Field Of Neuroscience Research Articles

Increasing Accessibility to Neuroscience through Translation: Going beyond the English Language.

Declaring the 1990s as The Decade of the Brain put the field of neuroscience at the forefront of public attention, with the nervous system becoming a subject of increasing interest in popular media. Although this has generally brought large swaths of the public closer to neuroscience, most current research is published and disseminated in a single language: English. This is unsurprising as English is indeed the lingua franca in scientific circles, but people around the world communicate in many other languages. To make neuroscience accessible to a larger audience, we share an initiative to translate the Knowing Neurons platform into a second language: Spanish. This collaborative project integrates humanities and STEM academic programs to make use of bilingual university students, in association with professional linguists and neuroscientists, to translate scientific content into a relatable format to Spanish speakers regardless of their country of origin. The translation effort was piloted within the framework of undergraduate outreach courses at the University of California, Los Angeles, and is coupled with outreach components targeting the Spanish-speaking community to promote this new resource. This project aims to foster an environment where the neuroscientific interests of the public, college students, instructors, and researchers coalesce in a unified space. We hope that opening new lines of communication with traditionally underrepresented communities might help combat the persistent lack of diversity in neuroscience (and STEM) that is currently seen in academia. We also provide an outline to inspire others to translate these, and similar resources, into other languages.

Disrupted organization of dynamic functional networks with application in epileptic seizure recognition

Recently, characterizing the dynamics of brain functional networks at task free or cognitive tasks has developed different research efforts in the field of neuroscience. Epilepsy is an electrophysiological brain disease which is accompanied by recurrent seizures. Seizure and epilepsy detection is a main challenge in the field of neuroscience. Understanding the underlying mechanism of epilepsy and transition from a normal brain to epileptic brain crucial for the diagnosis and treatment purposes. To understand the organization of epileptic brain network functions at large scales, electroencephalogram (EEG) signals measure and record the changes in electrical activity and functional connectivity. Time frequency analysis and continuous spectral entropy are well developed methods which reveal dynamical aspects of brain activity and can analyze the transitions in intrinsic brain activity. In this work, we aim to model the dynamics of EEG signals of epileptic brain and characterize their dynamical patterns. We use Time frequency analysis to capture the alterations in the structure of EEG signals from patients with seizure. Continuous spectral entropy is used to detect the start of seizures. The main purpose of the current is to explore the changes in the organization of epileptic brain networks. Using time frequency techniques, we are able to draw a big picture of how the brain functions before and during seizure and step forward to classify seizure and corresponding brain activity during different stages of epilepsy. The present study may contribute to characterizing the complex non-linear dynamics of EEG signals of epileptic brain and further assists with biomarker detection for different clinical applications. This finding helps towards effective diagnosis and better treatment of epilepsy.

Exercise Modifies the Brain Metabolic Response to Chronic Cocaine Exposure Inhibiting the Stria Terminalis.

It is well known that exercise promotes health and wellness, both mentally and physiologically. It has been shown to play a protective role in many diseases, including cardiovascular, neurological, and psychiatric diseases. The present study examined the effects of aerobic exercise on brain glucose metabolic activity in response to chronic cocaine exposure in female Lewis rats. Rats were divided into exercise and sedentary groups. Exercised rats underwent treadmill running for six weeks and were compared to the sedentary rats. Using positron emission tomography (PET) and [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), metabolic changes in distinct brain regions were observed when comparing cocaine-exposed exercised rats to cocaine-exposed sedentary rats. This included activation of the secondary visual cortex and inhibition in the cerebellum, stria terminalis, thalamus, caudate putamen, and primary somatosensory cortex. The functional network of this brain circuit is involved in sensory processing, fear and stress responses, reward/addiction, and movement. These results show that chronic exercise can alter the brain metabolic response to cocaine treatment in regions associated with emotion, behavior, and the brain reward cascade. This supports previous findings of the potential for aerobic exercise to alter the brain's response to drugs of abuse, providing targets for future investigation. These results can provide insights into the fields of exercise neuroscience, psychiatry, and addiction research.

