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
Anesthesiology
Yao Q. Wang, Junshi Wang, Sun-hui Xia, Howard B. Gutstein, Yanhua H. Huang, Oliver M. Schluter, Jun-Li Cao, Yan Dong
Summary: The study revealed that pain experience can induce remodeling of neural circuits between the mediodorsal thalamus and the anterior cingulate cortex, leading to the generation of silent synapses that contribute to allodynia and hyperalgesia. These silent synapses undergo changes over time post-pain experience, affecting pain sensitivity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Antoine Collomb-Clerc, Maelle C. M. Gueguen, Lorella Minotti, Philippe Kahane, Vincent Navarro, Fabrice Bartolomei, Romain Carron, Jean Regis, Stephan Chabardes, Stefano Palminteri, Julien Bastin
Summary: This study analyzed intra-thalamic electrophysiological recordings from human participants during a reinforcement learning task. The results showed that the thalamus is involved in estimating expected value and signaling reward prediction errors during reward-based and punishment-based learning. The study also revealed the neural mechanisms underlying action inhibition in punishment avoidance learning.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Kuikui Zhou, Lin Zhu, Guoqiang Hou, Xueyu Chen, Bo Chen, Chuanzhong Yang, Yingjie Zhu
Summary: The brain continuously processes diverse external information and changes in homeostasis. The thalamus is involved in salience processing, determining attention-capturing stimuli and regulating emotions and behaviors. Studies focus on the roles of distinct thalamic nuclei in salience processing and their connections to reward and pain processing, arousal, and attention control.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Nowrin Ahmed, Denis Pare
Summary: This study aimed to determine the neurotransmitter used by MD-projecting BLA cells in male and female rats. The results indicate that the BLA sends a mixed, glutamatergic-GABAergic projection to MD, which likely influences coordination of activity between BLA, MD, and medial prefrontal cortex.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michel Engeln, Megan E. Fox, Ramesh Chandra, Eric Y. Choi, Hyungwoo Nam, Houman Qadir, Shavin S. Thomas, Victoria M. Rhodes, Makeda D. Turner, Rae J. Herman, Cali A. Calarco, Mary Kay Lobo
Summary: The study identified the transcriptional mechanisms occurring in the VP following drug exposure and the important role of Nr4a1 in cocaine-related behaviors. Overexpression of Nr4a1 enhanced drug-seeking and drug-induced reinstatement, while Nr4a1 knockdown prevented self-administration acquisition and subsequent cocaine-mediated behaviors, highlighting the crucial role of the VP -> MDT circuit in drug intake and relapse-like behaviors.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jessica M. Phillips, Niranjan A. Kambi, Michelle J. Redinbaugh, Sounak Mohanta, Yuri B. Saalmann
Summary: The prefrontal cortex has a complex relationship with the thalamus, where thalamocortical neurons in several nuclei are modulated by affective and cognitive signals. This modulation contributes to all aspects of cognitive control, including internal states processing, attentional allocation, and goal-directed behavior. Thalamic modulation of cortical gain and cortico-cortical functional connectivity play important roles in these processes.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jiali Liu, Tao Yu, Jinfeng Wu, Yali Pan, Zheng Tan, Ruobing Liu, Xueyuan Wang, Liankun Ren, Liang Wang
Summary: Electrical stimulation of the anterior nucleus of thalamus (ANT) can improve working memory precision by modulating hippocampal gamma activity.Increased gamma power in the pre-stimulus and retrieval period predicts the improvement of working memory precision judgements.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Shailendra Segobin, Anne-Lise Pitel
Summary: The pathophysiological mechanisms behind amnesia are still unknown, but physiological alterations to the thalamus play an important role in its development, particularly in Korsakoff's syndrome. Understanding Korsakoff's syndrome involves various contributions from neuropsychology, neuropathology, and neuroimaging, with the thalamus as a central player. Future research directions include evaluating the physiological role of the thalamus within the context of brain circuits.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ian F. Smith, Zachary H. Gursky, Anna Y. Klintsova
Summary: This study investigated the effects of early life alcohol exposure on brain connectivity in rats. The findings showed that alcohol exposure can impair axonal connections of prefrontal cortex neurons, resulting in impaired executive functioning. Additionally, alcohol exposure led to a reduction in the volume of the thalamic nucleus. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the effects of early alcohol exposure on brain function.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Cuiping Xu, Lei Qi, Xueyuan Wang, Frederic L. W. V. J. Schaper, Di Wu, Tao Yu, Xiaoming Yan, Guangyuan Jin, Qiao Wang, Xiaopeng Wang, Xinqi Huang, Yuke Wang, Yuanhong Chen, Jinghui Liu, Yuping Wang, Andreas Horn, Robert S. Fisher, Liankun Ren
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether the functional connectivity between the ANT-DBS sites and the seizure foci is associated with effective seizure control in refractory epilepsy.
