EEG coherence during unconscious visual set under conditions of increased motivation of subjects

Prestimulus EEG was recorded in the state of "operative rest" after the instruction and at the stages of formation, actualization, and extinction of unconscious visual set to perception of unequal circles. Two motivation conditions were used: (1) subjects were promised to be rewarded with a small money price for each correct response (a "general" rise of motivation) and (2) only correct assessments of stimuli of a certain kind were rewarded (a "selective" rise of motivation). In both conditions, additional motivation of subjects to the results of their performance led to an increase in EEG coherence most pronounced in the theta and alpha 1 frequency ranges in the left temporal area of the cortex. During the "general" rise of motivation the EEG coherence (as compared to the control group) was higher in a greater number of derivation pairs than during the "selective" rise. EEG coherence in "motivated" subjects was increased already at the stage of operative rest. Later on, at the set stages, no significant changes were revealed. Thus, the realized set formed by the verbal instruction, which increased motivation of subjects to the results of their performance, produced substantially more prominent changes in coherence of cortical potentials than the unconscious set formed during perception of visual stimuli.     

Spatial synchronization of cortical electrical activity at different stages of visual set in preschool children

Changes in the alpha-rhythm synchronization were revealed at different stages of cognitive visual set in 5- to 7-year-old children. We found a clear-cut correlation of these changes with set plasticity. In children with a plastic set, the EEG synchronization between the frontal and other brain regions substantially increased in the period of set-shifting (the actualization stage). At the set extinction stage, after set-shifting has already taken place, the EEG-synchronization becomes minimal. On the contrary, in children who formed a rigid set, EEG coherence considerably increases at the set extinction stage. This finding suggests that the rigid set still affects the cognitive activity even after (judging from oral reports) the set shift has been completed. The age-related differences in cognitive set formation clearly correlate with the time course of the EEG synchronization between the frontal and other brain regions. We think that the ability to form a plastic visual set depends on the frontal cortex maturation, which occurs at the age of 6-7 years, and its age-related effect on the brain cognitive functions.     

Dependence of stability of the visual cognitive set on motivation

In order to reveal the character of motivation influence on the stability of the unconscious visual set, young adult healthy subjects were promised to be rewarded for correct solution of the cognitive task. A substantial increase in set stability was observed under conditions of augmented motivation of a subject to the result of his performance. Positive and negative aspects of the impact of the increased motivation of a subject on his cognitive activity at the stages of set formation and actualization are discussed.     

Spatial organization of the cortical electrical activity at different stages of visual set in children of preschool and junior school age

Set-forming and set-shifting were studied in children of three age groups: five to six-, six to seven- and nine to ten-year-old. Set effect displayed itself in contrast illusions in most of the subjects (69 of 73). Age differences in set plasticity and in reaction time to a probe stimulus were revealed. Five to six-year-old children formed a more rigid set than older ones. According to EEG coherence function in theta- and alpha-bands and behavioral data, a hypothesis of two systems being involved in set-forming and set-shifting is proposed. These systems are: a fronto-talamic system of selective attention, and a system of cortico-hippocampal connections that are involved in cortical processing of novel visual information and in episodic memory. The age of 6-7 years is shown to be critical in forming a plastic type of cognitive set.     

Pre-stimulus spectral EEG patterns and the visual evoked response

The relationship between the latencies and amplitudes of the N1 and P2 components of the visual evoked potential (VEP) and the psychophysiological state of the brain immediately preceding the time of the stimulus has been investigated in 7 male subjects. Power spectral measures in the delta, theta, alpha and beta bands of the 1 sec pre-stimulus EEG were used to assess the brain state, and low intensity flashes, delivered randomly between 2 and 6 whole seconds, were used as the stimuli. Trials were ranked separately according to the relative amounts of pre-stimulus power in each EEG band and were partitioned into groups by an equal pre-stimulus spectral power criterion. Averaged EPs were computed from these groups and multiple regression analysis was used to relate pre-stimulus spectral power values to EP features. Five of the 7 subjects displayed consistent increases in N1-P2 amplitude as a function of increasing pre-stimulus relative alpha power. The between-subjects effect of pre-stimulus EEG on N1 latency was small, but was moderate for P2 latency (both significant). Both N1 and P2 latency were found to decrease with increasing amounts of pre-stimulus relative delta and theta power.     

