Category Archives: Neuroscience

How not to fight with your teenage son – Sydney Morning Herald

May 12, 2020 medical

But the news isnt all good. Many parents are frightened. Their sons, often in their late teens, belligerent and angry at the restrictions, chafing to get out and meet with mates in secret.

There are many stories of fights over schoolwork and sullen and withdrawn sons not coming out of their rooms. Where relationships weren't great in pre-coronavirus times, this is a real crisis.

But if these problems are worked through, this might be a time when a lot of what we value most comes to the fore, and our kids remember the year of the virus as a special time, a reset, a reclaiming of what family is supposed to feel like.

Ahead, the parenting methods proving successful in lockdown.

Teamwork. Parents who are doing well have managed to create a family vibe similar to that of a team. They are not militantly supervising online schoolwork, at least, not to the point of conflict, but allocating at most a couple of hours for it in the flow of other things that are both fruitful and enjoyable.

Get moving. Exercise and movement are natural needs of teenagers. In the past, many parents thought that energy in boys was naughtiness, but thankfully that has mostly changed. Morning exercise, followed by the completion of any mandatory school work first, are key to setting up a productive day ahead.

Routine. The other need boys have, according to neuroscience, is lots of structure. Successful families found that a routine made for a happy and balanced day. They differed on sleeping in or everyone waking on time, but all found their own sequence to the day.

Try new things. Many families are getting their kids to make meals in equal share with the adults. A mum on the page allocated one part of the meal to her three sons in rotation - one the protein, one the veggies, one the dessert. She is teaching them how to work from recipes, while staying nearby in a friendly supervisory way so it doesn't feel like they are being abandoned, and also to prevent disasters. Her boys were rather proud of themselves, and as a result, want to try new dishes. Several parents also found that their sons, who had previously never read much a trend that has alarmed educators for several decades had suddenly discovered the joy of books.

More screen time. Online gaming with friends is the main social outlet for boys in isolation, along with other social media, so most parents are allowing more time now than they would have in the past to ensure their sons feel connected with their peers.

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How not to fight with your teenage son - Sydney Morning Herald

Neuroscience

Learning Whats Dangerous Is Costly: Unlocking Fear Response of Social Animals – SciTechDaily

May 12, 2020 medical

What would you do if the person standing next to you would suddenly scream and run away? Would you be able to carry on calmly with what youre doing, or would you panic? Unless youre James Bond, youre most likely to go for the second option: panic.

But now imagine another scenario: while out on the street, the person walking in front of you suddenly freezes: she stops moving and becomes perfectly still. What would you do?

Here the answer becomes more tricky, says Marta Moita, head of the behavioral Neuroscience lab at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, in Lisbon, Portugal. Even though freezing is one of the three basic instinctive defense behaviors [along with fight and flight], animals dont instinctively know that when others freeze, they are actually responding to a threat.

For social animals such as ourselves, being able to tell if a group member senses a threat, can be a matter of life and death. How does this learning happen? To find an answer to this question, Moita and her team engaged in a series of studies. Their most recent findings are presented in two scientific articles, one that was published today (May 12th) in the journal Plos Biology and another that was published a few months ago in the journalCurrent Biology. Together, their results reveal a mechanism by which animals acquire fear of freezing and outline the neural circuitry that underlies the expression of that fear.

How is it that some fear responses are innate, while others must be learned? The answer is not fully known, but a good guess would be that because the world is ever-changing, animals have to be able to flexibly adapt to their environment.

For instance, when an animal freezes, it essentially stops moving. But is lack of motion necessarily a sign of danger? The answer is no, says Moita. There are situations where an animal stops moving that are perfectly benign; it might be grooming or observing something. But then, this harmless cue can transform into a sign of danger. We wanted to find out how it happens.

In the study published in the journalCurrent Biology, Moita and her team tested various experimental scenarios with rats. They found out that first and foremost, the animal has to go through a process that is called auto-conditioning, meaning that the learning does not happen by observing others, but through first-hand experience. And more than that, it can only happen if specific criteria are fulfilled. We were a bit surprised by the results, because it turns out that the learning mechanism is quite strict, says Andreia Cruz, the first author of the study.

The team discovered that for a rat to adopt freezing as a social cue, it has to go through a learning experience that consists of two key components: pain and immobility. Either one without the other is not enough.

For instance, animals that experience a mild foot shock [which is a painful event] and then freeze as a result, learn to recognize freezing in other group members as a threat. But when we prevented the subsequent freezing response by removing the rat from the experimental box immediately after the foot shock, the learning didnt happen. Cruz explains.

It may seem harsh, but in fact, as Moita points out, this manner of learning is an enormously beneficial way for animals to avoid danger. The rat underwent a single painful experience [a mild foot shock] that taught it that freezing is a response to a negative event. As a consequence, now it doesnt need to learn first-hand the full range of scenarios that can cause painful experiences. Instead, it just needs to be attentive to how its group members behave.

