Search

Predators must frequently balance competing approach and defensive behaviors elicited by a moving and potentially dangerous prey. Several brain circuits supporting predation have recently been localized. However, the mechanisms by which these circuits balance the conflict between approach and defense responses remain unknown. Laboratory mice initially show alternating approach and defense responses toward cockroaches, a natural prey, but with repeated exposure become avid hunters. Here, we used in vivo neural activity recording and cell-type specific manipulations in hunting male mice to identify neurons in the lateral hypothalamus and periaqueductal gray that encode and control predatory approach and defense behaviors. We found a subset of GABAergic neurons in lateral hypothalamus that specifically encoded hunting behaviors and whose stimulation triggered predation but not feeding. This population projects to the periaqueductal gray, and stimulation of these projections promoted predation. Neurons in periaqueductal gray encoded both approach and defensive behaviors but only initially when the mouse showed high levels of fear of the prey. Our findings allow us to propose that GABAergic neurons in lateral hypothalamus facilitate predation in part by suppressing defensive responses to prey encoded in the periaqueductal gray. Our results reveal a neural circuit mechanism for controlling the balance between conflicting approach and defensive behaviors elicited by the same stimulus.

Die vorliegende Untersuchung, die im Rahmen des vom Schweizerischen Nationalfonds geförderten Projekts «What’s up Switzerland» durchgeführt wurde, geht der Frage nach, wie sich Nutzer im Hinblick auf Abweichungen von der Standardorthographie positionieren. Auf Basis einer online realisierten Umfrage wird ermittelt, ob Einschätzungen über Normabweichungen vom medialen Kontext (z.B. mobile Nachrichtendienste oder Postings auf Facebook), vom Alter der Teilnehmenden oder von der verwendeten Sprache abhängen. Die Studie zeigt auf, dass die Fehlertoleranz erwartungsgemäss mit höherem Öffentlichkeitscharakter und höherem Grad and Formalität sinkt. Darüber hinaus sind aber auch je nach Alter und je nach Erstsprache unterschiedliche Haltungen in Bezug auf das Einhalten orthographischer Normen erkennbar. Hierbei scheinen vor allem sprachspezifische Unterschiede eine Rolle zu spielen, da Sprecher der romanischen Sprachen Französisch und des Italienisch besonders hohe Erwartungen an die Einhaltung orthographischer Normen zu haben scheinen. Diese erhöhte Normsensibilität wird auch in einem intensiven Selbst- und Fremdkorrekturverhalten reflektiert, wobei gerade auch jüngere Teilnehmende besonders aktiv sind. Insgesamt zeigt die Studie auf, dass die mobile schriftbasierte Kommunikation entgegen einer weitverbreiteten Meinung nicht zwingend eine höhere Toleranz gegenüber normvernachlässigender Schriftlichkeit mit sich bringt.

Articolo sull'ipotesi fantasiosa (e scherzosa) delle conseguenze di una comunicazione automatica pupillare nel 2059.

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1 (NCX1), which is highly expressed in the hippocampus, cortex, and amygdala, regulates Akt1 phosphorylation. Since Akt1 is part of the PTEN/Akt1/CREB signaling pathway, which participates in synaptic plasticity and long-term memory, we investigated whether NCX1 expression/activity might also be involved in some hippocampal-dependent learning and memory processes. To test this hypothesis, we used two genetically-modified mice to selectively overexpress (NCX1.4over) or downregulate (NCX1ko) NCX1 in hippocampal, cortical, and amygdala neurons and a newly synthesized selective NCX1 stimulating compound, named CN-PYB2. Both NCX1.4over and CN-PYB2-treated mice showed increased phosphorylated CaMKII levels in the hippocampus and improved long-term spatial learning and memory performance. By contrast, NCX1ko mice displayed a decrease in both. In addition, both NCX1.4over and CN-PYB2-treated mice also displayed an increase in context-dependent anxiety. Altogether, these results demonstrate that neuronal NCX1 participates in hippocampal-amygdala memory consolidation and promote anxiety behavior.

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1 (NCX1), which is highly expressed in the hippocampus, cortex, and amygdala, regulates Akt1 phosphorylation. Since Akt1 is part of the PTEN/Akt1/CREB signaling pathway, which participates in synaptic plasticity and long-term memory, we investigated whether NCX1 expression/activity might also be involved in some hippocampal-dependent learning and memory processes. To test this hypothesis, we used two genetically-modified mice to selectively overexpress (NCX1.4over) or downregulate (NCX1ko) NCX1 in hippocampal, cortical, and amygdala neurons and a newly synthesized selective NCX1 stimulating compound, named CN-PYB2. Both NCX1.4over and CN-PYB2-treated mice showed increased phosphorylated CaMKII levels in the hippocampus and improved long-term spatial learning and memory performance. By contrast, NCX1ko mice displayed a decrease in both. In addition, both NCX1.4over and CN-PYB2-treated mice also displayed an increase in context-dependent anxiety. Altogether, these results demonstrate that neuronal NCX1 participates in hippocampal-amygdala memory consolidation and promote anxiety behavior.

In the course of language acquisition learners have to deal with the task of producing narrative texts that are coherent across a range of conceptual domains (space, time, entities) -- both within as well as across utterances. The organization of information is analyzed in this study, on the basis of retellings of a silent film, in terms of devices used in the coordination and subordination of events within the narrative sequence. The focus on subordination reflects a core grammatical difference between Italian and French, as Italian is a null-subject language while French is not. The implications of this contrast for information structure include differences in topic management within the sequence of events. The present study investigates in how far Italian-French bilingual speakers acquire the patterns of monolingual speakers of Italian. It compares how early and late bilinguals of these two languages proceed when linking information in narratives in Italian

In the course of language acquisition learners have to deal with the task of producing narrative texts that are coherent across a range of conceptual domains (space, time, entities) -- both within as well as across utterances. The organization of information is analyzed in this study, on the basis of retellings of a silent film, in terms of devices used in the coordination and subordination of events within the narrative sequence. The focus on subordination reflects a core grammatical difference between Italian and French, as Italian is a null-subject language while French is not. The implications of this contrast for information structure include differences in topic management within the sequence of events. The present study investigates in how far Italian-French bilingual speakers acquire the patterns of monolingual speakers of Italian. It compares how early and late bilinguals of these two languages proceed when linking information in narratives in Italian