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)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Jean-Christophe Cassel, Maeva Ferraris, Pascale Quilichini, Thibault Cholvin, Laurine Boch, Aline Stephan, Anne Pereira de Vasconcelos
Summary: The ReRh nuclei, as components of the ventral midline thalamus, have received increasing attention over the past twenty years. Recent research has expanded anatomical knowledge, introduced new electrophysiological insights, and provided novel results on cognitive functions. These findings suggest that the ReRh nuclei play a key role in coordinating information flow and activity between brain regions such as the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Johanna Petra Szabo, Daniel Fabo, Nora Peto, Anna Sakovics, Robert Bodizs
Summary: Increased attention has been given to the structure and function of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT) in epilepsy treatment. The efficacy of the treatment varies among patients and the predictors of better outcomes are limited. Recent studies suggest a possible role of ANT in sleep processes, although the mechanisms are still unclear. This review aims to summarize the evidence on ANT activity during non-REM and REM sleep, and explore shared characteristics with sleep processes and ANT-related functions during wakefulness.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Robert G. Mair, Miranda J. Francoeur, Brett M. Gibson
Summary: The medial prefrontal cortex has strong connections with multiple nuclei in the central thalamus, influencing adaptive goal-directed behavior. Different thalamic nuclei have varying effects on the function of the mPFC, with the mediodorsal nucleus playing a key role in representing task-related information and the rostral intralaminar and ventromedial nuclei affecting egocentric task performance.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Zakaria Ouhaz, Brook A. L. Perry, Kouichi Nakamura, Anna S. Mitchell
Summary: Cognitive flexibility is crucial for navigating everyday complexities and is attributed to the frontal cortex. The mediodorsal thalamus (MD), connected to the frontal cortex, may play a role in influencing cognitive flexibility. This study using male rats found that MD lesions resulted in difficulties in learning and updating strategies during a set-shifting task.
Review
Cell Biology
Elodie Kip, Louise C. Parr-Brownlie
Summary: This article discusses the role of neuroinflammation in the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) and emphasizes the importance of reducing neuroinflammation early on to prevent PD. The article also mentions some risk and protective factors and discusses treatments for neuroinflammation associated with PD.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Judith A. Boel, Rob M. A. Bie, Ben A. Schmand, John C. Dalrymple-Alford, Connie Marras, Charles H. Adler, Jennifer G. Goldman, Alexander Troster, David J. Burn, Irene Litvan, Gert J. Geurtsen
Summary: The predictive value of global cognitive tests for conversion from PD-MCI to PDD is lower compared to comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Level II neuropsychological assessment is the preferred method for evaluating PD-MCI.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Joseph Blommer, Toni Pitcher, Maja Mustapic, Erden Eren, Pamela J. Yao, Michael P. Vreones, Krishna A. Pucha, John Dalrymple-Alford, Reza Shoorangiz, Wassilios G. Meissner, Tim Anderson, Dimitrios Kapogiannis
Summary: The protein cargo of neuronal extracellular vesicles may serve as a biomarker for cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease, with differences in alpha-synuclein, phosphorylated tau, and proteins associated with insulin signaling observed between patients with and without cognitive impairment. These findings could provide insights into the underlying pathogenic processes and improve diagnosis and prognosis of Parkinson's disease. Plasma samples from 273 participants were used in the study, and immunoassays were utilized to quantify biomarkers in plasma extracellular vesicles enriched for neuronal origin. Alpha-synuclein, phosphorylated tau, and insulin receptor substrate-1 phosphorylated tyrosine showed diagnostic classification contributions between groups, indicating that both alpha-synuclein and tau pathologies, along with impaired insulin signaling, may underlie Parkinson's disease with cognitive impairment. Plasma neuronal extracellular vesicles biomarkers may inform cognitive prognosis in Parkinson's disease.
