Daniel Montoya

t has been shown that three-dimensional self-assembled multicellular structures derived from human pluripotent stem cells show electrical activity similar to EEG. More recently, neurons were successfully embedded in digital game worlds. The biologically inspired neural network (BNN), expressing human cortical cells, was able to show internal modification and learn the task at hand (predicting the trajectory of a digital ball while moving a digital paddle). In other words, the system allowed to read motor information and write sensory data into cell cultures. In this article, we discuss Neural Correlates of Consciousness (NCC) theories, and their capacity to predict or even allow for consciousness in a BNN. We found that Information Integration Theory (IIT) is the only NCC that offers the possibility for a BNN to show consciousness, since the Φ value in the BNN is >0. In other words, the recording of real-time neural activity responding to environmental stimuli. IIT argues that any system capable of integrating information will have some degree of phenomenal consciousness. We argue that the pattern of activity appearing in the BNN, with increased density of sensory information leading to better performance, implies that the BNN could be conscious. This may have profound implications from a psychological, philosophical, and ethical perspective.

The aim of this systematic review is to show some clear evidence of COVID-19 infections in the human brain and draw attention to the neurological symptoms that were described during the early stages of the pandemic. A systematic literature search, conducted using ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar, returned articles published from January 1 to October 1, 2020. Five hundred and ninety five articles were retrieved and screened for specificity and brain data availability associated with SARS-CoV-2 in adults. After the selection criteria were applied, 87 articles remained, comprising 55 case reports and 32 cohort studies, which involved 711 men and 310 women. The majority of reports listed altered states of consciousness as a symptom appearing post-admission or during the scanning process. Other symptoms included headaches, anosmia and ageusia, facial droop, and paralysis, among others. Parallel to these neurological symptoms, white matter hyperintensities were the most frequent finding with MRI brain scanning, while hypodensities accounted for most of the lesions described with CT scanning. There was a significant occurrence of hemorrhages and microbleeds, with a prevalence of multifocal intracerebral bleeding patterns in all cerebrum and cerebellum lobes. The most affected brain area was the corpus callosum, followed by the lateral ventricles and surrounding areas, the midbrain, the basal ganglia, the internal capsule, the olfactory bulb, the thalamus, the insular cortex, and the amygdala. There are unknown long-term effects that may impact currently infected patients if the description of neurological symptoms and mapping of brain areas affected by SARS-CoV-2 are not accomplished. 

Recent discussions involving the field of human cognition, and the relationship with its underlying brain function, have highlighted the advent of a new paradigm, labeled as postmaterialism. However, the post-materialist paradigm point of view is hard to reconcile with previously accumulated evidence, which has been heavily interpreted from a materialistic perspective. Two clear examples, taken from the classic literature on brain and memory function, illustrate some of the limitations that a post-materialist perspective can encounter: the cases of patient H.M. and Phineas Gage. These landmark cases seem to indicate that brain damage is strongly associated with loss of cognitive function. I briefly visit these classic examples from the literature and propose a challenge to the post-materialist approach to producing an alternative scientific explanation.

ABSTRACT The study of emotions in humans has been greatly advanced by new developments in ro- botic applications. In a previous chapter (Montoya, Baker-Oglesbee, & Bhattacharya, 2011) we reviewed the evidence regarding human emotional response to robots, a response that included behavioral and neural elements. In this chapter, we look at the other side of the equation by describing some of the current models of emotion-generation in artificial sys- tems and detail some of the challenges and the solutions that have been proposed. We suc- cinctly review some of the recent cognitive models utilizing humanoid robots such as iCub and Nao with the underlying assumption that applications based on human development and embodied agents will have the greater chances to succeed.

New developments in robotics have brought humans and robots interacting in human environments. Research has focused its attention on the development of human-like virtual displays and robotics, while parallel lines of research have focused on the study of human responses to robotic agents with special emphasis in human’s emotional reac- tion. This chapter explores the intersection between robotics and neurosciences with special emphasis in human-robot interactions (HRI). We briefly present recent innova- tions in the context of robotic face detection and recognition as well as human physi- ological and cognitive response to the presence of artificial agents.

