@article {1648, title = {Fast near-whole-brain imaging in adult Drosophila during responses to stimuli and behavior.}, journal = {PLoS Biol}, volume = {17}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 Feb}, pages = {e2006732}, abstract = {

Whole-brain recordings give us a global perspective of the brain in action. In this study, we describe a method using light field microscopy to record near-whole brain calcium and voltage activity at high speed in behaving adult flies. We first obtained global activity maps for various stimuli and behaviors. Notably, we found that brain activity increased on a global scale when the fly walked but not when it groomed. This global increase with walking was particularly strong in dopamine neurons. Second, we extracted maps of spatially distinct sources of activity as well as their time series using principal component analysis and independent component analysis. The characteristic shapes in the maps matched the anatomy of subneuropil regions and, in some cases, a specific neuron type. Brain structures that responded to light and odor were consistent with previous reports, confirming the new technique{\textquoteright}s validity. We also observed previously uncharacterized behavior-related activity as well as patterns of spontaneous voltage activity.

}, issn = {1545-7885}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.2006732}, author = {Aimon, Sophie and Katsuki, Takeo and Jia, Tongqiu and Grosenick, Logan and Broxton, Michael and Deisseroth, Karl and Sejnowski, Terrence J and Greenspan, Ralph J} } @article {227, title = {Flyception: imaging brain activity in freely walking fruit flies.}, journal = {Nat Methods}, volume = {13}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jul}, pages = {569-72}, abstract = {

Genetically encoded calcium sensors have enabled monitoring of neural activity in vivo using optical imaging techniques. Linking neural activity to complex behavior remains challenging, however, as most imaging systems require tethering the animal, which can impact the animal{\textquoteright}s behavioral repertoire. Here, we report a method for monitoring the brain activity of untethered, freely walking Drosophila melanogaster during sensorially and socially evoked behaviors to facilitate the study of neural mechanisms that underlie naturalistic behaviors.

}, issn = {1548-7105}, doi = {10.1038/nmeth.3866}, author = {Grover, Dhruv and Katsuki, Takeo and Greenspan, Ralph J} } @article {199, title = {From suffering to caring: a model of differences among older adults in levels of compassion.}, journal = {Int J Geriatr Psychiatry}, volume = {30}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Feb}, pages = {185-91}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Compassion is an important contributor to pro-social behavior and maintenance of interpersonal relationships, yet little is known about what factors influence compassion in late life. The aim of this study was to test theories about how past and current stressors and emotional functioning, resilience, and demographic indicators of life experiences are related to compassion among older adults.

METHODS: One thousand and six older adults (50-99 years) completed a comprehensive survey including self-report measures of compassion, resilience, past and present stress, and emotional functioning (i.e., stressful life events, perceived stress, and current and prior depression and anxiety), and demographic information. The sample was randomly split, and exploratory and confirmatory regression analyses were conducted testing hypothesized relationships with compassion.

RESULTS: Exploratory stepwise regression analysis (n = 650) indicated that participants who reported higher levels of compassion were more likely to be female, not currently in a married/married-like relationship, reported higher resilience levels, and had experienced more significant life events. Age, income level, past and current mental distress, and interactions between resilience and other predictors were not significantly related to compassion. The associations between greater self-reported compassion and being female, having greater resilience, and having experienced more significant life events were supported by a confirmatory stepwise regression analysis (n = 356).

CONCLUSIONS: Older women report more compassion than older men. Resilience and significant life events, independently, also appear to facilitate a desire to help others, while current stress and past and present emotional functioning are less relevant. Specificity of findings to older adults is not yet known.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Empathy, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Marital Status, Middle Aged, Regression Analysis, Resilience, Psychological, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors}, issn = {1099-1166}, doi = {10.1002/gps.4123}, author = {Moore, Raeanne C and Martin, A{\textquoteright}verria Sirkin and Kaup, Allison R and Thompson, Wesley K and Peters, Matthew E and Jeste, Dilip V and Golshan, Shahrokh and Eyler, Lisa T} } @article {151, title = {The flexible genome.}, journal = {Nat Rev Genet}, volume = {2}, year = {2001}, month = {2001 May}, pages = {383-7}, abstract = {

A principal assumption underlying contemporary genetic analysis is that the normal function of a gene can be inferred directly from its mutant phenotype. The interactivity among genes that is now being revealed calls this assumption into question and indicates that there might be considerable flexibility in the capacity of the genome to respond to diverse conditions. The reservoir for much of this flexibility resides in the nonspecificity and malleability of gene action.

}, keywords = {Animals, Chromosome Mapping, Genes, Genome, Humans, Phenotype}, issn = {1471-0056}, doi = {10.1038/35072018}, author = {Greenspan, R J} }