Deactivations during the numerical processing

Deactivation has been encountered frequently in functional brain imaging researches. However, the deactivations during the numerical processing have not been reported yet. In this study, the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to investigate the pattern of the deactivation in the brain of 15 healthy subjects during the numerical addition task. Analyses revealed significant deactivations in several brain regions, including the posterior cingulate, precuneus, anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex. Especially, we found notable deactivation in bilateral insula. Accounting for the cognitive functions of these regions participating in a combinated way, we discuss their contributions in sustaining the brain activity during conscious resting state, and indicate that the insula is an important area of gathering auditory information from the external world.     

The task dependent interaction of the deactivation regions

Although deactivation has been found frequently in former functional brain imaging researches, only recently has it become a focus of systematic study because of its not well understood physiological mechanism. However, most of the researches concentrated on the brain areas that would present deactivation, and, to our knowledge, the deactivation connectivity between these brain areas during the cognitive tasks has rarely been reported in literature. In this work, using the functional connectivity method WlCA （within-condition interregional covariance analysis）, we analyzed the deactivations in two different cognitive tasks symbol orientation and number comparison. The results revealed deactivations in the posterior cingulate, precuneus, anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex in both tasks. However, the interaction between the deactivated regions shows many differences. Our result further indicates that the potential implication of special deactivation connectivity may be related to the different task or attention resource. Further research is needed to clarify the exact reason.     

Temporal dissociation of parallel processing in the human subcortical outputs.

Many tasks require rapid and fine-tuned adjustment of motor performance based on incoming sensory information. This process of sensorimotor adaptation engages two parallel subcorticocortical neural circuits, involving the cerebellum and basal ganglia, respectively. How these distributed circuits are functionally coordinated has not been shown in humans. The cerebellum and basal ganglia show very similar convergence of input-output organization, which presents an ideal neuroimaging model for the study of parallel processing at a systems level. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure the temporal coherence of brain activity during a tactile discrimination task. We found that, whereas the prefrontal cortex maintained a high level of activation, output activities in the cerebellum and basal ganglia showed different phasic patterns. Moreover, cerebellar activity significantly correlated with the activity of the supplementary motor area but not with that of the primary motor cortex; in contrast, basal ganglia activity was more strongly associated with the activity of the primary motor cortex than with that of the supplementary motor area. These results demonstrate temporally partitioned activity in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, implicating functional independence in the parallel subcortical outputs. This further supports the idea of task-related dynamic reconfiguration of large-scale neural networks.     

不同足球水平女大学生反应抑制能力的差异及其脑结构基础

采用磁共振成像技术,结合Stop-Signal任务范式测评不同足球训练水平女大学生反应抑制能力的差异并探究其脑结构基础．34名被试按照足球训练水平分为对照组（CG）、业余组(AG)和专业组(PG),采用Stop-Signal任务评估反应抑制能力;基于体素形态学对T1结构像进行组间差异分析,并进行FDR校正;采用相关分析探究反应抑制能力和差异脑区之间的关系．结果表明:1）与CG相比,PG和AG的反应时分别缩短48和44 ms（P<0.05）;PG、AG较CG的停止信号反应时分别减少116和96 ms（P<0.05）,PG较AG停止信号反应时显著减少10 ms（P<0.05）;PG(57%)抑制正确率显著高于CG(55%)（P<0.05）．2）与CG相比,PG右侧小脑Crus1、丘脑、中央前后回及小脑蚓部Ⅷ,左侧小脑Crus1、苍白球、丘脑,灰质体积显著增大（P<0.05, FDR）;PG较AG右侧梭状回、中央前回、左侧扣带中回灰质体积显著增大（P<0.001）;AG较CG在双侧苍白球灰质体积显著增大（P<0.001）．3）小脑蚓部Ⅷ灰质密度和反应时存在显著负相关（P<0.05, r= ?0.12）;停止信号反应时与右侧丘脑(P<0.05, r= ?0.41)、左侧苍白球(P<0.01, r= ?0.49)呈显著负相关;抑制正确率与右侧梭状回(P<0.05, r=0.46)、左侧苍白球（P<0.01, r=0.47）呈显著正相关．长期足球训练显著提高女大学生反应抑制能力,且反应抑制能力与小脑蚓部Ⅷ、左侧苍白球、右侧丘脑、右侧梭状回灰质密度显著相关．推测长期足球训练通过诱导基底神经节、小脑灰质体积的变化来调节反应抑制能力的提升．因为本文采用了横断面研究,不能得出反应抑制和足球训练之间的直接因果关系,但在一定程度上表明二者之间存在显著相关关系．因此,后续还需要更多纵向对照研究,进一步确定因果关系．      

