Article
Neurosciences
Yinyin Zhao, Shanshan Ke, Guo Cheng, Xiaohua Lv, Jin Chang, Wei Zhou
Summary: The perception of motion is an important function of vision. Through connectome reconstruction, a new type of TmY-ds neuron has been discovered in Drosophila, which forms reciprocal synaptic connections with T4/T5 neurons. The direction selectivity of TmY-ds neurons originates from temporal filtering neurons rather than T4/T5 neurons.
NEUROSCIENCE BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Zhuoheng Gao, Liqing Wu, Xin Zhao, Zhuochao Wei, Lulu Lu, Ming Yi
Summary: A modified spiking neuron-astrocyte network model is used to investigate the effects of random fluctuations on working memory tasks. The study finds that the astrocyte network acts as a low-pass filter, reducing noise and improving image recovery. Appropriate intensity of random fluctuations enhances memory performance, while excessive intensity inhibits signal transmission. The outcomes may provide insights into the role of random fluctuations in working memory mechanisms and neural information processing.
COGNITIVE NEURODYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yangfan Peng, Federico J. Barreda Tomas, Paul Pfeiffer, Moritz Drangmeister, Susanne Schreiber, Imre Vida, Joerg R. P. Geiger
Summary: This study reveals that inhibition by fast-spiking interneurons in the rat superficial presubiculum is organized in the form of a dominant super-reciprocal microcircuit motif. The unique connectivity arises from the asymmetric, polarized morphology of fast-spiking interneuron axons, improving head direction tuning of pyramidal cells. The structured inhibition based on asymmetrical axons is proposed as an overarching spatial connectivity principle for tailored computation across brain regions.
Article
Immunology
Yuxin Zhou, Hrishti Bhatt, Chromewell A. Mojica, Hongqi Xin, Monica A. Pessina, Douglas L. Rosene, Tara L. Moore, Maria Medalla
Summary: Understanding the interactions between microglia and neurons in the primate brain is crucial for developing therapies for cortical injury. In a study on rhesus monkeys, researchers found that extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal cells improved motor recovery after cortical injury by promoting microglial activation and reducing neuronal hyperexcitability. The study also revealed the effects of these vesicles on synaptic markers and microglial behavior, suggesting their potential to enhance synaptic plasticity. These findings highlight the importance of microglial neuro-immune interactions in post-injury recovery and provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Toviah Moldwin, Menachem Kalmenson, Idan Segev
Summary: Long-term synaptic plasticity is mediated via cytosolic calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]), and the interplay between NMDA receptors and voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) can result in heterosynaptic effects. The activation of NMDA spike at a given dendritic location can induce heterosynaptic plasticity mainly at distal branches. Simultaneously activated synaptic clusters located at different dendritic locations synergistically affect the plasticity, enabling a sophisticated supervision of heterosynaptic plasticity. This research provides a novel framework for understanding synaptic plasticity and has implications in experimental and theoretical studies of dendritic computation and learning.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Nagy, Katelin A. Ennis, Ru Wei, Susan C. Su, Christopher A. Hinckley, Rong-Fang Gu, Benbo Gao, Ramiro H. Massol, Chris Ehrenfels, Luke Jandreski, Ankur M. Thomas, Ashley Nelson, Stefka Gyoneva, Mihaly Hajos, Linda C. Burkly
Summary: The TWEAK/Fn14 signaling pathway has been found to acutely dampen synaptic transmission and plasticity in the adult mouse hippocampal slices. Blocking this pathway can improve synaptic function in certain models, indicating its potential therapeutic value in modifying synaptic physiology in the mature brain.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biology
Pantelis Vafidis, David Owald, Tiziano D'Albis, Richard Kempter, Srdjan Ostojic
Summary: The ring attractor models play a crucial role in angular path integration, requiring precisely tuned connectivity in head direction circuits. By using a local, biologically plausible learning rule guided by supervisory allothetic cues, accurate path integration can be achieved.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joshua Orvis, Caroline B. Albertin, Pragya Shrestha, Shuangshuang Chen, Melanie Zheng, Cheyenne J. Rodriguez, Luke J. Tallon, Anup Mahurkar, Aleksey Zimin, Michelle Kim, Kelvin Liu, Eric R. Kandel, Claire M. Fraser, Wayne Sossin, Thomas W. Abrams
Summary: The gastropod mollusk Aplysia is an important model organism used in cellular and molecular neurobiological studies. By studying the improved transcriptome of the Aplysia nervous system, researchers can explore the evolution of cognitive capacity at the molecular level. Comparing Aplysia with the octopus, it was found that both have a similar complement of genes linked to neuronal function, but vertebrates have more isoforms of certain scaffold proteins. This analysis provides insights into the evolution of the synaptic proteome and suggests that synaptic proteins and plasticity evolved gradually.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Destinee A. Aponte, Gregory Handy, Amber M. Kline, Hiroaki Tsukano, Brent Doiron, Hiroyuki K. Kato
Summary: The study found that the direction selectivity of frequency modulation is not due to temporal offsets, but to an asymmetry in total synaptic charge between preferred and non-preferred directions. Inactivation of cortical somatostatin-expressing interneurons was shown to play a role in this process. Theoretical models suggest that charge asymmetry arises from the broad spatial topography of inhibitory neurons.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ya-Nan Gao, Yong-Qian Zhang, Hao Wang, Yu-Lin Deng, Nuo-Min Li
Summary: This article reviews the role of miRNA in depression, focusing on its regulation of neuroplasticity and its effects on synaptic structure, synaptic function, and neurogenesis. It has been found that miRNAs regulate neuroplasticity through multiple signaling pathways, impacting cognitive function. In the future, dual-function miRNAs could potentially serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment targets for depression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Xiansu Chi, Liuding Wang, Hongxi Liu, Yunling Zhang, Wei Shen
