Biology subjects

Konrad, K.

Publications and source records attributed to Konrad, K..

14 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Sign language communication enhances representations for hands in high-level visual cortex

High-level visual cortex supports the perception and recognition of visual categories. What is the role of experience in shaping this region and the time course over which it stays malleable? We tested whether experience with a sign language, where information is conveyed via the hands and face, shapes category representations in high-level visual cortex. We acquired functional MRI data from 20 hearing signers and 20 non-signers while they viewed images from ten categories, including faces and hands. We compared the neural distinctiveness and size of category-selective regions between groups in ventral temporal and lateral occipito-temporal cortex. Signers showed higher distinctiveness for hands and larger hand-selective regions than non-signers in the left hemisphere, and sign language experience predicted neural hand representations. Critically, ventral hand representations were also enhanced in signers who learned sign language in adulthood. These findings indicate that visual cortex retains experience-dependent plasticity into adulthood, with implications for visual learning and cortical development.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Developmental Trajectories of Dynamic Brain Network Organization and Their Alteration in Tourette Syndrome

Typical brain network maturation involves an increase in network flexibility and hemispheric specialization. Tourette syndrome (TS) disrupts these trajectories, with tic severity potentially modulating deviations. This study examined theta-band EEG source connectivity states in typically developing children and children with TS. We assessed age-related trajectories and the impact of tic severity using generalized linear modeling, accounting for sex and multiple comparisons. K-means clustering identified four recurrent source connectivity states (A-D), with metrics including Coverage, representing state prevalence (proportion of time spent in each state), Average Dwell Time, an index of state stability (mean duration of stable persistence of each state), and Transition Rate Per Minute, reflecting global network flexibility (frequency of state switches per minute). In healthy controls (HC), typical maturation was characterized by increased left intra-hemisphere connectivity state stability and prevalence, decreased diffuse connectivity state stability, and rising network flexibility. TS patients exhibited deviant trajectories, including age-dependent decreasing global network flexibility across subgroups stratified by tic severity and marginally divergent diffuse activity patterns, with high-severity cases showing increased diffuse connectivity state stability. The normative patterns suggest typical motor development requiring dynamic network reconfiguration and hemispheric specialization, processes that appear altered in TS. TS patients exhibit age-dependent network rigidity across severity subgroups, as reflected by decreased transition rates, alongside severity- modulated network imbalances, indicating that tic disorders disrupt mechanisms of brain network maturation underlying motor control. These findings suggest that atypical trajectories of network stability and flexibility represent a key feature of tic pathophysiology, highlighting the role of altered network dynamics in TS during maturation.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Limb-Selective Regions in the Lateral Temporal Lobe Shrink from Childhood to Adulthood

Perceiving hand gestures and inferring others actions and emotions from movements of hands and limbs play an important role in every-day interactions, especially in young children. The perception of categories such as limbs, bodies, or faces is supported by category-selective regions in the temporal lobe. Some category-selective regions, such as those reacting selectively to body parts or limbs, exist both on the ventral and on the lateral side of the temporal lobe, and are part of the ventral and lateral stream, respectively. While it was recently shown that limb-selective regions in the ventral stream shrink from childhood to adulthood, the developmental trajectory of limb-selective regions in the lateral stream remains unknown. To close this gap in knowledge, we acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data in 21 children aged 10 - 12 years and 20 adults while they watched images of 10 visual categories including limbs and whole bodies. We first replicate the decrease of limb-selectivity from childhood to adulthood in the ventral temporal lobe. Across several analyses, our results further demonstrate that limb-selective regions in the lateral temporal lobe shrink as well, particularly in the left hemisphere. Underlining the specificity of our finding, we show that lateral body-selective regions show no significant development from childhood to adulthood. These findings advance our understanding of the developmental trajectories of limb- and body-selective regions and of the ventral and lateral visual streams more broadly.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Calcium-triggered apoplastic ROS bursts balance gravity and mechanical signals to navigate soil

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated repeatedly in multiple signaling processes in plants but the underlying mechanisms and roles remain enigmatic. Here, we developed live imaging of apoplastic ROS at the root surface. Different signals, including auxin, extracellular ATP and RALF1 peptide, all induce cytosolic calcium transients and apoplastic ROS bursts. Genetic and optogenetic manipulations identified calcium transients as necessary and sufficient for ROS bursts via activation of NADPH oxidases RBOHC and RBOHF. Apoplastic ROS bursts are not required but rather limit the gravity-induced root bending. Root bending is sensed by stretch-activated calcium channel MCA1 leading to NADPH oxidase activation at the stretched side. The resulting ROS production stiffens cell wall for better soil penetration. Apoplastic ROS thus provides a means to balance tissue flexibility and stiffness to efficiently navigate soil.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

