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Geiger M, Hurewitz SR, Pawlowski K, Baumer NT, Wilkinson CL. Alterations in aperiodic and periodic EEG activity in young children with Down syndrome. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 200:106643. [PMID: 39173846 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common cause of intellectual disability, yet little is known about the neurobiological pathways leading to cognitive impairments. Electroencephalographic (EEG) measures are commonly used to study neurodevelopmental disorders, but few studies have focused on young children with DS. Here we assess resting state EEG data collected from toddlers/preschoolers with DS (n = 29, age 13-48 months old) and compare their aperiodic and periodic EEG features with both age-matched (n = 29) and developmental-matched (n = 58) comparison groups. DS participants exhibited significantly reduced aperiodic slope, increased periodic theta power, and decreased alpha peak amplitude. A majority of DS participants displayed a prominent peak in the theta range, whereas a theta peak was not present in age-matched participants. Overall, similar findings were also observed when comparing DS and developmental-matched groups, suggesting that EEG differences are not explained by delayed cognitive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKena Geiger
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sophie R Hurewitz
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine Pawlowski
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole T Baumer
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carol L Wilkinson
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Wilkinson CL, Yankowitz LD, Chao JY, Gutiérrez R, Rhoades JL, Shinnar S, Purdon PL, Nelson CA. Developmental trajectories of EEG aperiodic and periodic components in children 2-44 months of age. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5788. [PMID: 38987558 PMCID: PMC11237135 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50204-4] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of neural circuits has long-lasting effects on brain function, yet our understanding of early circuit development in humans remains limited. Here, periodic EEG power features and aperiodic components were examined from longitudinal EEGs collected from 592 healthy 2-44 month-old infants, revealing age-dependent nonlinear changes suggestive of distinct milestones in early brain maturation. Developmental changes in periodic peaks include (1) the presence and then absence of a 9-10 Hz alpha peak between 2-6 months, (2) nonlinear changes in high beta peaks (20-30 Hz) between 4-18 months, and (3) the emergence of a low beta peak (12-20 Hz) in some infants after six months of age. We hypothesized that the emergence of the low beta peak may reflect maturation of thalamocortical network development. Infant anesthesia studies observe that GABA-modulating anesthetics do not induce thalamocortical mediated frontal alpha coherence until 10-12 months of age. Using a small cohort of infants (n = 23) with EEG before and during GABA-modulating anesthesia, we provide preliminary evidence that infants with a low beta peak have higher anesthesia-induced alpha coherence compared to those without a low beta peak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol L Wilkinson
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Lisa D Yankowitz
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jerry Y Chao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Rodrigo Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Anestesia y Medicina Perioperatoria, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeff L Rhoades
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Division of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shlomo Shinnar
- The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Patrick L Purdon
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, USA
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3
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Currey L, Mitchell B, Al-Khalily M, McElnea SJ, Kozulin P, Harkins D, Pelenyi A, Fenlon L, Suarez R, Kurniawan ND, Burne TH, Harris L, Thor S, Piper M. Polycomb repressive complex 2 is critical for mouse cortical glutamatergic neuron development. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae268. [PMID: 38960704 PMCID: PMC11221884 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae268] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) regulates corticogenesis, yet the consequences of mutations to this epigenetic modifier in the mature brain are poorly defined. Importantly, PRC2 core genes are haploinsufficient and causative of several human neurodevelopmental disorders. To address the role of PRC2 in mature cortical structure and function, we conditionally deleted the PRC2 gene Eed from the developing mouse dorsal telencephalon. Adult homozygotes displayed smaller forebrain structures. Single-nucleus transcriptomics revealed that glutamatergic neurons were particularly affected, exhibiting dysregulated gene expression profiles, accompanied by aberrations in neuronal morphology and connectivity. Remarkably, homozygous mice performed well on challenging cognitive tasks. In contrast, while heterozygous mice did not exhibit clear anatomical or behavioral differences, they displayed dysregulation of neuronal genes and altered neuronal morphology that was strikingly different from homozygous phenotypes. Collectively, these data reveal how alterations to PRC2 function shape the mature brain and reveal a dose-specific role for PRC2 in determining glutamatergic neuron identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Currey
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Benjamin Mitchell
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Majd Al-Khalily
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sarah-Jayne McElnea
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Peter Kozulin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Danyon Harkins
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alexandra Pelenyi
