06 ± 0 17, p = 0 81; 5 min: 1 04 ± 0 28 versus 1 07 ± 0 18, p = 0

06 ± 0.17, p = 0.81; 5 min: 1.04 ± 0.28 versus 1.07 ± 0.18, p = 0.93; 10 min: 1.04 ± 0.09 versus 0.97 ± 0.09, p = 0.64). These findings indicate that, in TSPAN7 absence, AMPAR internalization is increased. Given the uniform effects of TSPAN7 knockdown on GluA2 internalization over the 10 min period, in successive experiments (Figure 8), a single incubation period of 5 min was used. In the first set of experiments (Figure 8A), we further characterized TSPAN7′s effect on GluA2 trafficking. We checked Selleck MG-132 the specificity of TSPAN7 knockdown on GluA2 internalization by expressing siRNA14 alone or together with rescue WT. Rescue WT fully restored GluA2 internalization to control

levels (EGFP: 1.00 ± 0.03, siRNA14: 1.21 ± 0.09, ∗p = 0.01, rescue WT: 1.01 ± 0.04, p = 0.86; values normalized to EGFP). However, when siRNA14 was expressed with rescue ΔC, Selleck Ribociclib GluA2 internalization

was not restored to control levels (rescue ΔC 1.19 ± 0.07 ∗∗p = 0.008) (Figure 8A). We next investigated TSPAN7 overexpression, finding it had opposite effects to TSPAN7 knockdown: reduced GluA2 internalization compared to control (EGFP: 1.00 ± 0.03, TSPAN7: 0.70 ± 0.05, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, values normalized to EGFP). By contrast, TSPAN7ΔC overexpression had no effect on GluA2 internalization (TSPAN7ΔC: 0.91 ± 0.06 relative to EGFP, p = 0.17), clearly showing that the TSPAN7 C terminus is involved in regulating AMPAR trafficking (Figure 8A). In the next set of experiments (Figures 8B–8D), we investigated the combined influence of TSPAN7 and PICK1 on GluA2 trafficking, by directly manipulating expression of the two proteins. We knocked down PICK1 using a previously

characterized siRNA (siPICK1) (Citri et al., 2010). As expected, PICK1 silencing decreased GluA2 internalization relative to EGFP. When siPICK1 was coexpressed with siRNA14, GluA2 internalization was reduced as effectively as with siPICK1 alone, fully preventing the increase expected with TSPAN7 knockdown (Figures 8B and 8D, EGFP: 1.00 ± 0.04, siPICK1: 0.85 ± 0.01, ∗p = 0.02, siPICK1+siRNA14: 0.77 ± 0.07, ∗∗p = 0.006, values normalized to EGFP). Next, we overexpressed PICK1 (myc tagged) either alone or with TSPAN7 (pIRES-EGFP-TSPAN7). Neurons overexpressing only PICK1 had until greater GluA2 internalization than EGFP controls, consistent with findings showing that PICK1 overexpression decreases GluA2 surface levels (Terashima et al., 2004). When PICK1 and TSPAN7 were overexpressed together, PICK1 prevented the decrease in GluA2 internalization expected with TSPAN7 overexpression (Figures 8C and 8D, EGFP: 1.00 ± 0.04, PICK1: 1.26 ± 0.04, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, PICK1+TSPAN7: 1.29 ± 0.05, ∗∗∗p < 0.001 Tukey after ANOVA). These findings lead us to suggest a model whereby expression levels of TSPAN7 regulate PICK1-mediated AMPAR trafficking, possibly because TSPAN7 competes with AMPARs for PICK1 binding (Figure 6E) at the PDZ domain (Figures 6A–6D) (Dev et al., 1999 and Xia et al., 1999).

