Abstracts – POSTERS
Computational
SWPS University
Differences in the distribution of visual attention during the observation of canine silhouettes between experts and novices in cynology: An eye-tracking study.
eye-tracking, cynology, experts, novices, distribution of attention
Numerous eye-tracking research has indicated differences in the distribution of visual attention between experts and novices during observing stimuli crucial for a certain field of knowledge (Gegenfurtner et al., 2011). These differences can be noticed in the parameters of various eye-tracking indicators
This study focused on comparing experts and novices in cynology – the science of dogs. 33 individuals participated in the presented study – 7 of them were experts and 26 were novices. The expert group included Judges and Cynological Assistants, as well as Breeders from the Cynological Association in Poland. The novice group included individuals without Judge or Assistant qualifications, whose experience with dogs was not meaningful. Every participant first watched 10 images depicting silhouettes and heads of dogs in a free manner, without any instruction, and then another 10 images of different dogs with a request to assess the dog.
The results showed significant differences in the parameters of eye-tracking indicators depending on the level of experience in cynology and the condition of presenting the stimuli. Experts differed from novices, among others, in total viewing time of the stimulus, number of fixations per second and fixation duration. The condition of presenting the image had a significant impact on total viewing time of the stimulus, number of fixations per second, fixation duration and saccade amplitude. There were also significant differences found in the distribution of visual attention to various elements of the dog’s head and silhouette depending on the level of experience in cynology and the presentation condition.
Significant differences between experts and novices point to a conclusion that similar dependencies can be found in the field of cynology as in different fields of knowledge. This study also showed a major impact of the presenting condition on the parameters of the eye-tracking indicators. it is important to include the influence of the condition in the future research as it seems to be even more meaningful than the level of expertise.
Wrocław University of Science and Technology
Area-specific feedforward and feedback connectivity in the human auditory cortex
computational modelling, connectivity, event-related fields, evolutionary algorithms, feedback, feedforward, human auditory cortex, magnetoencephalography, optimisation
Despite advances in neuroscience, our knowledge of the human auditory cortex (AC) structure and related connectivity of it areas is constrained by the reliance on noninvasive techniques like magnetoencephalography (MEG). However, interpreting MEG data is challenging due to their complexity. Therefore, to enhance our knowledge, we leverage computational modelling as a complementary tool.
We employ an established computational model proposed by May et al. (2015, doi.org/10.1111/ejn.12820) which simulates auditory processing in the human AC and outputs synthetic MEG signals mimicking those from real MEG experiments. Recently we optimised the model parameters using an evolutionary algorithm to improve the match of the synthesised MEG signals to their experimental counterparts (Tomana et al., 2023, doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2023.108879). We found that feedback connections are on average somewhat stronger than feedforward connections. Now we explore area-specific contrasts in feedforward vs feedback connectivity between specific regions of AC, namely, core, belt, and parabelt.
Using MEG data from ten healthy human subjects and employing the optimised model of AC, we have found that in the communication between core and belt, feedback connections are statistically significantly stronger than feedforward connections in both hemispheres, although the difference is more pronounced in the left hemisphere.
Unravelling area-specific feedforward and feedback connection strengths should aid our efforts to understand the exact characteristics of the bottom-up and top-down processing of auditory information in humans. As the next step, we aim to conduct cross-validation analysis to make sure that the current results are robust. Additionally, implementing alternative optimisation methods could further improve the model’s performance.
University of Warsaw
Advancing Understanding of Post-Stroke Impairments Through Advanced Imaging Techniques: A Focus on Hemispatial Neglect
A stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is an event that disrupts the brain’s vascular system, typically due to a blockage in a blood vessel—referred to as an ischemic infarction. This blockage deprives brain cells of oxygen and nutrients, potentially leading to cell death and resulting in various physical, cognitive, or emotional impairments. The nature and severity of these impairments depend on the location and extent of the brain damage.
This poster aims to demonstrate the value of advanced brain imaging techniques in elucidating the neurological basis of deficits following a CVA, with a specific focus on the neuropsychological deficit known as hemispatial neglect. Both structural and functional imaging methods are explored to capture the neural underpinnings of this condition. Advanced techniques, including topological voxel-wise lesion-symptom mapping and tractography-based hodological approaches, are compared. The key assumptions and methodological limitations of these approaches are examined and compared with conclusive research involving functional connectivity analysis. These research examples highlight that aspects of hemispatial neglect syndrome arise not only from structural damage but also from changes in functional connectivity, which can be studied using the described brain imaging techniques.
Given that stroke is the second leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability worldwide, understanding these deficits is crucial. In Poland alone, the Polish National Health Fund recorded 74.7 thousand cases of ischemic stroke in 2023. As stroke incidence rises with an aging population, there is an urgent need for specialized care and improved clinical protocols to enhance the quality of life for stroke survivors. The research findings presented in this poster exemplify how methodological advancements can improve our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying post-stroke deficits, potentially informing more effective rehabilitation strategies and contributing to better patient outcomes.
Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
Exploring the contribution of the amygdala resting-state functional connectivity to the severity of Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder
Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder, Amygdala Parcellation, Recurrence Quantification Analysis
Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD), which has been included in the 11th International Classification of Diseases, is an impulse control disorder characterized by the inability to stop engaging in various forms of sexual behavior. There are still many open questions regarding the neuronal correlates of CSBD and the amygdala has been suggested to play an important role in its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to address this issue via a novel amygdala parcellation method based on Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) [1].
The RQA-based pipeline [1] was applied to resting-state fMRI data from 45 heterosexual males with CSBD. Psychological questionnaires such as the Sexual Addiction Screening Test-Revised (SAST-R), Brief Pornography Screening Test (BPS), and Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI) were used to assess the severity of CSBD symptoms. Their scores were used as second-level covariates in a seed-to-voxel resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) analysis with obtained amygdala subdivisions as regions of interest.
Each amygdala was divided into two subdivisions (the dorsomedial – DM and the ventrolateral – VL). The connectivity analysis revealed multiple :correlations between the rs-FC of the left amygdala and the severity of CSBD symptoms, especially for the left VL amygdala. The rs-FC between the left VL amygdala and cingulate cortex, hippocampus, and precuneus correlated positively with CSBD severity. On the other hand, the rs-FC between the left VL amygdala and middle temporal gyrus and supramarginal gyrus correlated negatively with CSBD severity.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to investigate the amygdala on the level of its subdivisions in CSBD patients. This study shows altered rs-FC of the left VL amygdala with several default mode network structures among individuals with CSBD and highlights the need for amygdala parcellation in research regarding this disorder.
References: [1]: Bielski K. et al., (2021) NeuroImage 227(117644)
Funding: Data collection was supported by the Polish National Science Centre OPUS grant (2014/15/B/HS6/03792) to MG. Data analysis was supported by the Polish National Science Centre PRELUDIUM grant (2016/23/N/HS6/02906) to MD, also supported by the Foundation for Polish Science scholarship number START 014.2023.