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Laura Fenlon
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Suarez
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Nyoman D Kurniawan
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Thomas H Burne
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia
| | - Lachlan Harris
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Cancer Neuroscience Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Stefan Thor
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Michael Piper
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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4
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Sydnor VJ, Bagautdinova J, Larsen B, Arcaro MJ, Barch DM, Bassett DS, Alexander-Bloch AF, Cook PA, Covitz S, Franco AR, Gur RE, Gur RC, Mackey AP, Mehta K, Meisler SL, Milham MP, Moore TM, Müller EJ, Roalf DR, Salo T, Schubiner G, Seidlitz J, Shinohara RT, Shine JM, Yeh FC, Cieslak M, Satterthwaite TD. A sensorimotor-association axis of thalamocortical connection development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.13.598749. [PMID: 38915591 PMCID: PMC11195180 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.13.598749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Human cortical development follows a sensorimotor-to-association sequence during childhood and adolescence1-6. The brain's capacity to enact this sequence over decades indicates that it relies on intrinsic mechanisms to regulate inter-regional differences in the timing of cortical maturation, yet regulators of human developmental chronology are not well understood. Given evidence from animal models that thalamic axons modulate windows of cortical plasticity7-12, here we evaluate the overarching hypothesis that structural connections between the thalamus and cortex help to coordinate cortical maturational heterochronicity during youth. We first introduce, cortically annotate, and anatomically validate a new atlas of human thalamocortical connections using diffusion tractography. By applying this atlas to three independent youth datasets (ages 8-23 years; total N = 2,676), we reproducibly demonstrate that thalamocortical connections develop along a maturational gradient that aligns with the cortex's sensorimotor-association axis. Associative cortical regions with thalamic connections that take longest to mature exhibit protracted expression of neurochemical, structural, and functional markers indicative of higher circuit plasticity as well as heightened environmental sensitivity. This work highlights a central role for the thalamus in the orchestration of hierarchically organized and environmentally sensitive windows of cortical developmental malleability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie J. Sydnor
- Penn Lifespan Informatics and Neuroimaging Center (PennLINC), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Joëlle Bagautdinova
- Penn Lifespan Informatics and Neuroimaging Center (PennLINC), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bart Larsen
- Penn Lifespan Informatics and Neuroimaging Center (PennLINC), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Michael J. Arcaro
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Deanna M. Barch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Dani S. Bassett
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA
| | - Aaron F. Alexander-Bloch
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Philip A. Cook
- Penn Image Computing and Science Lab (PICSL), Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sydney Covitz
- Penn Lifespan Informatics and Neuroimaging Center (PennLINC), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Schools of Engineering and Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alexandre R. Franco
- Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
- Strategic Data Initiatives, Child Mind Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Raquel E. Gur
- Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Section, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ruben C. Gur
- Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Brain Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Allyson P. Mackey
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kahini Mehta
- Penn Lifespan Informatics and Neuroimaging Center (PennLINC), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Steven L. Meisler
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard University, Division of Medical Sciences, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael P. Milham
- Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
- Center for the Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tyler M. Moore
- Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Brain Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eli J. Müller
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - David R. Roalf
- Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Brain Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Taylor Salo
- Penn Lifespan Informatics and Neuroimaging Center (PennLINC), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Jakob Seidlitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Russell T. Shinohara
- Penn Statistics in Imaging and Visualization Center, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, & Informatics, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James M. Shine
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Fang-Cheng Yeh
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Matthew Cieslak
- Penn Lifespan Informatics and Neuroimaging Center (PennLINC), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Theodore D. Satterthwaite