Prior to induction of ITDP, blockade of inhibition increased the

Prior to induction of ITDP, blockade of inhibition increased the amplitude of the SC-evoked net PSP by 120.7% ± 12.6% (p < 0.001, paired t test, n = 4; Figures 2B1–2B3). Because it is not possible to directly measure the pure IPSP from FFI (due in part to the overlapping EPSP), we inferred the IPSP size by subtracting the EPSP measured upon GABAR blockade from the net PSP (EPSP + IPSP) with inhibition intact (an approach we validated with a computational model, Figure S1D; see also Pouille and Scanziani, 2001). Next, we washed out the GABAR blockers and applied the pairing protocol

to induce ITDP. Reapplication of GABAR blockers 30 min later produced only a small 12.7% ± 1.2% (p < 0.01, paired t test) increase in the SC PSP, indicating a large find more reduction in the size of the inferred IPSP (−5.02 ± 0.39 mV before ITDP versus −2.54 ± 0.12 mV after ITDP, p < 0.005, paired t test; Figures 2B1–2B3). In contrast, the pairing protocol caused no change in the inferred IPSP

elicited by PP stimulation (−1.51 ± 0.2 mV before versus −1.52 ± 0.2 mV after pairing, p = 0.7955, paired t test), consistent with the lack of PP ITDP. The suppressive effect of ITDP on GABAergic transmission was further evaluated by comparing the effect of GABAR blockers on the SC-evoked PSP in control slices versus slices in which ITDP was induced. http://www.selleckchem.com/products/LBH-589.html Whereas the GABAR antagonists (applied after 30–40 min of stable recording) increased the PSP in control slices by 116.7% ± 5.2% (p < 0.0001, n = 16), there was only a 15.1% ± 6.7% increase (p < 0.001, n = 12) in the PSP recorded from slices in which ITDP was induced (Figure 2C; also seen by the input-output

curve of Figure S1E). The above results indicate that the large enhancement mafosfamide of the net depolarizing SC PSP following induction of ITDP probably results from the sum of two complementary processes: a long-term potentiation of the EPSP (eLTP), which accounts for the ∼40% potentiation when ITDP is induced in the presence of GABAR blockers, and a long-term depression of the IPSP (iLTD), which accounts for the additional ∼100% increase in the PSP observed when inhibition is intact. As the net ITDP is finely tuned to the −20 ms pairing interval (Dudman et al., 2007), we next asked whether the iLTD component of ITDP is similarly tuned to this delay. We monitored changes in SC-evoked FFI following pairing of the PP and SC inputs at variable delays (+20 to −40 ms; negative numbers correspond to stimulation of PP before SC). In agreement with Dudman et al., we found that ITDP was selectively induced at the −20 ms pairing interval (Figure 2D). As shown above (Figure 2C), application of GABAR blockers 30–40 min after induction of ITDP at this pairing interval produced only a small increase in the SC PSP because of the suppression of inhibition.

Tools and reagents are

freely available at www optogeneti

Tools and reagents are

freely available at www.optogenetics.org and www.addgene.org, and hands-on optogenetics training courses are available (www.optogenetics.org). We gratefully acknowledge that this research direction was launched with funding beginning July 2004 to K.D. as principal investigator from the National Institutes of Health, from the Stanford Department of Psychiatry, and from the Stanford Department of Bioengineering (www.optogenetics.org/funding). Both this initial microbial opsin work and all subsequent work at Stanford over the years have been financially supported with grants awarded to K.D. from many generous agencies and donors, including from the National Institute of Mental Health, the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, the National Institute on Smad inhibitor Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Science Foundation, the Michael J Fox Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research

Projects Agency, the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, and the Coulter, Culpeper, Klingenstein, Whitehall, McKnight, Yu, Woo, Snyder, and Keck Foundations. We thank the many supportive laboratories and members of the Stanford community for collaboration, advice, and equipment-sharing over this time, as well as the many members of the K.D. laboratory in the Clark Center at Stanford over the years. O.Y. is supported by the International Human Frontier Science Program. L.E.F is supported by the Stanford MSTP program, T.J.D. is supported by the Berry Postdoctoral Fellowship, isothipendyl and M.M. is supported Nintedanib by Bio-X, Siebel, and SGF fellowships. “
“Neurodegenerative

diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) each primarily affect defined subsets of neurons and involve characteristic ranges of pathological and molecular features. The main risk factor for NDDs is advancing age. The accumulation of distinct protein-based macroscopic deposits is a hallmark of NDDs. Although phenotypic variations and comorbidities are frequent, the composition and distribution of the deposits is a defining property of each NDD, and some of the mutations associated with familial cases of the diseases affect folding of the major protein components of the deposits. Accordingly, NDDs are currently viewed as cerebral proteopathies, in which the accumulation of particular misfolded proteins is a key causative factor (e.g., Haass and Selkoe, 2007, Golde and Miller, 2009 and Frost and Diamond, 2010). Since the misfolding proteins implicated in the etiology of NDDs are expressed ubiquitously, a major unresolved question is how deposit formation and pathology nevertheless selectively target specific subpopulations of neurons.

