scholarly journals Spatial and temporal structure of choice representations in primate prefrontal cortex

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepp Kollmorgen ◽  
William T Newsome ◽  
Valerio Mante
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Temporal Structure ◽  
Cortical Surface ◽  
Neural Populations ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Random Connectivity ◽  
Response Field

Divergent accounts of how choices are represented by neural populations have led to conflicting explanations of the underlying mechanisms of decision-making, ranging from persistent, attractor-based dynamics to transient, sequence-based dynamics. To evaluate these mechanisms, we characterize the spatial and temporal structure of choice representations in large neural populations in prefrontal cortex. We find that the pronounced diversity of choice responses across neurons reflects only a few, mostly persistent population patterns recruited at progressively later times before and after a choice. Brief sequential activity occurs during a saccadic choice, but is entirely absent in a delay preceding it. The diversity of choice responses, which could result from almost-random connectivity in the underlying circuits, instead largely reflects the topographical arrangement of response-field properties across the cortical surface. This spatial organization appears to form a fixed scaffold upon which the context-dependent representations of task-specific variables often observed in prefrontal cortex can be learned.

scholarly journals Recurrent dynamics of prefrontal cortex during context-dependent decision-making

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zach Cohen ◽  
Brian DePasquale ◽  
Mikio C. Aoi ◽  
Jonathan W. Pillow
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Irrelevant Stimulus ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Systems Neuroscience ◽  
Neural Populations ◽  
Context Dependent ◽  
Monkey Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Sensory Noise

AbstractA key problem in systems neuroscience is to understand how neural populations integrate relevant sensory inputs during decision-making. Here, we address this problem by training a structured recurrent neural network to reproduce both psychophysical behavior and neural responses recorded from monkey prefrontal cortex during a context-dependent per-ceptual decision-making task. Our approach yields a one-to-one mapping of model neurons to recorded neurons, and explicitly incorporates sensory noise governing the animal’s performance as a function of stimulus strength. We then analyze the dynamics of the resulting model in order to understand how the network computes context-dependent decisions. We find that network dynamics preserve both relevant and irrelevant stimulus information, and exhibit a grid of fixed points for different stimulus conditions as opposed to a one-dimensional line attractor. Our work provides new insights into context-dependent decision-making and offers a powerful framework for linking cognitive function with neural activity within an artificial model.

scholarly journals Hippocampal regenerative medicine: neurogenic implications for addiction and mental disorders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Peyton ◽  
Alfredo Oliveros ◽  
Doo-Sup Choi ◽  
Mi-Hyeon Jang
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Neural Circuitry ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Disease ◽  
Motivated Behavior

AbstractPsychiatric illness is a prevalent and highly debilitating disorder, and more than 50% of the general population in both middle- and high-income countries experience at least one psychiatric disorder at some point in their lives. As we continue to learn how pervasive psychiatric episodes are in society, we must acknowledge that psychiatric disorders are not solely relegated to a small group of predisposed individuals but rather occur in significant portions of all societal groups. Several distinct brain regions have been implicated in neuropsychiatric disease. These brain regions include corticolimbic structures, which regulate executive function and decision making (e.g., the prefrontal cortex), as well as striatal subregions known to control motivated behavior under normal and stressful conditions. Importantly, the corticolimbic neural circuitry includes the hippocampus, a critical brain structure that sends projections to both the cortex and striatum to coordinate learning, memory, and mood. In this review, we will discuss past and recent discoveries of how neurobiological processes in the hippocampus and corticolimbic structures work in concert to control executive function, memory, and mood in the context of mental disorders.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Implementation of the “Build-Back-Better” Concept for Critical Infrastructure Systems: Lessons from Saint-Martin’s Island Following Hurricane Irma

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3133
Author(s):  
Rita Der Sarkissian ◽  
Anas Dabaj ◽  
Youssef Diab ◽  
Marc Vuillet
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Conceptual Analysis ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Critical Infrastructure ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Infrastructure Systems ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Study Offer ◽  
Hurricane Irma ◽  
Operational Aspects

A limited number of studies in the scientific literature discuss the “Build-Back-Better” (BBB) critical infrastructure (CI) concept. Investigations of its operational aspects and its efficient implementation are even rarer. The term “Better” in BBB is often confusing to practitioners and leads to unclear and non-uniform objectives for guiding accurate decision-making. In an attempt to fill these gaps, this study offers a conceptual analysis of BBB’s operational aspects by examining the term “Better”. In its methodological approach, this study evaluates the state of Saint-Martin’s CI before and after Hurricane Irma and, accordingly, reveals the indicators to assess during reconstruction projects. The proposed methods offer practitioners a guidance tool for planning efficient BBB CI projects or for evaluating ongoing programs through the established BBB evaluation grid. Key findings of the study offer insights and a new conceptual equation of the BBB CI by revealing the holistic and interdisciplinary connotations behind the term “Better” CI: “Build-Back-resilient”, “Build-Back-sustainable”, and “Build-Back-accessible to all and upgraded CI”. The proposed explanations can facilitate the efficient application of BBB for CI by operators, stakeholders, and practitioners and can help them to contextualize the term “Better” with respect to their area and its CI systems.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Neuromuscular, Haematological and Urinary Responses during Padel Matches

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5864
Author(s):  
Francisco Pradas ◽  
Alejandro García-Giménez ◽  
Víctor Toro-Román ◽  
Nicolae Ochiana ◽  
Carlos Castellar
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Red Blood Cells ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Temporal Structure ◽  
Hand Grip Strength ◽  
Squat Jump ◽  
Hand Grip ◽  
Before And After ◽  
High Level

