Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience最新文献

Neural oscillations have been categorized into various frequency bands that are mechanistically associated with different cognitive functions. Specifically, the gamma band frequency is widely implicated to be involved in a wide range of cognitive processes. As such, decreased gamma oscillation has been associated with cognitive declines in neurological diseases, such as memory dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, studies have attempted to artificially induce gamma oscillations by using 40 Hz sensory entrainment stimulation. These studies reported attenuation of amyloid load, hyper-phosphorylation of tau protein, and improvement in overall cognition in both AD patients and mouse models. In this review, we discuss the advancements in the use of sensory stimulation in animal models of AD and as a therapeutic strategy in AD patients. We also discuss future opportunities, as well as challenges, for using such strategies in other neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.

Recent research has illuminated the complexity and importance of the thalamocortical system but it has been difficult to identify what computational functions it performs. Meanwhile, deep-learning artificial neural networks (ANNs) based on bio-inspired models of purely cortical circuits have achieved surprising success solving sophisticated cognitive problems associated historically with human intelligence. Nevertheless, the limitations and shortcomings of artificial intelligence (AI) based on such ANNs are becoming increasingly clear. This review considers how the addition of thalamocortical connectivity and its putative functions related to cortical attention might address some of those shortcomings. Such bio-inspired models are now providing both testable theories of biological cognition and improved AI technology, much of which is happening outside the usual academic venues.

Introduction: Over two thirds of individuals with low back pain (LBP) may experience recurrent or persistent symptoms in the long term. Yet, current data do not allow to predict who will develop chronic low back pain and who will recover from an acute episode. Elevated serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) have been associated with poor recovery and persistent pain following an acute episode of LBP. Inflammatory cytokines may also mediate mechanisms involved in nociplastic pain, and thus, have significant implications in chronic primary low back pain (CPLBP).

Methods: This study aimed to investigate the potential of urinary TNF-α levels for predicting outcomes and characterizing clinical features of CPLBP patients. Twenty-four patients with CPLBP and 24 sex- and age-matched asymptomatic controls were recruited. Urinary TNF-α concentrations were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks, during which CPLBP patients underwent spinal manipulative therapy (SMT).

Results: Concentrations of TNF-α were found to be elevated in baseline urine samples of CPLBP patients compared to asymptomatic controls. Moreover, these values differed among patients depending on their pain trajectory. Patients with persistent pain showed higher levels of TNF-α, when compared to those with episodic CPLBP. Furthermore, baseline TNF-α concentrations and their changes after 4 weeks predicted alterations in pain intensity and disability following SMT in patients with CPLBP.

Discussion: These findings warrant further research on the potential use of urinary TNF-α concentrations as a prognostic biomarker for CPLBP.

Purpose: Aging causes substantial changes in the intraocular lens, which leads to a reduction in chromatic perception. We aimed to measure the ocular light dispersion component in relation to the reduction in color vision by aging.

Methods: Intraocular straylight was quantified psychophysically by C-Quant for light dispersion [Log(s)], reliability of the results (ESD), and psychometric sampling quality (Q). The Cambridge Color Test Trivector protocol measured the chromaticity thresholds for protan, deutan, and tritan color confusion axis in CIE 1976 u' v' units. We tested 224 subjects aged 24-68 years (106 men) with normal best-corrected visual acuity and without clinical evidence of cataracts.

Results: A significant positive correlation was found between ocular dispersion of light and chromaticity thresholds for protan (r = 0.42; p < 0.001), deutan (r = 0.49; p < 0.001) and tritan (r = 0.51; p < 0.0001) color confusion axes with a moderate effect size (η² = 0.39). However, a weak contribution of the logarithm of the straylight in predicting the chromaticity threshold for protan (b = 0.15; p = 0.025), deutan (b = 0.27; p = 0.001) and tritan (b = 0.21; p = 0.001) color confusion axes was verified in the regression coefficients. The other two measurement quality parameters estimated in the C-Quant were not correlated with chromaticity thresholds, suggesting that there are no problems with the quality of the measurement performed.

Conclusion: An increase in ocular light dispersion that occurs physiologically with aging negatively impacts the chromaticity threshold in a similar manner across all three color confusion axes. The weak regression effects suggest that neural rather than optical processes were more related to the reduction in chromaticity in aging.

