Article
Neurosciences
JohnMark Taylor, Yaoda Xu
Summary: Despite decades of research, our understanding of the relationship between color and form processing in the primate ventral visual pathway remains incomplete. Using fMRI multivoxel pattern analysis, this study found that color and form could be decoded from activity in early visual areas V1 to V4, as well as in the posterior color-selective region and shape-selective regions in ventral and lateral occipitotemporal cortex. The study also revealed decoding biases towards one feature or the other in the color-and shape-selective regions, and nonlinear, interactive coding of color and the simple form feature in several early visual regions.
Article
Biology
Elizabeth A. Tibbetts, Juanita Pardo-Sanchez, Julliana Ramirez-Matias, Aurore Avargues-Weber
Summary: While most animals rely on identifying specific features for recognition, paper wasps like P. fuscatus may have developed the ability to recognize faces through holistic processing, combining facial features into a whole for identification. The study shows that P. fuscatus uses holistic processing to distinguish between conspecific faces, while P. dominula does not rely on this mechanism for face recognition. This suggests that holistic processing may be a universal adaptive strategy for expertise in face recognition, converging in distant taxa like primates and wasps, but showing divergence among closely related taxa with different recognition behaviors.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Xingyue Li, Dayong Fan, Zhengxiao Liu, Zengjuan Fu, Changqing Gan, Zeyu Lin, Chengyang Xu, Han Sun, Xiangping Wang
Summary: Although inter-specific differences in hydraulic traits have been extensively studied, there is limited knowledge about the intra-specific hydraulic variability. In this field investigation on two dominant conifer species across an aridity gradient, it was found that the hydraulic distance from the bundle sheath to the stomata can predict the growth rate, and specialists are more sensitive to climate change than generalists.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
M. Trott, R. Driscoll, R. Bourne, J. Slade, H. Ingleton, S. Farrell, M. Bowen, R. Lovell-Patel, J. Kidd, S. Pardhan
Summary: This study aims to investigate the perceived accessibility and quality of mental health support across the sight-loss pathway in the UK. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with patients with diagnosed eye conditions, referring optometrists, and eye clinic liaison officers. Three broad themes emerged: the emotional trauma of diagnosis, availability of mental health support, and the point where mental health support is most needed. Some patients reported a lack of support and signposting, which was confirmed by referring optometrists and eye clinic liaison officers.
Article
Ecology
Dongliang Xiong, Jaume Flexas
Summary: This study investigated the tradeoffs between carbon assimilation and hydraulic efficiencies and drought-tolerance traits in seven species with diverse drought tolerance. The results showed significant variation in efficiency and resistance traits across species, but no clear tradeoff between safety traits and efficiency traits was observed. The findings suggest that the postulated tradeoff between drought tolerance and carbon assimilation and hydraulic efficiency does not exist among distant species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yi-Yi Meng, Wei Xiang, Yin Wen, Dong-Liu Huang, Kun-Fang Cao, Shi-Dan Zhu
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the functional traits of cycad leaves, revealing the functional divergence between the Cycadaceae and Zamiaceae families and the differences in trait associations between cycads and angiosperms. The results showed that Zamiaceae species had thicker leaves, higher carbon investments, and greater mechanical resistance compared to Cycadaceae species. Cycad leaves were thicker, tougher, and more tolerant to desiccation compared to angiosperm leaves. The study expands our understanding of the ecological strategies and responses of cycads to climate change.
Article
Plant Sciences
Guo-Feng Jiang, Su-Yuan Li, Yi-Chan Li, Adam B. Roddy
Summary: Mangroves have evolved mechanisms to filter and excrete excess salt from the water they take up. Differences in salt tolerance and management strategy may influence physiological responses to drought. The vulnerability to embolism varies between roots, stems, and leaves, and is influenced by salt tolerance. Characterizing physiological thresholds of roots may help explain recent mangrove mortality after drought and saltwater inundation.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Jake Quilty-Dunn, Nicolas Porot, Eric Mandelbaum
Summary: Mental representations play a central role in psychology, but there is no consensus on the representational format of biological cognition. This paper surveys evidence from various areas of psychology and concludes that the language-of-thought (LoT) is a common format. The properties of LoTs, including discrete constituents, role-filler independence, predicate-argument structure, logical operators, inferential promiscuity, and abstract content, are supported by computational modeling, perception studies, developmental psychology, comparative psychology, and social psychology.
BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
J. Matthijs Biesbroek, Marieke G. Verhagen, Stefan van der Stigchel, Geert Jan Biessels
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive overview of thalamus anatomy and function, with a focus on human cognition and behavior, and discusses emerging insights on the role of thalamus pathology in dementia.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Biology
Valerie Finke, David Baracchi, Martin Giurfa, Ricarda Scheiner, Aurore Avargues-Weber
Summary: The study found that individual learning proficiency within a given task was maintained over time, with some individuals performing consistently better than others within the visual modality across tasks of different complexity. However, performance in the elemental visual-learning task did not predict performance in the equivalent elemental olfactory task. This suggests the existence of cognitive specialization within the hive, contributing to ecological social success.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Jiang, Brendan Choat, Yong-Jiang Zhang, Xin-Yi Guan, Wen Shi, Kun-Fang Cao
Summary: This study investigated the variation in plant hydraulic traits of two widespread mangrove species across a latitudinal gradient and found significant intraspecific variation in hydraulic traits between sites. Both Avicennia marina and Aegiceras corniculatum showed high resistance to xylem embolism and were adapted to warmer climates by enhancing hydraulic efficiency and safety. Embolism resistance and sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity (K-S) were positively correlated across species and sites.
Article
Forestry
Yan Wang, Zhongyue Li, Siyuan Wang, Wenna Wang, Na Wang, Jiacun Gu
Summary: This study examined the quantitative variability of root hypodermis passage cells (PCs) across different woody species and their relationships with root morphology, anatomy, and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization rate. The results showed that tropical species had more PCs than temperate species, and the number of PCs was positively correlated with colonization rate, root diameter, and cortex thickness. The proportion of PCs, however, was mostly independent of root morphological and anatomical traits. These findings shed light on the collaboration gradient between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Mengmi Zhang, Marcelo Armendariz, Will Xiao, Olivia Rose, Katarina Bendtz, Margaret Livingstone, Carlos Ponce, Gabriel Kreiman
Summary: Primates constantly explore their surroundings through saccadic eye movements and frequently revisit previous foveated locations. The locations of return fixations are consistent across subjects and tend to occur within short temporal offsets. A neural network model incorporating five key modules can replicate the properties of return fixations.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Amy N. A. Aritsara, Ming-Yuan Ni, Yong-Qiang Wang, Chao-Long Yan, Wen-Hao Zeng, Hui-Qing Song, Kun-Fang Cao, Shi-Dan Zhu
Summary: In this study, we examined the relationship between xylem structure and hydraulic traits, water storage, and growth rate in 22 tree species from a subtropical karst forest in southern China. We found that larger vessel diameter, paratracheal parenchyma, and higher saturated water content were associated with higher hydraulic conductivity. Embolism resistance was not correlated with anatomical traits and did not trade off with hydraulic conductivity. The growth rate was independent of hydraulic traits in small trees, but in large trees, higher hydraulic conductivity and greater embolism resistance led to higher growth rate.
