Review
Neurosciences
Blake J. Laham, Elizabeth Gould
Summary: The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in brain development and plasticity. Perineuronal nets (PNNs), a specialized ECM structure, emerge during postnatal life and may be sensitive to experience. Recent studies have shown that stress affects both diffuse ECM and PNNs, with effects dependent on life stage and brain region. Considering the involvement of ECM in synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions, targeted therapies on ECM components could be effective in stress-induced neuropsychiatric diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Rawan AlSubaie, Ryan W. S. Wee, Anne Ritoux, Karyna Mishchanchuk, Jessica Passlack, Daniel Regester, Andrew F. MacAskill
Summary: Projections from the basal amygdala to the ventral hippocampus provide information about rewarding or threatening stimuli to support appropriate behavior. These projections consist of both excitatory and inhibitory inputs that control the activity of downstream neurons, ultimately affecting goal-directed behavior.
Article
Neurosciences
Esteban Merino, Danae Raya-Salom, Vicent Teruel-Marti, Albert Adell, Ana Cervera-Ferri, Joana Martinez-Ricos
Summary: Displaying a stress response to threatening stimuli is crucial for survival, but must be adaptive to prevent mental illnesses. Recent research focuses on characterizing brain activity in response to stress, aiming to enhance understanding of this phenomenon.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kornrawee Suwannakot, Nataya Sritawan, Ram Prajit, Anusara Aranarochana, Apiwat Sirichoat, Wanassanun Pannangrong, Peter Wigmore, Jariya Umka Welbat
Summary: Melatonin has neuroprotective effects against 5-FU-induced oxidative stress by restoring antioxidant enzyme levels and protein expression in the rat hippocampus and PFC.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Xuejun Jiang, Feng Wu, Yifan Zhang, Huizi Li, Jiahui Kang, Lingtao Kong, Fei Wang, Yanqing Tang
Summary: This study investigated the association between brain function and gender in bipolar disorder using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF). The results indicated gender differences in dysfunction of the cortico-limbic neural system in BD. Male and female patients with BD showed different patterns of ALFF in various brain regions.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Veronica Pastor, Jorge H. Medina
Summary: Information storage in the brain involves different memory types and stages, and cholinergic pathways through acetylcholine receptors play an active role in memory modulation. The alpha 7 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors has been studied in relation to memory processing, but there is still limited information available. This review aims to identify the brain regions where alpha 7 nicotinic receptors are essential for different memory types and stages, and discuss their potential as pharmacological targets for memory impairment in neurological disorders.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Christine Stubbendorff, Carl W. Stevenson
Summary: Research has shown that dopamine plays a crucial role in regulating various contextual fear processes, although the related neurochemical mechanisms are still not fully understood. Understanding how dopamine regulates contextual fear can provide novel insights into the neurochemical modulation of neural circuit function underlying memory processing.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Z. A. Kovacs-Balint, J. Raper, R. Richardson, A. Gopakumar, K. P. Kettimuthu, M. Higgins, E. Feczko, E. Earl, K. F. Ethun, L. Li, M. Styner, D. Fair, J. Bachevalier, M. M. Sanchez
Summary: This study investigated the impact of male pubertal maturation on physical growth and the development of neural circuits regulating stress, emotional, and cognitive control using nonhuman primates as a model. By collecting longitudinal data, including physical and pubertal measures, as well as brain structural and functional MRI scans, the researchers found developmental changes in several brain regions and functional connectivity. Testicular size was a better predictor of brain structural maturation, while testosterone levels were strongly associated with functional connectivity development. Further research is expected to reveal more significant pubertal-dependent maturation in these neural circuits during and after male puberty.
DEVELOPMENTAL COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hee Ra Park, Mudan Cai, Eun Jin Yang
Summary: Fear memory is crucial for avoiding harm, but excessive consolidation can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety-related disorders. Dysregulation of specific brain regions and neural circuits, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex, has been observed in patients with these disorders. These regions are important for learning, memory, and integration, and play a significant role in neural plasticity and structural remodeling in psychiatric disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giovanna Traina, Jack A. Tuszynski
Summary: This review provides an overview of the role that classical neurotransmitters play in the contextual conditioning model of fear and PTSD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Weronika Szadzinska, Konrad Danielewski, Kacper Kondrakiewicz, Karolina Andraka, Evgeni Nikolaev, Marta Mikosz, Ewelina Knapska
Summary: Fear extinction training gradually changes the vHIP-PL connectivity, allowing for fear suppression. In the absence of fear suppression from the vHIP, signals from the BL play a dominant role, resulting in heightened fear levels.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Nahoko Kuga, Reimi Abe, Kotomi Takano, Yuji Ikegaya, Takuya Sasaki
Summary: The medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala play important roles in regulating social behavior, but their specific neurophysiological mechanisms are still unclear. This study recorded local field potentials (LFPs) from these brain regions in male mice engaged in social behavior. It was found that both the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala showed changes in oscillation power when mice attended to another target mouse. Manipulating specific neural activity patterns in these regions restored social interaction behavior in socially deficient mice, providing insights into the underlying neurophysiological basis of social behavioral deficits.
