Local age-dependent neuromodulation in Rhodnius prolixus antennae.

Kissing bugs do not respond to host cues when recently molted and only exhibit robust host-seeking several days after ecdysis. Behavioral plasticity has peripheral correlates in antennal gene expression changes through the week after ecdysis. The mechanisms regulating these peripheral changes are still unknown, but neuropeptide, G-protein coupled receptor, nuclear receptor, and takeout genes likely modulate peripheral sensory physiology. We evaluated their expression in antennal transcriptomes along the first week postecdysis of Rhodnius prolixus 5th instar larvae. Besides, we performed clustering and co-expression analyses to reveal relationships between neuromodulatory (NM) and sensory genes. Significant changes in transcript abundance were detected for 50 NM genes. We identified 73 sensory-related and NM genes that were assigned to nine clusters. According to their expression patterns, clusters were classified into four groups: two including genes up or downregulated immediately after ecdysis; and two with genes with expression altered at day 2. Several NM genes together with sensory genes belong to the first group, suggesting functional interactions. Co-expression network analysis revealed a set of genes that seem to connect with sensory system maturation. Significant expression changes in NM components were described in the antennae of R. prolixus after ecdysis, suggesting that a local NM system acts on antennal physiology. These changes may modify the sensitivity of kissing bugs to host cues during this maturation interval.

Neurobiological mechanisms underlying oxytocin-mediated parental behavior in rodents.

Parental behavior is essential for mammalian offspring to survive. Because of this significance, elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms that facilitate parental behavior has received strong interest. Decades of studies utilizing pharmacology and molecular biology have revealed that in addition to its facilitatory effects on parturition and lactation, oxytocin (OT) promotes the expression of parental behavior in rodents. Recent studies have also described the modulation of sensory processing by OT and the interaction of the OT system with other brain regions associated with parental behavior. However, the precise neurobiological mechanisms underlying the facilitation of caregiving behaviors by OT remain unclear. In this Review, I summarize the findings from rats and mice with a view toward integrating past and recent progress. I then review recent advances in the understanding of the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms of OT-mediated parental behavior. Based on these observations, I propose a hypothetical model that would explain the mechanisms underlying OT-mediated parental behavior. Finally, I conclude by discussing some major remaining questions and propose potential future research directions.

Subtle morphological changes in the visual and antennal sensory system of bees and wasps across an urbanisation gradient.

Increased temperature and fragmentation of green spaces in urban areas could drive variations in functional traits of insects. Such morphological shifts may occur for sensory systems, which were previously reported to be prone to change with habitat characteristics in non-urban contexts. Here, we measured traits related to the visual and antennal sensory systems in the bees Halictus scabiosae and Osmia cornuta and the wasp Polistes dominula along an urbanisation gradient within Milan (Italy). We hypothesised that fragmentation could filter for better visual properties, and that higher temperature could filter for fewer thermoreceptors and more olfactory hairs. While controlling for body size, results show subtle but appreciable responses to urbanisation in one or more traits in all species, though not always supporting our hypotheses. O. cornuta shows marginally higher ommatidia density and smaller ommatidia diameter (associated with better visual resolution) in more fragmented sites, as well as marginally fewer thermoreceptors in hotter sites, in agreement with our two predictions. On the other hand, H. scabiosae has marginally smaller antennae and P. dominula has smaller eyes at warmer locations, and the wasp also has smaller antennae and 9th flagellomeres in more fragmented areas. Perhaps higher temperatures accelerate development of sensory system at higher speed than the rest of body in these two species. Our results represent the first evidence of urbanisation effects on the visual and antennal sensory systems of bees and wasps and underline how such effects may involve a much broader bouquet of traits then previously observed.

Corneal nerves and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an in vivo corneal confocal imaging study.

