Category Archives: Neuroscience

How AI and Neuroscience Can Help Each Other Progress? – Analytics Insight

Artificial Intelligence has progressed immensely in the past few years. From being just a fiction context to penetrating into the regular lives of people, AI has brought transformation in several ways. Such advancements are an output of various factors that include the application of new statistical approaches and enhanced computing powers. However, according to 2017 report by DeepMind,a Perspective in the journal Neuron, argues that people often discount the contribution and use of ideas from experimental and theoretical neuroscience.

TheDeepMind reportsresearchers believe that drawing inspiration from neuroscience in AI research is important for two reasons. First, neuroscience can help validate AI techniques that already exist. They said, Put simply if we discover one of our artificial algorithms mimics a function within the brain, it suggests our approach may be on the right track. Second, neuroscience can provide a rich source of inspiration for new types of algorithms and architectures to employ when building artificial brains. Traditional approaches to AI have historically been dominated by logic-based methods and theoretical mathematical models.

Moreover,in a recent blog post, DeepMind suggests that the human brain and AI learning methods are closely linked when it comes to learning through reward.

Computer scientists have developed algorithms for reinforcement learning in artificial systems. These algorithms enable AI systems to learn complex strategies without external instruction, guided instead by reward predictions.

As noted by the post, a recent development in computer science which yields significant improvements in performance on reinforcement learning problems may provide a deep, parsimonious explanation for several previously unexplained features of reward learning in the brain, and opens up new avenues of research into the brains dopamine system, with potential implications for learning and motivation disorders.

DeepMind found that dopamine neurons in the brain were each tuned to different levels of pessimism or optimism. If they were a choir, they wouldnt all be singing the same note, but harmonizing each with a consistent vocal register, like bass and soprano singers. In artificial reinforcement learning systems, this diverse tuning creates a richer training signal that greatly speeds learning in neural networks, and researchers speculate that the brain might use it for the same reason.

The existence of distributional reinforcement learning in the brain has interesting implications both for AI and neuroscience. Firstly, this discovery validates distributional reinforcement learning it gives researchers increased confidence that AI research is on the right track since this algorithm is already being used in the most intelligent entity they are aware of: the brain.

Therefore, a shared framework for intelligence in context to artificial intelligence and neuroscience will allow scientists to build smarter machines, and enable them to understand humankind better. This collaborative drive to propel both could possibly expand human cognitive capabilities while bridging the gap between humans and machines.

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Smriti is a Content Analyst at Analytics Insight. She writes Tech/Business articles for Analytics Insight. Her creative work can be confirmed @analyticsinsight.net. She adores crushing over books, crafts, creative works and people, movies and music from eternity!!

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How AI and Neuroscience Can Help Each Other Progress? - Analytics Insight

Brain Atlas enables exploration of the brain proteome – Drug Target Review

International researchers have analysed nearly 1,900 brain samples to create the Brain Atlas, the latest database released by the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) project.

A comprehensive overview of all the proteins expressed in the human brain has been released. The open-access Brain Atlas database is the culmination of international collaboration led by researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

The researchers say the database could be instrumental in developing more effective targeted therapies and diagnostics for psychiatric and neurological diseases.

The Brain Atlas is based on the analysis of approximately 1,900 brain samples covering 27 brain regions, combining data from the human brain with corresponding information from the brains of the pig and mouse.

As expected, the blueprint for the brain is shared among mammals, but the new map also reveals interesting differences between human, pig and mouse brains, says Mathias Uhln, Professor at the Department of Protein Science at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Visiting professor at the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet and Director of the Human Protein Atlas effort.

The study, published in Science, revealed the most distinct region of the brain is the cerebellum. According to the researchers, many proteins have elevated expression levels in this region, particularly those associated with psychiatric disorders.

Another interesting finding is that the different cell types of the brain share specialised proteins with peripheral organs, revealed Dr Evelina Sjstedt, researcher at the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet and first author on the paper. For example, astrocytes, the cells that filter the extracellular environment in the brain share a lot of transporters and metabolic enzymes with cells in the liver that filter the blood.

Comparing the different neurotransmitter systems also revealed differences: several molecular components of neurotransmitter systems, especially receptors that respond to released neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, show a different pattern in humans and mice, explained Dr Jan Mulder, group leader of the Human Protein Atlas brain profiling group and researcher at the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet. This means that caution should be taken when selecting animals as models for human mental and neurological disorders.

