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Category: neuroscience – Page 518

Evolving Neural Networks Workshop

(see below for links to each of the sections)

The goal of the Evolving Neural Networks workshop is to bring together experts from Systems and Computational Neuroscience, Machine Learning and the Evo-Devo field to discuss if and how knowing the evolutionary history of neural circuits can help us understand the way the brain works, as well as the relative importance of learned VS innate neural mechanisms.

Sections:
00:00 — Intro.
4:30 — Intro 1st block.
11:35 — Pamela Lyon.
33:40 — Luis Puelles.
1:01:30 — Paul Cisek.
1:28:55 — Robert Yang.
1:58:40 — Discussion 1st block.
2:29:10-Intro 2nd block.
2:36:10 — Linda Wilbrecht.
3:02:45 — Ida Momennejad.
3:34:40 — Dayu Lin.
3:57:05 — Anthony Zador.
4:21:55 — Discussion 2nd block.
4:51:15 — Closing remarks.

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/evolving-nns/home

Systems Neuroscience Through the Lens of Evolutionary Theory Workshop

The workshop discusses the recent issue Systems Neuroscience Through The Lens of Evolutionary Theory edited by Paul Cisek and Ben Hayden published by the Royal Society:

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/2022/377/1844

Program:
0:00 Introduction.
3:05 Ben Hayden Intro.
8:35 Lisa Feldman Barrett.
35:50 Q&A Lisa Feldman Barrett.
42:15 Luiz Pessoa.
1:11:10 Q&A Luiz Pessoa.
1:21:15 Barbara Finlay.
1:59:50 Discussion.
2:24:15 Joseph LeDoux.
3:02:50 Q&A Joseph LeDoux.
3:04:15 Paul Cisek.
3:31:45 Q&A Paul Cisek.
3:39:55 Patricia Churchland.
4:17:35 Discussion.

Visit the web for more information:

https://sites.google.com/view/neuroscienceneedsevolution/home.

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Determinants of escapism in adult video gamers with autism spectrum conditions: The role of affect, autistic burnout, and gaming motivation

😉

Persons with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) often engage in video gaming, one of the most common leisure activity in this population. Escapism, aimed at the avoidance of negative experiences or self-development, is considered as one of the main gaming motivations. Furthermore, escapism is a self-regulatory strategy used while suffering from autistic burnout, consisting of exhaustion, reduced social skills, anhedonia, and withdrawal. The goal of the current study was to determine predictors of escapism in video gaming among adult gamers with ASC. It was hypothesized that two types of escapism – self-suppression and self-expansion – would differentiate gaming motivations, affective outcomes, anhedonia, and autistic burnout rates. A total of 189 persons participated in the study (Mage = 27.52, SDage = 7.25), including 105 females. The results obtained indicated that self-suppression escapism was predicted by introjected regulation, positive and negative affect, and hedonic tone (F = 8.760, p < .001), while self-expansion was predicted by identified and integrated gaming motivations, hedonic tone, and positive affect (F = 23.066, p < .001). PLS-SEM analysis revealed good fit of the model with autistic burnout predicting self-suppression escapism. These results acknowledge the two-dimensional approach to escapism and highlight potential risk factors of self-suppression, especially among persons presenting symptoms of autistic burnout. Future research and clinical application directions are outlined.

Why can’t we say what cognition is (at least for the time being)

Some philosophers search for the mark of the cognitive: a set of individually necessary and jointly suΜcient conditions identifying all and only the instances of cognition. They claim the mark is necessary to answer diΜcult questions concerning the nature and distribution of cognition.

Here, I will argue that, as things stand, given the current landscape of cognitive science, we are not able to identify a mark of the cognitive. I proceed as follows. First, I clarify some factors motivating the search for the mark of the cognitive, thereby highlighting the desiderata the mark is supposed to satisfy. Then, I highlight a tension in the literature over the mark. Given the literature, it is not clear whether the search aims for a mark capturing the intuitive notion of cognition or a genuine scientiΞc kind.

Network Neuroscience Theory — The Best Predictor of Intelligence

Researchers have been working for many years to comprehend the relationship between brain structure, functional connectivity, and intelligence. A recent study provides the most comprehensive understanding to date of how different regions of the brain and neural networks contribute to a person’s problem-solving ability in a variety of contexts, a trait known as general intelligence.

The researchers recently published their findings in the journal Human Brain Mapping.

The research, led by Aron Barbey, a professor of psychology, bioengineering, and neuroscience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and first author Evan Anderson, a researcher for Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. working at the Air Force Research Laboratory, employed the technique of “connectome-based predictive modeling” to evaluate five theories on how the brain leads to intelligence.

How a Brain Molecule Could Halt Multiple Sclerosis

Summary: Injecting the brain molecule into mouse models of multiple sclerosis increased the number of oligodendrocytes. The findings suggest fractalkine may help to slow the progression, or potentially halt multiple sclerosis.

Source: University of Alberta.

A University of Alberta researcher is one step closer to demonstrating the potential of a brain molecule called fractalkine to halt and even reverse the effects of multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Special Vascular Cells Adjust Blood Flow in Brain Capillaries Based on Local Energy Needs

Its impressive how adaptive the brain is to each situation. It can sense which portions of the brain need more blood flow depending on energy usage and makes the needed tiny adjustments.

Summary: Researchers identified a specific type of cell that sits on top of the brain’s smallest blood vessels that sense when their region of the brain is in need of energy.

Source: University of Maryland

When we smell hot dogs, it may trigger memories of backyard barbeques or attending baseball games during childhood. During this process, the areas of the brain that control smell and long-term memory are rapidly firing off impulses. To fuel these signals from neurons, the active brain regions need oxygen and energy in the form of blood sugar glucose, which is quickly delivered through blood vessels.

Now, University of Maryland School of Medicine’s researchers have discovered that a certain type of cell that sits on top of the brain’s smallest blood vessels senses when their brain region needs energy. When glucose levels are low, these cells signal blood vessels to dilate, increasing the blood flow regionally and allowing more energy to fuel that part of the brain.

Even simple motions make ripples across brain, study finds

Even a simple movement like pushing a button sends ripples of activity throughout networks of neurons spanning across the brain, new University of Oregon research shows.

The finding highlights just how complex the is, challenging the simplified textbook picture of distinct areas dedicated to specific functions.

“It’s really well known that that the primary motor cortex controls output,” said Alex Rockhill, a graduate student in the lab of human physiology professor Nicki Swann. “But there’s a lot more to movement than this one brain area.”