Event-related potentials at different stages of the operation of visual working memory

Trace fixation and comparison with incoming information was studied using event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded from various cortical areas during passive viewing and matching of two consecutive pictures. Visual stimuli differing in the spatial location of elements (4 × 4 square patterns with random positions of 4 black and 12 white squares) and phonological stimuli (differently written letters) were used. Trace fixation was studied by comparing the ERPs generated in response to the first (reference) stimulus in the pair with those generated during passive viewing. Sensory analysis of the reference stimuli was observed in the time interval 128–196 ms. For the patterns presented, it was reflected by an increased amplitude of the N1 component in the caudal areas as compared with passive viewing. The phonological stimuli produced a higher amplitude of a positive wave in the frontotemporal area in the same time interval. Processing of subsequent information to be stored in memory was observed in the interval 232–452 ms. Processing of patterns was reflected by a decreased positivity, most pronounced in the left temporo-parieto-occipital area. Comparison of a trace with incoming information was studied by comparing the ERPs generated in response to the first (reference) and second (test) stimuli. The number of cortical areas involved in the sensory analysis of the test stimuli was larger than the number involved in the analysis of the reference stimuli. Comparison of the new information with the trace was reflected by an increased amplitude of the late positive wave (components P3, Pc, and Pc-Nc) in the frontocentral and caudal cortical areas. The topographic changes in the late positive components depended on the type of stimulus.     

不同演替阶段褐沙蒿种群特征研究

以生长于内蒙古浑善达克沙地上的特有种——褐沙蒿种群为对象,对处于植被演替不同阶段(流动沙地、半流动沙地、半固定沙地和固定沙地生境)的褐沙蒿种群生长状态和及其生境特征进行了观测。结果表明,随着沙地表层的逐步固定,土层0～5cm的土壤含水量在逐渐增加,雨后各样地内土壤含水量的最大值都出现在0～5cm表土层;土壤有机质、全氮含量在各样地间差异极为显著,并表现出随着沙地的固定逐渐增加的趋势。褐沙蒿基株数、构件的枝条数在各演替阶段间虽无显著的差异,但随土壤基质的改变,反映种群生态功能的特征,如冠幅、生物量、生殖配额等特征在各样地间却有显著差异,且表现出随着沙地的固定而下降的趋势。在此基础上尝试性地提出了褐沙蒿种群综合活力指数(CVI),试图以一个综合的指标来表示褐沙蒿种群在不同衰退阶段生长状态上的差异。分析表明,随着沙地的逐步固定,褐沙蒿种群综合活力指数在各演替阶段差异极为显著,其值从流动沙地的0．63显著下降到固定沙地的0．38,并与土壤有机质含量、全氮量之间表现出显著的负相关性。     

EEG frequency: amplitude characteristics at different levels of consciousness

Relationship was studied between the level of consciousness and the level of the brain activation. State of transition from wakefulness to drowsiness was used as a model of gradual decrease in the level of consciousness. A change in the intensity and quality of appearing involuntarily mental processes served as an index of the level of consciousness as determined by subjects' self-reports. It was found that a certain EEG profile corresponded to each level of consciousness under study. The data obtained showed that the lowest level of activation corresponded to a state in which a subject develops inhibition of "internal speech", "failure of thoughts". In this case, the dynamics of the EEG high frequency rhythm changes was possibly related to the mechanism of transmission of cognitive information.     