For selected genes and proteins, the Brain Atlas contains microscopic images showing the protein distribution in human brain samples and detailed, zoomable maps of protein distribution in the mouse brain.

The Brain Atlas database is the latest released by the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) program which started in 2003 with the aim to map the entirety of the human proteome.

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LabRoots Announces Neuroscience 2020 Virtual Conference to Promote Research Worldwide and The NIH BRAIN Initiative – PR Web

YORBA LINDA, Calif. (PRWEB) March 05, 2020

LabRoots, the leading scientific social networking website offering premier, interactive virtual events and webinars, will be hosting approximately 15,000 neuroscience researchers, clinicians, and scientists from around the globe who are dedicated to understanding the brain and nervous system. The annual, free Neuroscience Virtual Event will capture emerging developments in Neuroscience and the impact brain research has on society, together with the latest innovations.

With nearly 70 speakers, including two stellar keynote deliveries, 15 on-demand discussions, and 13 panels, Neuroscience 2020 showcases an extremely comprehensive program supported by the organizing committee of renowned academia and industry experts, The NIH BRAIN team, and dedicated sponsors.

Featuring neural circuit and behavior dynamics, cell diversity, tool and technology development, advancing human neuroscience: basic to clinical projects, and neuroethics presented by early career scientists diverse in background, The NIH BRAIN Initiative session will preview a multidisciplinary approach to neuroscience. The agenda also highlights the scourge of neurodegenerative diseases and dementia, and behavioral and psychiatric disorders to expand on the all-encompassing theme of the conference - brain function in health and disease.

This years agenda commences with a keynote academia speaker, Dario Alessi, FRS FMedSci FRSE, Director, Professor of Signal Transduction at University of Dundee, describing the nuts and bolts of the LRRK2 signaling pathway and how it is linked to Parkinsons Disease, and new approaches that could be exploited to better diagnose the disease. Following, Dr. Walter Koroshetz, Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke who played a significant role in the revolution in acute stroke care in the US and the growth of the neurointensive care field, will deliver a keynote presentation on The BRAIN Initiative and its promise for new Neurotechnologies to more effectively diagnose and treat neuro/mental/substance abuse disorders.

The featured notable speakers cover many significant areas of Neuroscience including open science and data sharing for behavioral neuroscience, understanding the pitfalls and advantages of cognitive testing in mouse models of disease, deciphering the spreading of neuropathologies in neuronal circuits using a high capacity microfluidics platform, and learning about a protein that is a potential key player in neurodegeneration and aging, and much more.

This years Brain Initiative track will showcase the power of combining diverse expertise and teamwork in tackling some of the most challenging areas of contemporary neuroscience research, commented Karen K. David, Ph.D., Program Director, BRAIN Initiative. We are excited to feature through LabRoots the breadth of expertise of our early-career scientists and representative collaborative projects that tackle the circuit basis of behavior, cell diversity, resource development, and human neuroscience. Through Labroots' virtual environment, we are able to feature the team neuroscience approach that can often be difficult to showcase through usual channels including conferences.

Progressing at a remarkable pace, Neuroscience is one of the most exciting fields of biomedical research and our interactive forum continues to lead our mission in sharing cutting-edge science on a global front, said Greg Cruikshank, Chief Executive Officer of LabRoots. We look forward to deepening the knowledge through valuable discussions, as the research of the human brain continues to evolve.

Produced on LabRoots robust platform, this online environment with exhibit and poster halls, and networking lounge allows attendees to connect seamlessly across all desktop and mobile devices. By participating in this event, Continuing Education credit (1 per presentation) can be earned for a maximum of 40 credits.

For more information or to register for the event, click here. Participants can follow the conversation online by using #LRneuro.

About LabRoots LabRoots is the leading scientific social networking website, and primary source for scientific trending news and premier educational virtual events and webinars and more. Contributing to the advancement of science through content sharing capabilities, LabRoots is a powerful advocate in amplifying global networks and communities. Founded in 2008, LabRoots emphasizes digital innovation in scientific collaboration and learning. Offering more than articles and webcasts that go beyond the mundane and explore the latest discoveries in the world of science, LabRoots users can stay atop their field by gaining continuing education credits from a wide range of topics through their participation in the webinars and virtual events.

