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Thompson B, Petrić Howe N. Astronomers are worried by a satellite brighter than most stars. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-03132-0. [PMID: 37794157 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-03132-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
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Watson C, Thompson B. Audio long read: These animals are racing towards extinction. A new home might be their last chance. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02872-3. [PMID: 37773280 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02872-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
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Petrić Howe N, Thompson B. This isn't the Nature Podcast - how deepfakes are distorting reality. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-03042-1. [PMID: 37759116 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-03042-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
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Thompson B, Bundell S. Why does cancer spread to the spine? Newly discovered stem cells might be the key. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02968-w. [PMID: 37730786 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02968-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
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Thompson B, Fox D, Bundell S. Our ancestors lost nearly 99% of their population, 900,000 years ago. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02837-6. [PMID: 37773284 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02837-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
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Silva AE, Lehmann R, Perikleous N, Thompson B. The temporal dynamics of visual crowding in letter recognition: Modulating crowding with alternating flicker presentations. J Vis 2023; 23:18. [PMID: 37768277 PMCID: PMC10540873 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.10.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual crowding reduces the visibility of a peripherally presented group of stimuli. This is especially challenging for peripheral reading because adjacent letters or characters perceptually crowd one another. We investigated the temporal course of spatial visual crowding by sequentially alternating the visibility of the target and flanking letters within a trigram letter stimulus presented 9° below fixation. We found that alternation rates of roughly 3 Hz released half of the total effect of crowding, whereas 10 Hz alternation rates elicited near-crowded performance. Furthermore, we found a robust performance asymmetry whereby presenting the target first elicited better performance than presenting the flankers first, an effect resembling forward masking. These results held for conditions of high, medium, and low spatial crowding. Future work will determine whether the alternation rates found in the current study can improve peripheral reading.
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Van Noorden R, Thompson B. Audio long read: Medicine is plagued by untrustworthy clinical trials. How many studies are faked or flawed? Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02627-0. [PMID: 37626217 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02627-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
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Thompson B, Petrić Howe N. Brain-reading implants turn thoughts into speech. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02683-6. [PMID: 37612492 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02683-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
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Thompson B. How to get more women in science, with Athene Donald. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02467-y. [PMID: 37532860 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02467-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
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Nivins S, Kennedy E, McKinlay C, Thompson B, Harding JE. Size at birth predicts later brain volumes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12446. [PMID: 37528153 PMCID: PMC10393952 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39663-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We aimed to investigate whether gestation at birth, birth weight, and head circumference at birth are still associated with brain volume and white matter microstructure at 9-10 years in children born late-preterm and at term. One hundred and eleven children born at ≥ 36 weeks gestation from the CHYLD Study cohort underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging at 9 to 10 years. Images were analysed using FreeSurfer for volumetric data and tract-based spatial statistics for diffusion data. Of the cohort, 101 children were included for volumetric analysis [boys, 49(49%); median age, 9.5 (range: 8.9-12.4) years]. Shorter gestation at birth, lower birthweight, and smaller birth head circumference were associated with smaller brain volumes at 9 to 10 years, both globally and regionally. Amongst the perinatal factors studied, head circumference at birth was the strongest predictor of later brain volumes. Gestation at birth and absolute birthweight were not associated with diffusion metrics of white matter skeleton. However, lower birthweight z-score was associated with higher fractional anisotropy and lower radial diffusivity. Our findings suggest that even in children born late preterm and at term, growth before birth and timing of birth are still associated with brain development in mid-childhood.
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Pushin DA, Cory DG, Kapahi C, Kulmaganbetov M, Mungalsingh M, Silva AE, Singh T, Thompson B, Sarenac D. Structured light enhanced entoptic stimuli for vision science applications. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1232532. [PMID: 37559704 PMCID: PMC10407105 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1232532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The dichroic macular pigment in the Henle fiber layer in the fovea enables humans to perceive entoptic phenomena when viewing polarized blue light. In the standard case of linearly polarized stimuli, a faint bowtie-like pattern known as the Haidinger's brush appears in the central point of fixation. As the shape and clarity of the perceived signal is directly related to the health of the macula, Haidinger's brush has been used as a diagnostic marker in studies of early stage macular degeneration and central field visual dysfunction. However, due to the weak nature of the perceived signal the perception of the Haidinger's brush has not been integrated with modern clinical methods. Recent attempts have been made to increase the strength of the perceived signal by employing structured light with spatially varying polarization profiles. Here we review the advancements with the structured light stimuli and describe the current challenges and future prospects.
