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Brain Science Advances
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This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Online) 2096-5958
Published by Sage Publications

[1174 journals]

Functions of Yes-association protein (YAP) in cancer progression and
anticancer therapy resistance
- Authors: Yu Zhang, Xiang Wang, Xiuping Zhou
  Pages: 1 - 18
  Abstract: Brain Science Advances, Volume 8, Issue 1, Page 1-18, March 2022.
  The Hippo pathway, a highly conserved kinase cascade, regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, organ size, and tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of this pathway reportedly plays an important role in the progression of various human cancers. Yes-association protein (YAP), the Hippo pathway’s core effector, is considered a marker for cancer therapy and patient prognosis. In addition, studies have indicated that YAP is involved in promoting anticancer drug resistance. This review summarizes current knowledge on YAP’s role in cancer progression, anticancer drug resistance, and advances in the development of YAP-targeting drugs. A thorough understanding of the complex interactions among molecular, cellular, and environmental factors concerning YAP function in cancer progression may provide new insight into the underlying mechanism of anticancer drug resistance. It might lead to improved prognosis through novel combined therapies.
  Citation: Brain Science Advances
  PubDate: 2022-05-23T04:22:02Z
  DOI: 10.26599/BSA.2022.9050008
  Issue No: Vol. 8, No. 1 (2022)
An extended binary subband canonical correlation analysis detection
algorithm oriented to the radial contraction-expansion motion steady-state
visual evoked paradigm
- Authors: Yuxue Zhao, Hongxin Zhang, Yuanzhen Wang, Chenxu Li, Ruilin Xu, Chen Yang
  Pages: 19 - 37
  Abstract: Brain Science Advances, Volume 8, Issue 1, Page 19-37, March 2022.
  The radial contraction-expansion motion paradigm is a novel steady-state visual evoked experimental paradigm, and the electroencephalography (EEG) evoked potential is different from the traditional luminance modulation paradigm. The signal energy is concentrated chiefly in the fundamental frequency, while the higher harmonic power is lower. Therefore, the conventional steady-state visual evoked potential recognition algorithms optimizing multiple harmonic response components, such as the extended canonical correlation analysis (eCCA) and task-related component analysis (TRCA) algorithm, have poor recognition performance under the radial contraction-expansion motion paradigm. This paper proposes an extended binary subband canonical correlation analysis (eBSCCA) algorithm for the radial contraction-expansion motion paradigm. For the radial contraction-expansion motion paradigm, binary subband filtering was used to optimize the weighting coefficients of different frequency response signals, thereby improving the recognition performance of EEG signals. The results of offline experiments involving 13 subjects showed that the eBSCCA algorithm exhibits a better performance than the eCCA and TRCA algorithms under the stimulation of the radial contraction-expansion motion paradigm. In the online experiment, the average recognition accuracy of 13 subjects was 88.68% ± 6.33%, and the average information transmission rate (ITR) was 158.77 ± 43.67 bits/min, which proved that the algorithm had good recognition effect signals evoked by the radial contraction-expansion motion paradigm.
  Citation: Brain Science Advances
  PubDate: 2022-05-23T04:22:03Z
  DOI: 10.26599/BSA.2022.9050004
  Issue No: Vol. 8, No. 1 (2022)
Ongoing pain facilitates emotional decision-making behaviors
- Authors: Chennan Lin, Shiwei Zhuo, Weiwei Peng
  Pages: 38 - 49
  Abstract: Brain Science Advances, Volume 8, Issue 1, Page 38-49, March 2022.
  Emotion toward anticipated and actual outcomes acts as a vital signal on emotional decision-making, and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) can mimic this decision-making process. Pain can impair emotional decision-making behaviors because it captures attention and distracts from the task at hand. Alternatively, pain may facilitate emotional decision-making behaviors by prompting alertness and mobilizing cognitive resources to maximize rewards. The present study investigated the influence of ongoing pain on emotional decision-making behaviors using the IGT. Our study recruited two groups of participants and applied capsaicin (pain group) or control cream (control group) to their forearms. We then compared performances and selections between the pain and control groups. The results revealed that participants successfully learned the required adaptive selection strategy as the task progressed. The study observed a tendency toward optimal choices for both groups under the condition of frequent–small losses. However, we observed a disadvantageous preference for the control group, but not the pain group, when faced with choices with infrequent but large losses. The study implies that a distressing pain experience motivates individuals to adjust goal-directed behaviors to maximize their rewards in a task. Thus, the finding suggests that ongoing pain facilitates emotional decision-making behaviors.
  Citation: Brain Science Advances
  PubDate: 2022-05-23T04:22:03Z
  DOI: 10.26599/BSA.2022.9050005
  Issue No: Vol. 8, No. 1 (2022)
Effect of background luminance of visual stimulus on elicited steady-state
visual evoked potentials
- Authors: Shangen Zhang, Xiaogang Chen
  Pages: 50 - 56
  Abstract: Brain Science Advances, Volume 8, Issue 1, Page 50-56, March 2022.
  Steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain– computer interfaces (BCIs) have been widely studied. Considerable progress has been made in the aspects of stimulus coding, electroencephalogram processing, and recognition algorithms to enhance system performance. The properties of SSVEP have been demonstrated to be highly sensitive to stimulus luminance. However, thus far, there have been very few reports on the impact of background luminance on the system performance of SSVEP-based BCIs. This study investigated the impact of stimulus background luminance on SSVEPs. Specifically, this study compared two types of background luminance, i.e., (1) black luminance [red, green, blue (rgb): (0, 0, 0)] and (2) gray luminance [rgb: (128, 128, 128)], and determined their effect on the classification performance of SSVEPs at the stimulus frequencies of 9, 11, 13, and 15 Hz. The offline results from nine healthy subjects showed that compared with the gray background luminance, the black background luminance induced larger SSVEP amplitude and larger signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in a better classification accuracy. These results suggest that the background luminance of visual stimulus has a considerable effect on the SSVEP and therefore has a potential to improve the BCI performance.
  Citation: Brain Science Advances
  PubDate: 2022-05-23T04:22:03Z
  DOI: 10.26599/BSA.2022.9050006
  Issue No: Vol. 8, No. 1 (2022)
Prenatal bisphenol A exposure impairs the aversive and spatial memory
reduces the level of NMDA receptor subunits in the hippocampus of male
Sprague Dawley rats
- Authors: Norazirah Mat Nayan, Andrean Husin, Siti Hamimah Sheikh Abd Kadir, Che Badariah Abd Aziz, Musalmah Mazlan, Rosfaiizah Siran
  Pages: 57 - 69
  Abstract: Brain Science Advances, Volume 8, Issue 1, Page 57-69, March 2022.
  Memory impairment in children is an ongoing issue worldwide related to a learning disability. This neurobiological condition has been suggested to associate with bisphenol A (BPA) exposure during pregnancy. BPA is an inorganic compound used to produce polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. We conduct this study to investigate the effects of prenatal BPA exposure on the level of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits, synaptic markers of the hippocampus and neurobehavioral outcomes in rats. The pregnant rats were given a daily dose of 5 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of BPA with 0.5% Tween 80 orally from gestation day 2 until 21 (GD21). The level of GluN2A, GluN2B, PSD-95 and synapsin I in the hippocampus and its neurobehaviour outcomes were quantified and evaluated in the male foetus and adolescent rat. Prenatal BPA exposure reduced GluN2A, GluN2B, synapsin I and PSD-95 (Postsynaptic Density-95) in the male foetus and adolescent rat hippocampus compared to the control group. The prenatal BPA exposed rats demonstrated anxiety-related behaviour and impairment in aversive and spatial memory. The findings suggested that the impairment in neurobehavioral performance may inhibit the signalling pathway in the NMDA receptor subunits in the male foetus rat hippocampus leading to learning and memory deficits when reaching adolescence.
  Citation: Brain Science Advances
  PubDate: 2022-05-23T04:22:02Z
  DOI: 10.26599/BSA.2022.9050009
  Issue No: Vol. 8, No. 1 (2022)
Co-immunolocalization of Disc1 and Gas7 protein in adult mice brain
- Authors: Udaya Kumar
  Pages: 70 - 77
  Abstract: Brain Science Advances, Volume 8, Issue 1, Page 70-77, March 2022.
  Objective:The aim of the present study was to check the potential interaction of two neurodevelopmental proteins, Disc1 and Gas7, in the adult mice brain.Methods:Twenty-four male Swiss albino mice were used for the study. The mice were 12 weeks old in the beginning of the experiment. Immunohistochemistry and co-immunofluorescence were performed on the coronal sections of mice brain and immunoblotting and co-immunoprecipitation were done on the whole brain lysate.Results:Data from immunohistochemistry and co-immunofluorescence indicate the occurrence and co-localization of Disc1 and Gas7 proteins in soma and projections of the brain cells. Immunostaining was observed in cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata and CA3 of hippocampus of the brain. The data from Immunoblotting and co-immunoprecipitation validates the presence and interaction of Disc1 and Gas7 protein in whole brain lysate.Conclusion:Data indicates the potential interaction of Disc1 and Gas7 protein in adult brain. The study highlights the need for further research on Disc1–Gas7 protein interaction in brain development and neuro-disorders.
  Citation: Brain Science Advances
  PubDate: 2022-05-23T04:22:01Z
  DOI: 10.26599/BSA.2022.9050010
  Issue No: Vol. 8, No. 1 (2022)