The maturation of infant and toddler visual cortex neural activity and associations with fine motor performance

Our understanding of how visual cortex neural processes mature during infancy and toddlerhood is limited. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), the present study investigated the development of visual evoked responses (VERs) in both cross-sectional and longitudinal samples of infants and toddlers 2 months to 3 years. Brain space analyses focused on N1m and P1m latency, as well as the N1m-to-P1m amplitude. Associations between VER measures and developmental quotient (DQ) scores in the cognitive/visual and fine motor domains were also examined. Results showed a nonlinear decrease in N1m and P1m latency as a function of age, characterized by rapid changes followed by slower progression, with the N1m latency plateauing at 6-7 months and the P1m latency plateauing at 8-9 months. The N1m-to-P1m amplitude also exhibited a non-linear decrease, with strong responses observed in younger infants ([~]2-3 months) and then a gradual decline. Associations between N1m and P1m latency and fine motor DQ scores were observed, suggesting that infants with faster visual processing may be better equipped to perform fine motor tasks. The present findings advance our understanding of the maturation of the infant visual system and highlight the relationship between the maturation of visual system and fine motor skills. HighlightsO_LIThe infant N1m and P1m latency shows a nonlinear decrease. C_LIO_LIN1m latency decreases precede P1m latency decreases. C_LIO_LIN1m-to-P1m amplitude shows a nonlinear decrease, with stronger responses in younger than older infants. C_LIO_LIN1m and P1m latency are associated with fine motor DQ. C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Mapping Motor Preparation in the Developing Brain: Insights from Contingent Negative Variation and Event-related Mu Rhythm Modulation

IntroductionThe motor system shows a pronounced development throughout childhood and adolescence. The analysis of the contingent negative variation (CNV) provides valuable insights into various cognitive and motor processes, underlying cortical sources, and their development across the lifespan. MethodsWe investigated the maturation of motor preparation, pre-activation and post-processing in children and adolescents aged 5- to 16- years. EEG Data of 46 healthy right-handed subjects were recorded, using a 64-electrode high density sensor array. Subjects performed a CNV task with a directional warning cue. To assess age related developmental differences of cortical activation, analyses of event-related potentials (ERPs), mu-rhythm (de)synchronization and source analysis were applied. ResultsChildren showed increased reaction times and committed more errors than adolescent subjects. Motor preparation and post-processing were characterized by a developmental increase of cortical activity related to the supplementary motor area (SMA). Young children showed a pronounced sensory post processing during orienting response (early CNV) that decreased with age. In contrast to previous research in young adults, adolescent subjects showed no contralateral activation of motor areas during motor preparation (late CNV) yet. Furthermore, there was an observed decline in motor post processing with maturation. ConclusionThe results indicate a prolonged maturation of cortical scalp areas associated with motor control up into late adolescence or early adulthood. With age, the activation of mid-frontocentral regions associated with the SMA becomes more pronounced during motor planning and response evaluation. Qualitatively distinct cortical activation patterns of young subjects suggest immature supplementary-, pre- and primary motor areas and might be a primary cause for age-related increasing efficiency of motor action control.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Successful Modulation of Temporoparietal Junction Activity and Stimulus-Driven Attention by fNIRS-based Neurofeedback - a Randomized Controlled Proof-of-Concept Study