University of Warsaw
Improving Physics-Informed Neural Networks for Modeling Molecular Transport in the Human Brain
This study focuses on enhancing the quality and efficiency of physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) for modeling molecular transport in the human brain, particularly for estimating diffusion coefficients from MRI data. While PINNs are effective in solving partial differential equations (PDEs), they struggle with noisy data. The goal is to refine the PINN approach to improve its reliability and consistency, making it a viable alternative to traditional methods like the finite element method (FEM) for solving inverse problems in medical imaging.
Building on the work of Zapf et al. (2022), various enhancements to the standard physics-informed neural network (PINN) formulation are explored to improve performance with noisy data. This involves experimenting with different neural network architectures and incorporating operator learning to better capture complex dynamics. Techniques such as tuning the loss function and using adaptive refinement of training points are applied to enhance data fidelity and parameter estimation. Both synthetic and real life test cases, as well as comparisons with classical methods, are used to evaluate the impact of these improvements on the accuracy and efficiency of estimating diffusion coefficients from MRI data.
Preliminary results indicate that the improved PINN approach, enhances quality and efficiency in estimating the diffusion coefficient from MRI data. Comparisons between different neural network architectures and classical methods, like the finite element method, show promise, but further tests are required to confirm these findings.
While early findings suggest that the improved PINN method offers advantages in accuracy and efficiency over traditional approaches, decisive conclusions cannot yet be drawn. More extensive testing and validation are necessary to establish the robustness and general applicability of the proposed improvements in clinical settings.
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, PAS
Towards Improved Machine Learning Models for Psychiatric Disorder Classification using resting-state EEG
Machine learning, psychiatric diagnosis, mental disorders, classification, resting-state EEG, systematic review
Machine learning (ML) classification of psychiatric disorders using biomarkers, such as electroencephalography (EEG), is gaining popularity and has the potential to revolutionize psychiatric diagnosis. Current approaches employ a variety of classification algorithms, feature extraction methods, and selection techniques. However, the diversity in sample sizes, cross-validation protocols, and targeted psychiatric disorders make it challenging to identify the best strategies for enhancing this crucial tool.
In this poster, I would like to present a systematic review summarizing the findings of 195 studies that utilize resting-state EEG for psychiatric disorders classification, to identify the most effective approaches.
I systematically searched relevant papers in Scopus, Pubmed and PsycInfo databases, following PRISMA guidelines. From 195 eligible papers, I extracted data about machine learning methodology, including EEG feature extraction, selection, classification model used, and type of validation
The analysis reveals a significant interaction between the EEG features used for classification and the chosen ML algorithms. Notably, neural networks outperform traditional ML methods, especially when applied to raw data or without feature selection. Relying solely on linear features can undermine model performance, while employing complex feature sets, such as combined feature types, leads to higher accuracies. Additionally, preprocessing data with a notch filter can enhance model performance.
Our findings highlight the importance of obtaining sufficient sample sizes and using subject-wise validation to mitigate potential overfitting. These insights synthesize the most effective current approaches and provide valuable guidance for developing new tools in this field.
7. Anna Buchwald
AI Trackable Biochemistry Beneath Cognitive Decline
Cognitive decline, Amyloid-beta-peptide (Aβ), Tau, Neurodegenerative diseases, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Protein aggregates, Multi-omics analysis, Personalized medicine
Cognitive decline represents a progressive deterioration in mental faculties, including memory, attention, and reasoning abilities. This gradual loss of cognitive function significantly impairs an individual's quality of life and is closely associated with various neurodegenerative disorders. To develop effective interventions and treatments, it is crucial to understand the complex biochemical mechanisms underlying this decline. Key factors include the misfolding and accumulation of proteolytic fragments of the Amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) — Amyloid-beta-peptide (Aβ) —and the microtubule-associated protein Tau. Aβ forms clumps and plaques between neurons, while Tau forms neurofibrillary tangles within neurons, disrupting brain function and leading to neuronal death. Traditional research methods, such as histopathological examinations, biochemical assays, and animal model studies, are slow and labor-intensive. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a revolutionary solution by rapidly analyzing multi-sourced data to identify, segment, and characterize protein assemblies and their morphological features.
AI algorithms can identify and track protein clumps at the nanometer scale in microscopy images, categorizing them by shape and size while monitoring their development over time. These aggregates play a significant role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. AI-driven analysis provides insights into how their formation affects cellular functions and contributes to cognitive decline. AI facilitates the study of protein interactions and signaling pathways, revealing the influence of biochemical processes on disease progression. By analyzing protein interactions and integrating multi-omics (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) data, AI offers a comprehensive view of disease-related cellular changes. AI models predict potential therapeutic targets, accelerating drug discovery and personalized medicine.
Cognitive
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Divergent neuronal patterns determined in the inhibitory control Go/No-Go task in individuals with high and low temporal efficiency
Temporal Information Processing; Inhibitory control; Go/No-Go task; P300; Cluster-based permutation analysis
A growing body of research suggests that temporal and inhibitory processes are closely interconnected and share the same set of attentional resources. The objective of this study was to examine whether individuals of different temporal efficiency exhibit distinct patterns of neural activity in the inhibitory control Go/No-Go task.
Two groups of participants were selected based on their performance in the Temporal-Order Judgment task, which is used to assess their temporal efficiency: the High Temporal Efficiency group (HTE, n = 33) and the Low Temporal Efficiency group (LTE, n = 30). Subsequently, both groups performed an electrophysiological visual Go/No-Go task.
A cluster-based permutation analysis revealed a difference between HTE and LTE in the time range from 310 to 500 ms following stimulus onset. This was evidenced by a positive cluster with p = .031. The HTE demonstrated a significantly higher P300 amplitude in response to No-Go stimuli when compared to the LTE, with the difference being observed in the fronto-central region. Due to the behavioural differences in task performance between the two groups (lower number of omissions, higher d-prime value in the HTE), we calculated different waves (No-Go minus Go) to compare the difference in neural responses to Go and No-Go stimuli between the two groups. The results demonstrated that the HTE exhibited a significantly greater difference wave in comparison to the LTE in the frontal regions.
The findings showed that individuals of high and low temporal efficiency displayed different behavioural and neural patterns while performing an inhibitory Go/No-Go task. The higher P300 amplitude and greater difference wave in the HTE group may be indicative of better cognitive functioning, particularly in the context of attention and information processing. The present study demonstrated that individual differences in temporal processing are reflected in P300 amplitude dynamics during inhibitory processes in young adults.
