Neuroscience
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In the olfactory system, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates sensory perception and memory. A major structure involved in these processes is the anterior piriform cortex (aPC), but the impact of ECS signaling in aPC circuitry is still scantly characterized. ⋯ Conversely, the decrease of inhibitory transmission induced by exogenous cannabinoid agonists or DSI do not seem to be impacted by these factors. Altogether, these results indicate that CB1 receptors exert an anatomically specific and differential control of inhibitory plasticity in the aPC, likely involved in spatiotemporal regulation of olfactory processes.
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Sleep deprivation (SD) is a common issue in today's society. Sleep is essential for proper cognitive functions, including learning and memory. Furthermore, sleep disorders can alter pain information processing. ⋯ Both drugs reversed all behavioral changes induced by TSD. Furthermore, both drugs reversed the effect of RSD on memory acquisition, while only mecamylamine reversed the effect of RSD on locomotor activity. In conclusion, CA1 nicotinic receptors play a significant role in TSD/RSD-induced behavioral changes.
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Although the recognition of facial expressions seems automatic and effortless, discrimination of expressions can still be error prone. Common errors are often due to visual similarities between some expressions (e.g., fear and surprise). However, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying such a confusion effect. ⋯ No difference between high confusion and low confusion conditions was observed on the M170 component in either the FFA or the pSTS, whilst a difference between two conditions started to emerge in the late positive potential (LPP), with the low confusion condition eliciting a larger LPP amplitude in the FFA. In addition, the power of delta was stronger in the time window of LPP component. This confusion effect was reflected in the FFA, which might be associated with the perceptual-to-conceptual shift.