Biology subjects

Chakraborty, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Chakraborty, A..

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Hedgehog pathway inhibitors significantly reduce the formation of heterotopic ossification in a direct trauma/burn mouse model

Heterotopic ossification (HO), either acquired or hereditary, is featured by ectopic bone formation outside of the normal skeleton. The acquired form of HO is a debilitating and common complication of musculoskeletal trauma, central nervous system injury, burns, combat trauma, hip and elbow fractures, and total joint replacement surgeries. It can be characterized as abnormal bone formation that occurs mostly by endochondral ossification. Recent studies have implicated inflammation and dysregulation of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling as major early contributors to HO formation. Here, we demonstrate that administration of the Hh pathway inhibitor, arsenic trioxide (ATO), prevented acquired HO in a clinically-relevant trauma/burn mouse model. We further evaluated the effects of two additional Hh pathway antagonists: cholecalciferol and pravastatin on mitigating osteoblast differentiation. Finally, we assessed the effect of a combination of Hh pathway inhibitors on reducing systemic proinflammatory responses. A targeted combination approach using Hh pathway inhibitors may offer potential therapeutic benefits though targeting differential components of the Hh pathway. Taken together, our study demonstrates that the administration of single or multiple Hh pathway inhibitors may have the potential to reduce the formation of acquired HO.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2020

A highly contiguous genome assembly of a major forest pest, the Eurasian spruce bark beetle Ips typographus

The Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus [L.]), is a major killer of spruce forests across the Palearctic. During epidemics, it can destroy over 100 million cubic meters of spruce trees in a single year. Here we report a 236 Mb, highly contiguous I. typographus genome assembly using PacBio long-read sequencing. The final phased assembly had a contig N50 of 6.65 Mb in 272 contigs and was predicted to contain 23,923 protein-coding genes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed expanded gene families associated with plant cell wall degradation, including pectinases, aspartyl proteases, and glycosyl hydrolases. In todays forests, increasingly stressed by global warming, this resource can assist in mitigating bark beetle outbreaks by developing novel pest control strategies. Further, this first whole-genome sequence from the genus Ips provides timely resources to address important questions about the evolutionary biology and ecology of Curculionidae, the true weevils, one of the largest animal families.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Reduction of collinear inhibition in observers with central vision loss using anodal transcranial direct current stimulation: A case series.

People with central vision loss (CVL) due to macular degeneration are forced to rely on their residual peripheral vision and often develop a preferred retinal locus (PRL), a region of intact peripheral retina that is used for fixation. At the PRL, visual processing is impaired due to crowding (cluttering of visual objects). The problem of crowding still persists when images are magnified to account for the lower resolution of peripheral vision. We assessed whether anodal transcranial direct stimulation (a-tDCS), a neuro-modulation technique that alters cortical inhibition, would reduce collinear inhibition (an early component of crowding) when applied to the visual cortex in patients with CVL. Our results showed that applying a-tDCS to the visual cortex for 20mins reduced crowding in three patients with CVL and that the effect was sustained for up to 30mins. Sham stimulation delivered in a separate session had no effect. These initial observations mandate further research into the use of a-tDCS to enhance cortical processing of residual retinal input in patients with CVL.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Sox2-RNA mechanisms of chromosome topological control in developing forebrain

Precise regulation of gene expression networks requires the selective targeting of DNA enhancers. The Evf2 long non-coding RNA regulates Dlx5/6 ultraconserved enhancer(UCE) interactions with long-range target genes, controlling gene expression over a 27Mb region in mouse developing forebrain. Here, we show that Evf2 long range gene repression occurs through multi-step mechanisms involving the transcription factor Sox2, a component of the Evf2 ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP). Evf2 directly interacts with Sox2, antagonizing Sox2-dependent Dlx5/6UCE activation. Evf2 regulates Sox2 binding at key sites, including the Dlx5/6eii shadow enhancer and Dlx5/6UCE interaction sites. Evf2 differentially targets RNP-associated Sox2 protein pools (PPs), redirecting Sox2-PPs to one repressed gene at the expense of the other. Co-regulation of Dlx5/6UCEintrachromosomal interactions by Evf2 and Sox2 reveals a role for Sox2 in chromosome topology. We propose that RNA organizes RNPs in a subnuclear domain, regulating both long-range UCE targeting and activity through Sox2-RNP sequestration and recruitment.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Genome sequencing of turmeric provides evolutionary insights into its medicinal properties