A set of ftsZ mutants blocked at different stages of cell division in Caulobacter

FtsZ is required throughout the cell division process in eubacteria and in archaea. We report the isolation of novel mutants of the FtsZ gene in Caulobacter crescentus. Clusters of charged amino acids were changed to alanine to minimize mutations that affect protein folding. Molecular modelling indicated that all the clustered-charged-to-alanine mutations had altered amino acids at the surface of the protein. Of 13 such mutants, four were recessive-lethal, three were dominant-lethal, and six had no discernible phenotype. An FtsZ depletion strain of Caulobacter was constructed to analyse the phenotype of the recessive-lethal mutations and used to show that they blocked cell division at distinct stages. One mutation blocked the initiation of cell division, two mutations blocked cell division randomly, and one mutation blocked both early and late stages of cell division. The effect of the recessive mutations on the subcellular localization of FtsZ was determined. Models to explain the various mutant phenotypes are discussed. This is the first set of recessive alleles of ftsZ blocked at different stages of cell division.     

Context-dependent EEG spectral characteristics during performance of tasks

Spatial and frequency EEG characteristics of two groups of healthy adult subjects were examined in two series of experiments, which differed in conditions of the second cognitive task in a trial. The first task was the same in the two series: subjects had to evaluate size relationship between two closely spaced circles. The second task successively presented in trials of the first series consisted in the recognition of words/pseudowords, and in the second series, subjects had to localize a target letter in a matrix. It was assumed that the cognitive performance in the first series predominantly involved the ventral visual system, whereas during task performance in the second series, predominant involvement of the ventral and dorsal visual systems alternated. Multichannel EEG fragments recorded prior to the presentation of the task pairs were analyzed. Analysis of variance of the EEG spectral power revealed the generalized significant effect of the factor of the second task in the pair for delta band and lower beta subband, the power being higher in the first series. Factor brain hemisphere had a significant effect for the alpha band in the occipital area, the spectral power being lower in the left hemisphere for both experimental series. The task x hemisphere interaction was significant in the temporal cortical areas for the EEG power in alpha2 band, i.e., the predominant involvement of the ventral visual system was associated with stronger asymmetry of alpha2 rhythm and lower spectral power in this band in the left temporal area. Thus, the character of the forthcoming cognitive activity was shown to be reflected in spatio-frequency characteristics of the preceding EEG.     

Fitness consequences of environmental conditions at different life stages in a long-lived vertebrate

The predictive adaptive response (PAR) hypothesis proposes that animals adjust their physiology and developmental trajectory during early life in anticipation of their future environments. Accordingly, when environmental conditions in early life match environmental conditions during adulthood, individual fitness should be greater. Here, we test this hypothesis in a long-lived mammal, the roe deer, using data from two contrasting populations, intensively monitored for more than 35 years. In the highly productive site, the fitness of female roe deer increased with the quality of environment during adulthood and, contrary to predictions of PAR, individuals born in good conditions always outperformed those born under poor conditions. In the resource-limited site, the fitness of female roe deer born in poor years was better than those born in good conditions in poor years when the animals were adult, but not in good years. Although consistent with predictions of PAR, we showed that this pattern is likely to be a consequence of increased viability selection during the juvenile stage for animals born in poor years. While PARs are often advanced in evolutionary medicine, our findings suggest that detailed biological processes should be investigated before drawing conclusions about the existence of this phenomenon.     

不同演替阶段岩溶石灰土可培养细菌的群落特征

岩溶土壤是岩溶生态系统的重要组成部分,其母质碳酸盐岩在气候、地形、时间及生物等因素的综合作用下可依次演替出黑色石灰土、棕色石灰土、黄色石灰土和红色石灰土.[目的]了解可培养细菌群落对岩溶石灰土演替过程的响应,可为岩溶石漠化治理、生态恢复和重建等提供理论依据.[方法]以黑色石灰土、棕色石灰土、黄色石灰土和红色石灰土为研究...     

