Towards optimization of oscillatory stimulation during sleep
This study is fascinating but limited because they only used older participants who likely have decreased or no slow wave generation at all. I’m wondering if similar work has been done on younger patients. What’s interesting is that it appears that the primary etiology of most neurogeneration isn’t actually physical but a lack of energy flow. Studies like this which recover function by supplementing missing/decreased oscillations suggest pretty strongly that non-invasive electro-stimulation might be able to eliminate the most severe effects of neurodegenerative conditions within a few years.
Representations of context and context-dependent values in vmPFC compete for guiding behavior
What does the dorsal and ventral stream look like in the vmPFC to researchers who are locked into viewing brain function through existing models? Something like this.
*cough* Toxoplasmosis *cough*. Woo, it’s dusty in here.
The Dorsal and Ventral streams: independent yet intertwined fates, battling it out for behavioral supremacy.
Fluorescent and bioluminescent calcium indicators with tuneable colors and affinities
This opens up the ability to tag astrocyte function more granularly.
Long-term effects of network-based fMRI neurofeedback training for sustained attention
These studies always look interesting until the methodology section. That being said, I believe that “neurofeedback” has a lot of potential in quantifying behavioral phenotypes, particularly with regard to the unconscious portion of behavior. Work like this helps firm up the concept that brains work mechanically, and by understanding the mechanics as they are instead of how we want them to be we have a tremendous amount of potential to modify and sculpt our behavioral preferences.