9. Gabriela Rajtar, Michał Remiszewski, Tomasz S. Ligęza
Jagiellonian University, Institute of Psychology
The Impact of Regular Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Control: A Longitudinal Randomized Study
cognitive control, inhibition, physical exercise, Flanker task
Recent studies have indicated that there is promising interaction between physical exercise and cognitive control, specifically inhibition. Inhibition may be defined as a crucial ability to suppress irrelevant thoughts and behaviors and maintain focus on task-relevant stimuli. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of regular cycling training on behavioral and neuronal aspects of inhibition using the Flanker task.
A total of 63 sedentary, young adult participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG, N=36) or the control group (CG, N=31). The EG group underwent supervised cycling training program, which lasted 6 weeks with three training sessions per week. At the same time the CG was asked to keep their usual level of activity.
Before and after the intervention, participants completed the Flanker task with concurrent EEG recordings for ERP assessment. The task required identifying the central arrow’s direction while ignoring surrounding distractor arrows, in both congruent (e.g. <<<<<) and incongruent (e.g. <<><<) conditions.
Comparing pre- and post-intervention results, the EG exhibited significant behavioral improvements in response to incongruent stimuli, including a reduction in reaction time (p<.01) and decreased standard deviations of reaction time (p<.01).
Furthermore, neural measures revealed that the CG, compared to the EG, exhibited increase in conflict between congruent and incongruent stimuli pre- to post-intervention. This was indicated by the neural marker of inhibition, the N2 component, and suggests that regular cycling might prevent from negative neural changes related to resolving tasks that demand inhibition.
Collectively, the findings suggest that regular aerobic exercise improves both behavioral and neural indices of cognitive control and might be recommend for to benefit cognition of sedentary individuals.
10. Maria Wrzosek, Władysław Średniawa, Tomasz Pasterski, Paweł Sokal, Jan Kamiński
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology
Role of substantia nigra in working memory
substantia nigra, working memory, single neurons, microrecording, stimulation, dopamine
The aim of the current study is to verify this theory by using single neuron recordings in Substantia Nigra (SN) during a task engaging working memory.
The study was conducted on patients with Parkinson’s disease undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedure. During the procedure, the patients are asked to remember and then recall a position of one of the two arrows that are shown in sequence on a screen. Depending on a condition, they either have to recall the first arrow’s position and ignore the later (‘ignore’ condition) or to provide the second arrow’s position (‘update’ condition).
Apart from the recording conducted throughout the procedure, during half of the trials patients’ SN was electrically stimulated.
The obtained results show that the patients’ reaction time is significantly longer when the stimulation of SN is applied. However, this difference is only observed in an ‘update’ condition. Moreover, in some patients a significant difference in a single neurons’ activity has been observed during the task after the SN stimulation.
These results show that the neuronal activity in SN can be disrupted by applying electric stimulation and that it can influence patients’ reaction time in the memory task. Moreover, a significant difference in the neuronal activity in SN can be observed after stimulation.
11. Wiktor Więcławski, Marek Binder, Aleksandra Smus
Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University
Is pupillometry a new measure of spatial attentional bias: a replication failure
attention; pseudoneglect; pupillometry; replication
Attention can modify the pupillary light reflex (PLR), making pupillometry a valuable tool for assessing covert orienting of spatial attention. This principle underpins the „split-screen” method, a novel procedure designed to examine attentional bias. This method posits that stronger PLR to one of the visual hemifields indicates bias to orient attention towards that direction. Recognizing the clinical potential of this method we conducted a pilot study to verify its validity, We hypothesized that we will observe pseudoneglect — bias towards the left side of space — manifested as greater PLR to stimuli on the left. Furthermore, we anticipated that the PLR asymmetry would correlate with the behavioral measure of pseudoneglect, assessed via the greyscale task. Additionally, we expected to observe contraction anisocoria – an asymmetry in PLR depending on hemiretina being stimulated, which overlaps with the effect of attention.
63 participants were tested using the Eyelink 1000 eye-tracker. In the main procedure we manipulated the location of bright surface on the screen while subjects fixated their eyes at the central fixation cross. For exploratory purposes we assessed eye dominance. We used the contraction amplitude from segments surrounding experimental events as the dependent variable. We fitted linear mixed model to the data and run correlation analysis to check our hypotheses.
The main hypotheses were not confirmed. However, we observed contraction anisocoria. Nevertheless, the pseudoneglect was present in our sample as evidenced by the greyscale task results with mean scores significantly deviating from the center. Eye dominance had no significant effect on pupil size.
These findings suggest that the split-screen method may have low reliability but the pseudoneglect may be a subtle effect itself. They also demonstrate that pseudoneglect studies should take into account low-level visual hemifield asymmetries. Further research involving clinical populations is essential to evaluate the method’s efficacy in neuropsychological assessment.
University of Warsaw
Effects of Psilocybin on Brain Functional Connectivity: Insights into the Default Mode Network and Ego Dissolution
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms.” This compound induces rapid and profound shifts in perception and cognition. In recent years, psilocybin has garnered significant scientific interest for its potential therapeutic benefits. However, the brain changes underlying the effects of psilocybin remain largely unknown.
Current research suggests that psilocybin’s acute effects may result from altered communication patterns within the brain. Studies have revealed that psychedelics can cause well-coordinated brain regions, which are functionally coupled into networks, to become less synchronized. It is proposed that psychedelics increase connectivity between different networks while decreasing connectivity within individual networks. These differential effects on functional networks are currently under investigation. Researchers aim to identify specific connectivity changes that correlate with the self-reported intensity of the psychedelic experience or particular aspects, such as ego dissolution. Ego dissolution involves a reduction in self-referential awareness that defines normal waking consciousness, disrupting the boundaries between self and the external world, and fostering a heightened sense of unity with others and the environment. It has been linked with The Default Mode Network (DMN), a set of brain regions that show increased activity during “wakeful rest” when the brain is not engaged in a specific task, has received particular attention. The DMN is thought to play a key role in generating a person’s sense of self, space, and time.
This poster provides a comprehensive review of ongoing research on the effects of psilocybin on brain functional connectivity, focusing on the DMN and ego dissolution. Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying psilocybin’s effects is vital, given its growing therapeutic potential for treating disorders characterized by distortions of self-experience, such as depression.
13. Tomasz Zaleśkiewicz, Monika Tutaj, Anna Duszyk-Bogorodzka, Jakub Traczyk,
Agata Sobków, Joanna Śmieja, Kamila Jankowiak-Siuda
University of Warsaw (Faculty of Physics), SWPS University
Brain activity during spontaneous imagery of complex scenes
The same neural areas are activated during mental imagery as during visual perception. Such effects have been found in studies using both fMRI and EEG techniques based on very simple stimuli, i.e. apple, house, face. Nevertheless, research using more complex and ecologically valid stimuli has been conducted less frequently. Moreover, in the typical paradigm used in imagery studies, participants are explicitly instructed to imagine the object. Unlike instructed imagery, where individuals are aware that they visualize specific scenes, spontaneous imagery seems to occur automatically.
