RESUMEN
Development of the cerebral cortex is influenced by sensory experience during distinct phases of postnatal development known as critical periods. Disruption of experience during a critical period produces neurons that lack specificity for particular stimulus features, such as location in the somatosensory system. Synaptic plasticity is the agent by which sensory experience affects cortical development. Here, we describe, in mice, a developmental critical period that affects plasticity itself. Transient neonatal disruption of signaling via the C-terminal domain of "disrupted in schizophrenia 1" (DISC1)a molecule implicated in psychiatric disordersresulted in a lack of long-term potentiation (LTP) (persistent strengthening of synapses) and experience-dependent potentiation in adulthood. Long-term depression (LTD) (selective weakening of specific sets of synapses) and reversal of LTD were present, although impaired, in adolescence and absent in adulthood. These changes may form the basis for the cognitive deficits associated with mutations in DISC1 and the delayed onset of a range of psychiatric symptoms in late adolescence.
Asunto(s)
Corteza Cerebral/crecimiento & desarrollo , Potenciación a Largo Plazo/genética , Trastornos Mentales/genética , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/genética , Plasticidad Neuronal/genética , Edad de Inicio , Animales , Corteza Cerebral/fisiopatología , Trastornos del Conocimiento/genética , Trastornos del Conocimiento/fisiopatología , Potenciación a Largo Plazo/efectos de los fármacos , Trastornos Mentales/fisiopatología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Transgénicos , Mutación , Plasticidad Neuronal/efectos de los fármacos , Sinapsis/efectos de los fármacos , Sinapsis/fisiología , Tamoxifeno/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Anecdotal evidence suggests that creative people sometimes use food to overcome mental blocks and lack of inspiration, but empirical support for this possibility is still lacking. In this study, we investigated whether creativity in convergent- and divergent-thinking tasks is promoted by the food supplement L-Tyrosine (TYR)-a biochemical precursor of dopamine, which is assumed to drive cognitive control and creativity. We found no evidence for an impact of TYR on divergent thinking ("brainstorming") but it did promote convergent ("deep") thinking. As convergent thinking arguably requires more cognitive top-down control, this finding suggests that TYR can facilitate control-hungry creative operations. Hence, the food we eat may affect the way we think.
Asunto(s)
Creatividad , Pensamiento/efectos de los fármacos , Tirosina/farmacología , Adolescente , Adulto , Estudios Cruzados , Método Doble Ciego , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Pruebas Neuropsicológicas , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
The interest in the influence of bilingualism on our daily life is constantly growing. Speaking two languages (or more) requires people to develop a flexible mindset to rapidly switch back and forth between languages. This study investigated whether and to what extent attending bilingual education benefits cognitive control. We tested two groups of Dutch high-school students who either followed regular classes in Dutch or were taught in both English and Dutch. They performed on a global-local switching paradigm that provides well-established measures of cognitive flexibility and attentional processing style. As predicted, the bilingually educated group showed smaller switching costs (i.e., greater cognitive flexibility) and a decreased global precedence effect than the regular group. Our findings support the idea that bilingual education promotes cognitive flexibility and a bias towards a more focused "scope" of attention.