慢性应激对小鼠空间学习记忆功能及海马和前额叶皮层BDNF表达的影响

采用多因素慢性应激动物模型,通过Morris水迷宫测试小鼠空间学习记忆能力;采用免疫组织化学方法检测脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）在海马和前额叶皮层的表达．结果显示,与对照组相比,应激组小鼠的空间学习记忆能力明显下降（P〈0．01）;应激组小鼠海马CA1区、齿状回和前额叶皮层BDNF表达明显下降（P〈0．01）;停止应激后一周,应激组小鼠BDNF在各脑区的表达有一定恢复,但与对照组相比,仍有显著性差异（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）．结果表明,慢性应激导致小鼠空间学习记忆功能的损伤可能与BDNF表达的下调密切相关．     

Can the memory of an object be enhanced by imagining its loss?

Previous investigations examining salient memories have demonstrated that personal memories that are important to individuals and contain emotional information are better remembered than neutral events.Using behavioral and brain-imaging experiments,the present studies explored whether the previous finding was applicable imagined loss.In a behavioral experiment,a free recall paradigm was used to compare the memory performance of individuals who imagined loss with that of individuals who imagined importance.The superior memory performance conferred by imagining loss was constrained to ordinary items of low to medium importance and did not generalize to vital items.Moreover,brain imaging evidence revealed that the activation in certain brain regions was stronger when participants were imagining the loss of ordinary items of low to medium importance compared to vital items.These brain regions included cognitive effort-related areas(such as the parietal cortex and middle prefrontal cortex) and areas related to emotional experiences and emotion-related memories(such as the amygdala,parahippocampal gyrus,and posterior cingulate gyrus).Our study provides a new way of exploring the superior memory performance when imagining loss and enriches the literature on memory enhancement by contributing to a deeper understanding of the psychological mechanisms related to the imagining of vital losses.     

Categorization of behavioural sequences in the prefrontal cortex

Although it has long been thought that the prefrontal cortex of primates is involved in the integrative regulation of behaviours, the neural architecture underlying specific aspects of cognitive behavioural planning has yet to be clarified. If subjects are required to remember a large number of complex motor sequences and plan to execute each of them individually, categorization of the sequences according to the specific temporal structure inherent in each subset of sequences serves to facilitate higher-order planning based on memory. Here we show, using these requirements, that cells in the lateral prefrontal cortex selectively exhibit activity for a specific category of behavioural sequences, and that categories of behaviours, embodied by different types of movement sequences, are represented in prefrontal cells during the process of planning. This cellular activity implies the generation of neural representations capable of storing structured event complexes at an abstract level, exemplifying the development of macro-structured action knowledge in the lateral prefrontal cortex.     

静息态脑区的活动特征研究

静息态脑区的活动处于一种相对稳定的状态。但是,静息态机能性磁共振成像(functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,fMRI)实验中,被试者可能会受到各种噪声的影响,因此,统计分析所得到的静息态脑区的活动强度和体素数都可能受此影响。为了更进一步研究静息态脑区的活动特点,分别对16名被试采集了8′14″的静息态fMRI数据,将这些数据按照时间等分为5个部分,对每个部分分别采用低频振幅方法进行分析。实验结果显示:楔前叶和后扣带皮层包含活动体素的个数随时间变化较小,处于一种相对稳定的状态;额内侧皮层和顶下小叶中活动体素个数随时间变化差异较大,处于不是很稳定的状态。实验结果表明,静息态脑区中,楔前叶和后扣带皮层对于外界噪声的干扰不敏感,额内侧皮层和顶下小叶对于外界噪声比较敏感。     

Neural encoding of individual words and faces by the human hippocampus and amygdala

Patients with lesions in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) of the brain, which includes the hippocampus, amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus, are severely impaired in their ability to remember and recognize words or faces which they saw only a short time ago. These lesions also prevent the effect of word repetition on cortical event-related potentials that are associated with these tasks. We have been able to study the response of individual neurons in the human medial temporal lobe to such delayed recognition tasks in epileptic patients undergoing neurosurgery. We found that some MTL neurons preferentially fired on sight of one particular word from a set of ten words used in a memory task, and others fired in response to one particular face. This stimulus-specific firing was maximal during the time that the neocortical event potentials are most sensitive to stimulus repetition, suggesting that the MTL contributes specific information to the cortex during the retrieval of recent memories.     