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In Conversation With Professor Bittu: A Neuroscientist And A Queer Activist – Feminism in India

The first time I attended Professor Bittus talk was during a celebratory gathering at Ashoka University when Section 377 was struck down. The second time, I attended his lecture for a Psychology 101 class, where he spoke about how the brain works. In both cases, I was awestruck by his brilliance and his passion for teaching, which was evident in the way he engaged with his students and articulated his ideas.

A Queer activist and a Neuroscientist, Professor Bittu has been a tireless advocate for the Dalit and LGBTQ community and has written in-depth about issues close to him. He is someone who has been involved in creating a safe space for marginalised people ever since he was in college. When he was in college at Harvard he joined the struggle for anti-war movement and rights of campus workers.

He is an Associate Professor of Biology and Psychology at Ashoka University. He completed his PhD from Harvard University in Neuroscience. He was an INSPIRE-faculty at the Central University of Hyderabad and a DST-Dr. D. S. Kothari postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, where he studied the evolution of neural and behavioural systems of communication among Orthopteran insects in response to ecological constraints.

In this interview, he shares his astute insights into his work, questions of inclusivity of STEM, and shows us ways in which we can work to make STEM a more accessible space for marginalised communities.

I have always been interested in how the brain works and it has been something that I have been interested in since I was a student in school. I went to college, did a degree in Biochemistry, initially, for the first two years and I was quite frustrated by not being able to learn more about neuroscience and evolution. I then. I then transferred to another college where I could do a liberal arts degree in which I focused on evolution and neuroscience and then I went on to do a PhD integrated with aMaster in Neuroscience. After that, I went forward with Behaviour Ecology to understand the evolution of the neuro system and the ecological relevance of various behaviours and neuro function relative to those ecologically relevant behaviours.

There is a tendency in STEM to see ideas as existing in vacuums without understanding the cultural, historical and social context in which those ideas emerge.

I dont think STEM is exclusionary because of a lack of discourse on progressive issues, so much as its own lack of criticality around the project of who does science and why. I do think that STEM, being evidence-based, provides the possibility of accumulating evidence to dispel various regressive discourses. However, it is true that people in STEM are not familiarised with notions of being sensitive to other human beings in the course of formulating ideas in Science. There is a tendency in STEM to see ideas as existing in vacuums without understanding the cultural, historical and social context in which those ideas emerge. That means that ideas in science can sometimes be somewhat stale because they dont consider a change of perspective from other disciplinary lenses.

A lot of people in STEM are not particularly sensitive with regards to gender, caste, class, around ability and disability and various other things like that and in general people see the activist work I do as completely unnecessary and pointless. These are some of the hurdles that I have encountered. Often when I interact with Scientists they start off with the fairly standard social biases that are not particularly Trans-Friendly.

Making STEM more inclusive would have to involve making STEM more accountable to the public, more inclusive of other disciplines and other ways of thinking. And I think that will help STEM fields be less derivative, less stuck in a rut, and so on.

Also Read: How Psychology Wronged Women

For most of my life, I found my work as a biology Professor did not in any way overlap with my work as an activist. These have been two separate and very energy draining aspects of my life. Now I am finding some common ground just as a result of thinking for years these two things separately. One is that I think that some lessons about how we regulate ourselves as a society can be gleaned from an ecological understanding and two, increasing our need to regulate the ways which we influence nature and climate change are going to become essential to how it is that we organise ourselves socially and economically. These are the two areas of relevance where I think my work as a biology Professor overlaps with my work as an activist. I am starting to feel that in the absence of good theoretical models for both of these, we are hitting against the same kind of problems over and over again in activism.

Neuroscience is also a tool that feminist can use to find evidence to combat notions of male superiority and it is the science that has given us and demolished a lot of social, completely evidence-free notions of male superiority that, in fact, pervaded science in ways which were not backed by evidence.

Neuroscience studies have been historically used to assert male superiority and that is certainly the case. However, Neuroscience is also a tool that feminist can use to find evidence to combat notions of male superiority and it is the science that has given us and demolished a lot of social, completely evidence-free notions of male superiority that, in fact, pervaded science in ways which were not backed by evidence.

