Article
Cell Biology
John Hageter, Jacob Starkey, Eric J. Horstick
Summary: Using larval zebrafish as a model, this study explores how visual experience affects the functionality of thalamic neurons and their role in critical period timing. The findings demonstrate the complexity of visual plasticity and emphasize the importance of inhibitory signaling in establishing critical period.
Article
Neurosciences
Laura J. Benoit, Emma S. Holt, Lorenzo Posani, Stefano Fusi, Alexander Z. Harris, Sarah Canetta, Christoph Kellendonk
Summary: The study reveals that inhibiting the thalamus during adolescence can lead to long-lasting changes in prefrontal cortex function and behavior, highlighting the importance of thalamic activity in the maturation of prefrontal circuits. These findings provide insights into the potential mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Ming-fai Fong, Kevin R. Duffy, Madison P. Leet, Christian T. Candler, Mark F. Bear
Summary: Research has shown that temporary inactivation of the non-deprived eye is sufficient to promote full recovery from amblyopia in older patients, indicating that eye connections have plasticity beyond the critical period.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adonis Yiannakas, Sailendrakumar Kolatt Chandran, Haneen Kayyal, Nathaniel Gould, Mohammad Khamaisy, Kobi Rosenblum
Summary: Memory retrieval is a fundamental ability for organisms to utilize acquired information, with the anterior insula playing a critical role in associative memory retrieval related to conditioned taste aversion. The activation of parvalbumin interneurons in the anterior insula is essential for the coherent retrieval of aversive memories.
Article
Neurosciences
Diana Casas-Torremocha, Mario Rubio-Teves, Anna Hoerder-Suabedissen, Shuichi Hayashi, Lucia Prensa, Zoltan Molnar, Cesar Porrero, Francisco Clasca
Summary: This study systematically analyzed the input landscape of the posterior nucleus (Po), a representative higher-order relay nucleus in the mouse thalamus. The findings revealed complex and partly overlapping input-specific microdomains and suggested the integration of specific input motifs and the emergence of functionally diverse input-output subnetworks within the higher-order relay nuclei.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Nathaniel C. Wright, Peter Y. Borden, Yi Juin Liew, Michael F. Bolus, William M. Stoy, Craig R. Forest, Garrett B. Stanley
Summary: Rapid sensory adaptation is a common phenomenon observed in all sensory systems, yet the mechanistic basis behind it is still poorly understood. Studies on awake mice suggest that cortical adaptation in primary somatosensory cortex is mainly driven by changes in thalamic input timing and differential impacts on cortical excitation and feed forward inhibition. This highlights the significant role of thalamic gating in rapid adaptation of primary sensory cortex.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ke Chen, Xiaokuang Ma, Antoine Nehme, Jing Wei, Yan Cui, Yuehua Cui, Dezhong Yao, Jie Wu, Trent Anderson, Deveroux Ferguson, Pat Levitt, Shenfeng Qiu
Summary: The MET receptor tyrosine kinase plays a crucial role in the development of cortical circuits, with its expression tightly regulated during specific developmental stages. Dysregulation of MET expression can disrupt synaptic formation and pruning processes, impacting cortical plasticity and critical periods. In a mouse model study, sustained MET signaling in cortical excitatory neurons was found to disrupt synaptic protein profiles, alter neuronal morphology, and impair visual cortex circuit maturation and connectivity, ultimately affecting the plasticity of the cortical critical period.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Hind Baba Aissa, Romain W. Sala, Elena Laura Georgescu Margarint, Jimena Laura Frontera, Andres Pablo Varani, Fabien Menardy, Assunta Pelosi, Denis Herve, Clement Lena, Daniela Popa
Summary: The study found that in the DYT25 dystonia model, the excitability of the cerebello-thalamic pathways increased in the presymptomatic state, and asymptomatic mice after the first dystonic episode exhibited higher excitability, which persisted after cerebellar theta-burst stimulation. Stimulation administered during symptomatic states reduced cerebello-thalamic excitability and alleviated dystonic symptoms.
Article
Neurosciences
Steliana Yanakieva, Mathias L. Mathiasen, Eman Amin, Andrew J. D. Nelson, Shane M. O'Mara, John P. Aggleton
Summary: This study compared collateral projections from different rostral thalamic nuclei terminating in different cortical areas. The results showed that these projections predominantly arise from separate populations of neurons with discrete cortical termination zones.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Gianpaolo Antonio Basile, Salvatore Bertino, Alessia Bramanti, Rosella Ciurleo, Giuseppe Pio Anastasi, Demetrio Milardi, Alberto Cacciola
Summary: Novel imaging techniques have been developed for precise delineation of thalamic nuclei, allowing for reliable identification of up to 13 distinct nuclei bilaterally. These high-resolution imaging methods have potential implications for studying thalamic connectivity, basic research, and presurgical planning.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liming Tan, Dario L. Ringach, S. Lawrence Zipursky, Joshua T. Trachtenberg
Summary: Vision is essential for the formation and improvement of binocular neurons, enhancing their tuning properties from eye opening to critical period closure. Visual input strengthens and sharpens ipsilateral eye cortical responses, gradually changing the neuron population in the binocular pool prior to critical period onset.
