Distributed Cortical Network Dynamics of Binocular Convergent Eye Movements in Humans.

Neuroimaging studies in humans have localized brain functions to specific brain regions, but a recent shift toward distributed network-based models of brain function promises deeper insights into the network processes that generate brain functionality. Resting-state functional connectivity provides a rich mapping of the brain's network architecture, linking with both underlying structure and task-evoked responses across the whole brain. In this study, we utilized a model based on propagation of task-evoked activations over resting-state functional connectivity networks to identify cortical contributions to localized functional brain activations associated with binocular convergent eye movements.

Regularized partial correlation provides reliable functional connectivity estimates while correcting for widespread confounding.

Functional connectivity (FC) has been invaluable for understanding the brain's communication network, with strong potential for enhanced FC approaches to yield additional insights. Unlike with the fMRI field-standard method of pairwise correlation, theory suggests that partial correlation can estimate FC without confounded and indirect connections. However, partial correlation FC can also display low repeat reliability, impairing the accuracy of individual estimates.

Genetic and epigenetic dysregulation of CR1 is associated with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objectives: Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a complement-driven thrombotic disorder, characterised by widespread thrombosis and multiorgan failure. We identified rare germline variants including complement receptor 1 (CR1) in 50% of patients with CAPS. Here, we define CR1 dysregulation mechanisms (genetic/epigenetic) underlying complement-mediated thrombosis in CAPS and support C5 inhibition as a potential therapy.

Functional redundancy of the posterior hippocampi is selectively disrupted in non-demented older adults with -amyloid deposition.

Several neural mechanisms underlying resilience to Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been proposed, including redundant neural connections between the posterior hippocampi and all other brain regions, and global functional connectivity of the left frontal cortex (LFC). Here, we investigated if functional redundancy of the hippocampus (HC) and LFC underscores neural resilience in the presence of early AD pathologies. From the ADNI database, cognitively normal older adults (CN) (N = 220; 36 % A+) and patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) (N = 143; 51 % A+) were utilized.

Developing an Inclusive Dance Guide for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Co-Design Process and Initial Feasibility Study.

Background: Participation in community activities has shown positive outcomes for all children, yet those with cerebral palsy (CP) still experience varying levels of inclusion. This study aimed to address the challenges faced by families of children with CP in accessing community-based dance classes by co-designing a practical guide to support their inclusion.

Design: The guide was developed through a collaborative process involving academic researchers, dance professionals, therapists and families of children with CP.

Genetic and Epigenetic Dysregulation of CR1 is Associated with Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome (CAPS).

Objective: Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS), characterized by widespread thrombosis and multi-organ failure, is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We previously established complement activation as a pathogenic driver of CAPS and identified rare germline variants in complement-regulatory genes including Complement Receptor 1 () in 50% of CAPS.

Methods: We quantified CR1 expression by flow cytometry across hematopoietic cell types.

Locomotor-cognitive dual-tasking is reduced in older adults relative to younger: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: The capacity to dual-task is critically important over the lifespan, enabling an individual to respond to demands in their environment, both safely and efficiently.

Research Question: Does recent evidence suggest that relative to younger adults, older adults are most disadvantaged when performing locomotor-cognitive dual-tasks under conditions that are more representative of the real-world?

Method: A literature search of major electronic databases was conducted to find relevant peer-reviewed papers published since 2011. Thirty-nine studies that compared proportional dual-task costs (pDTC) between older and younger adults on a locomotor-cognitive dual-task were included.

Elucidating cognitive processes in cardiac arrest team leaders: a virtual reality-based cued-recall study of experts and novices.

Background: Team leadership during medical emergencies like cardiac arrest resuscitation is cognitively demanding, especially for trainees. These cognitive processes remain poorly characterized due to measurement challenges. Using virtual reality simulation, this study aimed to elucidate and compare communication and cognitive processes-such as decision-making, cognitive load, perceived pitfalls, and strategies-between expert and novice code team leaders to inform strategies for accelerating proficiency development.

It's Hard to Prepare for Task Novelty: Cueing the Novelty of Upcoming Tasks Does Not Facilitate Task Performance.

Rapidly learning new tasks, such as using new technology or playing a new game, is ubiquitous in our daily lives. Previous studies suggest that our brain relies on different networks for rapid task learning versus retrieving known tasks from memory, and behavioral studies have shown that novel versus practiced tasks may rely on different task configuration processes. Here, we investigated whether explicitly informing about the novelty of an incoming task would help participants prepare for different task configuration processes, such as pre-adjusting working memory gating functions.

Precision data-driven modeling of cortical dynamics reveals person-specific mechanisms underpinning brain electrophysiology.

