Article
Biology
Rui Li, Qi Li, Xiaolei Chu, Lan Li, Xiaoyi Li, Juan Li, Zhen Yang, Mingjing Xu, Changlu Luo, Kui Zhang
Summary: This study establishes a behavioral model to investigate the role of the cerebellar cortex in associative learning and memory. The results show that successful conditioning can be achieved in certain experimental groups, suggesting the importance of the cerebellum in eyeblink conditioning.
OPEN LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Matthew Ricci, Junkyung Kim, Fredrik Johansson
Summary: The cerebellar Purkinje cell controls eyeblinks and can learn, remember, and reproduce the timing of stimuli in a classical conditioning paradigm. Previous models suggest that the perception of time is represented in upstream networks, but direct stimulation of the Purkinje cell during conditioning still results in a well-timed response. Furthermore, experimental findings indicate that the acquired Purkinje cell response is insensitive to variations in the temporal structure of probe stimulation, motivating the development of alternative models.
FRONTIERS IN COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Deidre E. O'Dell, Bernard G. Schreurs, Carrie Smith-Bell, Desheng Wang
Summary: The study shows that PNN is fully developed in the deep cerebellar nuclei of rats by P18. Degradation of the PNN may erase sex differences in delay conditioning, indicating a role in cerebellar learning in the DCN.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF LEARNING AND MEMORY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lisa Mapelli, Teresa Soda, Egidio D'Angelo, Francesca Prestori
Summary: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with various forms. The identification of ASD hallmarks and key brain areas, such as the social brain and the cerebellum, has been made possible by recent advancements in brain assessment and the use of mouse models. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on the involvement of the cerebellum in ASD, from its connections to the social brain to the use of monogenic mouse models.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Anna Sadnicka, Lorenzo Rocchi, Anna Latorre, Elena Antelmi, James Teo, Isabel Parees, Britt S. Hoffland, Kristian Brock, Katja Kornysheva, Mark J. Edwards, Kailash P. Bhatia, John C. Rothwell
Summary: This study aimed to examine the influence of dystonia on eyeblink conditioning and explore its relationship with sex, age, and dystonia subtypes. The results showed that isolated dystonia and its subtypes had similar eyeblink conditioning levels compared to the control group, and a wide range of variability was observed in both healthy individuals and dystonia patients. This finding suggests that there is no global cerebellar learning deficit in isolated dystonia.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Wataru Koyama, Ryo Hosomi, Koji Matsuda, Koichi Kawakami, Masahiko Hibi, Takashi Shimizu
Summary: When animals are repeatedly exposed to a combination of neutral conditional stimulus (CS) and aversive unconditional stimulus (US), they learn to associate the CS with the US and exhibit conditioned fear responses. In this study with adult zebrafish, it was found that the cerebellum plays an active role in active avoidance conditioning. Manipulating cerebellar neural circuits affected active avoidance behavior and fear-conditioned responses in the zebrafish, indicating the involvement of the cerebellum in active avoidance conditioning.
Article
Neurosciences
Lisa N. Miller, Craig Weiss, John F. Disterhoft
Summary: The dentate gyrus plays a crucial role in the formation of associative memories and previous studies have identified populations of cells that bridge the temporal gap during trace eyeblink conditioning. In this study, single-neuron recordings were performed to investigate the functional role of different cell types in the dentate gyrus during learning. The results showed that conditioned mice exhibited changes in firing rate in granule cells, mossy cells, and interneurons, suggesting their involvement in trace associative memory. Theta power also increased during stimuli presentation and decreased over time. These findings expand our understanding of dentate gyrus function and its potential disruptions in aging and disease.
