Changes in both sleep architecture and cognition are common with age. Typically these changes have a negative connotation: sleep fragmentation, insomnia, and deep sleep loss as well as forgetfulness, lack of focus, and even dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Research has shown that psychosocial stressors, such as isolation from family and friends or loss of a loved one can also have significant negative effects on sleep architecture and cognitive capabilities. This leaves the elderly in a particularly vulnerable situation: suffering from cognitive decline and sleep dysregulation already, and more likely to respond negatively to psychosocial stressors. Taking all of these factors into account, it’s surprising that little research has been done to elucidate the mechanisms behind aged subjects’ enhanced vulnerability to new onset psychosocial stress. Our lab embarked on a series of studies to test the effects of age and psychosocial stress on sleep architecture and cognition. Our first study measured sleep stages in young adult and aged F344 rats during their resting and active periods. Animals were behaviorally characterized on the Morris water maze and gene expression profiles of their parietal cortices were taken. We confirmed previous studies that found impaired cognition and decreased resting deep sleep with age. However, it was increased active deep sleep that correlated best with poor cognitive performance. In the second study rats were subjected to immobilization (restraint stress) immediately preceding their final water maze task. Hippocampi were prepared for synaptic electrophysiology and trunk blood was taken for corticosterone measurement after post-stress sleep architecture data was collected. Young subjects responded to acute stress with decreased cognition, elevated CORT levels and altered sleep architecture. In contrast, stressed aged subjects were statistically indistinguishable from control aged subjects, suggesting that aged rats are less responsive to an acute psychosocial stress event. Together, these studies suggest that alleviating sleep dysregulation could therapeutically benefit cognition psychosocial stress resilience.

La connaissance des mécanismes physiologiques de la perception sensorielle nécessite la compréhension de la manière dont le système nerveux central récolte et traite le flux de stimuli sensoriels qui le bombardent en permanence. Il est essentiel de caractériser de manière précise : 1) les stratégies d'exploration qu'utilise le rat pour positionner ses vibrisses par rapport à son environnement et 2) la manière dont ces organes senseurs produisent et transmettent un signal mécanique pertinent pour les mécanorécepteurs situés à la base de la vibrisse. Dans une première partie, nous avons trouvé que l'amplitude du whisking chez le rat en comportement décroit avec la vitesse de locomotion, tandis que les vibrisses sont globalement plus protractées quand l'animal court plus vite. Dans la seconde partie de la thèse, nous avons validé un modèle de transduction mécanique en comparant des prédictions théoriques avec des mesures expérimentales de déformations vibrissales. Ainsi nous avons pu décrire des événements dynamiques rapides ayant lieu après un choc sur un objet, ainsi que la propagation de ces ondes de déformation le long de la vibrisse jusqu'au follicule. D'autre part nous avons mis en évidence, suite à la stimulation d'une vibrisse, des mouvements d'une adjacente. Dans la dernière partie, nous avons mesuré et caractérisé les oscillations rapides induites par le glissement de la vibrisse sur une texture de topographie contrôlée. Nous avons rejoué ces déformations vibrissales en enregistrant concomitamment l'activité neuronale dans le cortex somatosensoriel. Nous avons montré qu'il existe une corrélation entre l'enveloppe de ces oscillations rapides et la réponse corticale.

