In a mouse model of inflammation-induced depression, S-ketamine (S-KET) reduced depressive-like behaviors and lowered pro-inflammatory factors in the medial prefrontal cortex, while R-ketamine (R-KET) did not. S-KET bound directly to the protein SIRT2 at the Q167 residue, enhancing its interaction with NF-κB subunit p65, which reduced acetylation and suppressed pro-inflammatory gene expression. Experiments using RNA interference, a SIRT2 inhibitor (AK-7), and pharmacological blockade confirmed that SIRT2 is essential for these effects. The findings indicate that SIRT2 mediates the therapeutic actions of S-KET, suggesting a target for treating inflammation-associated depression.
Mutual gaze and petting between humans and dogs synchronize neural activity in the frontal and parietal brain regions of both species, as measured by electroencephalography. This cross-species interbrain coupling strengthens as human-dog pairs become more familiar over five days, and information flow analysis indicates that humans lead while dogs follow during interactions. Dogs with Shank3 mutations, an animal model of autism spectrum disorders, show reduced interbrain synchronization and attention, which are restored by the psychedelic lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). The findings reveal a neural basis for interspecies communication and suggest LSD may help ameliorate social impairments in autism.
Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and their analogs can be rapidly evaluated using the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. In a swimming-induced paralysis assay, worms exposed to amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and their enantiomers showed distinct behavioral responses depending on their genetic makeup. The effects depended on dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways, specifically the DOP-3 and SER-4 receptors. The assay also distinguished between chiral forms of ATS, and meta-R amphetamines produced stronger effects than ortho-R and para-R analogs. This method offers a cost-effective, high-throughput way to assess the activity and toxicity of new psychoactive substances.
A wearable mindfulness brain-computer interface (BCI) that uses electroencephalography (EEG) and artificial intelligence to assess a user's focus on breathing and provide real-time audiovisual feedback can reduce car sickness symptoms. In two real-world experiments with over 100 participants susceptible to car sickness, over 83% rated the BCI-based attention shifting as effective, with significant reductions in severity, especially for those with severe symptoms. EEG data analysis identified a neurobiological signature of car sickness, offering mechanistic insight into the intervention's efficacy. The authors propose this as a nonpharmacological alternative to pharmacological treatments with adverse side effects.