OBJECTIVES: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe motor neuron disorder. Diagnosis is challenging due to its clinical heterogeneity and the absence of definitive diagnostic tools, leading to delays averaging between 9.1 and 27 months. In vivo corneal confocal microscopy, assessing the sub-basal nerve plexus of the cornea, has been proposed as a potential biomarker for ALS. We aimed to determine whether the assessment of corneal nerves using in vivo confocal microscopy can serve as an imaging biomarker for ALS. METHODS: A single-centre prospective case-control study was conducted in France from September 2021 to March 2023 including patients with ALS according to the revised EI Escorial criteria. The corneal sub-basal nerve plexus was analysed using in vivo confocal microscopy. An automated algorithm (ACCMetrics) was used to evaluate corneal parameters: nerve fibre density, nerve branch density, nerve fibre length, nerve fibre area, nerve total branch density, nerve fibre width, and nerve fractal dimension. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients with ALS and 30 controls were included. No significant differences were found between ALS and control groups for all corneal parameters (p > 0.05). Corneal sensitivity did not differ between groups, and no correlation was identified between corneal nerve parameters and ALS disease duration, severity and rate of progression (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study does not support the use of in vivo corneal confocal microscopy as an early diagnostic or prognostic tool for ALS. Further research, especially longitudinal investigations, is needed to understand any potential corneal innervation changes as ALS progresses.

On the functional independence of numerical acuity and visual working memory.

Deciding where to direct our vehicle in a crowded parking area or where to line up at an airport gateway relies on our ability to appraise the numerosity of multitudes at a glimpse and react accordingly. Approximating numerosities without actually counting is an ontogenetically and phylogenetically primordial ability, given its presence in human infants shortly after birth, and in primate and non-primate animal species. Prior research in the field suggested that numerosity approximation is a ballistic automatism that has little to do with human cognition as commonly intended. Here, we measured visual working memory capacity using a state-of-the-art change detection task and numerosity approximation using a dot-comparison task, and found a null correlation between these two parametrical domains. By checking the evidential strength of the tested correlation using both classic and Bayesian analytical approaches, as well as the construct validity for working memory capacity and numerosity approximation estimates, we concluded that the present psychophysical evidence was sufficiently strong to support the view that visual working memory and numerosity approximation are likely to rely on functionally independent stages of processing of the human cognitive architecture.

Multisensory stimulation and its effect on breast milk volume production in mothers of premature infants.

Introduction: In a significant number of NICUs, mothers are unable to provide enough maternal milk to feed their premature babies, so healthcare workers rely on human milk banks. Unfortunately, this service is not available in many countries, such as Peru, where premature infants receive formula. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of multisensory stimulation on mother's own milk production. Methods: Participants in this study were postpartum mothers of preterm infants 27-37 weeks gestational age. The participants were assigned to three groups: (1) audiovisual stimulation (SAV) (n = 17), (2) audiovisual and olfactory stimulation (SAVO) (n = 17), and (3) control (n = 16). A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and obstetric data, including a record of mother's own milk volume. Results: There was no significant difference between the SAV, SAVO and control groups regarding age, marital status, education level, occupation, number of children, mode of delivery, Apgar and birth weight. On the other hand, a significant difference was observed between the SAV and SAVO groups regarding the amount of milk produced, with higher production between the fourth and seventh day (Tukey p < 0.05). Similarly, milk volume was significantly greater in the SAVO group compared to the SAV and control groups (OR = 1.032, 95% CI = 1.0036-1.062, p < 0.027). Conclusion: Multisensory stimulation in postpartum mothers of preterm infants caused an increase in the volume of mother's own milk production. However, more research is needed to explain the findings presented in this study.

Turbidity drives plasticity in the eyes and brains of an African cichlid.

Natural variation in environmental turbidity correlates with variation in the visual sensory system of many fishes, suggesting that turbidity may act as a strong selective agent on visual systems. Since many aquatic systems experience increased turbidity due to anthropogenic perturbations, it is important to understand the degree to which fish can respond to rapid shifts in their visual environment, and whether such responses can occur within the lifetime of an individual. We examined whether developmental exposure to turbidity (clear, <5 NTU; turbid, ∼9 NTU) influenced the size of morphological structures associated with vision in the African blue-lip cichlid Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor. Parental fish were collected from two sites (clear swamp, turbid river) in western Uganda. F1 broods from each population were split and reared under clear and turbid rearing treatments until maturity. We measured morphological traits associated with the visual sensory system (eye diameter, pupil diameter, axial length, brain mass, optic tectum volume) over the course of development. Age was significant in explaining variation in visual traits even when standardized for body size, suggesting an ontogenetic shift in the relative size of eyes and brains. When age groups were analyzed separately, young fish reared in turbid water grew larger eyes than fish reared in clear conditions. Population was important in the older age category, with swamp-origin fish having relatively larger eyes and optic lobes relative to river-origin fish. Plastic responses during development may be important for coping with a more variable visual environment associated with anthropogenically induced turbidity.