The main goal of this project was to test if visual brain areas are activated during imagery of engaging scenes in two conditions: on request and spontaneously.
60 healthy adults participated in our EEG study. Each of them participated in 3 conditions: visual – they watched an stimulating activity and decided if they wanted to engage in it, instructed imagery – they were asked to imagine that activity and decide if they wanted to engage in it, and spontaneous imagery – they were only asked if they wanted to engage in the activity. During the whole experiment, brain activity was recorded via EEG.
After pre-processing EEG data, activity for particular visual areas was assessed based on the beamformer model and compared statistically across those 3 conditions in the frequency domain.
The power spectrum analysis for the activity of visual regions of the brain revealed differences in theta (4-7 Hz) and alpha (8-12 Hz) bands compared to baseline in visual, spontaneous, and imagery conditions. The PLV connectivity analysis also showed similarities between brain activity in spontaneous and requested imagery in alpha and theta frequency bands.
The results may suggest that spontaneous and instructed imagery activate similar brain areas, as indicated by the differences in theta (4–7 Hz) and alpha (8–12 Hz) power compared to baseline. Brain connectivity analysis further supports this, showing consistent patterns of brain connectivity in both conditions, particularly in the alpha and theta bands.
This research was funded by the National Science Centre grant number 2019/33/B/HS6/01920.
14. Robert Kwaśniak, Dariusz Zapała, Paweł Augustynowicz, Paulina Iwanowicz, Paulina Droździel, Magdalena Szubielska
The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
Kinesthetic Motor Imagery in Congenitally Blind and Sighted Individuals. An fNIRS study
congenital blindness; motor imagery; fNIRS
Previous neuroimaging studies indicate differences in movement execution, motor imagery (MI), and brain activity patterns between sighted individuals (SI) and congenitally blind (CB). However, these experiments don’t consider perspectives (e.g. 1PP; 3PP), and strategies during MI performance. To address this problem, we designed an experiment that enables us to control evoking kinesthetic motor imagery (KMI), by 1-DoF haptic interface.
Gender, education, handedness and age were matched for 24 participants (12 CB; 8 F), aged 22-49 (M = 34.05; SD = 8.15). Individuals performed a MI task both hands related to the mental recall of kinesthetic stimuli evoked by the interface. The hemodynamic signal was recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) from 24 channels located in the left and right motor cortex (LMC/RMC), frontopolar cortex (FPC).
ANOVA was performed for changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration in two areas (FPC/LMC) with within-subject factors HAND, CHANNEL and between-subject factors GROUP. We observed for the FPC area, a main effect of GROUP F(1, 11) = 5.028; p = 0.047; η² = 0.154. CB (M = -0.008; SE = 0.008) showed less HbO concentration than SI (M = 0.017; SE = 0.008). For LMC we found a interaction between HAND*CHANNEL*GROUP F(1.262, 14) = 9.754, p = 0.01; η² = 0.112. The post-hoc tests showed a difference between CB and SI for right hand in S3D3 (M = -0.078; SE = 0.02) and S3D1 (M = -0.08; SE = 0.02) channel.
FPC in CB is functionally connected with the visual cortex and it interacts with a working memory system. Lower HbO concentration in this area for CB compared to SI may indicate lower cognitive load during the KMI task. The lower activation of HbO in the LMC area in the CB compared to the SI may be related to a mechanism of functional reorganization.
15. Marta Dębecka, Agnieszka Dębska
University of Warsaw
The relation between musical training and phonological awareness in children – fMRI study
Previous research has shown a link between musical training and phonological awareness in children, but the neural mechanisms behind this relationship are still not well understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the neural basis of phonological awareness in children with and without musical training.
A total of 42 children participated—21 with at least 2 months of musical training and 21 without. All children completed 3 phonological tests from a standardized battery, as well as 3 tasks in an fMRI scanner: pseudoword matching, rhyming, and first phoneme matching.
There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of accuracy on either the behavioral tests or the fMRI tasks. However, during the pseudoword matching task, children with musical training showed greater activation in the left postcentral gyrus/inferior parietal gyrus (k = 286, -38 -30 28, T = 5.26, p < 0.001, FWE-corrected p < 0.05).
Even though it is not very strong result, these regions are involved in both music and phonological processing, suggesting that training in one domain may influence the other. Overall, the results show that some differences in the neural basis of phonological awareness can be observed in children with musical training experience, even in the lack of behavioural difference, supposedly before these differences emerge.
16. Mgr Marta Paź and Prof. dr hab. Anna Nowicka
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAN
The Ageing Self: How Men and Women Reflect on Themselves and Others
self_prioretization, elderly_people, eeg, n2, LPP
Self-relevant stimuli, like one’s name or face, are prioritized by the brain, resulting in faster responses and enhanced attention. These effects are linked to ERP components, particularly reduced N2 and enhanced LPP. However, most research has focused on young adults, with little attention to older adults. This study aimed to fill that gap by investigating age-related changes in self-perception and exploring potential gender differences.
EEG data were collected from 56 participants over 60 years old. Before the experiment, participants completed psychological assessments and selected a close person (e.g. friend) and a preferred Polish celebrity (e.g. Lech Wałęsa). The experimental task consisted of three blocks (SELF, CLOSE, FAMOUS), where participants were viewing 150 adjectives (positive, negative, neutral) and judged whether each adjective applied to the assigned person.
The analysis of reaction times and responses confirmed that participants reacted faster to self-related trials. The LPP component (electrodes F3, F1, AF3, AFz; 400-700 ms and 700-1200 ms) showed a higher positive response to self-related stimuli (early window: F(45) = 3.807, p = 0.026; late window: F(45) = 3.770, p = 0.027). Additionally, there was a difference in the N2 component (220-370 ms, electrode Fz) (condition: F(45) = 6.37, p = 0.003; condition*sex: F(45) = 6.562, p = 0.005). Sex differences were also analyzed.
Results indicated the robust self-prioritization effect in older adults. Notably, elderly women exhibited higher LPP amplitudes and slightly lower N2 components compared to men. Enhanced LPP indicates deeper self-reflection which is linked to highest attention allocation for self-related personality traits. On the other hand, lower N2 suggest reduced engagement of executive control in visual encoding and response execution.
17. Adam Datta, Agata Kulesza, Sylwia Bednarek, Piotr Majka, Marcello G. P. Rosa
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAN
Towards objective characterization and interpretation of cytoarchitectural properties of the primate cerebral cortex
primate brain, cortex segmentation, deep-learning, explainable A
Understanding the organization of the cerebral cortex requires both time and expert knowledge. Combining both, deep learning and explainable AI techniques, can provide observer-independent insights into the laminar structure, while unveiling the criteria used during the learning process.
