Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “connectivity mapping”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources

Topographic receptive fields and patterned lateral interaction in a self-organizing model of the primary visual cortex.

This article presents a self-organizing neural network model for the simultaneous and cooperative development of topographic receptive fields and lateral interactions in cortical maps. Both afferent and lateral connections adapt by the same Hebbian mechanism in a purely local and unsupervised learning process. Afferent input weights of each neuron self-organize into hill-shaped profiles, receptive fields organize topographically across the network, and unique lateral interaction profiles develop for each neuron. The model demonstrates how patterned lateral connections developed based on correlated activity and explains why lateral connection patterns closely follow receptive field properties such as ocular dominance.

Brain Mapping↗

Topographic organization of the striatal and thalamic connections of rat medial agranular cortex.

The rostral and caudal portions of rat medial agranular cortex (AGm) play different functional roles. To refine the anatomical framework for understanding these differences, axonal tracers were used to map the topography of the connections of AGm with the striatum and thalamus. The striatal projections follow mediolateral and rostrocaudal gradients that correspond to the locations of the neurons of origin within AGm. Projections from rostral AGm are widespread and dense rostrally, then coalesce into a circumscribed dorsocentral region at the level of the pre-commissural septal nuclei. Projections from mid and caudal AGm are less widespread and less dense, and are focused more caudally. Striatal projections from the adjacent anterior cingulate and lateral agranular areas overlap those of AGm but are concentrated more medially and laterally, respectively. Thalamic connections of AGm are organized so that more caudal portions of AGm have connections with progressively more lateral and caudal regions of the thalamus, and the full extent of AGm is connected with the ventrolateral (VL) nucleus. Rostral AGm is interconnected with the lateral portion of the mediodorsal nucleus (MD1), VL, and the central lateral (CL), paracentral (PC), central medial, rhomboid and ventromedial nuclei. Caudal AGm has robust connections with VL, the posterior, lateral posterior and lateral dorsal nuclei, but little or none with MD1, CL/PC and VM. These differences in the subcortical connections of rostral and caudal AGm parallel their known differences in corticocortical connections, and represent another basis for experimental explorations of the functional roles of these cortical territories.

Animals↗

A random graph approach to NMR sequential assignment.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy allows scientists to study protein structure, dynamics and interactions in solution. A necessary first step for such applications is determining the resonance assignment, mapping spectral data to atoms and residues in the primary sequence. Automated resonance assignment algorithms rely on information regarding connectivity (e.g., through-bond atomic interactions) and amino acid type, typically using the former to determine strings of connected residues and the latter to map those strings to positions in the primary sequence. Significant ambiguity exists in both connectivity and amino acid type information. This paper focuses on the information content available in connectivity alone and develops a novel random-graph theoretic framework and algorithm for connectivity-driven NMR sequential assignment. Our random graph model captures the structure of chemical shift degeneracy, a key source of connectivity ambiguity. We then give a simple and natural randomized algorithm for finding optimal assignments as sets of connected fragments in NMR graphs. The algorithm naturally and efficiently reuses substrings while exploring connectivity choices; it overcomes local ambiguity by enforcing global consistency of all choices. By analyzing our algorithm under our random graph model, we show that it can provably tolerate relatively large ambiguity while still giving expected optimal performance in polynomial time. We present results from practical applications of the algorithm to experimental datasets from a variety of proteins and experimental set-ups. We demonstrate that our approach is able to overcome significant noise and local ambiguity in identifying significant fragments of sequential assignments.

Algorithms↗

Complementary gradients in expression and binding of ELF-1 and Mek4 in development of the topographic retinotectal projection map.

Topographic maps with a defined spatial ordering of neuronal connections are a key feature of brain organization. Such maps are believed to develop in response to complementary position-specific labels in presynaptic and postsynaptic fields. However, the complementary labeling molecules are not known. In the well-studied visual map of retinal axons projecting to the tectum, the labels are hypothesized to be in gradients, without needing large numbers of cell-specific molecules. We recently cloned ELF-1 as a ligand for Eph family receptors. Here, RNA hybridization shows matching expression gradients for ELF-1 in the tectum and its receptor Mek4 in the retina. Binding activity detected with alkaline phosphatase fusions of ELF-1 and Mek4 also reveals gradients and provides direct evidence for molecular complementarity of gradients in reciprocal fields. ELF-1 and Mek4 may therefore play roles in retinotectal development and have properties predicted of topographic mapping labels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Development of an interactive computer-guided method for radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia.