NClSilico: A Closed-Loop neuromodulation platform in silico

The closed-loop electrophysiology is gradually applied to targeted stimulation of nervous system. According to desired neural biomarkers acquired by biological signal measurement, the stimulus pattern can be automatically adjusted with the suitable closed-loop control algorithms. Moreover, the neural computing uses the numerical computing models to simulate the structures, functions and relations of the neurons and the neural networks, as the substitute of biological brain. As the prevalence of the hardware-in-loop (HIL), the HIL closed-loop electrophysiology not only bypasses the problem of biological experiments but also makes up for the insufficient efficiency and real-time performance of software digital simulation. This paper proposes a hardware experiment platform mainly made up of TMS320F28377D digital signal processor (DSP) and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 6-Core Processor (CPU) for closed-loop electrophysiological research. The hardware platform is programable, portable, real-time and supports the repeated experiments. Closed-loop electrophysiological experiments with different kinds of control algorithms, stimulation waveforms, feedback variables or neuron models can be implemented on the platform, it may promote the development of researches in the field of closed-loop neuroscience and biomedical engineering.

Application of neural organoids in studying neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are among the top causes of mortality and the aversion of DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years) worldwide. Many attempts have been made to develop therapeutics to alleviate disease symptoms without much success. The preclinical models utilized in therapeutic testing are often inaccurate and cannot precisely translate into clinical studies. The introduction of neural organoids, a three-dimensional model grown from human-originated stem cells, was able to revolutionize the field of neurological drug development. Using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC), scientists are able to restore adult cells pluripotency and cultivate them into region specific brain organoids using a combination of growth factors, agonists, and inhibitors. These models have proven valuable in drug screen for myriad neurodegenerative disorders. To model such diseases, iPSCs are generated from patients with the respective diseases, and then cultivated in an environment that mimics the disease environment. For example, for Parkinsons disease, Wnt pathway inhibitors and the Sonic hedgehog agonist are used to induce midbrain neural progenitor cells from patients with risk factors. Despite neural organoids wide usage in screening for neurodegenerative disorders and drug testing, neural organoids present several limitations in their function, including a lack of complexity equivalent to that of the brain. This paper will discuss neural organoid technology and provide basic insight to its usage in drug screening and the field of neuroscience.

Office Openess Affects Stress Regulation and Teamwork: A Neurophysiological Field Study

Stimulating and sustaining teamwork can be a strategic asset for an organization. Yet, little has been done to objectively assess how office design affects team performance. We conducted a neuroscience field experiment of employees (N = 96) to examine how different open-office configurations impact three measures of neurophysiologic stress, affect, and creative problem-solving in three existing office configurations that varied in their degree of openness. Physiologic stress was lowest in the most open work setting resulting in higher performance and more rapid post-work physiologic recovery compared to less open configurations. We identified three core factors driving these results: high perceived privacy, a more pleasant ambience, and increased autonomy. This multimodal approach identifies neurophysiologic mechanisms linking office design to team performance.

Review of "Physiological psychology" by Vladimir E. Trajkovski

“Physiological psychology” authored by Prof. Dr. Vladimir E. Trajkovski, represents a pivotal contribution to the field of physiological psychology. The Publisher is Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje and it was published on September 29th in Skopje. This is first edition of the book, which is printed in B5 format with ISBN 978-608-238-235-7. This textbook, the first in the Macedonian language, elaborately explores the biological bases of behaviour. The book's scope extends beyond mere academic interest, serving as a valuable resource for students and professionals. This book is a valuable resource for anyone fascinated by the intersection of psychology and physiology, demystifying how our biological mechanisms shape behaviour. It's a great educational resource, particularly for students and professionals in psychology, neuroscience, and similar fields, because of its exhaustive exploration of physiological psychology. From the workings of the sensory systems and the dynamism of motor functions to the neurological and cognitive complexities, the book clarifies human behaviour's roots. This book is a great candidate for readers seeking to enhance their knowledge of physiological psychology.

