scholarly journals Minimally invasive neural stimulation with a novel ultra-sensitive step function opsin: implications and future directions

2020 ◽  
Vol 124 (5) ◽  
pp. 1312-1314
Author(s):  
Aamna Lawrence ◽  
Hui Ho Vanessa Chang
Keyword(s):  
Minimally Invasive ◽  
Nonhuman Primate ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Step Function ◽  
Neural Stimulation ◽  
Primate Research ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Light Delivery ◽  
And Behavior

Optogenetics has become a popular tool to probe the link between neural circuits and behavior, since the technique was first introduced in 2005. Recently, Gong et al. (Gong X, Mendoza-Halliday D, Ting JT, Kaiser T, Sun X, Bastos AM, Wimmer RD, Guo B, Chen Q, Zhou Y, Pruner M, Wu CWH, Park D, Deisseroth K, Barak B, Boyden ES, Miller EK, Halassa MM, Fu Z, Bi G, Desimone R, Feng G. Neuron 107: 38–51, 2020) developed an ultra-sensitive step-function opsin capable of activating any region of the mouse brain and cortical areas in macaques with external illumination, thus aiming toward minimally invasive light delivery. In this article, we highlight and discuss the new opsin's potential in nonhuman primate research.

A review on aversive Pavlovian-to-Instrumental transfer in humans

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Gerlicher ◽  
Merel Kindt
Keyword(s):  
Avoidance Behavior ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Transfer Effects ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Transfer Paradigm ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Threat Cues ◽  
Imminent Threat ◽  
Fear And Anxiety ◽  
Pathological Anxiety

A cue that indicates imminent threat elicits a wide range of physiological, hormonal, autonomic, cognitive, and emotional fear responses in humans and facilitates threat-specific avoidance behavior. The occurrence of a threat cue can, however, also have general motivational effects and affect behavior. That is, the encounter with a threat cue can increase our tendency to engage in general avoidance behavior that does neither terminate nor prevent the threat-cue or the threat itself. Furthermore, the encounter with a threat-cue can substantially reduce our likelihood to engage in behavior that leads to rewarding outcomes. Such general motivational effects of threat-cues on behavior can be informative about the transition from normal to pathological anxiety and could also explain the development of comorbid disorders, such as depression and substance abuse. Despite the unmistakable relevance of the motivational effects of threat for our understanding of anxiety disorders, their investigation is still in its infancy. Pavlovian-to-Instrumental transfer is one paradigm that allows us to investigate such motivational effects of threat cues. Here, we review studies investigating aversive transfer in humans and discuss recent results on the neural circuits mediating Pavlovian-to-Instrumental transfer effects. Finally, we discuss potential limitations of the transfer paradigm and future directions for employing Pavlovian-to-Instrumental transfer for the investigation of motivational effects of fear and anxiety.

The neuroscience of learning and memory: cells, neural circuits and behavior

1988 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 125-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G.M. Morris ◽  
Eric R. Kandel ◽  
Larry R. Squire
Keyword(s):  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Memory Cells ◽  
And Behavior

Evolutionary Perspectives on Parenting

2021 ◽  
pp. 2-25
Author(s):  
Tomás Cabeza de Baca ◽  
Bruce J. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Parental Behavior ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Developmental Model ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Household Dynamics ◽  
Survival And Reproduction ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Theoretical Foundations ◽  
Evolutionary Perspectives

This chapter highlights parental behavior and household dynamics as one key set of factors that play a vital role in the regulation of development and behavior in children. It shows the benefits of using an evolutionary-developmental model and discusses fundamental points to consider when applying such a model to research. The application of Darwinian principles to domains of parenting and development provides a benefit to researchers by integrating the results of proximate-level research into a unified and interconnected framework. It also reorients within- and between-household differences in parenting as strategies molded by natural selection to maximize survival and reproduction under varied ecological circumstances. The chapter begins with a review of the theoretical foundations of evolutionary developmental psychology, followed by a brief explanation of methodological approaches used by developmentalists. It then looks at current research and future directions.

Digital Development and International Aid

2016 ◽  
pp. 276-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolene Fisher
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Digital Games ◽  
Historical Overview ◽  
Current Development ◽  
Development Discourse ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Narrative Structures ◽  
Individual Attitude ◽  
Digital Development ◽  
And Behavior

This chapter constructs a historical overview of digital games used for international development. While the decade long use of digital games in this field has seen mixed results, a trend towards gamification has continued. The various approaches to international development taken in these games are analyzed alongside the gaming goals, platforms, and narrative structures. Broadly, this chapter argues that the field of digital development games breaks down into three categories: Developing Developers, Digital Interventions, and Critical Play. Because these games are tied to larger frameworks of development thought, they are an important part of the development discourse and should be critically analyzed, regardless of their success at the level of individual attitude and behavior change. Such an analysis presents a useful way to think about what's happening in the current development field and how the trend towards gamification may impact its future directions.

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