scholarly journals Concomitant processing of choice and outcome in frontal corticostriatal ensembles correlates with performance of rats

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Handa ◽  
Rie Harukuni ◽  
Tomoki Fukai
Keyword(s):  
Frontal Cortex ◽  
Parallel Evolution ◽  
Dorsal Striatum ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Neural Population ◽  
Spike Synchrony ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Neural Ensembles ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Alternative Choice

SummaryThe frontal cortex-basal ganglia network plays a pivotal role in adaptive goal-directed behaviors. Medial frontal cortex (MFC) encodes information about choices and outcomes into sequential activation of neural population, or neural trajectory. While MFC projects to the dorsal striatum (DS), whether DS also displays temporally coordinated activity remains unknown. We studied this question by simultaneously recording neural ensembles in the MFC and DS of rodents performing an outcome-based alternative choice task. We found that the two regions exhibited highly parallel evolution of neural trajectories, transforming choice information into outcome-related information. When the two trajectories were highly correlated, spike synchrony was task-dependently modulated in some MFC-DS neuron pairs. Our results suggest that neural trajectories concomitantly process decision-relevant information in MFC and DS with increased spike synchrony between these regions.

The Effect of PAOPA, a Novel Allosteric Modulator of Dopamine D2 Receptors, on Select Signaling Proteins Following Sub-Chronic Administration in the Rat

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ritesh Daya ◽  
Joella Ho ◽  
Sharon Thomson ◽  
Jayant Bhandari ◽  
Ram K. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Frontal Cortex ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Dopamine D2 Receptor ◽  
D2 Receptor ◽  
Dorsal Striatum ◽  
D2 Receptors ◽  
Dopamine D2 ◽  
Therapeutic Mechanism ◽  
Clinical Models ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Background: Allosteric modulators of G-protein coupled receptors regulate receptor activity by binding to sites other than the active site and have emerged as a new and highly desirable class of drugs. PAOPA (3(R)-[(2(S)- pyrrolidinylcarbonyl)amino]-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidineacetamide), a peptidomimetic analog of Prolyl-Leucyl-Glycinamide, is a potent dopamine D2 receptor allosteric modulator. PAOPA has shown therapeutic effects in pre-clinical models of schizophrenia and extrapyramidal dysfunction. Objective: in this study, we sought to examine the biomolecular underpinnings of PAOPA‘s therapeutic outcomes in preclinical models of schizophrenia. Method: Following sub-chronic (daily for 7 days) administration of PAOPA, we assessed levels of dopamine D2 receptors, receptor kinases (GRK2 (G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2) and Arrestin-3), and phosphorylated mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPKs), namely, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) in the hippocampus, medial pre-frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, pre-frontal cortex, and dorsal striatum via protein quantification. Results: Following 7 days of daily PAOPA treatment, we observed decreased GRK2 and increased dopamine D2 receptor expression in the dorsal striatum. These findings potentially underscore PAOPA’s therapeutic mechanism of action for the positive-like symptoms of schizophrenia in pre-clinical animal models. Additionally, we observed a decline in GRK2 in the hippocampus and an increase in phosphorylated ERK1 in the pre-frontal cortex, suggestive of a role for PAOPA in treating cognitive and/or affective dysfunction in pre-clinical models. Conclusion: While further studies are required to elucidate PAOPA’s mechanism of action, this study builds on prior investigations and develops an early framework to describe the therapeutic mechanism of action of PAOPA.

scholarly journals Do Valenced Odors and Trait Body Odor Disgust Affect Evaluation of Emotion in Dynamic Faces?