NOS在甲状腺功能低下小鼠脑中含量变化的研究

本文研究了甲状腺激素减少时,小鼠的大脑、小脑、海马、嗅脑等脑组织中一氧化氮合酶（NOS）含量的变化.采用丙硫氧嘧啶（PTU）持续灌注20日龄左右雌性昆明小鼠造成甲减模型.采用NOS的生化测定法检测甲减小鼠的大脑、小脑、嗅脑、海马等中的NOS含量;检测指标包括组织中总一氧化氮合酶（TNOS）活性,以及诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）及结构型一氧化氮合酶（cNOS）两种分型酶的活性.生化测定法显示,甲状腺功能低下小鼠NOS含量与对照组比较在大脑、小脑和嗅脑中均出现了下降,cNOS在大脑、小脑、海马、嗅脑部位也均出现了下调.而iNOS含量在甲状腺功能低下小鼠的大脑、小脑、海马、嗅脑中却出现了上调.由此可得出,甲状腺激素的分泌异常会造成NOS含量的异常,NO信号系统可能参与甲状腺激素缺乏所致的脑损害过程.     

A potential ethnic difference in the association between 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms and the brain default mode network

The serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region （5-HTTLPR） is associated with mood disorders. This association is thought to be due to amygdala hyper- responsiveness to negative emotional stimuli as a result of reduced frontal cortical control. In Caucasians, the short form is associated with this effect, but in Han Chinese we recently found that the long form is involved. Serotonin receptors have rich expression in default mode network （DMN） regions and the recent studies have found an association between the short form of the 5-HTTLPR and DMN functional connectivity （FC） in Caucasians. The present study has investigated whether there may also be an ethnic difference in this influence of 5-HTTLPR on the DMN. We recruited 233 young Han Chinese subjects and calculated the resting-state default-network FC. Our study found that the L carriers had decreased FC in the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex, right parahippocampal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and increased FC in left precuneus （Pcu） compared to SS. The PCC-Pcu FC in L carriers was significantly negatively correlated with the depression scores. Our findings, therefore, suggest that there is also a difference between Caucasian and Han Chinese subjects in the association between the different forms of the 5-HTTLPR and DMN functional connectivity.     

工作记忆编码腹侧海马和内侧前额叶皮层局部场电位信号的相位同步分析

研究比较大鼠在静息状态下和工作记忆编码阶段腹侧海马和内侧前额叶皮层局部场电位相位同步的变化,分析相位在工作记忆任务相关信息处理中的作用机制。研究数据为6只SD大鼠静息状态和执行Y迷宫空间工作记忆任务时采集的腹侧海马和内侧前额叶皮层的局部场电位信号,计算两个脑区局部场电位信号之间的加权相位滞后指数值。研究结果表明,与静息状态相比,在工作记忆编码阶段,腹侧海马和内侧前额叶皮层之间的相位同步性在theta频段选择性地并且显著性地增加。腹侧海马和内侧前额叶皮层theta频段的相位同步是工作记忆编码阶段任务信息处理的一个作用机制。     

Developmental study on the immunocytochemical localization of NOV protein-containing neurons in the rat brain

The localization and development of nephroblastoma overexpressed gene (nov) protein-immunoreactive neurons in the brain of E8-P300 rats have been studied using immunocytochemistry and image analysis. Results are as follows: No NOV protein-immunoreactive cells were detected in the rat brain during prenatal development. A few of positive cells were detected at the early postnatal stage. However, the number and the immunoreactivity of these cells increased gradually at later stages. NOV-immunoreactive cells were widely distributed in the rat brain during P30–P60. The number of immunoreactive cells and their intensity also peaked within this stage. The number and staining intensity of NOV-positive cells decreased gradually with age. The positive cells were mainly located in cingulate cortex, striatum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum and brain stem. The present results indicate thatnov may play an important role in the development and differentiation of brain as well as maintaining the function of brain.     

基于复杂网络构建与分析技术的语音响度差异神经处理机制研究

相关分析能够找出研究现象之间的依存关系、相关方向以及相关程度,可以发现大数据集里隐藏的关联网络.本文面向语音响度变化认知问题,提出“差异度”的概念,利用相关分析构建大脑功能的复杂网络,探索深层的神经处理机制与脑认知新规律.提出一种短时窗分析方法,构建不同认知阶段的脑网络;基于不同刺激下节点度的拓扑特征,构建基于差异度的脑地形图,实现脑区之间数据关系的可视化表达和动态演化过程表达.结果发现,前额叶、右额颞区和右后颞区分别在听觉处理的早期、中期和晚期对声音响度变化具有显著响应.研究表明脑复杂网络构建与分析技术可以成为研究神经处理机制与认知规律的有效工具.     