More recent work, however, has found that a subset of early insul

More recent work, however, has found that a subset of early insults may be especially devastating (Kolb et al., 2000) because, in addition to the injury, there is a longer-term derailment of developmental programs, due in part to the consequence of critical-period plasticity. Additional work is required to fully elucidate time windows and factors that balance the potential for increased recovery with the increased vulnerability of the immature brain (Anderson et al., 2011). In

the adult nervous system, behaviorally relevant experience may reshape connectivity at both functional and structural AZD5363 nmr levels, as exemplified by the remodeling of physiological maps (Buonomano and Merzenich, 1998) and cortical structure (Draganski et al., 2004 and Xu et al., 2009) in response to alterations find more in central and peripheral inputs as well as behavioral experience. Chronic and acute insults to the adult nervous system also cause reorganization of the neural circuits that may utilize similar plasticity mechanisms as those occurring in normal brain. The capability for declarative learning and memory also implicates functional and structural plasticity of the adult brain (Hübener and Bonhoeffer, 2010 and Squire et al., 2004). Activity-dependent plasticity is also essential for learning and memory in the amygdala (Johansen

et al., 2011), the basal ganglia (Yin et al., 2009), and the spinal cord (Wolpaw and Tennissen, 2001). Sensory cortical maps can be profoundly reorganized after deprivation of normal inputs (Buonomano and Merzenich, 1998, Feldman and Brecht, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase 2005 and Kalaska and Pomeranz, 1979). Transection of the median nerve in monkeys, for example, led to an expansion of cortical areas responsive to neighboring fingers (Merzenich et al., 1983). Changes in intracortical inhibition may underlie such map plasticity (Jacobs and Donoghue, 1991). Similar changes were evident in the topographic map in barrel cortex after selective sensory deprivation in rodents (Feldman, 2009). More recent research in primary auditory cortex and barrel cortex has begun to reveal

the cellular and molecular basis of representational map plasticity (Feldman, 2009 and Vinogradov et al., 2012). Studies of sensory and motor learning further demonstrate that representational maps dynamically allocate cortical areas in a use-dependent manner (Buonomano and Merzenich, 1998, Nudo et al., 1996a and Recanzone et al., 1993). In the sensory domain, cortical representation was preferentially increased for digits that were involved in a sensory-guided perceptual task (Jenkins et al., 1990). Similar modification of the tonotopic map was also found after auditory perceptual training (Recanzone et al., 1993). Importantly, the spatiotemporal dynamics of behavioral experience plays a specific role in reshaping cortical maps.

, 2003 and Saper et al , 2005) This three-stage pathway from the

, 2003 and Saper et al., 2005). This three-stage pathway from the SCN to the

subparaventricular zone and then to the dorsomedial nucleus appears necessary for conveying circadian information to the neurons that control wake-sleep state switching, yet it still allows some flexibility for altering the timing of sleep and wakefulness depending upon seasonal changes and the timing of food availability (Fuller et al., 2008, Gooley et al., 2006 and Mieda et al., 2006). In the absence of the dorsomedial nucleus, wake-sleep cycles become ultradian, with 7–8 sleep-wake cycles per day. In mice that are arrhythmic due to clock gene deletions, activity patterns likewise become ultradian (Bunger et al., 2000). However, there is a paucity of information concerning whether the wake-sleep cycles of individual animals become ultradian as well because the few Erastin chemical structure reports on sleep behavior in such mice provide only

graphs that summate across groups of animals, which obscures whether ultradian cycles (which are not synchronized across animals) were present (Laposky et al., 2005 and Wisor et al., 2002). Like lesions of the SCN in primates, lesions of the dorsomedial nucleus in rats, or deletions of certain clock genes (such as cryptochromes 1 and 2 or Bmal1), which cause loss of circadian cycling of the SCN in mice, reduce over the total amount of wakefulness ( Chou et al., 2003, Edgar et al., 1993, Laposky et al., 2005 and Wisor see more et al., 2002). These observations suggest that the circadian system mainly promotes wakefulness during the active period, which is consistent with the main outputs of the dorsomedial nucleus being to inhibit the VLPO and excite

