1
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Druart M, Kori M, Chaimowitz C, Fan C, Sippy T. Cell-type specific auditory responses in the striatum are shaped by feed forward inhibition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.09.592848. [PMID: 38766066 PMCID: PMC11100736 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.09.592848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The posterior "tail" region of the striatum receives dense innervation from sensory brain regions and has been demonstrated to play a role in behaviors that require sensorimotor integration including discrimination 1,2 , avoidance 3 and defense 4 responses. The output neurons of the striatum, the D1 and D2 striatal projection neurons (SPNs) that make up the direct and indirect pathways, respectively, are thought to play differential roles in these behavioral responses, although it remains unclear if or how these neurons display differential responsivity to sensory stimuli. Here, we used whole-cell recordings in vivo and ex vivo to examine the strength of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs onto D1 and D2 SPNs following the stimulation of upstream auditory pathways. While D1 and D2 SPNs both displayed stimulus-evoked depolarizations, D1 SPN responses were stronger and faster for all stimuli tested in vivo as well as in brain slices. This difference did not arise from differences in the strength of excitatory inputs but from differences in the strength of feed forward inhibition. Indeed, fast spiking interneurons, which are readily engaged by auditory afferents exerted stronger inhibition onto D2 SPNs compared to D1 SPNs. Our results support a model in which differences in feed forward inhibition enable the preferential recruitment of the direct pathway in response to auditory stimuli, positioning this pathway to initiate sound-driven actions.
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2
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Mosberger AC, Sibener LJ, Chen TX, Rodrigues HFM, Hormigo R, Ingram JN, Athalye VR, Tabachnik T, Wolpert DM, Murray JM, Costa RM. Exploration biases forelimb reaching strategies. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113958. [PMID: 38520691 PMCID: PMC11097405 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The brain can generate actions, such as reaching to a target, using different movement strategies. We investigate how such strategies are learned in a task where perched head-fixed mice learn to reach to an invisible target area from a set start position using a joystick. This can be achieved by learning to move in a specific direction or to a specific endpoint location. As mice learn to reach the target, they refine their variable joystick trajectories into controlled reaches, which depend on the sensorimotor cortex. We show that individual mice learned strategies biased to either direction- or endpoint-based movements. This endpoint/direction bias correlates with spatial directional variability with which the workspace was explored during training. Model-free reinforcement learning agents can generate both strategies with similar correlation between variability during training and learning bias. These results provide evidence that reinforcement of individual exploratory behavior during training biases the reaching strategies that mice learn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice C Mosberger
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Leslie J Sibener
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Tiffany X Chen
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Helio F M Rodrigues
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Allen Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Richard Hormigo
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - James N Ingram
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Vivek R Athalye
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Tanya Tabachnik
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Daniel M Wolpert
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - James M Murray
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Rui M Costa
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Allen Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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3
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Carmona LM, Thomas ED, Smith K, Tasic B, Costa RM, Nelson A. Topographical and cell type-specific connectivity of rostral and caudal forelimb corticospinal neuron populations. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113993. [PMID: 38551963 PMCID: PMC11100358 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Corticospinal neurons (CSNs) synapse directly on spinal neurons, a diverse assortment of cells with unique structural and functional properties necessary for body movements. CSNs modulating forelimb behavior fractionate into caudal forelimb area (CFA) and rostral forelimb area (RFA) motor cortical populations. Despite their prominence, the full diversity of spinal neurons targeted by CFA and RFA CSNs is uncharted. Here, we use anatomical and RNA sequencing methods to show that CSNs synapse onto a remarkably selective group of spinal cell types, favoring inhibitory populations that regulate motoneuron activity and gate sensory feedback. CFA and RFA CSNs target similar spinal neuron types, with notable exceptions that suggest that these populations differ in how they influence behavior. Finally, axon collaterals of CFA and RFA CSNs target similar brain regions yet receive highly divergent inputs. These results detail the rules of CSN connectivity throughout the brain and spinal cord for two regions critical for forelimb behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Marcela Carmona
- Department of Neuroscience, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric D Thomas
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kimberly Smith
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bosiljka Tasic
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rui M Costa
- Department of Neuroscience, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Allen Institute for Brain Science, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anders Nelson
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
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4
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Mukadam AA, Chester JA. Line- and sex-dependent effects of juvenile stress on contextual fear- and anxiety-related behavior in high- and low-alcohol-preferring mouse lines. Behav Brain Res 2024; 463:114899. [PMID: 38342379 PMCID: PMC10954351 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Juvenile stress (JS) is a known risk factor for the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), both of which are frequently co-morbid. Data suggest there may be common, genetically-influenced biological responses to stress that contribute to the development of both AUD and PTSD. The present study investigated the impact of JS on contextual fear learning and extinction, as well as corticosterone (CORT) responses before and after JS, before and after contextual fear conditioning (CFC), and after fear extinction in male and female high-alcohol-preferring (HAP2) and low-alcohol-preferring (LAP2) mouse lines. We also measured unconditioned anxiety-related behavior in the light-dark-transition test before CFC. HAP2 and LAP2 mice did not differ in fear acquisition, but HAP2 mice showed faster fear extinction compared to LAP2 mice. No effects of JS were seen in HAP2 mice, whereas in LAP2 mice, JS reduced fear acquisition in males and facilitated fear extinction in females. Females showed greater fear-related behavior relative to males, regardless of subgroup. HAP2 males demonstrated more anxiolytic-like responses than LAP2 males and LAP2 females demonstrated more anxiolytic-like responses than LAP2 males in the light-dark transition test. HAP2 and LAP2 mice did not differ in CORT during the juvenile stage; however, adult LAP2 mice showed greater CORT levels than HAP2 mice at baseline and after CFC and extinction testing. These findings build upon prior work in these unique mouse lines that differ in genetic propensity toward alcohol preference and provide new information regarding contextual fear learning and extinction mechanisms theorized to contribute to co-morbid AUD and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arbaaz A Mukadam