Personality–brain connection: Based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data-driven exploration

Background: The personality-brain association mechanism has been a topic of interest in the field of neuroscience. Usually, the previous research strategy was to first group the population based on different personality traits, and then explore the brain mechanisms corresponding to different personality groups. At present, a “brain-first” research strategy, which uses data-driven approaches instead of personality traits to first group the population, has been adopted to further enhance study objectivity. Methods: Here, we used a data-driven approach following the “brain-first” research strategy to deeply mine the resting-state brain functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 119 healthy participants, classified subjects into different groups based on brain image characteristics, and used the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire to explain the variabilities of resting-state brain characteristics between different groups. Results: We have identified 3 personality–brain connections, including the privateness–left frontoparietal network, liveliness–sensory–motor network, and vigilance–sensory–motor network. Conclusion: We conclude that the above-mentioned three personality factors are based on brain neural activity, independent of the subjective experience of the personality scale creator, and have stronger explanatory power of brain imaging features.

Open Reproducible Neuroscience Research on Cloud with Infrastructure as Code

Reproducibility is a key component of scientific research, and its significance has been increasingly recognized in the field of Neuroscience. This paper explores the origin, need, and benefits of reproducibility in Neuroscience research, as well as the current landscape surrounding this practice, and further adds how boundaries of current reproducibility should be expanded to computing infrastructure. The reproducibility movement stems from concerns about the credibility and reliability of scientific findings in various disciplines, including Neuroscience. The need for reproducibility arises from the importance of building a robust knowledge base and ensuring the reliability of research findings. Reproducible studies enable independent verification, reduce the dissemination of false or misleading results, and foster trust and integrity within the scientific community. Collaborative efforts and knowledge sharing are facilitated, leading to accelerated scientific progress and the translation of research into practical applications. On the data front, we have platforms such as openneuro for open data sharing, on the analysis front we have containerized processing pipelines published in public repos which are reusable. There are also platforms such as openneuro, NeuroCAAS, brainlife etc which caters to the need for a computing platform. However, along with benefits these platforms have limitations as only set types of processing pipelines can be run on the data. Also, in the world of data integrity and governance, it may not be far in the future that some countries may require to process the data within the boundaries limiting the usage of the platform. To introduce customized, scalable neuroscience research, alongside open data, containerized analysis open to all, we need a way to deploy cloud infrastructure required for the analysis with templates. These templates are a blueprint of infrastructure required for reproducible research/analysis in a form of code. This will empower anyone to deploy computational infrastructure on cloud and use data processing pipeline on their own infrastructure of their choice and magnitude. Just as docker files are created for any analysis software developed, an IAC template accompanied with any published analysis pipeline, will enable users to deploy infrastructure on cloud required to carry out analysis on their data.

Unveiling the Mind’s Mystery: Exploring the Neurological Basis of Consciousness and its Impact on Human Health

Viewed as one of the biggest mysteries in science, consciousness was once overlooked as a research topic and is now an expanding field in neuroscience. Currently, there is no set definition for consciousness, and its biological underpinnings are not fully understood. Disorders of consciousness, where appropriate levels of consciousness are not achieved for a given period, can have a significant impact on quality of life. To recognize the implications of consciousness, it is important to understand the neurological basis of consciousness disorders. Today, research is limited to patients that suffer from long-term states of unconsciousness. However, scientists have been able to form a framework for the biological circuits involved in consciousness. It has been determined that consciousness is regulated through the integration of neural circuits between several parts of the brain. Many theories associated with the neural circuits that allow the human body to sustain consciousness exist: the Global Neuronal Workspace Theory, Information Integration Theory, and Temporospatial Theory of Consciousness. External factors can also lead to disorders of consciousness. While researchers have developed a clearer picture of the biological underpinnings of consciousness, treatments and recovery from disorders of consciousness remains challenging. As such, further work is needed to improve patient outcomes in disorders of consciousness. Here, we will define the areas of the brain related to consciousness, discuss the biological systems involved in conscious systems, and discuss disorders of consciousness and their current treatments. Finally, we will discuss new approaches to treatments and how they can improve patient outcomes.