- Penn Lifespan Informatics and Neuroimaging Center (PennLINC), Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Falcão M, Monteiro P, Jacinto L. Tactile sensory processing deficits in genetic mouse models of autism spectrum disorder. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38837765 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Altered sensory processing is a common feature in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Although altered responses to tactile stimuli are observed in over 60% of individuals with ASD, the neurobiological basis of this phenomenon is poorly understood. ASD has a strong genetic component and genetic mouse models can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying tactile abnormalities in ASD. This review critically addresses recent findings regarding tactile processing deficits found in mouse models of ASD, with a focus on behavioral, anatomical, and functional alterations. Particular attention was given to cellular and circuit-level functional alterations, both in the peripheral and central nervous systems, with the objective of highlighting possible convergence mechanisms across models. By elucidating the impact of mutations in ASD candidate genes on somatosensory circuits and correlating them with behavioral phenotypes, this review significantly advances our understanding of tactile deficits in ASD. Such insights not only broaden our comprehension but also pave the way for future therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Falcão
- Department of Biomedicine-Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Patricia Monteiro
- Department of Biomedicine-Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Luis Jacinto
- Department of Biomedicine-Experimental Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
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Geiger M, Hurewitz SR, Pawlowski K, Baumer NT, Wilkinson CL. Alterations in aperiodic and periodic EEG activity in young children with Down syndrome. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.01.24306729. [PMID: 38746335 PMCID: PMC11092732 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.01.24306729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Down syndrome is the most common cause of intellectual disability, yet little is known about the neurobiological pathways leading to cognitive impairments. Electroencephalographic (EEG) measures are commonly used to study neurodevelopmental disorders, but few studies have focused on young children with DS. Here we assess resting state EEG data collected from toddlers/preschoolers with DS (n=29, age 13-48 months old) and compare their aperiodic and periodic EEG features with both age-matched (n=29) and cognitive-matched (n=58) comparison groups. DS participants exhibited significantly reduced aperiodic slope, increased periodic theta power, and decreased alpha peak amplitude. A majority of DS participants displayed a prominent peak in the theta range, whereas a theta peak was not present in age-matched participants. Overall, similar findings were also observed when comparing DS and cognitive-matched groups, suggesting that EEG differences are not explained by delayed cognitive ability.
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7
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Herrera CG, Tarokh L. A Thalamocortical Perspective on Sleep Spindle Alterations in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. CURRENT SLEEP MEDICINE REPORTS 2024; 10:103-118. [PMID: 38764858 PMCID: PMC11096120 DOI: 10.1007/s40675-024-00284-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of conditions that affect the development and function of the nervous system, typically arising early in life. These disorders can have various genetic, environmental, and/or neural underpinnings, which can impact the thalamocortical system. Sleep spindles, brief bursts of oscillatory activity that occur during NREM sleep, provide a unique in vivo measure of the thalamocortical system. In this manuscript, we review the development of the thalamocortical system and sleep spindles in rodent models and humans. We then utilize this as a foundation to discuss alterations in sleep spindle activity in four of the most pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders-intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and schizophrenia. Recent Findings Recent work in humans has shown alterations in sleep spindles across several neurodevelopmental disorders. Simultaneously, rodent models have elucidated the mechanisms which may underlie these deficits in spindle activity. This review merges recent findings from these two separate lines of research to draw conclusions about the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. Summary We speculate that deficits in the thalamocortical system associated with neurodevelopmental disorders are exquisitely reflected in sleep spindle activity. We propose that sleep spindles may represent a promising biomarker for drug discovery, risk stratification, and treatment monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Gutierrez Herrera
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Rosenbühlgasse 25, Bern, Switzerland
- Center for Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Rosenbühlgasse 17, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Research (DBMR), Inselspital University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 24 CH-3008 Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Leila Tarokh
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, Haus A, 3000, Bern, Switzerland
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bolligenstrasse 111, Haus A, 3000, Bern, Switzerland