Prof. Dr. med. J.M. FEGERT, ärztlicher Direktor an der Universität Ulm Kinder- Jugendpsychiatrie/ Psychotherapie, referierte auf dem Kongress am 18.04.2013 in Rheine zum Thema: „Auswirkungen traumatischer Erfahrungen – Folgen aus kinder- u. jugendpsychiatrischer und neurobiologischer Sicht“. Auf der einen Seite wurde deutlich, dass neurobiologische Erkenntnisse immer mehr pädagogische Relevanz besitzen, da Befunde belegen, dass das menschliche Gehirn wesentlich durch die Erfahrungen strukturiert wird, die ein Individuum während seiner Hirnentwicklung durchlebt. Auf der anderen Seite fügte Prof. Dr. med. FEGERT an, dass die Disziplin der Neurowissenschaften ebenso kritisch diskutiert werden kann. Das Gebiet der Kindheitsforschung setzt sich aus verschiedenen Fachrichtungen zusammen. Die Entwicklungspsychologie beschäftigt sich u.a. mit der frühen Eltern-Kind-Interaktion- respektive Kommunikation. Mehrere Autoren verweisen auf das präventive Potential konstruktiver Eltern-Kind-Dialoge. Hierbei stellt eine feinfühlige Interaktion bzw. Kommunikation zwischen den primären Bezugspersonen und dem Säugling ein bedeutsames Fundament für die kindliche Entwicklung im Allgemeinen sowie insbesondere für die Ausbildung sozial-emotionaler Fähigkeiten dar. Videogestützte Interventionen betonen vor allem die Bedeutung der Eltern-Kind-Interaktion für die kindliche Entwicklung im sozial-emotionalen Bereich. Zahlreiche Erkenntnisse des „kompetenten Säuglings“ konnten mithilfe von Videodokumentation gewonnen werden. Von der Holländerin Maria AARTS entwickelt, findet diese Methode heutzutage Verwendung als Videocoaching für Professionelle oder als Videoberatung für verschiedene Adressatengruppen. Die vorliegende Arbeit möchte die Bedeutung der Eltern-Kind-Interaktion für die sozial-emotionale Entwicklung unter Einbezug neurobiologischer Erkenntnisse aufzeigen und in einem weiteren Schritt präventive Unterstützungsmöglichkeiten für das Vorschulkind mit einem speziellen Bedürfnis mittels der videobasierten Kommunikationsmethode „Marte Meo“ darlegen. Inwieweit besitzen die frühen Interaktionen zwischen dem Elternteil und dem Kind unter Einbezug der neurobiologischen Erkenntnisse und in Verbindung mit der Marte Meo Methode einen Beitrag für die Ausbildung sozial-emotionaler Fähigkeiten sowie für die Entwicklung des kindlichen Gehirns? Die Ausarbeitung setzt sich zum Ziel, über den Weg der Rezeption von den Erkenntnissen der Neurowissenschaften zu profitieren, um einen gemeinsamen Dialog entstehen zu lassen. Dafür wird vor allem nach Analogien innerhalb der Disziplin der Erziehungswissenschaft, respektive der Entwicklungspsychologie sowie Kleinkindforschung, und der Fachrichtung der Neurowissenschaften gesucht. Grundlegend ist dabei mittels der Kommunikationsmethode „Marte Meo“ den Fokus auf sozial-emotionale Handlungskompetenzen innerhalb der Eltern-Kind-Interaktion zu setzen. Demnach soll der Heranwachsende kein „neuronengesteuerter Bioautomat“ sein, dessen Gehirn nach einem festgeschriebenen biologischen Programm arbeitet. Ferner wird „Das Kind mit einem speziellen Bedürfnis“ im darauffolgenden Kapitel beschrieben. Die Bedeutung einer konstruktiven Eltern-Kind-Interaktion erfährt in diesem Absatz eine Betrachtung. Des Weiteren unterstützen Einzelergebnisse neurowissenschaftlicher Forschungen sowie Modelle über Prozesse des Lernens oder der Emotionsentstehung, die Vorgehensweise dieser Ausarbeitung. Im Vordergrund steht des Weiteren die Bedeutung der primären Bezugspersonen für die Ausbildung sozial-emotionaler Fähigkeiten. Im darauffolgenden Absatz werden schließlich ausgewählte „Marte Meo“ Elemente in Verbindung mit den neurobiologischen Erkenntnissen und der sozial-emotionalen Entwicklung eines Kindes in Zusammenhang gebracht. Aus diesem können Implikationen für das pädagogische Arbeitsfeld gewonnen werden. Im Anschluss erfolgt eine Betrachtung von vier Experteninterviews zur Gewinnung von Kontextwissen. Abschließend werden die gewonnen Erkenntnisse zusammengefasst sowie kritisch unter Einbezug der Experteninterviews diskutiert.