Distinct distribution of subplate neuron subtypes between the sensory cortices during the early postnatal period.

Subplate neurons (SpNs) are a heterogeneous neuronal population actively involved in early cortical circuit formation. In rodents, many SpNs survive and form layer 6b. The molecular heterogeneity of SpNs raises the question of whether different subpopulations of SpNs survive through the early postnatal period similarly and whether such diverse SpN populations in the auditory cortex (ACtx) share a common distribution pattern with other sensory systems. To address that, we investigated the expression pattern of multiple specific SpN markers in the ACtx, as well as in the visual (VCtx) and somatosensory (SCtx) cortices as controls, using complexin 3 (Cplx3) antibodies and different SpN-specific Cre-driver mice, such as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), dopamine receptor D1 (Drd1a), and neurexophilin 4 (Nxph4). We focused on two early time windows in auditory development: (1) during the second postnatal week (PNW) before ear-canal opening and (2) during the third PNW after ear-canal opening. We compared the expression pattern of different SpN markers in ACtx with VCtx and SCtx. At both examined timepoints, Cplx3 and Nxph4 expressing SpNs form the largest and smallest population in the ACtx, respectively. Similar distribution patterns are observable in the VCtx and SCtx during the second PNW but not during the third PNW, for a higher proportion of Drd1a expressing SpNs is detected in the VCtx and CTGF expressing SpNs in the SCtx. This study suggests that different populations of SpNs might contribute differently to the development of individual sensory circuits.

Quantifying Human Gait Symmetry During Blindfolded Treadmill Walking.

Bilateral gait symmetry is an essential requirement for normal walking since asymmetric gait patterns increase the risk of falls and injuries. While human gait control heavily relies on the contribution of sensory inputs, the role of sensory systems in producing symmetric gait has remained unclear. This study evaluated the influence of vision as a dominant sensory system on symmetric gait production. Ten healthy adults performed treadmill walking with and without vision. Twenty-two gait parameters including ground reaction forces, joint range of motion, and other spatial-temporal gait variables were evaluated to quantify gait symmetry and compared between both visual conditions. Visual block caused increased asymmetry in most parameters of ground reaction force, however mainly in the vertical direction. When vision was blocked, symmetry of the ankle and knee joint range of motion decreased, but this change did not occur in the hip joint. Stance and swing time symmetry decreased during no-vision walking while no significant difference was found for step length symmetry between the two conditions. This study provides a comprehensive analysis to reveal how the visual system influences bilateral gait symmetry and highlights the important role of vision in gait control. This approach could be applied to investigate how vision alters gait symmetry in patients with disorders to help better understand the role of vision in pathological gaits.

Remodelling the inguinal adipose sensory system to switch on the furnace: Electroacupuncture stimulation induces brown adipose thermogenesis.