We propose a computational workflow for the cerebral cortex segmentation into layers. The solution combines (1) estimation of the neuronal density and size, (2) extraction of one-dimensional cortical profiles starting from the pial surface and ending at the white matter, (3) a deep-learning convolutional neural network that segments profiles into layers, and (4) explanation of estimated predictions with class activation maps.
Our solution was evaluated on a dataset consisting of 18 selected cortical areas derived from a non-human primate – common marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) brain. The model was trained to recognize layers in the areas of a diverse cytoarchitecture. The evaluation revealed that the model’s performance increases when the neuronal density and size estimates contribute to the training process, compared to only using the image intensity. Furthermore, the model performs noticeably better when additional input with information about the area to which profiles belong is enabled.
Apart from streamlining and automating cortex segmentation, our solution offers possibilities for valuable insights into the cytoarchitectonic properties of the primate cerebral cortex.
Clinical
1. Emrullah Ecer, Agata Gasiorowska
SWPS
The Relationship Between Adult Attachment Insecurities and Working Memory Capacity is Mediated by Borderline Personality Traits
attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, borderline personality, working memory capacity, n-back task
People with attachment insecurities may experience impairments in executive functions and be at risk for borderline personality traits. However, until now, no studies have examined the role of borderline personality traits in the relationship between adult attachment insecurities and the risk of working memory deficits, particularly using non-emotional or non-attachment-related stimuli in a non-clinical sample.
We used the 2-back task to measure working memory capacity in a Polish sample, while controlling for social desirability bias.
We found an indirect effect of attachment anxiety and avoidance on the risk of working memory deficits via borderline personality. We also found that borderline personality traits mediated the relationship between attachment insecurities and the number of correctly matched items. Attachment anxiety was marginally related to the number of correctly matched items, while attachment avoidance was not.
Our studies suggest the importance of borderline personality traits as a potential mechanism linking attachment insecurities to working memory capacity regardless of cultural differences and gender.
Neurobiology
Uniwersytet Łódzki
Neurobiological effects of essential oils
essential oils, olfactory receptors, limbic system
Essential oils (EOs) are oily liquids produced by plants, containing volatile chemical compounds responsible for their odour. They have been used in folk medicine since ancient times in treating various diseases.
They have shown neuropharmacological properties such as nootropic, sleep improvement, anti-anxiety and depression, anti-dementia, analgesic effect, anti-epileptic, neuroprotective.
The neurobiological effects come from activation of the olfactory receptors on a nasal olfactory epithelium by the component of EOs. The stimulation of olfactory nerves and transmission of a signal to the central nervous system – hypothalamus, limbic system, and prefrontal cortex, can modulate parameters such as blood pressure, muscle tone, pulse rate, brain wave activities, and cortisol serum levels with associated psychological effects. Some EOs have also shown the ability to induce neurite outgrowth.
EOs are considered as a potential tool in the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety or neurodegenerative diseases.
However, more research is needed to prove the EOs pharmacological efficacy in the human nervous system, which may enable the development of essential oil-based drugs.
3. Karolina Raczek, Halszka Kontrymowicz-Ogińska, Aleksandra Domagalik-Pittner
Doctoral School in the Social Science, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
Chronotypological aspect of emotional processing in sleep deficit states
Human cyclic functioning is regulated by three clocks: social, sundial, and internal (biological). The biological clock is driven by internal processes at cellular and behavioral levels, with genetic and environmental factors influencing individual synchronization with the light-dark cycle. This variation is described as chronotype (morning, intermediate, evening), which determines peak activity times and preferred sleep schedules. Evening chronotypes and sleep deficits have been linked to an increased risk of mental disorders, though the mechanisms remain unclear.
This study examined the impact of sleep deficits (chronic deprivation—5 days/5 hours, acute deprivation) and chronotype (assessed via the KCh 2.0 questionnaire) on emotional processing (responses to emotional stimuli). Twenty-eight healthy young participants (16 women, mean age 23.6±3.7) were exposed to emotional and neutral audiovisual stimuli while undergoing MRI scans (MAGNETOM Skyra 3T). Data were collected over 10 minutes, with participants’ subjective feelings assessed using PANAS, CHICa, and KSS questionnaires. Daily activity was tracked with actigraphs (MotionWatch8, Camntech Ltd.). Data pre-processing was conducted with fMRIprep (ver. 23.2.0), and post-analysis with AFNI (ver. 21.3.04). ANOVA was used to identify clusters showing differences across conditions, with a statistical threshold of p=0.05.
In summary, our results show that positive affect decreases and negative affect increases after sleep deprivation, with evening chronotypes particularly affected after acute deprivation. Functional MRI indicated that emotional processing, specifically the feeling of being moved, significantly deteriorated only during acute sleep deprivation, linked to reduced activity in brain regions responsible for empathy. These effects may contribute to social isolation and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Understanding the role of chronotype in emotional processing under sleep deficit conditions, especially given the prevalence of chronic sleep deprivation in evening types, may lead to individualized strategies to mitigate the negative effects associated with this chronotype.
Funding: National Science Center No. 2018/29/B/HS6/01934.
4. Gabriela Czerniak, Kinga Przybylska, Sylwia Drabik, Aleksandra Trenk, Anna Gugula, Anna Blasiak
Jagiellonian University
Unveiling Anxiety Pathways: The Role of Nucleus Incertus and Interpeduncular Nucleus in Regulating Ventral Dentate Gyrus
nucleus incertus, ventral dentate gyrus, ventral hippocampus, interpeduncular nucleus, relaxin 3, cholecystokinin, anxiety-related disorders, social interactions
The ventral hippocampal dentate gyrus (vDG) plays a pivotal role in regulating stress, anxiety, and social interactions. The vDG has a dense innervation from the highly stress-sensitive brainstem nucleus incertus (NI) and midbrain interpeduncular nucleus (IPN). The neuropeptide relaxin-3 (RLN3) is primarily synthesised by the nucleus incertus (NI) and activates the relaxin-3 cognate receptor RXFP3 in the vDG, which has been shown to induce anxiety and social avoidance. Nevertheless, the neuronal mechanisms underlying RLN3/RXFP3 signalling in the ventral hippocampus (vHP), as well as the neurochemical characteristics of NI neurons innervating vDG, remain underexplored. Similarly, the nature of the IPN-vDG connection remains unknown.
Therefore, to elucidate the role of this pathway fluorescent retrograde tracers were used in stereotaxic injections into the vHP of Sprague Dawley rats. Multi-electrode array (MEA) ex vivo recordings were conducted to assess the effects of RLN3 on the vDG network activity.