Article
Neurosciences
Jessica L. Whitt, Gabrielle Ewall, Darpan Chakraborty, Ayorinde Adegbesan, Rachel Lee, Patrick O. Kanold, Hey-Kyoung Lee
Summary: Sensory loss leads to plastic changes in the inhibitory synaptic transmission in the thalamus, supporting cross-modal plasticity in the brain. These plastic changes occur at the level of the thalamus and involve increased neurotransmitter release and reduced short-term inhibition. These findings have important implications for understanding sensory processing and adaptive plasticity.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Sophia Vinogradov, Matthew V. Chafee, Erik Lee, Hirofumi Morishita
Summary: Emerging research on neuroplasticity processes in psychosis spectrum illnesses highlights their importance in pathophysiology and treatment considerations. These processes involve neuronal ensembles, environmental inputs, and pathological mechanisms, with a focus on the prefrontal cortex's role in these illnesses.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Isabel Maria Introzzi, Maria Marta Richard's, Yesica Aydmune, Eliana Vanesa Zamora, Florencia Stelzer, Ana Garcia Coni, Maria Fernanda Lopez Ramon, Esperanza Navarro-Pardo
Summary: Recent studies suggest that the developmental curves in adolescence related to the development of executive functions could be fitted to a non-linear trajectory of development with progressions and retrogressions. The study analyzes the pattern of development in Perceptual Inhibition (PI) across different stages of adolescence and found significant differences between age groups. Significant changes in relation to the nonlinear trajectory of PI development during adolescence were discussed.
Article
Neurosciences
Lucy K. Bicks, Michelle Peng, Alana Taub, Schahram Akbarian, Hirofumi Morishita
Summary: Social dominance hierarchies are established early in mice and remain stable into adulthood, but a single experience of forced losing during adolescence can significantly reduce social dominance. Genetic deletion of Lynx1 prolongs adolescent plasticity into adulthood, enhancing activation of nodes in the social dominance network.
FRONTIERS IN NEURAL CIRCUITS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Mariska van Lier, M. Hadi Saiepour, Koen Kole, Juliette E. Cheyne, Nawal Zabouri, Thomas Blok, Yi Qin, Emma Ruimschotel, J. Alexander Heimel, Christian Lohmann, Christiaan N. Levelt
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Daniela Camillo, Mehran Ahmadlou, J. Alexander Heimel
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Biology
Azadeh Tafreshiha, Sven A. van der Burg, Kato Smits, Laila A. Blomer, J. Alexander Heimel
Summary: Innate defensive responses such as freezing or escape are essential for animal survival. Mice show defensive behavior to stimuli overhead, but can habituate and reduce their responses over time. They are able to generalize over a range of sizes and shapes, but can distinguish between objects that differ in both size and shape.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haohao Wu, Charles Petitpre, Paula Fontanet, Anil Sharma, Carmelo Bellardita, Rolen M. Quadros, Paulo R. Jannig, Yiqiao Wang, J. Alexander Heimel, Kylie K. Y. Cheung, Simone Wanderoy, Yang Xuan, Konstantinos Meletis, Jorge Ruas, Channabasavaiah B. Gurumurthy, Ole Kiehn, Saida Hadjab, Francois Lallemend
Summary: The study identified three main types of proprioceptive neurons (Ia, Ib and II PNs) and found that they segregate into eight distinct subgroups. Importantly, Ia-PN subtypes are plastic, suggesting a role in adaptive proprioception during motor behavior.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mehran Ahmadlou, Janou H. W. Houba, Jacqueline F. M. van Vierbergen, Maria Giannouli, Geoffrey-Alexander Gimenez, Christiaan van Weeghel, Maryam Darbanfouladi, Maryam Yasamin Shirazi, Julia Dziubek, Mejdy Kacem, Fred de Winter, J. Alexander Heimel
Summary: Inhibitory neurons in the medial zona incerta (ZIm) of mice play a crucial role in deciding whether to investigate the surroundings or another individual. These neurons receive excitatory input from the prelimbic cortex to initiate and regulate exploratory behavior. The level of investigatory motivation modulates this neural activity in ZIm, influencing the depth of investigative actions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sybren F. de Kloet, Bastiaan Bruinsma, Huub Terra, Tim S. Heistek, Emma M. J. Passchier, Alexandra R. van den Berg, Antonio Luchicchi, Rogier Min, Tommy Pattij, Huibert D. Mansvelder
Summary: The study identifies four distinct populations of prefrontal neurons projecting to different sub-regions of the striatum and thalamus, each playing a discrete role in the regulation of cognitive control. Dorsal and ventral mPFC circuits exhibit differential synaptic inputs to postsynaptic striatal and thalamic neurons, potentially amplifying distinct pathways underlying cognitive control. Chemogenetic silencing of specific mPFC projections to thalamic subregions oppositely regulate cognitive control, highlighting the complex mechanisms involved in behavior regulation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lisa Kirchberger, Sreedeep Mukherjee, Ulf H. Schnabel, Enny H. van Beest, Areg Barsegyan, Christiaan N. Levelt, J. Alexander Heimel, Jeannette A. M. Lorteije, Chris van der Togt, Matthew W. Self, Pieter R. Roelfsema
Summary: The separation of figures from the background is crucial for visual perception. Research shows that the delayed response phase in the primary visual cortex is essential for figure-ground segregation, and neurons in higher visual areas also exhibit figure-ground modulation.