The purpose of this study was to develop a simple computer-guided approach to localizing ventricular tachycardias during ventricular mapping. Six patients with sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia were connected to a 32-lead computer body surface mapping system. Isoarea maps of induced ventricular tachycardia were recorded. Then a pacing probe was placed in either the right or left ventricle, and maps were generated from a variety of sites. Differences between ventricular tachycardia and pace map maxima X, Y coordinates were utilized to guide catheter manipulation and localization. In 6 of 6 patients (100%) this method appeared to provide a systematic approach to ventricular tachycardia localization. Computer-generated correlations as well as the X, Y coordinates of the QRS isoarea maxima were used to determine proximity to the ventricular tachycardia foci and direct catheter manipulation. In the next three patients this method was applied prospectively to help guide catheter manipulation during ventricular tachycardia (two right ventricular outflow tract tachycardias, and one left ventricular tachycardia). After a mean of 4.0 +/- 1.7 radiofrequency applications, ventricular tachycardia was no longer inducible, and at 7 +/- 0 months follow-up there have been no arrhythmia recurrences. We conclude that online computerized body surface mapping can assist in localizing ventricular tachycardia. Differences in maxima during pace maps and in-situ ventricular tachycardias can help with catheter manipulation as well as with more precise identification of focal tachycardias. This technique appears to hold the promise of a simple computer-guided method that may facilitate radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Adult↗

Gene-based anchoring of the rat genetic linkage and cytogenetic maps: new regional localizations, orientation of the linkage groups, and insights into mammalian chromosome evolution.

In order to generate anchor points connecting the rat cytogenetic and genetic maps, the cytogenetic position of 62 rat markers (including 55 genes) already localized genetically was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Whenever possible, markers located near one end of the linkage groups were included. These new localizations allowed us to unambiguously orient the 20 autosomal and the X chromosome linkage groups. The position of the centromere in the linkage map could also be determined in the case of several metacentric chromosomes. In addition, the regional localization of 15 other rat genes was determined. These new data bring useful information with respect to comparative mapping with the mouse and the human and to mammalian evolution. They illustrate, for instance, that groups of genes can remain syntenic during mammalian evolution while being subjected to intrachromosomal rearrangements in some lineages (synteny is conserved while gene order is not). This analysis also disclosed cases of synteny conservation in one the two rodent species and the human, while the synteny is split in the other rodent species: such configurations are likely examples of lineage-specific interchromosomal rearrangements associated with speciation.

Animals↗

Quantitative electrophysiological studies of regenerating visuotopic maps in goldfish--I. Early recovery of dimming sensitivity in tectum and torus longitudinalis.

Refinement and connectivity in the regenerating retinotectal system of goldfish were studied quantitatively by electrophysiological methods. One optic nerve was crushed intraorbitally in fish kept at 25 degrees C. At different postcrush times, visually-evoked multiunit activity was recorded from the superficial layers of tectum, and from the torus longitudinalis. Responses in torus longitudinalis were used as a test of retinotectal connectivity because torus longitudinalis derives a visuotopic map from a tectal projection. The stimulus, effective for both the early retinotectal projection and torus longitudinalis, was a 10 degrees wide vertical black stripe rotated horizontally at 25 degrees/s through both visual fields. Activity from repeated sweeps was averaged to yield receptive field profiles in the horizontal dimension. Normally, profiles from tectum were dual-peaked and 20 degrees wide at half maximum amplitude; torus longitudinalis profiles were bell-shaped and 41 degrees wide. Between 20 and 40 days postcrush, tectum gave broad low-amplitude (25% normal) profiles that were roughly visuotopic. Over the same period, torus longitudinalis gave profiles of relatively high amplitude (69% of normal) that were also broadened but normally visuotopic. The widths of both tectal and torus longitudinalis profiles declined with the same exponential timecourse, reaching normal values by 80-100 days. Torus longitudinalis profiles were on average 21.6 degrees wider than tectal profiles at all stages of regeneration. The results agree with previous anatomical observations showing that optic fibers initially form much enlarged arbors that shrink over time, and suggest that arbors engage in widespread synaptic connections, at least with tecto-torus longitudinalis cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗

Recall of Descriptive Information: The Roles of Presentation Format, Annotation Strategy, and Individual Differences

The benefits of using a comprehensive annotation strategy (employing underlining/circling, making connections, asking questions, and making comments) with knowledge maps (spatial/verbal arrays) and traditional, linear text to improve free recall scores for learners with individual differences in vocabulary and comprehension ability were examined. Types and frequencies of annotations generated were also examined for each stimulus format condition. Multiple regression analyses indicate that the frequency of use of two component annotation strategies, asking questions and making connections, were significant predictors of recall scores, while frequency of underlining/circling and generating elaborations failed to predict recall scores. Text users generated more underlining/circling, while knowledge map users generated more connections between ideas, suggesting that knowledge maps may facilitate the application of more productive annotation strategies. Also examined were the interrelationships between vocabulary ability, comprehension ability, and free recall scores. Copyright 1997Academic Press

Journal Article↗

T(2)(*) dependence of low frequency functional connectivity.

Resting state low frequency (<0.08 Hz) fluctuations in MR timecourses that are temporally correlated between functionally related areas have been observed in recent studies. These fluctuations have been assumed to arise from spontaneous blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) oscillations. This work examines the T(2)(*) characteristics of the low frequency fluctuations (functional connectivity) and compares them to those of task activation induced signal changes. Multi-echo spiral data were fit using a mono-exponential decay model to generate T(2)(*) and intensity (I(0)) parameter timecourses. Resultant correlation maps show that both functional connectivity and BOLD activation modulate T(2)(*), not I(0). Regression analysis also finds that both have a linear dependence on echo time. Thus, functional connectivity and task activation MR signal changes appear to arise from the same BOLD-related origins.

Brain Mapping↗

Plasticity in the organization of adult cerebral cortical maps: a computer simulation based on neuronal group selection.

Recent experimental evidence from the somatosensory, auditory, and visual systems documents the existence of functional plasticity in topographic map organization in adult animals. This evidence suggests that an ongoing competitive organizing process controls the locations of map borders and the receptive field properties of neurons. A computer model based on the process of neuronal group selection has been constructed that accounts for reported results on map plasticity in somatosensory cortex. The simulations construct a network of locally connected excitatory and inhibitory cells that receives topographic projections from 2 receptor sheets corresponding to the glabrous and dorsal surfaces of the hand (a typical simulation involves approximately 1500 cells, 70,000 intrinsic and 100,000 extrinsic connections). Both intrinsic and extrinsic connections undergo activity-dependent modifications according to a synaptic rule based on heterosynaptic interactions. Repeated stimulation of the receptor sheet resulted in the formation of neuronal groups-local sets of strongly interconnected neurons in the network. Cells in most groups were found to have similar receptive fields: they were exclusively glabrous or dorsal despite equal numbers of anatomical connections from both surfaces. The sharpness of map borders was due to the sharpness of the underlying group structure; shifts in the locations of these borders resulted from competition between groups. Following perturbations of the input, the network underwent changes similar to those observed experimentally in monkey somatosensory cortex. Repeated local tapping on the receptor sheet resulted in a large increase in the magnification factor of the stimulated region. Transection of the connections from a glabrous region resulted in the organization of a new representation of corresponding dorsal region. The detailed simulations provide several insights into the mechanisms of such changes, as well as a series of predictions about cortical behavior for further experimental test.

Brain Mapping↗

Comparison of benzodiazepine-like compounds using topological analysis and genetic algorithms.

Four compounds within a set of ligands for the benzodiazepine receptors are characterized by their electron density maps at different resolution levels and reconstructed from calculated structure factors. The resulting complex three-dimensional density maps are first simplified into connected graphs using topological analysis. Then, an original genetic algorithm method, GAGS (Genetic Algorithm for Graph Similarity search), is developed and implemented in order to compare the connected graphs. Finally, the analysis of the best solutions of the algorithm are expressed in terms of functional group superimpositions. The GAGS analysis is applied to different resolution levels of the electron density maps and the resulting models are compared in order to assess the influence of the resolution on the resulting pharmacophore models.