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Julia A Chester
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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5
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Braine A, Georges F. Emotion in action: When emotions meet motor circuits. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105475. [PMID: 37996047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The brain is a remarkably complex organ responsible for a wide range of functions, including the modulation of emotional states and movement. Neuronal circuits are believed to play a crucial role in integrating sensory, cognitive, and emotional information to ultimately guide motor behavior. Over the years, numerous studies employing diverse techniques such as electrophysiology, imaging, and optogenetics have revealed a complex network of neural circuits involved in the regulation of emotional or motor processes. Emotions can exert a substantial influence on motor performance, encompassing both everyday activities and pathological conditions. The aim of this review is to explore how emotional states can shape movements by connecting the neural circuits for emotional processing to motor neural circuits. We first provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of different emotional states on motor control in humans and rodents. In line with behavioral studies, we set out to identify emotion-related structures capable of modulating motor output, behaviorally and anatomically. Neuronal circuits involved in emotional processing are extensively connected to the motor system. These circuits can drive emotional behavior, essential for survival, but can also continuously shape ongoing movement. In summary, the investigation of the intricate relationship between emotion and movement offers valuable insights into human behavior, including opportunities to enhance performance, and holds promise for improving mental and physical health. This review integrates findings from multiple scientific approaches, including anatomical tracing, circuit-based dissection, and behavioral studies, conducted in both animal and human subjects. By incorporating these different methodologies, we aim to present a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the emotional modulation of movement in both physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaelle Braine
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
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6
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Golan N, Ehrlich D, Bonanno J, O'Brien RF, Murillo M, Kauer SD, Ravindra N, Van Dijk D, Cafferty WB. Anatomical Diversity of the Adult Corticospinal Tract Revealed by Single-Cell Transcriptional Profiling. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7929-7945. [PMID: 37748862 PMCID: PMC10669816 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0811-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The corticospinal tract (CST) forms a central part of the voluntary motor apparatus in all mammals. Thus, injury, disease, and subsequent degeneration within this pathway result in chronic irreversible functional deficits. Current strategies to repair the damaged CST are suboptimal in part because of underexplored molecular heterogeneity within the adult tract. Here, we combine spinal retrograde CST tracing with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) in adult male and female mice to index corticospinal neuron (CSN) subtypes that differentially innervate the forelimb and hindlimb. We exploit publicly available datasets to confer anatomic specialization among CSNs and show that CSNs segregate not only along the forelimb and hindlimb axis but also by supraspinal axon collateralization. These anatomically defined transcriptional data allow us to use machine learning tools to build classifiers that discriminate between CSNs and cortical layer 2/3 and nonspinally terminating layer 5 neurons in M1 and separately identify limb-specific CSNs. Using these tools, CSN subtypes can be differentially identified to study postnatal patterning of the CST in vivo, leveraged to screen for novel limb-specific axon growth survival and growth activators in vitro, and ultimately exploited to repair the damaged CST after injury and disease.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Therapeutic interventions designed to repair the damaged CST after spinal cord injury have remained functionally suboptimal in part because of an incomplete understanding of the molecular heterogeneity among subclasses of CSNs. Here, we combine spinal retrograde labeling with scRNAseq and annotate a CSN index by the termination pattern of their primary axon in the cervical or lumbar spinal cord and supraspinal collateral terminal fields. Using machine learning we have confirmed the veracity of our CSN gene lists to train classifiers to identify CSNs among all classes of neurons in primary motor cortex to study the development, patterning, homeostasis, and response to injury and disease, and ultimately target streamlined repair strategies to this critical motor pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Golan
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Daniel Ehrlich
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - James Bonanno
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Rory F O'Brien
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Matias Murillo
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Sierra D Kauer
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Neal Ravindra
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Computer Science, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - David Van Dijk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Computer Science, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - William B Cafferty
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
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7
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Carmona LM, Thomas ET, Smith K, Tasic B, Costa RM, Nelson A. Topographical and cell type-specific connectivity of rostral and caudal forelimb corticospinal neuron populations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.17.567623. [PMID: 38014164 PMCID: PMC10680840 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.17.567623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Corticospinal neurons (CSNs) synapse directly on spinal neurons, a diverse group of neurons with unique structural and functional properties necessary for body movements. CSNs modulating forelimb behavior fractionate into caudal forelimb area (CFA) and rostral forelimb area (RFA) motor cortical populations. Despite their prominence, no studies have mapped the diversity of spinal cell types targeted by CSNs, let alone compare CFA and RFA populations. Here we use anatomical and RNA-sequencing methods to show that CSNs synapse onto a remarkably selective group of spinal cell types, favoring inhibitory populations that regulate motoneuron activity and gate sensory feedback. CFA and RFA CSNs target similar spinal cell types, with notable exceptions that suggest these populations differ in how they influence behavior. Finally, axon collaterals of CFA and RFA CSNs target similar brain regions yet receive surprisingly divergent inputs. These results detail the rules of CSN connectivity throughout the brain and spinal cord for two regions critical for forelimb behavior.
