new-framework-for-understanding-cross-brain-coherence-functional-near

New Framework for Understanding Cross-Brain Coherence in Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Hyperscanning Studies

Despite the growing body of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning studies, the assessment of coupling between two neural signals ...

Ariel University

Ancient fermented food has been studied based on recipes, residue analysis, and ancient-DNA techniques and reconstructed using modern domesticated yeast. Here, we present a novel approach based on our hypothesis that enriched yeast populations in fermented beverages could have become the dominant species in storage vessels and their descendants could be isolated and studied today. We developed a pipeline of yeast isolation from clay vessels and screened for yeast cells in beverage-related and non-beverage-related ancient vessels and sediments from several archaeological sites. We found that yeast cells could be successfully isolated specifically from clay containers of fermented beverages. The findings that genotypically the isolated yeasts are similar to those found in traditional African beverages and phenotypically they grow similar to modern beer-producing yeast strongly suggest that they are descendants of the original fermenting yeast. These results demonstrate that modern microorganisms can serve as a new tool in bio-archaeology research. So far, most of the study of ancient organisms has been based mainly on the analysis of ancient DNA. Here we show that it is possible to isolate and study microorganisms-yeast in this case-from ancient pottery vessels used for fermentation. We demonstrate that it is highly likely that these cells are descendants of the original yeast strains that participated in the fermentation process and were absorbed into the clay matrix of the pottery vessels. Moreover, we characterized the isolated yeast strains, their genomes, and the beer they produced. These results open new and exciting avenues in the study of domesticated microorganisms and contribute significantly to the fields of bio- and experimental archaeology that aim to reconstruct ancient artifacts and products.

Isolation and Characterization of Live Yeast Cells from Ancient Vessels as a Tool in Bio-Archaeology.

Individuals with ASD have been shown to have different pattern of functional connectivity. In this study, brain activity of participants with many and few autistic traits, was recorded using an fNIRS device, as participants preformed an interpersonal synchronization task. This type of task involves synchronization and functional connectivity of different brain regions. A novel method for assessing signal complexity, using ε-complexity coefficients, applied for the first i.e. on fNIRS recording, was used to classify brain recording of participants with many/few autistic traits. Successful classification was achieved implying that this method may be useful for classification of fNIRS recordings and that there is a difference in brain activity between participants with low and high autistic traits as they perform an interpersonal synchronization task.

Brief Report: Classification of Autistic Traits According to Brain Activity Recoded by fNIRS Using ε-Complexity Coefficients.

We aimed to verify whether the computational approaches previously proposed to analyze stability after a single-leg drop-jump (SLDJ) could be applied to a population of middle-aged adults. Fifteen middle-aged (56.4 ± 4.6 years) and 15 young adults (26.7 ± 3.9 years) performed five SLDJs. Stabilization measurements included (1) time to stabilization (TTS) based on vertical ground reaction force (GRF) (TTSv) and a fixed stabilization threshold; (2) TTS based on medio-lateral GRF (TTSml) using five different methods to preprocess the signal and stabilization threshold; (3) early medio-lateral stabilization- the averaged absolute values of the GRF in 0.2-1.4 s post-landing; (4) late medio-lateral stabilization - the averaged absolute values of the GRF at 1 s-5 s after landing. TTSv showed longer TTS values in middle-aged participants. In addition, middle-aged adults showed greater sway in late stabilization. However, TTSml values varied considerably between calculation methods, and early stabilization showed no significant differences between groups except in the first 0.2 s after landing. The results of the current study suggest that TTS calculations are sensitive to signal and threshold selection, and to the processing method. Calculations based on a fixed threshold are more appropriate for studying dynamic postural stability in middle age. With appropriate method selection, a decreased stabilizing performance can be demonstrated in middle-aged adults compared to young adults.

Can stabilization analysis following a single leg drop jump be compared between young and middle-aged adults.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of walking in reduced lighting with or without performing a secondary cognitive task on gait dynamics in middle-aged adults and to compare them with young and old adults.

Young, but not in the dark-The influence of reduced lighting on gait stability in middle-aged adults.

Changes in neuromuscular ability in middle age (MA) may lead to deterioration of postural control. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticipatory response of the peroneus longus muscle (PL) to landing after a single-leg drop-jump (SLDJ), and its postural response after an unexpected leg-drop in MA and young adults. A second aim was to investigate the influence of neuromuscular training on PL postural responses in both age groups.

Peroneal muscle response to single-leg drop-jump and unexpected leg-drop in young and middle-aged adults before and after one session of neuromuscular training.

Itai Gutman

The Department of Behavioral Sciences and Psychology

Ariel University

New Framework for Understanding Cross-Brain Coherence in Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Hyperscanning Studies