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Wilkinson CL, Yankowitz L, Chao JY, Gutiérrez R, Rhoades JL, Shinnar S, Purdon PL, Nelson CA. Developmental trajectories of EEG aperiodic and periodic components: Implications for understanding thalamocortical development during infancy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.07.21.550114. [PMID: 37546863 PMCID: PMC10401947 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.21.550114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The development of neural circuits has long-lasting effects on brain function, yet our understanding of early circuit development in humans remains limited. Here, periodic EEG power features and aperiodic components were examined from longitudinal EEGs collected from 592 healthy 2-44 month-old infants, revealing age-dependent nonlinear changes suggestive of distinct milestones in early brain maturation. Consistent with the transient developmental progression of thalamocortical circuitry, we observe the presence and then absence of periodic alpha and high beta peaks across the three-year period, as well as the emergence of a low beta peak (12-20Hz) after six months of age. We present preliminary evidence that the emergence of the low beta peak is associated with higher thalamocortical-dependent, anesthesia-induced alpha coherence. Together, these findings suggest that early age-dependent changes in alpha and beta periodic peaks may reflect the state of thalamocortical network development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol L Wilkinson
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lisa Yankowitz
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jerry Y Chao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Rodrigo Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Anestesia y Medicina Perioperatoria, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jeff L Rhoades
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Division of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shlomo Shinnar
- The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Patrick L Purdon
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, United States
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9
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Park WJ, Fine I. A unified model for cross-modal plasticity and skill acquisition. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1334283. [PMID: 38384481 PMCID: PMC10879418 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1334283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Historically, cross-modal plasticity following early blindness has been largely studied in the context of visual deprivation. However, more recently, there has been a shift in focus towards understanding cross-modal plasticity from the perspective of skill acquisition: the striking plasticity observed in early blind individuals reflects the extraordinary perceptual and cognitive challenges they solve. Here, inspired by two seminal papers on skill learning (the "cortical recycling" theory) and cross-modal plasticity (the "metamodal" hypothesis) respectively, we present a unified hypothesis of cortical specialization that describes how shared functional, algorithmic, and structural constraints might mediate both types of plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woon Ju Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Center for Human Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ione Fine
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Center for Human Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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10
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Molnár Z, Kwan KY. Development and Evolution of Thalamocortical Connectivity. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2024; 16:a041503. [PMID: 38167425 PMCID: PMC10759993 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Conscious perception in mammals depends on precise circuit connectivity between cerebral cortex and thalamus; the evolution and development of these structures are closely linked. During the wiring of reciprocal thalamus-cortex connections, thalamocortical axons (TCAs) first navigate forebrain regions that had undergone substantial evolutionary modifications. In particular, the organization of the pallial-subpallial boundary (PSPB) diverged significantly between mammals, reptiles, and birds. In mammals, transient cell populations in internal capsule and early corticofugal projections from subplate neurons closely interact with TCAs to guide pathfinding through ventral forebrain and PSPB crossing. Prior to thalamocortical axon arrival, cortical areas are initially patterned by intrinsic genetic factors. Thalamocortical axons then innervate cortex in a topographically organized manner to enable sensory input to refine cortical arealization. Here, we review the mechanisms underlying the guidance of thalamocortical axons across forebrain boundaries, the implications of PSPB evolution for thalamocortical axon pathfinding, and the reciprocal influence between thalamus and cortex during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Molnár
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Sherrington Building, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, United Kingdom
| | - Kenneth Y Kwan
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute (MNI), Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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11
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Božanić Urbančič N, Battelino S, Vozel D. Appropriate Vestibular Stimulation in Children and Adolescents-A Prerequisite for Normal Cognitive, Motor Development and Bodily Homeostasis-A Review. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 11:2. [PMID: 38275423 PMCID: PMC10814320 DOI: 10.3390/children11010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The structural development of the vestibular part of the inner ear is completed by birth but its central connections continue to develop until adolescence. Their development is dependent on vestibular stimulation-vestibular experience. Studies have shown that vestibular function, modulated by experience and epigenetic factors, is not solely an instrument for body position regulation, navigation, and stabilization of the head and images but also influences cognition, emotion, the autonomous nervous system and hormones. To emphasize the importance of appropriate vestibular stimulation, we present a literature review of its effect on bodily homeostasis, cognition and emotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Božanić Urbančič
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.B.U.); (S.B.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloška 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Saba Battelino
