Introduction

The edition of a special issue entitled “Neuroscience in China” provides a unique opportunity to introduce neuroscience research undertakings in China today. Among the biological sciences at large, neuroscience is one of the most advanced fields in China. To take two examples, more than 70% of the articles published in the Chinese Journal of Physiology were in the category of neuroscience; among the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), scientists in the field of neuroscience outnumber scientists in other disciplines of basic medical sciences. This assay tries to analyze the historical and contemporary background underlying the current status.     

20世纪的中国人类古生物学研究与展望

本文回顾中国人类古生物学在20世纪的主要研究进展。中国的化石曾经数度入围最早期的人类。目前中国已有60余处地点发现了人类化石, 其中最古老的暂时要推云南元谋上那蚌的两颗门齿。对中国人类化石的研究提出了连续进化附带杂交的模式, 支持现代人起源的多地区进化说。中国各时期的化石人类有较显著的地区差异。中国人类的发展可能比喻为既有分支间的杂交融合, 又有小分支的绝灭和局部替代的河网状。     

Cognitive aging: new answers to old questions

The use of techniques for functional brain imaging is beginning to provide insights into the psychological and neural mechanisms that underlie age-related changes in cognitive performance.     

名词和动词加工的认知神经机制

关于名词和动词加工的认知神经机制,神经心理学和脑功能成像研究得出两种不同的结果:前者主张名词和动词认知加工的神经机制专门化,两者的神经机制分离;后者认为名词和动词认知加工的神经机制不分离。对此,语言表征的神经生物学及语义联想学分别给出了不同的解释。     

基因芯片技术和蛋白质组技术在神经科学中的应用及其研究进展

基因芯片技术和蛋白质组技术是最近发展起来的高通量技术,二者的出现使同时分析神经系统的大量基因的表达和基因产物蛋白质及其相互作用网络成为可能。它们在神经科学中的应用为了解脑功能提供了前所未有的机会。一个典型的基因芯片实验包括：芯片的准备或购买、靶DNA和探针的准备或标记、标记探针与靶DNA的杂交、芯片扫描和影象信息的数据分析。蛋白质组技术较为复杂,包括蛋白质分离、鉴定和信息分析三方面的内容。其中,分离技术多种多样。若分离技术以二维电泳为基础,则该实验通常由以下步骤组成：蛋白质样品的准备、电泳分离、染胶、分离蛋白点的切除、蛋白质的酶解(常用胰蛋白酶)、质谱分析(鉴定)和数据的信息处理。本文综述这两项技术的内容和实验步骤,然后着重叙述它们在神经科学中的应用,讨论其优缺点和面临的挑战,展望其发展前景。     

Quantification of Filamentous Actin (F-actin) Puncta in Rat Cortical Neurons

Filamentous actin protein (F-actin) plays a major role in spinogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and synaptic stability. Changes in dendritic F-actin rich structures suggest alterations in synaptic integrity and connectivity. Here we provide a detailed protocol for culturing primary rat cortical neurons, Phalloidin staining for F-actin puncta, and subsequent quantification techniques. First, the frontal cortex of E18 rat embryos are dissociated into low-density cell culture, then the neurons grown in vitro for at least 12-14 days. Following experimental treatment, the cortical neurons are stained with AlexaFluor 488 Phalloidin (to label the dendritic F-actin puncta) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2; to validate the neuronal cells and dendritic integrity). Finally, specialized software is used to analyze and quantify randomly selected neuronal dendrites. F-actin rich structures are identified on second order dendritic branches (length range 25-75 µm) with continuous MAP2 immunofluorescence. The protocol presented here will be a useful method for investigating changes in dendritic synapse structures subsequent to experimental treatments.     

人类脑计划与神经信息学

了解脑及其功能是21世纪科学的重大挑战之一。神经信息学是神经科学与信息科学相结合的交叉学科。目前的“人类脑计划”旨在加强脑功能的基础研究,并开发用于分析、整合、合成、建模、模拟与提供各种数据的工具。中国应参与人类脑计划,为发展神经信息学作出贡献。     

生物柴油的研究进展

摘要：生物柴油重要的新型可再生能源。本文阐述了生物柴油的主要特性及开发意义,对生物柴油的原料利用进行了分析,介绍了国内外生物柴油的研究进展,并展望了生物柴油的发展前景。     

Investigating Social Cognition in Infants and Adults Using Dense Array Electroencephalography (dEEG)