Creating an association between freezing and danger means that new neural connections were formed in the brain. But before diving into the neural circuits, there was still an important question that needed to be addressed: which brain areas might be involved in the expression of this newly learned fear?

Learning happens by associating cognitive elements that were previously unrelated, Moita explains. For instance, in the famous Pavlov experiment, dogs learned that the sound of a bell meant that they were about to receive food. So two previously unrelated things bell sound and food became associated in the brain.

Moita points out that several cognitive elements may be associated with this newly acquired defensive response, among them is a special kind of auditory cue silence.

The team previously discovered that rats who learned to use freezing as an alarm cue were actually detecting the sudden onset of silence. When a rat freezes, it stops moving. Which effectively means that it stops generating sound, Moita explains. We found that this transition from sound to silence can become a social cue by which rats recognize that another group member is freezing.

Following this line of thought, the team focused on the brains fear-learning center and the auditory system. Their results describing a new neural map that spans these structures were published today in the journal Plos Biology.

The first question that comes to mind is: how can the auditory system hear silence? Moita explains that to answer this question, you have to think about it in reverse. We believe that its not silence per se that the brain is detecting, its actually the cessation of sound.

The auditory system is made up of many thousands of neurons, each of which has a personal preference for certain features of auditory information. For example, some neurons respond to high-frequency sounds, others to the onset of sound. And then, there are offset neurons that respond to the cessation of sound. Those are the neurons the team suspects to be the ones that detect silence.

Offset neurons are abundant in a particular area within a brain region called the auditory thalamus. When we blocked the activity of this area, animals that have adapted freezing as a social cue and would normally respond to the sudden onset of silence, did not, explains Ana Perreira, the first author of the study.

Importantly, this same auditory region connects to the lateral amygdala a brain area crucial for learning to respond to threatening sounds. Could it also be involved in fearing silence? The team discovered that the answer is yes. Our results show that the lateral amygdala is not only important for associating sound and danger, but also silence and danger, says Perreira.

The team used these results together with others obtained in this study, to generate a map of how the brain expresses fear of freezing. The pathway we identified expands the network that processes auditory cues in the context of danger, says Moita. More broadly, our work sets the stage to further our understanding of how sensory stimuli and their behavioral relevance are encoded in the brain. she concludes.

Reference: 12 May 2020, Plos Biology.DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000674

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Learning Whats Dangerous Is Costly: Unlocking Fear Response of Social Animals - SciTechDaily

Neuroscience

Minnesota Masons give $35 million to the University of Minnesota to establish first-of-its-kind institute devoted to brain development – UMN News

May 12, 2020 medical

The University of Minnesota has announced a $35 million gift from Minnesota Masonic Charities, an organization that is the Universitys largest single donor. This contribution will establish and name the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, an interdisciplinary initiative focused on the early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders in early childhood and adolescence.

Led by the Universitys Medical School and College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), this unique institute will bring together teams of researchers and clinicians who study how the brain grows and develops during early childhood and adolescenceformative years when the brain is most receptive to positive intervention. Working together under one roof at the site of the former Shriners Healthcare for Children campus in Minneapolis, an array of experts will tackle such disorders as autism, ADHD, cognitive delays, drug addiction and severe depression, conditions that can often be identified early and have lifelong consequences.

Our long-standing partnership with the University of Minnesota aligns with our mission to make meaningful contributions to society, said Eric Neetenbeek, president and CEO of Minnesota Masonic Charities. The Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain is another example of how we can unite the incredible expertise of the University with the capacity of Minnesota Masonry to benefit our entire state and, indeed, the world.

University of Minnesota President Joan T. A. Gabel, who has made student mental health one of her top priorities, believes the support will improve lives when it matters most. Early support of brain health sets the stage for everything to come in life, she said. Thanks to the Masons transformative gift, the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain will help ensure that children have the strongest start for a safe, happy and productive life.

In addition to the lead gift from Minnesota Masonic Charities, the University has received generous philanthropic investments in the new institute from the Lynne & Andrew Redleaf Foundation, Otto Bremer Trust, Blythe Brenden-Mann Foundation and Drs. Gail A. Bernstein and Thomas J. Davis Trust.

The institutes mission commits the Universitys world-leading expertise in neuroscience, imaging, child psychology, adolescent psychiatry, developmental disorders and related fields to study precisely how the healthy brain grows and what throws it off course. With this knowledge, doctors and other mental health providers can get young brains back on track before early stressorssuch as malnutrition, trauma and exposure to toxinslead to lifelong complications that can have huge social and economic costs.

