of H3K9me<sup>2</sup> and H3K9ac after testing, with significant decreases of both histone marks in the dorsal hippocampus and no changes in the amygdala and dorsal striatum. Furthermore, the magnitude of H3K9me<sup>2</sup> in the PFC, but not the hippocampus, significantly and positively correlated with individual WM performances. No correlation was observed between H3K9ac and behavioral performance. Results also indicate that pre-testing intraperitoneal injection of UNC0642, a selective inhibitor of histone methyltransferase G9a responsible for H3K9me<sup>2</sup>, led to WM impairments in water-drinking and withdrawal-baclofen mice. Collectively, our results demonstrate that alcohol withdrawal induced brain-region specific alterations of H3K9me<sup>2</sup> and H3K9ac, an effect that persisted for at least three weeks after cessation of chronic alcohol intake.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>The findings suggest a role for long-lasting decreased H3K9me<sup>2</sup> specifically in the PFC in the persistent WM impairments related to alcohol withdrawal.</p></sec>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140004492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-14DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1347525
Alexandra C. Ritger, Rachel K. Parker, Sydney Trask, Nicole C. Ferrara
Fear memory formation and retention rely on the activation of distributed neural circuits. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and ventral hippocampus (VH) in particular are two regions that support contextual fear memory processes and share reciprocal connections. The VH → BLA pathway is critical for increases in fear after initial learning, in both fear renewal following extinction learning and during fear generalization. This raises the possibility that functional changes in VH projections to the BLA support increases in learned fear. In line with this, fear can also be increased with alterations to the original content of the memory via reconsolidation, as in fear elevation procedures. However, very little is known about the functional changes in the VH → BLA pathway supporting reconsolidation-related increases in fear. In this study, we used in vivo extracellular electrophysiology to examine the functional neuronal changes within the BLA and in the VH → BLA pathway as a result of fear elevation and standard fear retrieval procedures. Elevated fear expression was accompanied by higher BLA spontaneous firing compared to a standard fear retrieval condition. Across a range of stimulation frequencies, we also found that VH stimulation evoked higher BLA firing following fear elevation compared to standard retrieval. These results suggest that fear elevation is associated with an increased capacity of the VH to drive neuronal activity in the BLA, highlighting a potential circuit involved in strengthening existing fear memories.
恐惧记忆的形成和保持依赖于分布式神经回路的激活。尤其是杏仁基底外侧(BLA)和海马腹侧(VH),它们是支持情境性恐惧记忆过程的两个区域,并且共享相互联系。VH → BLA 通路对于初始学习后恐惧感的增加至关重要,无论是在消退学习后恐惧感的恢复过程中,还是在恐惧泛化过程中都是如此。这就提出了一种可能性,即 VH 投射到 BLA 的功能变化支持学习到的恐惧的增加。与此相一致的是,恐惧也可以通过重新巩固改变记忆的原始内容而增加,如在恐惧提升过程中。然而,人们对支持与再巩固相关的恐惧增加的 VH → BLA 通路的功能变化知之甚少。在这项研究中,我们利用体内细胞外电生理学研究了恐惧升高和标准恐惧检索程序导致的BLA和VH → BLA通路的神经元功能变化。与标准恐惧检索条件相比,恐惧表达的升高伴随着更高的BLA自发发射。在不同的刺激频率下,我们还发现与标准恐惧检索相比,VH 刺激在恐惧升高后会诱发更高的 BLA 发射。这些结果表明,恐惧升高与 VH 驱动 BLA 神经元活动的能力增强有关,突出了一个参与强化现有恐惧记忆的潜在回路。
{"title":"Elevated fear states facilitate ventral hippocampal engagement of basolateral amygdala neuronal activity","authors":"Alexandra C. Ritger, Rachel K. Parker, Sydney Trask, Nicole C. Ferrara","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1347525","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1347525","url":null,"abstract":"Fear memory formation and retention rely on the activation of distributed neural circuits. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) and ventral hippocampus (VH) in particular are two regions that support contextual fear memory processes and share reciprocal connections. The VH → BLA pathway is critical for increases in fear after initial learning, in both fear renewal following extinction learning and during fear generalization. This raises the possibility that functional changes in VH projections to the BLA support increases in learned fear. In line with this, fear can also be increased with alterations to the original content of the memory via reconsolidation, as in fear elevation procedures. However, very little is known about the functional changes in the VH → BLA pathway supporting reconsolidation-related increases in fear. In this study, we used <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> extracellular electrophysiology to examine the functional neuronal changes within the BLA and in the VH → BLA pathway as a result of fear elevation and standard fear retrieval procedures. Elevated fear expression was accompanied by higher BLA spontaneous firing compared to a standard fear retrieval condition. Across a range of stimulation frequencies, we also found that VH stimulation evoked higher BLA firing following fear elevation compared to standard retrieval. These results suggest that fear elevation is associated with an increased capacity of the VH to drive neuronal activity in the BLA, highlighting a potential circuit involved in strengthening existing fear memories.","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139763132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
IntroductionThe intertwined relationship between reinforcement learning and working memory in the brain is a complex subject, widely studied across various domains in neuroscience. Research efforts have focused on identifying the specific brain areas responsible for these functions, understanding their contributions in accomplishing the related tasks, and exploring their adaptability under conditions such as cognitive impairment or aging.MethodsNumerous models have been introduced to formulate either these two subsystems of reinforcement learning and working memory separately or their combination and relationship in executing cognitive tasks. This study adopts the RLWM model as a computational framework to analyze the behavioral parameters of subjects with varying cognitive abilities due to age or cognitive status. A related RLWM task is employed to assess a group of subjects across different age groups and cognitive abilities, as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool (MoCA).ResultsAnalysis reveals a decline in overall performance accuracy and speed with differing age groups (young vs. middle-aged). Significant differences are observed in model parameters such as learning rate, WM decay, and decision noise. Furthermore, among the middle-aged group, distinctions emerge between subjects categorized as normal vs. MCI based on MoCA scores, notably in speed, performance accuracy, and decision noise.