Positive Neuroscience: Comparing the Neural Correlates of Meditation and Creative Flow

Positive neuroscience focuses on the flourishing and optimized human brain. Despite this optimization being a result of higher conscious states, often caused by meditation or creative flow, the neuroscience field lacks research comparing these two unique brain states. Therefore, through an exploratory content analysis, this research will reveal what neural mechanisms can potentially characterize the flourishing human brain by comparing 21st century, neuroscientific literature on meditation and creative flow. This paper’s findings have indicated compelling alignment for increased activity in the VLPFC, DLPFC, and parietal regions, which altogether enhance emotional and attentional regulation. Aligned deactivations of the AMY and DMN (including the mPFC and PCC), increased activity in theta and alpha oscillations, and the inverse relationship between the DMN and CEN also corroborate the potential trend of increased emotional and attentional processing. Despite some limitations, by extracting the neuroscientific results from empirical work on both conscious states and comparing their respective neural correlates, these potential trends implicate the significance of emotional and attentional regulation regarding mental wellbeing, and a more-informed direction for future investigations exploring positive neuroscience.

Altmetrics for the identification of scientific controversies: The case of NeuroGenderings and neurosexism

This work presents a methodological proposal for the analysis of social controversies related to scientific literature. This methodology consists of three clearly differentiated parts. First, we identify the cognitive structure of a set of scientific works. To do this, a historiogram is created through the analysis of references cited by seminal works. This allows us to expand the set of works to work with, subsequently conducting a co-word analysis to identify the cognitive structure of the scientific field to be explored. Secondly, we obtain social mentions of this scientific literature using so-called altmetrics. This allows us to extract mentions made to each scientific document from non-academic environments. Finally, we apply sentiment analysis techniques to these mentions to identify focal points of negative sentiment. We test this methodology on the case study of NeuroGenderings, a movement in the field of neuroscience that denounces the lack of scientific evidence in works that claim the existence of brain differences driven by the biological sex of the subjects. Our results confirm the viability of these types of approaches that enable the identification of research areas with greater controversy. Although our study is limited to the analysis of controversies in news, blogs, Facebook, Wikipedia, and Reddit, the methodology can be applied to other domains and social platforms.

Edge time series components of functional connectivity and cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease

Understanding the interrelationships of brain function as measured by resting-state magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological/behavioral measures in Alzheimer’s disease is key for advancement of neuroimaging analysis methods in clinical research. The edge time-series framework recently developed in the field of network neuroscience, in combination with other network science methods, allows for investigations of brain-behavior relationships that are not possible with conventional functional connectivity methods. Data from the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center sample (53 cognitively normal control, 47 subjective cognitive decline, 32 mild cognitive impairment, and 20 Alzheimer’s disease participants) were used to investigate relationships between functional connectivity components, each derived from a subset of time points based on co-fluctuation of regional signals, and measures of domain-specific neuropsychological functions. Multiple relationships were identified with the component approach that were not found with conventional functional connectivity. These involved attentional, limbic, frontoparietal, and default mode systems and their interactions, which were shown to couple with cognitive, executive, language, and attention neuropsychological domains. Additionally, overlapping results were obtained with two different statistical strategies (network contingency correlation analysis and network-based statistics correlation). Results demonstrate that connectivity components derived from edge time-series based on co-fluctuation reveal disease-relevant relationships not observed with conventional static functional connectivity.