Perception ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 1412-1426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmeri Syrjänen ◽  
Marco Tullio Liuzza ◽  
Håkan Fischer ◽  
Jonas K. Olofsson
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Body Odor ◽  
Disgust Sensitivity ◽  
Facial Perception ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Dynamic Faces ◽  
Unpleasant Odor

Disgust is a core emotion evolved to detect and avoid the ingestion of poisonous food as well as the contact with pathogens and other harmful agents. Previous research has shown that multisensory presentation of olfactory and visual information may strengthen the processing of disgust-relevant information. However, it is not known whether these findings extend to dynamic facial stimuli that changes from neutral to emotionally expressive, or if individual differences in trait body odor disgust may influence the processing of disgust-related information. In this preregistered study, we tested whether a classification of dynamic facial expressions as happy or disgusted, and an emotional evaluation of these facial expressions, would be affected by individual differences in body odor disgust sensitivity, and by exposure to a sweat-like, negatively valenced odor (valeric acid), as compared with a soap-like, positively valenced odor (lilac essence) or a no-odor control. Using Bayesian hypothesis testing, we found evidence that odors do not affect recognition of emotion in dynamic faces even when body odor disgust sensitivity was used as moderator. However, an exploratory analysis suggested that an unpleasant odor context may cause faster RTs for faces, independent of their emotional expression. Our results further our understanding of the scope and limits of odor effects on facial perception affect and suggest further studies should focus on reproducibility, specifying experimental circumstances where odor effects on facial expressions may be present versus absent.

scholarly journals Utilization of WhatsApp for sharing livestock related information: An Experimental Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Devesh Thakur ◽  
Mahesh Chander
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Himachal Pradesh ◽  
Animal Breeding ◽  
Multiple Forms ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Dairy Processing ◽  
Extension Agencies

The paper is based on the use of WhatsApp in sharing of livestock related information among the farmers. A WhatsApp group of randomly selected 96 farmers from eight different districts of the Himachal Pradesh, India was created under the study. In a period of six months, information was shared in multiple forms among the farmers. A total of 62 queries during six months to seek information and advice on various livestock related problems were posted by the farmers. Maximum number of queries pertained to animal health followed by animal breeding, feeding, government programmes and dairy processing .The livestock extension agencies have the opportunity to explore and develop relevant information which can be disseminated through WhatsApp to the farmers.

Neuronal Activity in the Rodent Dorsal Striatum in Sequential Navigation: Separation of Spatial and Reward Responses on the Multiple T Task

2004 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 2259-2272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Schmitzer-Torbert ◽  
A. David Redish
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Spatial Representation ◽  
Sensory Input ◽  
Learning Algorithm ◽  
Dorsal Striatum ◽  
Food Delivery ◽  
Simple Motor ◽  
Experimental Approaches ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
To Receive

The striatum plays an important role in “habitual” learning and memory and has been hypothesized to implement a reinforcement-learning algorithm to select actions to perform given the current sensory input. Many experimental approaches to striatal activity have made use of temporally structured tasks, which imply that the striatal representation is temporal. To test this assumption, we recorded neurons in the dorsal striatum of rats running a sequential navigation task: the multiple T maze. Rats navigated a sequence of four T maze turns to receive food rewards delivered in two locations. The responses of neurons that fired phasically were examined. Task-responsive phasic neurons were active as rats ran on the maze (maze-responsive) or during reward receipt (reward-responsive). Neither mazenor reward-responsive neurons encoded simple motor commands: maze-responses were not well correlated with the shape of the rat's path and most reward-responsive neurons did not fire at similar rates at both food-delivery sites. Maze-responsive neurons were active at one or more locations on the maze, but these responses did not cluster at spatial landmarks such as turns. Across sessions the activity of maze-responsive neurons was highly correlated when rats ran the same maze. Maze-responses encoded the location of the rat on the maze and imply a spatial representation in the striatum in a task with prominent spatial demands. Maze-responsive and reward-responsive neurons were two separate populations, suggesting a divergence in striatal information processing of navigation and reward.

