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Bio Systems Oct 2023Perception of numerousness, i.e. number of items in a set, is an important cognitive ability, which is present in several animal taxa. In spite of obvious differences in... (Review)
Review
Perception of numerousness, i.e. number of items in a set, is an important cognitive ability, which is present in several animal taxa. In spite of obvious differences in neuroanatomy, insects, fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals all possess a "number sense". Furthermore, information regarding numbers can belong to different sensory modalities: animals can estimate a number of visual items, a number of tones, or a number of their own movements. Given both the heterogeneity of stimuli and of the brains processing these stimuli, it is hard to imagine that number cognition can be traced back to the same evolutionary conserved neural pathway. However, neurons that selectively respond to the number of stimuli have been described in higher-order integration brain centres both in primates and in birds, two evolutionary distant groups. Although most probably not of the same evolutionary origin, these number neurons share remarkable similarities in their response properties. Instead of homology, this similarity might result from computational advantages of the underlying coding mechanism. This means that one might expect numerousness information to undergo similar steps of neural processing even in evolutionary distant neural pathways. Following this logic, in this review we summarize our current knowledge of how numerousness is processed in the brain from sensory input to coding of abstract information in the higher-order integration centres. We also propose a list of key open questions that might promote future research on number cognition.
Topics: Animals; Cognition; Brain; Biological Evolution; Mammals; Neurons
PubMed: 37574182
DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.104999 -
Current Opinion in Neurobiology Oct 2023Classical literature on blindsight described that some patients with lesions to the primary visual cortex could respond to visual stimuli without subjective awareness.... (Review)
Review
Classical literature on blindsight described that some patients with lesions to the primary visual cortex could respond to visual stimuli without subjective awareness. Recent studies addressed more complex arguments on the conscious state of blindsight subjects such as existence of partial awareness, namely "feeling of something happening" in the lesion-affected visual field, termed 'type II blindsight', and high-level performance in complex cognitive tasks in blindsight model monkeys. Endeavors to clarify the visual pathways for blindsight revealed the parallel thalamic routes mediating the visual inputs from the superior colliculus to extrastriate and frontoparietal cortices, which may underlie the flexible visuomotor association and cognitive control in the blindsight subjects. Furthermore, involvement of post-lesion plasticity is suggested for these neural systems to operate.
Topics: Cognition; Psychomotor Performance; Blindness; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Haplorhini; Humans; Saccades
PubMed: 37597456
DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102764 -
Eye (London, England) Aug 2023Visual electrophysiology affords direct, quantitative, objective assessment of visual pathway function at different levels, and thus yields information complementary to,... (Review)
Review
Visual electrophysiology affords direct, quantitative, objective assessment of visual pathway function at different levels, and thus yields information complementary to, and not necessarily obtainable from, imaging or psychophysical testing. The tests available, and their indications, have evolved, with many advances, both in technology and in our understanding of the neural basis of the waveforms, now facilitating more precise evaluation of physiology and pathophysiology. After summarising the visual pathway and current standard clinical testing methods, this review discusses, non-exhaustively, several developments, focusing particularly on human electroretinogram recordings. These include new devices (portable, non-mydiatric, multimodal), novel testing protocols (including those aiming to separate rod-driven and cone-driven responses, and to monitor retinal adaptation), and developments in methods of analysis, including use of modelling and machine learning. It is likely that several tests will become more accessible and useful in both clinical and research settings. In future, these methods will further aid our understanding of common and rare eye disease, will help in assessing novel therapies, and will potentially yield information relevant to neurological and neuro-psychiatric conditions.
Topics: Humans; Electroretinography; Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells; Eye Diseases; Vision, Ocular; Electrophysiology
PubMed: 36928229
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-023-02491-2 -
Heliyon Oct 2023To discuss the hotspots and future trends of autophagy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and provide a reference for researchers in this field. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the hotspots and future trends of autophagy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and provide a reference for researchers in this field.
METHOD
Using visual analysis tools, metrological statistics and visual research on the pertinent literature in the area of autophagy use in TCM were undertaken in the core collection database of the Web of Science. By examining the authors, keywords, research circumstances, research hotspots, and trends of linked research, the use of autophagy in TCM was investigated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
A total of 916 studies were included, among which Beijing University Chinese Medicine was the largest number of advantageous research institutions, followed by Shanghai University Traditional Chinese Medicine and Guangzhou University Chinese Medicine.The keywords of literature research primarily comprise apoptosis, activation, inhibition, pathway, mechanism, oxidative stress, proliferation, NF-κB, cancer, mtor, etc. At present, the research on autophagy in the field of TCM is increasing on a year-to-year basis. The research has focused on the role played by TCM in malignant tumors, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease through autophagy, and the regulation of autophagy signaling pathways (e.g., PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, TLR4 signaling pathway,nrf2 signaling pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway). In the future, the therapeutic effect of TCM on chemotherapy-resistant tumor cells through autophagy pathway, the role of TCM mediating mitophagy and activating autophagy function, and the therapeutic effect of TCM components represented by luteolin on tumors, asthma, myocardial injury and other diseases through autophagy mechanism will be the research hotspots in the future.