Long term potentiation (LTP) is defined as a long-lasting enhancement in communication between two neurons after the delivery of high frequency trains of electrical stimulation. This adjustment in synaptic efficacy is the physiological process that sustains learning and memory. However, few studies have addressed the existence of a similar phenomenon in the human cortex, even though it has been investigated for more than 30 years using animal models. The present review illustrates the state of the LTP-like phenomenon recently described in humans, and the possibility of ascribing the known mechanisms of LTP to the human cortex. A detailed knowledge of synaptic plasticity in the human cortex will facilitate a smooth translation of a wealth of physiological and molecular information and will have a major impact in the development and design of pharmacological agents intended as cognitive enhancers. We argue for the need of more focused experimental research on this particularly importa...

It has been proposed that Alzheimer’s disease is a synaptic failure associated with subtle memory loss during the early stages of the disorder. If this is the case, it should prove useful to elucidate the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity during early stages of the condition. On the other hand, Long Term Potentiation, one of the best-known mechanisms of synaptic plasticity has been recently confirmed absent in Alzheimer’s disease patients. This link may lead to focus efforts in early detection of synaptic failure and development of preventive approaches aiming to improve synaptic plasticity. Here we review some new evidence in the study of cortical plasticity in humans that could be applied to the early detection of the disorder.

It has been proposed that Alzheimer’s disease is a synaptic failure associated with subtle memory loss during the early stages of the disorder. If this is the case, it should prove useful to elucidate the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity during early stages of the condition. On the other hand, Long Term Potentiation, one of the best-known mechanisms of synaptic plasticity has been recently confirmed absent in Alzheimer’s disease patients. This link may lead to focus efforts in early detection of synaptic failure and development of preventive approaches aiming to improve synaptic plasticity. Here we review some new evidence in the study of cortical plasticity in humans that could be applied to the early detection of the disorder.

Alcmeon, Revista Argentina de Clínica Neuropsiquiátrica, vol. 17, Nº 2, octubre de 2011, págs. 189 a 198. Resumen La fibromialgia posee ciertas característi-cas de una enfermedad neuropsiquiátrica, como la pérdida de memoria y los fallos aten-cionales, pero su principal componente, el do-lor crónico en ausencia de daño físico, la con-vierten en una enfermedad difícil de diferen-ciar de otros trastornos como la somatización. Aún cuando no existe un único tratamiento efectivo para la fibromialgia, es imprescindi-ble para la calidad de vida del paciente el re-cibir un diagnóstico especifico que le permita sopesar las opciones de tratamiento. En este artículo proponemos describir algunas carac-terísticas del diagnóstico diferencial de la fi-bromialgia, y sopesar las opciones de trata-miento disponibles. Al final, describimos cier-tos elementos desde la perspectiva del paciente y su intersección con la práctica de la salud mental. Palabras clave Fibromialgia, diagnóstico diferencial, som...

ntroducción. Aunque la implicación de la corteza cingulada anterior en la interacción entre emoción e inhibición de respuesta es un hallazgo consistente, todavía no está claro cuál es su papel en esta interacción. Sujetos y métodos. Se emplearon los potenciales relacionados con eventos en combinación con técnicas de localización de fuentes para examinar la contribución específica de la corteza cingulada anterior en la inhibición de respuesta ante estímulos emocionales. 30 participantes realizaron una versión modificada de la tarea go/no go, caracterizada por requerir la ejecución (go) y supresión (no go) de res- puestas motoras. Resultados. Los aná- lisis conductuales mostraron que los participantes cometieron más errores de comisión ante los estímulos positi- vos que ante los neutros y negativos. Los análisis de vóxel (3D) de los po- tenciales relacionados con eventos in- dicaron que la inhibición de respuesta ante estímulos positivos generó una mayor activación de la corteza cingu...

