Neuroscience
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Rapid changes in the light-dark cycle cause circadian desynchronization between rhythms of spike-wave discharges (SWDs) and motor activity in genetic epileptic rats, and this is accompanied by an increase in epileptic activity. Given the close relationship between absence seizures and sleep-wake states, the present study assessed firstly a putative relationship between vigilance rhythms and SWDs during re-synchronization, and secondly sleep-wake patterns responsible for increased epileptic activity. Lastly, in a view of existing evidence that melatonin and its agonists accelerate re-synchronization, the effects of different doses of agomelatine upon the speed of re-synchronization of different sleep-wake states and SWDs were investigated. ⋯ Agomelatine showed neither an effect on sleep-wake parameters and SWDs, nor affected re-synchronization. The same speed of re-synchronization of SWDs and light slow-wave sleep suggests that both are controlled by a common circadian mechanism. The redistribution of SWDs and their increase in the light phase after the shift may be of importance for patients with absence epilepsy planning long trans-meridian flight across time zones.
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The subplate (SP) represents a transitory cytoarchitectural fetal compartment containing most subcortical and cortico-cortical afferents, and has a fundamental role in the structural development of the healthy adult brain. There is evidence that schizophrenia and autism may be determined by developmental defects in the cortex or cortical circuitry during the earliest stages of pregnancy. ⋯ The SP has been described as a cortical amplifier with a role in the coordination of cortical activity, and sensitive growth and migration windows have crucial consequences with respect to cognitive functioning. Although there are not enough studies to draw final conclusions, improved knowledge of the SP's role in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders may help to elucidate and possibly prevent the onset of these two severe disorders.
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Human studies have repeatedly shown that conditioning pain modulation (CPM) exerts an overall descending inhibitory effect over spinal nociceptive activity. Previous studies have reported a reduction of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) under CPM. Still, how descending control influences the muscle activation patterns involved in this protective behavior remains unknown. ⋯ Under CPM, Module I activation amplitude was significantly reduced in a narrow time-window interval (118-156 ms) mainly affecting distal muscles, whereas Module II activation amplitude was significantly reduced in a wider time-window interval (150-250 ms), predominantly affecting proximal muscles. These findings suggest that proximal muscles are largely under supraspinal control. The descending inhibitory drive exerted onto the spinal cord may adjust the withdrawal pattern by differential recruitment of the muscles involved in the protective behavior.
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Oxysterol derived from cholesterol metabolism is involved in the inflammatory activation, and consequently in development of major chronic diseases. Multiple cytokines have been found to induce the expression of cholesterol metabolism-related enzymes. Several studies have shown that the protein level of cholesterol-25-hydroxylase (CH25H) is remarkably increased in response to injury of central nervous system (CNS), but little is known about the mechanisms of cytokine-induced expression of CH25H in specific cell types, and the resultant effects. ⋯ MIF facilitated ch25h expression of astrocytes through interaction with CD74 membrane receptor, which in turn promoted production of chemokines, as identified by transcriptome profiles. MIF-induced release of oxysterol 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) from astrocytes affects cell migration, but inhibited cell viability in dose-dependent manner, suggesting that MIF aggravates progressive neuropathology through regulation of cholesterol metabolism following CNS injury. These results have provided a novel mechanism and a potential therapeutic strategy for injured CNS.
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Holistic face processing is a critical component of face recognition. There are two classical measures of holistic face processing: the whole-part effect (WPE) and composite-face effect (CFE). However, the two effects have demonstrated inconsistent pattern of results in behavioral literature. ⋯ These results suggested that the WPE was related to integration of the rOFA within the CFN, while the CFE was associated with separation of the rFFA from other CFN regions. Further analyses showed that higher WPE was related to stronger connection between the rOFA and bilateral posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), while larger CFE was associated with weaker connection between the rFFA and bilateral pSTS. In short, our study reveals distinct neural correlates of the two hallmarks of holistic face processing at network level and sheds new light on the different mechanisms of holistic face processing reflected by the two effects.