Neuronal Sequences and dynamic coding of water-sucrose categorization in rat gustatory cortices.

The gustatory system allows us to perceive and distinguish sweetness from water. We studied this phenomenon by recording neural activity in rats' anterior insular (aIC) and orbitofrontal (OFC) cortices while they categorized varying sucrose concentrations against water. Neurons in both aIC and OFC encoded the categorical distinction between sucrose and water rather than specific sucrose concentrations.

Common neural mechanisms supporting time judgements in humans and monkeys.

There has been an increasing interest in identifying the biological underpinnings of human time perception, for which purpose research in non-human primates (NHP) is common. Although previous work, based on behaviour, suggests that similar mechanisms support time perception across species, the neural correlates of time estimation in humans and NHP have not been directly compared. In this study, we assess whether brain evoked responses during a time categorization task are similar across species.

Preconfigured cortico-thalamic neural dynamics constrain movement-associated thalamic activity.

Neural preconfigured activity patterns (nPAPs), conceptualized as organized activity parcellated into groups of neurons, have been proposed as building blocks for cognitive and sensory processing. However, their existence and function in motor networks have been scarcely studied. Here, we explore the possibility that nPAPs are present in the motor thalamus (VL/VM) and their potential contribution to motor-related activity.

Evolutionary shifts in the thermal biology of a subterranean mammal: the effect of habitat aridity.

Subterranean mammals representing a single subspecies occurring along an aridity gradient provide an appropriate model for investigating adaptive variation in thermal physiology with varying levels of precipitation and air temperature. This study examined the thermal physiological adaptations of common mole-rats (Cryptomys hottentotus hottentotus) across five populations along an aridity gradient, challenging the expectation that increased aridity would lead to reduced metabolic rate, lower body temperatures and broader thermoneutral zones. No significant, consistent differences in metabolic rate, body temperature or thermal conductance were observed between populations, suggesting uniform thermoregulatory mechanisms across habitats.

White matter structural bases for phase accuracy during tapping synchronization.

We determined the intersubject association between the rhythmic entrainment abilities of human subjects during a synchronization-continuation tapping task (SCT) and the macro- and microstructural properties of their superficial (SWM) and deep (DWM) white matter. Diffusion-weighted images were obtained from 32 subjects who performed the SCT with auditory or visual metronomes and five tempos ranging from 550 to 950 ms. We developed a method to determine the density of short-range fibers that run underneath the cortical mantle, interconnecting nearby cortical regions (U-fibers).