Also Read: How Is Evolutionary Theory Used To Justify Misogyny?

For LGBTQ Community, especially Trans community and queer community, where there are social notions that are completely evidence-free, that says that Trans and homosexuality is unnatural and so on. Both animal history and Neuroscience can provide an understanding of the biological basis. There is a biological basis to all ways in which socialisations and genetics affect the brain and these will then enable us to understand that there is a biological basis to all of these behaviours and that there is nothing unnatural about it.

Professor Bittu busts the popular myth of incompatibility between science and feminism. Feminism isnt anti-science. Feminists are finally calling out science for overlooking cultural, historical, and social contexts of scientific ideas, and the invisibilisation of marginalised identities. What we need is a convergence of both science and feminism, rather than mutual exclusivity. As Professor Bittu said, science really can be a huge asset in validating feminist beliefs. On the other hand, science ought to become more inclusive of other disciplines and be more accountable to the public. Professor Bittus insights are extremely valuable to all those in the fields of STEM as well as feminists.

Featured Image Source: Ashoka University

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In Conversation With Professor Bittu: A Neuroscientist And A Queer Activist - Feminism in India

Five Inspiring Creators Working In The Immersive Industry – Forbes

International Womens Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 each year to highlight the achievements of women all over the world.

Every day Im introduced to brilliant women who are pushing boundaries in the immersive space and creating the future. To mark International Womens Day, I wanted to highlight a few of these creators that inspire me and my team.

Sally Slade, LA, California

As the lead AR/VR developer at LA-based Magnopus, Slade envisions crossovers between the digital and physical worldsthen she makes them a reality. She started her career in the visual effects industry but got hooked on VR after trying Tilt brush and painting in 3D.

Slade has released four titles to Microsoft HoloLens including Muralize, an app that projects holographic images that users can trace to make large-scale art. Slade was also a developer on the Emmy-nominated experiences Mission: ISS and Coco VR.

Magnopus

Amy Robinson Sterling, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Robinson is the Executive Director of EyeWire and Neo, games to map the brain. EyeWire crowdsources neuroscience. It challenges hundreds of thousands of players around the world to solve 3D puzzles and map out neurons, allowing neuroscientists to chart synaptic connections among neurons and begin to decipher the mysteries of how we see. EyeWire is the first of many games that will invite the world to make discoveries about how the brain works.

Under Robinsons leadership, EyeWires neuroscience visualizations have appeared at TED, the United Nations and in Times Square NYC. She produced the worlds first neuroscience virtual reality experience and curates the NIH 3D Print Exchange Neuroscience collection.

Amy-Robinson-Sterling

Chantal Matar, London, England

London-based architect and designer, Matar has collaborated with International Architectural firms, such as The Prince's Foundation, Anouska Hempel Design, and Bernard Khoury Architects.

Since 2018, Matar has been working at Zaha Hadid Architects as a Senior Designer, overseeing high-end international projects in different stages. Recently, she has grown an interest in generative and new media art and has participated in various video mapping competitions as a means of artistic expression.

@chantal.matar on Instagram

Anna Zhilyaeva, Marseille, France

Zhilyaeva is a virtual reality artist. She uses Tilt Brush to entertain, inspire and break the boundaries of traditional art. Recently, she opened Worldskills 2019 in Kazan with a virtual reality painting performance. She applies her background in traditional art to create 3D work, with a mission to evoke mystery and love. Clients and partners have included HTC Vive, Google, IBM, and Microsoft. Her work can be found on her YouTube channel.

Holger Jacobs/ kultur24.berlin

Sara Thacher, Glendale, California

Thacher is a creative director and experience designer making immersive and playful experiences for Walt Disney Imagineering. Her adventures often meander between the physical and digital.

Before Disney, Thacher worked as an independent designer and producer working with clients such as No Mimes Media, Thomas Dolby, ZER01 and Meet Gatsby. She was also the Lead Producer and Experience Designer for the alternate reality game The Jejune Institute.

Sara thacher / ucla

The theme for this years IWD is #EachforEqual, focusing on creating a world that is gender equal that enables economies and communities to thrive. If youd like to get involved with supporting the IWD Community, head over to the website.