Research on the acute physiological response to a padel match is limited. The present study aimed to: (a) evaluate neuromuscular, urinary, and hematological responses after simulated padel competition (SC) and (b) analyze possible gender differences. In this study, 28 high-level padel players participated (men = 13, age = 26.83 ± 6.57 years; women = 15, age = 30.07 ± 4.36 years). The following parameters were analyzed before and after SC: neuromuscular (hand grip strength, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and Abalakov jump (ABK)), hematological (red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit), and urinary (pH, specific gravity, microalbuminuria, and red blood cells). Significant gender differences were found in neuromuscular and hematological responses, with men obtaining higher values (p < 0.05). For the SC influence, changes were noted in ABK and microalbuminuria (p < 0.05). The percentages of change in hand grip strength, SJ (height and watts), CMJ (height), and ABK (height) were higher for men than women (p < 0.05). SC negatively influenced the neuromuscular parameters to a greater extent in women. Our results could be related to gender differences in game actions, the temporal structure, and anthropometric and physiological characteristics. Game dynamics and a different organic response between male and female padel playing were confirmed.

scholarly journals Pharmacological rescue of cognitive function in a mouse model of chemobrain

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lien D. Nguyen ◽  
Tom T. Fischer ◽  
Barbara E. Ehrlich
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Calcium Oscillations ◽  
Neuronal Morphology ◽  
Post Injection ◽  
Object Recognition Test ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Memory Acquisition ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Trisphosphate Receptor

Abstract Background After chemotherapy, many cancer survivors suffer from long-lasting cognitive impairment, colloquially known as “chemobrain.” However, the trajectories of cognitive changes and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We previously established paclitaxel-induced inositol trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R)-dependent calcium oscillations as a mechanism for peripheral neuropathy, which was prevented by lithium pretreatment. Here, we investigated if a similar mechanism also underlay paclitaxel-induced chemobrain. Method Mice were injected with 4 doses of 20 mg/kg paclitaxel every other day to induced cognitive impairment. Memory acquisition was assessed with the displaced object recognition test. The morphology of neurons in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus was analyzed using Golgi-Cox staining, followed by Sholl analyses. Changes in protein expression were measured by Western blot. Results Mice receiving paclitaxel showed impaired short-term spatial memory acquisition both acutely 5 days post injection and chronically 23 days post injection. Dendritic length and complexity were reduced in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex after paclitaxel injection. Concurrently, the expression of protein kinase C α (PKCα), an effector in the InsP3R pathway, was increased. Treatment with lithium before or shortly after paclitaxel injection rescued the behavioral, cellular, and molecular deficits observed. Similarly, memory and morphological deficits could be rescued by pretreatment with chelerythrine, a PKC inhibitor. Conclusion We establish the InsP3R calcium pathway and impaired neuronal morphology as mechanisms for paclitaxel-induced cognitive impairment. Our findings suggest lithium and PKC inhibitors as candidate agents for preventing chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment.

scholarly journals Dissociable roles of cortical excitation-inhibition balance during patch-leaving versus value-guided decisions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca F. Kaiser ◽  
Theo O. J. Gruendler ◽  
Oliver Speck ◽  
Lennart Luettgau ◽  
Gerhard Jocham
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Mutual Inhibition ◽  
Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Cortical Excitation ◽  
The Cost

AbstractIn a dynamic world, it is essential to decide when to leave an exploited resource. Such patch-leaving decisions involve balancing the cost of moving against the gain expected from the alternative patch. This contrasts with value-guided decisions that typically involve maximizing reward by selecting the current best option. Patterns of neuronal activity pertaining to patch-leaving decisions have been reported in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), whereas competition via mutual inhibition in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is thought to underlie value-guided choice. Here, we show that the balance between cortical excitation and inhibition (E/I balance), measured by the ratio of GABA and glutamate concentrations, plays a dissociable role for the two kinds of decisions. Patch-leaving decision behaviour relates to E/I balance in dACC. In contrast, value-guided decision-making relates to E/I balance in vmPFC. These results support mechanistic accounts of value-guided choice and provide evidence for a role of dACC E/I balance in patch-leaving decisions.

scholarly journals Does Social Exclusion Alter Sensory and Pain Thresholds in Children and Adolescents with Functional Abdominal Pain? – Results from a Preliminary Study

Pain Medicine ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1472-1478
Author(s):  
Marco Daniel Gulewitsch ◽  
Aiste Jusyte ◽  
Katja Weimer ◽  
Michael Schönenberg
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Sensory Threshold ◽  
Functional Abdominal Pain ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract Objective Functional abdominal pain (AP) is a prevalent issue in childhood and adolescence. The contribution of psychosocial factors in the development and maintenance of this health problem is rather unclear, and experimental studies about underlying mechanisms are lacking. This study investigates whether experimentally induced social exclusion decreases sensory and pain thresholds in children suffering from AP. Subjects Twenty children/adolescents with AP and 22 healthy controls. Methods Children/adolescents participated in the Cyberball paradigm, which affects an experience of social exclusion. Thermal sensory and pain thresholds were measured before and after Cyberball. Results Children/adolescents with AP showed a divergent reaction regarding their sensory threshold after social exclusion: The control group exhibited a tendency toward a decreased sensory threshold whereas the AP group remained stable. Concerning the pain threshold, no effect of social exclusion could be identified. The increase of both thresholds (“numbing”) after Cyberball was positively correlated with symptoms of mental health issues. Conclusions This is the first study to investigate changes in sensory and pain thresholds following painful social interactions in a sample of children/adolescents with a chronic pain condition. Results suggest that AP and control children differ in their reaction of sensory thresholds, which might indicate an altered processing of social exclusion. Replication and further methodological improvements are needed.

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