Highly transparent Bi2MoO6- and Bi2WO6-polymer nanocomposites.

A combined method of precipitation, phase transfer into organic solvent, solvothermal treatment and subsequent in situ polymerization was used to integrate nanocrystalline Bi2MoO6- and Bi2WO6-particles into a polymer matrix of poly-laurylacrylate. The presented method offers a new and gentle way to produce highly transparent bulk nanocomposites containing evenly distributed Bi2MoO6- and Bi2WO6-nanoparticles. Characterization results of DLS-, XRD-, REM- and TEM-measurements are presented as well as solid state UV/VIS-measurements of the particles. The transparent nanocomposites were characterized using UV/VIS-spectroscopy and ellipsometry. All composites show a good transmission in the range from 800-400 nm. The particle content of the nanocomposites was measured with TG-measurements.

Verbal storage in a premotor-parietal network: evidence from fMRI-guided magnetic stimulation.

Phonological rehearsal helps to keep selected information consciously in mind for further processing. This part of short-term storage takes place during the delay period of verbal working memory tasks and involves a frontoparietal network as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown. The involved cortical areas can be further investigated by interfering with the local information processing using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). On a single subject level, we identified predominantly left-sided premotor, prefrontal, and parietal areas active during the delay period of a verbal working memory task using event-related fMRI. In a pilot approach, TMS was neuronavigated to the individually active areas by using a stereotaxic device. Then, TMS was applied during the delay period of similar tasks as in fMRI. Error rates increased significantly upon stimulating left premotor cortex, but not upon parietal or prefrontal stimulation. The contribution of the premotor cortex to storage and rehearsal is discussed as an active top-down storage process within the frontoparietal network.

The neural correlates of driving.

We studied 12 healthy subjects with fMRI while they performed a driving simulation task. In the active condition they steered the car themselves (driving), in the passive condition a person from outside the scanner was steering the car (passive driving). Common activations in both conditions were found in occipital and parietal regions bilaterally. Activity specifically associated with driving was found only in the sensorimotor cortex and the cerebellum. Compared to passive driving, activity during driving was reduced in numerous brain regions including MT/MST. It is concluded that simulated driving requires mainly perceptual-motor integration and that the limited cognitive capacity model of driving has to be revised.

Genetic influence on laterality in schizophrenia? A twin study of neurological soft signs.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the genetic basis of neurological soft signs in schizophrenia and addressed disturbed hemispheric lateralization. METHOD: The authors investigated neurological soft signs in 30 monozygotic twin pairs, 13 pairs discordant for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 17 healthy comparison twin pairs. RESULTS: The twins with schizophrenia showed higher total scores for neurological soft signs than did the comparison subjects. The total scores for neurological soft signs of the nonaffected discordant twins were significantly higher than those of the comparison twins. There was a significant difference between the nonaffected and affected discordant twins in total scores for neurological soft signs. In contrast to the comparison subjects, the nonaffected and affected twins of the discordant pairs showed a trend toward higher scores for neurological soft signs on the left body half. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the occurrence of neurological soft signs and, more specifically, their lateralization to the left body half are genetically transmitted.