During critical periodsparticularly a babys first 1,000 days and adolescencethe brain still has the ability to rewire its connections and make positive, lasting changes, said Dr. Jakub Tolar, dean of the Medical School and vice president for clinical affairs. Early intervention is often a key.

Access is another hurdle facing those who may suffer from symptoms of mental health conditions. Thats a challenge CEHD Dean Jean Quam believes expertise in her college can help address. Our work in interdisciplinary training, telehealth and community outreach will increase access to families and serve as a model for collaboration.

The institutes co-directors, Michael Georgieff and Damien Fair, will lead the institutes cross-disciplinary team of clinicians and researchers. Georgieff, who holds appointments in the Medical School and CEHD, is founding director of the Universitys Center for Neurobehavioral Development. Fair, a national expert in behavioral neuroscience and brain imaging, was recently recruited from Oregon Health & Science University and will join the CEHD and Medical School faculties in July.

Slated to open at its East River Parkway location in fall 2021, the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain will form a research triangle with M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Childrens Hospital and the Universitys Biomedical Discovery District. The 10.2-acre property includes a two-level building with a hospital, clinic, and support area, as well as conference space and an attached parking lot.

Minnesota Masonic Charities philanthropic legacy at the U of M:With support from Minnesota Masons, the University built the 80-bed Masonic Memorial Hospital in 1958 and the Masonic Cancer Research Building in the mid-90s. Minnesota Masonic Charities historic $65 million pledge in 2008 to name the Masonic Cancer Center continues to advance major research discoveries. A $10 million gift from the Masons built the Masonic Cancer Clinic, which provides premier cancer care in the M Health Fairview Clinics and Surgery Center on the Twin Cities campus. In addition, a $25 million gift made in 2014 to enhance pediatric research and care brought the Masons total giving to $125 million and led to the renaming of M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Childrens Hospital. Now, with its latest gift of $35 million to establish and name the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, Minnesota Masonic Charities has contributed more than $160 million to the University of Minnesota to accelerate research discoveries in cancer and childrens health that will improve lives throughout Minnesota and beyond. Click hereto view a timeline of giving and the relationship between MMC and the U of M.

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Minnesota Masons give $35 million to the University of Minnesota to establish first-of-its-kind institute devoted to brain development - UMN News

Neuroscience

Memory and the brain: the key discovery of Santiago Ramn y Cajal – BBC Focus Magazine

May 12, 2020 medical

The jelly-like matter of the brain fascinated Spanish pathologist Santiago Ramn y Cajal. In 1877, he saved up all the money he had earned as a medical officer in the Spanish army to buy an old microscope.

For several years he attempted to use the microscope to study and catalogue the tiny structures within the brain, but they were impossible to see clearly.

He wanted to solve the fierce, ongoing debate as to whether the brain was made up of individual cells, or whether these cells were all continuously interconnected.

Santiago Ramn y Cajal Getty Images

In 1873, the Italian physician, Camillo Golgi, developed a staining technique using silver nitrate that allowed a much clearer view of brain tissue. For years, Cajal worked on refining this technique.

As a passionate artist, he drew everything he saw, and in 1889, he presented his findings to the Congress of the German Anatomical Society at the University of Berlin.

Each stained brain cell stood out perfectly. Its complexity could be seen in detail, showing there was no direct physical connection between each cell, and settling the long-running debate.

Cajals intricate brain drawings are still used in neuroscience today Instituto Cajal del Consjo Superior de Investigaciones Cientficas, Madrid/CSIC

Cajals pictures are still used in neuroscience today to demonstrate the precise architecture of the brain that underlies memory, and all other aspects of human thought.

Coronavirus isolation affects your brain a neuroscientist explains how, and what to do about it – ABC News

May 10, 2020 medical

After weeks of living in the coronavirus shutdown, for people in many parts of Australia restrictions are finally beginning to lift.

But have you noticed that as the weeks passed in isolation, you found you couldn't think as clearly, that you were lethargic, less productive, your mental health deteriorated, or that your attention span dwindled?

Or, paradoxically, maybe you had a strange surge in productivity?

But iso life isn't completely over yet. So let's take a look at how living in isolation affects the brain, and what we can do about it.

We can get a better understanding of how our brains are responding to COVID-19 isolation when we look at past research on people and animals who have been isolated. For example, people travelling in space or imprisoned in solitary confinement, or animals in captivity all give us clues.

When we are faced with danger, our brains release hormones that trigger the "flight or flight" response.

This serves two main functions it helps prepare our body to fight the threat or escape to safety, and it also encourages us to band together.

The evolutionary basis for this is survival a cohesive group is more likely to survive a threat.

Get the latest health news and information from across the ABC.

The thing is, the body reacts the exact same way to modern-day stresses, such as dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

And because this situation is constant for many of us, we find ourselves in a state of chronic stress.

Chronic stress affects the cells in our body right down to the level of our genes.