Algorithms↗

Linking theory and practice in teaching basic nursing skills.

In an attempt to integrate theory and practice in baccalaureate nursing education, students were taught nursing skills with two cognitive strategies (Vee heuristics and concept maps) that consciously identify and reinforce connections between scientific theory and practice. The research showed that students using Vee heuristics and concept maps, rather than traditional modes, were significantly better able to identify scientific principles to describe why specific steps of a nursing skill were done.

Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate↗

Organization of callosal linkages in visual area V2 of macaque monkey.

In visual area V2 of the macaque monkey callosal cells accumulate in finger-like bands that extend 7-8 mm from the V1/V2 border, or approximately half the width of area V2. The present study investigated whether or not callosal connections in area V2 link loci that are located at the same distance from the V1/V2 border in both hemispheres. We analyzed the patterns of retrograde labeling in V2 resulting from restricted injections of fluorescent tracers placed at different distances from the V1/V2 border in contralateral area V2. The results show that varying the distance of V2 tracer injections from the V1/V2 border led to a corresponding variation in the location of labeled callosal cells in contralateral V2. Injections into V2 placed on or close to the V1 border produced labeled cells that accumulated on or close to the V1 border in contralateral V2, whereas injections into V2 placed away from the V1 border produced labeled cells that accumulated mainly away from the V1 border. These results provide evidence that callosal fibers in V2 preferentially link loci that are located at similar distances from the V1/V2 border in both hemispheres. Relating this connectivity pattern to the topographic map of V2 suggests that callosal fibers link topographically mirror-symmetrical regions of V2, i.e., callosal fibers near the V1/V2 border interconnect areas representing visual fields on, or close to, the vertical meridian, whereas callosal connections from regions away from the V1/V2 border interconnect visuotopically mismatched visual fields that extend onto opposite hemifields.

Animals↗

Dynamics and topographic organization of recursive self-organizing maps.

Recently there has been an outburst of interest in extending topographic maps of vectorial data to more general data structures, such as sequences or trees. However, there is no general consensus as to how best to process sequences using topographic maps, and this topic remains an active focus of neurocomputational research. The representational capabilities and internal representations of the models are not well understood. Here, we rigorously analyze a generalization of the self-organizing map (SOM) for processing sequential data, recursive SOM(RecSOM) (Voegtlin, 2002), as a nonautonomous dynamical system consisting of a set of fixed input maps. We argue that contractive fixed-input maps are likely to produce Markovian organizations of receptive fields on the RecSOM map. We derive bounds on parameter beta (weighting the importance of importing past information when processing sequences) under which contractiveness of the fixed-input maps is guaranteed. Some generalizations of SOM contain a dynamic module responsible for processing temporal contexts as an integral part of the model. We show that Markovian topographic maps of sequential data can be produced using a simple fixed (nonadaptable) dynamic module externally feeding a standard topographic model designed to process static vectorial data of fixed dimensionality (e.g., SOM). However, by allowing trainable feedback connections, one can obtain Markovian maps with superior memory depth and topography preservation. We elaborate on the importance of non-Markovian organizations in topographic maps of sequential data.

Algorithms↗

Orientation selectivity and the arrangement of horizontal connections in tree shrew striate cortex.

Horizontal connections, formed primarily by the axon collaterals of pyramidal neurons in layer 2/3 of visual cortex, extend for millimeters parallel to the cortical surface and form patchy terminations. Previous studies have provided evidence that the patches formed by horizontal connections exhibit modular specificity, preferentially linking columns of neurons with similar response characteristics, such as preferred orientation. The issue of how these connections are distributed with respect to the topographic map of visual space, however, has not been resolved. Here we combine optical imaging of intrinsic signals with small extracellular injections of biocytin to assess quantitatively the specificity of horizontal connections with respect to both the map of orientation preference and the map of visual space in tree shrew V1. Our results indicate that horizontal connections outside a radius of 500 microm from the injection site exhibit not only modular specificity, but also specificity for axis of projection. Labeled axons extend for longer distances, and give off more terminal boutons, along an axis in the map of visual space that corresponds to the preferred orientation of the injection site. Inside of 500 microm, the pattern of connections is much less specific, with boutons found along every axis, contacting sites with a wide range of preferred orientations. The system of long-range horizontal connections can be summarized as preferentially linking neurons with co-oriented, co-axially aligned receptive fields. These observations suggest specific ways that horizontal circuits contribute to the response properties of layer 2/3 neurons and to mechanisms of visual perception.