The right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) is a core hub in neural networks associated with reorienting of attention and social cognition. However, it remains unknown whether participants can learn to actively modulate their rTPJ activity via neurofeedback. Here, we explored the feasibility of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based neurofeedback in modulating rTPJ activity and its effect on rTPJ functions such as reorienting of attention and visual perspective taking. In a bidirectional regulation control group design, 50 healthy participants were either reinforced to up- or downregulate rTPJ activation over four days of training. Both groups showed an increase in rTPJ activity right from the beginning of the trainingbut only the upregulation group maintained this effect, while the downregulation group showed a decline from the initial rTPJ activation. This suggests a learning effect in the downregulation exclusively, making it challenging to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of rTPJ upregulation training. However, we observed group-specific effects on the behavioral level. We found a significant group x time interaction effect in the performance of the reorienting of attention task and group-specific changes, with decreased reaction times (RTs) in the upregulation group and increased RTs in the downregulation group across all conditions after the neurofeedback training. Those with low baseline performance showed greater improvements. In the perspective-taking task, however, only time effects were observed that were non-group-specific.These findings demonstrate that fNIRS-based neurofeedback is a feasible method to modulate rTPJ functions with preliminary evidence of neurophysiologically specific effects, thus paving the way for future applications of non-invasive rTPJ modulation in neuropsychiatric disorders. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=96 SRC="FIGDIR/small/532169v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (21K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1061186org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@168b06forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@17795forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1215c6e_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG HighlightsO_LIthe right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) as a core hub for attentive and socio-cognitive functions is a promising target for neuromodulatory interventions C_LIO_LIfirst single-blinded, randomized controlled study demonstrates feasibility and effectiveness of the fNIRS-based neurofeedback training of the rTPJ in healthy adults C_LIO_LIsubjects are able to regulate the rTPJ with different learning characteristics C_LIO_LIfirst evidence of a neurophysiologically specific effect on stimulus-driven attention C_LIO_LIfindings have important implications for clinical translation of neurofeedback interventions targeting the rTPJ C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

RNA localization to the mitotic spindle regulated by kinesin-1 and dynein is essential for early development of the sea urchin embryo

Mitosis is a fundamental and highly regulated process that acts to faithfully segregate chromosomes into two identical daughter cells. Transcript localization of genes involved in mitosis to the mitotic spindle may be an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to ensure that mitosis occurs in a timely manner. We identified many RNA transcripts that encode proteins involved in mitosis localized at the mitotic spindles in dividing sea urchin embryos and mammalian cells. Disruption of microtubule polymerization, kinesin-1, or dynein results in lack of spindle localization of these transcripts in the sea urchin embryo. Further, results indicate that the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE) within the 3UTR of Aurora B, a recognition sequence of CPEB, is essential for RNA localization to the mitotic spindle. Blocking this sequence results in arrested development during early cleavage stages, suggesting that RNA localization to the mitotic spindle may be a regulatory mechanism of cell division that is important for early development.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Revealing the Neurobiology Underlying Interpersonal Neural Synchronization with Multimodal Data Fusion

Humans synchronize with one another to foster successful interactions. Here, we use a multimodal data fusion approach with the aim of elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms by which interpersonal neural synchronization (INS) occurs. Our meta-analysis of 22 functional magnetic resonance imaging and 69 near-infrared spectroscopy hyperscanning experiments (740 and 3,721 subjects) revealed robust brain-regional correlates of INS in the right temporoparietal junction and left ventral prefrontal cortex. Integrating this meta-analytic information with public databases, biobehavioral and brain-functional association analyses suggested that INS involves sensory-integrative hubs with functional connections to mentalizing and attention networks. On the molecular and genetic levels, we found INS to be associated with GABAergic neurotransmission and layer IV/V neuronal circuits, protracted developmental gene expression patterns, and disorders of neurodevelopment. Although limited by the indirect nature of phenotypic-molecular association analyses, our findings generate new testable hypotheses on the neurobiological basis of INS.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Action initiation and punishment learning differ from childhood to adolescence while reward learning remains stable

Theoretical and empirical accounts suggest that adolescence is associated with heightened reward learning and impulsivity. Experimental tasks and computational models that can dissociate reward learning from the tendency to initiate actions impulsively (action initiation bias) are thus critical to characterise the mechanisms that drive developmental differences. However, existing work has rarely quantified both learning ability and action initiation, or it has tested small samples. Here, using computational modelling of a learning task collected from a large sample (N=742, 9-18 years, 11 countries), we tested differences in reward and punishment learning and action initiation from childhood to adolescence. Computational modelling revealed that whilst punishment learning rates increased with age, reward learning remained stable. In parallel, action initiation biases decreased with age. Results were similar when considering pubertal stage instead of chronological age. We conclude that heightened reward responsivity in adolescence can reflect differences in action initiation rather than enhanced reward learning.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Caregiving quality modulates neuroendocrine and immunological markers in young children in foster care who have experienced early adversity