This explains why some people are having a hard time holding things together, while others are finding that they are the most productive they've been in years.

Stress is fundamentally a process that allows our body to function most effectively, to meet the challenges faced at the time which is why some people report performing much better during isolation.

However, a body and brain that are chronically stressed are focused on survival.

Being in survival mode comes at the expense of our most sophisticated behaviours our decision-making skills, our problem solving, our creativity and we revert back to our more primitive behaviours, such as anger, fear and aggression.

During chronic stress, the part of our brain involved in initiating the fight or flight response, and the generation of our emotions, a region called the amygdala, grows in size as it adapts to the high levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol.

However, larger amygdalas are correlated with more aggression across all species which is why you might find yourself angrier or more emotional.

When we're stressed, our brain releases a little burst of the hormone oxytocin, as a coping mechanism.

Oxytocin is responsible for that feeling of being close and connected to someone and it drives us to seek connection with others.

Why does our brain release a "bonding" hormone when we're stressed?

It serves a really important evolutionary purpose it is trying to help us survive.

It makes us crave that connection with someone, so that when we're stressed, we seek safety in numbers. We reach out for help, we talk our problems through with a friend, and we ultimately feel better.

Researchers have also observed the part of our brain involved in decision making, known as the prefrontal cortex, shrinking and becoming more disconnected from other brain areas in response to long-term stress. So if you've been struggling to focus and be productive, this could be why.

The prefrontal cortex is important for problem solving, attention, regulating our emotions, and our complex behaviours like personality and creativity.

Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast.

Just because there's a biological reason behind why your brain's functioning a little differently right now doesn't mean you can't take control.

Here are five aspects of your life that you might feel are a little wonky at the moment, and what you can do about it.

For over 50 years, we have known that people who are more socially isolated are more likely to die.

The 29 per cent increased risk in mortality for people who have spent years in social isolation is largely due to the effects of chronic stress on the body.

When we are socialising with someone we like, our brain releases a cocktail of hormones and neurotransmitters, which helps us feel closer to that person, happier, and even reduces pain.

Socialising activates our brain's reward system, which makes us feel good.

This is the same part of the brain that makes food taste great when we're hungry, or is responsible for you feeling elated when your favourite sports team wins a game. It also drives addiction.

And socialising doesn't just make us bond with people, it also makes us feel better, by reducing the levels of stress hormones, like cortisol, in our body.

You might have noticed that talking on the phone to a loved one leaves you feeling better than texting alone does.

This is because text messaging activates the brain's reward pathway, but it doesn't seem to result in the release of oxytocin.

In addition to social connection, it seems that connection to self is important too. Mindfulness, meditation and yoga have been shown to help reverse stress-related changes in the brain.

Social media makes it possible for us socialise far and wide. Reach out to friends online, call your parents, and learn how to practice mindfulness or meditation.

Social deprivation is one thing. What about sensory deprivation?

Many of us are already living in small apartments in a concrete jungle, and being in isolation has restricted our ability to get outdoors.

When mice are housed in isolation, the levels of certain growth factors in their brain changes after just two weeks.

We have the same growth factors in our brain, though to date it has not been possible to measure this in living humans.

These growth factors are a bit like a brain "fertiliser," and keep the cells in the brain working optimally, and helping them survive.

So it isn't surprising to hear that after mice had been placed in one month of social isolation, neurons in the sensory and motor regions of the brain had shrunk by 20 per cent.

Having low levels of these growth factors are associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depression, which is why you may have noticed your mental health deteriorate.

The good news is, we know that spending time in nature can help reverse the effects stress on the body. Just 20 minutes in a green space reduces our stress hormone cortisol levels by 18.5 per cent.

Head to the backyard for a dose of nature, or if you're in an apartment with no nature to gaze at, be sure to get to a green space for your exercise.

Depression disrupts sleep. When we look at the brains of people who are depressed, scientists have found that genes involved in our sleep-regulating circadian rhythm change.

Even if you aren't feeling depressed, you may still have noticed your sleep cycles change in isolation.

Much of this is likely due to a disruption in your routine, and a lack of exposure to light. Exposure to light delays the release of sleep-inducing melatonin.

Some of us are having strange dreams, or even nightmares. In isolation, many of us are sleeping longer and waking up more naturally, which is associated with having heightened dream recall.

Our dreams are composed of elements of our daily life experiences. When we sleep, our important memories throughout the day are shuttled into long-term memory storage.

Some of this occurs in the "shallow" stage of sleep, known as the REM stage, where we experience dreams and are easily woken. You won't remember your dreams if you are woken up in deep sleep.

We cycle from REM sleep to deep sleep and back to REM sleep approximately every 90 minutes.

Withdrawal from our daily routine has starved our dreams of "inspiration," forcing our subconscious to draw more heavily from past experiences.

