Fetal Habituation

1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter G Hepper ◽  
Leo R Leader
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Functional Performance ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Genetic Constitution ◽  
Cortical Function ◽  
Fetal Health ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Fetal Wellbeing ◽  
The Individual

One aim of obstetric practice is to ensure the wellbeing of the fetus. This is by no means an easy task and recent years have seen the development of a variety of tests, with varying degrees of success, to evaluate fetal health.Fetal wellbeing may be assessed at a variety of levels: genetic/cellular, physical/structural or functional. Ideally the evaluation of fetal health should provide information about the functional outcome of any particular condition, especially the performance of the central nervous system. Current tests may not do this. Thus, whilst tests of the fetal chromosomal or genetic constitution may determine the presence of particular genetic/chromosomal conditions, they may not predict functional outcome especially the functioning of the cerebral cortices, the ultimate arbiter of excellence in man. For example, Down's syndrome may be accurately diagnosed by analysis of fetal cells to detect the presence of Trisomy 21 but this in itself provides little information on the subsequent functional performance of the individual. The development of tests of fetal heart function such as antenatal cardiotocography have provided a means of assessing cardiac function and, to a certain extent, the functioning of parts of the autonomic nervous system. However such tests can only indirectly assess cortical function.

The Red Neuronal Pigment in the Nervous System of the Mussel, Mytilus Edulis: Localization and Its Effect on Lateral Ciliary Activity with Spectral and Analytical Changes

1981 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 494-495
Author(s):  
Anthony A. Paparo ◽  
Judith A. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Mytilus Edulis ◽  
Neuronal Cell ◽  
Ciliary Activity ◽  
Neuronal Cell Bodies ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Intracellular Organelles ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Cryostat Sections

The purpose of this study was to localize the red neuronal pigment in Mytilus edulis and examine its role in the control of lateral ciliary activity in the gill. The visceral ganglia (Vg) in the central nervous system show an over al red pigmentation. Most red pigments examined in squash preps and cryostat sec tions were localized in the neuronal cell bodies and proximal axon regions. Unstained cryostat sections showed highly localized patches of this pigment scattered throughout the cells in the form of dense granular masses about 5-7 um in diameter, with the individual granules ranging from 0.6-1.3 um in diame ter. Tissue stained with Gomori's method for Fe showed bright blue granular masses of about the same size and structure as previously seen in unstained cryostat sections.Thick section microanalysis (Fig.l) confirmed both the localization and presence of Fe in the nerve cell. These nerve cells of the Vg share with other pigmented photosensitive cells the common cytostructural feature of localization of absorbing molecules in intracellular organelles where they are tightly ordered in fine substructures.

scholarly journals QT Dispersion: A Predictor of Outcome Following Acute Neurologic Events

Stroke ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 32 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 343-343
Author(s):  
Elzbieta J Wirkowski ◽  
Joseph Moonjely ◽  
Todd J Cohen ◽  
Stephanie M Manzella ◽  
Richard H Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Qt Dispersion ◽  
Neurological Injury ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Qt Intervals ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Adjusted Logistic Regression

P26 BACKGROUND: QT dispersion (QTD) reflects heterogeneity of myocardial repolarization, which is modulated by the central nervous system. Pervious studies have shown increased QTD to be a predictor of adverse outcome in various cardiac disease states. However, the central nervous system effects on QTD and its relation to functional outcomes have not been previously studied in patients with acute neurological events (NE). The objective of this study was to determine whether increased QTD is related to functional outcome in patients with cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). METHODS: We studied 140 consecutive pts. aged 72±10 yrs. (48% male) admitted to our institution with NE from 1/98 to 4/98. QTD was calculated from admission EKG as the difference between maximum and minimum QT intervals. 120 pts. had interpretable EKGs with measurable QT intervals in at least 11 of 12 leads. Three separate functional scales (NIHSS, Barthel, and Rankin) were obtained on admission and discharge were recorded. RESULTS: QTD was higher in pts. with intracerebral hemorrhage as compared to CVA and TIA (70±15 vs. 53±27 vs. 48±31 msecs. p=0.03). Increased QTD was associated with lower functional outcome on all 3 scales (all p<0.05) and with higher mortality (p=0.02). QTD was higher in pts. with congestive heart failure (80±43 vs. 47±24 msecs. p=0.006) and carotid disease (59±32 vs. 46±27 msecs. p=0.045) as compared to those without. QTD was not associated with atrial fibrillation or coronary disease. All patients with TIA survived. On multivariate analysis, other independent predictors of poorer outcome were QTD (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.08–1.68) and a trend towards age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.99–1.16). On age-adjusted logistic regression, mortality increased by an OR 1.28, 95% (CI 1.02–1.61) for every 10 msec increase in QTD. CONCLUSION: QTD is an independent predictor of functional outcome and mortality following acute neurological events. In this setting, QTD reflects acute neurological injury as well as underlying heart disease. The mechanism of these findings merits further study.

