Elena's Legacy. Texts written by Elena, excerpts from texts she liked, her artworks.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Default Mode Network

Spreng and Grady (2009), in a study published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, investigated the neuronal substrates of autobiographical memory, prospection and theory of mind. The scientists found that concepts rely on the DMN (default mode network). In order to achieve this they used neuroimaging techniques (fMRI or functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and PLS (partial least squares) analysis.

Autobiographical memory, prospection and theory of mind share common brain activity, including the frontal and parietal lobes (the brain is divided into four lobes the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital). Activation of the DMN in the experimental as opposed to the control condition was evident and consistent. Researchers often rely on a control group to test the results and verify the measurements of the dependent variable.

Flashing lights. Image: Elena

Random Regret Minimisation

Chorus (2010) propose a model in which they postulate that when choosing, people aim to minimize regret. The model is compared and contrasted with the Random Utility Maximization’s linear-additive MNL model. Anticipated regret is important in several disciplines, including psychology, microeconomics and marketing. Current theories state that individuals tend to minimize regret when choosing. Further, regret is defined as when a foregone alternative performs better than the chosen one.

Individuals experience regret on almost a daily basis. If not regret, then at least choice. Everyday we are faced with making choices, and oftentimes we do not necessarily know whether the choice we made was the better one. The article described attempts to scientifically measure, or operationalize, the experience of regret in choice making situations, such as when making travel plans. For example, a person may experience regret when choosing the English Riviera over the French Riviera, and vice versa.

Brain Simulation

Neural Architecture

Watching weather predictions, one often sees typhoon, tornadoes, rain and cold waves simulations. In addition to advances in gaming, animation and social media technologies, neuroscience has benefitted from progress in brain simulation. Computational neuroscience and quantitative psychology have long relied on computer modeling to simulate neural activity and networks.

The Blue Brain (hardware: Blue Gene supercomputer, software: NEURON) is a project that aims at modeling the mammalian brain down to molecular detail. Scientists at the EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lauzanne, Switzerland) continue working on the undertaking, and attempt to uncover what lies underneath it all.

A reminder of how much light has been shed on the brain by birds. For example, the way sparrows learn their characteristic songs has greatly contributed to neuroplasticity research. Image: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Brain-computer interface (BCI) consist of transmitting commands to the machine mentally (Brunner et al., 2010). Although development is underway, such systems continue to be clouded by noise to the point of message integrity loss. The two types of signals used are the event-related desynchronization (ERD) and steady-state evoked potentials (SSEPs). Through their work, the scientists show that a hybrid is possible, and conducive to improved communication.

Neurons, or brain cells, are surrounded by extracellular space. Xiao & Hrabetova (2011) report previous findings pointing to anomalous diffusion, and hypothesized that glomeruli are behind the process in the granular layer. Perhaps to non-neuroscientists, the most interesting part of their study is the use of geometrical models. The numerical Monte Carlo simulation was used, using in-house and external programs. The authors’ hypothesis proved correct – a crucial factor for neurotransmitter and neuromodulator research and application.

Clearly, computer simulation significantly impacts science: biology, physics, mathematics and astronomy. Amazingly enough, there are even theories that currently, humankind is living in a computer simulation organized by an Ancient civilization, or a future society.

Neuron, Of course, 2 refers to the the cell nucleus. Perhaps the letters ‘c’ and ‘l’ got too close, thus looking like a ‘d’. Photo in public domain

The two diagrams above and below the pretty bird, represent the architecture of a neuron (brain cell), as well as the different types of neuron that may potentially be derived from a multipotent (if it could also differentiate into diverse types of other cell lineages, such as hematopoietic cells, then it would qualify as pluripotent) stem cell. No wonder neuroscience has traditionally been considered a branch of biology!

Doubtless, the author of the above picture meant to write ‘oligodendrocyte’ when referring to the type of neuroglia. Photo in public domain: Neuron architecture

References:

Brunner, C., Allison, B. Z., Krusienski, D. J., Kaiser, V., Muller-Putz, G. R., Pfurtscheller, G. & Neuper, C. (2010). Improved signal processing approaches in an offline simulation of a hybrid brain-computer interface. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 188: 165-73.
Xiao, F. & Hrabetova, S. (2011). Monte Carlo simulation study of geometrical factors causing anomalous diffusion in brain extracellular space. The Open-Access Journal for the Basic Principles of Diffusion Theory, Experiment and Application, 1-2.

Salvation Means Change

Salvation means change and most people fear change more than anything else. To save ourselves we must engage in genetic research. Only by developing new forms of life, creating creatures that can eat up pollutants and may be convert them into harmless biodegradable waste matter, can we hope to cleanse the Cloud quickly enough to avert our own destruction.

We have to save our civilisation. That is way we need a research laboratory in space and that is why the UN appointed Norma Schmidt as commander. Hers background in botanical genetics is impressive. There is no one more highly regarded in the field. There was never a question that a ship designed to collect and analyse exotic biological specimens should have her on board.

