Neural interfaces: Bridging the brain to the world beyond healthcare

Exploration, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 4(5)

Published: March 14, 2024

Abstract Neural interfaces, emerging at the intersection of neurotechnology and urban planning, promise to transform how we interact with our surroundings communicate. By recording decoding neural signals, these interfaces facilitate direct connections between brain external devices, enabling seamless information exchange shared experiences. Nevertheless, their development is challenged by complexities in materials science, electrochemistry, algorithmic design. Electrophysiological crosstalk mismatch electrode rigidity tissue flexibility further complicate signal fidelity biocompatibility. Recent closed‐loop brain‐computer while promising for mood regulation cognitive enhancement, are limited accuracy adaptability user interfaces. This perspective outlines challenges discusses progress contrasting non‐invasive invasive approaches, explores dynamics stimulation interfacing. Emphasis placed on applications beyond healthcare, highlighting need implantable high‐resolution capabilities.

Language: Английский

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A disinhibitory circuit mechanism explains a general principle of peak performance during mid-level arousal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(5)

Published: Jan. 26, 2024

Perceptual decision-making is highly dependent on the momentary arousal state of brain, which fluctuates over time a scale hours, minutes, and even seconds. The textbook relationship between task performance captured by an inverted U-shape, as put forward in Yerkes–Dodson law. This law suggests optimal at moderate levels impaired low or high levels. However, despite its popularity, evidence for this humans mixed best. Here, we use pupil-indexed data from various perceptual tasks to provide converging U-shaped spontaneous fluctuations across different decision types (discrimination, detection) sensory modalities (visual, auditory). To further understand relationship, built neurobiologically plausible mechanistic model show that it possible reproduce our findings incorporating two interneurons are both modulated signal. architecture produces dynamical regimes under influence arousal: one regime increases with another decreases arousal, together forming arousal–performance relationship. We conclude general robust property processing. It might be brought about act disinhibitory pathway neural populations encode available used decision.

Language: Английский

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Neurobehavioral meaning of pupil size

Neuron, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 112(20), P. 3381 - 3395

Published: June 25, 2024

Pupil size is a widely used metric of brain state. It one the few signals originating from that can be readily monitored with low-cost devices in basic science, clinical, and home settings. is, therefore, important to investigate generate well-defined theories related specific interpretations this metric. What exactly does it tell us about brain? Pupils constrict response light dilate during darkness, but also controls pupil irrespective luminosity. fluctuations resulting ongoing "brain states" are as arousal, what pupil-linked arousal how should interpreted neural, cognitive, computational terms? Here, we discuss some recent findings these issues. We identify open questions propose answer them through combination tasks, neurocomputational models, neurophysiological probing interconnected loops causes consequences size.

Language: Английский

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From pre-processing to advanced dynamic modeling of pupil data

Behavior Research Methods, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 56(3), P. 1376 - 1412

Published: June 22, 2023

The pupil of the eye provides a rich source information for cognitive scientists, as it can index variety bodily states (e.g., arousal, fatigue) and processes attention, decision-making). As pupillometry becomes more accessible popular methodology, researchers have proposed techniques analyzing data. Here, we focus on time series-based, signal-to-signal approaches that enable one to relate dynamic changes in size over with stimulus series, continuous behavioral outcome measures, or other participants' traces. We first introduce pupillometry, its neural underpinnings, relation between measurements oculomotor behaviors blinks, saccades), stress importance understanding what is being measured be inferred from pupillary activity. Next, discuss possible pre-processing steps, contexts which they may necessary. Finally, turn analytic techniques, including regression-based approaches, time-warping, phase clustering, detrended fluctuation analysis, recurrence quantification analysis. Assumptions these examples scientific questions each address, are outlined, references key papers software packages. Additionally, provide detailed code tutorial steps through figures this paper. Ultimately, contend insights gained constrained by analysis used, offer means generate novel taking into account understudied spectro-temporal relationships signal signals interest.

Language: Английский

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Priorities for research on neuromodulatory subcortical systems in Alzheimer's disease: Position paper from the NSS PIA of ISTAART

Alzheimer s & Dementia, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 19(5), P. 2182 - 2196

Published: Jan. 15, 2023

Abstract The neuromodulatory subcortical system (NSS) nuclei are critical hubs for survival, hedonic tone, and homeostasis. Tau‐associated NSS degeneration occurs early in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, long before the emergence of pathognomonic memory dysfunction cortical lesions. Accumulating evidence supports role behavioral neuropsychiatric manifestations featured AD. Experimental studies even suggest that AD‐associated drives brain neuroinflammatory status contributes to progression, including exacerbation Given important pathophysiologic etiologic roles involve AD stages, there is an urgent need expand our understanding mechanisms underlying vulnerability more precisely detail clinical progression changes Here, Professional Interest Area International Society Advance Research Treatment highlights knowledge gaps about within provides recommendations priorities specific research, biomarker development, modeling, intervention. Highlights Neuromodulatory degenerate pathological stages. pathophysiology exacerbated by degeneration. symptoms dementia. Biomarkers integrity would be value‐creating dementia care. present strategic prospects disease‐modifying therapies.

Language: Английский

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Look into my eyes: What can eye-based measures tell us about the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance?