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Five Inspiring Creators Working In The Immersive Industry - Forbes

UConn Professor Wins Award For Scholarship and Mentoring – UConn Daily Campus

The Mary S.EskineAward was created in honor of a former professor at Boston University who died from breast cancer in 2007 for her work in neuroscience and position as the Director of Undergraduate Research at Boston University. The award is given to professors nominated by their students for advocating undergraduate research and mentoring.

I have twoPhD students and 13 undergraduatestudents in my lab and,unknown to me, they and former students nominated me for this award, Dr. Markus said.

Dr. Markus research focuses on the development of memories using rats. His team monitorsthe rats brain cells, or neurons, while at restand while performing tasks such as running a maze. This data comes from the hippocampus, a region of the brain that is important for memory and spatial awareness.

Thomas Shao, an eighth-semester physiology and neurobiology major who does research with Dr. Markus, summarizes the research as the following, How do our experiences turn into a memory, what are the [neuronal] processes that go into observational learningand how do the different parts of the brain interact in order for us to perform spatial and motorresponses?

Thumbnail photo courtesy of Markus Lab at the University of Connecticut website.

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UConn Professor Wins Award For Scholarship and Mentoring - UConn Daily Campus

Researchers Discover Role in the Emotional Brain for Neurotransmitter – Technology Networks

A new neurotransmitter system in the brain has been discovered by an international group of researchers led by Professor Raul R. Gainetdinov, the director of the Institute of Translational Biomedicine and academic supervisor of the Clinic of High Medical Technologies of St Petersburg University. Within this system, the transmission of signals between neurons in the brain occurs via the trace amine-associated receptor 5 (TAAR5). The results of the study will allow the development of new types of drugs for depression, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. An academic paper describing the discovery has been published in the journal Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals between neurons or from neurons to other cells. They interact with specific receptors found in the brain of humans and animals, controlling a variety of biological processes, e.g. fear, anger, pleasure, memory, energy, appetite and sleep. Today, scientists know various types of neurotransmitter systems: dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, histamine, glutamate, and many others. A large number of clinically used drugs for many brain disorders is based on the action on these systems.

The St Petersburg University researchers, together with colleagues from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Genova, Italy) and the Pavlov First St Petersburg State Medical University (St. Petersburg, Russia) conducted experiments on mutant mice. They were able to show that there is a novel neurotransmitter system in the brain - in it, signal transmission of innate olfactory information into the "emotional" brain areas occurs via the trace amine-associated receptor 5 TAAR5.

'Trace amines are cousins of well-known neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin,' explains Raul Gainetdinov. 'It is known that humans have six subtypes of trace amine-associated receptors that sense trace amines. The TAAR1 receptor is the best investigated, and it is considered so promising that in May 2019, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, the agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services, which approves the launch of new drugs on the market) designated the experimental drug based on action on TAAR1 of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals the status of "breakthrough treatment" for schizophrenia. Since the FDA accepted the second stage of the clinical trial of their medication for schizophrenia as the third stage, the drug should enter the market within a few years. This should be the first antipsychotic drug in the world that is not a dopamine receptor blocker. It is worth noting that researchers of the St. Petersburg State University are also developing new drugs based on the action on TAAR1.'

Researchers drew attention to another trace amine-associated receptor, TAAR5. It was previously believed that all other receptors for trace amines, with the exception of TAAR1, are exclusively olfactory and participate only in the perception of socially-relevant innate odours (for example, the smell of rotten tissue, predators or pheromones). Therefore, it is believed that they are not useful in the search for novel cures for brain diseases. However, the St. Petersburg State University scientists were convinced of the contrary: to prove the important role of TAAR5 in the neuronal functions and psycho-emotional state, they conducted a series of experiments with knockout laboratory mice - the gene encoding the TAAR5 protein was "knocked out" or "turned off" in these animals. Instead, a marker was inserted into the genome, which allowed the researchers to see in which areas of the brain this protein is present.

'It turned out that TAAR5 is found not only in the nose and olfactory bulb, but also in the "emotional" brain areas associated with the olfactory system: the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus and other structures,' said Professor Gainetdinov. In addition, we observed that the lack of TAAR5 results in the alteration of the concentration of serotonin in the brain, and this is the major indicator of changes in emotional behaviour. Finally, knockout mice without TAAR5 behave as if they are under the treatment with antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs: they are not afraid of bright light and are not amenable to stress.