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8
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Sibener LJ, Mosberger AC, Chen TX, Athalye VR, Murray JM, Costa RM. Dissociable roles of thalamic nuclei in the refinement of reaches to spatial targets. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.20.558560. [PMID: 37790555 PMCID: PMC10542479 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.20.558560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Reaches are complex movements that are critical for survival, and encompass the control of different aspects such as direction, speed, and endpoint precision. Complex movements have been postulated to be learned and controlled through distributed motor networks, of which the thalamus is a highly connected node. Still, the role of different thalamic circuits in learning and controlling specific aspects of reaches has not been investigated. We report dissociable roles of two distinct thalamic nuclei - the parafascicular (Pf) and ventroanterior/ventrolateral (VAL) nuclei - in the refinement of spatial target reaches in mice. Using 2-photon calcium imaging in a head-fixed joystick task where mice learned to reach to a target in space, we found that glutamatergic neurons in both areas were most active during reaches early in learning. Reach-related activity in both areas decreased late in learning, as movement direction was refined and reaches increased in accuracy. Furthermore, the population dynamics of Pf, but not VAL, covaried in different subspaces in early and late learning, but eventually stabilized in late learning. The neural activity in Pf, but not VAL, encoded the direction of reaches in early but not late learning. Accordingly, bilateral lesions of Pf before, but not after learning, strongly and specifically impaired the refinement of reach direction. VAL lesions did not impact direction refinement, but instead resulted in increased speed and target overshoot. Our findings provide new evidence that the thalamus is a critical motor node in the learning and control of reaching movements, with specific subnuclei controlling distinct aspects of the reach early in learning.
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9
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Goñi-Erro H, Selvan R, Caggiano V, Leiras R, Kiehn O. Pedunculopontine Chx10 + neurons control global motor arrest in mice. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1516-1528. [PMID: 37501003 PMCID: PMC10471498 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01396-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Arrest of ongoing movements is an integral part of executing motor programs. Behavioral arrest may happen upon termination of a variety of goal-directed movements or as a global motor arrest either in the context of fear or in response to salient environmental cues. The neuronal circuits that bridge with the executive motor circuits to implement a global motor arrest are poorly understood. We report the discovery that the activation of glutamatergic Chx10-derived neurons in the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) in mice arrests all ongoing movements while simultaneously causing apnea and bradycardia. This global motor arrest has a pause-and-play pattern with an instantaneous interruption of movement followed by a short-latency continuation from where it was paused. Mice naturally perform arrest bouts with the same combination of motor and autonomic features. The Chx10-PPN-evoked arrest is different to ventrolateral periaqueductal gray-induced freezing. Our study defines a motor command that induces a global motor arrest, which may be recruited in response to salient environmental cues to allow for a preparatory or arousal state, and identifies a locomotor-opposing role for rostrally biased glutamatergic neurons in the PPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizea Goñi-Erro
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Raghavendra Selvan
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vittorio Caggiano
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Meta AI Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roberto Leiras
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ole Kiehn
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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10
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Senba E, Kami K. Exercise therapy for chronic pain: How does exercise change the limbic brain function? NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 14:100143. [PMID: 38099274 PMCID: PMC10719519 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2023.100143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
We are exposed to various external and internal threats which might hurt us. The role of taking flexible and appropriate actions against threats is played by "the limbic system" and at the heart of it there is the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens (brain reward system). Pain-related fear causes excessive excitation of amygdala, which in turn causes the suppression of medial prefrontal cortex, leading to chronification of pain. Since the limbic system of chronic pain patients is functionally impaired, they are maladaptive to their situations, unable to take goal-directed behavior and are easily caught by fear-avoidance thinking. We describe the neural mechanisms how exercise activates the brain reward system and enables chronic pain patients to take goal-directed behavior and overcome fear-avoidance thinking. A key to getting out from chronic pain state is to take advantage of the behavioral switching function of the basal nucleus of amygdala. We show that exercise activates positive neurons in this nucleus which project to the nucleus accumbens and promote reward behavior. We also describe fear conditioning and extinction are affected by exercise. In chronic pain patients, the fear response to pain is enhanced and the extinction of fear memories is impaired, so it is difficult to get out of "fear-avoidance thinking". Prolonged avoidance of movement and physical inactivity exacerbate pain and have detrimental effects on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Based on the recent findings on multiple bran networks, we propose a well-balanced exercise prescription considering the adherence and pacing of exercise practice. We conclude that therapies targeting the mesocortico-limbic system, such as exercise therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, may become promising tools in the fight against chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiko Senba
- Department of Physical Therapy, Osaka Yukioka College of Health Science, 1-1-41 Sojiji, Ibaraki-City, Osaka 567-0801, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama City, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
| | - Katsuya Kami
- Department of Rehabilitation, Wakayama Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care, 2252 Nakanoshima, Wakayama City, Wakayama 640-8392, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama City, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan
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11
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Mosberger AC, Sibener LJ, Chen TX, Rodrigues H, Hormigo R, Ingram JN, Athalye VR, Tabachnik T, Wolpert DM, Murray JM, Costa RM. Exploration biases how forelimb reaches to a spatial target are learned. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.08.539291. [PMID: 37214823 PMCID: PMC10197595 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.08.539291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The brain can learn to generate actions, such as reaching to a target, using different movement strategies. Understanding how different variables bias which strategies are learned to produce such a reach is important for our understanding of the neural bases of movement. Here we introduce a novel spatial forelimb target task in which perched head-fixed mice learn to reach to a circular target area from a set start position using a joystick. These reaches can be achieved by learning to move into a specific direction or to a specific endpoint location. We find that mice gradually learn to successfully reach the covert target. With time, they refine their initially exploratory complex joystick trajectories into controlled targeted reaches. The execution of these controlled reaches depends on the sensorimotor cortex. Using a probe test with shifting start positions, we show that individual mice learned to use strategies biased to either direction or endpoint-based movements. The degree of endpoint learning bias was correlated with the spatial directional variability with which the workspace was explored early in training. Furthermore, we demonstrate that reinforcement learning model agents exhibit a similar correlation between directional variability during training and learned strategy. These results provide evidence that individual exploratory behavior during training biases the control strategies that mice use to perform forelimb covert target reaches.