Summary: Post-stroke cognitive impairment is a major complication of stroke, characterized by cognitive dysfunction that directly affects quality of life. This review examines the pathological damage of stroke on synaptic plasticity, analyzes changes in synaptic plasticity in post-stroke cognitive impairment, and summarizes commonly used Chinese herbal drugs that can regulate synaptic plasticity. The review aims to establish the relationship between post-stroke cognitive impairment and synaptic plasticity, provide new insights for future exploration of its mechanism, compile evidence for the use of Chinese herbal drugs in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment, and lay the foundation for the development of novel formulas.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Huanhuan Wei, Yao Ni, Lin Sun, Haiyang Yu, Jiangdong Gong, Yi Du, Mingxue Ma, Hong Han, Wentao Xu
Summary: The proposed electro-optical modulation synaptic device can emulate brain-like processing and nervous perception functions using a nanoparticle-based conductive channel. The device exhibits various synaptic functions and mechanical flexibility, making it a promising candidate for neuromorphic and flexible electronics applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuo Zhang, Kexin Guo, Hong Han, Haiyang Yu, Huanhuan Wei, Jiangdong Gong, Wentao Xu
Summary: This paper introduces a synaptic transistor that combines p-type and n-type semiconductor nanowires to emulate complex neural functions. By utilizing nanowires with different polarities, it is possible to simulate a variety of neural activities, providing important insights for the development of future neuromorphic electronics.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Md. Shamim Hossain, Shiro Mawatari, Takehiko Fujino
Summary: Plasmalogens (Pls) can enhance brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression, promote neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and improve learning and memory in mice. Pls regulates memory-related gene expression through signaling pathways and transcription factor recruitment.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Mojtaba Madadi Asl, Atefeh Asadi, Jamil Enayati, Alireza Valizadeh
Summary: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative brain disorder associated with dysfunction of the basal ganglia circuitry, leading to pathological strengthening of pallido-subthalamic synapses and abnormal synchronized neuronal activity. Inhibitory spike-timing-dependent plasticity at these synapses may contribute to the pathological changes observed in PD, shaping bistable activity-connectivity states in the GPe-STN network.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Melissa Coleman, Eric Fortune
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manu S. Madhav, Ravikrishnan P. Jayakumar, Alican Demir, Sarah A. Stamper, Eric S. Fortune, Noah J. Cowan
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2018)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Ismail Uyanik, Uluc Saranli, Mustafa Mert Ankarali, Noah J. Cowan, Omer Morgul
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AUTOMATIC CONTROL
(2019)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ismail Uyanik, Sarah A. Stamper, Noah J. Cowan, Eric S. Fortune
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Biology
Ismail Uyanik, Shahin Sefati, Sarah A. Stamper, Kyoung-A Cho, M. Mert Ankarali, Eric S. Fortune, Noah J. Cowan
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erin E. Sutton, Bernhard Fuerst, Reza Ghotbi, Noah J. Cowan, Nassir Navab
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Biology
Amanda M. Zimmet, Di Cao, Amy J. Bastian, Noah J. Cowan
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Eric S. Fortune, Nicole Andanar, Manu Madhav, Ravikrishnan P. Jayakumar, Noah J. Cowan, Maria Elina Bichuette, Daphne Soares
FRONTIERS IN INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Melissa J. Coleman, Nancy F. Day, Pamela Rivera-Parra, Eric S. Fortune
Summary: In plain-tailed wrens, coordination of behavior during duet performances is achieved through the modulation of HVC neuron activity by the production of syllables and sensory feedback. This suggests that HVC integrates information across partners to facilitate rapid turn taking through inhibition.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biology
Christopher S. Yang, Noah J. Cowan, Adrian M. Haith
Summary: This study investigates how people learn to perform tasks that require continuous adjustments of motor output. The results show that individuals can rapidly build a new continuous controller and simultaneously adapt an existing controller during the learning process.
Article
Neurosciences
Christopher S. Yang, Noah J. Cowan, Adrian M. Haith
Summary: When people perform the same task repeatedly, their behavior becomes habitual. This study found that motor skills become habitual relatively quickly and building habits early in learning may be crucial in acquiring new skills.
JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samuel C. Whitehead, Sofia Leone, Theodore Lindsay, Matthew R. Meiselman, Noah J. Cowan, Michael H. Dickinson, Nilay Yapici, David L. Stern, Troy Shirangi, Itai Cohen
Summary: In this study, it was found that stabilization reflexes during fly flight are implemented by a proportional-integral (PI) controller. The b1 and b2 motor units of the fly's steering muscle system were identified to modulate the angular displacement and angular velocity, respectively. This finding reveals the organizational principle of muscles in flight control in insects.
Article
Robotics
Aishwarya Pantula, Bibekananda Datta, Yupin Shi, Margaret Wang, Jiayu Liu, Siming Deng, Noah J. Cowan, Thao D. Nguyen, David H. Gracias
Summary: This study demonstrates a mechanism for using thermoresponsive hydrogels to enable gel crawlers to move unidirectionally, achieving successful results in experiments. This mechanism holds potential for application to other shape-changing locomotors.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Julie E. Elie, Susanne Hoffmann, Jeffery L. Dunning, Melissa J. Coleman, Eric S. Fortune, Jonathan F. Prather
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION
(2019)