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Articles by William Olson
It’s time to split
Neural networks can exhibit stable patterns of activity called attractors. Attractor dynamics are thought to underlie working memory and goal-directed behavior, but it is not clear how the persistent activity associated with attractors can be terminated when behaviorally required. In a study published in Nature, Lanz et al.
WHOLISTIC tracks the entire body
Whole-body physiology is governed by complex organ interdependence. A study recently published in Nature enables a new organism-wide view of dynamic physiology. In this study, Ruetten et al. developed WHOLISTIC (WHole-Organism Live-Imaging System for recording Tissue and IntraCellular activity), an optical and computational method for live imaging of calcium activity in all cells of the body of a fish. The authors found that most cells in the larval zebrafish feature time-varying calcium activity.
A new direction for neural networks
Within-area and across-area interactions jointly drive brain activity, but teasing these two sources of influence apart is highly challenging. A study published in Neuron presents a method for estimating inter-region dynamics using data-constrained recurrent neural networks. The approach trains a single, large neural network on multi-area recording data, with each network unit matched to an individual neuron.
The sensory streams of a fish
Brains process information through distributed, hierarchical and recurrent networks, exemplified by thalamocortical loops in mammalian brains. A study published in Science reveals key structural and functional similarities between zebrafish preglomerular complex (PG)–pallium projections and mammalian thalamocortical networks. Trinh et al.
A couple of couplings
Blood-based signals are widely used to measure brain function, which has motivated interest in understanding the exact nature of the relationship between blood flow and neural activity. Although classic views associated increased blood flow with higher bulk activity, decades of work have shown that this relationship varies across regions and states. Reporting in Nature, Landemard et al. combined high-density neural recordings with functional ultrasound imaging across the mouse brain.
A year in the brain
Researchers studying brain aging have struggled to assess small changes that occur over short timescales, because errors in neuroimaging measurements make them hard to detect. They have therefore relied on averaging of data from many individuals to minimize error or instead focused on larger, longer-term changes.
Calcium spikes can flip signals - Nature Neuroscience
Fly brains represent spatial information in world coordinates using a coding scheme akin to 2D vector addition. Recent models have highlighted how four unidirectional vector representations spaced 90° apart can cover the full range of angular space. Writing in Cell, Ishida et al. show that a class of neurons called PFNa cells encode spatial information bidirectionally by firing sodium and calcium spikes.
Composing behavior - Nature Neuroscience
Recombination of individual concepts or actions is a hallmark of flexible behavior. In a paper published in Nature, Tafazoli et al. show how this might be implemented in the brain. They trained monkeys to categorize visual objects by either shape or color and to report their choice through saccades. Monkeys had to infer stimulus–action contingencies as they changed across task blocks.
Recurrence has it covered - Nature Neuroscience
Current models of the hippocampus emphasize its ability to use cognitive maps for goal-directed navigation. A paper from Pedamonti, Mohinta et al. published in Nature Communications illustrates how the recurrent circuit structure of the hippocampus is probably crucial for such navigation in realistic conditions.
Poised for action - Nature Neuroscience
Shifts in body posture change movement biomechanics, and motor control systems must account for this. Although motor cortex readily encodes posture, it is not clear how information about action and posture is organized or how these signals interact to produce movement. In a recent paper published in Neuron, Marino et al. show that posture information in monkey primary motor cortex occupies a separate, orthogonal subspace from goal-directed action signals.
A very handy neural interface - Nature Neuroscience
With expanding interest in new brain–computer interface (BCI) technologies for clinical and non-clinical applications, a major challenge is the generalizability of BCI decoding models across diverse populations. In a paper published in Nature, Kaifosh, Reardon, and a team from CTRL-labs at Reality Labs report on the development of a surface electromyography (sEMG) wristband capable of decoding hand gestures from wrist muscle activity.
