Neurobiology

The regulation of emotions is an ongoing internal process and often a challenge. Current related neural models concern the intended control of reactions towards external events, mediated by prefrontal cortex regions upon basal emotion processing as in the amygdala. Cognitive strategies to regulate emotions in the context of affective disorders or stress reduction, increasingly applied in clinical practice, are also related to mindfulness techniques. We questioned their effects on neural emotion processing and investigated brain activity during purely internal mental self-referential processes of making current emotions and self-related cognitions aware. Thirty healthy subjects performed a task comprising periods of cognitive self-reflection, of introspection for actual own emotions and feelings, and of a neutral condition, while they were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Brain activations of twenty-seven subjects during  emotion introspection and self-reflection, and also a conjunction of both, were compared with the neutral condition. The conditions of self-reflection and emotion-introspection showed distinguishable activations in medial and ventrolateral prefrontal areas, in parietal regions and in the amygdala. Notably, amygdala activity decreased during emotion introspection and increased compared to ‘neutral’ during self-reflection. The results indicate that already the self-referential mental state of making the actual emotional state aware is
capable of attenuating emotional arousal. This extends current theories of emotion regulation and has implications for the application of mindfulness techniques as a component of psychotherapeutic strategies in affective disorders and also for possible everyday emotion regulation.

The highly psychoactive molecule N,N -dimethyltryptamine (or simply DMT), is found naturally occurring in the brains of humans, mammals, and some other animals, as well as in a broad range of species of the plant kingdom. Although speculative, neurochemical research suggests that DMT may be made in the pineal gland, and it is hypothesised that, as much as melatonin helps activate sleep cycles, DMT activates dreaming, and may also be implicated in other natural visionary states such as mystical experience, near-death experience (NDE), spontaneous psi and psychosis. Amazonian shamans have made use of this chemical for its visionary properties for thousands of years, most likely, and take it as part of a decoction frequently called ayahuasca, which translates from Quechua as “vine of the spirits” or “vine of the dead”. The psychedelic brew is taken because it gives rise to extraordinary mental phenomena that have shamanic and supposed healing qualities, such as synaesthesia, ostensible extra-dimensional percepts, out-of-body experiences, psi experiences and perhaps most commonly, encounters with discarnate entities. When described by independent and seemingly naïve DMT participants the entities encountered tend to vary in detail but often belong to one of a very few similar types, with similar behavioural characteristics. For instance, mischievous shapeshifting elves, preying mantis alien brain surgeons and jewel-encrusted reptilian beings, who all seem to appear with baffling predictability. This opens up a wealth of questions as to the reality (i.e., the ontology) of these entities. The discussion of the phenomenology and ontology of these entities mixes research from parapsychology, ethnobotany and psychopharmacology – the fruits of science – with the foamy custard of folklore, anthropology, mythology, cultural studies and related disciplines. Hopefully however, given the varied readership of this journal, it won’t prove to be a trifle too interdisciplinary.

Objective: Agomelatine is a relatively new antidepressant, with affinities to MT1 and MT2 (responsible for the circadian rhythm) as well as to 5-HT2C receptors. Since antidepressants have demonstrated some benefit in the treatment of ADH and because of the fact, that ADHD is often associated with sleep disorders, we assumed, that it might be a therapeutic alternative also for ADHD. Method: We proved this assumption in ten ADHD patients in a placebo controlled manner. Results: Agomelatine’s effect was superior to that of placebo, but seems to be less than that of Methylphenidate or placebo. Conclusion: If ADHD therapy with Methylphenidate or Atomoxetine is not indicated e.g. because of adverse side effects and if an ADHD patient suffers from additional sleep disorders, Agomelatine might be a helpful therapeutic alternative.

Концепции эволюции претерпевают радикальные изменения. Переход системы на новые эволюционные уровни определяется причинно-следственными и эмерджентными процессами. Однако, эмерджентность может привести как к эволюции, так и к инволюции. Поиск и осмысление возникновения разума как каталитического фактора в формировании эмерджентного эффекта в эволюции является принципиальным для теории систем и философии науки.

Cohen Veterans Bioscience's AMP IT UP (Alliance for Modeling PTSD, Innovative Technologies, and Uniform Practices) Preclinical Program is pleased to announce the posting of the following RFA: Translational Preclinical Animal Model Systems of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The purpose of this RFA is to further validate, characterize, and develop existing and novel animal models systems of PTSD that will be useful for screening novel therapeutics and/or elucidating mechanisms of disease.

Please click on the link below to find complete details for the RFA itself, the submission process, and our application portal. This opportunity is open to all and we invite you to forward the link to friends, colleagues, and other list serves.

AMP IT UP RFA: http://www.cohenveteransbioscience.org/RFA-PTSD-0002/

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Cohen Veterans Bioscience is the only 501(c)3 non-profit research organization with a singular focus on PTSD and TBI research. We are dedicated to fast-tracking the development of diagnostic tests and personalized therapeutics for the millions of veterans and civilians who suffer the devastating effects of trauma on the brain.
More information is available at www.cohenveteransbioscience.org.

