Tag: Sensory and Motor Systems

Individual Variability in the Structural Connectivity Architecture of the Human Brain

The human brain exhibits a high degree of individual variability in both its structure and function, which underlies intersubject differences in cognition and behavior. It was previously shown that functional connectivity is more variable in the heteromodal association cortex but less variable in the unimodal cortices. Structural connectivity (SC) is the anatomical substrate of functional… Continue reading Individual Variability in the Structural Connectivity Architecture of the Human Brain

GlyT2-Positive Interneurons Regulate Timing and Variability of Information Transfer in a Cerebellar-Behavioral Loop

GlyT2-positive interneurons, Golgi and Lugaro cells, reside in the input layer of the cerebellar cortex in a key position to influence information processing. Here, we examine the contribution of GlyT2-positive interneurons to network dynamics in Crus 1 of mouse lateral cerebellar cortex during free whisking. We recorded neuronal population activity using Neuropixels probes before and… Continue reading GlyT2-Positive Interneurons Regulate Timing and Variability of Information Transfer in a Cerebellar-Behavioral Loop

Complementary Organization of Mouse Driver and Modulator Cortico-thalamo-cortical Circuits

Corticocortical (CC) projections in the visual system facilitate hierarchical processing of sensory information. In addition to direct CC connections, indirect cortico-thalamo-cortical (CTC) pathways through the pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus can relay sensory signals and mediate cortical interactions according to behavioral demands. While the pulvinar connects extensively to the entire visual cortex, it is unknown… Continue reading Complementary Organization of Mouse Driver and Modulator Cortico-thalamo-cortical Circuits

[In Context] Transforming amyotrophic lateral sclerosis into a liveable disease

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that remains incurable, despite decades of basic and clinical research. Key stakeholders—including the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)—are focusing efforts on advancing ALS research and improving patient outcomes, to make ALS a liveable disease. In collaboration and consultation with people living with… Continue reading [In Context] Transforming amyotrophic lateral sclerosis into a liveable disease

Repetitive Sensory Stimulation Potentiates and Recruits Sensory-Evoked Cortical Population Activity

Sensory experience and learning are thought to be associated with plasticity of neocortical circuits. Repetitive sensory stimulation can induce long-term potentiation (LTP) of cortical excitatory synapses in anesthetized mice; however, it is unclear if these phenomena are associated with sustained changes in activity during wakefulness. Here we used time-lapse, calcium imaging of layer (L) 2/3… Continue reading Repetitive Sensory Stimulation Potentiates and Recruits Sensory-Evoked Cortical Population Activity

Spatial Mapping of Activity Changes across Sensory Areas Following Visual Deprivation in Adults

Loss of a sensory modality triggers global adaptation across brain areas, allowing the remaining senses to guide behavior more effectively. There are specific synaptic and circuit plasticity observed across many sensory areas, which suggests potential widespread changes in activity. Here we used a cFosTRAP2 mouse line to drive tdTomato (tdT) expression in active cells to… Continue reading Spatial Mapping of Activity Changes across Sensory Areas Following Visual Deprivation in Adults

Striosome Circuitry Stimulation Inhibits Striatal Dopamine Release and Locomotion

The mammalian striatum is divided into two types of anatomical structures: the island-like, μ-opioid receptor (MOR)-rich striosome compartment and the surrounding matrix compartment. Both compartments have two types of spiny projection neurons (SPNs), dopamine receptor D1 (D1R)-expressing direct pathway SPNs (dSPNs) and dopamine receptor D2 (D2R)-expressing indirect pathway SPNs. These compartmentalized structures have distinct roles… Continue reading Striosome Circuitry Stimulation Inhibits Striatal Dopamine Release and Locomotion

EphA4 Mediates EphrinB1-Dependent Adhesion in Retinal Ganglion Cells

Eph/ephrin signaling is crucial for organizing retinotopic maps in vertebrates. Unlike other EphAs, which are expressed in the embryonic ventral retina, EphA4 is found in the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer at perinatal stages, and its role in mammalian visual system development remains unclear. Using classic in vitro stripe assays, we demonstrate that, while RGC… Continue reading EphA4 Mediates EphrinB1-Dependent Adhesion in Retinal Ganglion Cells