A series of studies is described here which explore the functional organisation of face- and object-processing neurones in the adult vervet monkey brain. This fundamental issue in high-level vision is addressed by the use of a novel molecular mapping technique that was developed for this purpose. / In the first study, the temporal dynamics of c-fos and zif268 expression were delineated in detail in the rat visual cortex. Knowing the precise temporal parameters of up-regulation (after onset of sensory stimulation) and down-regulation (after offset of sensory stimulation) of these genes was integral to optimising the temporal aspects of the stimuli to be used for subsequent mapping experiments. This study provided the critical information for devising stimuli with corresponding temporal parameters to those of c-fos or zif268 so that one could take advantage of the disparity between the expression of their mRNA and protein products in order to visualise activated neurones. / In the second study, the newly developed molecular mapping technique was validated in the rat auditory, visual and multisensory systems. First, bimodal audiovisual stimuli were designed using the data obtained from the first study. Then, through the combined histological detection of the mRNA and protein products of zif268, discrete populations of neurones responsive to either component of the bimodal stimulus were visualised. It was also observed that a third population of neurones was found that responded to the stimulation through both sensory modalities. The combined results from these two studies set the stage for addressing the issue of the organisation of face- and object-selective neurones of the inferior temporal cortex in the vervet monkey brain. / In the third study, the functional organisation of face- and object-selective neurones was examined using the molecular mapping technique. Based on the data gathered from the first two studies, suitable stimuli containing two distinct object classes (conspecific faces and non-face familiar objects) were designed with appropriate temporal parameters. / Finally, the last study provided an opportunity to address the issue of hemispheric asymmetry of function in the context of face processing in the non-human primate brain. Results support the notion that there may indeed be phylogenetic explanations for the hemispheric asymmetry observed in the human brain.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-55).

Hypertension is associated with marked cardiac sympathetic over-activity and end organ hyper-responsiveness. The sympathetic dysfunction is caused by aberrant calcium (Ca²⁺) handling resulting in enhanced neurotransmission. However, it remains unclear whether the sympathetic neuron or the myocytes is the primary driver behind the initiation and maintenance of the autonomic phenotype. The work in this thesis characterises the Ca²⁺ dysfunction and regulation at the membrane level. Further, it employs physiologically coupled sympathetic neurons and ventricular myocytes to determine the cellular driver of cardiac dysautonomia in the pro-hypertensive state. <b>Chapter 1</b> provides a general overview of the field of autonomic hypertension with a specific focus on the sympathetic control of cardiac excitability. In particular, the role of Ca²⁺ and cyclic nucleotides in the facilitation of neurotransmission are explored. <b>Chapter 2</b> details the methods used in this thesis. It provides rationale for the approaches taken to record membrane Ca2+ currents, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and cAMP-activated protein kinase (PKA) activity, and the development and uses of a co-culture of coupled sympathetic neurons and ventricular myocytes. <b>Chapter 3</b> describes the successful development of an effective voltage clamp method to isolate whole cell Ca²⁺ currents in sympathetic neurons. It details the issue of space clamp problem when using this technique on peripheral neurons and provides experimental guidance on how to quantify and limit theses issues. <b>Chapter 4</b> identifies that the pro-hypertensive four-week old neurons from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) have significantly larger whole cell Ca²⁺ currents when compared to normotensive (Wistar Kyoto-WKY) neurons, that are largely N-type in nature. Restoring the cGMP cyclic nucleotide dysfunction seen in these cells, rescues the ion channel phenotype and bring the Ca²⁺ down to levels seen in the normotensive WKY neuron. Further, it identifies that phosphodiesterase (PDE) 2A inhibition differentially affects the currents in the WKY and SHR, further supporting the notion of PDE2A dominance. <b>Chapter 5</b> identifies the presence and functional relevance of cGMP cross-talk with the cAMP-PKA pathway in sympathetic neurons. This cross talk is significantly altered in the pro-hypertensive state, via the differential involvement of PDEs. It functionally identifies the presence of PDE3 and PDE2A and provides further evidence that these enzymes could be dysregulated in pro-hypertensive neurons. <b>Chapter 6</b> describes the use of a co-culture model of ventricular myocytes and sympathetic neurons. Physiological stimulation of the sympathetic neuron with nicotine whilst monitoring cAMP levels in the myocytes confirms that the cellular phenotypes seen in the individual cells are functionally present in the co-culture. Using cross-cultures, it identifies the neuron as the principal driver behind the cardiac sympathetic responses observed in pro-hypertension. The results provide evidence for a dominant role played by the neuron in driving the adrenergic phenotype seen in cardiovascular disease and highlights the potential of using healthy neurons to turn down the gain of neurotransmission, akin to a smart pre-synaptic &beta;-blocker. <b>Chapter 7</b> forms the concluding discussion that summarises the main findings of this thesis and attempt to place it in a clinical context, and highlights avenues of further research. In particular, the possibility of using a cell therapeutic approach to treat sympathetic hyperactivity.