Journal of sport and health science/Journal of Sport and Health Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(5), P. 568 - 591

Published: May 5, 2023

There is a growing interest to understand the neurobiological mechanisms that drive positive associations of physical activity and fitness with measures cognitive performance. To better those mechanisms, several studies have employed eye-based (e.g., eye movement such as saccades, pupillary pupil dilation, vascular retinal vessel diameter) deemed be proxies for specific mechanisms. However, there currently no systematic review providing comprehensive overview these in field exercise-cognition science. Thus, this aimed address gap literature. identify eligible studies, we searched 5 electronic databases on October 23, 2022. Two researchers independently extracted data assessed risk bias using modified version Tool assEssment Study qualiTy reporting EXercise (TESTEX scale, interventional studies) critical appraisal tool from Joanna Briggs Institute (for cross-sectional studies). Our (n = 35 offers following main findings: (a) insufficient evidence available draw solid conclusions concerning gaze-fixation-based measures; (b) pupillometric measures, which are proxy noradrenergic system, can explain effect acute exercise cardiorespiratory performance mixed; (c) training- or fitness-related changes cerebrovascular system (operationalized via vasculature) are, general, positively associated improvements; (d) chronic exercises show based an oculomotor-based measure executive function antisaccade tasks); (e) association between partly mediated by dopaminergic spontaneous eye-blink rate). This confirmation provide valuable insight into may due limited number utilizing methods obtaining pupillometry, analysis, blink rate) investigating possible dose–response relationship, further research necessary before more nuanced drawn. Given economical non-invasive, hope will foster future application

Language: Английский

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Three Hundred Hertz Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) Impacts Pupil Size Non‐Linearly as a Function of Intensity

Psychophysiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 62(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a neuromodulatory technique that may have numerous potential health and human performance benefits. However, optimal parameters for maximizing taVNS efficacy are unknown. Progress impeded by disagreement on the identification of biomarker reliably indexes activation systems targeted taVNS, including locus coeruleus‐norepinephrine (LC‐NE) system. Pupil size varies with LC‐NE activity one has shown inconsistent sensitivity to in prior studies. The present study examined relationship between pupil using promising behavioral effects studies but received comparatively little attention. Participants trains 50 μs pulses delivered continuously below perceptual threshold at 300 Hz left external acoustic meatus (EAM) while was recorded during pupillary light reflex task. Analysis generalized additive mixed modeling (GAMM) revealed non‐linear intensity diameter. Active increased participants who 2 approximately 4.8 mA, not higher‐intensity (up 8.1 mA). In addition, persisted subsequent blocks, mitigating decreases over course These findings suggest activates system when applied EAM, its be counteracted higher intensities.

Language: Английский

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Effort Drives Saccade Selection

Published: Feb. 28, 2025

What determines where to move the eyes? We recently showed that pupil size, a well-established marker of effort, also reflects effort associated with making saccade (’saccade costs’). Here we demonstrate costs critically drive selection: when choosing between any two directions, least costly direction was consistently preferred. Strikingly, this principle even held during search in natural scenes additional experiments. When increasing cognitive demand experimentally through an auditory counting task, participants made fewer saccades and especially cut directions. This suggests eye-movement system other operations consume similar resources are flexibly allocated among each as changes. Together, argue behavior is tuned adaptively minimize saccade-inherent effort.

Language: Английский

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Microsaccades are directed toward the midpoint between targets in a variably cued attention task

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(20)

Published: May 8, 2023

Reliable, noninvasive biomarkers that reveal the internal state of a subject are an invaluable tool for neurological diagnoses. Small fixational eye movements, called microsaccades, candidate biomarker thought to reflect subject's focus attention [Z. M. Hafed, J. Clark, VisionRes.42, 2533-2545 (2002); R. Engbert, Kliegl, VisionRes.43, 1035-1045 (2003)]. The linkage between direction microsaccades and has mainly been demonstrated using explicit unambiguous attentional cues. However, natural world is seldom predictable rarely provides information. Thus, useful must be robust such changes in environmental statistics. To determine how well visual-spatial across behavioral contexts, we analyzed these movements monkeys performing conventional change detection task. task included two stimulus locations variable cue validities blocks trials. Subjects were adept at task, showing precise graded modulations visual subtle target better faster when was more reliable [J. P. Mayo, H. Maunsell, Neurosci. 36, 5353 (2016)]. over tens thousands found no difference microsaccade cued variability high nor hit miss Instead, made toward midpoint locations, not individual targets. Our results suggest should interpreted with caution may measure covert spatial complex viewing conditions.

Language: Английский

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Pupil dynamics during very light exercise predict benefits to prefrontal cognition

NeuroImage, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 277, P. 120244 - 120244

Published: June 21, 2023

Physical exercise, even stress-free very-light-intensity exercise such as yoga and very slow running, can have beneficial effects on executive function, possibly by potentiating prefrontal cortical activity. However, the exact ໿mechanisms underlying this potentiation not been identified. Evidence from studies using pupillometry demonstrates that pupil changes track real-time dynamics of ໿ activity linked to arousal attention, including neural circuits locus coeruleus cortex. This makes it possible examine whether pupil-linked brain induced during mediate benefits function in healthy young adults. In experiment, diameter was measured 10 min (30% Vo2peak). A Stroop task used assess before after exercise. Prefrontal activation assessed multichannel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). We observed significantly elicited dilation, reduction interference, task-related left dorsolateral cortex compared with resting-control condition. The magnitude change dilation predicted improvement performance. addition, causal mediation analysis showed robustly determined subsequent enhancement finding supports our hypothesis ໿mechanisms, which may be tied activation, are a potential mechanism light enhances function. It also suggests useful tool interpret impact boosting cognition.

Language: Английский

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