Science Society

In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into the intriguing realms of perception and causality with Dr. Bechlivanidis. The intuitive assumption that perception of temporal order requires no inference is challenged in this conversation, opening up fascinating discussions around how we interpret and interact with the world around us.

Our perception is fundamentally tasked with inferring the most plausible source of sensory stimulation. But what if our assumptions about the order of sensory signals arriving aren't always as straightforward as we believe? Dr. Bechlivanidis introduces us to a novel perceptual illusion that questions this intuitive belief.

In a series of three experiments with over 600 participants, Dr. Bechlivanidis and his team found that causality shapes experienced event timings in real-time. Adult participants viewed a simple three-item sequence, ACB, which is typically remembered as ABC due to principles of causality. But when asked to indicate the exact time of events B and C, a remarkable shift occurred in participants' points of subjective simultaneity. The perceived cause, B, appeared earlier, and the assumed effect, C, occurred later, despite participants paying full attention and viewing the sequence repeatedly.

This episode challenges conventional understanding, demonstrating the first instance of causality reversing perceived temporal order. This shift in perception cannot be explained by post-perceptual distortion, lapsed attention, or eye movements, adding another layer to our understanding of perception and cognition.

Whether you're a psychology student, cognitive scientist, or just a curious mind seeking to understand how our brains process the world, this conversation with Dr. Bechlivanidis is sure to provide a unique perspective and provoke further thought.

Keywords: Perception, Temporal order, Sensory stimulation, Perceptual illusion, Event timings, Causality, Subjective simultaneity.

https://doi.org/10.1177%2F09567976211032663.

In this enlightening episode, we engage in a deep exploration of the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in learning processes, focusing particularly on fear-related learning, with Dr. Bredy. His breakthrough research has uncovered a substantial population of lncRNAs that respond in adult mice's infralimbic prefrontal cortex to fear-related learning.

Dr. Bredy and his team used an advanced technique called RNA Capture-seq to identify these lncRNAs, supplementing these findings with cell-type-specific ATAC-seq applied to neurons selectively activated by fear extinction learning. Through this approach, they discovered 434 inducible lncRNAs that originate from enhancer regions near protein-coding genes.

Among these lncRNAs, the team found an experience-induced lncRNA they named ADRAM (activity-dependent lncRNA associated with memory). ADRAM acts as a scaffold and a combinatorial guide, recruiting the brain-enriched chaperone protein 14-3-3 to the promoter of the memory-associated immediate-early gene Nr4a2. Notably, ADRAM is essential for the formation of fear extinction memory.

This conversation with Dr. Bredy provides a wealth of information about the involvement of lncRNA activity in the brain, and the key role that enhancer-derived RNAs (eRNAs) play in the epigenomic regulation of gene expression related to the formation of fear extinction memory. Whether you're a neuroscientist, a geneticist, or anyone interested in the incredible complexity and capabilities of the brain, this episode will offer fresh insights and food for thought.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110546

In this riveting episode, we discuss the cutting-edge technology of quantum batteries with Dr. Gyhm and his research team. Quantum batteries are sophisticated devices made from quantum states that store and release energy with impressive speed and efficiency. Their promise of significantly increased charging speed compared to classical batteries due to entangling charging operations, positions them as potentially revolutionary for future technological applications.

Dr. Gyhm's team reveals the maximal speedup achievable in quantum batteries, which is extensive in the number of cells. This insight indicates a potential quadratic scaling in the charging power compared to the linear scaling achievable with classical methods. To achieve this level of scaling, a global charging protocol, which charges all cells collectively, is required.

This conversation brings closure to the quest for understanding the limits of the quantum batteries' charging power, adding to the growing body of work where quantum methods demonstrate quadratic scaling over their classical counterparts. Whether you're a quantum physicist, an electrical engineer, or a technology enthusiast keen on understanding the forefront of energy storage research, this episode is packed with intriguing insights.

Keywords: Quantum batteries, Quantum states, Energy storage, Entangling charging operations, Global charging protocol, Quadratic scaling

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.140501

In this episode, Dr. Lizebona discusses a fascinating development in the field of stem cell research: the targeted differentiation of stem cells through high-frequency mechanostimulation. Contrary to past research that saw little benefit in applying frequencies beyond 1 kHz, Dr. Lizebona's team shows that MHz-order mechanostimulation can successfully trigger the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells from various donor sources toward an osteoblast lineage.

By using nanoscale amplitude surface reflected bulk waves, they show that even short, early stimuli can induce long-term osteogenic commitment. Remarkably, rapid treatments of high-frequency (10 MHz) mechanostimulation have led to significant upregulation in early osteogenic markers and a sustained increase in late markers.

The team proposes this as a potential efficient technology for stem cell differentiation for regenerative medicine strategies due to the miniaturizability, low cost of the devices, and the potential for scaling the platform toward practical bioreactors. Tune in to explore how these new insights might revolutionize stem cell differentiation methods and their practical applications in the field of regenerative medicine.

https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202106823

Did you miss our rooms during the week? We will give a short summary of what we discussed with our guest speakers this week. Join us!