lateral hypothalamic neurons. Finally, animals often encounter conditions in their environment that require urgent alterations of specific physiological responses, including wake-sleep states. These would include stressful situations, such as confronting a predator or a hostile conspecific but also situations such as encountering a potential mate, seasonal changes, or the need for migration that may require an adjustment of wake-sleep behavior (Palchykova et al., 2003 and Rattenborg et al., 2004). These situations have been called allostatic loads by McEwen and colleagues ( McEwen, 2000), and they require additional circuitry for modifying wake-sleep cycles. One common stressor in the wild is a lack of food, and in small animals that can carry minimal energy reserves, the effects of food deprivation on sleep are dramatic. Food-deprived mice have marked increases in wakefulness and locomotor activity, probably reflecting a strong drive to forage for food.

This is a slightly disingenuous challenge because optimal control

This is a slightly disingenuous challenge because optimal control cannot reproduce handwriting as a result of requisite motion being solenoidal. As noted above, this is a shortcoming of optimal control when it comes to itinerant (sequential and wandering) movements. Everolimus molecular weight In short, the compete class theorem suggests that any optimal trajectory specified by a cost function can be specified by a prior belief but that not every optimal trajectory can be specified by a cost function. The issues addressed in this review are largely theoretical in nature and speak to formal or computational modeling of motor control: specifically, should these models be

based on optimal control theory or optimal Bayesian inference. However, the answer

has some profound neurobiological implications. For example, if descending motor commands are top-down predictions, then descending motor efferents should share physiological and anatomical characteristics with top-down or backward connections in other systems. Indeed, descending projections from primary motor cortex share many features with backward connections in visual cortex: they originate in infragranular layers and target cells expressing NMDA receptors. This is somewhat paradoxical, from the orthodox perspective (Shipp, 2005), because backward modulatory characteristics (Sherman and Guillery, 1998) would not be expected of driving motor command signals. This apparent Selleckchem NVP-BKM120 paradox is resolved by active inference, which also provides a principled explanation for why the motor cortex is agranular (R. Adams, personal communication). There are clearly many operational issues that attend the distinction between optimal control and active inference. For example,

how does active inference compensate for altered limb dynamics or external perturbations? A treatment of this can be found in Friston et al. (2010), in which movement trajectories are shown to be remarkably robust to perturbations, Farnesyltransferase both to forces on a limb and fluctuations in motor gain. Heuristically, active inference counters unpredicted forces immediately (to suppress prediction errors on force); in contrast, optimal control can only adjust its (state-dependent) control signals after unpredicted forces change the state of the motor plant. Another key area we have not considered is the learning or acquisition of prior beliefs. In optimal control, the value function is learned, whereas in active inference, the problem reduces to learning the parameters (of the equations of motion) that constitute prior beliefs. This is a standard problem in inference and corresponds to perceptual learning. For example, the agent depicted in Figure 5 could optimize its parameters during action observation (with respect to free energy) and use them to reproduce observed behavior during action.

We entered these images into multivariate analysis using PLSGUI (

We entered these images into multivariate analysis using PLSGUI (McIntosh and Lobaugh, 2004). Briefly,

we concatenated correlation images of all seeds and participants into a large matrix, applied singular value decomposition to identify any latent variables (LVs), and evaluated the reliability of these LVs and their singular images using resampling (Supplemental Experimental Procedures). Because the only significant LV corresponded to a contrast of pHPC and aHPC, we also evaluated a nonrotated version of this analysis in which we tested this contrast explicitly. We inspected the associated bootstrap ratio maps to determine where in the brain pHPC and aHPC connectivity differed (Supplemental FG-4592 molecular weight Experimental Procedures). To explore the possibility that pHPC volume ratios expressed their effects on RM via postencoding pHPC connectivity, we tested a mediation model. We first obtained a connectivity summary for each participant

