Participants performed a simple detection or a finer discrimination on a singleton target, which had either a variable or a constant color. Contrary to the distractor-suppression account, an N2pc was

present for both the variable and the constant conditions, and for both tasks. Additionally, target feature consistency correlated with earlier N2pc onsets relative to variable blocks. Both E7080 results indicate that the N2pc is not unequivocally linked to distractor-suppression mechanisms, but may index mechanisms involved in identifying and localizing relevant stimuli through enhancement of their features.”
“Ocean temperatures are rising and fish are redistributing themselves poleward and into deeper waters to retain a favourable thermal environment (Dulvy et al., 2008; Perry et al., 2005). To investigate whether biogeographical shifts might occur through behavioural redistribution into optimal environments, we examined whether a common triplefin species (Forsterygion lapillum) would behaviourally select (i.e. track) a temperature that matches its physiological optimum under laboratory conditions. F. lapillum were acclimated to 15, 18 or 21 degrees C for at least 4 weeks, after Tozasertib chemical structure which various rates of oxygen consumption (MO2) were measured using automated respirometry and their behavioural thermal preferenda

assessed using an electronic shuttle choice tank. Aerobic metabolic scope (resolved as the difference between Selleckchem Birinapant maximal and maintenance MO2) did not differ across all thermal treatments (i.e. specimens

acclimated to 15, 18 or 21 degrees C) revealing that F. lapillum is a eurythermal species with a range of optimal physiological performance that closely matches the environmental conditions they are exposed to. A comparably wide range of behavioural preference would perhaps be expected but all three acclimation groups showed a surprisingly narrow behavioural preference range of 20-21 degrees C. The results therefore suggest that, irrespective of acclimation, eurythermal species may have a tendency to select optimal temperatures at the upper limit of their thermal distribution range. The results are discussed in the context of the ecology and the expected response of F. lapillum to future thermal change. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Excitotoxicity triggered by over-stimulation of glutamatergic receptors is considered to be a major component of damage following acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Using an in vitro model of neonatal rat SCI caused by transient application (1 h) of the glutamate agonist kainate (0.05-0.1 mM) to produce limited excitotoxicity, the present study investigated whether riluzole, a drug inhibiting glutamate release and neuronal excitability, could prevent neuronal loss and protect locomotor patterns 24 h later. Immunohistochemical analysis of neuronal and motoneuronal populations was associated with recording of fictive locomotion induced by neurochemicals or dorsal root stimuli.