Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons^™

Trends. Terrorist Brains, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This Trends article discusses the construct of biological reductionism in the context of the case of Red Army Faction member Ulrike Meinhof. For the author, overly emphasizing the biological aspects of Ms. Meinhof’s case might obscure legitimate grievances, and ultimately, lead to more cases of violence associated with terrorism.

Distinct Neural Systems Subserve Person And Object Knowledge, Jason P. Mitchell, Todd F. Heatherton, C. Neil Macrae

Dartmouth Scholarship

Studies using functional neuroimaging and patient populations have demonstrated that distinct brain regions subserve semantic knowledge for different classes of inanimate objects (e.g., tools, musical instruments, and houses). What this work has yet to consider, however, is how conceptual knowledge about people may be organized in the brain. In particular, is there a distinct functional neuroanatomy associated with person knowledge? By using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we measured neural activity while participants made semantic judgments about people or objects. A unique pattern of brain activity was associated with person judgments and included brain regions previously implicated in other …

The Response Of The Hoffmann Reflex To Endurance Training In Male Cross-Country Runners, Randall J. Bergman

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Motoneuron pool excitability as measured by the Hoffinann reflex (H-reflex) in endurance-trained subjects has been shown to differ from their untrained counterparts. Further, the effects of endurance training on the H-reflex are equivocal. Objective: To determine if differences exist in the motoneuron pool excitability of the soleus in highly trained endurance athletes due to the effect of endurance training. Design: A 2 X 3 factorial design with repeated measures. Setting: This study took place in the Exercise Physiology Laboratory located in the Health and Human Performance Building on the Indiana State University campus. Subjects: Eleven male cross-country team members (XC; …

D1 Dopamine Receptor Regulation Of Microtubule-Associated Protein-2 Phosphorylation In Developing Cerebral Cortical Neurons, Z.-M. Song, Ashiwel S. Undieh, Y.-Y. Fang, L. Zhang, S. Dracheva, S.C. Sealfon, M.S. Lidow

Publications and Research

This study addresses the hypothesis that the previously described capacity of D1 dopamine receptors (D1Rs) to regulate dendritic growth in developing cortical neurons may involve alterations in the phosphorylation state of microtubuleassociated protein-2 (MAP2). The changes in phosphorylation of this protein are known to affect its ability to stabilize the dendritic cytoskeleton. The study involved two systems: primary cultures of mouse cortical neurons grown in the presence of the D1R agonists, SKF82958 or A77636, and the cortex of neonatal transgenic mice overexpressing the D1A subtype of D1R. In both models, a decrease in dendritic extension corresponded with an elevation in …

Do Cellular Phones Cause Headaches?, Jasmine Gay

McCabe Thesis Collection

Many people have recently complained about experiencing headaches in association with the use of their cellular telephones. There is much controversy over this subject because it has not yet been proven that the microwaves emitted by cellular telephones cause headaches. The research questions include the following: What are the effects, if any, of the use of cellular telephones on human health? Do they cause headaches? Are they responsible for the increase in size of some brain tumors?

There have been many experiments performed by various scientists in the field of bioelectromagnetics and by the World Health Organization (WHO); however, these …

Focal Temperature Change Facilitates The Peak-To-Peak Soleus Hoffmann Reflex And Muscle Response, Bentley Andrew Krause

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Cryotherapy is a widely used rehabilitative modality in sports medicine. Cooling joint tissues has been observed to facilitate active exercise following injury. Mechanisms effecting motoneuron recruitment during and following cryotherapy are presumed to be both local and central in nature. Focal cooling facilitates motoncuron pool recruitment and may alter the excitability of motoncurons. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if changes in focal temperature alter the characteristics of the maximum peak-to-peak Hoffmann reflex (Hmax) and muscle response (Mmax). Design and setting: A 4x5 factorial design with repeated measures on time was used in this study. Hmax and …

The Nmda Receptor M3 Segment Is A Conserved Transduction Element Coupling Ligand Binding To Channel Opening, Kevin Jones, Hendrika Vandongen, Antonius Vandongen