Animals↗

Small-world anatomical networks in the human brain revealed by cortical thickness from MRI.

An important issue in neuroscience is the characterization for the underlying architectures of complex brain networks. However, little is known about the network of anatomical connections in the human brain. Here, we investigated large-scale anatomical connection patterns of the human cerebral cortex using cortical thickness measurements from magnetic resonance images. Two areas were considered anatomically connected if they showed statistically significant correlations in cortical thickness and we constructed the network of such connections using 124 brains from the International Consortium for Brain Mapping database. Significant short- and long-range connections were found in both intra- and interhemispheric regions, many of which were consistent with known neuroanatomical pathways measured by human diffusion imaging. More importantly, we showed that the human brain anatomical network had robust small-world properties with cohesive neighborhoods and short mean distances between regions that were insensitive to the selection of correlation thresholds. Additionally, we also found that this network and the probability of finding a connection between 2 regions for a given anatomical distance had both exponentially truncated power-law distributions. Our results demonstrated the basic organizational principles for the anatomical network in the human brain compatible with previous functional networks studies, which provides important implications of how functional brain states originate from their structural underpinnings. To our knowledge, this study provides the first report of small-world properties and degree distribution of anatomical networks in the human brain using cortical thickness measurements.

Brain↗

A sequence-ready BAC clone contig of human chromosome 10p15 spanning the loss of heterozygosity region in glioma.

Deletion of chromosome 10 is one of the most common chromosomal alterations in glioma. At 10p15, the telomeric region of the short arm of chromosome 10, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) has been frequently observed by microsatellite analysis, suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene. We examined LOH in 34 gliomas on chromosome 10, and frequent LOH on 10p was detected on 10p15, in agreement with deletion mapping studies on chromosome 10. We then constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone contig covering the critical region, which spanned the interval between D10S249 and D10S533 on 10p15. The map contained 68 BAC clones connected by 74 sequenced tag sites (STSs) and covered approximately 2.7 Mb, with one gap. A total of 74 STSs, including 6 microsatellite markers, 29 expressed sequenced tags (ESTs), and 39 BAC end STSs, were physically arranged. Twenty-eight ESTs were mapped in the interval between D10S249 and D10S559 (approximately 1200 kb), and another EST was mapped in the interval between D10S559 and D10S533 (approximately 1300 kb). This sequence-ready BAC clone contig map will be a basic resource for high-quality sequencing and positional cloning of the putative tumor suppressor gene at 10p15 in glioma.

Base Sequence↗

Effect of scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus (H&E) venom on rat's heart rate and blood pressure.

The effects of scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus (H&E) venom collected from the South Sinai region, Egypt, on heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were studied after intramuscular administration of 3 different doses (100, 200 and 400 micrograms/kg) to anesthetized rats. The effects of adrenergic and cholinergic blocking agents on the venom-induced HR and MAP changes were also evaluated. In two groups of rats, propranolol or atropine were given before the venom administration. In the third group the venom was given before the injection of propranolol and atropine in combination. HR was measured by using a cardiotachometer coupler connected to an ECG coupler. MAP was calculated from the recorded arterial blood pressure (ABP) after catheterization of the left common carotid artery. Venom doses of 100 and 200 micrograms/kg produced tachycardia with a dose-response relationship, whereas 400 micrograms/kg evoked sinus tachycardia followed by bradycardia then tachycardia. MAP was elevated after the administration of each dose and reached its maximum value after 60 min with a dose-response relationship. Sinus, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias were observed from the recorded ECG during the time studied. This study revealed that the venom has pressor and depressor effects which are mediated through the autonomic nervous system. Propranolol reduced the stimulatory effects of the highest dose of the venom while atropine was effective in eliminating the depressor effect of the venom on HR. The arrhythmias induced by the venom were blocked by the injection of the two blockers and are assumed to be due to the release of catecholamines and acetylcholine.

Animals↗