scholarly journals The resilience of the developing reading system: multi-modal evidence of incident and recovery after a pediatric stroke.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Borghesani ◽  
Cheng Wang ◽  
Carly Miller ◽  
Maria Luisa Mandelli ◽  
Zachary Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Pediatric Stroke ◽  
Childhood Stroke ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Reading Impairment ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Left Posterior ◽  
Reading System ◽  
Shed Light

Reading requires the sophisticated interplay of multiple neurocognitive systems. Decades of neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings have shed light onto the highly specialized brain areas along the ventral occipitotemporal stream that harbor the first critical step: the transition from grouping of lines to recognizable words.Here, we report on a 14-year old female who developed temporary dyslexia (i.e., slow and effortful reading) after suffering a left ventral occipitotemporal ischemic stroke. Our longitudinal multimodal findings indicate that the resolution of the reading impairment was associated with heightened activity in left posterior superior temporal gyrus and left inferior temporal gyrus.Overall, our findings highlight the critical role played by the left inferior temporal gyrus in reading, and suggest the importance of perilesional and ipsilateral cortical areas for functional recovery after childhood stroke.

scholarly journals Structural diverseness of neurons between brain areas and between cases

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryuta Mizutani ◽  
Rino Saiga ◽  
Yoshiro Yamamoto ◽  
Masayuki Uesugi ◽  
Akihisa Takeuchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Analysis ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Nanometer Scale ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Structural Differences ◽  
And Control

AbstractThe cerebral cortex is composed of multiple cortical areas that exert a wide variety of brain functions. Although human brain neurons are genetically and areally mosaic, the three-dimensional structural differences between neurons in different brain areas or between the neurons of different individuals have not been delineated. Here we report a nanometer-scale geometric analysis of brain tissues of the superior temporal gyrus of schizophrenia and control cases. The results of the analysis and a comparison with results for the anterior cingulate cortex indicated that (1) neuron structures are significantly dissimilar between brain areas and that (2) the dissimilarity varies from case to case. The structural diverseness was mainly observed in terms of the neurite curvature that inversely correlates with the diameters of the neurites and spines. The analysis also revealed the geometric differences between the neurons of the schizophrenia and control cases. The schizophrenia cases showed a thin and tortuous neuronal network compared with the controls, suggesting that the neuron structure is associated with the disorder. The area dependency of the neuron structure and its diverseness between individuals should represent the individuality of brain functions.

Engaging regularly with fiction influences connectivity in cortical areas for language and mentalizing

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roel M. Willems ◽  
Franziska Hartung
Keyword(s):  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Social Abilities ◽  
Behavioral Evidence ◽  
Amount Of Reading

Behavioral evidence suggests that engaging with fiction is positively correlated with social abilities. The rationale behind this link is that engaging with fictional narratives offers a ‘training modus’ for mentalizing and empathizing. We investigated the influence of the amount of reading that participants report doing in their daily lives, on connections between brain areas while they listened to literary narratives. Participants (N=57) listened to two literary narratives while brain activation was measured with fMRI. We computed time-course correlations between brain regions, and compared the correlation values from listening to narratives to listening to reversed speech. The between-region correlations were then related to the amount of fiction that participants read in their daily lives. Our results show that amount of fiction reading is related to functional connectivity in areas known to be involved in language and mentalizing. This suggests that reading fiction influences social cognition as well as language skills.

scholarly journals Aldose Reductase and the Polyol Pathway in Schwann Cells: Old and New Problems

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1031
Author(s):  
Naoko Niimi ◽  
Hideji Yako ◽  
Shizuka Takaku ◽  
Sookja K. Chung ◽  
Kazunori Sango
Keyword(s):  
Schwann Cells ◽  
Aldose Reductase ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Polyol Pathway ◽  
Glucose Flux ◽  
Rate Limiting ◽  
Deficient Mice ◽  
Excess Glucose ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Immortalized Schwann Cells

Aldose reductase (AR) is a member of the reduced nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent aldo-keto reductase superfamily. It is also the rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol pathway, catalyzing the conversion of glucose to sorbitol, which is subsequently converted to fructose by sorbitol dehydrogenase. AR is highly expressed by Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The excess glucose flux through AR of the polyol pathway under hyperglycemic conditions has been suggested to play a critical role in the development and progression of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Despite the intensive basic and clinical studies over the past four decades, the significance of AR over-activation as the pathogenic mechanism of DPN remains to be elucidated. Moreover, the expected efficacy of some AR inhibitors in patients with DPN has been unsatisfactory, which prompted us to further investigate and review the understanding of the physiological and pathological roles of AR in the PNS. Particularly, the investigation of AR and the polyol pathway using immortalized Schwann cells established from normal and AR-deficient mice could shed light on the causal relationship between the metabolic abnormalities of Schwann cells and discordance of axon-Schwann cell interplay in DPN, and led to the development of better therapeutic strategies against DPN.