TECHNOLOGIES USING TELEPHONE APPLICATIONS IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 434-441
Author(s):  
Margaret Koyenikan ◽  
I. S. Ohiomoba
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Field Extension ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Field Staff ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Inadequate Knowledge ◽  
Edo State ◽  
Smart Agriculture ◽  
Field Workers

The global crisis in Climate Change (CC) requires Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Information and Technologies (CSAITs) to address it. Mobile Phone Applications (MPAs) among other ICTs could be veritable tools for enhancing job performance of field staff by facilitating their generation and dissemination of relevant information to adapt, cope with and mitigate the effects of CC. This study examined access and dissemination of CSAITs using MPAs by field staff in Edo State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP). Specifically, it described the socio-economic characteristics, access and dissemination of CSA-related information, use of MPAs for CSAITs and the constraints to usage of MPAs among field workers. Data were collected from the 120 field staff comprising 78 Field Extension Workers and 42 Enumerators of Edo State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Nigeria. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results show that 55.8% of respondents were males and 40.8% were between 41-50 years of age, 54.2% were HND/B.Sc holders and 50.8% had between 11-20years working experience. The CSAITs mostly accessed (≥50%) using MPAs include irrigation and “fadama” farming, weather forecasts and zero or minimal tillage and non-burning while CSAITs mostly disseminated include manure application, mulching, and timely harvesting. The MPAs used for CSA-related tasks include voice calls ( =2.78), Short Messaging Service (SMS) ( =2.53), calculators ( =2.46), camera ( =2.46) and emails ( =2.43). Constraints to using MPAs for CSAITs-related tasks included inadequate knowledge and skills in CSAITs ( =3.72) and in the use of many MPAs and 

Quality of Health Information on the Internet

2009 ◽  
pp. 443-455
Author(s):  
Kleopatra Alamantariotou
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Effective Use

Recent statistics show that the World Wide Web has now grown to over 100 million sites: a phenomenal expansion in only 15 years (Mulligan 2007). It has been estimated that there are 100,000 sites offering health related information (Wilson 2002). As the amount of health information increases, the public find it increasingly difficult to decide what to accept and what to reject (Burgess 2007). Searching for information on the internet is both deceptively easy and the same time frustratingly difficult (Kiley 2002). The challenge for consumers is to find high quality, relevant information as quickly as possible. There has been ongoing debate about the quality of information aimed at patients and the general public and opinions differ on how it can be improved (Stepperd 1999). The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the different perspectives on information quality and to review the main criteria for assessing the quality of health information on the internet. Pointers are provided to enable both clinicians and patients find high quality information sources. An understanding of these issues should help health professionals and patients to make effective use of the internet.

scholarly journals Cascading Forgetting in Product Development Challenges and Evaluation

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 2527-2536
Author(s):  
Patricia Kügler ◽  
Claudia Schon ◽  
Benjamin Schleich ◽  
Steffen Staab ◽  
Sandro Wartzack
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Wear Behaviour ◽  
Combustion Engines ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Intentional Forgetting ◽  
Novel Approach

AbstractVast amounts of information and knowledge is produced and stored within product design projects. Especially for reuse and adaptation there exists no suitable method for product designers to handle this information overload. Due to this, the selection of relevant information in a specific development situation is time-consuming and inefficient. To tackle this issue, the novel approach Intentional Forgetting (IF) is applied for product design, which aims to support reuse and adaptation by reducing the vast amount of information to the relevant. Within this contribution an IF-operator called Cascading Forgetting is introduced and evaluated, which was implemented for forgetting related information elements in ontology knowledge bases. For the evaluation the development process of a test-rig for studying friction and wear behaviour of the cam/tappet contact in combustion engines is analysed. Due to the interdisciplinary task of the evaluation and the characteristics of semantic model, challenges are discussed. In conclusion, the focus of the evaluation is to consider how reliable the Cascading Forgetting works and how intuitive ontology-based representations appear to engineers.