For the first time in human history, more people worldwide suffer from obesity than are undernourished. Numerous health complications are associated with obesity including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes, cancers of reproductive tissues, stroke, depression, anxiety disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease. A deeper understanding of the anti-adipogenic effects and mechanism of action of sesquiterpene lactones may have pharmacological import in the continuing search for therapeutic modalities to ameliorate the effects of this global obesity epidemic. Dehydroleucodine (DhL), 11,13-dihydro-dehydroleucodine (DH-DhL), and dehydroparashin-B (DhP), sesquiterpene lactones extracted from or derived from compounds extracted from Artemisia douglasiana, were investigated for their anti-adipogenic effects on 3T1-L1 preadipocytes. Dehydroleucodine inhibited the expression of C/EBPa and PPARg, and also strongly blocked the expression of C/EBPβ, an early stage biomarker of early adipogenesis, in a concentration-dependent manner. Dehydroleucodine arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase, increased p27 and decreased both cyclins A and D and their partners (e.g., CDK2 and CDK4). Furthermore, DhL downregulated expression of histone demethylase JMJD2 as well as repressed the expression of histone methyltransferase MLL4, which in turn diminished the expression of C/EBPb and PPARg, respectively. 11,13-dihydro-dehydroleucodine blocked the accumulation of lipid droplets and inhibited the expression of PPARγ and C/EBPβ. Collectively, the results indicate that the inhibition of early stage preadipocyte differentiation by DH-DhL may be associated with cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Dehydroparashin-B significantly decreased the accumulation of lipid content and downregulated the expression of CEBPβ, PPARγ and CEBPα as well as FAS. Interestingly, the addition of DhP inhibited the number as well as the size of the lipid droplets during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Taken together, this data suggests that DhP has an important inhibitory effect on cellular pathways regulating adipocyte differentiation.

Por volta de 1764 aparece um novo ramo da ciência - A teoria de controle - quando James Watt consertou uma máquina Newcomen e percebeu que essa era ineficiente, e criou um sistema de controle de velocidades. A evolução destes sistemas controladores pode ser observada no controle utilizando a equação de Riccati dependente de estados (SDRE). Apesar de ser uma técnica muito avançada em relação à capacidade de realizar o controle, alguns problemas precisam ser encarados quanto à sua utilização, como a necessidade de se ter recursos computacionais de alto nível e custo. Essas questões podem impedir o uso da técnica SDRE em alguns sistemas. Uma solução para este problema é apontada através do uso de uma rede neural (RNA) chamada de Rede Neural com Estados de Eco (ESN). As RNAs possuem arquiteturas baseadas em redes neurais biológicas para que tenhamos resultados desejados na saída. Para que essa saída seja satisfatória a rede neural passa por um processo de treinamento. Sendo assim, usase os dados de comportamento do SDRE para a realização do treinamento da ESN. Depois disso, realizam-se testes quanto à eficiência da rede neural no controle do sistema a ser controlado e ao custo computacional. Os resultados são comparados aos obtidos com o controle ESN. Este teste foi realizado para um sistema micro eletromecânico e o controle da suspensão ativa de um half-car. Os resultados obtidos foram positivos, pois a ESN conseguiu realizar o controle utilizando menos tempo de processamento em relação ao SDRE, além de possuir uma estrutura base fixa, possibilitando ajustes para realização de diferentes tipos de controle. / In around 1764, it emerged a new branch of science – the theory of control - when James Watt was given a model Newcomen engine to repair. He realised that it was hopelessly inefficient and began to work to improve the design. He did a velocit controller to solve the problem. The evolution of these systems is shown in State-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) techniques. Although it is a very advanced technique in relation to the capacity of performing control, some problems have to be faced for its use, as the necessity of computational resources of high level and