Perceiving nonverbal behavior: Neural correlates of processing movement fluency and contingency in dyadic interactions

Despite the fact that nonverbal dyadic social interactions are abundant in the environment, the neural mechanisms underlying their processing are not yet fully understood. Research in the field of social neuroscience has suggested that two neural networks appear to be involved in social understanding: (1) the action observation network (AON) and (2) the social neural network (SNN). The aim of this study was to determine the differential contributions of the AON and the SNN to the processing of nonverbal behavior as observed in dyadic social interactions. To this end, we used short computer animation sequences displaying dyadic social interactions between two virtual characters and systematically manipulated two key features of movement activity, which are known to influence the perception of meaning in nonverbal stimuli: (1) movement fluency and (2) contingency of movement patterns. A group of 21 male participants rated the “naturalness” of the observed scenes on a four‐point scale while undergoing fMRI. Behavioral results showed that both fluency and contingency significantly influenced the “naturalness” experience of the presented animations. Neurally, the AON was preferentially engaged when processing contingent movement patterns, but did not discriminate between different degrees of movement fluency. In contrast, regions of the SNN were engaged more strongly when observing dyads with disturbed movement fluency. In conclusion, while the AON is involved in the general processing of contingent social actions, irrespective of their kinematic properties, the SNN is preferentially recruited when atypical kinematic properties prompt inferences about the agents' intentions. Hum Brain Mapp 35:1362–1378, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Relation of apical dendritic spikes to output decision in CA1 pyramidal cells during synchronous activation: a computational study

Recent studies on the initiation and propagation of dendritic spikes have modified the classical view of postsynaptic integration. Earlier we reported that subthreshold currents and spikes recruited by synaptic currents play a critical role in defining outputs following synchronous activation. Experimental factors strongly condition these currents due to their nonlinear behaviour. Hence, we have performed a detailed parametric study in a CA1 pyramidal cell model to explore how different variables interact and initiate dendritic spiking, and how they influence cell output. The input pattern, the relative excitability of axon and dendrites, the presence/modulation of voltage-dependent channels, and inhibition were cross analysed. Subthreshold currents and spikes on synaptically excited branches fired spikes in other branches to jointly produce different modalities of apical shaft spiking with a variable impact on cell output. Synchronous activation initiated a varying number and temporal scatter of firing branches that produced in the apical shaft-soma axis nonpropagating spikes, pseudosaltatory or continuous forward conduction, or backpropagation. As few as 6-10 local spikes within a time window of 2 ms ensure cell output. However, the activation mode varied extremely when two or more variables were cross-analysed, becoming rather unpredictable when all the variables were considered. Spatially clustered inputs and upper modulation of dendritic Na(+) or Ca(2+) electrogenesis favour apical decision. In contrast, inhibition biased the output decision toward the axon and switched between dendritic firing modes. We propose that dendrites can discriminate input patterns and decide immediate cell output depending on the particular state of a variety of endogenous parameters.     

Isolation of Toxins from Buthus Occitanus Sp. Scorpion and Their Action on Excitability of Myelinated Nerve

A series of short neurotoxins (molecular weight 3500-5000 D) was isolated from Vietnamese scorpion B. occitanus sp. All these toxins blocked generation of action potentials (this effect depended on their molecular weight), but did not change conduction velocity and excitation threshold of the nerve.     

槲寄生黄酮甙抗快速心律失常的细胞电生理研究

采用细胞内玻璃微电极术观察了槲寄生黄酮苷对犬浦氏细胞及豚鼠心室肌细胞快反应动作电位的影响，结果表明：０．１ｍｇ／ｍｌ的ＶＣＦ加速ＦＡＰ复极化，使动作电位时程缩短（Ｐ＜０．０１），家效不应期缩短（犬Ｐ＜０．０５）或不变（豚鼠Ｐ＞０．０５）或不变豚鼠Ｐ＞０．０５），但△ＥＲＰ／△ＡＰＤ比值增加，提示该药抗快速型心律失常的细胞电生理机制主要与其相对延长不应期，有利于中止折返有关。     

丹参药理活性成分的整合效应

利用Pubmed收集了丹参相关的文献600余篇,整理了近年来与丹参药理机制研究相关的文献报道,归纳出丹参的药理活性成分,揭示单味中药丹参中多成分、多靶点的整合效应,并试图找出丹参中发挥抗肿瘤药理作用的结构母核,提出以结构母核为基础研究丹参药理活性成分的整合效应的研究思路.     

菊花的传统使用及化学成分和药理活性研究进展

菊花是别样茶的一种,在我国具有悠久的使用历史,由前期作为物候特征使用到后来的茶用、药用及观赏,引起了全球业内人士越来越多的关注。而作为传统的中药菊花具有散风清热、平肝明目之功效,用于治疗风热感冒、头痛眩晕、目赤肿痛、眼目昏花等疾病。本文对菊花的传统使用、化学成分和药理活性进行了全面的概述。为以后更好的探索菊花的治疗潜力提供一定的参考。     

天麻钩藤饮治疗神经系统疾病研究进展

神经系统疾病为临床常见病、多发病,是严重影响患者生活质量和身心健康的主要原因。天麻钩藤饮出自名医胡光慈编著的《中医内科杂病证治新义》,临床应用广泛,有平肝熄风、清热活血、安神、补益肝肾之功效。临床研究证实,天麻钩藤饮加减用药,或与针灸、西药合并应用治疗痴呆、头痛、眩晕病、高血压病、失眠症、帕金森病、卒中、癫痫等神经系统常见疾病,疗效显著,不良反应小,安全性高。基础研究发现,天麻钩藤饮整方与组方中单味药物主要活性成分如天麻素、天麻多糖、对羟基苯甲醇、钩藤碱、黄芩素、益母草碱、水苏碱、栀子苷、2,3,5,4,-四羟基二苯乙烯-2-Ο-β-D-葡萄糖苷、松脂醇二葡萄糖苷、茯苓酸、β-蜕皮甾酮、广寄生苷等可通过多靶点多途径,发挥抑制铁死亡、抗凋亡、抗氧化、调节神经递质、调节自噬、抗炎、减轻脑水肿、降脂、降压、改善血液循环等作用。该文通过对天麻钩藤饮治疗神经系统疾病的整方与单味药物作用机制、临床应用进行如下综述,以期为天麻钩藤饮的临床应用提供理论依据,并为该方后续的机制研究提供思路。