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a muscle-computer interface (muCI) is a human-machine system that uses electromyographic (EMG) signals to communicate with a computer. Surface EMG (sEMG) signals are currently used to command robotic devices, such as robotic arms and hands, and mobile robots, such as wheelchairs ([4][1], [15][2]–[

Evidence shows that febrile convulsions induced in rat pups increase ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs); however, the effect of status epilepticus (SE) induced in developing rats on USVs has not been fully investigated. The goal of this study was to analyze USVs following lithium-pilocarpine-induced SE in fourteen-day-old (P14) rat pups. The rat pups were given 3-mEq/kg lithium chloride i.p. on the day before the induction of SE, which was carried out at P14 by subcutaneous injection of 100-mg/kg pilocarpine hydrochloride; control animals were given an equal volume of lithium chloride and saline on P13 and P14, respectively. Ultrasonic vocalizations were monitored at P15, P16, and P21 with a Mini 3 Bat Detector Ultra Sound Advice (15kHz-160kHz) set at 40±4kHz and digitally recorded in WAV format using the Audacity 1.3 beta software. A clear box (60×40×30cm) split down the middle with a holed wall was used; each pup was placed alone in one compartment, whereas its dam was placed on the other cage side at room temperature. Vocalizations were recorded over a 5-minute period, converted to sonograms and spectrograms, and analyzed using the Raven software. Parameters evaluated were as follows: USV frequency, latency to the first USV, and mean USV duration. There was a significant decrease in the latency (35.5±6.9s) and duration (50.8±8.6s) of USVs after SE compared with the control group (81.9±10.8s and 78.1±9.9s, respectively). Status epilepticus affected male and female rats differentially.

The androgen receptor (AR) is a widely distributed molecule indicating the spread actions of its ligand steroid, and plays an important role underlying male sexual behavior. Nevertheless, the influence of steroid hormones and their receptors on cerebellar neurons, as foundation of sexual behavior, is largely unknown. We sought to determine the influence of peripheral hormones on the AR expression in Purkinje neurons across cerebellar lobules in the vermis of male rats. First, we found a basal AR expression in Purkinje neurons that was higher in the superficial region than the deep region only in cerebellar lobules 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9. Moreover, only the cerebellar lobule 10 showed a significant difference between the coordinates 0.1, 0.3 and 0.9. Second, males with four sessions of sexual training showed a decreased AR density in cerebellar lobules 7, 8, 9 and 10, but not in lobules 2, 4 or 5 when compared to males with one session of sexual training. However, sexual training did not affect AR expression in Purkinje neurons according to their location in any of the cerebellar lobules studied. Third, castration decreased the AR density in the cerebellar lobules 1, 2, 5 and 9 in the superficial region, while in the deep region all cerebellar lobules, except lobule 6, showed a lower AR density after castration. Finally, testosterone replacement restored AR density to control levels in all cerebellar lobules in the superficial region that were affected by castration. Contrary, in the deep region hormonal replacement failed to restore the AR density to control level in the majority of the cerebellar lobules that were affected by castration. Altogether, our findings indicate that Purkinje neurons in the vermis are influenced by systemic testosterone in a region-dependent manner highlighting a link between the cerebellum and gonads in the male rat. The AR function in Purkinje neurons may be related to cerebellar plasticity since both estrogen and progesterone receptors, members of the nuclear receptor family, regulate plasticity processes in Purkinje neurons. We concluded the cerebellum is an important component of the neural circuit for male sexual behavior.

Incidence of status epilepticus (SE) is higher in children than in adults and SE can be induced in developing rats. The cerebellum can be affected after SE; however, consequences of cerebellar amino acid transmission have been poorly studied. The goal of this study was to determine amino acid tissue concentration and GABAA receptor binding in the immature rat cerebellum after an episode of SE. Thirteen-day-old (P13) rat pups received in- traperitoneal injections of lithium chloride (3 mEq/kg). Twenty hours later, on P14, SE was induced by subcutaneous injection of pilocarpine hydrochloride (60 mg/kg). Control ani- mals were given an equal volume of saline subcutaneously. Animals were killed 24 h after SE induction, the cerebellum was quickly removed, and the vermis and hemispheres were rapidly dissected out on ice. Amino acid tissue concentrations in the vermis and hemi- spheres were evaluated by HPLC and fluorescent detection. GABAA receptor binding in the medial vermis was analyzed by in vitro autoradiography. SE increased the tissue levels of the inhibitory amino acids taurine (80%) and alanine (91%), as well as glutamine (168%) in the cerebellar hemisphere; no changes were observed in the vermis. SE did not modify GABAA receptor binding in any cerebellar lobule from the vermis. Our data demonstrate that SE produces region-specific changes in amino acid concentrations in the developing cerebellum.