Related papers: The signal synchronization function of myelin
Current advances in neurosciences deal with the functional architecture of the central nervous system, paving the way for holistic theories that improve our understanding of brain activity. From topology, a strong concept comes into play in…
What can cells gain by using disordered, rather than folded, proteins in the architecture of their skeleton? Disordered proteins take multiple co-existing conformations, and often contain segments which act as random-walk-shaped polymers.…
Chirality induced spin selectivity, discovered about two decades ago in helical molecules, is a non-equilibrium effect that emerges from the interplay between geometrical helicity and spin-orbit interactions. Several model Hamiltonians…
Spatial heterogeneity is a hallmark of living systems, even at the molecular scale in individual cells. A key example is the partitioning of membrane-bound proteins via lipid domain formation or cytoskeleton-induced corralling. Yet the…
Biological cells sense and respond to mechanical forces, but how such a mechanosensing proccess takes place in a nonlinear inhomogeneous fibrous matrix remains unknown. We show that cells in a fibrous matrix induce deformation fields that…
Essential tutorial on myelin, oligodendrocytes and their functional relevance in the pathophysiology of the brain.
The actin cortex is a thin layer of actin, myosin, and actin binding proteins that underlies the membrane of most animal cells. It is highly dynamic and can undergo remodelling on time-scales of tens of seconds thanks to protein turnover…
Hair cells of the auditory and vestibular systems display astonishing sensitivity, frequency selectivity, and temporal resolution to external signals. These specialized cells utilize an internal active amplifier to achieve highly sensitive…
Synchronization is an important behavior that characterizes many natural and human made systems composed by several interacting units. It can be found in a broad spectrum of applications, ranging from neuroscience to power-grids, to mention…
There is increasing evidence that mammalian cells not only crawl on substrates but can also swim in fluids. To elucidate the mechanisms of the onset of motility of cells in suspension, a model which couples actin and myosin kinetics to…
A form of "remote synchronization" was recently described wherein amplitude fluctuations across a ring of non-identical, non-linear electronic oscillators become entrained into spatially-structured patterns. According to linear models and…
Different models such as diffusion-collision and nucleation-condensation have been used to unravel how secondary and tertiary structures form during protein folding. However, a simple mechanism based on physical principles that provide an…
In this study, by engineering the molecular structure, we optimize the spin Hall conductivity and the spin Hall angle in organics by more than five and three orders of magnitude, respectively. We identify two important characteristics of…
The mechanosensitivity of cells, which determines how they are able to respond to mechanical signals received from their environment, is crucial for the functioning of all biological systems. In experiments, cells placed on cyclically…
The presence of noise in non linear dynamical systems can play a constructive role, increasing the degree of order and coherence or evoking improvements in the performance of the system. An example of this positive influence in a biological…
Synchronized oscillations in networks of inhibitory and excitatory coupled bursting neurons are common in a variety of neural systems from central pattern generators to human brain circuits. One example of the latter is the subcortical…
We demonstrated that the spin injection/extraction efficiency is enhanced by an ultrathin Mg insertion layer (<= 2 nm) in Fe/Mg/MgO/n+-Si tunnel junctions. In diode-type vertical three-terminal devices fabricated on a Si substrate, we…
In this study we demonstrate a self-oscillating acoustic meta-atom functioning as an amplifying transistor, where a steady external flow serves as a control signal to switch between reflective (off-state) and transmissive (on-state)…
For long it has been known that specific patterns of folding are necessary for an optimally functioning brain. For instance, lissencephaly and polymicrogyria can lead to severe mental retardation, short life expectancy, epileptic seizures,…
Electrical coupling between neurons is broadly present across brain areas and is typically assumed to synchronize network activity. However, intrinsic properties of the coupled cells can complicate this simple picture. Many cell types with…