Construction of Roman roads toward neuroeconomics

Neuroeconomics is still “under construction.” To be a leading discipline, it needs firm ecological rationale and neurobiological bases. “Vigor” supplies this infrastructure through the mathematics of the foraging theory and system-neuroscience evidence on utility and motor control. It will prepare us for the future neuroeconomics, if studied appropriately in the light of evolution.

Wireless recording from unrestrained monkeys reveals motor goal encoding beyond immediate reach in frontoparietal cortex

System neuroscience of motor cognition regarding the space beyond immediate reach mandates free, yet experimentally controlled movements. We present an experimental environment (Reach Cage) and a versatile visuo-haptic interaction system (MaCaQuE) for investigating goal-directed whole-body movements of unrestrained monkeys. Two rhesus monkeys conducted instructed walk-and-reach movements towards targets flexibly positioned in the cage. We tracked 3D multi-joint arm and head movements using markerless motion capture. Movements show small trial-to-trial variability despite being unrestrained. We wirelessly recorded 192 broad-band neural signals from three cortical sensorimotor areas simultaneously. Single unit activity is selective for different reach and walk-and-reach movements. Walk-and-reach targets could be decoded from premotor and parietal but not motor cortical activity during movement planning. The Reach Cage allows systems-level sensorimotor neuroscience studies with full-body movements in a configurable 3D spatial setting with unrestrained monkeys. We conclude that the primate frontoparietal network encodes reach goals beyond immediate reach during movement planning.

Konsep 'Aql Dalam Al-Qur'an Dan Neurosains

In the Qur'an the term brain is not known, to illustrate the intelligence used the term of reason. The brain is the meaning of reason in the physical dimension. 'Aql is the power of thought, effort, deception, trickery, ingenuity, cunning, and the ability to see. Muslim philosophers understand 'Aql as binding, attaching, and limiting. The term 'Aql can be found in Qs. As-Syams: 7-8. Intellect is an active and conscious organ, binding and holding objects of science with words or other forms of symbolism. Neuroscience is neural science that studies the nervous system, mainly studies neurons or nerve cells with a multidisciplinary approach. Neurosains is a science that specializes in scientific studies of the nervous system. Neuroscience has traces in Islam. Islamic education has traces in the nature of neuroscience. Therefore, Islamic education can be integrated-interconnected with neuroscience.

Wireless recording from unrestrained monkeys reveals motor goal encoding beyond immediate reach in frontoparietal cortex

System neuroscience of motor cognition regarding the space beyond immediate reach mandates free, yet experimentally controlled movements. We present an experimental environment (Reach Cage) and a versatile visuo-haptic interaction system (MaCaQuE) for investigating goal-directed whole-body movements of unrestrained monkeys. Two rhesus monkeys conducted instructed walk-and-reach movements towards targets flexibly positioned in the cage. We tracked 3D multi-joint arm and head movements using markerless motion capture. Movements show small trial-to-trial variability despite being unrestrained. We wirelessly recorded 192 broad-band neural signals from three cortical sensorimotor areas simultaneously. Single unit activity is selective for different reach and walk-and-reach movements. Walk-and-reach targets could be decoded from premotor and parietal but not motor cortical activity during movement planning. The Reach Cage allows systems-level sensorimotor neuroscience studies with full-body movements in a configurable 3D spatial setting with unrestrained monkeys. We conclude that the primate frontoparietal network encodes reach goals beyond immediate reach during movement planning.

Optogenetics and pharmacogenetics: principles and applications

Remote and selective spatiotemporal control of the activity of neurons to regulate behavior and physiological functions has been a long-sought goal in system neuroscience. Identification and subsequent bioengineering of light-sensitive ion channels (e.g., channelrhodopsins, halorhodopsin, and archaerhodopsins) from the bacteria have made it possible to use light to artificially modulate neuronal activity, namely optogenetics. Recent advance in genetics has also allowed development of novel pharmacological tools to selectively and remotely control neuronal activity using engineered G protein-coupled receptors, which can be activated by otherwise inert drug-like small molecules such as the designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drug, a form of chemogenetics. The cutting-edge optogenetics and pharmacogenetics are powerful tools in neuroscience that allow selective and bidirectional modulation of the activity of defined populations of neurons with unprecedented specificity. These novel toolboxes are enabling significant advances in deciphering how the nervous system works and its influence on various physiological processes in health and disease. Here, we discuss the fundamental elements of optogenetics and chemogenetics approaches and some of the applications that yielded significant advances in various areas of neuroscience and beyond.