Other Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons^™

Sex Differences In White Matter Development During Adolescence: A Dti Study, Yingying Wang, Chris Adamson, Weihong Yuan, Mekibib Altaye, Anna W. Byars, Scott K. Holland

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty and Staff Publications

Adolescence is a complex transitional period in human development, composing physical maturation, cognitive and social behavioral changes. The objective of this study is to investigate sex differences in white matter development and the associations between intelligence and white matter microstructure in the adolescent brain using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). In a cohort of 16 typically-developing adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, longitudinal DTI data were recorded from each subject at two time points that were one year apart. We used TBSS to analyze the diffusion indices including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity …

Combined Erp/Fmri Evidence For Early Word Recognition Effects In The Posterior Inferior Temporal Gyrus, Joseph Dien, Eric S. Brian, Dennis L. Molfese, Brian T. Gold

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty and Staff Publications

Two brain regions with established roles in reading are the posterior middle temporal gyrus and the posterior fusiform gyrus. Lesion studies have also suggested that the region located between them, the posterior inferior temporal gyrus (pITG), plays a central role in word recognition. However, these lesion results could reflect disconnection effects since neuroimaging studies have not reported consistent lexicality effects in pITG. Here we tested whether these reported pITG lesion effects are due to disconnection effects or not using parallel ERP/fMRI studies. We predicted that the Recognition Potential (RP), a left-lateralized ERP negativity that peaks at about 200–250 ms, might …

The Structure Of Consciousness, Lowell Keith Friesen

Open Access Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examine the nature and structure of consciousness. Conscious experience is often said to be phenomenally unified, and subjects of consciousness are often self-conscious. I ask whether these features necessarily accompany conscious experience. Is it necessarily the case, for instance, that all of a conscious subject's experiences at a time are phenomenally unified? And is it necessarily the case that subjects of consciousness are self-conscious whenever they are conscious? I argue that the answer to the former is affirmative and the latter negative.

In the first chapter, I set the stage by distinguishing phenomenal unity from other …

Investigating The Pathological Response To Beta Amyloid Toxicity In Rats: The Role Of Age And The Antioxidant Catalase-Skl, Hayley J. Nell

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain is a major contributor to the cellular pathology and cognitive impairment observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In part, Aβ exerts its toxic effects by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and neuroinflammation in the brain. Aging, a major risk factor for AD is also associated with increased production of ROS. This study investigated the age-related pathological response to Aβ toxicity and examined whether catalase-SKL(CAT-SKL), a genetically engineered derivative of the peroxisomal antioxidant enzyme catalase, is able to reduce Aβ toxicity. Bilateral intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of the Aβ_25-35 peptide was used to model Aβ …

Kisspeptin Receptor Agonist (Ftm080) Increased Plasma Concentrations Of Luteinizing Hormone In Anestrous Ewes, Brian K. Whitlock, Kelly A. Chameroy, Rebecca R. Payton, Shinya Oishi, Nobutaka Fujii, Joseph A. Daniel

Brian K Whitlock, PhD, DVM, DACT

Kisspeptin (KP) and the KP receptor (Kiss1r) are integral to central regulation of the gonadotropic-axis. The demonstration that intravenous infusion of KP can stimulate gonadotropin secretion and ovulation in seasonally anestrous female sheep offers a means of manipulating the reproductive axis. However, KP may be of limited clinical use because of the short circulating half-life. Kiss1r agonists with increased half-life and similar efficacy to KP in vitro potentially may provide beneficial applications in breeding management of many species. However, many of these agonists have not been tested in vivo. This study was designed to test and compare the effects of …

Localization Of Seismic Signals By The Fiddler Crab, Uca Pugilator, Thomas M. Beazley

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Α5gaba(A) Receptors In Brain Inflammation, Jason K. Wong

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Microglia critically regulate brain inflammation. GABA_A receptors that contain the α5-subunit (α5GABA_A) exhibit high sensitivity to GABA and confer tonic activity. Moreover, α5GABA­_A receptors have been associated with brain inflammation. This study investigates the role of α5GABA_A receptors in microglial activation. Immunohistochemistry revealed that in response to intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (LPS), α5-subunit null mice exhibited significantly higher expression of IL-1β in hippocampal microglia. Neuronal-glial co-cultures treated with α5GABA­_A receptor inverse agonist L655,708 drastically increased microglial IL-1β expression. Surprisingly, ELISA of media from L655,708-treated co-cultures revealed a considerably lower concentration of IL-1β. Treating cultured primary astrocytes …

Effect Of Meloxicam On Gain And Inflammatory Response Of Calves Castrated By Banding Post-Weaning, Brian K. Whitlock, Peter D. Krawczel, Jeff A. Carroll, Nicole C. Burdick Sanchez, Jeff W. Dailey, Joseph A. Daniel, Johann F. Coetzee