Dive into a groundbreaking study from the prestigious Osaka University, where researchers venture into the captivating world of visual perception and mental imagery. How does what we imagine influence what we actually see? Using advanced brain-computer interfaces and unique semantic space, they uncover the intricate dance between attention, imagery, and our neural representations. Plus, discover the promising implications of their research for individuals with paralysis and ALS. Join us as we illuminate the unseen pathways of the mind's eye!

Keyword List: Visual Perception, Mental Imagery, Osaka University, Brain-Computer Interfaces (rBCI), Neural Representations, Semantic Space Attention vs. Imagery, Electroencephalograms, Paralysis and ALS, Communication Devices for ALS, Closed-loop Systems, Top-down Neural Modulation https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03137-x

In this enlightening episode, Dr. Zhenqiu Huang from the Department of Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine delves into the intriguing world of lung cancer risk among smokers. While it's known that the risk is dependent on the dose of smoking, the mystery surrounding whether this increased risk is a result of an uptick in the rate of somatic mutation accumulation in normal lung cells remains. Through extensive research, including single-cell whole-genome sequencing and analysis of both age and smoking status, Dr. Huang and his team have unraveled some of these enigmas. Listen in to understand why most smokers never get lung cancer and discover the intrinsic factors that may attenuate lung cancer risk by reducing mutations.

Key Words:

Lung cancer, Somatic mutations, Smokers, Non-smokers

Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Single-cell whole-genome sequencing, DNA repair, Detoxification, Tobacco smoke, Mutation accumulation, Bronchial cells, Aging, AKR1C2, PAHs, DNA damage

Don't miss this insightful dive into the intricate relationship between smoking, aging, and the potential for developing lung cancer.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01035-w

Join Dr. Krzysztof Kutak from the Institute of Nuclear Physics at the Polish Academy of Sciences as we delve into the intricate world of protons and partons. Investigate the proposal by Kharzeev and Levin on maximally entangled proton wave functions in Deep Inelastic Scattering. Unpack the relationships between parton numbers, final state hadron multiplicity, and discover how these intricate elements may not be as they seem at first glance. Kutak's team throws a fresh light on this by considering the sum of gluon and quark distribution functions. Find out how their approach aligns with H1 data and challenges existing frameworks, emphasizing the role of low x dynamics in understanding the proton's entangled state. Don't miss this riveting exploration of the cutting-edge developments in nuclear physics!

Keyword List:

Deep Inelastic Scattering

Entangled Proton Wave Function

Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs)

Gluon and Quark Distribution

Balitsky–Fadin–Kuraev–Lipatov Evolution

Maximally Entangled State

H1 Data

NNPDF Collaboration

Next-to-Next-to-Leading Order (NNLO)

Collinear and High Energy Factorization

Dr. Krzysztof Kutak

Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences.

https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-022-10056-y

Step into the captivating world of visual neuroscience with Dr. Bruce Hansen, a pioneering figure in neuroimaging techniques. The eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, but how exactly does our brain interpret the endless streams of visual information we encounter daily? Dive deep into the intricacies of how real-world scenes are processed within our minds. While traditional imaging methods like fMRI have offered insights, they often miss the dynamic aspect of the visual code. Enter the innovative DETI (Dynamic Electrode-to-Image) mapping, a technique that harnesses the power of EEG's high temporal resolution to give us a richer, more nuanced understanding of our visual world. Join us as Dr. Hansen unveils how DETI mapping reveals the nonuniform modifications our visual input undergoes and why understanding these transformations is crucial in understanding not just our visual perceptions but also the very fabric of our reality.

Keyword List:

Visual Neuroscience

Dr. Bruce Hansen

Neuroimaging

BOLD Signal

fMRI

EEG

Encoding Technique

Spatiotemporal Signature

Visual Code

Dynamic Electrode-to-Image (DETI) Mapping

Neural Modifications

Real-world Scenes

Spatial Frequencies

Feedforward and Recurrent Processes.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009456

Join Dr. Gallardo, a distinguished alumnus of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, as he unveils his groundbreaking research from the laboratory of Dr. Thomas C. Südhof. Alzheimer's disease is notorious for its amyloid plaques and tau tangles. But there's more to this devastating disease – the hidden culprits known as reactive astrocytes. Dr. Gallardo explores the potential connection between these astrocytes and the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s and other tauopathies. Dive deep into his fascinating studies on astrocytic α2-Na+/K+ ATPase (α2-NKA) and its implications in the neurodegenerative process. Uncover how targeting this pump or inhibiting its activity might offer new therapeutic avenues to combat neurodegeneration and brain inflammation. Stay with us for a riveting discussion on the future of Alzheimer's treatment!

Keyword List:

Alzheimer's Disease

Tauopathies

University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

Reactive Astrocytes

Neuroinflammation

α2-Na+/K+ ATPase (α2-NKA)

Neurodegeneration

Brain Inflammation

Lipocalin-2 (Lcn2)

Pharmacological Inhibition

Genetic Blockade

Astrogliosis

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abm4107