Article
Biology
Jorrit S. Montijn, Koen Seignette, Marcus H. Howlett, J. Leonie Cazemier, Maarten Kamermans, Christiaan N. Levelt, J. Alexander Heimel
Summary: This study introduces a new neurophysiological data analysis method, the ZETA-test, which can better include more cells and is applicable across different brain regions and recording techniques. Through experiments, the method demonstrated two different neural encoding phenomena in the mouse visual cortex.
Article
Neurosciences
Florian B. Neubauer, Rogier Min, Thomas Nevian
Summary: Activation of astrocytes and release of glutamate onto presynaptic NMDA receptors induces long-term depression in developing cortical synapses. The exact function of presynaptic NMDA receptors in this process has been debated. This study reveals that astrocyte-mediated glutamate release indirectly enhances Ca2+ influx through presynaptic voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, contributing to the signaling cascade of long-term depression.
Article
Neurosciences
Aina Badia-Soteras, Tim S. Heistek, Mandy S. J. Kater, Aline Mak, Adrian Negrean, Michel C. van den Oever, Huibert D. Mansvelder, Baljit S. Khakh, Rogier Min, August B. Smit, Mark H. G. Verheijen
Summary: The formation and retrieval of fear memories depend on the synaptic activity of neuronal ensembles in the hippocampus, and astrocytes play a central role in shaping cellular memory representations. Astrocyte leaflets fine-tune synaptic activity by clearing neurotransmitters and limiting glutamate diffusion. The withdrawal of astrocyte leaflets from the synaptic cleft is an experience-induced process that gates the strength of fear memories.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Ilya E. Monosov, Takaya Ogasawara, Suzanne N. Haber, J. Alexander Heimel, Mehran Ahmadlou
Summary: Mammals rely on a sophisticated nervous system for generating predictions and selecting responses. Perceptually novel objects play an important role in their behavior. The zona incerta (ZI) is positioned at the intersection of cognitive control and learning, supported by its anatomical connectivity.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Emma M. J. Passchier, Sven Kerst, Eelke Brouwers, Eline M. C. Hamilton, Quinty Bisseling, Marianna Bugiani, Quinten Waisfisz, Philip Kitchen, Lucas Unger, Marjolein Breur, Leoni Hoogterp, Sharon de Vries, Truus E. M. Abbink, Maarten H. P. Kole, Rob Leurs, Henry F. Vischer, Maria S. Brignone, Elena Ambrosini, Francois Feillet, Alfred P. Born, Leon G. Epstein, Huibert D. Mansvelder, Rogier Min, Marjo S. van der Knaap
Summary: Brain oedema is a life-threatening complication of various neurological conditions. Understanding molecular mechanisms of brain volume regulation is critical for therapy development. We performed genetic studies to identify novel gene variants in MLC patients, diagnosed by clinical and MRI features, without MLC1 or GLIALCAM variants. We identified aquaporin-4 and GPRC5B as old and new players in genetic brain oedema, shedding light on the protein complex involved in astrocyte volume regulation and identifying GPRC5B as a novel potentially druggable target for treating brain oedema.
Article
Neurosciences
Mandy S. J. Kater, Katharina F. Baumgart, Aina Badia-Soteras, Tim S. Heistek, Karen E. Carney, A. Jacob Timmerman, Jan R. T. van Weering, August B. Smit, Marjo S. van der Knaap, Huibert D. Mansvelder, Mark H. G. Verheijen, Rogier Min
Summary: Loss of function of the astrocyte membrane protein MLC1 is the main cause of Megalencephalic Leukoencephalopathy with subcortical Cysts (MLC), a rare white matter disease characterized by disrupted brain ion and water balance. MLC1 has been found to be present in astrocyte processes that closely interact with excitatory synapses, and its loss affects synaptic transmission, structural plasticity, and fear memory. This study uncovers a new role for MLC1 in regulating astrocyte-synapse interactions.
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Jinte Middeldorp, Rogier Min, Joseph Benetatos, Liviu-Gabriel Bodea
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Behavioral Sciences
Gema Munoz, Rogier Min, Mats Nagel, Sophie van der Sluis