Curcuma longa, or turmeric, is traditionally known for its immense medicinal properties and has diverse therapeutic applications. However, the absence of a reference genome sequence is a limiting factor in understanding the genomic basis of the origin of its medicinal properties. In this study, we present the draft genome sequence of Curcuma longa, the first species sequenced from Zingiberaceae plant family, constructed using 10x Genomics linked reads. For comprehensive gene set prediction and for insights into its gene expression, the transcriptome sequencing of leaf tissue was also performed. The draft genome assembly had a size of 1.24 Gbp with ~74% repetitive sequences, and contained 56,036 coding gene sequences. The phylogenetic position of Curcuma longa was resolved through a comprehensive genome-wide phylogenetic analysis with 16 other plant species. Using 5,294 orthogroups, the comparative evolutionary analysis performed across 17 species including Curcuma longa revealed evolution in genes associated with secondary metabolism, plant phytohormones signaling, and various biotic and abiotic stress tolerance responses. These mechanisms are crucial for perennial and rhizomatous plants such as Curcuma longa for defense and environmental stress tolerance via production of secondary metabolites, which are associated with the wide range of medicinal properties in Curcuma longa.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

NAD+ Redox Imbalance in the Heart Exacerbates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

BackgroundDiabetes is a risk factor of heart failure and promotes cardiac dysfunction. Diabetic tissues are associated with NAD+ redox imbalance; however, the hypothesis that NAD+ redox imbalance leads to dysfunction of diabetic hearts has not been tested. In this study, we employed mouse models with altered NAD+ redox balance to test the hypothesis. Methods and ResultsDiabetes was induced in C57BL/6 mice by streptozotocin injections, and diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) was allowed to develop for 16 weeks. Diabetic stress led to cardiac dysfunction and lowered NAD+/NADH ratio. This diabetogenic regimen was administered to cardiac-specific knockout mice of complex I subunit Ndufs4 (cKO), a model with lowered cardiac NAD+/NADH ratio without baseline dysfunction. Cardiac NAD+ redox imbalance in cKO hearts exacerbated systolic and diastolic dysfunction of diabetic mice in both sexes. Collagen levels and transcript analyses of fibrosis and extracellular matrix-dependent pathways did not show change in diabetic cKO hearts, suggesting that the exacerbated cardiac dysfunction was likely due to cardiomyocyte dysfunction. We found that cardiac NAD+ redox imbalance promoted superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) acetylation, protein oxidation, induced troponin I S150 phosphorylation and impaired energetics in diabetic cKO hearts. Importantly, elevation of cardiac NAD+ levels by nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) normalized NAD+ redox balance, over-expression alleviated cardiac dysfunction and reversed pathogenic mechanisms in diabetic mice. ConclusionOur results show that NAD+ redox imbalance to regulate protein acetylation and phosphorylation is a critical mediator of the progression of DCM, and suggest the therapeutic potential of harnessing NAD+ metabolism in DCM.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2020

DNA glycosylase NEIL2 prevents Fusobacterium-mediated inflammation and DNA damage in colonic epithelial cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent and deadly cancer. Approximately, 15-20 % of CRCs display microsatellite instability (MSI); however, the majority (80-85%) of cases are sporadic and known as microsatellite stable (MSS). Several recent studies indicated that infection and uncontrolled inflammation initiate DNA damage and lead to cancer progression. One of the major microbes, Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is highly associated with CRC, but the role of DNA repair in microbe-associated CRC has been largely unknown. Here we show that NEIL2, an oxidized base-specific DNA glycosylase, is significantly downregulated among all the key DNA repair proteins involved in various DNA repair pathways, after infection of Fn with stem-cell-based enteroid-derived monolayers (EDMs) of murine and human healthy subjects. Furthermore, following Fn infection, NEIL2-null mouse-derived EDMs showed significantly higher level of DNA damage, including double strand breaks, and inflammatory cytokines.. Murine CRC model also showed downregulation of the NEIL2 transcript and accumulation of DNA damage. Importantly, analysis of publicly available transcriptomic data showed that the downregulation of NEIL2 is specific for MSS compared to MSI CRCs. We thus conclude that the pathogenic bacterial infection-induced downregulation of NEIL2, and consequent accumulation of DNA damage, play critical roles in the progression of CRC.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Computational approaches identify novel transcription factor combinations that promote corticospinal axon growth following injury