The more anxiety we feel about our life, the more negative our dreams tend to be.

To help improve your sleep, try sticking to a routine and avoid screen time for at least an hour before bed. And lay off the alcohol it reduces the quality of your sleep.

Many of us are finding that we spending more time vegetating on the couch and aren't getting enough or any physical activity.

Among many other things, exercise increases blood flow to the brain, and raises the levels of these "brain fertiliser" growth factor compounds. It also stimulates the formation of new brain cells.

New brain cells are integrated into our brain circuits and are crucial for learning and memory.

Feeling forgetful and struggling to learn during isolation? Thirty minutes of moderate intensity exercise every second day may help change this.

In fact, just 10 minutes of exercise may improve our attention for the following two to four hours, so if you're struggling to focus, get that blood pumping.

Want even more science, health and tech? Join the conversation on Facebook.

Have you found yourself overeating or binge-eating? Emotional or comfort eating occurs when we try to suppress negative emotions with food.

Our body's stress response takes a lot of energy, which is why stress increases our preference for calorie rich foods.

Those tasty sweets result in the release of release of dopamine in our brain's reward centre. This is why they make us feel good in the short term.

Unfortunately, long term high-fat or high-sugar diets impair brain function by increasing inflammation and reducing neuroplasticity, that is, how adaptable our brain is.

This is why you may be struggling to learn after binging on junk food over the past month.

Give your isolation brain a boost by laying off the high-sugar or high-fat treats. Have healthy snacks on hand instead, like fruit, vegetables and nuts.

Dr Lila Landowski is a research fellow in neuroscience and brain plasticity at the School of Medicine, University of Tasmania.

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Coronavirus isolation affects your brain a neuroscientist explains how, and what to do about it - ABC News

Neuroscience

COVID-19 pandemic NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market 2019 Future growth, new developments, and industry analysis Research Report – Cole of…

May 10, 2020 medical

Research report on NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market size | Industry Segment by Applications, by Type, Regional Outlook, Market Demand, Latest Trends, NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Industry Share & Revenue by Manufacturers, Company Profiles, Growth Forecasts 2025. Analyzes current market size and upcoming 5 years growth of this industry.

Report Covers Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, CAGR, Trends, Forecast And Business Opportunity.

Download Premium Sample Copy Of This Report: https://brandessenceresearch.biz/Request/Sample?ResearchPostId=268&RequestType=Sample

Global NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market to reach USD 5.1 billion by 2025.

Global NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market valued approximately USD 2.1 billion in 2016 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than 10.3% over the forecast period 2017-2025. The increasing automation of high-throughput screening and the availability of robust data management software tools, which enable researchers to develop systemic and process-oriented approaches toward neuroscience antibodies and assays techniques are some of the factors contributing to the growth of this segment.

The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:

By Product oReagents oInstrumentsBy TechnologyoImmunoassayoMolecular DiagnosticsBy End UseroResearch InstitutesoHospitalsBy Regions:oNorth AmericaoU.S.oCanadaoEuropeoUKoGermanyoAsia PacificoChinaoIndiaoJapanoRest of the World

Furthermore, years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical year 2015Base year 2016Forecast period 2017 to 2025

Some of the key manufacturers involved in the market are. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Abcam, Bio-Rad, Merck KGAA, Cell Signaling Technology, Genscript, Rockland Immunochemicals. Bio Legend, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Tecan, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Siemens. Acquisitions and effective mergers are some of the strategies adopted by the key manufacturers. New product launches and continuous technological innovations are the key strategies adopted by the major players.

Target Audience of the Global NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS in Market Study:

oKey Consulting Companies & AdvisorsoLarge, medium-sized, and small enterprisesoVenture capitalistsoValue-Added Resellers (VARs)oThird-party knowledge providersoInvestment bankersoInvestors

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Table of Content:

Market Overview:The report begins with this section where product overview and highlights of product and application segments of the Global NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market are provided. Highlights of the segmentation study include price, revenue, sales, sales growth rate, and market share by product.

Competition by Company:Here, the competition in the Worldwide Global NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market is analyzed, By price, revenue, sales, and market share by company, market rate, competitive situations Landscape, and latest trends, merger, expansion, acquisition, and market shares of top companies.

Company Profiles and Sales Data:As the name suggests, this section gives the sales data of key players of the Global NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market as well as some useful information on their business. It talks about the gross margin, price, revenue, products, and their specifications, type, applications, competitors, manufacturing base, and the main business of key players operating in the Global NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market.

Market Status and Outlook by Region:In this section, the report discusses about gross margin, sales, revenue, production, market share, CAGR, and market size by region. Here, the Global NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market is deeply analyzed on the basis of regions and countries such as North America, Europe, China, India, Japan, and the MEA.