Task-free brain activity affords unique insight into the functional structure of brain network dynamics and has been used to identify neural markers of individual differences. In this work, we present an algorithmic optimization framework that directly inverts and parameterizes brain-wide dynamical-systems models involving hundreds of interacting neural populations, from single-subject M/EEG time-series recordings. This technique provides a powerful neurocomputational tool for interrogating mechanisms underlying individual brain dynamics ("precision brain models") and making quantitative predictions.

Sirtuin Proteins and Memory: A Promising Target in Alzheimer's Disease Therapy?

Sirtuins (SIRTs), nicotine adenine dinucleotide (+)-dependent histone deacetylases, have emerged as critical regulators in many signalling pathways involved in a wide range of biological processes. Currently, seven mammalian SIRTs have been characterized and are found across a number of cellular compartments. There has been considerable interest in the role of SIRTs in the brain due to their role in a plethora of metabolic- and age-related diseases, including their involvement in learning and memory function in physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Distributed network flows generate localized category selectivity in human visual cortex.

A central goal of neuroscience is to understand how function-relevant brain activations are generated. Here we test the hypothesis that function-relevant brain activations are generated primarily by distributed network flows. We focused on visual processing in human cortex, given the long-standing literature supporting the functional relevance of brain activations in visual cortex regions exhibiting visual category selectivity.

Obstacle negotiation while dual-tasking in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD): An augmented-reality approach.

Background: Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) exhibit deficits in predictive motor control, balance, and aspects of cognitive control, which are important for safely negotiating obstacles while walking. As concurrent performance of cognitive and motor tasks (dual-tasking) may exacerbate these deficits, we examined motor and cognitive dual-tasking differences between children with DCD and their typically developing (TD) peers during obstacle negotiation.

Methods: 34 children aged 6-12 years (16 TD, 18 DCD) walked along a 12 m path, stepping over an obstacle (30 % or 50 % of leg length) at its mid-point.

Portable Touchscreen Assessment of Motor Skill: A Registered Report of the Reliability and Validity of EDNA MoTap.

Portable and flexible administration of manual dexterity assessments is necessary to monitor recovery from brain injury and the effects of interventions across clinic and home settings, especially when in-person testing is not possible or convenient. This paper aims to assess the concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of a new suite of touchscreen-based manual dexterity tests (called ™) that are designed for portable and efficient administration. A minimum sample of 49 healthy young adults will be conveniently recruited.

A Teach-the-Teacher Module for Human Trafficking Bedside Instruction.

Introduction: Human trafficking (HT) is a public health issue that adversely affects patients' well-being. Despite the prevalence of trafficked persons in health care settings, a lack of educational modules exists for use in clinical contexts. We developed a 50-minute train-the-trainer module on HT.

Functional dysconnectivity of visual and somatomotor networks yields a simple and robust biomarker for psychosis.

People with psychosis exhibit thalamo-cortical hyperconnectivity and cortico-cortical hypoconnectivity with sensory networks, however, it remains unclear if this applies to all sensory networks, whether it arises from other illness factors, or whether such differences could form the basis of a viable biomarker. To address the foregoing, we harnessed data from the Human Connectome Early Psychosis Project and computed resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) matrices for 54 healthy controls and 105 psychosis patients. Primary visual, secondary visual ("visual2"), auditory, and somatomotor networks were defined via a recent brain network partition.

Individualization of petrol sources by high field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

In the forensic science context petrol is considered the most common fire accelerant. However, the identification and classification of petrol sources through the years has been proven to be a challenge in the investigation of fire related incidents. This research explored the possibility of identification and classification of petrol sources using high field NMR spectroscopy.

Graves-PCD: protocol for a randomised, dose-finding, adaptive trial of the plasma cell-depleting agent daratumumab in severe Graves' disease.

Introduction: Severe Graves' disease is a life-changing condition with poor outcomes from currently available treatments. It is caused by directly pathogenic thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor-stimulating antibodies (TRAb), which are secreted from plasma cells. The human anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab was developed to target plasma cells which express high levels of CD38, and is currently licensed for treatment of the plasma cell malignancy, myeloma.

Acute psychosocial stress modulates neural and behavioral substrates of cognitive control.

Acute psychosocial stress affects learning, memory, and attention, but the evidence for the influence of stress on the neural processes supporting cognitive control remains mixed. We investigated how acute psychosocial stress influences performance and neural processing during the Go/NoGo task-an established cognitive control task. The experimental group underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) acute stress induction, whereas the control group completed personality questionnaires.

Functionality of arousal-regulating brain circuitry at rest predicts human cognitive abilities.

Arousal state is regulated by subcortical neuromodulatory nuclei, such as locus coeruleus, which send wide-reaching projections to cortex. Whether higher-order cortical regions have the capacity to recruit neuromodulatory systems to aid cognition is unclear. Here, we hypothesized that select cortical regions activate the arousal system, which, in turn, modulates large-scale brain activity, creating a functional circuit predicting cognitive ability.