Transcription factors (TFs) act as powerful levers to regulate neural physiology and can be targeted to improve cellular responses to injury or disease. Because TFs often depend on cooperative activity, a major challenge is to identify and deploy optimal sets. Here we developed a novel bioinformatics pipeline, centered on TF co-occupancy of regulatory DNA, and used it to predict factors that potentiate the effects of pro-regenerative Klf6. High content screens of neurite outgrowth identified cooperative activity by 12 candidates, and systematic testing in an animal model of corticospinal tract (CST) damage substantiated three novel instances of pairwise cooperation. Combined Klf6 and Nr5a2 drove the strongest growth, and transcriptional profiling of CST neurons identified Klf6/Nr5a2-responsive gene networks involved in macromolecule biosynthesis and DNA repair. These data identify novel TF combinations that promote enhanced CST growth, clarify the transcriptional correlates, and provide a bioinformatics roadmap to detect TF synergy.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

The genome sequence of Aloe vera reveals adaptive evolution of drought tolerance mechanisms

Aloe vera is a species from Asphodelaceae plant family having unique characteristics such as drought resistance and also possesses numerous medicinal properties. However, the genetic basis of these phenotypes is yet unknown, primarily due to the unavailability of its genome sequence. In this study, we report the first Aloe vera draft genome sequence comprising of 13.83 Gbp and harboring 86,177 coding genes. It is also the first genome from the Asphodelaceae plant family and is the largest angiosperm genome sequenced and assembled till date. Further, we report the first genome-wide phylogeny of monocots with Aloe vera using 1,440 one-to-one orthologs that resolves the genome-wide phylogenetic position of Aloe vera with respect to the other monocots. The comprehensive comparative analysis of Aloe vera genome with the other available high-quality monocot genomes revealed adaptive evolution in several genes of the drought stress response, CAM pathway, and circadian rhythm in Aloe vera. Further, genes involved in DNA damage response, a key pathway in several biotic and abiotic stress response mechanisms, were found to be positively selected. This provides the genetic basis of the evolution of drought stress tolerance capabilities of Aloe vera. This also substantiates the previously suggested notion that the evolution of unique characters in this species is perhaps due to selection and adaptive evolution rather than the phylogenetic divergence or isolation.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

PresRAT: A server for identification of bacterial small-RNA sequences and their targets with probable binding region.

Bacterial small-RNA (sRNA) sequences are functional RNAs, which play an important role in regulating the expression of a diverse class of genes. It is thus critical to identify such sRNA sequences and their probable mRNA targets. Here, we discuss new procedures to identify and characterize sRNA and their targets via the introduction of an integrated online platform named PresRAT (Prediction of sRNA and their Targets). PresRAT uses the primary and secondary structural attributes of sRNA sequences to predict sRNA from a given sequence or bacterial genome. PresRAT also finds probable target mRNAs of sRNA sequences from a given bacterial chromosome and further concentrates on identification of the probable sRNA-mRNA binding regions. Using PresRAT we have identified a total of 60,518 potential sRNA sequences from 54 bacterial genomes and 2447 potential targets from 13 bacterial genomes. We have also implemented a protocol to build and refine 3D models of sRNA and sRNA-mRNA duplex regions and generated 3D models of 50 known sRNAs and 81 sRNA-mRNA duplexes using this platform. Along with the server part, PresRAT also contains a database section, which enlists the predicted sRNA sequences, sRNA targets and their corresponding 3D models with structural dynamics information.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2020