Article
Neurosciences
Wei-Wei Zhang, Rong-Rong Li, Jie Zhang, Jie Yan, Qian-Hui Zhang, Zhi-An Hu, Bo Hu, Zhong-Xiang Yao, Hao Chen
Summary: Using in vivo multi-channel recording and optogenetics, researchers found that hippocampal interneurons exhibited conditioned stimulus (CS)-evoked sustained activity, which played a predictive role in the performance of conditioned eyeblink responses (CRs) in the early acquisition of trace eyeblink conditioning (tEBC). Optogenetic suppression of the sustained activity of hippocampal interneurons impaired the acquisition of tEBC, suggesting the crucial role of these interneurons in associative learning.
NEUROSCIENCE BULLETIN
(2021)
Review
Psychology, Biological
Wayson Maturana, Isabela Lobo, J. Landeira-Fernandez, Daniel C. Mograbi
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and the presence of brain abnormalities. This review explores the impact of Alzheimer's disease on nondeclarative associative learning, such as eyeblink conditioning and fear conditioning. Evidence suggests that nondeclarative learning is also affected by Alzheimer's disease, but some forms may be relatively preserved. The findings have implications for understanding the effects of the disease on different types of memory.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Matthew M. Campolattaro, Olga Lipatova, Katherine Horenstein
Summary: Research investigated the effect of electrolytic fornix lesions on trace and delay eyeblink conditioning in rats. Results showed that fornix lesions impaired trace conditioning but not delay conditioning. The findings indicate that trace eyeblink conditioning relies on the hippocampus and that neural pathways for delay and trace conditioning differ even when the cue composition is the same.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Sang-Yoon Kim, Woochang Lim
Summary: Through dynamic classification of firing patterns of GR cells, the influence of temporal recoding on the PF-PC synapses and the learning process for EBC were investigated. Different firing groups play roles in modulating the strength and timing of CR, ultimately affecting the learning efficiency degree of the CR with increasing number of learning trials.
COGNITIVE NEURODYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
F. R. Fiocchi, S. Dijkhuizen, S. K. E. Koekkoek, C. I. De Zeeuw, H. J. Boele
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated stimulus generalization in a cerebellar learning paradigm called eyeblink conditioning. They found that mice showed a strong generalization gradient, with the probability and amplitude of conditioned eyelid responses decreasing as the tones' dissimilarity to the 10-kHz tone increased. The researchers also discovered that lower frequency tones resulted in conditioned responses that peaked earlier after tone onset compared to higher frequency tones.
Article
Neurosciences
Joyce Keifer
Summary: An in vitro model was used to investigate the synaptic plasticity mechanisms underlying the acquisition of associative learning. The model replaced real stimuli with patterned stimulation of cranial nerves using an isolated turtle brainstem preparation. The primary findings demonstrated the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in learning acquisition. It was shown that the intact cerebellum was not necessary for the acquisition of conditioned responses (CRs), but the appropriate timing was crucial. Synaptic mechanisms involving AMPA receptor (AMPAR) trafficking were found to play a role, regulated by specific signal transduction cascades and guided by protein chaperones. The expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein was central to AMPAR trafficking and conditioning, regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. A hypothesis was proposed suggesting that learning genes like BDNF are poised for rapid activation or repression in response to environmental stimuli through chromatin modifications. These in vitro studies have greatly contributed to our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying associative learning.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tayo Adeyemo, Ayodele Jaiyesimi, Jill G. Bumgardner, Charity Lohr, Aditi Banerjee, Mary C. McKenna, Jaylyn Waddell
Summary: Choline is a crucial nutrient for brain development and function. Early supplementation of choline can enhance neurite outgrowth, improve histological measures, and promote learning ability. However, it seems that choline does not benefit females and may exacerbate HI-induced changes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Miwako Yamasaki, Atsu Aiba, Masanobu Kano, Masahiko Watanabe
Summary: The Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex play crucial roles in controlling cerebellar functions through triggering signaling pathways via mGluR1. Studies suggest that mGluR1 and its related signaling molecules form microdomains that are essential for physiological functions. Altered mGluR1 signaling is associated with cerebellar dysfunction such as ataxias in both human patients and mouse models.