Brian K Whitlock, PhD, DVM, DACT

Castration may detrimentally affect the health and performance of weaned calves, and painful procedures are increasingly becoming a public concern. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of castration (by banding) with or without administration of meloxicam, a non-steroid anti-inflammatory, on performance and inflammatory response in weaned beef calves. Forty-eight (weaned) beef calves [10.0±0.2 mo old; 304±6 kg BW] were blocked by age, BW, wither height, scrotal circumference, and source, then randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments (n=16 calves per treatment: 1) intact bulls (BULL), 2) castration by banding (BAN), or 3) castration by banding with …

Effect Of Meloxicam On Gain And Behavior Of Calves Castrated By Banding Pre-Weaning, Joseph A. Daniel, Peter D. Krawczel, Brian K. Whitlock

Brian K Whitlock, PhD, DVM, DACT

The objective was to determine if oral meloxicam (M; a non-steroid anti-inflammatory) administered at castration of pre-weaning calves affected ADG or behavior. Prior to castration (14 d), Angus bulls were assigned to bull (BULL; n = 7; age 106 ± 6 d; BW = 174.2 ±7.7 kg; scrotal circumference 17.7 ± 0.4 cm), castrated (BAN; n = 12; age = 105 ± 5 d; BW = 144.5 ± 7.6 kg; scrotal circumference = 16 ± 0.4 cm) or castrated with meloxicam (BAN+M; n = 13; age = 121 ± 6 d; BW = 145.8 ± 6 kg; scrotal circumference = …

Meloxicam Mediates Short-Term Behavioral Changes Of Castrated Calves, Peter D. Krawczel, Jeff A. Carroll, Nicole C. Burdick Sanchez, Jeff W. Dailey, Joseph A. Daniel, Johann F. Coetzee, Brian K. Whitlock

Brian K Whitlock, PhD, DVM, DACT

Castration may detrimentally affect the health and performance of weaned calves and painful procedures are increasingly a public concern. Therefore, practical pain mitigation is critical. The objective was to determine the effects of castration (by banding) with or without administration of NSAID, meloxicam, on the behavior of weaned beef calves. Forty-eight (56 d post-weaning) beef calves [10.0 ± 0.2 (mean ± SE) mo old; 304 ± 6 kg BW] were blocked by multiple factors then randomly assigned to 3 treatments (n = 16 calves per treatment: 1) intact bulls (BULL), 2) castration by banding (BAN), or 3) castration by banding …

From Gibbons To Gymnasts: A Look At The Biomechanics And Neurophysiology Of Brachiation In Gibbons And Its Human Rediscovery, Emma Et Pennock

Student Works

This conference paper serves to examine the evolutionary linkages of a brachiating ancestor in humans, the biomechanical and neurophysiology of modern day brachiators, and the human rediscovery of this form of locomotion. Brachiation is arguably one of the most metabolically effective modes of travel by any organism and can be observed most meritoriously in Gibbons. The purpose of the research conducted for this paper was to encourage further exploration of the neurophysiological similarities and differences between humans and non-human primates. The hope is that in spurring more interest and research in this area, further possibilities for rehabilitating brain injury will …

Behavioral Responses To Methylphenidate: Correlations With Neuronal Activity In The Caudate Nucleus, Catherine M. Claussen

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Methylphenidate is currently a drug of abuse and readily prescribed to both adolescents and adults. Chronic methylphenidate (MPH) exposure results in an increase in DA in the motive circuit, including the caudate nucleus (CN), similar to other drugs of abuse. This study focuses on research aimed to elucidate if there are intrinsic underlying differences in the CN electrophysiological activity of animals exhibiting different chronic responses to the same dose of MPH. Behavioral and caudate nucleus (CN) neuronal activity following acute and chronic doses of MPH was assessed by simultaneously recording the behavioral and neuronal activity. The experimental protocol lasted for …

Concordance Of Meg And Fmri Patterns In Adolescents During Verb Generation, Yingying Wang, Scott K. Holland, Jennifer Vannest

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty and Staff Publications

In this study we focused on direct comparison between the spatial distributions of activation detected by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and localization of sources detected by magnetoencephalography (MEG) during identical language tasks. We examined the spatial concordance between MEG and fMRI results in 16 adolescents performing a three-phase verb generation task that involves repeating the auditorily presented concrete noun and generating verbs either overtly or covertly in response to the auditorily presented noun. MEG analysis was completed using a synthetic aperture magnetometry (SAM) technique, while the fMRI data were analyzed using the general linear model approach with random-effects. To …

Getting A Grip On Memory: Unilateral Hand Clenching Alters Episodic Recall, Ruth E. Propper, Sean E. Mcgraw, Tad T. Brunyé

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Unilateral hand clenching increases neuronal activity in the frontal lobe of the contralateral hemisphere. Such hand clenching is also associated with increased experiencing a given hemisphere’s “mode of processing.” Together, these findings suggest that unilateral hand clenching can be used to test hypotheses concerning the specializations of the cerebral hemispheres during memory encoding and retrieval. We investigated this possibility by testing the effects of a unilateral hand clenching on episodic memory. The hemispheric Encoding/Retrieval Asymmetry (HERA) model proposes left prefrontal regions are associated with encoding, and right prefrontal regions with retrieval, of episodic memories. It was hypothesized that right-hand clenching …