Synchronized infection identifies early rate-limiting steps in the hepatitis B virus life cycle.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped DNA virus that contains a partially double-stranded relaxed circular (rc) DNA. Upon infection, rcDNA is delivered to the nucleus where it is repaired to covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA that serves as the transcription template for all viral RNAs. Our understanding of HBV particle entry dynamics and host pathways regulating intracellular virus trafficking and cccDNA formation is limited. The discovery of sodium taurocholate co-transporting peptide (NTCP) as the primary receptor allows studies on these early steps in viral life cycle. We employed a synchronized infection protocol to quantify HBV entry kinetics. HBV attachment to cells at 4{degrees}C is independent of NTCP, however, subsequent particle uptake is NTCP-dependent and reaches saturation at 12h post-infection. HBV uptake is clathrin- and dynamin dependent with actin and tubulin playing a role in the first 6h of infection. Cellular fractionation studies demonstrate HBV DNA in the nucleus within 6h of infection and cccDNA was first detected at 24h post-infection. Our studies show the majority (83%) of cell bound particles enter HepG2-NTCP cells, however, only a minority (<1%) of intracellular rcDNA was converted to cccDNA, highlighting this as a rate-limiting in establishing infection in vitro. This knowledge highlights the deficiencies in our in vitro cell culture systems and will inform the design and evaluation of physiologically relevant models that support efficient HBV replication.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Thermogenic hydrocarbons sustain diverse subseafloor microbial communities in deep sea cold seep sediments

At marine cold seeps, gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons migrate from deep subsurface origins to the sediment-water interface. Cold seep sediments are known to host taxonomically diverse microorganisms, but little is known about their metabolic potential and depth distribution in relation to hydrocarbon and electron acceptor availability. In this work, we combined geochemical, metagenomic and metabolomic measurements in distinct sediment redox regimes to profile microbial activities within the uppermost 350 cm of a newly discovered cold seep in the NW Atlantic deep sea (2.3 km water depth). Depth-resolved metagenomic profiling revealed compositional and functional differentiation between near-surface sediments (dominated by Proteobacteria) and deeper subsurface layers (dominated by Atribacteria, Chloroflexi, Euryarchaeota and Lokiarchaeota). Metabolic capabilities of community members were inferred from 376 metagenome-assembled genomes spanning 46 phyla (including five novel candidate phyla). In deeper sulfate-reducing and methanogenic sediments, various community members are capable of anaerobically oxidizing short-chain alkanes (alkyl-CoM reductase pathway), longer-chain alkanes (fumarate addition pathway), and aromatic hydrocarbons (fumarate addition and subsequent benzoyl-CoA pathways). Geochemical profiling demonstrated that hydrocarbon substrates are abundant in this location, thermogenic in origin, and subject to biodegradation. The detection of alkyl-/arylalkylsuccinate metabolites, together with carbon isotopic signatures of ethane, propane and carbon dioxide, support that microorganisms are actively degrading hydrocarbons in these sediments. Hydrocarbon oxidation pathways operate alongside other deep seabed metabolisms such as sulfide oxidation, hydrogen oxidation, carbon fixation, fermentation and reductive dehalogenation. Upward migrated thermogenic hydrocarbons thus sustain diverse microbial communities with activities that affect subseafloor biogeochemical processes across the redox spectrum in deep sea cold seeps.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

S-conLSH: Alignment-free gapped mapping of noisy long reads

MotivationThe advancement of SMRT technology has unfolded new opportunities of genome analysis with its longer read length and low GC bias. Alignment of the reads to their appropriate positions in the respective reference genome is the first but costliest step of any analysis pipeline based on SMRT sequencing. However, the state-of-the-art aligners often fail to identify distant homologies due to lack of conserved regions, caused by frequent genetic duplication and recombination. Therefore, we developed a novel alignment-free method of sequence mapping that is fast and accurate. ResultsWe present a new mapper called S-conLSH that uses Spaced context based Locality Sensitive Hashing. With multiple spaced patterns, S-conLSH facilitates a gapped mapping of noisy long reads to the corresponding target locations of a reference genome. We have examined the performance of the proposed method on 5 different real and simulated datasets. S-conLSH is at least 2 times faster than the state-of-the-art alignment-based methods. It achieves a sensitivity of 99%, without using any traditional base-to-base alignment, on human simulated sequence data. By default, S-conLSH provides an alignment-free mapping in PAF format. However, it has an option of generating aligned output as SAM-file, if it is required for any downstream processing. AvailabilityThe source code of our software is freely available at https://github.com/anganachakraborty/S-conLSH