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Thompson B, Bundell S. Disrupting snail food-chain curbs parasitic disease in Senegal. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02362-6. [PMID: 37468818 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02362-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
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Baker N, Thompson B, Fox D. ChatGPT can write a paper in an hour - but there are downsides. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02298-x. [PMID: 37438635 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02298-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
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Thompson B, Concetta Morrone M, Bex P, Lozama A, Sabel BA. Harnessing brain plasticity to improve binocular vision in amblyopia: An evidence-based update. Eur J Ophthalmol 2023:11206721231187426. [PMID: 37431104 DOI: 10.1177/11206721231187426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Amblyopia is a developmental visual disorder resulting from atypical binocular experience in early childhood that leads to abnormal visual cortex development and vision impairment. Recovery from amblyopia requires significant visual cortex neuroplasticity, i.e. the ability of the central nervous system and its synaptic connections to adapt their structure and function. There is a high level of neuroplasticity in early development and, historically, neuroplastic responses to changes in visual experience were thought to be restricted to a "critical period" in early life. However, as our review now shows, the evidence is growing that plasticity of the adult visual system can also be harnessed to improve vision in amblyopia. Amblyopia treatment involves correcting refractive error to ensure clear and equal retinal image formation in both eyes, then, if necessary, promoting the use of the amblyopic eye by hindering or reducing visual input from the better eye through patching or pharmacologic therapy. Early treatment in children can lead to visual acuity gains and the development of binocular vision in some cases; however, many children do not respond to treatment, and many adults with amblyopia have historically been untreated or undertreated. Here we review the current evidence on how dichoptic training can be used as a novel binocular therapeutic approach to facilitate visual processing of input from the amblyopic eye and can simultaneously engage both eyes in a training task that requires binocular integration. It is a novel and promising treatment for amblyopia in both children and adults.
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Liu J, Ye Q, Xiao C, Zhuang Y, Feng L, He Y, Xu Z, Zhou Y, Chen X, Yao Y, Jiang R, Pang Y, Yu W, Wen Y, Yuan J, Thompson B, Li J. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic control measures on amblyopia treatment: a retrospective study of records from a tertiary eye hospital in China. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e071839. [PMID: 37407054 PMCID: PMC10335509 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Amblyopia is the most common cause of unilateral visual impairment in children and requires long-term treatment. This study aimed to quantify the impact of pandemic control measures on amblyopia management. DESIGN AND SETTING This was a retrospective cohort study of data from a large amblyopia management database at a major tertiary eye care centre in China. PARTICIPANTS Outpatients with amblyopia who visited the hospital from 1 June 2019, through 28 February 2022. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the number of first and follow-up in-person visits to the hospital for amblyopia treatment. Secondary outcomes included the time interval between consecutive visits and improvement of vision (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and stereopsis). Patient records were grouped into prepandemic and during pandemic periods. RESULTS A total of 10 060 face-to-face visits for 5361 patients (median age 6.7 years, IQR 5.4, 8.9) that spanned two lockdown periods were included in the analysis, of which 28% were follow-up visits. Pandemic control measures caused a sharp decline in the number of outpatient visits (3% and 30% of prepandemic levels in the months directly after the start of the first (2020) and second (2021) periods of pandemic control measures, respectively). However, these drops were followed by pronounced rebounds in visits that exceeded prepandemic levels by 51.1% and 108.5%, respectively. The interval between consecutive visits increased significantly during the pandemic from a median (IQR) of 120 (112, 127) days in 2019 to 197 (179, 224) in 2020 (p<0.001) and 189 (182, 221) in 2021 (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in the improvement of visual function or treatment compliance between the prepandemic and postpandemic groups. CONCLUSIONS The number of amblyopia patient hospital visits spiked well above prepandemic levels following lockdown periods. This pattern of patient behaviour can inform planning for amblyopia treatment services during and after public health-related disruptions.