Functional Evidence for Neurone Fields Representing the Individual Arms Within the Central Nervous System of Octopus

1959 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-511
Author(s):  
M. J. WELLS
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Test Object ◽  
The Other ◽  
Optic Nerves ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Tactile System

1. Octopuses blinded by section of the optic nerves were trained by means of 5-10 V. a.c. shocks to reject objects that they would otherwise take. 2. With trials at 3, 5, or 20 min. intervals, in which the test object was always presented to the same arm, animals learned within four or five trials, thereafter rejecting the test object whenever it was presented. 3. When, after a succession of such negative responses, the object was presented to another arm on the other side of the octopus, the result depended upon the rate of training before the change. Thus the object was taken in the trial immediately following the arm change in nineteen out of twenty-six sets of tests with trials at 3 or 5 min. intervals, but in only two out of twelve sets with trials at 20 min. intervals; further experiments in which changes were made between arms on the same side produced similar results. 4. These results are interpreted as showing that changes occurring as a result of experience directly affecting one arm take a period of several hours to spread and become effective in determining the reactions of the rest. This in turn implies the existence of functionally independent neurone fields representing the individual arms, and is discussed in relation to what is already known about the organization of the tactile system of the octopus.

Investigation into Intellectual Changes Following Prefrontal Leucotomy

1949 ◽  
Vol 95 (401) ◽  
pp. 826-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Freudenberg ◽  
J. P. S. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Shock Treatment ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Normal Functions ◽  
Psychophysiological Functions ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Interpretation Of Change

This investigation is not concerned with the clinical indications or results of prefrontal leucotomy, but attempts to re-examine changes following the operation, especially in regard to the impairment of some of the manifestations of the highest integrative psychophysiological functions of the central nervous system that may bring about such alterations. Amongst these we were primarily interested in cognitive changes, but the interpretation of apparent cognitive changes led to the consideration of orectic alterations as well. Such changes have so far been impossible to localize exactly, but are considered to be partly related to the phylogenetically more recent parts of the cerebral cortex. Masserman (1946) compared the mechanism of shock treatment and leucotomy with the effects of alcohol and states that “its main actions are those of a cortical depressant,” as manifested by impairment of finer perceptions and discriminations and a “constriction of the integrative field.” He believes that shock therapies and leucotomy partly produce their results by temporary or permanent decorticating effects, “rendering the individual no longer capable of fine spun fantasies or elaborate delusions.” These decorticating effects can be assumed to be reflected in cognitive, conative and emotional alterations following the operation. The interpretation of change following leucotomy presents many difficulties, one of them being that only dysfunction can be related to structural damage of the frontal lobe and not function. Another is that psychotics or severe neurotics operated upon usually do not have a sufficiently intact pre-operative personality to draw conclusions about the normal functions.

The Physiological Pathology of the Anterior Pituitary

1939 ◽  
Vol 85 (357) ◽  
pp. 619-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Reiss
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Anterior Pituitary ◽  
Present Knowledge ◽  
Cortical Function ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Brain

[In the physiology of the central nervous system, the hypothalamus has of recent years obtained a position of much enhanced importance. There is reason to believe that it has a determining influence on cortical function and evidence is not wanting that some psychotic conditions are associated with hypothalmic disturbance. It may well be that many forms of mental disorder are conditioned by a lesion of the hypothalamus. This close anatomical and physiological relationship between this area of the brain and the pituitary we think, therefore, cannot be over-emphasized. Dr. Max Reiss was asked by the Research Bureau to present a review of our present knowledge of the anterior pituitary, on which he is a recognized authority.]

Aspects of the Organization of Central Nervous Pathways in Aplysia Depilans

1962 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-69
Author(s):  
G. M. HUGHES ◽  
L. TAUC
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Rhythmic Activity ◽  
Large Size ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Two Sides ◽  
Pleural Ganglion

