Biology subjects

Verharen, J. P. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Verharen, J. P. H..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

ChatGPT identifies gender disparities in scientific peer review

The peer review process is a critical step in ensuring the quality of scientific research. However, its subjectivity has raised concerns. To investigate this issue, I examined over 500 publicly available peer review reports from 200 published neuroscience papers in 2022-2023. OpenAIs generative artificial intelligence ChatGPT was used to analyze language use in these reports. It demonstrated superior performance compared to traditional lexicon- and rule-based language models. As expected, most reviews for these published papers were seen as favorable by ChatGPT (89.8% of reviews), and language use was mostly polite (99.8% of reviews). However, this analysis also demonstrated high levels of variability in how each reviewer scored the same paper, indicating the presence of subjectivity in the peer review process. The results further revealed that female first authors received less polite reviews than their male peers, indicating a gender bias in reviewing. In addition, published papers with a female senior author received more favorable reviews than papers with a male senior author, for which I discuss potential causes. Together, this study highlights the potential of generative artificial intelligence in performing natural language processing of specialized scientific texts. As a proof of concept, I show that ChatGPT can identify areas of concern in scientific peer review, underscoring the importance of transparent peer review in studying equitability in scientific publishing.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2022

Computational modeling reveals latent components of mouse behavior in the sucrose preference test

The sucrose preference test (SPT) measures the relative preference of a sucrose solution over water to assess hedonic behaviors in rodents. The SPT involves numerous complex behaviors, including learning, motivation, and choice. Yet, it remains uncertain whether its main outcome measure, sucrose preference, can reflect these behavioral subcomponents. Here, we conducted an experimental and computational decomposition of mouse behavior in the SPT and discovered previously unrecognized behavioral subcomponents associated with changes in sucrose preference. While both acute and chronic stress reduced sucrose preference, only chronic stress evoked anhedonia. Additionally, reduced sucrose preference induced by optogenetics is not always indicative of anhedonia but can also reflect learning deficits. Even small variations in experimental conditions influence behavior, task outcome and interpretation. Thus, an ostensibly simple behavioral task can entail high levels of complexity, demonstrating the need for careful dissection of behavior into its subcomponents when studying the underlying neurobiology.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

An altered cognitive strategy associated with reduction of synaptic inhibition in the prefrontal cortex after social play deprivation in rats

Sensory driven activity during early life is critical for setting up the proper connectivity of the sensory cortices. Here we ask if social play behavior, a particular form of social interaction that is highly abundant during post-weaning development, is equally important for setting up connections in the developing prefrontal cortex (PFC). Young rats were deprived from social play with peers for 3 weeks during the period in life when social play behavior normally peaks (P21-42; SPD rats), followed by resocialization until adulthood. We recorded synaptic currents in L5 cells in slices from medial PFC of adult SPD and control rats and observed that inhibitory synaptic currents were reduced in SPD slices, while excitatory synaptic currents were unaffected. This was associated with a decrease in perisomatic inhibitory synapses from parvalbumin-positive GABAergic cells. In parallel experiments, adult SPD rats achieved more reversals in a probabilistic reversal learning task (PRL), which depends on the integrity of the PFC. They appeared to use a different cognitive strategy than controls. One hour of intense play during SPD did not prevent the decrease in inhibitory synaptic inputs and had only a limited effect on behavioral outcomes in the PRL. Our data demonstrate the importance of unrestricted social play for the development of inhibitory synapses in the PFC and cognitive skills in adulthood.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

A neuronal mechanism underlying decision-making deficits during hyperdopaminergic states

Hyperdopaminergic states in mental disorders are associated with disruptive deficits in decision-making. However, the precise contribution of topographically distinct mesencephalic dopamine pathways to decision-making processes remains elusive. Here we show, using a multidisciplinary approach, how hyperactivity of ascending projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) contributes to faulty decision-making in rats. Activation of the VTA-nucleus accumbens pathway leads to insensitivity to loss and punishment due to impaired processing of negative reward prediction errors. In contrast, activation of the VTA-prefrontal cortex pathway promotes risky decision-making without affecting the ability to choose the economically most beneficial option. Together, these findings show how malfunction of ascending VTA projections affects value-based decision-making, providing a mechanistic understanding of the reckless behaviors seen in substance abuse, mania, and after dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinsons disease.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

Acute stress induces long-lasting alterations in the dopaminergic system of female mice

Stress is a risk factor for many neuropsychiatric disorders, and the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway is a crucial node of vulnerability. Despite the high prevalence of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders in women, preclinical knowledge on the impact of stress on neural circuitry has predominantly been acquired in males. Here, we examine how a non-social stressor impacts the effect of DA neurotransmission on social and reward-related behaviors in female mice. Acute stress exposure attenuated the anti-social effects of photoinhibiting ventral tegmental area (VTA) DA neurons and transformed photoactivation of these cells into an anti-social signal. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) revealed an enhancement in optogenetically-induced DA release after stress. 60 days after stress, mice showed distinct patterns of intra-cranial self-stimulation of VTA DA neurons. Our results reveal the impact stress exerts on females and show that neural and behavioral changes induced by acute stress exposure are still present months later.

neuroscience↗