Background: The aim of this study is to interrogate the prophylactic effect of probiotic on the lead-induced spatial memory impairment, as well as the underlying mechanisms based on gut microbiota. Methods: Rats were exposed postnatally to 100 ppm of lead acetate during lactation (from postnatal day 1 to 21), to establish the memory deficits model. A probiotic bacterium, namely Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, was administered by drinking into pregnant rats with a dosage of 10⁹ CFU/rat/day till birth. At postnatal week 8 (PNW8), the rats were subjected to Morris water maze and Y-maze test, with fecal samples collected for 16S rRNA sequencing. Besides, the inhibitory effect of Lb. rhamnosus on Escherichia coli was carried out in bacterial co-culture. Results: Female rats prenatally exposed to probiotic improved their performances in the behavioral test, indicating that probiotic could protect rats from memory deficits caused by postnatal lead exposure. This bioremediation activity varies depending on the intervention paradigm used. As revealed by microbiome analysis, although administered in a distinct period from lead exposure, Lb. rhamnosus further changed the microbial structure disrupted by lead exposure, suggesting an effective transgenerational intervention. Of note, gut microbiota, represented by Bacteroidota, varied greatly depending on the intervention paradigm as well as the developmental stage. The concerted alterations were revealed between some keystone taxa and behavioral abnormality, including lactobacillus and E. coli. To this end, an in vitro co-culture was created to demonstrate that Lb. rhamnosus could inhibit the growth of E. coli with direct contact, which is dependent on the growth condition under study. In addition, in vivo infection of E. coli O157 aggravated memory dysfunction, which could also be rescued by probiotic colonization. Conclusions: Early probiotic intervention could prevent organisms from lead-induced memory decline in later life through reprogramming gut microbiota and inhibiting E. coli, providing a promising approach to ameliorate the cognitive damage with environmental origins.

The interplay between different modalities can help to perceive stimuli more effectively. However, very few studies have focused on how multisensory distractors affect task performance. By adopting behavioral and event-related potentials (ERPs) techniques, the present study examined whether multisensory audiovisual distractors could attract attention more effectively than unisensory distractors. Moreover, we explored whether such a process was modulated by working memory load. Across three experiments, n-back tasks (1-back and 2-back) were adopted with peripheral auditory, visual, or audiovisual distractors. Visual and auditory distractors were white discs and pure tones (Experiments 1 and 2), pictures and sounds of animals (Experiment 3), respectively. Behavioral results in Experiment 1 showed a significant interference effect under high working memory load but not under low load condition. The responses to central letters with audiovisual distractors were significantly slower than those to letters without distractors, while no significant difference was found between unisensory distractor and without distractor conditions. Similarly, ERP results in Experiments 2 and 3 showed that there existed an integration only under high load condition. That is, an early integration for simple audiovisual distractors (240-340 ms) and a late integration for complex audiovisual distractors (440-600 ms). These findings suggest that multisensory distractors can be integrated and effectively attract attention away from the main task, i.e., interference effect. Moreover, this effect is pronounced only under high working memory load condition.

Many early-career neuroscientists with diverse identities may not have mentors who are more advanced in the neuroscience pipeline and have a congruent identity due to historic biases, laws, and policies impacting access to education. Cross-identity mentoring relationships pose challenges and power imbalances that impact the retention of diverse early career neuroscientists, but also hold the potential for a mutually enriching and collaborative relationship that fosters the mentee's success. Additionally, the barriers faced by diverse mentees and their mentorship needs may evolve with career progression and require developmental considerations. This article provides perspectives on factors that impact cross-identity mentorship from individuals participating in Diversifying the Community of Neuroscience (CNS)-a longitudinal, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) R25 neuroscience mentorship program developed to increase diversity in the neurosciences. Participants in Diversifying CNS were comprised of 14 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early career faculty who completed an online qualitative survey on cross-identity mentorship practices that impact their experience in neuroscience fields. Qualitative survey data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis and resulted in four themes across career levels: (1) approach to mentorship and interpersonal dynamics, (2) allyship and management of power imbalance, (3) academic sponsorship, and (4) institutional barriers impacting navigation of academia. These themes, along with identified mentorship needs by developmental stage, provide insights mentors can use to better support the success of their mentees with diverse intersectional identities. As highlighted in our discussion, a mentor's awareness of systemic barriers along with active allyship are foundational for their role.

A 24-year-old man presented with insidious onset progressive gait disturbance and was finally diagnosed with autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia. Two novel mutations, including a frameshift mutation (c.5687_5691del) and a non-sense mutation (c.751C>T), were identified in the SPG11 gene of the patient through whole genome sequencing. The frameshift mutation of c.5687_5691del leads to a change in amino acid synthesis beginning with amino acid No. 1896 arginine and terminating at the 8th amino acid after the change (p. Arg1896MetfsTer8). The non-sense mutation (c.751C>T) causes the conversion of codon 251st encoding the amino acid Gln into a stop codon (p. Gln251Ter), resulting in premature termination of peptide synthesis. Although confirmation of compound-heterozygosity could not be performed, our findings enriched the phenotypic spectrum of SPG11 mutations related to hereditary spastic paraplegia.