1. The organization of the central nervous system of Aplysia depilans has been investigated in whole animal and isolated ganglion preparations using mechanical and electrical stimulation. 2. Intracellular micro-electrodes have been used to record activity in nerve cells of the abdominal ganglia in situ. Some cells are spontaneously active and quite unaffected by mechanical stimulation, whereas others show varying degrees of responsiveness. Those which are unaffected may exhibit regular rhythmic activity or intermittent bursts which are intrinsic to the cells themselves but in other cases are due to synaptic input from other central neurones. 3. In isolated central nervous system preparations a special study of the pleural ganglion has revealed many types of cell with electrical activity similar to that shown in isolated abdominal ganglion preparations. A notable feature of the pleural ganglion cells was the large size of the excitatory post-synaptic potentials recorded in response to stimulation of pre-synaptic fibres. 4. Different types of branching of cells of the pleural ganglia were investigated. By observing the somatic potential it was possible to decide in which nerve a particular cell sent collateral branches and which nerves contained fibres affecting the cell synaptically. By this means it was clear that a large number of pathways connect the cerebral and pleural ganglia on each side. 5. A large number of direct pathways were found of nerve fibres passing through ganglia without any synapse. 6. Synaptic pathways varied in the number and intrinsic properties of the individual synapses along their route. Synapses between fibres in the nerves innervating the foot and parapodial lobes of the two sides were not as common as has been described for Ariolimax. 7. In general the results have shown a great variety in the extent to which afferent stimulation may affect the whole or part of the central nervous system. They have also revealed the great multiplicity in the pathways whereby this is achieved.

scholarly journals GWAS reveal a role for the central nervous system in regulating weight and weight change in response to exercise

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis P. Watanabe ◽  
Nicole C. Riddle
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Molecular Pathways ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Response To Exercise

AbstractBody size and weight show considerable variation both within and between species. This variation is controlled in part by genetics, but also strongly influenced by environmental factors including diet and the level of activity experienced by the individual. Due to the increasing obesity epidemic in much of the world, there is considerable interest in the genetic factors that control body weight and how weight changes in response to exercise treatments. Here, we address this question in the Drosophila model system, utilizing 38 strains of the Drosophila Genetics Reference Panel. We use GWAS to identify the molecular pathways that control weight and weight changes in response to exercise. We find that there is a complex set of molecular pathways controlling weight, with many genes linked to the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS also plays a role in the weight change with exercise, in particular, signaling from the CNS. Additional analyses revealed that weight in Drosophila is driven by two factors, animal size, and body composition, as the amount of fat mass versus lean mass impacts the density. Thus, while the CNS appears to be important for weight and exercise-induced weight change, signaling pathways are particularly important for determining how exercise impacts weight.

scholarly journals Neurohumoral Cardiac Regulation: Optogenetics Gets Into the Groove

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arianna Scalco ◽  
Nicola Moro ◽  
Marco Mongillo ◽  
Tania Zaglia
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Sympathetic Neuron ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Electric Circuits ◽  
Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ◽  
Heart Performance ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Fight Or Flight Response ◽  
Basic And Applied Research

The cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the main modulator of heart function, adapting contraction force, and rate to the continuous variations of intrinsic and extrinsic environmental conditions. While the parasympathetic branch dominates during rest-and-digest sympathetic neuron (SN) activation ensures the rapid, efficient, and repeatable increase of heart performance, e.g., during the “fight-or-flight response.” Although the key role of the nervous system in cardiac homeostasis was evident to the eyes of physiologists and cardiologists, the degree of cardiac innervation, and the complexity of its circuits has remained underestimated for too long. In addition, the mechanisms allowing elevated efficiency and precision of neurogenic control of heart function have somehow lingered in the dark. This can be ascribed to the absence of methods adequate to study complex cardiac electric circuits in the unceasingly moving heart. An increasing number of studies adds to the scenario the evidence of an intracardiac neuron system, which, together with the autonomic components, define a little brain inside the heart, in fervent dialogue with the central nervous system (CNS). The advent of optogenetics, allowing control the activity of excitable cells with cell specificity, spatial selectivity, and temporal resolution, has allowed to shed light on basic neuro-cardiology. This review describes how optogenetics, which has extensively been used to interrogate the circuits of the CNS, has been applied to untangle the knots of heart innervation, unveiling the cellular mechanisms of neurogenic control of heart function, in physiology and pathology, as well as those participating to brain–heart communication, back and forth. We discuss existing literature, providing a comprehensive view of the advancement in the understanding of the mechanisms of neurogenic heart control. In addition, we weigh the limits and potential of optogenetics in basic and applied research in neuro-cardiology.

scholarly journals Pathological and anatomical changes in the peripheral nervous system in typhus. Morgenstern (Journal of Psychol., Neur. and Psychiatry, 1922)

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-92
Author(s):  
M. Weinberg
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Peripheral Nervous System ◽  
Anatomical Changes ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Individual

The author found that in typhus there is, and with regard to the severity of the lesions, a parallelism between the central nervous system and the peripheral. There is no such correspondence between the individual nerves.

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