Answer First or Google First? Using the Internet in ways that Enhance, not Impair, One’s Subsequent Retention of Needed Information

2020 ◽  
pp. 147572572096159
Author(s):  
Saskia Giebl ◽  
Stefany Mena ◽  
Benjamin C. Storm ◽  
Elizabeth Ligon Bjork ◽  
Robert A. Bjork
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Information ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Needed Information ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
New Information ◽  
Subsequent Recall ◽  
Programming Knowledge ◽  
Problem Solving Task

Technological advances have given us tools—Google, in particular—that can both augment and free up our cognitive resources. Research has demonstrated, however, that some cognitive costs may arise from our reliance on such external memories. We examined whether pretesting—asking participants to solve a problem before consulting Google for needed information—can enhance participants’ subsequent recall for the searched-for content as well as for relevant information previously studied. Two groups of participants, one with no programming knowledge and one with some programming knowledge, learned several fundamental programming concepts in the context of a problem-solving task. On a later multiple-choice test with transfer questions, participants who attempted the task before consulting Google for help out-performed participants who were allowed to search Google right away. The benefit of attempting to solve the problem before googling appeared larger with some degree of programming experience, consistent with the notion that some prior knowledge can help learners integrate new information in ways that benefit its learning as well as that of previously studied related information.

Conceptual Clustering of Textual Documents and Some Insights for Knowledge Discovery

2008 ◽  
pp. 223-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro Krug Wives ◽  
José Palazzo Moreira de Oliveira ◽  
Stanley Loh
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Discovery ◽  
Real World ◽  
Document Clustering ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Conceptual Clustering ◽  
Document Collections ◽  
Clustering Techniques ◽  
Related Information

This chapter introduces a technique to cluster textual documents using concepts. Document clustering is a technique capable of organizing large amounts of documents in clusters of related information, which helps the localization of relevant information. Traditional document clustering techniques use words to represent the contents of the documents and the use of words may cause semantic mistakes. Concepts, instead, represent real world events and objects, and people employ them to express ideas, thoughts, opinions and intentions. Thus, concepts are more appropriate to represent the contents of a document and its use helps the comprehension of large document collections, since it is possible to summarize each cluster and rapidly identify its contents (i.e. concepts). To perform this task, the chapter presents a methodology to cluster documents using concepts and presents some practical experiments in a case study to demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves better results than the use of words.

scholarly journals Human frontoparietal cortex represents behaviorally relevant target status based on abstract object features

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 1410-1427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Henderson ◽  
John T. Serences
Keyword(s):  
Frontal Cortex ◽  
Functional Mri ◽  
Irrelevant Dimension ◽  
Target Recognition ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Object Identity ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Parking Lot ◽  
High Level

Searching for items that are useful given current goals, or “target” recognition, requires observers to flexibly attend to certain object properties at the expense of others. This could involve focusing on the identity of an object while ignoring identity-preserving transformations such as changes in viewpoint or focusing on its current viewpoint while ignoring its identity. To effectively filter out variation due to the irrelevant dimension, performing either type of task is likely to require high-level, abstract search templates. Past work has found target recognition signals in areas of ventral visual cortex and in subregions of parietal and frontal cortex. However, target status in these tasks is typically associated with the identity of an object, rather than identity-orthogonal properties such as object viewpoint. In this study, we used a task that required subjects to identify novel object stimuli as targets according to either identity or viewpoint, each of which was not predictable from low-level properties such as shape. We performed functional MRI in human subjects of both sexes and measured the strength of target-match signals in areas of visual, parietal, and frontal cortex. Our multivariate analyses suggest that the multiple-demand (MD) network, including subregions of parietal and frontal cortex, encodes information about an object’s status as a target in the relevant dimension only, across changes in the irrelevant dimension. Furthermore, there was more target-related information in MD regions on correct compared with incorrect trials, suggesting a strong link between MD target signals and behavior. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Real-world target detection tasks, such as searching for a car in a crowded parking lot, require both flexibility and abstraction. We investigated the neural basis of these abilities using a task that required invariant representations of either object identity or viewpoint. Multivariate decoding analyses of our whole brain functional MRI data reveal that invariant target representations are most pronounced in frontal and parietal regions, and the strength of these representations is associated with behavioral performance.

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