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- Artículo de Publicación PeriódicaSpontaneous and induced out-of-body experiences during sleep paralysis: Emotions, “AURA” recognition, and clinical implications(2022)"Sleep paralysis is characterized by the incapacity to perform voluntary movements during sleep/wake transitions, and could bring great discomfort. During sleep paraly sis, out-of-body experiences can occur. Out-of-body experiences refers to the sensation of being outside of the physical body and perceiving the world from this outside perspective; however, they are pleasant in comparison with other sleep paralysis hallucinations. Lucid dreams are dreams in which a subject becomes aware of being dreaming while the dream occurs. Here, we designed an online survey to study the predominant and specific emotions during sleep paralysis and/or out-of-body experience events as well as the somatosensory perceptions that preceded their occurrence. The sample (N = 329) was divided into experimental groups depending on the presence/absence of out-of-body experiences, capacity to induce (or not) out-of body experiences, and perception/no-perception of the sleep paralysis. We showed that more positive emotions were associated with out-of-body experiences and more negative emotions were associated with sleep paralysis episodes, and for those who claim the ability to induce out-of-body experiences, positive emotions were more frequent in their episodes. We found that subjects perceived auditory, tactile and visual sensations before sleep paralysis episodes, and we proposed that these could be an “aura” of sleep paralysis. Furthermore, subjects that had out-of-body experiences but had never felt the sleep paralysis, perceived tactile and visual sensations to the same extent as subjects with out-of-body experiences that felt the sleep paralysis." Therefore, we proposed that the “aura” recognition could be used under controlled conditions for out-of-body experiences induction in patients with sleep paralysis to diminish the negative symptoms associated with sleep paralysis episodes
- Artículo de Publicación PeriódicaDynamical models in neuroscience from a closed-loop control perspective(2022-01-28)"Modifying neural activity is a substantial goal in neuroscience that facilitates the understanding of brain functions and the development of medical therapies. Neurobiological models play an essential role, contributing to the understanding of the underlying brain dynamics. In this context, control systems represent a fundamental tool to provide a correct articulation between model stimulus (system inputs) and outcomes (system outputs). However, throughout the literature there is a lack of discussions on neurobiological models, from the formal control perspective. In general, existing control proposals applied to this family of systems, are developed empirically, without theoretical and rigorous framework. Thus, the existing control solutions, present clear and significant limitations. The focus of this work is to survey dynamical neurobiological models that could serve for closed-loop control schemes or for simulation analysis. Consequently, this paper provides a comprehensive guide to discuss and analyze control oriented neurobiological models. It also provides a potential framework to adequately tackle control problems that could modify the behavior of single neurons or networks. Thus, this study constitutes a key element in the upcoming discussions and studies regarding control methodologies applied to neurobiological systems, to extend the present research and understanding horizon for this field."
- Artículo de Publicación PeriódicaClassification based on dynamic mode decomposition applied to brain recognition of context(2021-09)"Local Field Potentials (LFPs) are easy to access electrical signals of the brain that represent the summation in the extracellular space, of currents originated within the neurons. As such, LFPs could contain infor mation about ongoing computations in neuronal circuits and could potentially be used to design brain machine interface algorithms. However how brain computations could be decoded from LFPs is not clear. Within this context, a methodology for signal classification is proposed in this study, particularly based on the Dynamic Mode Decomposition method, in conjunction with binary clustering routines based on supervised learning. Note that, although the classification methodology is presented here in the context of a biological problem, it can be applied to a broad range of applications. Then, as a case-study, the proposed method is validated with the classification of LFP-based brain cognitive states. All the analysis, signals, and results shown in this study consider real data measured in the hippocampus, in rats perform ing exploration tasks. Consequently, it is shown that, using the measured LFP, the method infers which context was the animal exploring. Thus, evidence on the spatial codification in LFP signals is consequently provided, which still is an open question in neuroscience."
- Artículo de Publicación PeriódicaImpairment of aversive episodic memories during Covid-19 pandemic: The impact of emotional context on memory processes(2022-06)"The threatening context of the COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique setting to study the effects of negative psychological symptoms on memory processes. Episodic memory is an essential function of the human being related to the ability to store and remember experiences and anticipate possible events in the future. Studying this function in this context is crucial to understand what effects the pandemic will have on the formation of episodic memories. To study this, the formation of episodic memories was evaluated by free recall, recognition, and episode order tasks for an aversive and neutral content. The results indicated that aversive episodic memory is impaired both in the free recall task and in the recognition task. Even the beneficial effect that emotional memory usually has for the episodic order was undermined as there were no differences between the neutral and aversive condition. The present work adds to the evidence that indicates that the level of activation does not modify memory processes in a linear way, which also depends on the type of recall and the characteristics of the content to be encoded."
- Artículo de Publicación PeriódicaPersistence of spatial memory induced by spaced training involves a behavioral-tagging process(2022-08-10)"Spaced training, which involves long inter-trial intervals, has positive effects on memories. One of the main attributes of long-term memories (LTM) is persistence. Here, to identify the process that promotes LTM persistence by spaced learning, we used the spatial object recognition (SOR) task in rats. The protocol consisted of a first strong training session that induced LTM formation (tested 1 day after training), but not LTM persistence (tested 7 or 14 days after training); and a second weak training session that promoted memory persistence when applied 1 day, but not 7 days, after the first training. We propose that the promotion of memory persistence is based on the Behavioral Tagging (BT) mechanism operating when the memory trace is retrieved. BT involves the setting of a tag induced by learning which gives rise to input selectivity, and the use of plasticity-related proteins (PRPs) to establish the mnemonic trace. We postulate that retraining will mainly retag the sites initially activated by the original learning, where the PRPs needed for memory expression and/or induced by retrieval would be used to maintain a persistent mnemonic trace. Our results suggest that the mechanism of memory expression, but not those of memory reinforcement or reconsolidation, is necessary to promote memory persistence after retraining. The molecular mechanisms involve ERKs1/2 activity to set the SOR learning tag, and the availability of GluA2-containing AMPA receptor. In conclusion, both the synthesis of PRPs and the setting of learning tags are key processes triggered by retraining that allow SOR memory persistence."
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