PubMed: 37780780
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20142 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Nov 2023Inherited retinal dystrophies encompass a diverse group of disorders affecting the structure and function of the retina, leading to progressive visual impairment and, in... (Review)
Review
Inherited retinal dystrophies encompass a diverse group of disorders affecting the structure and function of the retina, leading to progressive visual impairment and, in severe cases, blindness. Electrophysiology testing has emerged as a valuable tool in assessing and diagnosing those conditions, offering insights into the function of different parts of the visual pathway from retina to visual cortex and aiding in disease classification. This review provides an overview of the application of electrophysiology testing in the non-macular inherited retinal dystrophies focusing on both common and rare variants, including retinitis pigmentosa, progressive cone and cone-rod dystrophy, bradyopsia, Bietti crystalline dystrophy, late-onset retinal degeneration, and fundus albipunctatus. The different applications and limitations of electrophysiology techniques, including multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG), full-field ERG (ffERG), electrooculogram (EOG), pattern electroretinogram (PERG), and visual evoked potential (VEP), in the diagnosis and management of these distinctive phenotypes are discussed. The potential for electrophysiology testing to allow for further understanding of these diseases and the possibility of using these tests for early detection, prognosis prediction, and therapeutic monitoring in the future is reviewed.
PubMed: 37959417
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12216953 -
World Journal of Diabetes Jul 2023Cataracts remain a prime reason for visual disturbance and blindness all over the world, despite the capacity for successful surgical replacement with artificial lenses....
BACKGROUND
Cataracts remain a prime reason for visual disturbance and blindness all over the world, despite the capacity for successful surgical replacement with artificial lenses. Diabetic cataract (DC), a metabolic complication, usually occurs at an earlier age and progresses faster than age-related cataracts. Evidence has linked N6-methyladenosine (m6A) to DC progression. However, there exists a lack of understanding regarding RNA m6A modifications and the role of m6A in DC pathogenesis.
AIM
To elucidate the role played by altered m6A and differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) in DC.
METHODS
Anterior lens capsules were collected from the control subjects and patients with DC. M6A epitranscriptomic microarray was performed to investigate the altered m6A modifications and determine the DEmRNAs. Through Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analyses, the potential role played by dysregulated m6A modification was predicted. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was further carried out to identify the dysregulated expression of RNA methyltransferases, demethylases, and readers.
RESULTS
Increased m6A abundance levels were found in the total mRNA of DC samples. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that ferroptosis pathways could be associated with m6A-modified mRNAs. The levels of five methylation-related genes-, , , , and -were upregulated in DC samples. Upregulation of expression was verified in SRA01/04 cells with high-glucose medium and in samples from DC patients.
CONCLUSION
M6a mRNA modifications may be involved in DC progression the ferroptosis pathway, rendering novel insights into therapeutic strategies for DC.
PubMed: 37547588
DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v14.i7.1077 -
World Neurosurgery: X Oct 2023Published literature on epidemiological profile of paediatric brain tumours in India is limited. : To present a retrospective analysis of the histological spectrum of...
BACKGROUND
Published literature on epidemiological profile of paediatric brain tumours in India is limited. : To present a retrospective analysis of the histological spectrum of 158 paediatric age group central nervous system tumours operated in a single tertiary care hospital in Coastal South India between January 2015 and December 2021.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Retrospective analysis of the data regarding frequencies of various primary brain tumours among 158 paediatric patients (<18 years of age). The tumours were categorised according to the revised 4th edition of World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumours of the Central Nervous system.
RESULTS
Paediatric CNS constituted 8.5% of total intracranial tumours (158/1860) operated in the study period. The mean age of the patients was 10.2 years and a definite male predominance was noted (1.54:1) Astrocytomas, glioneuronal tumours, and neuronal tumours constituted the majority (72/158; 45.6%) followed by embryonal tumours (31/158; 19.6%) and craniopharyngiomas(24/158; 15.4%).Of the glial neoplasms majority were pilocytic and other astrocytic tumours(41.6%), followed by mixed neuroglial tumours (19.4%), diffuse high grade astrocytomas (Grade III/IV) (11.1%), diffuse low -grade astrocytomas (Grade II) (9.7%) and ependymomas (13.8%). Our series also included six meningiomas (3.8%), five germ cell tumours (3.16%), four nerve sheath tumours (2.53%), two choroid plexus tumours (1.26%), two pineal parenchymal tumours (1.26%) and one metastasis from a soft tissue sarcoma from the thigh. Supratentorial tumours (58.2%) were more common than posterior fossa (34.6%) and spinal tumours (7.6%) and visual pathway gliomas accounted for 5.6% of all our tumours.