cost, which may impede the use of SDRE in some systems. The solution for these problems is pointed out in this study by the use of Echo State Neural Networks (ESNs). These neural networks have inputs and outputs and the inputs are processed through the use of algorithms in order to reach the desired results, and for that the neural network has to be under a task of training. After that we use the behavioral SDRE data for the training followed by the neural network efficiency test for the system control and for the computational cost. The results are compared to the ones obtained with the ESN control. This test was realized for a micro eletromechanical system and the control of the active suspension of a half-car. The results were positive as the ESN could perform the control in a short time in relation to the SDRE. There is also a fixed structure which makes possible some adjusts for different kinds of control.

Por volta de 1764 aparece um novo ramo da ciência - A teoria de controle - quando James Watt consertou uma máquina Newcomen e percebeu que essa era ineficiente, e criou um sistema de controle de velocidades. A evolução destes sistemas controladores pode ser observada no controle utilizando a equação de Riccati dependente de estados (SDRE). Apesar de ser uma técnica muito avançada em relação à capacidade de realizar o controle, alguns problemas precisam ser encarados quanto à sua utilização, como a necessidade de se ter recursos computacionais de alto nível e custo. Essas questões podem impedir o uso da técnica SDRE em alguns sistemas. Uma solução para este problema é apontada através do uso de uma rede neural (RNA) chamada de Rede Neural com Estados de Eco (ESN). As RNAs possuem arquiteturas baseadas em redes neurais biológicas para que tenhamos resultados desejados na saída. Para que essa saída seja satisfatória a rede neural passa por um processo de treinamento. Sendo assim, usase os dados de comportamento do SDRE para a realização do treinamento da ESN. Depois disso, realizam-se testes quanto à eficiência da rede neural no controle do sistema a ser controlado e ao custo computacional. Os resultados são comparados aos obtidos com o controle ESN. Este teste foi realizado para um sistema micro eletromecânico e o controle da suspensão ativa de um half-car. Os resultados obtidos foram positivos, pois a ESN conseguiu realizar o controle utilizando menos tempo de processamento em relação ao SDRE, além de possuir uma estrutura base fixa, possibilitando ajustes para realização de diferentes tipos de controle. / In around 1764, it emerged a new branch of science – the theory of control - when James Watt was given a model Newcomen engine to repair. He realised that it was hopelessly inefficient and began to work to improve the design. He did a velocit controller to solve the problem. The evolution of these systems is shown in State-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) techniques. Although it is a very advanced technique in relation to the capacity of performing control, some problems have to be faced for its use, as the necessity of computational resources of high level and cost, which may impede the use of SDRE in some systems. The solution for these problems is pointed out in this study by the use of Echo State Neural Networks (ESNs). These neural networks have inputs and outputs and the inputs are processed through the use of algorithms in order to reach the desired results, and for that the neural network has to be under a task of training. After that we use the behavioral SDRE data for the training followed by the neural network efficiency test for the system control and for the computational cost. The results are compared to the ones obtained with the ESN control. This test was realized for a micro eletromechanical system and the control of the active suspension of a half-car. The results were positive as the ESN could perform the control in a short time in relation to the SDRE. There is also a fixed structure which makes possible some adjusts for different kinds of control.