Article
Neurosciences
Anabel M. M. Miguelez Fernandez, Hanna M. Molla, Daniel R. Thomases, Kuei Y. Tseng
Summary: The study shows that disruption of prefrontal cortex (PFC) alpha 7nAChR signaling impacts hippocampal and amygdalar transmission, with significant effects observed in adult rats. Prefrontal infusion of MLA affects trace fear-conditioning and extinction in an age-dependent manner, potentially due to the late-adolescent maturation of ventral hippocampal-PFC functional connectivity and its modulation by alpha 7nAChR signaling.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Vincenzo G. Fiore, Xiaosi Gu
Summary: The neural dynamics underlying belief updating remain consistent across tasks, but the network dynamics change depending on the presence or absence of trial-by-trial value-based outcomes after each choice selection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fanny Demars, Ralitsa Todorova, Gabriel Makdah, Antonin Forestier, Marie-Odile Krebs, Bill P. Godsil, Therese M. Jay, Sidney I. Wiener, Marco N. Pompili
Summary: Current treatments for trauma-related disorders are ineffective for many patients. This study modeled individual differences in post-therapy fear relapse using an ethologically relevant trauma recovery paradigm. The results suggest that post-trauma behavioral phenotypes and gene expression patterns are associated with fear relapse susceptibility, which may be important for future treatment development.
Article
Neurosciences
Xiaomei Lin, Tianyuyi Feng, Erheng Cui, Yunfei Li, Zhang Qin, Xiaohu Zhao
Summary: This study successfully established a rat model based on the genetic-environmental interaction, which exhibited phenotype characteristics similar to human AD in terms of cognitive function, brain microstructure, and immunohistochemistry. The genetic factor (APP mutation) and the environmental factor (acrolein exposure) accounted for 39.74% and 33.3% of the AD-like phenotypes in the model, respectively.
Article
Neurosciences
Gustavo Guimara Guerrero, Giovanna Bignoto Minhoto, Camilla dos Santos Tiburcio-Machado, Itza Amarisis Ribeiro Pinto, Claudio Antonio Federico, Marcia Carneiro Valera
Summary: The present study evaluated the influence of head and neck radiotherapy on the behavior and body weight gain in Wistar rats. The results demonstrated that different doses of radiation induced depressive behavior in the animals, and that the weight gain tended to be lower in the irradiated groups.
Article
Neurosciences
Ziwei Gao, Chao Lu, Yaping Zhu, Yuxin Liu, Yuesong Lin, Wenming Gao, Liyuan Tian, Lei Wu
Summary: This study reveals the underlying mechanisms of the rapid antidepressant effects of merazin hydrate (MH), which activates CaMKII to promote neuronal activities and proliferation in the hippocampus.
Article
Neurosciences
Kathleen E. Murray, Whitney A. Ratliff, Vedad Delic, Bruce A. Citron
Summary: Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic disorder that affects approximately 30% of Veterans deployed to the Persian Gulf. This study found that exposure to toxicants during the Gulf War resulted in long-term changes in the morphology of dentate granule cells and that treatment with Nrf2 activator could improve neuronal health in the hippocampus.
Article
Neurosciences
Jing Li, Yan Zou, Xiangchuang Kong, Yangming Leng, Fan Yang, Guofeng Zhou, Bo Liu, Wenliang Fan
Summary: This study examines the functional connectivity changes in individuals with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) at the integrity, network, and edge levels. The findings reveal reduced intranetwork connectivity strength and increased internetwork connectivity in SSNHL patients. These alterations are associated with the duration of SSNHL and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores. The study provides crucial insights into the neural mechanisms of SSNHL and the brain's network-level responses to sensory loss.
Review
Neurosciences
Didier Majou, Anne-Lise Dermenghem
Summary: In the early stages of SAD, memory impairment is strongly correlated with cortical levels of soluble amyloid-beta peptide oligomers. A beta disrupts glutamatergic synaptic function and leads to cognitive deficits. This article describes the pathogenic mechanisms underlying cerebral amyloidosis, involving amyloid precursor protein synthesis, A beta residue clearance processes, and the role of specific molecules.