Application or End User:This section of the research study shows how different end-user/application segments contribute to the Global NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market.

Market Forecast:Here, the report offers a complete forecast of the Global NEUROSCIENCE ANTIBODIES AND ASSAYS Market by product, application, and region. It also offers global sales and revenue forecast for all years of the forecast period.

Research Findings and Conclusion:This is one of the last sections of the report where the findings of the analysts and the conclusion of the research study are provided.

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Neuroscience

Our pupils follow rhythms that arise in the environment – Tech Explorist

May 10, 2020 medical

Our pupils also dilate when we see someone were attracted to. It controls the amount of light entering the eye and hits the retina. To control the amount of light that hits the retina, our iris, the colored part, acts as a shutter, expanding or contracting to determine how much light gets through the pupil.

Neuroscientists from the German Primate Center (DPZ) Leibniz Institute for Primate Research and the European Neuroscience Institute Gttingen have now discovered in an investigation of humans and rhesus monkeys that the measure of incident light doesnt just reflexively constrain the movement of the pupil, but unconsciously also by our brain. In this way, the pupil can follow rhythms that rise in the environment.

In this manner, the opening of the pupil is optimally adapted to our environment, which enhances perception.

Adjusting pupil diameter in accordance with environmental regularities optimizes information transmission at ecologically relevant temporal frequencies.

Pupil diameter is constrained by the pupillary reflex, which naturally adjusts the pupil muscles to the frequency of light. However, not all essential environmental information is contained in the amount of incident light alone. Computations are subsequently required in the brain that go past the abilities of a reflex to take all accessible data. The point of this investigation, supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), was to see if and to what degree pupil dynamics are controlled completely naturally or whether increasingly complex rhythms in the earth additionally impact them.

A high-speed video camera was used to measure pupil movements of two male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and several test subjects of both sexes. On the other hand, subjects were shown sequences of images of human faces at a temporal frequency of two hertz.

A dark background was shown between the images. The alternation of background and image causes the pupil to dilate and contract in rhythm with the images. During the experiments, the order of the images was manipulated they were grouped in pairs so that a particular image always followed a specific other image.

Thus, there are two rhythms to which the pupil reacts: a fast one (two hertz), which results from the alternation of image and background, and one at half that pace (one hertz), which results from the arrangement of the images as pairs. The light itself does not give the sequence of the pairs, and therefore requires an additional computation of environmental rhythms in the brain.

Since the luminance of the faces in all pictures, as well as the dark background in the pauses, remained unchanged, but the arrangement of the pictures varied, conclusions could be drawn about the influence of this additional computation on pupil dynamics.

In addition to the structured sequence, randomly arranged images with the same frequency (two hertz) were shown. A comparison of the results between structured and unstructured image sequences at the same image frequency shows that in both species studied, the pupil follows not only the light-related rhythm of the images but also the more complicated rhythm of the pairs. Pupil movement in a slow (one hertz) rhythm keeps the pupil open longer as if a pair should not be interrupted by the closing of the pupil. This allows more light to reach the retina.

Caspar Schwiedrzik, head of the junior research group Perception and Plasticity, said,The additional information contained in the environment thus complements the information already reaching the retina via the incident light. Furthermore, the study was able to show that this contributes to an improvement in perception, even if the test subjects are not aware that there is a rhythm in the environment. Pupil control is therefore not purely reflexive, but is also influenced by our unconscious thoughts.

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Our pupils follow rhythms that arise in the environment - Tech Explorist

Neuroscience

Our pupil can follow rhythms that arise in the environment – News-Medical.Net

May 10, 2020 medical

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.May 8 2020

When we find something particularly beautiful or impressive, we literally get big eyes: Our pupils dilate. The pupil controls how much light enters the eye and falls on the retina. When there is a lot of light, the pupil contracts; when there is little light, it opens again. Neuroscientists from the German Primate Center (DPZ) - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research and the European Neuroscience Institute Gttingen have now found out in a study of humans and rhesus monkeys that the movement of the pupil is not only reflexively controlled by the amount of incident light, but unconsciously also by our mind. Thus, the pupil can follow rhythms that arise in the environment. In this way, the opening of the pupil is optimally adapted to our environment which enhances perception (Journal of Neuroscience).

Sensory impressions from our environment are often rhythmic, not only when we hear, but also when we see. For example, the blue light of a passing ambulance flashes about 120 times per minute. We also react unconsciously to visual events in our environment, which can be registered by our senses as regular patterns. From these patterns our brain can, for example, deduce when the next flash of blue light will hit the eye and prepare itself for it.

