Biomedical subjects

F K Skinner

Publications and source records attributed to F K Skinner.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Frequency and burst duration in oscillating neurons and two-cell networks.

We study the relationship of injected current to oscillator period in single neurons and two-cell model networks formed by reciprocal inhibitory synapses. Using a Morris-Lecar-like model, we identify two qualitative types of oscillatory behavior for single model neurons. The "classical" oscillator behavior is defined as type A. Here the burst duration is relatively constant and the frequency increases with depolarization. For oscillator type B, the frequency first increases and then decreases when depolarized, due to the variable burst duration. Our simulations show that relatively modest changes in the maximal inward and outward conductances can move the oscillator from one type to another. Cultured stomatogastric ganglion neurons exhibit both A and B type behaviors and can switch between the two types with pharmacological manipulation. Our simulations indicate that the stability of a two-cell network with injected current can be extended with inhibitory coupling. In addition, two-cell networks formed from type A or type B oscillators behave differently from each other at lower synaptic strengths.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Repeated automated assessment of abstinent male alcoholics: essential fatty acid supplementation and age effects.

A double-blind trial carried out with alcohol-dependent males randomly allocated to n-6 essential fatty acid (EFA) supplementation or placebo capsules over a 6-month period incorporated a battery of automated neuropsychological tests. Results from problem-solving and perceptual motor speed tests are used. The effect that EFA supplementation had on recovery over 6 months of abstinence is shown, as well as the tests in which younger (aged 20-39) alcohol-dependent males differ from the older (aged 40-59) subjects.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

The use of two automated neuropsychological tests, Cogfun and the Perceptual Maze Test, with alcoholics.

Forty-eight male detoxified alcoholics completed the automated neuropsychological tests, Cogfun II and the Perceptual Maze Test. On both tests, the younger group of patients performed better than the older group. No differences were found between short- and long-term drinkers, although there was some indication that older long-term drinkers performed less well than younger long-term drinkers. Control subjects performed significantly better than alcoholic subjects. Thus characteristics found by others using conventional psychometric tests were also apparent when using new, automated tests, and baselines were established from which to measure change over the passage of time.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Novel bursting patterns emerging from model inhibitory networks with synaptic depression.

Studies show that short-term synaptic plasticity plays important roles in neural coding and the normal operation of the synapse. Basket cells in the hippocampus demonstrate this plasticity in the form of synaptic depression, and recent in vivo work indicates that basket cell activities contribute significantly to hippocampal output associated with different behavioural states. Thus it is essential to understand the generation and synchronization of patterns produced by basket cell networks with depression. We study two-cell model inhibitory networks with depression and obtain alternating bursting patterns and synchronous activity occurring between bursts. We describe mechanisms for how these patterns emerge by performing several simulations in the plane of different depression time constants, tauD. Such patterns might contribute significantly to various population activities observed in the hippocampus.

Action Potentials↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Increased levels of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in dyslexics.

Research findings are increasingly reporting evidence of physiological abnormalities in dyslexia and sites for dyslexia have been identified on three chromosomes. It has been suggested that genetic inheritance may cause phospholipid abnormalities in dyslexia somewhat similar to those found in schizophrenia. A key enzyme in phospholipid metabolism, Type IV, or cytosolic, phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), releases arachidonic acid (AA), a 20-carbon fatty acid, which is the major source of production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. An entirely new assay, which for the first time has enabled determination of the amount of the enzyme rather than its activity, was used to measure cPLA2 in dyslexic-type adults and controls and the two groups were found to differ significantly, the dyslexic-types having more of the enzyme. A report elsewhere of schizophrenics having even greater amounts of the enzyme suggests that dyslexia may be on a continuum with schizophrenia, as may be other neurodevelopmental disorders - which have also been described as phospholipid spectrum disorders.

Adult↗