(i.e., brain score) by taking the product of a salience vector containing voxels that correlated preferentially with pHPC and the matrix of participant pHPC covariance images (obtained from the nonrotated analysis above). The resulting brain score reflected the extent to which pHPC expressed a correlation with its neural context in each participant. Next, we specified a causal model constrained by the flow of time. We reasoned that postencoding brain scores could not have influenced pHPC volume ratios, whereas pHPC volume ratios could have influenced brain scores (Figure S3), and that RM sampled after rest could RG 7204 not have influenced brain scores, whereas resting brain activity could have influenced Bumetanide RM (Figure S3). Applying the steps in establishing mediation discussed by Baron and Kenny (1986), we performed three necessary

tests to show that (1) pHPC volume ratios are correlated with brain scores (a), (2) the pHPC volume ratios are correlated with RM (c), and (3) brain scores are correlated with RM (b), even while controlling for pHPC volume ratios (b’). We evaluated degree of mediation as 1 – ab/c ( Kenny et al., 1998). Experiments 2–4: Obtained Data Sets. Although behavioral protocols for the obtained data sets are published elsewhere, for convenience, brief summaries are provided ( Supplemental Experimental Procedures). In all data sets, anatomical images were originally acquired to support spatial normalization of fMRI data and were not themselves analyzed. We applied the same MRI preprocessing and analysis procedures described in experiment 1 and included all individuals meeting the demographic criteria used for our own data set (i.e., healthy right-handed young adults aged 18–34 who are native speakers of English; only two individuals did not qualify). Group Pooling and Outlier Handling.

, 2006) in which R7 axons fail to terminate at the M6 layer, but

, 2006) in which R7 axons fail to terminate at the M6 layer, but rather target the M3 layer. However, the observed “gaps” may also be caused by a loss of R7 cells. We therefore stained third-instar larval eye discs with anti-Elav ( Figures S2A and S2B) and 24B10 antibodies ( Figures S2C and S2D) to reveal the differentiation of neurons and R cells. To determine if specific PR cells were properly identified, we also labeled R4 cells

with mΔGFP ( Cooper and selleck compound Bray, 1999; Figures S2E and S2F), R7 cells with 181Gal4 GFP ( Lee et al., 2001; Figures S2C and S2D), and R8 cells with anti-Senseless ( Nolo et al., 2000; Figures S2A and S2B). We observed no difference in staining pattern for any of the markers between 3L6 mutant and wild-type cells, indicating that the differentiation of PR cells is not affected in the mutants. We then analyzed retinal thick sections of adult flies and did not observe loss of R7 cells in the 3L6 mutants ( Figures S2G and S2H), although a rare ommatidium has an abnormal morphology. In contrast, labeling of the R7 terminals with UAS-Synaptotagmin GFP (SytGFP) drived by Pan-R7-Gal4 ( Ratnakumar and Desplan, 2004a), showed that about 20% (19.7% ± 3%, n = 268) of all R7 cell terminals fail to reach their target layer M6 but target the M3 layer ( Figures 2A, 2B, 2A′, and 2B′) Doxorubicin clinical trial in the adult brains of eyFLP; 3L61 mutants. Note that

the targeting defect is an underestimate (see Figure 5B) since we did not label the mutant clones and the 3L61 mutant clones are small because of a growth disadvantage with respect to heterozygous cells. Finally, we assessed the projection pattern of R8 cells by labeling them with Rh6-GFP ( Ratnakumar and Desplan, 2003). 3L6 mutant animals do not exhibit any obvious R8 targeting defects ( Figures 2C, 2D, 2C′, and 2D′). Since the phenotypes associated with loss of 3L6 are specific and interesting, we performed meiotic recombination mapping using P

elements ( Zhai et al., 2003). Rough mapping placed 3L6 in the 77A4–79F4 cytological interval. Deficiency mapping mapped 3L6 to 79C2–80A4. Resminostat As recombination frequencies are extremely low in this interval, we generated four small overlapping deficiency using FRT bearing P elements and PiggyBac insertions ( Parks et al., 2004 and Thibault et al., 2004; Figure 3A). Complementation tests narrowed the putative gene down to six genes and sequencing revealed two premature stop codons in CG9063 at amino acid (aa) 380 (3L61) and 1196 (3L62) ( Figure 3A). Since 3L61 has an early stop codon, it is probably a null or a strong hypomorphic allele, whereas the 3L62 allele contains a late stop codon, indicating that it may be a hypomorphic allele of CG9063. These data are in agreement with all the phenotypic data. Note that the 3L62 allele causes a weaker ERG and R7 targeting defect than the 3L61 allele (Figures 1A, 1D, 7E, 7F, and 7M).