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Thompson B, Bundell S. Even a 'minimal cell' can grow stronger, thanks to evolution. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02232-1. [PMID: 37407781 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02232-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
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Turuwhenua J, LinTun Z, Norouzifard M, Edmonds M, Findlay R, Black J, Thompson B. OKN-Fast: Objective visual acuity threshold measurement using the optokinetic response . ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023; 2023:1-4. [PMID: 38083632 DOI: 10.1109/embc40787.2023.10340573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Visual acuity (VA) is the gold-standard measure for the assessment of visual function, but it is challenging to obtain in non-verbal adults and young children. We present OKN-Fast, an objective, automated method for estimation of VA using a reflexive eye movement called optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) that does not require a verbal response from the patient (VA-OKN). We tested the method in a cohort of healthy adults (n=12) with good vision, who were also blurred using a lens. On average OKN-Fast reduced the number of trials needed to determine threshold by half, as compared to a gold standard trial-by-trial assessment. The VAs determined by OKN and ETDRS were similar when blurred (no statistically significant difference). However, a significant bias of logMAR 0.2 was observed for the good vision condition. VA-OKN was highly repeatable with limits of agreement (LOA) similar to those found for ETDRS charts when blurred. However, this VA-OKN was only moderately correlated with VA measured using a ETDRS chart (r2 = 0.55). These results suggest that further optimization is warranted.Clinical Relevance- This work provides an automated approach for the estimation of visual acuity in non-verbal populations such as young children or non-verbal adults.
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Peplow M, Thompson B. Audio long read: 'Almost magical' - chemists can now move single atoms in and out of a molecule's core. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02081-y. [PMID: 37391611 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02081-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
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Thompson B, Bundell S. Do octopuses dream? Neural activity resembles human sleep stages. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02169-5. [PMID: 37380844 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02169-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
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Silva AE, Harding JE, Chakraborty A, Dai DW, Gamble GD, McKinlay CJD, Nivins S, Shah R, Thompson B. Associations Between Autism Spectrum Quotient and Integration of Visual Stimuli in 9-year-old Children: Preliminary Evidence of Sex Differences. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06035-1. [PMID: 37344731 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06035-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The dorsal stream vulnerability hypothesis posits that the dorsal stream, responsible for visual motion and visuo-motor processing, may be particularly vulnerable during neurodevelopment. Consistent with this, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with deficits in global motion integration, though deficits in ventral stream tasks, such as form identification, have also been reported. In the current study, we examined whether a similar pattern of results is found in a cohort of 381 children born with neurodevelopmental risk factors and exhibiting a wide spectrum of caregiver-reported autistic traits. METHODS We examined the associations between global motion perception, global form perception, fine motor function, visual-motor integration, and autistic traits (autism spectrum quotient, AQ) using linear regression, accounting for possible interactions with sex and other factors relevant to neurodevelopment. RESULTS All assessments of dorsal stream function were significantly associated with AQ such that worse performance predicted higher AQ scores. We also observed a significant sex interaction, with worse global form perception associated with higher AQ in boys (n = 202) but not girls (n = 179). CONCLUSION We found widespread associations between dorsal stream functions and autistic traits. These associations were observed in a large group of children with a range of AQ scores, demonstrating a range of visual function across the full spectrum of autistic traits. In addition, ventral function was associated with AQ in boys but not girls. Sex differences in the associations between visual processing and neurodevelopment should be considered in the designs of future studies.
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Petrić Howe N, Thompson B. AI identifies gene interactions to speed up search for treatment targets. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-01803-6. [PMID: 37258740 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-01803-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
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72
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Adam D, Thompson B. Audio long read: Can giant surveys of scientists fight misinformation on COVID, climate change and more? Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-01706-6. [PMID: 37237131 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-01706-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
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Thompson B, Bundell S. 'Tree islands' give oil-palm plantation a biodiversity boost. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-01733-3. [PMID: 37225820 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-01733-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
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Thompson B, Petrić Howe N. JWST shows an ancient galaxy in stunning spectroscopic detail. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-01657-y. [PMID: 37198471 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-01657-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
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75
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Abbott A, Thompson B. Audio long read: Conquering Alzheimer's - a look at the therapies of the future. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-01351-z. [PMID: 37117691 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-01351-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
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