Brown and white adipose tissue mediate thermogenesis through the thermogenetic centre of the brain, but safe methods for activating thermogensis and knowledge of the associated molecular mechanisms are lacking. We investigated body surface electroacupuncture stimulation (ES) at ST25 (targeted at the abdomen) induction of brown adipose thermogenesis and the neural mechanism of this process. Inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) and interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) were collected and the thermogenic protein expression levels were measured to evaluate iBAT thermogenesis capacity. The thermogenic centre activating region and sympathetic outflow were evaluated based on neural electrical activity and c-fos expression levels. iWAT sensory axon plasticity was analysed with whole-mount adipose tissue imaging. ES activated the sympathetic nerves in iBAT and the c-fos-positive cells induced sympathetic outflow activation to the iBAT from the medial preoptic area (MPA), the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DM) and the raphe pallidus nucleus (RPA). iWAT denervation mice exhibited decreased c-fos-positive cells in the DM and RPA, and lower recombinant uncoupling orotein 1 peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, ß3-adrenergic receptor, and tyrosine hydroxylase expression. Remodelling the iWAT sensory axons recovered the signal from the MPA to the RPA and induced iBAT thermogenesis. The sympathetic denervation attenuated sensory nerve density. ES induced sympathetic outflow from the thermogenetic centres to iBAT, which mediated thermogenesis. iWAT sensory axon remodelling induced the MPA-DM-RPA-iBAT thermogenesis pathway.

Towards Artificial Visual Sensory System: Organic Optoelectronic Synaptic Materials and Devices.

Developing an artificial visual sensory system requires optoelectronic materials and devices that can mimic the behavior of biological synapses. Organic/polymeric semiconductors have emerged as promising candidates for optoelectronic synapses due to their tunable optoelectronic properties, mechanic flexibility, and biological compatibility. In this review, we discuss the recent progress in organic optoelectronic synaptic materials and devices, including their design principles, working mechanisms, and applications. We also highlight the challenges and opportunities in this field and provide insights into potential applications of these materials and devices in next-generation artificial visual systems. By leveraging the advances in organic optoelectronic materials and devices, we can envision its future development in artificial intelligence.

Balance Control in Individuals with Hearing Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Comprehensive insights into balance control of individuals with hearing impairment are compared with individuals with hearing. Primary sources were obtained from 7 databases including PubMed, LILACS, SCOPUS, CINAHL, PEDro, CENTRAL, and Web of Science. The search period extended from inception until January 5, 2022. The systematic review included 24 studies and 27 trials, with a total of 2,148 participants. The meta-analysis showed a significant difference in the average balance control between individuals with hearing impairment and individuals with hearing, with individuals with hearing having a favorable advantage (p = 0.001). Additionally, average balance control was found to be in favor of individuals with hearing (p = 0.001) when comparing individuals with hearing impairment who participated in sports. Finally, individuals with hearing impairment who participated in sports demonstrated a significantly higher average difference in balance control (p = 0.001) when compared to sedentary people with hearing impairment. Our meta-analysis results indicate a balance defect in individuals with hearing impairment compared to individuals with hearing. In addition, with increasing age, the balance in individuals with hearing impairment improved. Additionally, the dependence of individuals with hearing impairment on the visual and proprioception systems to maintain balance increased. Finally, there was more dependence on the proprioception than the visual system, while individuals with hearing had stronger average balance control than individuals with hearing impairment who participated in sports, when compared to sedentary people with hearing impairment.

Highly Reliable 3D Channel Memory and Its Application in a Neuromorphic Sensory System for Hand Gesture Recognition.

Brain-inspired neuromorphic computing systems, based on a crossbar array of two-terminal multilevel resistive random-access memory (RRAM), have attracted attention as promising technologies for processing large amounts of unstructured data. However, the low reliability and inferior conductance tunability of RRAM, caused by uncontrollable metal filament formation in the uneven switching medium, result in lower accuracy compared to the software neural network (SW-NN). In this work, we present a highly reliable CoOx-based multilevel RRAM with an optimized crystal size and density in the switching medium, providing a three-dimensional (3D) grain boundary (GB) network. This design enhances the reliability of the RRAM by improving the cycle-to-cycle endurance and device-to-device stability of the I-V characteristics with minimal variation. Furthermore, the designed 3D GB-channel RRAM (3D GB-RRAM) exhibits excellent conductance tunability, demonstrating high symmetricity (624), low nonlinearity (ßLTP/ßLTD ∼ 0.20/0.39), and a large dynamic range (Gmax/Gmin ∼ 31.1). The cyclic stability of long-term potentiation and depression also exceeds 100 cycles (105 voltage pulses), and the relative standard deviation of Gmax/Gmin is only 2.9%. Leveraging these superior reliability and performance attributes, we propose a neuromorphic sensory system for finger motion tracking and hand gesture recognition as a potential elemental technology for the metaverse. This system consists of a stretchable double-layered photoacoustic strain sensor and a crossbar array neural network. We perform training and recognition tasks on ultrasonic patterns associated with finger motion and hand gestures, attaining a recognition accuracy of 97.9% and 97.4%, comparable to that of SW-NN (99.8% and 98.7%).