Preliminary data also suggest that all other trace amine-associated receptors are not only mediators of the innate olfactory function, but are also variously involved in the regulation of the psycho-emotional state. According to Raul Gainetdinov, this discovery can result in the development of fundamentally new drugs that can deal with schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, various addictions, possibly even Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. The data obtained may have impact to various fields of neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and even aromatherapy.

'Now we have to search for effective antagonists - substances that will block TAAR5 receptors in the brain, thereby exerting an antidepressant and anti-anxiety effect,' said Raul Gainetdinov. 'Our laboratory at the St Petersburg University has essentially everything for these studies: we have developed a test system for searching for drugs that activate or block TAAR5 and other receptors; and we also have a unique collection of knockout animals for all receptors for trace amines. We hope to find the support of industrial partners with whom we will be able to develop innovative drugs that no one has created yet. So far, we have investigated only one receptor, TAAR5, which has been previously considered to be an exclusively olfactory receptor. We are performing now studies of four other trace amine-associated receptors, which can open new unexpected directions in the pharmacology of various brain diseases.'

Reference: Espinoza, S., Sukhanov, I., Efimova, E. V., Kozlova, A., Antonova, K. A., Illiano, P., Leo, D., Merkulyeva, N., Kalinina, D., Musienko, P., Rocchi, A., Mus, L., Sotnikova, T. D., & Gainetdinov, R. R. (2020). Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 5 Provides Olfactory Input Into Limbic Brain Areas and Modulates Emotional Behaviors and Serotonin Transmission. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2020.00018

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New Jersey Health Foundation grants advance research – Rowan Today

Ghulam Rasool envisions an improved bionic arm and hand that is more functional and affordable than those already on the market.

Now, Rasools evolving research is getting a boost.

Rasool, an assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is one of seven Rowan faculty members who recently received funding from the New Jersey Health Foundation for health-related research. Nearly 23 percent of the foundations latest grants were awarded to Rowan faculty.

The Princeton-based nonprofit supports faculty and student researchers at New Jersey-based organizations with financial resources. The grants help researchers move their projects out of the lab and into the real world, said Beena Sukumaran, vice president for research at Rowan.

Theyre taking their research and applying it to real life, she said.

Rasools project would create a prosthetic limb that combines neuroscience with practicality.

The user would be able to control the wrist joint and finger of the hand by just thinking about what theyre trying to do, Rasool said. The idea is that when someone gets an amputation, the limb may be lost. However, the neurons that connect the brain to the limb may still be there.

What we can do is tap into those neurons and get access to the electrical signals coming from the brain to muscles. We can use these electrical signals and learn about the movement the person was trying to perform or was just thinking about.

This is the second consecutive year Rasool has received a $35,000 grant from the foundation for his research.

In the first year of Rasools project, known as EnaBLe (for enhanced bionic limb), he and his student researchers built prototypes of the bionic arm. This year, they hope to discover how the bionic arm can mimic human movements in the non-amputee population. In 2021, Rasool and the students will begin working with forearm amputees to test the device.

Grant funding is vital, Rasool said.

Working with students, their stipends, equipment and lab space, all of these things require continued financial support, Rasool said.

Without these grants, awards and financial support for research, Rasool added, we wouldnt be able to make progress.

In addition to Rasool, the following faculty received grants from the foundation:

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New Jersey Health Foundation grants advance research - Rowan Today

Understanding How the Brain Predicts Could Give Autism Insight – Technology Networks

Our brains make our lives easier by predicting what will happen next based on previous experiences. But what happens when those predictive powers dont work like they should?Autism spectrum disorder and other neurological disorders involve problems with brain prediction. For example, the brain usually remembers situations that can become dangerous such as a hot stove or a car coming toward you while youre crossing the street. For someone with autism, the brain cant always predict those things.

A professor at Purdue University is discovering how complications with prediction lead to changes in sensory perception and learning impairments, both of which are common symptoms of autism.

The brain precomputes everything, said Alexander Chubykin, assistant professor of biological sciences. When you see something familiar, it immediately tries to remember what it is and thats how we know what will happen next. My lab is trying to understand how the brain distinguishes between something that is familiar and novel and how that plays into neurological disorders.

