Extensive sampling of neural activity during rich cognitive phenomena is critical for robust understanding of brain function. We present the Natural Scenes Dataset (NSD), in which high-resolution fMRI responses to tens of thousands of richly annotated natural scenes are measured while participants perform a continuous recognition task. To optimize data quality, we develop and apply novel estimation and denoising techniques. Simple visual inspections of the NSD data reveal clear representational transformations along the ventral visual pathway. Further exemplifying the inferential power of the dataset, we use NSD to build and train deep neural network models that predict brain activity more accurately than state-of-the-art models from computer vision. NSD also includes substantial resting-state and diffusion data, enabling network neuroscience perspectives to constrain and enhance models of perception and memory. Given its unprecedented scale, quality, and breadth, NSD opens new avenues of inquiry in cognitive and computational neuroscience..

Variations in the spectral shape of harmonic tone complexes are perceived as timbre changes and can lead to poorer fundamental frequency (F0) or pitch discrimination. Less is known about the effects of F0 variations on spectral shape discrimination. The aims of the study were to determine whether the interactions between pitch and timbre are symmetric, and to test whether musical training affects listeners' ability to ignore variations in irrelevant perceptual dimensions. Difference limens (DLs) for F0 were measured with and without random, concurrent, variations in spectral centroid, and vice versa. Additionally, sensitivity was measured as the target parameter and the interfering parameter varied by the same amount, in terms of individual DLs. Results showed significant and similar interference between pitch (F0) and timbre (spectral centroid) dimensions, with upward spectral motion often confused for upward F0 motion, and vice versa. Musicians had better F0DLs than non-musicians on average, but similar spectral centroid DLs. Both groups showed similar interference effects, in terms of decreased sensitivity, in both dimensions. Results reveal symmetry in the interference effects between pitch and timbre, once differences in sensitivity between dimensions and subjects are controlled. Musical training does not reliably help to overcome these effects.

It has been suggested that the incidence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis is increased in the presence of high iodide intake. The diabetes-prone BB/W rat develops spontaneous histological autoimmune lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT) without functional hypothyroidism between 60 and 120 days of age. Studies were carried out to determine whether iodine administration to BB/W rats would affect the incidence and severity of LT and induce hypothyroidism. Iodide (0.05% in water) or tap water (C) was administered ad libitum to 42 10-month-old BB/W rats and 71 30-day-old BB/W rats for 8 weeks. For control purposes, 0.05% iodide or tap water (C) was also administered ad libitum to 42 30-day-old nondiabetic and non-LT-prone BB/W genetically equivalent rats (W-line) for 12 weeks and 41 21-day-old Wistar rats for 7 weeks. In a separate experiment, weanling BB/W rats were fed a low iodine diet, a control iodine-sufficient (C) diet, or Purina chow (P) and tap water ad libitum for 8 weeks. In each experiment, blood was obtained at the time of death for the measurement of serum T4, T3, TSH, and antithyroglobulin antibody (anti-Tg Ab), and the thyroids were removed for histological evaluation (0 = no LT; 1-4 = LT). Iodide administration (0.05%) induced a significant increase in the incidence of LT in 30-day-old BB/W rats (I, 77%; C, 30%, P less than .001). Thyroid weight and serum T4, T3, and anti-Tg Ab concentrations were not affected by iodide administration. However, the presence of LT was associated with a significant increase in thyroid weight and anti-Tg Ab concentrations. BB/W rats subjected to a low iodine diet exhibited a significantly decreased incidence of LT (low I, 8.6%; C, 47.3%; P less than 0.01), but no statistically significant difference in anti-Tg Ab levels. Increased iodide intake did not significantly affect the incidence of LT in adult BB/W rats and did not induce LT or affect thyroid function in W-line or Wistar rats. These data show that iodine intake significantly affects the incidence of spontaneous LT in young, genetically predisposed rats.

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