Interregional cortical interactions at different stages of natural sleep and the hypnotic state: EEG evidence

The characteristic patterns of EEG spatial organization at different stages of natural sleep and the hypnotic state were studied in 26 volunteers aged 18–22 years. EEGs were recorded using 12 monopolar leads, and EEG cross-correlation coefficient matrices were calculated for consecutive epochs (4 and 8 s). Matrices averaged for each state were treated using factor analysis. The EEG correlation matrices were compared element by element for the states studied and the waking state. Relatively similar changes in the spatial structure of EEG correlations were observed at different stages of natural sleep, with the correlations tending to intensify, especially in the posterior temporal region of the right hemisphere. In the light and deep (somnambular) phases of hypnosis, the interaction between cortical zones that was characteristic of distant relationships of the EEGs of frontal regions, especially the posterior inferior frontal region of the right hemisphere, decreased. The systemic reorganization of the interregional EEG correlations during natural sleep was considerably more pronounced than in the hypnotic state. Notwithstanding, the highly orderly spatial organization of the cortical biopotential field that was typical of the waking state was retained at different stages of natural sleep and hypnosis. Thus, the coordination of the activities of distant nerve centers oriented to providing for a certain function or maintaining a certain functional state occurs against the background of a relatively invariant pattern of interregional integration at the level of the whole brain.Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 2, 2005, pp. 34–48.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by A. Shepovalnikov, Tsitseroshin, Rozhkov, Galperina, Zaitseva, R. Shepovalnikov.     

松嫩草原不同演替阶段大型土壤动物功能类群特征

大型土壤动物处于整个土壤食物网的最顶端,其各功能类群控制着其他动物所需资源的有效性,是土壤生态系统的重要组成部分。为了查明松嫩草原大型土壤动物的功能类群特征,在2006年5—10月期间,逐月对松嫩草原羊草、羊草+虎尾草、虎尾草、碱茅、碱蓬和光碱斑6个演替阶段大型土壤动物的功能类群组成、结构、多样性等特征进行研究。依据其食性将该区土壤动物划分为杂食性、植食性、捕食性和腐食性4个功能类群其中,杂食性土壤动物个体密度所占比例最多为39.16%,植食性土壤动物的类群数所占比例最多为50.00%,腐食性土壤动物个体密度和类群数所占比例均最小,分别为8.09%和12.82%。各功能类群土壤动物个体密度和类群数的相关性不显著(P0.05)。从水平结构来看,总体上各功能类群土壤动物在羊草群落和羊草+虎尾草群落个体密度和类群数较多,在无植被的光碱斑生境土壤动物的个体密度和类群数较少,植食性土壤动物的个体密度和类群数、杂食性土壤动物个体密度、腐食性土壤动物个体密度和类群数随着群落演替发生显著的变化(P0.01)。植食性和腐食性土壤动物个体密度和类群数相关性显著(P0.05)。垂直结构上,0—10 cm土层和20—30 cm土层除捕食性土壤动物个体密度以外,其它各功能类群土壤动物个体密度随着群落演替发生显著的变化(P0.05或P0.01);10—20 cm土层,除腐食性土壤动物个体密度以外,其它各功能类群土壤动物个体密度随着群落演替发生显著的变化(P0.05或P0.01)。0—10cm土层,植食性和杂食性土壤动物个体密度(P0.05)相关性显著;10—20 cm土层,植食性和腐食性土壤动物个体密度(P0.05)相关性显著。不同演替阶段对各功能类群土壤动物的多样性影响程度有所不同。4种功能类群土壤动物在羊草群落和光碱斑之间相似性指数较低,个体数量组成在演替初期的羊草群落和演替后期的光碱斑差异比较大。以上研究结果表明,松嫩草原不同退化演替阶段能够降低大型土壤动物功能类群组成和结构复杂性。     

The mitochondria ofPolytoma papillatum at two different stages of the vegetative cell cycle