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12
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Guo H, Jiang JB, Xu W, Zhang MT, Chen H, Shi HY, Wang L, He M, Lazarus M, Li SQ, Huang ZL, Qu WM. Parasubthalamic calretinin neurons modulate wakefulness associated with exploration in male mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2346. [PMID: 37095092 PMCID: PMC10126000 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37797-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The parasubthalamic nucleus (PSTN) is considered to be involved in motivation, feeding and hunting, all of which are highly depending on wakefulness. However, the roles and underlying neural circuits of the PSTN in wakefulness remain unclear. Neurons expressing calretinin (CR) account for the majority of PSTN neurons. In this study in male mice, fiber photometry recordings showed that the activity of PSTNCR neurons increased at the transitions from non-rapid eye movement (non-REM, NREM) sleep to either wakefulness or REM sleep, as well as exploratory behavior. Chemogenetic and optogenetic experiments demonstrated that PSTNCR neurons were necessary for initiating and/or maintaining arousal associated with exploration. Photoactivation of projections of PSTNCR neurons revealed that they regulated exploration-related wakefulness by innervating the ventral tegmental area. Collectively, our findings indicate that PSTNCR circuitry is essential for the induction and maintenance of the awake state associated with exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Guo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-Bo Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Mu-Tian Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Huan-Ying Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Miao He
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Michael Lazarus
- International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPIIIIS), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Shan-Qun Li
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Zhi-Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Wei-Min Qu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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13
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Liu Y, Chen X, Liang Y, Song H, Yu P, Guan S, Liu Z, Yang A, Tang M, Zhou Y, Zheng Y, Yang Z, Jiang L, He J, Tan N, Xu B, Lin X. Ferromagnetic Flexible Electronics for Brain-Wide Selective Neural Recording. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2208251. [PMID: 36451587 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202208251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Flexible microelectronics capable of straightforward implantation, remotely controlled navigation, and stable long-term recording hold great promise in diverse medical applications, particularly in deciphering complex functions of neural circuits in the brain. Existing flexible electronics, however, are often limited in bending and buckling during implantation, and unable to access a large brain region. Here, an injectable class of electronics with stable recording, omnidirectional steering, and precise navigating capabilities based on magnetic actuation is presented. After simple transcriptional injection, the rigid coatings are biodegraded quickly and the bundles of magnetic-nanoparticles-coated microelectrodes become separated, ultra-flexible, and magnetic actuated for further minimally invasive three-dimensional interpenetration in the brain. As proof of concept, this paradigm-shifting approach is demonstrated for selective and multiplexed neural activities recording across distant regions in the deep rodent brains. Coupling with optogenetic neural stimulation, the unique capabilities of this platform in electrophysiological readouts of projection dynamics in vivo are also demonstrated. The ability of these miniaturized, remotely controllable, and biocompatible ferromagnetic flexible electronics to afford minimally invasive manipulations in the soft tissues of the mammalian brain foreshadows applications in other organ systems, with great potential for broad utility in biomedical science and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Ye Liang
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Hao Song
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Peng Yu
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Machine Intelligence and Advanced Computing, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, China
| | - Shunmin Guan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Zijian Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Anqi Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Minghui Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Yajing Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Ying Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Zhilun Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Lelun Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Jufang He
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Ning Tan
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Machine Intelligence and Advanced Computing, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, China
| | - Bingzhe Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Xudong Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
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14
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Infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex signalling to calbindin 1 positive neurons in posterior basolateral amygdala suppresses anxiety- and depression-like behaviours. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5462. [PMID: 36115848 PMCID: PMC9482654 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33139-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Generalization is a fundamental cognitive ability of organisms to deal with the uncertainty in real-world situations. Excessive fear generalization and impaired reward generalization are closely related to many psychiatric disorders. However, the neural circuit mechanism for reward generalization and its role in anxiety-like behaviours remain elusive. Here, we found a robust activation of calbindin 1-neurons (Calb 1) in the posterior basolateral amygdala (pBLA), simultaneous with reward generalization to an ambiguous cue after reward conditioning in mice. We identify the infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex (IL) to the pBLACalb1 (Calb 1 neurons in the pBLA) pathway as being involved in reward generalization for the ambiguity. Activating IL–pBLA inputs strengthens reward generalization and reduces chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced anxiety- and depression-like behaviours in a manner dependent on pBLACalb1 neuron activation. These findings suggest that the IL–pBLACalb1 circuit could be a target to promote stress resilience via reward generalization and consequently ameliorate anxiety- and depression-like behaviours. The neural mechanisms for reward generalization are not fully understood. Here the authors investigate the role of posterior basolateral amygdala calbindin-expressing cells in modulating behavioural responses related to reward and aversion.