Enzymatic vitamin A2 production enables red-shifted optogenetics

Optogenetics is a technology using light-sensitive proteins to control signaling pathways and physiological processes in cells and organs and has been applied in neuroscience, cardiovascular sciences, and many other research fields. Most commonly used optogenetic actuators are sensitive to blue and green light, but red-light activation would allow better tissue penetration and less phototoxicity. Cyp27c1 is a recently deorphanized cytochrome P450 enzyme that converts vitamin A1 to vitamin A2, thereby red-shifting the spectral sensitivity of visual pigments and enabling near-infrared vision in some aquatic species.Here, we investigated the ability of Cyp27c1-generated vitamin A2 to induce a shift in spectral sensitivity of the light-gated ion channel Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and its red-shifted homolog ReaChR. We used patch clamp to measure photocurrents at specific wavelengths in HEK 293 cells expressing ChR2 or ReaChR. Vitamin A2 incubation red-shifted the wavelength for half-maximal currents (λ50%) by 6.8 nm for ChR2 and 12.4 nm for ReaChR. Overexpression of Cyp27c1 in HEK 293 cells showed mitochondrial localization, and HPLC analysis showed conversion of vitamin A1 to vitamin A2. Notably, the λ50% of ChR2 photocurrents was red-shifted by 10.5 nm, and normalized photocurrents at 550 nm were about twofold larger with Cyp27c1 expression. Similarly, Cyp27c1 shifted the λ50% of ReaChR photocurrents by 14.3 nm and increased normalized photocurrents at 650 nm almost threefold.Since vitamin A2 incubation is not a realistic option for in vivo applications and expression of Cyp27c1 leads to a greater red-shift in spectral sensitivity, we propose co-expression of this enzyme as a novel strategy for red-shifted optogenetics.

CNSC-38. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE FUNCTIONAL RELEVANCE OF INTRA- AND INTERTUMORAL NETWORKS IN PRIMARY BREAST CANCER

Abstract Despite intensive efforts to improve current therapeutical strategies, breast cancer continues to be a life-shortening diagnosis for a significant number of affected women. Considering that the innervation density of breast cancers negatively correlates with the prognosis, the emerging field of Cancer Neuroscience, which deals with the reciprocal interactions between the nervous system and cancer cells, represents an attractive novel research direction. In fact, studies on breast cancer brain metastases have proven that the metastatic cells receive growth stimuli by hijacking healthy glutamatergic synapses. Beyond being capable of forming direct glutamatergic cancer-neuron synapses, primary brain tumor cells also connect to a multicellular intercommunicating network that contributes to therapy resistance. Whether similar mechanisms also apply to tumors outside the brain – accountable for the majority of cancer cases – remains unknown. Here, we aim at unraveling the functional role of intratumoral networks and the influence of (potential) direct primary breast cancer cell-neuron interactions. We hypothesize that purinergic signaling as a universal synaptic signaling mechanism enhances tumor growth. Through the application of ex vivo whole-organ tissue-clearing and nerve-labeling approaches, we noticed prevalent sensory and sympathetic innervation in the healthy and diseased murine mammary gland. Furthermore, we measured tumor cell proliferation rates in an in vitro model of primary murine sensory DRG-neurons co-cultured with breast cancer stem cells and compared these to monoculture controls. By implanting a mammary imaging window over the growing primary tumor, we longitudinally track the calcium activity of breast cancer cells in their natural microenvironment in the living mouse. We thereby are able to record co-activity of neighboring cells indicative of intratumoral network communication in primary breast cancers. Overall, our data support the existence of functional intra- and intertumoral breast cancer cell networks as an alternative therapeutical target. Future work needs to concentrate on unequivocally detecting direct neuron-cancer cell contacts.