scholarly journals The Lamprey Forebrain – Evolutionary Implications

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Shreyas M. Suryanarayana ◽  
Juan Pérez-Fernández ◽  
Brita Robertson ◽  
Sten Grillner
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Sensory Integration ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Detailed Comparison ◽  
Common Ancestry ◽  
Dopamine System ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
Living Group ◽  
Selection Of

The forebrain plays a critical role in a broad range of neural processes encompassing sensory integration and initiation/selection of behaviour. The forebrain functions through an interaction between different cortical areas, the thalamus, the basal ganglia with the dopamine system, and the habenulae. The ambition here is to compare the mammalian forebrain with that of the lamprey representing the oldest now living group of vertebrates, by a review of earlier studies. We show that the lamprey dorsal pallium has a motor, a somatosensory, and a visual area with retinotopic representation. The lamprey pallium was previously thought to be largely olfactory. There is also a detailed similarity between the lamprey and mammals with regard to other forebrain structures like the basal ganglia in which the general organisation, connectivity, transmitters and their receptors, neuropeptides, and expression of ion channels are virtually identical. These initially unexpected results allow for the possibility that many aspects of the basic design of the vertebrate forebrain had evolved before the lamprey diverged from the evolutionary line leading to mammals. Based on a detailed comparison between the mammalian forebrain and that of the lamprey and with due consideration of data from other vertebrate groups, we propose a compelling account of a pan-vertebrate schema for basic forebrain structures, suggesting a common ancestry of over half a billion years of vertebrate evolution.

scholarly journals Electro-thermal transport in disordered nanostructures: a modeling perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (7) ◽  
pp. 2648-2667
Author(s):  
Fabian Ducry ◽  
Jan Aeschlimann ◽  
Mathieu Luisier
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Quantum Transport ◽  
Thermal Transport ◽  
Thermal Effects ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Random Access ◽  
Shed Light

We review here how molecular dynamics and quantum transport can be combined to shed light on the performance of, for example, conductive bridging random access memories, and we show that electro-thermal effects play a critical role.

Neural deficits in auditory phonological processing in Chinese children with English reading impairment

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
XIANGZHI MENG ◽  
HANLIN YOU ◽  
MEIXIA SONG ◽  
AMY S. DESROCHES ◽  
ZHENGKE WANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Phonological Processing ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Neural Mechanism ◽  
Reading Impairment ◽  
English Reading ◽  
L2 Learners ◽  
L1 And L2 ◽  
Esl Learners

Auditory phonological processing skills are critical for successful reading development in English not only in native (L1) speakers but also in second language (L2) learners. However, the neural deficits of auditory phonological processing remain unknown in English-as-the-second-language (ESL) learners with reading difficulties. Here we investigated neural responses during spoken word rhyme judgments in typical and impaired ESL readers in China. The impaired readers showed comparable activation in the left superior temporal gyrus (LSTG), but reduced activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) and left fusiform and reduced connectivity between the LSTG and left fusiform when compared to typical readers. These findings suggest that impaired ESL readers have relative intact representations but impaired manipulation of phonology and reduced or absent automatic access to orthographic representations. This is consistent with previous findings in native English speakers and suggests a common neural mechanism underlying English impairment across the L1 and L2 learners.

scholarly journals Qurʾān and Sunna or the Madhhabs?: A Salafi Polemic Against Islamic Legal Tradition

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-253
Author(s):  
Emad Hamdeh
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Social Climate ◽  
Religious Movement ◽  
Legal Tradition ◽  
Unique Type ◽  
Absolute Truth ◽  
Rhetorical Strategy ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
Annotated Translation ◽  
Shed Light

The Albanian scholar Muḥammad Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī (d. 1999) established a unique type of Salafism, a movement whose adherents follow a puritanical model of Muslim creed, exegesis, and conduct that is critical of madhhab Traditionalism. In this article I present an annotated translation of an audio lecture in which Albānī attempted to defend Salafism against its anti-madhhab image. I shed light on the religious and social climate that played a critical role in triggering Albānī’s disdain for Traditionalism and led him to discredit madhhab Traditionalist fiqh and replace it with his own interpretation of the jurisprudential requirements of Islamic scripture. Among the arguments I make is that Albānī’s claim to follow only the Qurʾān and Sunna is a rhetorical strategy designed to present Salafism as the absolute truth and distinguish it from being categorized as another madhhab or religious movement.