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

Ion channels alternate stochastically between two functional states, open and closed. This gating behavior is controlled by membrane potential or by the binding of neurotransmitters in voltage- and ligand-gated channels, respectively. Although much progress has been made in defining the structure and function of the ligand-binding cores and the voltage sensors, how these domains couple to channel opening remains poorly understood. Here we show that the M3 transmembrane segments of the NMDA receptor allosterically interact with both the ligand-binding cores and the channel gate. It is proposed that M3 functions as a transduction element whose conformational change couples ligand binding …

Short-Term And Long-Term Effects Of Vocal Distortion On Song Maintenance In Zebra Finches, Gerald E. Hough, Susan F. Volman

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

Adult zebra finch song is irreversibly altered when birds are deprived of correct feedback by deafening or denervation of the syrinx. To clarify the role of feedback in song maintenance, we developed a reversible technique to distort vocal output without damaging the auditory or vocal systems. We implanted flexible beads adjacent to the syrinx to alter its biomechanics. Immediate song aberrations included low volume, frequency shifts, missing harmonics, and production of click-like syllables. After a few weeks, seven of nine birds stopped producing some syllables. In six of these birds, the gaps left by the silenced syllables gradually shortened, and …

Brain-Based Learning: Implications For The Elementary Classroom, Brenda Van Roekel

Master of Education Program Theses

Recent developments in neuroscience have enabled scientists to understand and image brain activity. Brain researchers are now more able than ever before to understand how the brain works, what affects the brain, and what implications these discoveries have for education. Based upon these discoveries new methods of teaching have been devised using the term, brain-based strategies or brain-based learning. This thesis examines some of the brain-based strategies embraced by leaders in this field. It will pay particular attention to the enriched environment, the effect of emotion on learning, and the concept of sensitive or critical periods. It will examine research …

Neurochemical Function In Schizophrenia: A Case Study, Ana Gomez

Capstone Research Projects

This research project addresses the topic of schizophrenia. Because of the vast amount of information available regarding schizophrenia, this paper will only focus on a few aspects of the disease. In particular the symptoms, brain abnormalities, hypotheses, and treatment strategies associated with brain abnormalities in schizophrenia will be presented. These emphases were chosen because they are of particular interest to the researcher. The intent of this paper is to discover what brain abnormalities, both physiological and chemical, are associated with schizophrenia. The intent is also to discuss treatment strategies and assess how this information may apply to a case study.

Enhanced Locomotor, Reinforcing, And Neurochemical Effects Of Cocaine In Serotonin 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2c Receptor Mutant Mice, Laura O'Dell

Selected Works Temporary Series

No abstract provided.

Enhanced Locomotor, Reinforcing, And Neurochemical Effects Of Cocaine In Serotonin 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2c Receptor Mutant Mice, Laura O'Dell

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Domain-Specific Olivocerebellar Projection Regulated By The Epha-Ephrin-A Interaction, Kazuhiko Nishida, John Flanagan, Masaru Nakamoto

Biology Faculty Publications

Neural maps in the vertebrate central nervous system often show discontinuously segregated, domain-to-domain patterns. However, the molecular mechanism that establishes such maps is not well understood. Here we show that in the chicken olivocerebellar system, EphA receptors and ephrin-As are expressed with distinct levels and combinations in mapping domains. When ephrin-A2 is retrovirally overexpressed in the cerebellum, the olivocerebellar map is disrupted, excluding axons with high receptor activity from ectopic expression domains. Conversely, overexpression of a truncated EphA3 receptor in the cerebellum reduces endogenous ligand activity to undetectable levels and causes aberrant mapping, with high receptor axons invading high ligand …

Effects Of Apolipoprotein E On Olfactory Nerve Plasticity In Mice, Jody L. Short

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Regional Specific Brain Apoe Modulation By The Estrous Cycle And Exogenous Estrogen, Emily Rosario