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15
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Taniya MA, Chung HJ, Al Mamun A, Alam S, Aziz MA, Emon NU, Islam MM, Hong STS, Podder BR, Ara Mimi A, Aktar Suchi S, Xiao J. Role of Gut Microbiome in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Therapeutic Regulation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:915701. [PMID: 35937689 PMCID: PMC9355470 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.915701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder that affects normal brain development. The recent finding of the microbiota–gut–brain axis indicates the bidirectional connection between our gut and brain, demonstrating that gut microbiota can influence many neurological disorders such as autism. Most autistic patients suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Many studies have shown that early colonization, mode of delivery, and antibiotic usage significantly affect the gut microbiome and the onset of autism. Microbial fermentation of plant-based fiber can produce different types of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) that may have a beneficial or detrimental effect on the gut and neurological development of autistic patients. Several comprehensive studies of the gut microbiome and microbiota–gut–brain axis help to understand the mechanism that leads to the onset of neurological disorders and find possible treatments for autism. This review integrates the findings of recent years on the gut microbiota and ASD association, mainly focusing on the characterization of specific microbiota that leads to ASD and addressing potential therapeutic interventions to restore a healthy balance of gut microbiome composition that can treat autism-associated symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masuma Afrin Taniya
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Environment and Life Science, Independent University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Hea-Jong Chung
- Gwanju Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Gwanju, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Hea-Jong Chung, ; Jian Xiao,
| | - Abdullah Al Mamun
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Safaet Alam
- Drugs and Toxins Research Division, BCSIR Laboratories, Rajshahi, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Abdul Aziz
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, State University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nazim Uddin Emon
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, International Islamic University Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Minarul Islam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute for Medical Science, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, South Korea
| | - Seong-T shool Hong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute for Medical Science, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, South Korea
| | - Bristy Rani Podder
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Anjuman Ara Mimi
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Suzia Aktar Suchi
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Jian Xiao
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Department of Hand Surgery and Peripheral Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Hea-Jong Chung, ; Jian Xiao,
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16
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Sherman SB, Harberson M, Rashleigh R, Gupta N, Powers R, Talla R, Thusu A, Hill JW. Spexin modulates molecular thermogenic profile of adipose tissue and thermoregulatory behaviors in female C57BL/6 mice. Horm Behav 2022; 143:105195. [PMID: 35580373 PMCID: PMC10150790 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Thermoregulation is the physiological process by which an animal regulates body temperature in response to its environment. It is known that galanin, a neuropeptide widely distributed throughout the central nervous system and secreted by the gut, plays a role in thermoregulatory behaviors and metabolism. We tested the ability of the novel neuropeptide spexin, which shares sequence homology to galanin, to regulate these functions in female mice. Supraphysiological levels of spexin in C57BL/6 mice did not lead to weight loss after 50 days of treatment. Behavioral analysis of long-term spexin treatment showed it decreased anxiety and increased thermoregulatory nest building, which was not observed when mice were housed at thermoneutral temperatures. Treatment also disrupted the thermogenic profile of brown and white adipose tissue, decreasing mRNA expression of Ucp1 in BAT and immunodetection of β3-adrenergic receptors in gWAT. Our results reveal novel functions for spexin as a modulator of thermoregulatory behaviors and adipose tissue metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shermel B Sherman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, United States; Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Toledo, OH 43614, United States
| | - Mitchell Harberson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, United States; Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Toledo, OH 43614, United States
| | - Rebecca Rashleigh
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, United States; Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Toledo, OH 43614, United States
| | - Niraj Gupta
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43604, United States
| | - Riley Powers
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, United States
| | - Ramya Talla
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, United States; Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Toledo, OH 43614, United States
| | - Ashima Thusu
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43604, United States
| | - Jennifer W Hill
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, United States; Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Toledo, OH 43614, United States.
