scholarly journals Value signals in orbitofrontal cortex predict economic decisions on a trial-to-trial basis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent B. McGinty ◽  
Shira M. Lupkin
Keyword(s):  
Neural Activity ◽  
Orbitofrontal Cortex ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Weighted Sum ◽  
Decision Behavior ◽  
Economic Decisions ◽  
Trial Basis ◽  
Individual Value ◽  
Value Coding ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACTNeuroeconomics seeks to explain how neural activity contributes to decision behavior. For value-based decisions, the primate orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is thought to have a key role; however, the mechanism by which single OFC cells contribute to choices is still unclear. Here, we show for the first time a trial-to-trial relationship between choices and population-level value representations in OFC, defined by the weighted sum of activity from many individual value-coding neurons.

scholarly journals High Genetic Differentiation among European White Oak Species (Quercus spp.) at a Dehydrin Gene

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 582-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iacob CRĂCIUNESC ◽  
Barbara VORNAM ◽  
Ludger LEINEMANN ◽  
Reiner FINKELDEY ◽  
Neculae ȘOFLETEA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Quercus Petraea ◽  
White Oak ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Significant Differentiation ◽  
Dehydrin Gene ◽  
First Time ◽  
Two Populations

Dehydryn genes are involved in plant response to environmental stress and may be useful to examine functional diversity in relation to adaptive variation. Recently, a dehydrin gene (DHN3) was isolated in Quercus petraea and showed little differentiation between populations of the same species in an altitudinal transect. In the present study, inter- and intraspecific differentiation patterns in closely related and interfertile oaks were investigated for the first time at the DHN3 locus. A four-oak-species stand (Quercus frainetto Ten., Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Q. pubescens Willd., Q. robur L.) and two populations for each of five white oak species (Q. frainetto Ten., Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Q. pubescens Willd., Q. robur L. and Q. pedunculiflora K. Koch) were analyzed. Three alleles shared by all five oak species were observed. However, only two alleles were present in each population, but with different frequencies according to the species. At population level, all interspecific pairs of populations showed significant differentiation, except for pure Q. robur and Q. pedunculiflora populations. In contrast, no significant differentiation (p > 0.05) was found among conspecific populations. The DHN3 locus proved to be very useful to differentiate Q. frainetto and Q. pubescens from Q. pedunculiflora (FST = 0.914 and 0.660, respectively) and Q. robur (FST = 0.858 and 0.633, respectively). As expected, the lowest level of differentiation was detected between the most closely related species, Q. robur and Q. pedunculiflora (FST = 0.020). Our results suggest that DHN3 can be an important genetic marker for differentiating among European white oak species.

scholarly journals Dissociable oscillatory networks support gain and loss processing in human orbitofrontal cortex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Saez ◽  
Jack Lin ◽  
Edward Chang ◽  
Josef Parvizi ◽  
Robert T. Knight ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Activity ◽  
Orbitofrontal Cortex ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Neural Oscillations ◽  
Beta Band ◽  
Neuronal Ensembles ◽  
Gain And Loss

AbstractHuman neuroimaging and animal studies have linked neural activity in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) to valuation of positive and negative outcomes. Additional evidence shows that neural oscillations, representing the coordinated activity of neuronal ensembles, support information processing in both animal and human prefrontal regions. However, the role of OFC neural oscillations in reward-processing in humans remains unknown, partly due to the difficulty of recording oscillatory neural activity from deep brain regions. Here, we examined the role of OFC neural oscillations (<30Hz) in reward processing by combining intracranial OFC recordings with a gambling task in which patients made economic decisions under uncertainty. Our results show that power in different oscillatory bands are associated with distinct components of reward evaluation. Specifically, we observed a double dissociation, with a selective theta band oscillation increase in response to monetary gains and a beta band increase in response to losses. These effects were interleaved across OFC in overlapping networks and were accompanied by increases in oscillatory coherence between OFC electrode sites in theta and beta band during gain and loss processing, respectively. These results provide evidence that gain and loss processing in human OFC are supported by distinct low-frequency oscillations in networks, and provide evidence that participating neuronal ensembles are organized functionally through oscillatory coherence, rather than local anatomical segregation.

scholarly journals Structure in Neural Activity during Observed and Executed Movements Is Shared at the Neural Population Level, Not in Single Neurons

Cell Reports ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 108006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiyuan Jiang ◽  
Hemant Saggar ◽  
Stephen I. Ryu ◽  
Krishna V. Shenoy ◽  
Jonathan C. Kao
Keyword(s):  
Neural Activity ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Neural Population ◽  
Single Neurons

scholarly journals Stimulus Feature-Specific Information Flow Along the Columnar Cortical Microcircuit Revealed by Multivariate Laminar Spiking Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Tovar ◽  
Jacob A. Westerberg ◽  
Michele A. Cox ◽  
Kacie Dougherty ◽  
Thomas A. Carlson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Activity ◽  
Visual Stimulation ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Contextual Information ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Stimulus Presentation ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Granular Cell ◽  
Stimulus Orientation ◽  
Specific Information