Her background is impressive. Illustration : © Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

No national government would do it, and no single corporation could afford to risk the necessary investment capital. That is why the space-station had to be multinational effort by the multinational corporations.

To save the world. To keep the human race from going the way of the dinosaurs.

(From The Rain, the famous SF novel by Elena and George)

Neuroplasticity

By Dr. Megan Jorgensen

In line with the notion that the neurotransmitter dopamine elicits learning by its influence on neuroplasticity, Monte-Silva and colleagues (2011) found that D2 receptor blockade prevents theta burst stimulation-induced neuroplasticity in the motor cortex. Dopamine has a total of five types of receptors: D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5.

Hoenig and coauthors (2011) confirm that experience dependent plasticity is seen in musicians by profession. Following repeated musical practice and exposure, professional musicians brains literally change, particularly in perceptual and motor areas. According to their study, the cortical alterations extend further, encompassing regions deemed to process higher level associations, mainly by linking, in musicians but not non-musicians, perception and conceptual representation of auditory stimuli.

Cortex plasticity seems to depend on several factors. For example, Seredynski et al. (2011) studied the subject by focusing on the Japanese quail. The authors found a relationship between estrogen (female hormone) receptors and neuroplasticity. Another study, conducted by Spingath et al. (2011), portrays an alternative way of approaching the topic. For instance, these researchers found that in macaques, neuroplasticity in uncomplicated spatial tasks was the result of selective suppression and non-selective response enhancement.

A few words about the present Website:

Information on animation can be found in the animation section, otherwise the site is about neuroscience. Neuroscientists study the nervous system.

The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) contains the autonomic and somatic subdivisions. Finally, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) encompasses the sympathetic and parasympathetic subsystems.

References:

Hoenig, K., Muller, C., Herrnberger, B., Sim, EJ., Spitzer, M., Ehret, G. & Kiefer, M. (2011). Neuroplasticity of semantic representations for musical instruments in professional musicians. NeuroImage, 56: 1714-25.
Monte-Silva, K., Ruge, D., Teo, J. T., Paulus, W., Rothwell, J. C. & Nietsche, M. (2011). D2 receptor block abolishes theta burst stimulation-induced neuroplasticity in the human motor cortex. Neuropsychopharmacology: 1-6.
Seredynski, A. L., Ball, G. F., Balthazart, J. & Charlier, T. D. (2011). Specific activation of estrogen receptor Alpha and Beta enhances male sexual behavior and neuroplasticity in male Japanese quail. PLoS ONE, 6 (4): e18627.
Spingath, E. Y., Kang, H. S., Plummer, T. & Blake, D. T. (2011). Different neuroplasticity for task targets and distractors. PLoS ONE, 6 (1): e15342.

Industrial Relations

On a job search advertisement it is possible to see psychology, industrial relations and human resources majors grouped together. A border multidisciplinary field is organizational behaviour, rooted heavily in psychology, but a customary business concentration.

Industrial relations are also called employment relations and are the study of workforce intricacies. Careful examination of the employment, or worker-manager, relationship tries to understand the interrelation of employer and employee. Labour productivity and negotiation between unions and employers have long been a topic of inquiry in economics. The specific branch zooms in on effort bargain and collective bargaining and has been contested.

During the 1960s and 1970s the legitimacy of Industrial Relations (IR) theory was doubted. Interestingly, the extension is abbreviated IR the same as political science field International Relations (or State Behaviour). Given the importance of political environment in governing employment policies, the overlap makes sense. Another demonstration of political influence is the radical viewpoint that has at its core Marxist tenets. The three major theoretical perspectives are unitarism, pluralism and radicalism.

An old printing office. Photo by Elena

To continue with the isms, according to Edwards (1995), Britain is much more prone to voluntarism than North America. However, arguments like the one presented are of the realm of political economy and lay outside the scope of this short discussion.

Notwithstanding, the author proceeds by explaining that IR is different from economics in its focus on employment structure, regulation and negotiation. Economics would offer a theoretical model based on rationality. Though both are sciences of a humanistic nature, IR would award greater attention to the social and psychological interpersonal factors involved.

In Canada, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ensures fair dispute resolution. The board acts as a quasi-judicial tribunal in administering the industrial relations and occupational health and safety parts of the Canada Labour Code.

As eloquently put on their homepage, the Canadian Industrial Relations Association (CIRA) generates an environment conducive to advancement and public recognition of industrial relations. The Central Ontario Industrial Relations Institute (COIRI) offers the option to discuss via telephone conversation issues in employment and human rights.

With a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in IR, a recent graduate may find work as a personnel recruiter, academic advisor, headhunter and employment interviewer, among others. Industry Canada, who has been chosen as one of the nation’s Top 100 employers in the famous competition, featured an IR job ad that could make more than one doctoral thesis candidate want to change careers. PayScale, a website dedicated to put a number on most degrees and majors, promises a substantial salary range for holders of Master’s in IR degrees.

Reference:

Edwards, P. K. (1995). From industrial relations to the employment relationship: The development of research in Britain. Relations Industrielles / Industrial Relations, 50 (1): 39-65.