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:36:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RafaelNBS.pdf: 1024882 bytes, checksum: c829a50c3f00bc3a4f9a1f5bc84386a4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-18 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / In most cultures, dreams are believed to predict the future on occasion. Several neurophysiological studies indicate that the function of sleep and dreams is to consolidate and transform memories, in a cyclical process of creation, selection and generalization of conjectures about the reality. The aim of the research presented here was to investigate the possible adaptative role of anticipatory dreams. We sought to determine the relationship between dream and waking in a context in which the adaptive success of the individual was really at risk, in order to mobilize more strongly the oneiric activity. We used the entrance examination of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) as a significant waking event in which performance could be independently quantified. Through a partnership with UFRN, we contacted by e-mail 3000 candidates to the 2009 examination. In addition, 150 candidates were approached personally. Candidates who agreed to participate in the study (n = 94) completed questionnaires specific to the examination and were asked to describe their dreams during the examinaton period. The examination performance of each candidate in the entrance examination was provided by the UFRN to the researcher. A total of 45 participants reported dreams related to the examination. Our results show a positive correlation between performance on the examination and anticipatory dreams with the event, both in the comparison of performance on objective and discursive, and in final approval (in the group that not dreamed with the exam the rate of general approval, 22,45%, was similar to that found in the selection process as a whole, 22.19%, while for the group that dreamed with the examination that rate was 35.56%). The occurrence of anticipatory dreams reflectes increased concern during waking (psychobiological mobilization) related to the future event, as indicated by higher scores of fear and apprehension, and major changes in daily life, in patterns of mood and sleep, in the group that reported testrelated dreams. Furthermore, the data suggest a role of dreams in the determination of environmentally relevant behavior of the vigil, simulating possible scenarios of success (dream with approval) and failure (nightmares) to maximize the adaptive success of the individual / Nas mais diversas culturas, atribui-se aos sonhos a capacidade de prever o futuro. Diversos estudos neurofisiol?gicos indicam que a fun??o do sono e dos sonhos ? consolidar e transformar mem?rias, em um processo c?clico de cria??o, sele??o e generaliza??o de conjecturas sobre a realidade. Com o objetivo de investigar cientificamente a poss?vel fun??o antecipat?ria dos sonhos, buscamos descrever a rela??o entre sonho e vig?lia subseq?ente num contexto em que o sucesso adaptativo do indiv?duo realmente estivesse em risco, de modo a mobilizar mais fortemente a atividade on?rica. Utilizamos o exame vestibular da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) como evento significativo da vig?lia. Atrav?s de uma parceria com a UFRN, contatamos por e-mail 3000 candidatos ao Vestibular 2009. Al?m disso, 150 candidatos foram abordados pessoalmente. Os candidatos que aceitaram participar do estudo (n=94) preencheram question?rios espec?ficos sobre a prova e lhes foi solicitado que relatassem um sonho relacionado ? prova, caso algum houvesse ocorrido nos dias que a antecederam. O desempenho final de cada candidato no exame vestibular foi fornecido ao pesquisador pela UFRN. Ao todo 45 participantes relataram que sonharam com a prova. Nossos resultados mostram uma correla??o positiva entre o desempenho na prova e sonhos antecipat?rios com o evento, tanto na compara??o do desempenho nas provas objetivas e discursivas, quanto na aprova??o final (no grupo que n?o sonhou com a prova o ?ndice de aprova??o geral, 22,45%, foi semelhante ao encontrado no processo seletivo como um todo, 22,19%; j? para o grupo que sonhou com a prova esse ?ndice foi 35,56%). A ocorr?ncia desses sonhos antecipat?rios refletiu uma maior preocupa??o na vig?lia (mobiliza??o psicobiol?gica) em torno do evento futuro (maiores escores de medo e apreens?o, al?m de maiores altera??es no cotidiano, nos padr?es de humor e de sono). Al?m disso, os dados sugerem um papel importante dos sonhos na determina??o de comportamentos ecologicamente relevantes da vig?lia, simulando poss?veis cen?rios de sucesso (sonhar com aprova??o) e fracasso (pesadelos) para maximizar o sucesso adaptativo do indiv?duo