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2019

Allosteric regulation of Glutamate dehydrogenase deamination activity

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is a key enzyme interlinking carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Recent discoveries of the GDH specific role in breast cancer, hyperinsulinism/hyperammonemia syndrome, and neurodegenerative diseases have reinvigorated interest on GDH regulation, which remains poorly understood despite extensive and long standing studies. Notwithstanding the growing evidence of the complexity of the allosteric network behind GDH regulation, a clear understanding of the enzyme dynamics involved in the process is limited to the activator Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and the inhibitor Guanosine triphosphate (GTP). Presently, the identification of further factors involved in the allosteric network is paramount to deepen our understanding of the complex dynamics that regulate GDH enzymatic activity. Combining structural analyses of cryo-electron microscopy data with molecular dynamic simulations, here we show that the cofactor NADH is a key player in the GDH regulation process. Our structural analysis indicates that, binding to the regulatory sites in proximity of the antenna region, NADH acts as a positive allosteric modulator by enhancing both the affinity of GTP binding and inhibition of GDH catalytic activity. We further show that the binding of GTP to the NADH bound GDH produces a local conformational rearrangement that triggers an anticlockwise rotational motion of interlinked alpha-helices with specific tilted helical extension. This structural transition is a fundamental switch in the GDH enzymatic activity. It introduces a torsional stress, and the associated rotational shift in the Rossmann fold closes the catalytic cleft with consequent inhibition of the deamination process. These results shed new light on GDH regulation and may lay new foundation in the design of allosteric agents.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Differential expression of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) in mice susceptible or resistant to chronic colitis

AimsIdentifying the factors that contribute to chronicity in inflamed colitic tissue is not trivial. However, in mouse models of colitis, we can investigate at preclinical timepoints. We sought to validate murine Trichuris muris infection as a model for identification of factors that promote development of chronic colitis.\n\nMethodsWe compared preclinical changes in mice with a resolving immune response to T. muris (resistant) versus mice that fail to expel the worms and develop chronic colitis (susceptible). Findings were then validated in healthy controls and patients with suspected or confirmed IBD.\n\nResultsThe Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (Rage) was highly dysregulated between resistant and susceptible mice prior to the onset of any pathological signs. Increased soluble RAGE (sRAGE) in the serum and faeces of resistant mice correlated with reduced colitis scores. Mouse model findings were validated in a preliminary clinical study: faecal sRAGE was differentially expressed in patients with active IBD compared with IBD in remission, patients with IBD excluded or healthy controls.\n\nConclusionPre-clinical changes in mouse models can identify early pathways in the development of chronic inflammation that human studies cannot. We identified the decoy receptor sRAGE as a potential mechanism for protection against chronic inflammation in colitis in mice and humans. We propose that the RAGE pathway is clinically relevant in the onset of chronic colitis, and that further study of sRAGE in IBD may provide a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2019