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17
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Mazuski C, O'Keefe J. Representation of ethological events by basolateral amygdala neurons. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110921. [PMID: 35675779 PMCID: PMC9638002 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The accurate interpretation of ethologically relevant stimuli is crucial for survival. While basolateral amygdala (BLA) neuronal responses during fear conditioning are well studied, little is known about how BLA neurons respond during naturalistic events. We recorded from the rat BLA during interaction with ethological stimuli: male or female rats, a moving toy, and rice. Forty-two percent of the cells reliably respond to at least one stimulus, with over half of these exclusively identifying one of the four stimulus classes. In addition to activation during interaction with their preferred stimulus, these cells signal micro-behavioral interactions like social contact. After stimulus removal, firing activity persists in 30% of responsive cells for several minutes. At the micro-circuit level, information flows from highly tuned event-specific neurons to less specific neurons, and connection strength increases after the event. We propose that individual BLA neurons identify specific ethological events, with event-specific neurons driving circuit-wide activity during and after salient events. Basolateral amygdala (BLA) neurons respond selectively to salient stimuli After activation, BLA neurons can be modulated by the behavioral microstructure Firing persists in some BLA neurons long after the removal of the eliciting stimulus In the BLA micro-circuit, information flowed from more tuned to less tuned neurons
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Mazuski
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University College London, London W1T4JG, UK.
| | - John O'Keefe
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University College London, London W1T4JG, UK; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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18
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Wheatcroft T, Saleem AB, Solomon SG. Functional Organisation of the Mouse Superior Colliculus. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:792959. [PMID: 35601532 PMCID: PMC9118347 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.792959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) is a highly conserved area of the mammalian midbrain that is widely implicated in the organisation and control of behaviour. SC receives input from a large number of brain areas, and provides outputs to a large number of areas. The convergence and divergence of anatomical connections with different areas and systems provides challenges for understanding how SC contributes to behaviour. Recent work in mouse has provided large anatomical datasets, and a wealth of new data from experiments that identify and manipulate different cells within SC, and their inputs and outputs, during simple behaviours. These data offer an opportunity to better understand the roles that SC plays in these behaviours. However, some of the observations appear, at first sight, to be contradictory. Here we review this recent work and hypothesise a simple framework which can capture the observations, that requires only a small change to previous models. Specifically, the functional organisation of SC can be explained by supposing that three largely distinct circuits support three largely distinct classes of simple behaviours-arrest, turning towards, and the triggering of escape or capture. These behaviours are hypothesised to be supported by the optic, intermediate and deep layers, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Samuel G. Solomon
- Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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19
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Glutamatergic synapses from the insular cortex to the basolateral amygdala encode observational pain. Neuron 2022; 110:1993-2008.e6. [PMID: 35443154 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Empathic pain has attracted the interest of a substantial number of researchers studying the social transfer of pain in the sociological, psychological, and neuroscience fields. However, the neural mechanism of empathic pain remains elusive. Here, we establish a long-term observational pain model in mice and find that glutamatergic projection from the insular cortex (IC) to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) is critical for the formation of observational pain. The selective activation or inhibition of the IC-BLA projection pathway strengthens or weakens the intensity of observational pain, respectively. The synaptic molecules are screened, and the upregulated synaptotagmin-2 and RIM3 are identified as key signals in controlling the increased synaptic glutamate transmission from the IC to the BLA. Together, these results reveal the molecular and synaptic mechanisms of a previously unidentified neural pathway that regulates observational pain in mice.
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20
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Abstract
Locomotion is a universal motor behavior that is expressed as the output of many integrated brain functions. Locomotion is organized at several levels of the nervous system, with brainstem circuits acting as the gate between brain areas regulating innate, emotional, or motivational locomotion and executive spinal circuits. Here we review recent advances on brainstem circuits involved in controlling locomotion. We describe how delineated command circuits govern the start, speed, stop, and steering of locomotion. We also discuss how these pathways interface between executive circuits in the spinal cord and diverse brain areas important for context-specific selection of locomotion. A recurrent theme is the need to establish a functional connectome to and from brainstem command circuits. Finally, we point to unresolved issues concerning the integrated function of locomotor control. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Neuroscience, Volume 45 is July 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Leiras
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jared M. Cregg
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole Kiehn
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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21
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Pernía-Andrade AJ, Wenger N, Esposito MS, Tovote P. Circuits for State-Dependent Modulation of Locomotion. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:745689. [PMID: 34858153 PMCID: PMC8631332 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.745689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-wide neural circuits enable bi- and quadrupeds to express adaptive locomotor behaviors in a context- and state-dependent manner, e.g., in response to threats or rewards. These behaviors include dynamic transitions between initiation, maintenance and termination of locomotion. Advances within the last decade have revealed an intricate coordination of these individual locomotion phases by complex interaction of multiple brain circuits. This review provides an overview of the neural basis of state-dependent modulation of locomotion initiation, maintenance and termination, with a focus on insights from circuit-centered studies in rodents. The reviewed evidence indicates that a brain-wide network involving excitatory circuit elements connecting cortex, midbrain and medullary areas appears to be the common substrate for the initiation of locomotion across different higher-order states. Specific network elements within motor cortex and the mesencephalic locomotor region drive the initial postural adjustment and the initiation of locomotion. Microcircuits of the basal ganglia, by implementing action-selection computations, trigger goal-directed locomotion. The initiation of locomotion is regulated by neuromodulatory circuits residing in the basal forebrain, the hypothalamus, and medullary regions such as locus coeruleus. The maintenance of locomotion requires the interaction of an even larger neuronal network involving motor, sensory and associative cortical elements, as well as defined circuits within the superior colliculus, the cerebellum, the periaqueductal gray, the mesencephalic locomotor region and the medullary reticular formation. Finally, locomotor arrest as an important component of defensive emotional states, such as acute anxiety, is mediated via a network of survival circuits involving hypothalamus, amygdala, periaqueductal gray and medullary premotor centers. By moving beyond the organizational principle of functional brain regions, this review promotes a circuit-centered perspective of locomotor regulation by higher-order states, and emphasizes the importance of individual network elements such as cell types and projection pathways. The realization that dysfunction within smaller, identifiable circuit elements can affect the larger network function supports more mechanistic and targeted therapeutic intervention in the treatment of motor network disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolaus Wenger
- Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria S Esposito
- Medical Physics Department, Centro Atomico Bariloche, Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Philip Tovote
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Center for Mental Health, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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22
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Corticospinal populations broadcast complex motor signals to coordinated spinal and striatal circuits. Nat Neurosci 2021; 24:1721-1732. [PMID: 34737448 PMCID: PMC8639707 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-00939-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Many models of motor control emphasize the role of sensorimotor cortex in movement, principally through the projections that corticospinal neurons (CSNs) make to the spinal cord. Additionally, CSNs possess expansive supraspinal axon collaterals, the functional organization of which is largely unknown. Using anatomical and electrophysiological circuit-mapping techniques in the mouse, we reveal dorsolateral striatum as the preeminent target of CSN collateral innervation. We found that this innervation is biased so that CSNs targeting different striatal pathways show biased targeting of spinal cord circuits. Contrary to more conventional perspectives, CSNs encode not only individual movements, but also information related to the onset and offset of motor sequences. Furthermore, similar activity patterns are broadcast by CSN populations targeting different striatal circuits. Our results reveal a logic of coordinated connectivity between forebrain and spinal circuits, where separate CSN modules broadcast similarly complex information to downstream circuits, suggesting that differences in postsynaptic connectivity dictate motor specificity.
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23
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Dopamine promotes aggression in mice via ventral tegmental area to lateral septum projections. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6796. [PMID: 34815379 PMCID: PMC8610979 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27092-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Septal-hypothalamic neuronal activity centrally mediates aggressive behavior and dopamine system hyperactivity is associated with elevated aggression. However, the causal role of dopamine in aggression and its target circuit mechanisms are largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we studied the modulatory role of the population- and projection-specific dopamine function in a murine model of aggressive behavior. We find that terminal activity of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopaminergic neurons selectively projecting to the lateral septum (LS) is sufficient for promoting aggression and necessary for establishing baseline aggression. Within the LS, dopamine acts on D2-receptors to inhibit GABAergic neurons, and septal D2-signaling is necessary for VTA dopaminergic activity to promote aggression. Collectively, our data reveal a powerful modulatory influence of dopaminergic synaptic input on LS function and aggression, effectively linking the clinically pertinent hyper-dopaminergic model of aggression with the classic septal-hypothalamic aggression axis. The authors show that terminal activity of dopaminergic neurons selectively projecting from the ventral tegmental area to the lateral septum is sufficient for promoting aggression and necessary for establishing baseline aggression in mice.
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24
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Schreiner DC, Yalcinbas EA, Gremel CM. A Push For Examining Subjective Experience in Value-Based Decision-Making. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2021; 41:45-49. [PMID: 34056054 PMCID: PMC8153361 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Subjective experience is a powerful contributor to value-based decision-making. Not every decision is the same, nor made in isolation. Rather, decision-making relies on historical information and internal states for adaptive control. Hence, it is inherently continuous with respect to time - one decision or action evolves into the next. However, forays into the neurobiological underpinnings of decision-making have too frequently ignored the contribution of such continuous subjective experience, instead tying circuit activity and brain area involvement to discrete averaged behaviors and task parameters. While much information has been gained through these investigations, recent works have demonstrated the potential for a greater understanding of neural mechanisms when the continuous, experiential nature of behavior is integrated into the investigation. Such integration has important implications for disease states with disordered decision-making such as addiction, where subjective experience is a large contributor to the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew C. Schreiner
- The Department of Psychology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ege A. Yalcinbas
- The Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Christina M. Gremel
- The Department of Psychology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- The Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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25
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Fiederling F, Hammond LA, Ng D, Mason C, Dodd J. Tools for efficient analysis of neurons in a 3D reference atlas of whole mouse spinal cord. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2021; 1:100074. [PMID: 34661190 PMCID: PMC8516137 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2021.100074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