Enhancers hit their targets - Nature Neuroscience
Genetic tools for accessing neuron subtypes have enabled countless discoveries about circuit structure and function. Compared to the highly specific tools available for nematodes and fruit flies, the mammalian toolkit lacks both precision and systematic coverage. In a new paper published in Cell, a team of researchers at the Allen Institute and partner institutions unveil an unprecedented suite of targeting tools for mammalian cortical circuits.
Sleep cycles process memories - Nature Neuroscience
Memory replay during sleep probably facilitates the transfer of memories from intermediate storage in the hippocampus to long-term storage in the cortex. In a paper published in Neuron, Bollmann, Baracskay et al. reveal that memories are not static during this process, but are instead transformed into their long-term state during the sleep period.
Trigeminal innervation and tactile responses in mouse tongue
Keywords somatosensation tongue taste bud mechanoreceptor LTMR trigeminal trigeminal ganglion touch Research topic(s) CP: Neuroscience Introduction The sense of touch is crucial for the function of the mammalian tongue in numerous behaviors, including chewing,1 swallowing,2,3 social grooming,4 and vocalizing.5,6 Tactile information from the tongue is often closely associated with chemo- and thermosensory inputs from food and drink.
Testifying On The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act
When we first wrote about the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA), I had no idea I would have the honor of being invited to testify before the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property of the Senate Judiciary Committee, but on January 23, 2024, I was one of eight witnesses who shared our views on the state of patent eligibility in the U.S. and the need for legislative reform.
Testifying on the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act | JD Supra
When we first wrote about the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA), I had no idea I would have the honor of being invited to testify before the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property of the Senate Judiciary Committee, but on January 23, 2024, I was one of eight witnesses who shared our views on the state of patent eligibility in the U.S. and the need for legislative reform.
Pain and itch coding mechanisms of polymodal sensory neurons
Highlights • Polymodal MrgprD+ primary afferent neurons express Vglut2 and Nmb • Glutamate is required for both pain and itch signaling from MrgprD+ neurons • NMB is selectively required for itch signaling • NMBR+ central neurons are required for MrgprD+-neuron-mediated itch signals Summary Pain and itch coding mechanisms in polymodal sensory neurons remain elusive. MrgprD+ neurons represent a major polymodal population and mediate both mechanical pain and nonhistaminergic itch.
Would The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act Strike The Right Balance?
Senators Chris Coons and Thom Tillis recently introduced the bipartisan 2023 Patent Eligibility Restoration Act that would make significant changes to U.S. patent eligibility law. The "Findings" section of the Act states that "Efforts by judges of district courts and courts of appeals of the United States to apply the [judicially-created] exceptions [to patent eligibility] ...
Would The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act Strike The Right Balance?
Senators Chris Coons and Thom Tillis recently introduced the bipartisan 2023 Patent Eligibility Restoration Act that would make significant changes to U.S. patent eligibility law.
Would The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act Strike The Right Balance? | JD Supra
Senators Chris Coons and Thom Tillis recently introduced the bipartisan 2023 Patent Eligibility Restoration Act that would make significant changes to U.S. patent eligibility law.
State legislatures have absolute authority to select electors
ANALYSIS/OPINION: The public has begun to appreciate the extent of election irregularities and vote fraud in the Nov. 3 election. The riveting testimony by eyewitnesses to these illegal activities during legislative hearings in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona has prompted a serious reexamination of the results of the election. Legislators are learning that they have a vital constitutional role in responding to the irregularities and fraud.
Orphan Nuclear Receptor NR2F6 Suppresses T Follicular Helper Cell Accumulation through Regulation of IL-21
Highlights • Loss of NR2F6 results in accumulation of Tfh, GC B, and plasma cells after immunization • Increased GC populations depend on Nr2f6 loss within the CD4 compartment • NR2F6 directly binds to several sites within the Il21 promoter and CNS −36 • NR2F6 restrains Il21 expression in CD4 cells; IL-21R blockade reduces Tfh accumulation Summary CD4 T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are specialized in helping B cells during the germinal center (GC) reaction and ultimately promote long-term...
The Global Flow of Hard Disk Drives: Quantifying the Concept of Value Leakage in E‐waste Recovery Systems
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