Kirschke, J. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2025

Cerebrospinal fluid flow and clearance driven by lateral ventricle volume oscillations

In the human brain, substance clearance is intimately connected to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its flow. CSF extends from the lateral ventricles (LVs) to the parenchymas perivascular spaces. Macroscopic undulating CSF flow is present during both wakefulness and sleep and can be experimentally induced. However, the mechanisms generating this flow and its contribution to brain clearance remain unclear. Using fMRI and PET across various conditions, we demonstrate that LV-volume oscillations drive undulating CSF flow in the ventricles and subarachnoid basal cisternae. LV oscillations are driven by cortical blood-volume changes induced by neuronal activity, heartbeat and respiration. LV oscillations amplitudes determine PET-tracer clearance from the LVs. Conclusively, induced by extra- and intracranial physiological drivers and mediated by cortical blood-volume changes, LV-volume oscillations drive macroscopic CSF flow and clearance.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Gender imbalances in citation rates are mediated by field specific author gender distributions

Gender biases are well documented in science and typically favor male scientists. In this context, a particularly pervasive gender bias is undercitation of publications authored by women, resulting in profound negative effects on academic visibility and career advancement. This bias has been well documented in fields where author gender distributions are strongly skewed towards men (e.g., astronomy, physics, neuroscience). By investigating citation practices in a field that has traditionally been more accessible to female scientists (Speech and Language Pathology, SLP), we demonstrate that gendered citation practices are mediated by author gender distribution, rather than being a universal pattern. Specifically, our results revealed a citation pattern in SLP that (a) overall tends to favor female authors, (b) persists after controlling for potential confounding factors and, (c) is particularly strong when female authors are citing publications involving female first and senior author teams. This research also implies that the implementation of effective measures to increase the number and influence of underrepresented individuals in specific fields of science may be suitable to mitigate downstream disadvantages for career advancement of either sex.

scientific communication and education↗