Choline, a dietary compound present in many foods, has recently been classified as an essential nutrient for humans. There is evidence from animal models that the availability of choline during the prenatal period influences neural and cognitive development. Here we report that choline supplementation during a 6 d gestational period protects against neurodegeneration in the posterior cingulate and retrosplenial cortices of female adolescent rats produced by peripheral administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine (MK-801). These data show that availability of a single nutrient, choline, during a brief period of prenatal development diminishes vulnerability to neurotoxicity in adolescent offspring.

La potenciación de larga duración (LTP) ha sido considerada por largo tiempo como un índice de la plasticidad sináptica. Su presencia ha sido demostrada recientemente en hu- manos utilizando técnicas de potenciales evocados. Al mismo tiempo, la enfermedad de Alzheimer ha sido propuesta hace un tiempo como una falla sináptica. Sin embargo, los nuevos criterios diagnósticos para el Alzheimer no utilizan ningún criterio picofisiológico. Teniendo en cuenta que los criterios excluyen a pacientes que no presentan deterioro de la memoria, sería de particular utilidad aplicar estas nuevas técnicas no invasivas para establecer fallos tempranos de la plasticidad sináptica.

Manipulation of dietary choline levels during gestation results in enduring neurobehavioral changes in offspring that last into adulthood. Alterations of hippocampal function and memory are among the most striking changes. Depending upon the measures assessed, prenatal choline supplementation tends to promote excitatory synaptic efficacy in hippocampal circuits while prenatal choline deficiency diminishes it. However, the mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear. Transverse hippocampal slices were prepared from adult offspring of dams fed choline supplemented, choline deficient, or control diets. We assessed paired-pulse inhibition, and excitatory synaptic responsiveness before and after activation of cholinergic receptors with Carbachol. Prenatally choline deficient animals yielded significantly fewer electrophysiological viable hippocampal slices than did animals from either of the other two treatment groups. Among the slices tested, there were no differences in paired pulse inhibition between the treatment groups. However, transient cholinergic activation resulted in a prolonged enhancement of the amplitude of the population EPSP (pEPSP) response in slices from prenatally choline supplemented animals. These results suggest that GABA receptor-mediated inhibition remains intact after prenatal choline manipulations, and that enhancement of the excitatory responsiveness of hippocampal circuits in slices from prenatally choline supplemented rats may be related in part to an increase in cholinergic tone within the CA1 circuit.

New developments in robotics have brought humans and robots interacting in human environments. Research has focused its attention on the development of human-like virtual displays and robotics, while parallel lines of research have focused on the study of human responses to robotic agents with special emphasis in human’s emotional reac- tion. This chapter explores the intersection between robotics and neurosciences with special emphasis in human-robot interactions (HRI). We briefly present recent innova- tions in the context of robotic face detection and recognition as well as human physi- ological and cognitive response to the presence of artificial agents.

The study of emotions in humans has been greatly advanced by new developments in ro- botic applications. In a previous chapter (Montoya, Baker-Oglesbee, & Bhattacharya, 2011) we reviewed the evidence regarding human emotional response to robots, a response that included behavioral and neural elements. In this chapter, we look at the other side of the equation by describing some of the current models of emotion-generation in artificial sys- tems and detail some of the challenges and the solutions that have been proposed. We suc- cinctly review some of the recent cognitive models utilizing humanoid robots such as iCub and Nao with the underlying assumption that applications based on human development and embodied agents will have the greater chances to succeed.

ntroduction. Long term potentiation (LTP) is defined as a long-lasting enhancement in communication between two neurons after the delivery of high frequency trains of electrical stimulation. This adjustment in synaptic efficacy is the physiological process that sustains learning and memory. However, few studies have addressed the existence of a similar phenomenon in the human cortex, even though it has been investigated for more than 30 years using animal models.
Development. The present review illustrates the state of the LTP-like phenomenon recently described in humans, and the possibility of ascribing the known mechanisms of LTP to the human cortex.
Conclusions. A detailed knowledge of synaptic plasticity in the human cortex will facilitate a smooth translation of a wealth of physiological and molecular information and will have a major impact in the development and design of pharmacological agents intended as cognitive enhancers. We argue for the need of more focused experimental research on this particularly important area of neuroplasticity.