The Measurement Of Auditory Interhemispheric Transfer Time (Ihtt) In Children With Normal Auditory Processing Abilities, Brittany Suzanne Keahey

Doctoral Dissertations

Interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT) is the time it takes for information to be transmitted from one hemisphere to the other. The goal of this study was to determine if differences existed in the IHTT of children 6 to 9 years of age with normal auditory processing abilities by the use of an objective measure (auditory late evoked potentials [ALEPs]), specifically waves P1, N1 and P2. It was hypothesized that there would be no difference in IHTT between the groups due to the age range of participants being tested. The 16 participants were divided into two groups based on age and …

Determination Of Catecholamine Content Changes In Mouse Brain Following Chronic Ketogenic Diet, Ryan Adams

Senior Theses and Projects

This work investigated the effects of the ketogenic diet on catecholamine concentrations in the brains of mice. The ketogenic diet has been show to modulate the catecholamine concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of children as well as altering hippocampal norepinephrine levels in mice. Tissue homogenates of the motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, nucleus accumbens, anterior caudate, posterior caudate and midbrain regions were analyzed using high pressure liquid chromatography to quantitate norepinephrine, dopamine, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA) and serotonin (5-HT). No significant differences in catecholamine concentration levels were detected in the tissue homogenates. Analysis of metabolite …

Doxorubicin-Induced, Tnf-Α-Mediated Brain Oxidative Stress, Neurochemical Alterations, And Cognitive Decline: Insights Into Mechanisms Of Chemotherapy Induced Cognitive Impairment And Its Prevention, Jeriel T. Keeney

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

The works presented in this dissertation provide insights into the mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI or “ChemoBrain”) and take steps toward outlining a preventive strategy. CICI is now widely recognized as a complication of cancer chemotherapy experienced by a large percentage of cancer survivors. Approximately fifty percent of existing FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Doxorubicin (Dox), a prototypical ROS-generating chemotherapeutic agent, produces the reactive superoxide radical anion (O₂^-•) in vivo. Dox treatment results in oxidation of plasma proteins, including ApoA-I, leading to TNF-α-mediated oxidative stress in plasma and brain. TNF-α elevation in brain …

A One-Hour Sleep Restriction Impacts Brain Processing In Young Children Across Tasks: Evidence From Event-Related Potentials, Dennis Molfese, Anna Ivanenko, Alexandra P.F. Key, Adrienne Roman, Victoria J. Molfese, Louise M. O'Brien, David Gozal, Srinivas Kota, Caitlin M. Hudac

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty and Staff Publications

The effect of mild sleep restriction on cognitive functioning in young children is unclear, yet sleep loss may impact children's abilities to attend to tasks with high processing demands. In a preliminary investigation, six children (6.6 - 8.3 years of age) with normal sleep patterns performed three tasks: attention (“Oddball”), speech perception (conconant-vowel syllables) and executive function (Directional Stroop). Event-related potentials (ERP) responses were recorded before (Control) and following one-week of 1-hour per day of sleep restriction. Brain activity across all tasks following Sleep Restriction differed from activity during Control Sleep, indicating that minor sleep restriction impacts children's neurocognitive functioning.

Normative Topographic Erp Analyses Of Speed Of Speech Processing And Grammar Before And After Grammatical Treatment, Paul J. Yoder, Dennis Molfese, Micah M. Murray, Alexandra P.F. Key

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty and Staff Publications

Typically developing (TD) preschoolers and age-matched preschoolers with specific language impairment (SLI) received event-related potentials (ERPs) to four monosyllabic speech sounds prior to treatment and, in the SLI group, after 6 months of grammatical treatment. Before treatment, the TD group processed speech sounds faster than the SLI group. The SLI group increased the speed of their speech processing after treatment. Post-treatment speed of speech processing predicted later impairment in comprehending phrase elaboration in the SLI group. During the treatment phase, change in speed of speech processing predicted growth rate of grammar in the SLI group.

An Investigation Into The Combined Effects Of Β-Amyloid Toxicity And Cerebral Ischemia On The Pathological Expression Of Gangliosides., Jeffrey D. Hepburn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Identifying mechanisms underlying the synergistic pathological interaction between stroke and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can effectively guide future therapeutic strategies for these highly co-morbid conditions. Aberrant ganglioside expression marked by the pathological accumulation of ganglioside GM3 is common to stroke and AD, yet it is unclear whether GM3 is synergistically enhanced in a comorbid model, or if GM3 is a viable therapeutic target. Adult male Wistar rats received a unilateral ischemic striatal infarct via endothelin-1 (ET-1) injection alone or in combination with bilateral intracerebroventricular injection of the β-Amyloid 25-35 peptide (Aβ) to induce generalized Aβ toxicity (Aβ/ET-1). Animals were sacrificed after …