Article
Neurosciences
Jing Li, Yi Shan, Xiaojing Zhao, Guixiang Shan, Peng-Hu Wei, Lin Liu, Changming Wang, Hang Wu, Weiqun Song, Yi Tang, Guo-Guang Zhao, Jie Lu
Summary: This study investigates changes in brain anatomical structures and functional network connectivity after chronic complete thoracic spinal cord injury (cctSCI) and their impact on clinical outcomes. The findings reveal alterations in gray matter volume and functional connectivity in specific brain regions, indicating potential therapeutic targets and methods for tracking treatment outcomes.
Article
Neurosciences
Anllely Fernandez, Katherine Corvalan, Octavia Santis, Maxs Mendez-Ruette, Ariel Caviedes, Matias Pizarro, Maria -Teresa Gomez, Luis Federico Batiz, Peter Landgraf, Thilo Kahne, Alejandro Rojas-Fernandez, Ursula Wyneken
Summary: This study reveals the importance of SUMOylation in modulating the protein cargo of astrocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and its potential impact on neurons.
Article
Neurosciences
Anika Luettig, Stefanie Perl, Maria Zetsche, Franziska Richter, Denise Franz, Marco Heerdegen, Ruediger Koehling, Angelika Richter
Summary: This study found that changes in c-Fos activity during short-term stimulation of the entopeduncular nucleus (EPN) are associated with improvement in dystonia, and also discovered that the cerebellum may be involved in the antidystonic effects.
Article
Neurosciences
Yanlin Tao, Wei Shen, Houyuan Zhou, Zikang Li, Ting Pi, Hui Wu, Hailian Shi, Fei Huang, Xiaojun Wu
Summary: Depression has a higher incidence in women compared to men, and this study investigated the impact of sex on depressive behaviors and underlying mechanisms using a corticosterone-induced depression model in mice. The results showed sex-specific anxiety and depression behaviors in the model group, as well as differences in protein expression and neurotransmitter levels between male and female mice. These findings enhance our understanding of sex-specific differences in depression and support tailored interventions.
Review
Neurosciences
Dnyandev G. Gadhave, Vrashabh V. Sugandhi, Chandrakant R. Kokare
Summary: This article discusses the characteristics and importance of the tight junctions of endothelial cells in the CNS, which act as a biological barrier known as the blood-brain barrier (BBB). It focuses on overcoming the challenges of delivering therapeutic agents to the brain in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly multiple sclerosis, through the use of biomaterials. The article also highlights the current limitations of animal models for studying multiple sclerosis and suggests a potential future research direction.
Article
Neurosciences
Li-Min Mao, Khyathi Thallapureddy, John Q. Wang
Summary: Propofol can enhance synapsin phosphorylation and modulate synaptic transmission in the mouse brain. The study reveals the potential role of synapsin as a substrate of propofol and its effects on neurotransmitter release machinery.
Article
Neurosciences
Syed Maaz Ahmed Rizvi, Abdul Baseer Buriro, Irfan Ahmed, Abdul Aziz Memon
Summary: This study explores the effects of prolonged mask usage on the human brain by analyzing EEG and physiological parameters. The results show that the mean EEG spectral power in alpha, beta, and gamma sub-bands of individuals wearing masks is smaller than those without masks. The performances on cognitive tasks and oxygen saturation level differ between the two groups, while blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate are similar. The analysis also reveals that the occipital and frontal lobes exhibit the greatest variability in channel measurements.
Article
Neurosciences
Rui-Fang Ma, Lu-Lu Xue, Jin-Xiang Liu, Li Chen, Liu-Lin Xiong, Ting-Hua Wang, Fei Liu
Summary: This study observed changes in brain infarction and blood vessels in rats during neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (NHIE) modeling using Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography (TCD). Longer duration of hypoxia was associated with more severe nerve damage. TCD can dynamically monitor cerebral infarction after NHIE modeling, which may serve as a useful auxiliary method for evaluating animal experimental models.
Article
Neurosciences
Yuxiang Dai, Chen Yu, Lu Zhou, Longyang Cheng, Hongbin Ni, Weibang Liang
Summary: Overexpression of CXCR4 in glioma is correlated with patient survival, and its inhibition can reduce invasion and migration of glioma cells. Inhibiting Nur77 also decreases cancer progression associated with CXCR4.