A greater contribution from NI RLN3-positive neurons innervating the vHP was observed compared to those containing pro-cholecystokinin, with their projections predominantly ipsilateral. Neurons innervating the vHP were found in the lateral, caudal, rostral, and dorsomedial subnuclei of the IPN, which remained under the control of NI. RLN3 was found to exert both inhibitory and excitatory effects on the vDG network activity.
These observations allow to conclude that the vDG remains under the control of both NI and IPN, and provide new insight into the neurochemical and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying anxiety and social interactions.
Medical University of Lodz
Neuroprotective effect of JNK inhibition in 6-OHDA model of Parkinson’s disease
JNK; ER stress; apoptosis; Parkinson’s disease; 6-OHDA; neurodegeneration
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder marked by the death of dopaminergic neurons. The molecular pathogenesis of PD is complex, but it is known that the disease might be initiated by exposure to neurotoxins like 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). 6-OHDA induces dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the mechanism involving endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress and apoptosis. JNK is a major pro-apoptotic kinase involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, and it was also reported to play a critical role in PD. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of pharmacological JNK inhibition in the cellular, 6-OHDA-based model for PD.
The study was conducted on SH-SY5Y cells differentiated with retinoic acid. Neurodegeneration was induced by treatment with 6-OHDA at EC50. Cells were treated with JNK V inhibitor either before or after 6-OHDA-induced damage. The mechanism of JNK V-induced neuroprotection was assessed in terms of cell morphology, cell viability, mRNA and protein expression levels of the specific ER stress markers.
Inhibition of JNK partially restored cell morphology and significantly improved cell viability, even when the inhibitor was applied after 6-OHDA-induced damage. Gene expression analysis revealed a significant downregulation of MAPK10, XBP1 and DDIT3 by JNK inhibitor, and Western blot analysis showed that the neuroprotective effect of JNK V involves downregulation of p-eIF2α, p-JNK and CHOP levels, and upregulation of XBP1s.
The results obtained indicate the neuroprotective effects of pharmacological JNK inhibition against 6-OHDA-induced damage in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Thus, JNK inhibitors could potentially be applied for the selective treatment of PD. This work was supported by grant no. 2021/43/O/NZ5/02068 from the National Science Centre, Poland.
Jagiellonian University
Neurobiological impacts of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a theoretical review
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, leading to progressive muscle and heart weakness, primarily affecting boys. Dystrophin has at least eight isoforms: three full-length (Dp427m, Dp427p, Dp427c) and five shorter isoforms (Dp260, Dp140, Dp116, Dp40, Dp71), most of which are expressed in the brain. While research has largely focused on the muscular and heart effects of DMD, emerging evidence underscores significant brain involvement. Based on current research, this work aims to synthesize a neurocognitive profile of DMD patients.
Cognitive impairments in DMD patients are non-progressive and independent of muscular dysfunction. DMD patients exhibit a one-standard-deviation shift in full-scale IQ compared to the general population. They also have a higher prevalence of neurological impairments. The approximate prevalence of some of them in DMD are as follows: epilepsy 2-12%, autism 20%, depression 17-27%, anxiety 24-29%, OCD 5-14%, ADHD 12-32%, reading disability 40-50%. DMD patients also show short- and long-term memory deficits. These symptoms are often clustered, as over a third of boys show at least two comorbidities. Patients with more distal mutations, lacking Dp140 and/or Dp71, have a particularly high incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders, intellectual disability, and working memory deficits. However, emotional and behavioral deficits did not differ based on the proximity of the mutation. Animal models of DMD also show neuromotor disturbances and maladaptive stress responses. Several studies find no gross CNS structural differences while other researchers do identify disturbances. Among these are: slight cerebral atrophy, EEG abnormalities, larger head circumference, reduced glucose metabolism, reduced grey matter volume and cerebral blood flow as well as altered structural and functional connectivity. Both animal and human studies on DMD have consistently identified molecular abnormalities primarily located in the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum
7. Wiktoria Podolecka, MSc, Aleksandra Bramorska, PhD, Taisiia Prosvirova, Mark Jeremy Hunt, PhD
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences
How does the nasal epithelium impact the generation electrophysiological rhythms in the olfactory bulb of rats?
Changes in olfaction are emerging as early warning signs of several major neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Neurological diseases are also associated with aberrant brain rhythms. Olfactory sensory neurons deliver input from the nasal epithelium to the olfactory bulb (OB). Here, we examine the role of sensory input from the nasal epithelium in the generation of electrophysiological rhythms in the OB.
Rats were implanted with electrodes in the OB and post-surgery gadolinium or saline was infused bilaterally to both nares. Olfactory function was assessed using a hidden cookie test accompanied by local field potential recordings at the end of each session. Olfactory marker protein (OMP) levels were examined at days 5 and 15 post infusion.
We found rats infused with gadolinium took longer to find the hidden cookie, compared to saline controls, an effect that lasted around 10 days. Analyses of wake-related LFPs in the OB revealed reduced amplitude of respiration rhythm (1-10 Hz) in gadolinium-infused rats which correlated with impaired performance in the hidden cookie test. Gadolinium infusion was associated with reduced OMP staining in the nasal epithelium at day 5 suggesting reduced drive onto the OB neurons was responsible for this effect. Although wake-related OB LFPs had reduced in amplitude following gadolinium infusion to the nares, during slow-wave sleep large amplitude slow-waves were present in the OB at equivalent amplitude to saline-infused rats.
We conclude that olfactory sensory neurons in the nasal epithelium most likely drive wake-related rhythms in the OB in a bottom-up manner, but during slow-wave sleep this is dramatically shifted and top-down drive of slow-waves prevails.
8. Izabela Szpręgiel, Agnieszka Bysiek
Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Is neurotoxic effect of psilocybin dependent on the dose?
psilocybin, excitotoxicity, psychedelics
Psylocybin as selective agonist of 5-HT2A receptor seems to exhibit rapid antidepressant and anxiolytic effect in comparison to currently used antidepressant drugs. The therapeutic properties of psilocybin depend on doses used and time after administration, however there is no data regarding the neurotoxic effect of psilocybin on brain regions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses of psilocybin on possible genotoxic damage to the brain.
The study was conducted on naive male Wistar-Han rats. The animals were treated with single (0.6, 2 and 10 mg/kg) dose of psylocybin. Ketamine (10 mg/kg) and MDMA (10 mg/kg) were used in this test as a comparators. Genotoxicity was evaluated 7 days after drugs administration in tissue homogenates from frontal cortex and hippocampus using Comet Assay.
The results of the experiment showed that psilocybin differentially produce DNA damage and this effect depends on the dose. Psilocybin at the dose of 0.6 and 2 mg/kg did not produce DNA damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in nuclei of the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus. However, psilocybin at a higher dose of 10 mg/kg as well as ketamine and MDMA significantly increased oxidative stress in both brain regions.
