Who are We, and Who (or What) Do We Want to Become? An Evolutionary Perspective on Biotransformative Technologies

Human evolution sits at several important thresholds. In organic evolution, interplay between exogenous environmental and genetic factors rendered new phenotypes at rates limited by genetic variation. The interplay took place on adaptive fitness landscapes determined by correspondence of genetic and environmental relationships. Human evolution involved important emergences that altered the adaptive landscape: language, writing, organized societies, science, and the internet. These endogenous factors ushered in transformative periods leading to more rapidly evolving emergences. I explore the impact of development of emerging biotransformative technologies capable of being applied to effect self-genetic modification and artificial intelligence-augmented cognition on the evolutionary landscape of phenotypes important to cognitive plasticity. Interaction effects will yield unanticipated emergences resulting in hyperrealm adaptive landscapes with more rapid evolutionary processes that feed back upon more fundamental levels while vastly outpacing organic evolution. Emerging technologies exist that are likely to impact the evolution of cognitive plasticity in humans in ways and at rates that will lead to societal upheaval. I show that the theoretical contribution of organic evolution in future human evolution is expected to become comparatively insignificant relative to that made by endogenous environmental factors such as external cognition aids and manipulation of the human genome. The results support the conclusion of a strong recommendation of a moratorium on the adoption of any technology capable of completely altering the course of human evolution.

Cognitive plasticity of inhibition in older adults

Cognitive plasticity has been well documented in the cognitive aging literature; however, little work has been done to investigate the plasticity of inhibition among older adults. Inhibition functions to keep irrelevant information outside the focus of attention, and has been demonstrated to be of central importance to a variety of cognitive abilities known to decline with normal aging (Hasher et al., 2007). Using the Stroop task (Stroop, 1935), 28 older adults were trained across six sessions. Participants were randomly assigned to two feedback groups: summary feedback (SF) and individualized and adaptive feedback (IAF), to evaluate whether the type of feedback provided during training impacted performance gains. Findings indicated that older adults had improved inhibitory performance across sessions regardless of the type of feedback received. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that individuals with slow speed of processing and low executive control benefited the most from inhibition training.

Cognitive plasticity of inhibition in older adults

Cognitive plasticity has been well documented in the cognitive aging literature; however, little work has been done to investigate the plasticity of inhibition among older adults. Inhibition functions to keep irrelevant information outside the focus of attention, and has been demonstrated to be of central importance to a variety of cognitive abilities known to decline with normal aging (Hasher et al., 2007). Using the Stroop task (Stroop, 1935), 28 older adults were trained across six sessions. Participants were randomly assigned to two feedback groups: summary feedback (SF) and individualized and adaptive feedback (IAF), to evaluate whether the type of feedback provided during training impacted performance gains. Findings indicated that older adults had improved inhibitory performance across sessions regardless of the type of feedback received. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that individuals with slow speed of processing and low executive control benefited the most from inhibition training.

Deletion of the AMPylase mFICD alters cytokine secretion and affects cognitive plasticity in vivo

Fic domain-containing AMP transferases (fic AMPylases) are conserved enzymes that catalyze the covalent transfer of AMP to proteins. This post-translational modification regulates the function of several proteins, including the ER-resident chaperone Grp78/BiP. Here we introduce a mFICD AMPylase knock-out mouse model to study fic AMPylase function in vertebrates. We find that mFICD deficiency is well-tolerated in unstressed mice. We show that mFICD-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts are depleted of AMPylated proteins. mFICD deletion alters protein synthesis and secretion in splenocytes, including that of IgM and IL-1β without affecting the unfolded protein response. Finally, we demonstrate that older mFICD-/- mice show improved cognitive plasticity. Together, our results suggest a role for mFICD in adaptive immunity and neuronal plasticity in vivo.

High neural activity accelerates the decline of cognitive plasticity with age in Caenorhabditis elegans

The ability to learn progressively declines with age. Neural hyperactivity has been implicated in impairing cognitive plasticity with age, but the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that chronic excitation of the Caenorhabditis elegans O2-sensing neurons during ageing causes a rapid decline of experience-dependent plasticity in response to environmental O2 concentration, whereas sustaining lower activity of O2-sensing neurons retains plasticity with age. We demonstrate that neural activity alters the ageing trajectory in the transcriptome of O2-sensing neurons, and our data suggest that high-activity neurons redirect resources from maintaining plasticity to sustaining continuous firing. Sustaining plasticity with age requires the K+-dependent Na+/Ca2+ (NCKX) exchanger, whereas the decline of plasticity with age in high-activity neurons acts through calmodulin and the scaffold protein Kidins220. Our findings demonstrate directly that the activity of neurons alters neuronal homeostasis to govern the age-related decline of neural plasticity and throw light on the mechanisms involved.

The Relationship of Cognitive Characteristics of Personality and Maladaptive Behaviors in the Structure of Individuality in Students

The article presents the data of a statistical study using correlation analysis, which revealed the specifics of the relationship between the severity of rigidity, flexibility, the characteristics of the cognitive style and maladaptive behaviors in the structure of individuality in students. For diagnosis, such methods were used as: G. V. Zalevsky's Tomsk rigidity questionnaire; J. Young Schema Questionnaire; V. T. Kozlov's "Intellectual liability" test; The Stroop Color and Word Test; Rosenzweig Frustration Test; A. Luchin's test for flexibility of thinking; K. Gottshaldt Figures test. A correlation analysis of statistics was used. The study involved 73 university students aged 17–25 years. As the results of the study showed, the higher the cognitive plasticity and intellectual lability of the personality, the more pronounced is the ability to accept personal responsibility in a situation of frustration needs. At the same time, a high level of rigidity (general, relevant, premorbid, rigidity as a state) is associated with the manifestation of maladaptive patterns of behavior adopted in childhood, narrowing the possibilities for optimal self-realization of a person, with the predominance of aggressive actions with fixation on an obstacle in a situation of frustration. Expressed field dependence is associated with a self-defensive strategy for resolving a frustrating situation and fixing on satisfying one’s own needs.