中缝背核向大脑皮质的定位投射

目的 :研究RD向大脑皮质投射的范围、起源细胞的形态及其在核内的局部定位关系 .方法 :采用HRP逆轴突传递法对 2 5只猫RD向大脑皮质的投射进行了全面的观察 .结果 :①RD向除压上回和视区以外的大部分大脑皮质有着数量不等的纤维投射 ,但主要集中于前半皮质 ,其中向前乙状回的投射最为密集 .②起源细胞主要分布于RD的背侧部和腹侧部 ,背侧部以多极细胞为主 ,腹侧部多为梭形细胞 .③RD向压旁回 ,海马和膈区投射的起源细胞位于核的中、下段 ,而向其他皮质投射的起源细胞主要集中于核的中、上段 .结论 :RD向大脑皮质有着广泛的投射 ,这些投射的起源细胞在RD内具有明显的局部定位     

Cortical activity reductions during repetition priming can result from rapid response learning

Recent observation of objects speeds up their subsequent identification and classification. This common form of learning, known as repetition priming, can operate in the absence of explicit memory for earlier experiences, and functional neuroimaging has shown that object classification improved in this way is accompanied by 'neural priming' (reduced neural activity) in prefrontal, fusiform and other cortical regions. These observations have led to suggestions that cortical representations of items undergo 'tuning', whereby neurons encoding irrelevant information respond less as a given object is observed repeatedly, thereby facilitating future availability of pertinent object knowledge. Here we provide experimental support for an alternative hypothesis, in which reduced cortical activity occurs because subjects rapidly learn their previous responses. After a primed object classification (such as 'bigger than a shoebox'), cue reversal ('smaller than a shoebox') greatly slowed performance and completely eliminated neural priming in fusiform cortex, which suggests that these cortical item representations were no more available for primed objects than they were for new objects. In contrast, prefrontal cortex activity tracked behavioural priming and predicted the degree to which cue reversal would slow down object classification--highlighting the role of the prefrontal cortex in executive control.     

NOS1免疫阳性细胞在小鼠脑内的分布

目的:研究一氧化氮合酶(NOS1)在小鼠脑内的分布.方法:采用免疫组织化学技术,观察了一氧化氮合酶在正常小鼠脑内的表达.结果:NOS1阳性神经元分布于中枢神经系统的广泛区域,包括大脑皮质、海马、齿状回、间脑和脑干.结论:表明N0与中枢神经系统的诸多功能有关.     

Top-down signal from prefrontal cortex in executive control of memory retrieval.

Knowledge or experience is voluntarily recalled from memory by reactivation of the neural representations in the cerebral association cortex. In inferior temporal cortex, which serves as the storehouse of visual long-term memory, activation of mnemonic engrams through electric stimulation results in imagery recall in humans, and neurons can be dynamically activated by the necessity for memory recall in monkeys. Neuropsychological studies and previous split-brain experiments predicted that prefrontal cortex exerts executive control upon inferior temporal cortex in memory retrieval; however, no neuronal correlate of this process has ever been detected. Here we show evidence of the top-down signal from prefrontal cortex. In the absence of bottom-up visual inputs, single inferior temporal neurons were activated by the top-down signal, which conveyed information on semantic categorization imposed by visual stimulus-stimulus association. Behavioural performance was severely impaired with loss of the top-down signal. Control experiments confirmed that the signal was transmitted not through a subcortical but through a fronto-temporal cortical pathway. Thus, feedback projections from prefrontal cortex to the posterior association cortex appear to serve the executive control of voluntary recall.     

基于大脑不同区域的阿尔茨海默症基因表达数据分析

提出了采用Tukey双权函数作为FastICA(Fast Independent Component Analysis)方法的非线性函数,对阿尔茨海默症(Alzheimer’s disease, AD)多个脑区域基因表达数据进行显著基因提取,揭示其基因表达调控关系.针对传统聚类方法基于全局聚类且只能将某个基因聚类到某一类的缺陷,改进的FastICA方法能够对基因表达数据进行快速有效的双向聚类,能够满足同一个基因可能参与不同信号传导通路的生物特性.同时考虑到人脑中海马区、内嗅皮质区、颞中回及视觉皮层区均与学习与记忆功能密切相关,将算法对多个脑区域进行基因表达调控综合分析.结果表明,大量炎症反应是AD致病的重要因素之一.