scholarly journals The chaperone effect in scientific publishing

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (50) ◽  
pp. 12603-12607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vedran Sekara ◽  
Pierre Deville ◽  
Sebastian E. Ahnert ◽  
Albert-László Barabási ◽  
Roberta Sinatra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
Senior Author ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Principal Investigators ◽  
New Principal ◽  
Average Impact ◽  
Quantitative Understanding ◽  
Shed Light

Experience plays a critical role in crafting high-impact scientific work. This is particularly evident in top multidisciplinary journals, where a scientist is unlikely to appear as senior author if he or she has not previously published within the same journal. Here, we develop a quantitative understanding of author order by quantifying this “chaperone effect,” capturing how scientists transition into senior status within a particular publication venue. We illustrate that the chaperone effect has a different magnitude for journals in different branches of science, being more pronounced in medical and biological sciences and weaker in natural sciences. Finally, we show that in the case of high-impact venues, the chaperone effect has significant implications, specifically resulting in a higher average impact relative to papers authored by new principal investigators (PIs). Our findings shed light on the role played by experience in publishing within specific scientific journals, on the paths toward acquiring the necessary experience and expertise, and on the skills required to publish in prestigious venues.

scholarly journals Prefrontal and Parietal Attractor Networks Mediate Working Memory Judgments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sihai Li ◽  
Christos Constantinidis ◽  
Xue-Lian Qi
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Delayed Response ◽  
Persistent Activity ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal

ABSTRACTThe dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a critical role in spatial working memory and its activity predicts behavioral responses in delayed response tasks. Here we addressed whether this predictive ability extends to categorical judgments based on information retained in working memory, and is present in other brain areas. We trained monkeys in a novel, Match-Stay, Nonmatch-Go task, which required them to observe two stimuli presented in sequence with an intervening delay period between them. If the two stimuli were different, the monkeys had to saccade to the location of the second stimulus; if they were the same, they held fixation. Neurophysiological recordings were performed in areas 8a and 46 of the dlPFC and 7a and lateral intraparietal cortex (LIP) of the PPC. We hypothesized that random drifts causing the peak activity of the network to move away from the first stimulus location and towards the location of the second stimulus would result in categorical errors. Indeed, for both areas, when the first stimulus appeared in a neuron’s preferred location, the neuron showed significantly higher firing rates in correct than in error trials. When the first stimulus appeared at a nonpreferred location and the second stimulus at a preferred, activity in error trials was higher than in correct. The results indicate that the activity of both dlPFC and PPC neurons is predictive of categorical judgments of information maintained in working memory, and the magnitude of neuronal firing rate deviations is revealing of the contents of working memory as it determines performance.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe neural basis of working memory and the areas mediating this function is a topic of controversy. Persistent activity in the prefrontal cortex has traditionally been thought to be the neural correlate of working memory, however recent studies have proposed alternative mechanisms and brain areas. Here we show that persistent activity in both the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex predicts behavior in a working memory task that requires a categorical judgement. Our results offer support to the idea that a network of neurons in both areas act as an attractor network that maintains information in working memory, which informs behavior.

scholarly journals Local Anesthesia at ST36 to Reveal Responding Brain Areas todeqi

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling-min Jin ◽  
Cai-juan Qin ◽  
Lei Lan ◽  
Jin-bo Sun ◽  
Fang Zeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Anesthesia ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Manual Acupuncture ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Potential Approach ◽  
Brain Responses ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Significant Activation

Background.Development of non-deqicontrol is still a challenge. This study aims to set up a potential approach to non-deqicontrol by using lidocaine anesthesia at ST36.Methods.Forty healthy volunteers were recruited and they received two fMRI scans. One was accompanied with manual acupuncture at ST36 (DQ group), and another was associated with both local anesthesia and manual acupuncture at the same acupoint (LA group).Results.Comparing to DQ group, more than 90 percentdeqisensations were reduced by local anesthesia in LA group. The mainly activated regions in DQ group were bilateral IFG, S1, primary motor cortex, IPL, thalamus, insula, claustrum, cingulate gyrus, putamen, superior temporal gyrus, and cerebellum. Surprisingly only cerebellum showed significant activation in LA group. Compared to the two groups, bilateral S1, insula, ipsilateral IFG, IPL, claustrum, and contralateral ACC were remarkably activated.Conclusions.Local anesthesia at ST36 is able to block most of thedeqifeelings and inhibit brain responses todeqi, which would be developed into a potential approach for non-deqicontrol. Bilateral S1, insula, ipsilateral IFG, IPL, claustrum, and contralateral ACC might be the key brain regions responding todeqi.

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