CNSC-28. CELLULAR AND FUNCTIONAL REMODELING OF HUMAN CEREBRAL ORGANOIDS BY GLIOBLASTOMA STEM-LIKE CELLS

Abstract The burgeoning field of cancer neuroscience focuses on deciphering the role of normal neural cells in brain tumor growth. Until recently, representation of normal human neural cells in brain tumor model systems was lacking. By utilizing human induced-pluripotent stem cells derived cerebral organoids (COs) co-cultured with glioblastoma stem-like cells (RFP-luciferase tagged MDA-GSCs, n = 3 representing each glioblastoma molecular sub-type), we investigated the effects of GSCs on CO-derived neural cells and their activity. COs and CO+MDA-GSCs were subjected to single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). As per typical micro-anatomy of COs, neural stem/progenitor cells are interiorly distributed whereas differentiated neurons are positioned on the surfaces, enabling measurement of neuronal action potential on surfaces of COs by micro-electrode arrays (MEA). The scRNA-seq data from CO+MDA-GSC samples were subset into CO-derived (luciferase-ve) and GSCs-derived (luciferase+ve). Compared with COs, co-cultured samples had significantly higher percentage of non-telencephalon neural progenitor cells (ntNPCs) (CO_vs._CO+MDA-GSC(luciferase-ve): 15.6% vs. 47.2%-63.4%) while the percentages of cortical NPC (cNPCs) and intermediate progenitors (IPs) was lower (CO_vs._CO+MDA-GSC(luciferase-ve): 39.2% vs. 12.0%-20.5%). These alterations in NPC/IPs abundance were accompanied by decreased proportions of cortical excitatory neurons (CO_vs._CO+MDA-GSC(Luciferase-ve): 33.2% vs. 7.9%-23.4%). Among luciferase+ve MDA-GSCs-derived cells in co-culture samples, mesenchymal MDA-GSCs had higher abundance of ntNPCs versus cNPCs (30.4% versus 63.6%) whereas, among classical and proneural MDA-GSCs ntNPCs were 11.45-22.8 times higher. Interestingly, 14.9% of proneural MDA-GSCs derived cells displayed inhibitory neuron signatures. After 3 weeks, the mean firing rate measured by MEA was significantly lower in co-cultures compared to COs (CO_vs._CO+MDA-GSC: 0.052 Hz vs. 0.0081 Hz p-value 0.000219), suggesting functional remodeling. Our results show that cellular remodeling of normal cells resulted in progenitor-like cell-state whereas that of MDA-GSCs varied across molecular sub-type. These results suggest interactions between normal and tumor cells can potentially be leveraged to manage brain tumor growth and its impact on normal brain.

CORPOREALITY AND CROSS-CURRICULAR LEARNING: FROM THE ANALYSIS OF THE 2004-2007-2012 NATIONAL INDICATIONS TO FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

The segmentation and specialization, which characterize the current state of knowledge, the "struggle" and sometimes the declared "incommunicability" between the sciences, today need a modification of the curricula and a consequent and necessary reorganization of educational planning and programming oriented to overcome the unidisciplinary approach. The present contribution, starting from an analysis of the 2004-2007-2012 national curriculum Indications (MIUR) and focusing on corporeality as a medium of cross-curricular learning, aims to initiate insights about the revision of programmatic guidance documents in the Italian context. The study in analysing objectives and developmental goals of the different disciplines within the national guidelines highlights the evolution of the value of corporeality by critically revisiting the usual educational scenarios where the body is often absent or little valorise. According to international educational perspectives increasingly directed toward the development of transversal skills and attitudes and recent research in the field of cognitive neuroscience, some epistemological nodes will be outlined on which to leverage so that corporeality can become a “tool” for the integration of knowledge and experience, traditionally separated from each other: those of speech (verbal dimension) with the less recognized ones of movement, gesture, gaze and the senses (non-verbal dimension). Physical education can enable the implementation of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary paths, foster the implementation of learning environments effective to the promotion of cognitive, social, cultural and affective experiences.