Article
Plant Sciences
Meng Zhou, Yumeng Guo, Jun Sheng, Yujia Yuan, Wen-Hao Zhang, Wenming Bai
Summary: The root anatomical traits and functions in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous herbs differ, with monocots showing a slight reduction in absorption capacity and dicots transitioning from absorption to transportation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jesse Gomez, Michael A. Barnett, Vaidehi Natu, Aviv Mezer, Nicola Palomero-Gallagher, Kevin S. Weiner, Katrin Amunts, Karl Zilles, Kalanit Grill-Spector
Article
Neurosciences
Kevin S. Weiner, Michael A. Barnett, Nathan Witthoft, Golijeh Golarai, Anthony Stigliani, Kendrick N. Kay, Jesse Gomez, Vaidehi S. Natu, Katrin Amunts, Karl Zilles, Kalanit Grill-Spector
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jesse Gomez, Vaidehi Natu, Brianna Jeska, Michael Barnett, Kalanit Grill-Spector
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2018)
Article
Biology
Kalanit Grill-Spector, Kevin S. Weiner, Jesse Gomez, Anthony Stigliani, Vaidehi S. Natu
Article
Neurosciences
Jesse Gomez, Alexis Drain, Brianna Jeska, Vaidehi S. Natu, Michael Barnett, Kalanit Grill-Spector
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jesse Gomez, Zonglei Zhen, Kevin S. Weiner
Article
Psychology, Biological
Jesse Gomez, Michael Barnett, Kalanit Grill-Spector
NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vaidehi S. Natu, Jesse Gomez, Michael Barnett, Brianna Jeska, Evgeniya Kirilina, Carsten Jaeger, Zonglei Zhen, Siobhan Cox, Kevin S. Weiner, Nikolaus Weiskopf, Kalanit Grill-Spector
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2019)
Article
Neurosciences
Vaidehi S. Natu, Michael J. Arcaro, Michael A. Barnett, Jesse Gomez, Margaret Livingstone, Kalanit Grill-Spector, Kevin S. Weiner
Summary: The study reveals a strong structural-functional coupling between sulcal depth and place selectivity in the high-level visual cortex, and this coupling strengthens from childhood to adulthood in humans. The results suggest that the relationship between sulcal structure and place selectivity may be influenced by age and developmental processes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dawn Finzi, Jesse Gomez, Marisa Nordt, Alex A. Rezai, Sonia Poltoratski, Kalanit Grill-Spector
Summary: The study shows that spatial computations in face-selective regions vary across ventral and lateral streams, constrained by connections from early visual areas.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Marisa Nordt, Jesse Gomez, Vaidehi S. Natu, Alex A. Rezai, Dawn Finzi, Holly Kular, Kalanit Grill-Spector
Summary: The study reveals that face- and word-selective regions expand and become more category selective during development in children, while limb-selective regions shrink and lose their preference. The data suggest cortical recycling occurs during childhood development, with limb selectivity repurposed into word and face selectivity.
NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Emily Kubota, Mareike Grotheer, Dawn Finzi, Vaidehi S. Natu, Jesse Gomez, Kalanit Grill-Spector
Summary: This study found that white matter connections in the ventral temporal cortex (VTC) are linked to cytoarchitecture in childhood and also to both cytoarchitecture and category-selectivity in adulthood. These findings suggest that the neural hardware underlying the processing of categorical stimuli may be more domain-general than previously thought, particularly in childhood.
Article
Neurosciences
Xingyu Liu, Federico D'Oleire Uquillas, Angela N. Viaene, Zonglei Zhen, Jesse Gomez
Summary: This study reveals the organization and functional properties of the human cerebellum during development, showing a tissue gradient across different lobules and a close relationship between cerebellar structural development and functional changes.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marc M. Himmelberg, Ekin Tuncok, Jesse Gomez, Kalanit Grill-Spector, Marisa Carrasco, Jonathan Winawer
Summary: Adults have better visual performance for stimuli along the horizontal than vertical and lower than upper vertical meridian, which is paralleled by cortical surface area asymmetries in V1. However, children have similar visual performance for the lower and upper vertical meridian, and similar V1 surface area representing them. This suggests a late-stage change in V1 organization that corresponds to the emergence of visual performance asymmetry in adults along the vertical meridian. The study also shows that many features of V1 are adult-like in children, indicating a developmental change in cortical organization.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