Summary The examination of adjacent sections ofPolytoma papillatum cells by the electron microscope enabled us to construct three dimensional models of the chondriomes. These reconstructions show that in two predivision cells the chondriome primarily consists of one large and highly convoluted mitochondrion. One and three small ovoid mitochondria also exist. Examination of two new daughter cells reveales 30 and 47 mitochondria of various shapes and sizes. This indicates that during the growth phase ofPolytoma (vegetative cell cycle) preponderantly one mitochondrion is formed by fusion of those numerous mitochondria found after cell cleavage. Our observations will be compared with results on this subject in other organisms.We are greatly indebted to Prof. Dr. C. G.Arnold (Erlangen) for his support in this work.     

不同退化阶段高寒草甸土壤化学计量特征

为了阐明不同退化阶段高寒草甸土壤的化学计量特征,沿着高寒草甸退化的梯度选取了原生嵩草草甸、轻度退化草甸和严重沙化草甸,测定了高寒草甸退化过程中不同深度土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量。结果表明:随着高寒草甸的退化,0～100cm土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量以及碳氮比、碳磷比、碳钾比、氮磷比、氮钾比和磷钾比均呈降低趋势,且土壤有机碳对高寒草甸退化的敏感性最高,全氮、全磷和全钾的敏感性依次降低,表层20cm的土壤有机碳和全氮可作为表征高寒草甸退化程度最敏感的土壤养分指标。另外,随着草甸的退化,土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量及其化学计量比的垂直分布明显不同:随着土壤深度的增加,原生嵩草草甸和轻度退化草甸的土壤有机碳、全氮和全磷含量以及碳氮比、碳磷比、碳钾比、氮磷比、氮钾比和磷钾比在0～40cm范围内锐减,在40cm以下缓慢降低并趋于稳定;而沙化草甸土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾及其化学计量比随着土壤深度的增加保持不变。     

黄土高原苹果园不同生长阶段的小气候特征

在黄土高原苹果园内,使用小气候梯度自动测定系统于2011年1月—2013年12月定位观测果园6、3、1.5 m高度的光合有效辐射(PAR)、气温、树体温度、相对湿度以及冠层顶的总辐射和土壤10~60 cm深度的温湿度,分析了苹果园不同生长阶段的小气候特征。结果表明:总辐射、PAR、空气温度和树体温度日变化均呈单峰曲线,总辐射和PAR在12:50、空气温度和树体温度在16:00左右达到最大值;总辐射和PAR在生长盛期最强,生长始期次之;空气温度、树体温度和土壤温度在盛期随辐射变化最大,在始期次之;生长始期温度日较差最大;冠层下部PAR在生长盛期和休眠期小于冠层顶,休眠期空气温度垂直变化最大,盛期次之,除土壤表层外,其余各层土壤温度均随深度增加而升高且日变化较小;空气湿度生长盛期最大,休眠期次之,日变化呈现高-低-高趋势,冠层下部的湿度在夜间高于冠层顶部且盛期相差最为明显,生长始期其日较差最大,盛期次之;生长始期土壤含水量最高,盛期次之,表层和深层含水量较小,20 cm含水量高,但其变化幅度较大。     

Life history characteristics of brown trout in lakes at different stages of acidification

In 66 Norwegian lakes with allopatric populations of brown trout Salmo trutta that ranged from highly acidified to non-acid (pH 4·7–6·6) there was a significant inverse correlation between mean age and relative abundance (CPUE). As mean annual survival rates were not significantly related to CPUE, this population response may indicate that recruitment was lower in low-density lakes. Age-specific masses were significantly higher in populations that had declined in abundance than in unaffected populations. Mean body mass at sexual maturity in both males and females was inversely correlated with CPUE. Between populations, high age at maturity was associated with high survival rates in both sexes. Age at maturity correlated positively with specific growth rate between the ages of 1 and 2 years in females only.