Most of the mammalian neocortex is comprised of a highly similar anatomical structure, consisting of a granular cell layer between superficial and deep layers. Even so, different cortical areas process different information. Taken together, this suggests that cortex features a canonical functional microcircuit that supports region-specific information processing. For example, the primate primary visual cortex (V1) combines the two eyes' signals, extracts stimulus orientation, and integrates contextual information such as visual stimulation history. These processes co-occur during the same laminar stimulation sequence that is triggered by the onset of visual stimuli. Yet, we still know little regarding the laminar processing differences that are specific to each of these types of stimulus information. Univariate analysis techniques have provided great insight by examining one electrode at a time or by studying average responses across multiple electrodes. Here we focus on multivariate statistics to examine response patterns across electrodes instead. Specifically, we applied multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) to linear multielectrode array recordings of laminar spiking responses to decode information regarding the eye-of-origin, stimulus orientation, and stimulus repetition. MVPA differs from conventional univariate approaches in that it examines patterns of neural activity across simultaneously recorded electrode sites. We were curious whether this added dimensionality could reveal neural processes on the population level that are challenging to detect when measuring brain activity without the context of neighboring recording sites. We found that eye-of-origin information was decodable for the entire duration of stimulus presentation, but diminished in the deepest layers of V1. Conversely, orientation information was transient and equally pronounced along all layers. More importantly, using time-resolved MVPA, we were able to evaluate laminar response properties beyond those yielded by univariate analyses. Specifically, we performed a time generalization analysis by training a classifier at one point of the neural response and testing its performance throughout the remaining period of stimulation. Using this technique, we demonstrate repeating (reverberating) patterns of neural activity that have not previously been observed using standard univariate approaches.

Mapping Alterations of the Functional Structure of the Cerebral Cortex in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 4753-4762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus Pujol ◽  
Laura Blanco-Hinojo ◽  
Dídac Maciá ◽  
Pino Alonso ◽  
Ben J Harrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Orbitofrontal Cortex ◽  
Inhibitory Neuron ◽  
Functional Structure ◽  
Neuron Activity ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Neurophysiological Studies

AbstractWe mapped alterations of the functional structure of the cerebral cortex using a novel imaging approach in a sample of 160 obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. Whole-brain functional connectivity maps were generated using multidistance measures of intracortical neural activity coupling defined within isodistant local areas. OCD patients demonstrated neural activity desynchronization within the orbitofrontal cortex and in primary somatosensory, auditory, visual, gustatory, and olfactory areas. Symptom severity was significantly associated with the degree of functional structure alteration in OCD-relevant brain regions. By means of a novel imaging perspective, we once again identified brain alterations in the orbitofrontal cortex, involving areas purportedly implicated in the pathophysiology of OCD. However, our results also indicated that weaker intracortical activity coupling is also present in each primary sensory area. On the basis of previous neurophysiological studies, such cortical activity desynchronization may best be interpreted as reflecting deficient inhibitory neuron activity and altered sensory filtering.

scholarly journals Spinal fMRI of Interoceptive Attention/Awareness in Experts and Novices

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyvan Kashkouli Nejad ◽  
Motoaki Sugiura ◽  
Benjamin Thyreau ◽  
Takayuki Nozawa ◽  
Yuka Kotozaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Activity ◽  
Breathing Pattern ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Imaging Studies ◽  
Spinal Segment ◽  
Sensory Experiences ◽  
Extended Training ◽  
Spinal Fmri ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

Many disciplines/traditions that promote interoceptive (inner sensation of body parts) attention/awareness (IAA) train practitioners to both attend to and be aware of interoceptive sensory experiences in body parts. The effect of such practices has been investigated in previous imaging studies but limited to cerebral neural activity. Here, for the first time, we studied the impact of these practices on the spinal neural activity of experts and novices. We also attempted to clarify the effect of constant and deep breathing, a paradigm utilized in concentration practices to avoid mind wandering, on IAA-related spinal neural activity. Subjects performed IAA tasks with and without a deep and constant breathing pattern in two sessions. Results showed that neural activity in the spinal segment innervating the attended-to body area increased in experts (P=0.04) when they performed IAA and that this increase was significantly larger for experts versus novices in each of the sessions (P=0.024). The significant effects of IAA and expertise on spinal neural activity are consistent with and elaborate on previous reports showing similar effects on cerebral neural activity. As the spinal cord directly innervates body parts, the results might indicate that IAA has an instantaneous (possibly beneficial) effect on the physical body after extended training.

Phénologie de la floraison de populations diploïdes et tétraploïdes d'Anthoxanthum alpinum et d'Anthoxanthum odoratum

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (11) ◽  
pp. 2258-2264 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Felber
Keyword(s):  
Time Lag ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Southern Europe ◽  
Polyploid Complex ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
In Situ Study ◽  
The Individual ◽  
First Time ◽  
Experimental Garden

The phenology of flowering was studied in an experimental garden, on diploid and tetraploid populations of Anthoxanthum alpinum A. & D. Löve and of A. odoratum L. of central and southern Europe and also in situ in a contact zone between diploid A. alpinum and tetraploid A. odoratum. In the experimental garden, the phenological parameters were studied at the individual level (onset of flowering) and at the population level (dates on which each population showed opened anthers for the first time on 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80% of the plants). Anthoxanthum alpinum flowered earlier than A. odoratum, regardless of the respective ploidy level of the two taxa. The average time lag between the appearance of the stigma and that of the stamens was about 2 days for the two A. alpinum taxa and 6 days for those of A. odoratum. Flowering was spread over the longest period for the tetraploid A. odoratum, which shows the great phenological variability of this taxon. The in situ study confirms the precocity of A. alpinum. The phenological differentiation within this polyploid complex probably coincides with the individualization of the two diploid taxa but precedes their respective polyploidization phases.