USING THE SENSORY INTEGRATION TECHNIQUE FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS DURING TRAINING AT THE CLIMBING SECTION.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To analyze the practical application of the sensory integration technique for individuals with autism spectrum disorder at a climbing section, and to investigate the impact of physical activity on improving their proprioceptive and vestibular systems. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The method of included participant observation at the climbing classes with constant recording the behavior (desirable and undesirable) was used. The sensory screening (developed by J. Ayres) was applied for recording and determining the sensory systems of the people with ASD before the start of training and again after a month. The scale of Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) was used for assessing certain aspects of participants' sensory processing or perception according to the goals set during the climbing classes. RESULTS: Results: The results of the research showed that the application of the sensory integration technique for individuals with ACD at a climbing section promoted the dynamics of changes in their sensory system during training considering the characteristics of their sensory system. The positive changes were observed in the way the people with ACD felt about their own bodies and their involvement in sports activities that in its turn made it possible to be active and develop their sensory system. It has been identified that while planning training for the people with ASD it is necessary to take into account sensory modulation (reading sensory signals) and apply exercises for stimulating sensory sensations that will improve the motor activity of persons with ASD, their social interaction, and safety, as well. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: During training at the climbing section sensory information processing of the individuals with ASD have the impact on their body control, hand-eye coordination, and hand sensitivity during training. The improvement of sensory information processing in its turn enables people with ASD to master climbing.

Function of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors in ocular itch transmission in the mouse trigeminal sensory system.

The prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis in itchy eyes has increased constantly worldwide owing to environmental pollution. Currently, anti-allergic and antihistaminic eye drops are used; however, there are many unknown aspects about the neural circuits that transmit itchy eyes. We focused on the gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and GRP receptor (GRPR), which are reportedly involved in itch transmission in the spinal somatosensory system, to determine whether the GRP system is involved in itch neurotransmission of the eyes in the trigeminal sensory system. First, the instillation of itch mediators, such as histamine (His) and non-histaminergic itch mediator chloroquine (CQ), exhibited concentration-dependent high levels of eye scratching behavior, with a significant sex differences observed in the case of His. Histological analysis revealed that His and CQ significantly increased the neural activity of GRPR-expressing neurons in the caudal part of the spinal trigeminal nucleus of the medulla oblongata in GRPR transgenic mice. We administered a GRPR antagonist or bombesin-saporin to ablate GRPR-expressing neurons, followed by His or CQ instillation, and observed a decrease in CQ-induced eye-scratching behavior in the toxin experiments. Intracisternal administration of neuromedin C (NMC), a GRPR agonist, resulted in dose-dependent excessive facial scratching behavior, despite the absence of an itch stimulus on the face. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that non-histaminergic itchy eyes were transmitted centrally via GRPR-expressing neurons in the trigeminal sensory system, and that NMC in the medulla oblongata evoked facial itching.

Living life with an electric touch.

The electric organ discharges (EODs) produced by weakly electric fish have long been a source of scientific intrigue and inspiration. The study of these species has contributed to our understanding of the organization of fixed action patterns, as well as enriching general imaging theory by unveiling the dual impact of an agent's actions on the environment and its own sensory system during the imaging process. This Centenary Review firstly compares how weakly electric fish generate species- and sex-specific stereotyped electric fields by considering: (1) peripheral mechanisms, including the geometry, channel repertoire and innervation of the electrogenic units; (2) the organization of the electric organs (EOs); and (3) neural coordination mechanisms. Secondly, the Review discusses the threefold function of the fish-centered electric fields: (1) to generate electric signals that encode the material, geometry and distance of nearby objects, serving as a short-range sensory modality or 'electric touch'; (2) to mark emitter identity and location; and (3) to convey social messages encoded in stereotypical modulations of the electric field that might be considered as species-specific communication symbols. Finally, this Review considers a range of potential research directions that are likely to be productive in the future.