Yeast volatomes differentially effect larval feeding in an insect herbivore

Yeasts form mutualistic interactions with insects. Hallmarks of this interaction include provision of essential nutrients, while insects facilitate yeast dispersal and growth on plant substrates. A phylogenetically ancient, chemical dialogue coordinates this interaction, where the vocabulary, the volatile chemicals that mediate the insect response, remains largely unknown. Here, we employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), followed by hierarchical cluster (HCA) and orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), to profile the volatomes of six Metschnikowia spp., Cryptococcus nemorosus and brewers yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The yeasts, which are all found in association with insects feeding on foliage or fruit, emit characteristic, species-specific volatile blends that reflect the phylogenetic context. Species-specificity of these volatome profiles aligned with differential feeding of cotton leafworm larvae Spodoptera littoralis on these yeasts. Bioactivity correlates with yeast ecology; phylloplane species elicited a stronger response than fruit yeasts, and larval discrimination may provide a mechanism for establishment of insect-yeast associations. The yeast volatomes contained a suite of insect attractants known from plant and especially floral headspace, including (Z)-hexenyl acetate, ethyl (2E,4Z)-deca-2,4-dienoate (pear ester), (3E)-4,8-dimethylnona-1,3,7-triene (DMNT), linalool, -terpineol, {beta}-myrcene or (E,E)-a-farnesene. A wide overlap of yeast and plant volatiles, notably floral scents further emphasizes the prominent role of yeasts in plant-microbe-insect relationships including pollination. The knowledge of insect-yeast interactions can be readily brought to practical application, live yeasts or yeast metabolites mediating insect attraction provide an ample toolbox for the development of sustainable insect management.\n\nIMPORTANCEYeasts interface insect herbivores with their food plants. Communication depends on volatile metabolites, and decoding this chemical dialogue is key to understanding the ecology of insect-yeast interactions. This study explores the volatomes of eight yeast species which have been isolated from foliage, flowers or fruit, and from plant-feeding insects. They each release a rich bouquet of volatile metabolites, including a suite of known insect attractants from plant and floral scent. This overlap underlines the phylogenetic dimension of insect-yeast associations, which according to the fossil record, long predate the appearance of flowering plants. Volatome composition is characteristic for each species, aligns with yeast taxonomy, and is further reflected by a differential behavioural response of cotton leafworm larvae, which naturally feed on foliage of a wide spectrum of broad-leaved plants. Larval discrimination may establish and maintain associations with yeasts and is also a substrate for designing sustainable insect management techniques.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Early life maturation of human visual system white matter is altered by monocular enucleation

Monocular enucleation early in life and the resultant lack of binocular visual input during visual development results in functional and structural brain changes in adulthood, including alterations in white matter microstructure. However, the time courses of these neurodevelopmental changes are unknown. Here, we investigated whether structural brain changes were present at 8 to 12 years of age in a group of children with a history of monocular enucleation prior to 3 years of age (the ME group) relative to control participants with normal binocular vision (the BC group). Structural connectivity was measured using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Relative to the BC group, the ME group exhibited significantly increased radial and mean diffusivity in the optic radiation contralateral to the enucleated eye, the bidirectional interhemispheric V1 to V1 tracts and the V1 to MT tract ipsilateral to the enucleated eye. These changes indicate abnormal myelinization and reduced axonal density in subcortical and cortical visual pathway white matter structures following unilateral enucleation and loss of binocular vision. Our findings are broadly consistent with those recently reported for older uniocular individuals suggesting that these effects are present in childhood and persist into adulthood.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Continuous theta burst TMS of area MT+ impairs attentive motiontracking.

Attentive motion tracking deficits, measured using multiple object tracking (MOT) tasks, have been identified in a number of visual and neurodevelopmental disorders such as amblyopia and autism. These deficits are often attributed to the abnormal development of high-level attentional networks. However, neuroimaging evidence from amblyopia suggests that reduced MOT performance can be explained by impaired function in motion sensitive area MT+ alone. To test the hypothesis that MT+ plays an important role in MOT, we assessed whether modulation of MT+ activity using continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) influenced MOT performance in participants with normal vision. An additional experiment involving numerosity judgements of MOT stimulus elements was conducted to control for non-specific effects of MT+ cTBS on psychophysical task performance. The MOT stimulus consisted of 4 target and 4 distractor dots and was presented at 10{degrees} eccentricity in the right or left hemifield. Functional MRI-guided cTBS was applied to left MT+. Participants (n = 13, age:27 {+/-} 3) attended separate active and sham cTBS sessions where the MOT task was completed before, 5 mins post and 30 mins post cTBS. Active cTBS significantly impaired MOT task accuracy relative to baseline for the right (stimulated) hemifield 5 mins (10 {+/-} 2% reduction; t12 = 1.95, p = 0.03) and 30 mins (14 {+/-} 3% reduction; t12 = 2.96, p = 0.01) post stimulation. No impairment occurred within the left (control) hemifield after active cTBS or for either hemifield after sham cTBS. Numerosity task performance was unaffected by cTBS. These results highlight the importance of lower-level motion processing for MOT and suggest that abnormal function of MT+ alone is sufficient to cause a deficit in MOT task performance.

neuroscience↗