The results of this combined intervention showed in the main anal

The results of this combined intervention showed in the main analysis clinically relevant sleep changes with effect sizes which were comparable to CBT interventions.16 Furthermore, improvements achieved at the end

of the intervention were well maintained over time and even 3 months after the treatment. The analysis in this study showed important influence of the physical exercise component of the intervention. Therefore, this study can be added to the series of positive findings for the beneficial effects of exercise on sleep. This is important selleck kinase inhibitor because regular PA shows further well-known benefits including improved physical function, a general healthier lifestyle,46 reduced risk of falls47 as well as social benefits.48 On the other

side, physical inactivity is one of the risk factors in the development of diseases. Moreover, insufficient sleep is more common in less active and sick people.49 Research indicates that PA might be a promising component in the management of chronic sleep complaints. “
“Sports participation in children and adolescents confers numerous health benefits, including increased physical activity (PA) and physical fitness;1 and 2 improved academic ABT-263 price performance,3 social adjustment,4 and psychological well-being;5 and decreased alcohol/drug use,6 and 7 teen pregnancies,8 and crime.8 Youth sports participation is one of the few early predictors of an active adulthood.9 and 10 Sports participation has been shown to reduce children

and adolescents’ body mass index (BMI) and risk of overweight and obesity.2, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 In a previously published analysis, we examined see more the association between different types of PA and weight status among adolescents in this sample.11 We found that sports participation was the strongest and most consistent predictor of weight status. Our attributable risk estimates indicated that if all adolescents played on at least two sports teams per year, the prevalence of overweight/obesity would decrease 10.6% (i.e., from 28.8% to 25.7%). Despite this and other studies demonstrating the value of sports participation,2, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 relatively few obesity prevention efforts have attempted to increase sports participation among children and adolescents. In the U.S., high schools offer both interscholastic sports, which are generally competitive, and intramural sports, which tend to be less competitive than interscholastic sports. The variety of sports offered at U.S. high schools typically depends on the schools’ size, budget, and geographic location.

1, one tailed t test), the trial-by-trial standard deviation was

1, one tailed t test), the trial-by-trial standard deviation was significantly larger in individuals with autism in all three sensory systems (Figure 2C; p < 0.05, one tailed t test). The resulting

signal-to-noise ratios (response amplitude divided by response variability) were, consequently, significantly smaller in individuals with autism (Figure 2D; p < 0.05, one tailed t test) in all three independent experiments. To exclude gender effects, we also assessed these results in a subset of 10 subjects from each group, which contained only males. The results were equivalent Trametinib chemical structure to those presented for the entire group; significantly larger trial-by-trial standard deviation and significantly smaller signal-to-noise ratios across all three experiments (data not shown). We also performed a complementary linear regression analysis using a general linear model that contained a separate predictor for Everolimus each trial (Figure S5). We used fMRI data from one scan to identify the relevant ROIs in each subject, and performed the response amplitude and variability analyses on statistically independent data from the second scan. Poor response reliability in autism was clearly evident in this analysis as well. Larger response variability was evident in the autism group even when isolating the “local” activity that was unique to

each sensory ROI (Figure 3). The trial-by-trial fMRI variability presented above (Figure 2) can be separated into two complementary components. The first is a Linifanib (ABT-869) “global” component, which corresponds to the variability of fMRI fluctuations that are common across the entire cortex. This

component was estimated, separately in each experiment, by computing the average activity time course of all cortical gray-matter voxels and determining its variance. The variance of the global time course was larger in individuals with autism, as compared with controls, in all three independent experiments, although this difference was not statistically significant (0.05 < p < 0.13, one-tailed t test; Figure 3A). The second component of variability is a “local” component, which corresponds to the trial-by-trial variability that remains after extracting the “global” time courses from the data. The global time course was removed from the time course of each gray matter voxel, separately for each experiment, using orthogonal projection (Fox et al., 2006). This procedure ensures that there is no correlation between the global time course and the time course of each voxel, thereby extracting the fMRI fluctuations that are common across the entire cortex, while preserving the local fluctuations. After removing the global time course, auditory response amplitudes were significantly weaker in the autism group, trial-by-trial standard deviations were reduced by 20%–35% in both subject groups, and signal-to-noise ratios increased by 50%–80% in both subject groups (Figure 3).