Psilocybin dose-dependently induces neurotoxic effects in the brain. The observed genotoxic effect induced by higher doses of psilocybin is most likely related to excessive release of glutamate and dopamine which may induce excitotoxicity resulting in oxidative stress and neuronal atrophy. Low dose of psilocybin appear to be harmless to DNA integrity, which is particularly important in the use of this substance as a potential antidepressant drug.
Acknowledgments: This research was funded by National Science Centre grant no. 2020/37/B/NZ7/03753 and statutory funds of the Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences.
9. Zuzanna Kościuk, Agnieszka Bysiek, Izabela Szpręgiel, Krystyna Gołembiowska
Department of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Unit II, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
Effects of Psilocin and 25I-NBOMe on Changes in Levels of Released Neurotransmitters in the Claustrum
psychedelics, psilocin, 25I-NBOMe, 5-HT2A receptors, depressive disorders, mechanism of action, neurotransmission
Psychoactive substances belonging to the group of psychedelics (psychoplastogens) show high effectiveness in abolishing depressive and anxiety symptoms, even in cases of drug resistance to classical pharmacotherapy. Their therapeutic properties are due to their effects on neuroplastic processes in the brain, which are related to their action on 5-HT2A receptors. It turns out that the highest density of 5-HT2A receptors is present in one of the subcortical structures, the claustrum. The goal of the experiment is to investigate the role of claustrum in the mechanism of action of serotonergic psychedelics by determining the effects of psilocin and 25I-NBOMe on the neurotransmission and neuronal activity of claustrum following activation of 5-HT2A receptors.
The research will utilize a rat model to investigate the role of the claustrum in the mechanism of action of serotonergic psychedelics. Stereotactic surgery will be performed to implant a cannula guide into the claustrum, allowing precise administration of substances. Microdialysis will be employed to collect cerebrospinal fluid, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) will measure changes in neurotransmitter levels (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, acetylcholine) before and after psilocin (100 μM or 500 μM) or 25I-NBOMe (100 μM or 500 μM) administration. Psilocin is the active form of psilocybin, which has the ability to bind to serotonergic receptors. And 25I-NBOMe is a potent agonist toward 5-HT2A receptors, which are being studied in the experiment.
The results show statistically significant increases in the levels of the neurotransmitters after activation of 5-HT2A receptors in the claustrum.
The obtained data will allow us to understand better the mechanism of action of psychedelic substances. A definitive determination of which neurotransmitters are released due to activation of 5-HT2A in the claustrum receptors will enable the development of a theory regarding the mechanism of action of psychedelic substances and more precise medical applications.
This research was funded by National Science Centre grant no. 2020/37/B/NZ7/03753 and statutory funds of the Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS
Gender Differences in Face Processing: An ERP Study
The present study aimed to investigate gender differences in face processing, particularly in relation to self-referential information. While numerous studies have emphasized the prioritization of self-relevant information, the role of gender in this phenomenon remains underexplored, and existing findings are inconsistent. This research examined how men and women process various face types, including their own face, the face of a close person, a smiling face, and a neutral face.
Participants were tasked with detecting visual stimuli, and their brain activity was recorded using event-related potentials (ERP). Key ERP components (P100, N200, P3, and Late Positive Potentials – LPP) were analyzed to explore interactions between face type and gender. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and a between-subject factor was employed to test the hypotheses.
The results revealed significant gender differences in face processing. For the early P100 component, both genders showed the highest activation in response to smiling faces, though post-hoc comparisons indicated no significant differences. In the N200 component, women exhibited more negative activation in response to their own face compared to smiling and unknown faces, while men showed no notable differences. For the P3 component, both genders had higher amplitudes in response to their own face than to other face types. Notably, early LPP analyses indicated that women had a stronger response to their own face, whereas men showed heightened activation to their own face in comparison to smiling and unknown faces.
Overall, the findings suggest that women process faces, particularly their own and those of close individuals, with greater precision, as evidenced by the P3 and LPP components. In contrast, men displayed a less pronounced self-prioritization effect, implying gender-related differences in the neural mechanisms underlying face recognition.
11. Hanna Trebesova
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology
A Combined Neuropharmacological Approach: From Behavioral Testing to Flow Cytometric Analysis
neurodegenerative disease, behavioral analysis, synaptosomes
Neuroscientific research has developed rapidly in recent years, providing new insights into the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinflammatory conditions, and the basis of neurological development. Several neurodegenerative diseases cause locomotor disabilities and mood disorders. Therefore, we need to define behavioral schemes to either predict the diagnosis or recognize mood alterations as a comorbidity in neurodegenerative processes. In addition, neurodegenerative diseases may be related to synaptic dysfunction and toxicity. Several causes of synaptic derangements has been identified such as neurotoxic compounds, oxidative stress, and inflammation.
A combined behavioral analysis protocol has been applied to assess anxiety-like and stress disorders. For this purpose mice under various conditions, including age, sex, and drug treatments were used. Furthermore, in order to explore specific aspects, this approach was also applied to some disease models (EAE and G93A mice) in which early onset, features not previously evaluated and clustering of animals were investigated. On the other hand there is a growing need for innovative techniques and methods to find the cause of synaptic dysfunction and toxicity as early as possible and prevent the consequences. Alongside a flow cytometric method was carried out for the investigation of synaptic toxicity on isolated nerve endings. Flow cytometry is widely used to check neuronal death, detect neurotoxic compounds, and analyze synaptic proteins and biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases. This method has enabled me to analyze synaptic toxicity in various contexts, including the pruning phenomenon.
Natural compound have shown anxiolytic-like effects in some behavioral experiments. Additionally a repurposed drug, Niaprazine, has demonstrated sedative and anxiolytic effects in orally treated mice. While through a double staining protocol, a synaptotoxicity was assessed in presence of beta-amyloid and its fragments.
The combination of these two approaches in vivo and in vitro could allow us to intervene earlier with pharmacological treatment and highlight common features of neurodegenerative diseases.
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology
Mapping c-Fos expression using the iDISCO technique
iDisco, c-Fos, behavioral stimuli
The objective was to assess the feasibility of the use of iDisco clearing approach to visualize neuronal activation patterns in the brain of mice subjected to behavioral stimuli.
The iDISCO technique enables whole-brain clearing and high-resolution mapping of neuronal activity, making it a powerful and precise tool for studying brain-wide activation patterns in response to behavioural stimuli. In this study, we applied iDISCO combined with c-Fos immunolabeling to map neuronal activation in intact mouse brains following specific behaviours, such as social interaction and food reward. c-Fos, an indirect marker of recent neuronal activity, was detected in cleared brain tissue with utmost precision, allowing for the exact localization of activated neurons. Using light-sheet microscopy, we obtained 3D images of the entire brain, enabling the identification of distinct neuronal populations and circuits across multiple brain regions, including the central amygdala (CeA), a critical structure involved in motivation and reward processing.