Through his research, Chubykins goal is to work on developing new biomarkers to make diagnosing disorders such as autism easier and make advancements toward discovering potential new drugs for treatment.

Understanding how the brain predicts future events is critical when it comes to defining and understanding neurological disorders, Chubykin said. Its also a key to survival and normal brain function.

If you see something dangerous, your brain usually recognizes that and predicts something bad could happen. Chubykin said. If you have this previous experience and can process this information, you can escape in time. When your brain cant tell you those things, its overwhelming and frightening.

Chubykin says understanding how the brain decides what it should pay attention to in the first place is key to understanding how prediction plays a role in disorders such as autism. In order for the brain to decide what is novel, it needs to first recognize a sensory stimulus. Recognition of the familiar stimulus leads to a generation of an expectation or prediction. However, when a prior expectation is violated, that leads to a surprise. These surprises are called prediction errors, which is when the senses do not correspond to the brains predictions.

When the brain receives surprises, it then wants to minimize that surprise in the future by memorizing it and the corresponding environment, a process otherwise known as learning.

We continually receive new sensory information, and we learn it, Chubykin said. But for someone with a disorder such as autism, its not that easy. In autism, the brain cant always accurately predict what will happen in the near future from senses such as vision, touch, and hearing.

Thats why people affected by autism often experience sensory overload, which is when sensory input overrides prediction. Sensory overload can cause stress and makes it difficult to focus.

For instance, if I have an umbrella sitting in the corner of my office and I see it every day, my brain knows its going to be there and its not a surprise, Chubykin said. I get used to it being there. But for patients with autism, it might take them a while to process it. It may also take them longer to get used to new environments with a lot of new sensory stimuli, and its these details that overwhelm them.

Chubykin also led recently published research that revealed mice can perceive so-called Kanizsa optical illusions and the neural mechanisms that are involved.

Patients with autism and schizophrenia typically have difficulty perceiving this illusion, Chubykin said. This could be significant for diagnostic testing of early detection of autism and schizophrenia in the future. The reason for that is that this illusion tests the ability to do spatial prediction.

He says in schizophrenia, prediction also is impaired, but it is the complete opposite of autism.

For patients with schizophrenia, their brains have a higher emphasis on prediction compared to senses, Chubykin said. When theyre hallucinating or hearing voices, their internal predictions override their senses.

Chubykin wants his research to provide answers for both patients and their families. The earlier these disorders can be diagnosed, the quicker patients can get the help they need.

The more we learn, the more we can help, Chubykin said.ReferencePak et al. (2020) Top-Down Feedback Controls the Cortical Representation of Illusory Contours in Mouse Primary Visual Cortex. The Journal of Neuroscience. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1998-19.2019

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Susan Hockfield Elected to Pfizer’s Board of Directors – BioSpace

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pfizer, Inc.. (NYSE: PFE) today announced the election of Dr. Susan Hockfield to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Dr. Hockfield, age 68, was also appointed to the Regulatory and Compliance Committee and the Science and Technology Committee of Pfizers Board.

Dr. Hockfield is Professor of Neuroscience and President Emerita at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She served as MITs sixteenth president from 2004 to 2012 and was the first woman and the first life scientist to lead MIT. She is also a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. Prior to joining MIT, she was the William Edward Gilbert Professor of Neurobiology, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences from 1998 to 2002 and Provost from 2003 to 2004 at Yale University.

She is also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (where she served as President-elect, President and Chair), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Society for Neuroscience.

Dr. Hockfield served as Science Envoy with the U.S. Department of State and as a member of a Congressional Commission evaluating the Department of Energy laboratories.

She served as a Director of General Electric Company from 2006 until 2018 and Director of Qualcomm from 2012 until 2016.

Dr. Hockfield received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neuroscience from Georgetown University School of Medicine.

We are fortunate to welcome Dr. Susan Hockfield to Pfizers Board of Directors, said Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer. We continue to infuse our Board with scientific expertise in support of our strategic focus on innovation and advancing our pipeline. As a distinguished neuroscientist and highly respected academic leader, Dr. Hockfield will bring tremendous value to the company and our shareholders.

About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients Lives

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at http://www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on http://www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

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Link:
Susan Hockfield Elected to Pfizer's Board of Directors - BioSpace