Stability Assessment of the High Safety Pillars in Slovenian Natural Stone Mines / Ocena Stabilności Wysokich Filarów Bezpieczeństwa W Kopalniach Kamieni Naturalnych W Słowenii

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 403-417
Author(s):  
Jože Kortnik
Keyword(s):  
Safety Monitoring ◽  
Geological Structure ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Natural Stone ◽  
Stability Assessment ◽  
Underground Excavation ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Limestone Quarry ◽  
Trial Basis ◽  
First Time

Abstract For the first time in Slovenia, the underground excavation of natural stone blocks was introduced on a trial basis at the Hotavlje I colourful limestone quarry in 1993, in 2002 at the Lipica II limestone quarry, in 2008 at the Lipica I limestone quarry and in 2009 also at the Doline limestone quarry. This was primarily because of the geological structure of the site, the quarry’s condition, the potentially large amounts of the overburden in the event of an expansion of the surface part of the quarry, and the increasing needs for this raw material, i.e. natural stone. The underground excavation of natural stone in all locations are done using a modified room-and-pillar excavation method that is adjusted to each site’s characteristics, with regularly or irregularly distributed high safety pillars. Since the underground excavation of natural stone blocks is performed at a relatively shallow level under the surface, i.e., at a depth of only 10-40 m, the value of the primary vertical stress state is also relatively low (less than 1.0 MPa). This significantly increases the risk of wedge-shaped pieces or blocks falling out of the ceiling in open underground spaces. In previous years, special attention was paid to the installation of stress-strain systems for controlling the planned dimensions (width and height) of large, open, underground spaces (rooms) and the dimensions of the high safety pillars, along with continual monitoring and identification of the instability phenomena in the ceiling and sides of the large open spaces (rooms). The paper presents the methods and devices used for the optimization and the safety monitoring of high safety pillars for the underground excavation of natural stone blocks in Slovenian natural stone mines.

scholarly journals Agri-environment nectar chemistry suppresses parasite social epidemiology in an important pollinator

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arran J. Folly ◽  
Hauke Koch ◽  
Iain W. Farrell ◽  
Philip C. Stevenson ◽  
Mark J.F. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Disease Management ◽  
Social Epidemiology ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Disease Epidemiology ◽  
Nosema Bombi ◽  
First Time

Emergent infectious diseases are a principal driver of biodiversity loss globally. The population and range declines of a suite of North American bumblebees, a group of important pollinators, have been linked to emergent infection with the microsporidian Nosema bombi. Previous work has shown that phytochemicals in pollen and nectar can negatively impact parasites in individual bumblebees, but how this relates to social epidemiology and by extension whether plants can be effectively used as disease management strategies remains unexplored. Here we show that caffeine, identified in the nectar of Sainfoin, a constituent of agri-environment schemes, significantly reduced N. bombi infection intensity in individual bumblebees and, for the first time, that such effects impact social epidemiology, with colonies reared from wild caught queens having lower prevalence and intensity of infection. Furthermore, infection prevalence was lower in foraging bumblebees from these colonies, suggesting a likely reduction in population-level transmission. Our results demonstrate that phytochemicals can impact pollinator disease epidemiology and that planting strategies, which increase floral abundance to support biodiversity could be co-opted as disease management strategies.

scholarly journals Occurrence of CCR5 Heterozygous 32 bp Deletion in Nepali Ethnic Groups

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-108
Author(s):  
Nanda Bahadur Singh
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Signaling Proteins ◽  
Asia Pacific Region ◽  
Ccr5 Gene ◽  
Pcr Rflp ◽  
The World ◽  
First Time ◽  
Hiv 1

The Chemokine (C-C) receptor 5 (CCR5) as one of the small signaling proteins, is a HIV-1 resistant gene. The major boosting to the study of CCR5 gene among ethnic groups in the world is the detection of 32 bp deletion in its heterozygous and homozygous condition which is responsible for relative or absolute resistance to HIV-1 infection. A total of 456 samples belonging to six Nepalese ethnic groups were subjected to genotyping by the use of PCR-RFLP for detecting 32 bp deletion on exon 3 of CCR5 gene. Finally, allele frequencies of 32 bp deletion among Nepalese ethnic groups were calculated by the use of Hardy-Weinberg formula for analysis and interpretation. Chidimar ethnic group, for the first time, showed heterozygous 32 bp deletion at the population level in Asia-pacific region is an excitement in which Chidimar might have conferred resistance against HIV-1 infection in Nepal.Journal of Institute of Science and Technology, 2014, 19(2): 105-108

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