CONCLUSIONS
Paediatric central nervous system tumours are more common in boys and in the second decade of life. Astrocytomas are the most common paediatric brain tumours followed by medulloblastomas and craniopharyngiomas. Pediatric tumours affect the supratentorial compartment more often than the infratentorial compartment. The profile of paediatric brain tumours in our series is similar to that reported from other Indian centres as well as most western literature.
PubMed: 37456693
DOI: 10.1016/j.wnsx.2023.100227 -
Eye (London, England) Jun 2024This article describes the main visual electrodiagnostic tests relevant to neuro-ophthalmology practice, including the visual evoked potential (VEP), and the full-field,... (Review)
Review
This article describes the main visual electrodiagnostic tests relevant to neuro-ophthalmology practice, including the visual evoked potential (VEP), and the full-field, pattern and multifocal electroretinograms (ffERG; PERG; mfERG). The principles of electrophysiological interpretation are illustrated with reference to acquired and inherited optic neuropathies, and retinal disorders that may masquerade as optic neuropathy, including ffERG and PERG findings in cone and macular dystrophies, paraneoplastic and vascular retinopathies. Complementary VEP and PERG recordings are illustrated in demyelinating, ischaemic, nutritional (B12), and toxic (mercury, cobalt, and ethambutol-related) optic neuropathies and inherited disorders affecting mitochondrial function such as Leber hereditary optic neuropathy and dominant optic atrophy. The value of comprehensive electrophysiological phenotyping in syndromic diseases is highlighted in cases of SSBP1-related disease and ROSAH (Retinal dystrophy, Optic nerve oedema, Splenomegaly, Anhidrosis and Headache). The review highlights the value of different electrophysiological techniques, for the purposes of differential diagnosis and objective functional phenotyping.
PubMed: 38862643
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-024-03154-6 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2024Cell signaling based on homeoprotein transfer is a pathway with developmental and physiological functions. For a few transcription factors of this family, primarily... (Review)
Review
Cell signaling based on homeoprotein transfer is a pathway with developmental and physiological functions. For a few transcription factors of this family, primarily ENGRAILED1, ENGRAILED2 and OTX2, their physiological functions have led to therapeutic strategies in animal models of human diseases, including Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, amblyopia and anxiety-related disorders. In mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons which degenerate in Parkinson's disease, ENGRAILED1/2 have cell autonomous activities, but their transducing properties enables their use as therapeutic proteins. In contrast, in spinal alpha-motoneurons, which are lost in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ENGRAILED1 is supplied by V1 interneurons. Thus, its use as a therapeutic protein to protect alpha-motoneurons against degeneration mimics its normal non-cell autonomous neurotrophic activity. OTX2, synthesized and secreted by the choroid plexus, is transferred to parvalbumin interneurons and exerts regulatory functions controlling cerebral cortex plasticity. Understanding the latter OTX2 function has led to strategies for manipulating visual acuity and anxiety-like behavior in adult mice. In this review, we describe these cases and what is known about the involved molecular mechanisms. Because the transduction sequences are conserved in most of the few hundred homeoproteins, we argue how this family of molecules constitutes an important reservoir of physiological knowledge, with potential consequences in the search for new therapeutic strategies.
PubMed: 38550565
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1359523 -
Nature Reviews. Neuroscience Aug 2023Many behaviours that are critical for animals to survive and thrive rely on spatial navigation. Spatial navigation, in turn, relies on internal representations about... (Review)
Review
Many behaviours that are critical for animals to survive and thrive rely on spatial navigation. Spatial navigation, in turn, relies on internal representations about one's spatial location, one's orientation or heading direction and the distance to objects in the environment. Although the importance of vision in guiding such internal representations has long been recognized, emerging evidence suggests that spatial signals can also modulate neural responses in the central visual pathway. Here, we review the bidirectional influences between visual and navigational signals in the rodent brain. Specifically, we discuss reciprocal interactions between vision and the internal representations of spatial position, explore the effects of vision on representations of an animal's heading direction and vice versa, and examine how the visual and navigational systems work together to assess the relative distances of objects and other features. Throughout, we consider how technological advances and novel ethological paradigms that probe rodent visuo-spatial behaviours allow us to advance our understanding of how brain areas of the central visual pathway and the spatial systems interact and enable complex behaviours.
Topics: Animals; Rodentia; Brain; Vision, Ocular; Spatial Navigation; Visual Pathways
PubMed: 37380885
DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00716-7