{"title":"Exploring the dynamic interplay between learning and working memory within various cognitive contexts","authors":"Zakieh Hassanzadeh, Fariba Bahrami, Fariborz Dortaj","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1304378","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1304378","url":null,"abstract":"IntroductionThe intertwined relationship between reinforcement learning and working memory in the brain is a complex subject, widely studied across various domains in neuroscience. Research efforts have focused on identifying the specific brain areas responsible for these functions, understanding their contributions in accomplishing the related tasks, and exploring their adaptability under conditions such as cognitive impairment or aging.MethodsNumerous models have been introduced to formulate either these two subsystems of reinforcement learning and working memory separately or their combination and relationship in executing cognitive tasks. This study adopts the RLWM model as a computational framework to analyze the behavioral parameters of subjects with varying cognitive abilities due to age or cognitive status. A related RLWM task is employed to assess a group of subjects across different age groups and cognitive abilities, as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool (MoCA).ResultsAnalysis reveals a decline in overall performance accuracy and speed with differing age groups (young vs. middle-aged). Significant differences are observed in model parameters such as learning rate, WM decay, and decision noise. Furthermore, among the middle-aged group, distinctions emerge between subjects categorized as normal vs. MCI based on MoCA scores, notably in speed, performance accuracy, and decision noise.","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139763304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-02-13DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1332898
Paula S. Oliveira
Researchers interested in the effects of early experiences of caregiving adversity have employed neuroscientific methods to illuminate whether and how such environmental input impacts on brain development, and whether and how such impacts underpin poor socioemotional outcomes in this population. Evidence is compelling in documenting negative effects on the individual's neurodevelopment following exposure to adverse or disadvantaged environments such as institutionalisation or maltreatment. Neuroimaging research focused specifically on attachment-relevant processing of socioemotional stimuli and attachment outcomes amongst children looked-after is scarcer, but largely consistent. This review begins by summarising the key general brain structural and functional alterations associated with caregiving deprivation. Then, neuroscientific evidence that is more directly relevant for understanding these children's attachment outcomes, both by employing social stimuli and by correlating children's neural markers with their attachment profiles, is reviewed. Brief interpretations of findings are suggested, and key limitations and gaps in the literature identified.
{"title":"The impact of out-of-home care on brain development: a brief review of the neuroscientific evidence informing our understanding of children's attachment outcomes","authors":"Paula S. Oliveira","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1332898","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1332898","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Researchers interested in the effects of early experiences of caregiving adversity have employed neuroscientific methods to illuminate whether and how such environmental input impacts on brain development, and whether and how such impacts underpin poor socioemotional outcomes in this population. Evidence is compelling in documenting negative effects on the individual's neurodevelopment following exposure to adverse or disadvantaged environments such as institutionalisation or maltreatment. Neuroimaging research focused specifically on attachment-relevant processing of socioemotional stimuli and attachment outcomes amongst children looked-after is scarcer, but largely consistent. This review begins by summarising the key general brain structural and functional alterations associated with caregiving deprivation. Then, neuroscientific evidence that is more directly relevant for understanding these children's attachment outcomes, both by employing social stimuli and by correlating children's neural markers with their attachment profiles, is reviewed. Brief interpretations of findings are suggested, and key limitations and gaps in the literature identified.</p>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139918905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}