Article
Neurosciences
Louise C. Parr-Brownlie, Christy A. Itoga, Judith R. Walters, Conor F. Underwood
Summary: Parkinson's disease and dopamine loss have significant effects on the activity of motor thalamus and motor cortex. Dopamine lesion decreases the firing rate of layer V pyramidal neurons in the motor cortex, while not affecting the activity of ventroanterior-ventrolateral thalamus. Parkinson's disease is also associated with an increase in oscillatory waveform sharpness asymmetry in both motor thalamus and motor cortex.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Brook A. L. Perry, Juan Carlos Mendez, Anna S. Mitchell
Summary: The thalamus and cortex are interconnected both functionally and anatomically and share a common developmental trajectory. Interactions between the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) and different parts of the prefrontal cortex are essential in cognitive processes. Cortico-thalamocortical interactions involving other dorsal thalamic nuclei also influence these cognitive processes.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael R. MacAskill, Toni L. Pitcher, Tracy R. Melzer, Daniel J. Myall, Kyla-Louise Horne, Reza Shoorangiz, Mustafa M. Almuqbel, Leslie Livingston, Sophie Grenfell, Maddie J. Pascoe, Ethan T. Marshall, Steven Marsh, Sarah E. Perry, Wassilios G. Meissner, Catherine Theys, Campbell J. Le Heron, Ross J. Keenan, John C. Dalrymple-Alford, Tim J. Anderson
Summary: The New Zealand Parkinson's Progression Programme (NZP3) focuses on studying cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease patients, identifying biomarkers and standard criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The programme utilizes brain imaging techniques such as MRI and PET to show associations between brain pathology and declining cognitive function. It also explores other biomarkers including genetics, fluid biomarkers, eye movement, speech, and EEG.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Conor Rowland, Bruce Harland, Julian H. Smith, Saba Moslehi, John Dalrymple-Alford, Richard P. Taylor
Summary: The study explores the relationship between fractal scaling of neuronal dendrites and connectivity, considering the impact of pathological states on this optimization process. Rats exposed to enriched housing and spatial memory training exhibited higher complexity and connectivity in dendritic arbors. The findings suggest that morphological differences induced by lesions are not significant enough to affect the optimization process in achieving an optimal balance between connectivity and material cost.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jennifer J. Hamilton, John C. Dalrymple-Alford
Summary: Injury or dysfunction in the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) plays a crucial role in diencephalic amnesia. Experimental studies have shown that ATN lesions impair spatial memory and temporal discriminations, but the role in non-spatial memory is limited. This study demonstrates that ATN lesions completely block the acquisition of biconditional associations between odour and object pairings, suggesting that diencephalic amnesia associated with ATN stems from degraded attention to stimulus-stimulus associations.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lynette J. Tippett, Erin E. Cawston, Catherine A. Morgan, Tracy R. Melzer, Kiri L. Brickell, Christina Ilse, Gary Cheung, Ian J. Kirk, Reece P. Roberts, Jane Govender, Leon Griner, Campbell Le Heron, Sarah Buchanan, Waiora Port, Makarena Dudley, Tim J. Anderson, Joanna M. Williams, Nicholas J. Cutfield, John C. Dalrymple-Alford, Phil Wood
Summary: This study aims to explore and improve understanding of Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, in order to delay or prevent the progression of dementia. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, regular examinations are conducted on community participants to collect and analyze various biomarkers and risk factors, and to study the mechanisms underlying disease progression. The national outreach of the Dementia Prevention Research Clinics is one of its strengths.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Ashik Banstola, Calvin K. Young, Louise Parr-Brownlie, Neil McNaughton
Summary: The cessation of action relies on at least two frontal circuits and a third limbic circuit that operates in the frequency typical of hippocampal theta. The study investigates in male rats whether stop-go conflict involves the hippocampus and whether theta-modulated information is transmitted to the subthalamic nucleus through the frontal cortex. The results suggest the presence of a third limbic circuit that contributes to stopping action when go responses are slow.
NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Catherine A. Morgan, Reece P. Roberts, Tessa Chaffey, Lenore Tahara-Eckl, Meghan van der Meer, Matthias Gunther, Timothy J. Anderson, Nicholas J. Cutfield, John C. Dalrymple-Alford, Ian J. Kirk, Donna Rose Addis, Lynette J. Tippett, Tracy R. Melzer
Summary: This study assessed the repeatability and reproducibility of MRI markers derived from a dementia protocol, finding that structural markers were less variable than functional MRI markers.
PHYSICA MEDICA-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jian Guan, Fengxia Li, Dali Kang, Tim Anderson, Toni Pitcher, John Dalrymple-Alford, Paul Shorten, Gagandeep Singh-Mallah
Summary: The decline of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) function with age is associated with brain aging and age-related neurological conditions. Cyclic glycine-proline (cGP) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) collectively regulate the bioavailability of IGF-1. The ratio of cGP/IGF-1 is associated with clinical outcomes, memory retention, and age-related brain diseases.
Article
Neurosciences
E. Kip, L. Bentall, C. F. Underwood, S. M. Hughes, L. C. Parr-Brownlie
Summary: Parkinson's disease is a motor disorder caused by altered neural activity, and optogenetic stimulation of glutamatergic motor thalamus neurons has shown potential in alleviating limb immobility in a rat model of Parkinson's disease, suggesting it as an alternative treatment for Parkinson's disease.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Eloise A. Gooch, Kyla-Louise Horne, Tracy R. R. Melzer, Megan J. J. McAuliffe, Michael MacAskill, John C. C. Dalrymple-Alford, Tim J. J. Anderson, Catherine Theys
Summary: New-onset stuttering occurs in individuals with Parkinson's disease and is related to cognitive and motor functioning. People with Parkinson's disease have a higher occurrence of stuttering during conversation compared to controls. The frequency of stuttering is associated with disease onset, medication dosage, and cognitive and motor scores.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2023)