Fontanesi, C. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2022

A Possible Unitary Mechanism for General Anesthesia

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of high importance, among others because of its role in cellular respiration and in the operation of fuel cells. Recently, a possible relation between respiration and general anesthesia has been found. This work aims to explore whether anesthesia related gases affect the ORR. In ORR, oxygen which is in its triplet ground state is reduced to form products that are all in the singlet state. While this process is "in principle" forbidden because of spin conservation, it is known that if the electrons transferred in the ORR are spin polarized, the reaction occurs efficiently. Here we show, in electrochemical experiments, that the efficiency of the oxygen reduction is reduced by the presence of general anesthetics in solution. We suggest that a spin-orbit coupling to the anesthetics depolarizes the spins. This causes both a reduction in reaction efficiency and a change in the reaction products. The findings may point to a possible relation between ORR efficiency and anesthetic action. TOC O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=140 SRC="FIGDIR/small/518334v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (40K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4a5b8aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1bfc961org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@3e002corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@7d74f0_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2020

Beauty That Moves: Dance for Parkinson's Effects on Affect, Self-Efficacy, Gait Symmetry and Dual Task Performance

BackgroundPrevious studies have investigated the effects of dance interventions on Parkinsons motor and non-motor symptoms in an effort to develop an integrated view of dance as a therapeutic intervention. This within-subject study questions whether dance can be simply considered a form of exercise by comparing a Dance for Parkinsons class with a matched-intensity exercise session lacking dance elements like music, metaphorical language, and social reality of grace and beauty. MethodsIn this repeated-measure design, 7 adults with Parkinsons were tested four times; (i) before and (ii) after a Dance for Parkinsons class, as well as (iii) before and (iv) after a matched-intensity exercise session. Physiological measures included heart rate and electrodermal activity. Self-reported affect and body self-efficacy were collected. Gait symmetry and dual task cost were analyzed using the 6-minutes walking test (6MWT) and Timed-Up-and-Go test (TUG), respectively. ResultsAverage heart rate was the same for both conditions, while electrodermal activity was higher during Dance for Parkinsons. Significant differences were found in body self-efficacy, beauty subscale, symmetry of gait, and dual task performance. ConclusionsDance, compared to an exercise intervention of matched intensity, yields different outcomes through the means of intrinsic artistic elements, which may influence affective responses, the experience of beauty, self-efficacy, and gait performance.

neuroscience↗