We demonstrated that this novel method provides an opportunity to visualize functional subdivisions in brain regions, revealing the neuronal correlates of specific behaviours. This method provided an opportunity to visualise functional subdivisions in brain regions, revealing the neural correlates of behaviours related to social and food rewards.
The combination of iDISCO and c-Fos mapping presents a novel approach to studying the spatial organization of activated brain circuits, offering insights into the mechanisms underlying complex behaviours. This technique also holds promise for exploring alterations in brain function in models of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
University of Warsaw
Characterizing Oscillatory Activity in Rat Brain Regions During Locomotion, Slow-Wave Sleep, and After Ketamine
The study investigated oscillatory activity across different rat brain regions during locomotion (LMA), slow-wave sleep (SWS), and after ketamine.
Local field potentials (olfactory bulb (OB), ventral striatum (VS) and prefrontal cortex (PFC)) and EEGs (frontal and parietal) were recorded in freely moving rats (N=12). Data was analyzed during locomotion, SWS and a subanesthetic dose of ketamine (25 mg/kg). Data were analyzed using Python libraries neo, pactools, and scipy.
During SWS there was a relative increase in delta power across all brain regions, which in the EEG-P coupled particularly strongly to high gamma (60-100 Hz). In contrast, LMA was marked by a prominent theta peak in the power spectra and theta-gamma coupling in the OB and VS. Ketamine administration was associated with the presence of high-frequency oscillations (130-180 Hz, HFO) in the OB>VS>PFC>EEG-F, and which coupled to theta in all these regions. HFO after ketamine was not obvious in EEG-P.
This study shows that distinct patterns of oscillatory activity and cross frequency coupling reflect different behavioral and pharmacological states. Coupling could reflect coordinated neuronal activity across different brain regions during these distinct states.
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS
Behavioral Hierarchies in Mice: Patterns, Causes, and Consequences
This study explores the possibility of modeling social hierarchies in mice within a fully automated, semi-naturalistic testing environment known as Eco-HAB. We aim to determine whether social hierarchies formed in this setting are stable over time and if they are flexibly established across different social contexts. Specifically, we investigate whether a group composed solely of socially dominant/middle/subordinate mice will organise themselves into a ranked order. Findings from this research will shed light on the mechanisms of social hierarchy formation and maintenance, providing valuable insights applicable to broader social and behavioral sciences.
Using Ecohab, a system of four interconnected cages, in which chasing behaviour is messured. Chasing is a measure of social dominance in mice.
Mice quickly form stable ranked hierachies. However, upon mixing animals, in which all the dominant animals are housed together, all of the middle animals are housed together, and all of the subordinate animals are housed together. The dominant group switched to a territorial way of establishing dominance, whereas middle and subordinate animals retained the ranked hierachy based on chasing behaviour.
The study demonstrates that mice rapidly establish a ranked social hierarchy that remains stable over time. This stability is dependent on the presence of different phenotypes within the group, indicating that a diversity of behavioral or physiological traits is necessary for maintaining hierarchical structures. Furthermore, we observed that territoriality can emerge under social pressure, suggesting that environmental and social factors can induce territorial behaviors among mice. These findings enhance our understanding of how social hierarchies are formed and sustained, highlighting the interplay between individual differences and social dynamics in shaping group organization.
Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb
Endothelial gene expression modifications linked to periodontal microbes in Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease, blood-brain barrier, endothelial cells, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis
Among the various known etiological factors of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), periodontitis has recently emerged as a potential contributor to the onset of this disorder. This in silico study aims to determine whether transcriptomic alterations in endothelial cells (EC) triggered by common periodontal pathogens like Fusobacterium nucleatum (FN) or Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG) align with changes observed in the EC of AD patients.
RNA-seq datasets GSE222136 and GSE125050 were obtained from the NCBI GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across different conditions (FN, PG, or AD) were identified using the DESeq2 pipeline. The changes detected in Endothelial cells (ECs) infected with FN and PG in vitro were overlapped with transcriptomic hallmarks identified in the brain-derived ECs of AD patients in comparison to healthy controls. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) pipeline was applied to detect highly correlated gene modules. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted on DEGs and relevant gene modules.
A total of 15 gene modules were identified, of which six modules containing 89 key genes were significantly correlated with PG treatment, and four modules with 352 key genes were linked to FN treatment, with the most notable change involving interferon signaling. In PG- and FN-treated ECs, 553 and 834 DEGs were identified, respectively, while 1,384 DEGs were significantly altered in ECs of AD patients. Upon comparison, MIRHG1, SLC24A40, and ABHD13 were found to be commonly upregulated DEGs across all three pathologies, suggesting disrupted RNA interference mechanisms, altered ion channels, and impacted cell adhesion.
This comprehensive study uncovered multiple potential gene candidates underlying microbe-driven pathological changes in EC physiology, which could serve as critical contributors to the initiation and/or progression of AD.
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS
Early life adversity and rearing conditions on reward-learning, hierarchical stability and reward system activation on rats
Social interactions, Early-life stress, vPFC, Nucleus Accumbens, Reward learning, pCREB
Disruption of mother-child interactions can negatively affect the behavioral and neurological development of the offspring and can act as a potent early-life stressor. Although many studies have reported social and learning deficiencies following early-life stress (ELS), most reports focus on individual animal tasks reared in homogenous groups, disregarding the potential cumulative effects of social instability that characterize ELS animals. We hypothesized that different post-weaning rearing conditions can affect previously reported group reward-learning tasks negatively impacted by ELS. Additionally, we investigated brain activation in areas correlated with poor performance of ELS animals in these tasks.
We used a Denial of Expected Reward (DER) early-life manipulation that accurately mimics maternal neglect. To assess the rearing effects on animals undergone ELS we created mixed animal groups with control (CTR) and DER animals immediately after weaning. We designed a grouped 2-phase food anticipation learning task (FA) composed of a context-dependent (CoP) and a cue-dependent learning period (CuP). We assessed the learning rate and hierarchical stability of the animals during these tasks. Finally, we assessed nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral Prefrontal cortex (vPFC) activation brain activation by measuring pCREB levels.
Mixed rearing with normal animals ameliorated the negative effects of the DER experience on reward association learning, hierarchical instability and abnormal brain activation. Conversely, mixed rearing with DER animals affected negatively reward learning and social status in the CTR animals
We showed that rearing conditions can play an important role on the manifestation of ELS long-term social and cognitive effects. Although resocializing in a normal social environment following weaning can nullify the adverse effects of ELS, animals that have undergone adversity during early age can destabilize the members of their social group. Importantly, we provide evidence that rearing conditions can provide positive or negative feedback loops on the progression of ELS pathology.