An important factor in vision is the adjustment of the pupil diameter. Smaller pupils provide a sharper image, while larger pupils allow more light to reach the retina, making it more likely that even weak stimuli will be processed at all. Pupil diameter is controlled by the pupillary reflex, which automatically, i.e. without our knowledge or intention, adjusts the pupil muscles to the incidence of light. But not all relevant environmental information is contained in the amount of incident light alone. Computations are therefore required in the brain that go beyond the capabilities of a reflex to take into account all available information. The aim of this study, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), was to find out whether and to what extent pupil dynamics are controlled fully automatically or whether they are also influenced by more complex rhythms in the environment.

For the investigations, pupil movements of two male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and several test subjects of both sexes were measured using a high-speed video camera, while the subjects were shown sequences of images of human faces at a temporal frequency of two hertz. A dark background was shown between the images. The alternation of background and image causes the pupil to dilate and contract in rhythm with the images. During the experiments, the order of the images was manipulated - they were grouped in pairs so that a particular image always followed a particular other image. Thus, there are two rhythms to which the pupil reacts: a fast one (two hertz), which results from the alternation of image and background, and one at half that pace (one hertz), which results from the arrangement of the images as pairs. The sequence of the pairs is not given by the light itself, and therefore requires an additional computation of environmental rhythms in the brain. Since the luminance of the faces in all pictures as well as the dark background in the "pauses" remained unchanged, but the arrangement of the pictures varied, conclusions could be drawn about the influence of this additional computation on pupil dynamics.

In addition to the structured sequence, randomly arranged images with the same frequency (two hertz) were shown. A comparison of the results between structured and unstructured image sequences at the same image frequency shows that in both species studied the pupil follows not only the light-related rhythm of the images, but also the more complex rhythm of the pairs. Pupil movement in a slow (one hertz) rhythm keeps the pupil open longer, as if a pair should not be interrupted by the closing of the pupil. This allows more light to reach the retina.

The additional information contained in the environment thus complements the information already reaching the retina via the incident light."

Caspar Schwiedrzik, head of the junior research group "Perception and Plasticity"

Furthermore, the study was able to show that this contributes to an improvement in perception, even if the test subjects are not aware that there is a rhythm in the environment. "Pupil control is therefore not purely reflexive, but is also influenced by our unconscious thoughts," adds Schwiedrzik.

Source:

Journal reference:

Schwiedrzik, C.M., et al. (2020) Pupil diameter tracks statistical structure in the environment to increase visual sensitivity. Journal of Neuroscience. doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0216-20.2020.

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Our pupil can follow rhythms that arise in the environment - News-Medical.Net

Neuroscience

Stars Host Free Live, Online Classes with Varsity Tutors – Look to the Stars

May 10, 2020 medical

As part of its response to COVID-19 school closures, Varsity Tutors today announced that it has partnered with celebrity personalities from the worlds of entertainment, sports, and science to launch StarCourse a series of live, online celebrity-led classes. These classes will be available for free to kids and parents as part of Varsity Tutors Virtual School Day.

Students attending the free live classes will have the opportunity to take a class with Emmy Award winner Julianne Hough, two-time champion of Dancing with the Stars and creator of KINRGY; to learn health and wellness practices with gold medal gymnast, Aly Raisman; to study all things space with Leland Melvin, a former NFL star turned NASA astronaut; and to talk neuroscience with Mayim Bialik, a PhD scientist and star of the hit show The Big Bang Theory. Each of these celebrity instructors will host their own live classes throughout the month of May.

These live classes are a phenomenal addition to the Virtual School Day initiative that weve established for families impacted by coronavirus school closures, said Brian Galvin, Chief Academic Officer for Varsity Tutors. During this time, we feel families are looking for ways to keep their children both engaged and learning. Were thrilled to be able to work with the celebrity instructors as they share their knowledge and expertise in the subjects theyre passionate about.

People were born to move, create, and imagine, Hough said. Through my class, I hope to help kids connect with all three pastimes. Ill be teaching two movement classes that blend choreography and fitness, and that allow kids to express themselves creatively while doing it.

Bialik added, Neuroscience is definitely esoteric, but I think there are aspects of it that can be brought down to the level of an interested child easily. My class is a chance to lift the clouds around neuroscience and help kids discover all thats interesting about this area of study.

World champion gymnast Raisman noted, "I spent a lot of time as a gymnast working on my balance and strength, which was a big part of my success in the gym. Now, I have learned to apply the same basic principles to my everyday life and I want to help encourage people of all ages to prioritize their overall health and wellness. "

After injuries ended my football career, I decided to attend graduate school and study engineering thanks to a former professors influence, Melvin said. I want to pay that example forward and inspire students to reach for the stars.

The celebrity-led classes are a part of a bigger Varsity Tutors initiative to provide access to engaging, interactive classes for free. In March, Varsity Tutors launched Virtual School Daya remote learning program that includes live classes and educational resources intended to help parents fill their childrens day with enriched learning. Virtual School Day provides students with over 50 hours per week of instruction. Each class is led by an expert tutor with experience in the course topic, as well as familiarity with virtual instruction. Classes refresh weekly, with age-appropriate options for grades K-12.