Studies conducted on physical activity and brain: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine physical activity and brain-related studies published in international and peer-reviewed journals using the Bibliometric Analysis Method. Material and Methods: By applying the visualized Bibliometric Analysis Method in the study, it was aimed to examine the general distribution characteristics, study progress, and highlights of existing studies on the effects of physical activity on the brain from 2001 to 2022. Studies that were published in journals containing SSCI, SCI-Expanded and AHCI indices of Web of Science (WoS) were examined within the scope of the study. After the elimination criteria were applied, a total of 6007 studies were included in the Bibliometric Analysis. Results: When the year distributions of the publications were examined, it was found that they were few in number from 1990 to 2000, increased as of 2001, and a significant increase was detected especially in 2019. According to the articles reviewed based on WoS citations, it was found that the fields of neuroscience, clinical neurology and psychiatry came to the forefront. Considering the journal distribution of the examined articles, the PLoS One journal was in the first place. Four main clusters emerged in the common word analysis, which were green, red, blue and yellow. It was obtained that the green cluster occupying the center of the map was the field of sports sciences. The words found in the clusters that emerged from the analysis were physical activity, exercise, cognition, aging, Alzheimer’s disease, depression,dementia, and hippocampus. Conclusion: The study systematically summarizes and analyzes studies conducted on the promotion of physical activity by emphasizing the improvement of cognitive functions. It is expected that the study will provide guidance and reference for future research.

Abstract 16919: Analysis of Astrocyte Activation and Reduction of Motor Deficits Following hSOX2 Gene Therapy Delivered Using PAMAM Dendrimer Nanomolecules in Ischemic Stroke

PAMAM dendrimers are 3-dimensional nanomolecules which have the capability to deliverbiomolecules and gene therapy to the cells in vitro and in vivo . We have previously used the generation-4 surface-modified PAMAM dendrimers having 90% hydroxyl groups and 10% amine groups (G4-90/10) which are safe, cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver the biomolecules into the cells. In thecurrent study, we utilized G4-90/10 PAMAM dendrimers to deliver a gene therapy to the infarct in aischemic stroke brain in rats. Following an ischemic stroke, glial cells (such as astrocytes) are recruitedat the infarct region to perform maintenance functions, creating severe neuroinflammation. The goalof this study was to reprogram some of the astrocytes into neuronal lineage and repopulate the infarctregion. In addition, we also analyzed the temporal profile of astrocyte activation following ischemicstroke in the striatal and cortical regions to determine the time-point at which the maximum gliosisoccurs. This gives us a crucial timeline for treatment intervention to achieve astrocytereprogramming. We have used a transcription factor (hSOX2 gene), which was then delivered to thestroke brain in rats using the G4-90/10 dendrimers. Our results showed that the maximum glial cellactivation occurs in striatal and cortical regions on day 4 following ischemic stroke. Following genetherapy intervention, our initial analyses indicated that there was recovery from behavioral deficits inthe stroked rats compared to the vehicle-treated stroked rats and sham controls. Overall, these resultsshow that PAMAM dendrimers have significant potential delivering therapeutic molecules for treatingstroke and other neurological conditions. Support for this study was provided by the American Heart Association (18AIREA 33990094),Neuroscience program, the College of Medicine, department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the JohnG. Kulhavi Professorship and the E. Malcolm Field and Gary Leo Dunbar Endowed Chair of Neuroscience at Central Michigan University.

The neurobiology of political ideology: Theories, findings, and future directions

AbstractSocial scientists are increasingly interested in studying the psychological bases of political preferences. Research at the interface of neuroscience and political psychology is uniquely positioned to test theories that link political attitudes to cognitive, affective, perceptual, and motivational processes in the brain. In this article, we review existing theories and evaluate findings from the growing field of political neuroscience with an emphasis on four brain regions that have emerged as important neural substrates of political ideology: the amygdala, the insular cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the prefrontal cortex. We conclude by discussing current methodological and theoretical limitations before setting out an agenda for future research.