To fill the prevailing gap in methodology for whole spinal cord (SC) analysis, we have (1) designed scaffolds (SpineRacks) that facilitate efficient and ordered cryo-sectioning of the entire SC in a single block, (2) constructed a 3D reference atlas of adult mouse SC, and (3) developed software (SpinalJ) to register images of sections and for standardized analysis of cells and projections in atlas space. We have verified mapping accuracies for known neurons and demonstrated the usefulness of this platform to reveal unknown neuronal distributions. Together, these tools provide high-throughput analyses of whole mouse SC and enable direct comparison of 3D spatial information between animals and studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Fiederling
- Departments of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics, and Neuroscience, Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Luke A. Hammond
- Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - David Ng
- Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Carol Mason
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Neuroscience, and Ophthalmology, Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Jane Dodd
- Departments of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics, and Neuroscience, Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
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Cardoso F, Klein Wolterink RGJ, Godinho-Silva C, Domingues RG, Ribeiro H, da Silva JA, Mahú I, Domingos AI, Veiga-Fernandes H. Neuro-mesenchymal units control ILC2 and obesity via a brain-adipose circuit. Nature 2021; 597:410-414. [PMID: 34408322 PMCID: PMC7614847 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03830-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Signals from sympathetic neurons and immune cells regulate adipocytes and thereby contribute to fat tissue biology. Interactions between the nervous and immune systems have recently emerged as important regulators of host defence and inflammation1-4. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether neuronal and immune cells co-operate in brain-body axes to orchestrate metabolism and obesity. Here we describe a neuro-mesenchymal unit that controls group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), adipose tissue physiology, metabolism and obesity via a brain-adipose circuit. We found that sympathetic nerve terminals act on neighbouring adipose mesenchymal cells via the β2-adrenergic receptor to control the expression of glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and the activity of ILC2s in gonadal fat. Accordingly, ILC2-autonomous manipulation of the GDNF receptor machinery led to alterations in ILC2 function, energy expenditure, insulin resistance and propensity to obesity. Retrograde tracing and chemical, surgical and chemogenetic manipulations identified a sympathetic aorticorenal circuit that modulates ILC2s in gonadal fat and connects to higher-order brain areas, including the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Our results identify a neuro-mesenchymal unit that translates cues from long-range neuronal circuitry into adipose-resident ILC2 function, thereby shaping host metabolism and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Cardoso
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | | | - Rita G Domingues
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research (MCCIR), Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Hélder Ribeiro
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Inês Mahú
- Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Köln, Germany
| | - Ana I Domingos
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
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van der Zouwen CI, Boutin J, Fougère M, Flaive A, Vivancos M, Santuz A, Akay T, Sarret P, Ryczko D. Freely Behaving Mice Can Brake and Turn During Optogenetic Stimulation of the Mesencephalic Locomotor Region. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:639900. [PMID: 33897379 PMCID: PMC8062873 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.639900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A key function of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) is to control the speed of forward symmetrical locomotor movements. However, the ability of freely moving mammals to integrate environmental cues to brake and turn during MLR stimulation is poorly documented. Here, we investigated whether freely behaving mice could brake or turn, based on environmental cues during MLR stimulation. We photostimulated the cuneiform nucleus (part of the MLR) in mice expressing channelrhodopsin in Vglut2-positive neurons in a Cre-dependent manner (Vglut2-ChR2-EYFP) using optogenetics. We detected locomotor movements using deep learning. We used patch-clamp recordings to validate the functional expression of channelrhodopsin and neuroanatomy to visualize the stimulation sites. In the linear corridor, gait diagram and limb kinematics were similar during spontaneous and optogenetic-evoked locomotion. In the open-field arena, optogenetic stimulation of the MLR evoked locomotion, and increasing laser power increased locomotor speed. Mice could brake and make sharp turns (~90°) when approaching a corner during MLR stimulation in the open-field arena. The speed during the turn was scaled with the speed before the turn, and with the turn angle. Patch-clamp recordings in Vglut2-ChR2-EYFP mice show that blue light evoked short-latency spiking in MLR neurons. Our results strengthen the idea that different brainstem neurons convey braking/turning and MLR speed commands in mammals. Our study also shows that Vglut2-positive neurons of the cuneiform nucleus are a relevant target to increase locomotor activity without impeding the ability to brake and turn when approaching obstacles, thus ensuring smooth and adaptable navigation. Our observations may have clinical relevance since cuneiform nucleus stimulation is increasingly considered to improve locomotion function in pathological states such as Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, or stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelis Immanuel van der Zouwen
- Département de pharmacologie-physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Joël Boutin
- Département de pharmacologie-physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Maxime Fougère
- Département de pharmacologie-physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Aurélie Flaive
- Département de pharmacologie-physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Vivancos
- Département de pharmacologie-physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Alessandro Santuz
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Atlantic Mobility Action Project, Brain Repair Center, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Training and Movement Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin School of Movement Science, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Turgay Akay
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Atlantic Mobility Action Project, Brain Repair Center, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Philippe Sarret
- Département de pharmacologie-physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.,Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.,Centre d'excellence en neurosciences de l'Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.,Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Dimitri Ryczko
- Département de pharmacologie-physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.,Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.,Centre d'excellence en neurosciences de l'Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.,Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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28
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Yates D. Moments of exploration. Nat Rev Neurosci 2020; 21:666-667. [PMID: 33110223 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-00403-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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