BackgroundEarly adversity is believed to alter the bodys stress response systems, putting children at increased risk for somatic and mental health problems. However, it remains unclear whether such alterations normalize under improved caregiving experiences. Thus, the goal of the present study was to investigate i) whether children in foster care show endocrine and immunological alterations relative to children living with their biological families, ii) whether these alterations change over time spent with the foster family and iii) whether the alterations are modulated by current caregiving experiences. MethodsA total of 94 children in foster care and 157 biological children, aged two to seven years, took part in a longitudinal study with three assessments conducted over a 12-month study period. At the initial assessment, children lived for an average of 18 months with their current foster families. Childrens cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and progesterone concentrations and cortisol/DHEA ratios were measured in scalp hair and childrens secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels in saliva. Caregiving quality was assessed based on caregiver-reports and observational measures of caregiver-child interactions. ResultsChildren in foster care had lower cortisol/DHEA ratios and higher progesterone concentrations than biological children, while no group differences were found for cortisol, DHEA or sIgA. Time spent with the current foster family did not significantly influence the childs endocrine or immunological markers. Importantly, caregiving quality modulated cortisol/DHEA ratios and sIgA concentrations: children in foster care of lower caregiving quality had lower cortisol/DHEA ratios than children in foster care of higher caregiving quality and showed decreasing, rather than increasing, sIgA concentrations across the study period. ConclusionsOur results indicate that caregiving quality in the foster family may have an important modulating effect on selected indicators of the childs stress response and could thereby mitigate the possible consequences of early childhood adversity.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Synchrony of mind and body are distinct in mother-child dyads

Hyperscanning studies have begun to unravel the brain mechanisms underlying social interaction, indicating a functional role for interpersonal neural synchronization (INS), yet the mechanisms that drive INS are poorly understood. While interpersonal synchrony is considered a multimodal phenomenon, it is not clear how different biological and behavioral synchrony markers are related to each other. The current study, thus, addresses whether INS is functionally-distinct from synchrony in other systems - specifically the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and motor behavior. To test this, we used a novel methodological approach, based on concurrent functional near-infrared spectroscopy-electrocardiography, recorded while N = 34 mother-child and stranger-child dyads (child mean age 14 years) engaged in cooperative and competitive tasks. Results showed a marked differentiation between neural, ANS and behavioral synchrony. Importantly, only in the neural domain was higher synchrony for mother-child compared to stranger-child dyads observed. Further, ANS and neural synchrony were positively related during competition but not during cooperation. These results suggest that synchrony in different behavioral and biological systems may reflect distinct processes. Mother-child INS may arise due to neural processes related to social affiliation, which go beyond shared arousal and similarities in behavior.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Interacting brains revisited: A cross-brain network neuroscience perspective

Elucidating the neural basis of social behavior is a long-standing challenge in neuroscience. Such endeavors are driven by attempts to extend the isolated perspective on the human brain by considering interacting persons brain activities, but a theoretical and computational framework for this purpose is still in its infancy. Here, we posit a comprehensive framework based on bipartite graphs for interbrain networks and address whether they provide meaningful insights into the neural underpinnings of social interactions. First, we show that the nodal density of such graphs exhibits nonrandom properties. While the current analyses mostly rely on global metrics, we encode the regions roles via matrix decomposition to obtain an interpretable network representation yielding both global and local insights. With Bayesian modeling, we reveal how synchrony patterns seeded in specific brain regions contribute to global effects. Beyond inferential inquiries, we demonstrate that graph representations can be used to predict individual social characteristics, outperforming functional connectivity estimators for this purpose. In the future, this may provide a means of characterizing individual variations in social behavior or identifying biomarkers for social interaction and disorders.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

SciRide Finder : citation-based paradigm in biomedical literature search.

There are more than 26 million peer-reviewed biomedical research items according to Medline/PubMed. This breadth of information is indicative of the progress in biomedical sciences on one hand, but an overload for scientists performing literature searches on the other. A major portion of scientific literature search is to find statements, numbers and protocols that can be cited to build an evidence-based narrative for a new manuscript. Because science builds on prior knowledge, such information has likely been written out and cited in an older manuscript. Thus, Cited Statements, pieces of text from scientific literature supported by citing other peer-reviewed publications, carry significant amount of condensed information on prior art. Based on this principle, we propose a literature search service, SciRide Finder (finder.sciride.org), which constrains the search corpus to such Cited Statements only. We demonstrate that Cited Statements can carry different information to this found in titles/abstracts and full text, giving access to alternative literature search results than traditional search engines. We further show how presenting search results as a list of Cited Statements allows researchers to easily find information to build an evidence-based narrative for their own manuscripts.

bioinformatics↗