Parents interested in registering for the celebrity-led classes or Virtual School Day should visit http://www.virtualschoolday.com to sign up.

Originally posted here:
Stars Host Free Live, Online Classes with Varsity Tutors - Look to the Stars

Neuroscience

Gaze and pupil dilation can reveal a decision before it’s made | Penn Today – Penn: Office of University Communications

May 10, 2020 medical

The direction in which people look and how dilated their pupils get can reveal the decision theyre about to make, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Penn neuroscientist Michael Platt and colleagues. These biomarkers also offer clues into the underlying biological processes at play as choices get made.

Understanding this can help explain why people make the decisions that they do, why one individual might make a different decision than another, even why people who seem to make the same decision might do so for different reasons, in terms of the biology, says Platt, a Penn Integrates Knowledge professor with appointments in the Wharton School, School of Arts & Sciences, and Perelman School of Medicine.

The work grew out of conversations between the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, which Platt runs, and one of its partners, Vanguard, about why people more frequently make unwise financial decisions as they age. The discussion soon turned to broader questions about decision making, something Platt, postdoctoral researcher Feng Sheng, and former postdoctoral researcher Arjun Ramakrishnan opted to test with a well-known concept called loss-aversion.

People want to avoid a loss, even if doing so comes at the expense of a gain. Its why people buy insurance, Platt says. We seem to be really afraid of losses, of any possible risk of losing money or anything else.

One theory in the field says that losses are felt more profoundly than the happiness derived from a gain. To build on that notion, the Penn team created a gambling-task experiment that tracked eye movement and pupil dilation during the decision-making process. Ninety-four participants, each wearing an eye-tracking headset, went through two rounds of 100 trials. In each trial, they had to accept or reject a gamble that offered a possible gain or loss of $1 to $10.

For a study like this to succeed, participants must feel that their decisions arent purely hypothetical, so at the outset, the research team gave every person $10. They gambled with that over the 200 trials, Platt says. Whatever they ended up winning, they took home.

With dataset in hand, the research team then turned to a computational model based on a decision-making theory that says that the brain sequentially gathers information over time, then uses that evidence to tip the scales in one direction or another. Platt explains with the example of a yellow traffic light. As you approach a yellow light, do you hit the brakes or the gas?

It depends on where your eyes go, when, and for how long. Evidence for stoppinga person walking nearby, other cars on the roadgo into one bucket, and evidence for continuing, like a clear road ahead or beautiful weather, go into other. When one fills up, its the equivalent of hitting a threshold and you make a decision, he says. We know now that this is what our brain does, accumulating evidence toward one decision or another.

Neuroscientists also know that the more someone looks at a single spot or item, the more of a boost it gets compared to other information that could have been gathered. That affects the choice made. Thats why eye-tracking is really important and useful. Where people look indicates their biases, the information thats important to them, and it becomes highly predictive of the decision theyll make.

In the case of the gambling task, the two buckets comprised acceptance or rejection of each gamble. Platts team surmised that, because people are generally more sensitive to loss, for each gamble they would spend more time looking at the loss option over the gain. For the most part, that turned out to be true.

But the researchers also noticed that some participants rejected outright any gamble with a potential loss, regardless of the amount. In the rare moments that they challenged the default, opting instead to take the gamble, their eyes began to dilate half a second before they made the decision. We could predict when someone was about to accept a gamble just by the increased size of their pupil, Platt says.

Ultimately, understanding how this particular neurological process works could allow for personalized interventions. For example, knowing that where a person looks and for how long influences decision making, its possible that subtle suggestionslarger or bolder font on a page, for instancecould discreetly direct the gaze.

Platt and colleagues are working on a large study to test that theory, and preliminary data so far confirm their hypotheses. Theyre also conducting a study in conjunction with Vanguard to look at whether these biological processes and the biomarkers associated with them change systematically as people get older. Its an extension of the study they just published in PNAS.

All of this work fits into Platts overall research program. Were driven to understand why people make the decisions that they do and how using the tools of neuroscience can help, he says. Now we have two candidate biomarkerswhere people look and the size of their pupilsthat can tell us a lot of about the internal processes, and given the state of this technology, are easy and cheap to measure.

Michael Plattis the James S. Riepe University Professor in theDepartment ofPsychology in theSchool of Arts & Sciences, theDepartment ofNeurosciencein thePerelman School of Medicine, and theMarketingDepartment in theWharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Feng Sheng is a postdoctoral researcher in theDepartment of Marketingin theWharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Arjun Ramakrishnan, formerly a postdoctoral researcher in thePlatt Labs, is currently an assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.