Dense array electroencephalography (_dEEG), which provides a non-invasive window for measuring brain activity and a temporal resolution unsurpassed by any other current brain imaging technology^1,2, is being used increasingly in the study of social cognitive functioning in infants and adults. While _dEEG is enabling researchers to examine brain activity patterns with unprecedented levels of sensitivity, conventional EEG recording systems continue to face certain limitations, including 1) poor spatial resolution and source localization^3,4,2) the physical discomfort for test subjects of enduring the individual application of numerous electrodes to the surface of the scalp, and 3) the complexity for researchers of learning to use multiple software packages to collect and process data. Here we present an overview of an established methodology that represents a significant improvement on conventional methodologies for studying EEG in infants and adults. Although several analytical software techniques can be used to establish indirect indices of source localization to improve the spatial resolution of _dEEG, the HydroCel Geodesic Sensor Net (HCGSN) by Electrical Geodesics, Inc. (EGI), a dense sensory array that maintains equal distances among adjacent recording electrodes on all surfaces of the scalp, further enhances spatial resolution^4,5,6 compared to standard _dEEG systems. The sponge-based HCGSN can be applied rapidly and without scalp abrasion, making it ideal for use with adults^7,8, children^9,10,11, and infants¹², in both research and clinical^{4,5,6,13,14,15} settings. This feature allows for considerable cost and time savings by decreasing the average net application time compared to other _dEEG systems. Moreover, the HCGSN includes unified, seamless software applications for all phases of data, greatly simplifying the collection, processing, and analysis of _dEEG data.The HCGSN features a low-profile electrode pedestal, which, when filled with electrolyte solution, creates a sealed microenvironment and an electrode-scalp interface. In all Geodesic _dEEG systems, EEG sensors detect changes in voltage originating from the participant''s scalp, along with a small amount of electrical noise originating from the room environment. Electrical signals from all sensors of the Geodesic sensor net are received simultaneously by the amplifier, where they are automatically processed, packaged, and sent to the data-acquisition computer (DAC). Once received by the DAC, scalp electrical activity can be isolated from artifacts for analysis using the filtering and artifact detection tools included in the EGI software. Typically, the HCGSN can be used continuously for only up to two hours because the electrolyte solution dries out over time, gradually decreasing the quality of the scalp-electrode interface.In the Parent-Infant Research Lab at the University of Toronto, we are using _dEEG to study social cognitive processes including memory, emotion, goals, intentionality, anticipation, and executive functioning in both adult and infant participants.     

Development of motor behaviour

The development of motor behaviour depends on the differentiation of underlying circuitry. Recent work with the zebrafish brings the simple swimming behaviour of lower vertebrates and their embryos into focus as a suitable model to study the development of motor circuitry and its genetic control. Changes in connectivity and excitability contribute to the development of swimming in this simple system. In the chick embryo, limb motor circuitry is spontaneously active before motor axons reach their muscle targets, and it has properties in common with the spontaneously active networks in the retina. The early rhythmic activity responsible for embryonic movement is probably a generalised property of developing spinal networks that precedes, and may be required for, the completion of functional locomotor circuitry.     

Neuromodulation during motor development and behavior

Important recent advances have been made in understanding the role of aminergic modulation during the maturation of Xenopus larvae swimming rhythms, including effects on particular ion channel types of component neurons, and the role of peptidergic modulation during development of adult central patterns generators in the stomatogastric ganglion of crustaceans. By recording from octopaminergic neuromodulatory neurons during ongoing motor behavior in the locust, new insights into the role of this peripheral neuromodulatory mechanism have been gained. In particular, it is now clear that the octopaminergic neuromodulatory system is automatically activated in parallel to the motor systems, and that both excitation and inhibition play important functional roles.     

Modular features of motor control and learning

The study of complex motor behaviours has highlighted the role of modular representations both in the planning and in the execution of actions. Recent findings suggest the presence of functional modules within a variety of neural structures. Computational investigations are now addressing the issue of how these modules may act concurrently to generate a wide repertoire of behaviours.     

Afferent modulation of dopamine neuron firing patterns

In recent studies examining the modulation of dopamine (DA) cell firing patterns, particular emphasis has been placed on excitatory afferents from the prefrontal cortex and the subthalamic nucleus. A number of inconsistencies in recently published reports, however, do not support the contention that tonic activation of NMDA receptors is the sole determinate of DA neuronal firing patterns. The results of work on the basic mechanism of DA firing and the action of apamin suggest that excitatory projections to DA neurons from cholinergic and glutamatergic neurons in the tegmental pedunculopontine nucleus, and/or inhibitory GABAergic projections, are also involved in modulating DA neuron firing behavior.     

氨基酸与生化药物

回顾中国氨基酸类药物的发展历程,并对２０００年后的发展提出意见。