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Brain Stimulation Improves Reading Accuracy in Dyslexia

September 8, 2020

Brain Stimulation Improves Reading Accuracy in Dyslexia

Silvia Marchesotti, Johanna Nicolle, Anne-Lise Giraud and co-workers show that enhancing low-gamma neural oscillations by applying 30-Hz transcranial electrical stimulation to the left auditory cortex improves phonemic processing and reading accuracy in dyslexia.

Image credit: pbio.3000833

PLOS Biologue

Community blog for PLOS Biology, PLOS Genetics and PLOS Computational Biology.

PLOS BIOLOGUE

09/12/2020

Primer

Open-Source Experimental Control Systems

Closed loop experimental configurations can drive chemical systems to become more lifelike by pushing them out of equilibrium; similar experimental arrangements can be applied to biological research. Christopher Forman uses the recently published Chi-Bio system to explore the emerging trend in building open source libraries of hardware which has enabled some excellent science as well as bringing the price tag down.

Image credit: pbio.3000858

Open-Source Experimental Control Systems

Recently Published Articles

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Current Issue

Current Issue August 2020

09/08/2020

Short Reports

Imprecision in Working Memory

Working memory is imprecise, and these imprecisions can be explained by the combined influences of random diffusive error and systematic drift towards a set of stable states (‘attractors’); however, the neural correlates of diffusion and drift remain unknown. This neuroimaging study by Qing Yu, Timothy Buschman and co-workers reveals neural substrates that underlie noise and biases in behavioral performance of human visual memory.

Image credit: pbio.3000854

Imprecision in Working Memory

09/08/2020

Research Article

Effects of Viral Load, Sex and Age on COVID-19 Response

Despite limited genomic diversity, SARS-CoV-2 has shown a wide range of clinical manifestations in different patient populations; the mechanisms behind these host differences are still unclear. Nicole Lieberman, Alexander Greninger and colleagues reveal that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces inflammation by activation of interferon signaling, with differences in host response observed due to sex and age.

Image credit: pbio.3000849

Effects of Viral Load, Sex and Age on COVID-19 Response

09/08/2020

Research Article

Regulating the Length of Muscle Thin Filaments

Leiomodin, a member of the tropomodulin family of proteins, is critical in thin filament assembly and maintenance, but its role is unclear. A 3D model of a complex between leiomodin and the actin pointed end, by Dmitri Tolkatchev, Garry Smith, Carol Gregorio, Alla Kostyukova and co-workers, reveals a mechanism for regulating the length of thin filaments in striated muscle.

Regulating the Length of Muscle Thin Filaments

Image credit: pbio.3000848

09/04/2020

Research Article

Bacterium's Role in Esophageal Cancer

Microbial dysbiosis in the upper digestive tract is linked to an increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); Yi-Jun Qi, Ye-Lin Jiao, She-Gan Gao and colleagues show that invasion of the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis enhances the aggressive progression of ESCC via the TGFβ/Smad and TGFβ/YAP/TAZ pathways.

Bacterium's Role in Esophageal Cancer

Image credit: pbio.3000825

09/04/2020

Methods and Resources

Knob Domains: Tiny Antigen-Specific Antibody Fragments

Alex Macpherson, Alastair Lawson and colleagues describe a method for the isolation of "knob domains" from a subset of bovine antibodies to create a uniquely small antibody fragment. With a molecular weight of 3-6 kDa, these fragments are so small as to be considered peptides.

Knob Domains: Tiny Antigen-Specific Antibody Fragments

Image credit: pbio.3000821

09/03/2020

Short Reports

Two Ways to Activate RhoA...

This study shows that histamine induces biphasic activation of the small GTPase RhoA via two divergent signaling pathways, allowing for intricate regulation of cellular processes.

Two Ways to Activate RhoA...

Image credit: pbio.3000866

08/31/2020

Research Article

Extinction and Species Interaction Loss

A study of 4,330 species interactions from 41 empirical pollination and seed dispersal networks across six continents reveals that species interactions which are most vulnerable to extinction are also the most important for ecological community stability.

Extinction and Species Interaction Loss

Image credit: pbio.3000843

08/31/2020

Research Article

Spastin, Neuronal Transport and Memory

Deficits in working and associative memory in spastin knockout mice resemble the cognitive deficits described in humans with severe forms of SPG4-type hereditary spastic paraplegia.

Spastin, Neuronal Transport and Memory

Image credit: pbio.3000820

08/27/2020

Perspective

Did Universities Get the Pandemic Shutdown Right?

This article examines how universities met the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and propose recommendations for university leaders as they meet future (and unfortunately likely) pandemic shutdowns.

Did Universities Get the Pandemic Shutdown Right?

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons user Kwh1050

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