Masters Theses

Previous studies have demonstrated that 17β-estradiol can modify apolipoprotein E (apoE) expression. I found that apoE protein varied as a function of the estrous cycle and 17β-estradiol (E2) in a region specific manner in the mouse brain. I also found that apoE concentration was lowest on estrus in the hippocampus, cingulate cortex and frontal cortex; apoE concentration was highest on estrus in the olfactory bulb and cerebellum. No changes in apoE were found in the striatum throughout the estrous cycle. Exogenous E2 significantly raised tissue levels in the olfactory bulb and cerebellum, but did not increase apoE in cortical samples …

Functional Group Interactions Of A 5-Ht3r Antagonist, Padmavati Venkataraman, Prasad Joshi, Srinivasan P. Venkatachalan, Mani Mathalagi, Harish S. Parihar, Karen S. Kirschbaum, Marvin K. Schulte

PCOM Scholarly Works

Background: Lerisetron, a competitive serotonin type 3 receptor (5-HT 3R) antagonist, contains five functional groups capable of interacting with amino acids in the 5-HT3R binding site. Site directed mutagenesis studies of the 5-HT3AR have revealed several amino acids that are thought to form part of the binding domain of this receptor. The specific functional groups on the ligand that interact with these amino acids are, however, unknown. Using synthetic analogs of lerisetron as molecular probes in combination with site directed mutagenesis, we have identified some of these interactions and have proposed a model of the lerisetron binding site. Results: Two …

Behavioral Evidence For Chemosensory And Thermosensory Pathway Convergence In The Caenorhabditis Elegans Nervous System, Bowman O. Davis Jr., Lewis Vanbrackle, Darren Pittard

Faculty Articles

The nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, is an established model system to explore the ways simple nervous systems detect and direct organismal responses to environmental changes. C. elegans possesses specialized receptor cells for the detection of a variety of environmental stimuli. Separate cell types respond to volatile chemical and thermal stimuli and the neural pathways for these show anatomical evidence of convergence. This work reports findings from behavioral assays during simultaneous exposure of nematodes to both thermal differences and attractant volatile chemicals. Combined exposure to benzaldehyde and cold neutralized the behavioral responses to both stimuli in 24°C acclimated worms. Diacetyl and mild …

Aging And Memory For Music: A Review, Andrea R. Halpern, James C. Bartlett

Faculty Journal Articles

People of all ages enjoy listening to music, yet most research in musical development has concentrated on infancy through childhood. Our recent research program examined various aspects of music cognition in younger (ages 18 through 30) and older adults (ages 60 through 80) with varying amounts of musical experience. The studies investigated the independent and combined influences of age and experience on a wide assortment of long and short-term memory tasks. Results showed that some musical tasks reflect the same age-related declines as seen in nonmusical tasks, and musical training does not reduce these age-related declines. In other tasks, experience …

Effects Of E2 On Apoe Secretion And Neurite Outgrowth In Cultured Adult Mouse Cortical Neurons, Fei Shen

Masters Theses

Estrogen replacement therapy appears to delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The mechanism whereby estrogen prevents the pathogenesis of AD is unknown. In the present study, I examined the effects of 17-β-estradiol (E2) on neurite outgrowth from adult mice cortical neurons (AMC) in culture. I found that E2 increases apoE secretion and neurite outgrowth in AMC neurons from wild type mice in a dose dependent fashion. The neurite outgrowth promoting effect of E2 was not observed in AMC neurons derived from age-, sex-, and stain-matched apoE deficient/apoE gene knockout (apoE KO) mice. Furthermore, E2 has isoform specific effects on …

Modulation Of Apolipoprotein E Expression And Glial Activation In Mouse Olfactory Bulb During Estrous Cycle: An Immunohistochemical Study, Matthew Kircher

Masters Theses

Estrogen (E2) plasma levels fluctuate as a function of estrous cycling in the mouse. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) mRNA has been shown to increase in both hippocampal astrocytes and microglia during proestrus when plasma estrogen levels are high. The current study was designed to evaluate apoE localization and glial activation in mouse olfactory bulb (OB) as a function of the estrous cycle. In the rat OB, estrogen receptor β (ERβ) is present in the glomerular and external plexiform layers, but not the internal plexiform and granule cell layers. Normal female mice 2-3 months old at the start of the study were …