RhoGTPases regulate actin-based signaling cascades and cellular contacts. In neurogenesis, their action modulates cell migration, neuritogenesis, and synaptogenesis. Murine P19 embryonal stem cells differentiate to neurons upon aggregation in the presence of retinoic acid, and we previously showed that RhoA and Cdc42 RhoGTPases are sequentially up-regulated during neuroinduction, suggesting a role at this very early developmental stage. In this work, incubation of differentiating P19 cells with C3 toxin resulted in decreased aggregate cohesion and cadherin protein level. In contrast, C3 effects were not observed in cells overexpressing recombinant dominant active RhoA. On the other hand, C3 did not affect cadherin in uninduced cells and their postmitotic neuronal derivatives, respectively expressing E- and N-cadherin. RhoA is thus influential on cell aggregation and cadherin expression during a sensitive time window that corresponds to the switch of E- to N-cadherin. Cell treatment with Y27632 inhibitor of Rho-associated-kinase ROCK, or advanced overexpression of Cdc42 by gene transfer of a constitutively active form of the protein reproduced C3 effects. RhoA-antisense RNA also reduced cadherin level and the size of cell aggregates, and increased the generation of fibroblast-like cells relative to neurons following neuroinduction. Colchicin, a microtubule disrupter, but not cytochalasin B actin poison, importantly decreased cadherin in neurodifferentiating cells. Overall, our results indicate that the RhoA/ROCK pathway regulates cadherin protein level and cell-cell interactions during neurodetermination, with an impact on the efficiency of the process. The effect on cadherin seems to involve microtubules. The importance of correct timing of RhoA and Cdc42 functional expression in neurogenesis is also raised. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 60: 289–307, 2004

Music therapy as a non-invasive therapeutic modality is gaining prominence worldwide both in hospital settings as an adjunct therapy as well as for community wellbeing. Music therapy offers encouraging evidence-based outcomes for stabilising vital parameters to improve symptoms associated with complex illnesses such as autism spectrum disorder or major depressive disorders. The purpose of this review is to 1) identify scientific literatures that offer insights on the effect of music therapy on oxygen saturation levels of patients undergoing treatments for diverse conditions; 2) compare the effects of music therapy based on identified parameters 3) analyse the critical reviews of the researchers of studies included in this literature scan and 4) synthesise the review findings for the benefit of future scientific researches on the effect of music therapy on oxygen saturation levels. In this review, an analysis of relevant scientific papers published in the last 80 years from 1940 to 2020 (as available) was done by searching databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Wiley Online Library, Gray Literature sources such as Google Scholar, Worldcat; DOAJ, and WHO Global Index Medicus. Eighteen relevant papers describing music therapy's effect on the patient's oxygen saturation levels (under different conditions) were included in the review. The results and discussions respectively compare and analyse characteristics of included studies, music therapy administered, measuring device used, the effectiveness of music therapy on oxygen saturation levels, and critical reviews of authors of the scanned literature.

Previous studies suggest membrane binding is a key determinant of amyloid β (Aβ) neurotoxicity. However, it is unclear whether this interaction is receptor driven. To address this issue, a D-handed enantiomer of Aβ42 (D-Aβ42) was synthesized and its biophysical and neurotoxic properties were compared to the wild-type Aβ42 (L-Aβ42). The results showed D- and L-Aβ42 are chemically equivalent with respect to copper binding, generation of reactive oxygen species and aggregation profiles. Cell binding studies show both peptides bound to cultured cortical neurons. However, only L-Aβ42 was neurotoxic and inhibited long term potentiation indicating L-Aβ42 requires a stereospecific target to mediate toxicity. We identified the lipid phosphatidylserine, as a potential target. Annexin V, which has very high affinity for externalized phosphatidylserine, significantly inhibited L-Aβ42 but not D-Aβ42 binding to the cultured cortical neurons and significantly rescued L-Aβ42 neurotoxicity. This suggests that Aβ mediated toxicity in Alzheimer disease is dependent upon Aβ binding to phosphatidylserine on neuronal cells.

Qualia are defined as subjective or private feelings associated with sensory and other experiences. This article argues that private feelings might be expressed by or in a personal brain and discusses possible neurobiological implications. Four issues are considered: 1) Functional dualism implies that mental functions are realized as emergent properties of the brain. In practice, functional dualism is compatible with both substance dualism and pan-psychism. 2) The (adult) human brain is the product of biological and environmental processes, including cultural infl uences, and is individually unique. Part of the cerebral neuronal processing is molded by individual memories and previous experiences. 3) Biological processes underlying the realization of qualia, including neural activities, escape conscious control. The temporal expression of qualia is in part consciously channeled by, for instance, actual situations and cultural habits. 4) Neuroscientifi c explanations refer to general principles of nature, rather than to individual phenomena. Hence, future neurobiological approaches might aim to identify which neuronal processes are involved in qualia and how. It seems illusory to explain each quale.