Sensitive and selective phenol sensing in denitrifying Aromatoleum aromaticum EbN1T.

IMPORTANCE: Aromatic compounds are globally abundant organic molecules with a multitude of natural and anthropogenic sources, underpinning the relevance of their biodegradation. A. aromaticum EbN1T is a well-studied environmental betaproteobacterium specialized on the anaerobic degradation of aromatic compounds. The here studied responsiveness toward phenol in conjunction with the apparent high ligand selectivity (non-promiscuity) of its PheR sensor and those of the related p-cresol (PcrS) and p-ethylphenol (EtpR) sensors are in accord with the substrate-specificity and biochemical distinctiveness of the associated degradation pathways. Furthermore, the present findings advance our general understanding of the substrate-specific regulation of the strain's remarkable degradation network and of the concentration thresholds below which phenolic compounds become essentially undetectable and as a consequence should escape substantial biodegradation. Furthermore, the findings may inspire biomimetic sensor designs for detecting and quantifying phenolic contaminants in wastewater or environments.

Frailty and visual, auditory, olfactory, and taste senses in older patients visiting a frailty outpatient clinic.

AIM: Although studies have analyzed the relationship between frailty and human senses, few have comprehensively evaluated and examined their correlations. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between frailty and the senses of sight, hearing, smell, and taste. METHODS: The subjects were outpatients at the Locomo Frail Outpatient Clinic. Sensory organ items were evaluated subjectively, and frailty was classified as nonfrail or frail using the Kihon Checklist. Univariate analysis was performed using the presence or absence of frailty as the dependent variable. Logistic regression analysis (forced entry method) was performed for the variables that showed significant differences. RESULTS: A total of 269 and 226 participants were assigned to the nonfrail and frail groups, respectively. The frequency of sensory organ impairment was 10.1% for taste, 12.7% for smell, 44.6% for vision, and 58.3% for hearing. Univariate analysis using the presence or absence of frailty as the dependent variable was determined to be significant for years of education, number of medications, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form, grip strength, gait speed, sense of taste, sense of smell, sense of vision, and sense of hearing. Logistic regression analysis using the presence or absence of frailty as the dependent variable, adjusted for age, showed significant correlations with the Geriatric Depression Scale, gait speed, Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form, and olfactory impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Olfactory impairment had the strongest correlation with frailty. Although the sense of smell decreases with disease and aging, olfactory impairment may be correlated with frailty as a symptom of neurodegenerative diseases. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 871-876.

Exposure to high-sugar diet induces transgenerational changes in sweet sensitivity and feeding behavior via H3K27me3 reprogramming.

Human health is facing a host of new threats linked to unbalanced diets, including high-sugar diet (HSD), which contributes to the development of both metabolic and behavioral disorders. Studies have shown that diet-induced metabolic dysfunctions can be transmitted to multiple generations of offspring and exert long-lasting health burden. Meanwhile, whether and how diet-induced behavioral abnormalities can be transmitted to the offspring remains largely unclear. Here, we showed that ancestral HSD exposure suppressed sweet sensitivity and feeding behavior in the offspring in Drosophila. These behavioral deficits were transmitted through the maternal germline and companied by the enhancement of H3K27me3 modifications. PCL-PRC2 complex, a major driver of H3K27 trimethylation, was upregulated by ancestral HSD exposure, and disrupting its activity eliminated the transgenerational inheritance of sweet sensitivity and feeding behavior deficits. Elevated H3K27me3 inhibited the expression of a transcriptional factor Cad and suppressed sweet sensitivity of the sweet-sensing gustatory neurons, reshaping the sweet perception and feeding behavior of the offspring. Taken together, we uncovered a novel molecular mechanism underlying behavioral abnormalities spanning multiple generations of offspring upon ancestral HSD exposure, which would contribute to the further understanding of long-term health risk of unbalanced diet.