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.B.U.); (S.B.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloška 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Domen Vozel
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.B.U.); (S.B.)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloška 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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12
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Wilkinson CL, Yankowitz L, Chao JY, Gutiérrez R, Rhoades JL, Shinnar S, Purdon PL, Nelson CA. Developmental trajectories of EEG aperiodic and periodic power: Implications for understanding the timing of thalamocortical development during infancy. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3215728. [PMID: 37790544 PMCID: PMC10543027 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3215728/v1] [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
The development of neural circuits over the first years of life has long-lasting effects on brain function, yet our understanding of early circuit development in humans remains limited. Here, aperiodic and periodic EEG power features were examined from longitudinal EEGs collected from 592 healthy 2-44 month-old infants, revealing age-dependent nonlinear changes suggestive of distinct milestones in early brain maturation. Consistent with the transient developmental progression of thalamocortical circuitry, we observe the presence and then absence of periodic alpha and high beta peaks across the three-year period, as well as the emergence of a low beta peak (12-20Hz) after six months of age. We present preliminary evidence that the emergence of the low beta peak is associated with thalamocortical connectivity sufficient for anesthesia-induced alpha coherence. Together, these findings suggest that early age-dependent changes in alpha and beta periodic peaks may reflect the state of thalamocortical network development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol L Wilkinson
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lisa Yankowitz
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jerry Y Chao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Rodrigo Gutiérrez
- Centro de Investigación Clínica Avanzada, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jeff L Rhoades
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Division of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shlomo Shinnar
- The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Patrick L Purdon
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, United States
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13
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Mayrhofer F, Hanson AM, Navedo MF, Xiang YK, Soulika AM, Deng W, Chechneva OV. Transfer of nuclear and ribosomal material from Sox10-lineage cells to neurons in the mouse brain. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20221632. [PMID: 37067791 PMCID: PMC10114922 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Material transfer is an essential form of intercellular communication to exchange information and resources between cells. Material transfer between neurons and from glia to neurons has been demonstrated to support neuronal survival and activity. Understanding the extent of material transfer in the healthy nervous system is limited. Here we report that in the mouse central nervous system (CNS), neurons receive nuclear and ribosomal material of Sox10-lineage cell (SOL) origin. We show that transfer of SOL-derived material to neurons is region dependent, establishes during postnatal brain maturation, and dynamically responds to LPS-induced neuroinflammation in the adult mouse brain. We identified satellite oligodendrocyte-neuron pairs with loss of plasma membrane integrity between nuclei, suggesting direct material transfer. Together, our findings provide evidence of regionally coordinated transfer of SOL-derived nuclear and ribosomal material to neurons in the mouse CNS, with potential implications for the understanding and modulation of neuronal function and treatment of neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Mayrhofer
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Children’s Northern California, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Angela M. Hanson
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Children’s Northern California, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Manuel F. Navedo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Yang K. Xiang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA, USA
| | - Athena M. Soulika
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Children’s Northern California, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Wenbin Deng
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Children’s Northern California, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong, China
| | - Olga V. Chechneva
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Children’s Northern California, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
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14
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Nakano T, Natsuyama T, Tsuji N, Katayama N, Ueda J, Saito S. Longitudinal Evaluation Using Preclinical 7T-Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Spectroscopy on Prenatally Dose-Dependent Alcohol-Exposed Rats. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13040527. [PMID: 37110185 PMCID: PMC10142287 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13040527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure causes many detrimental alcohol-induced defects in children, collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This study aimed to evaluate a rat model of FASD, in which alcohol was administered at progressively increasing doses during late pregnancy, using preclinical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) and MR spectroscopy (MRS). Wistar rats were orally administered 2.5 mL/day of ethanol (25% concentration) on gestational day 15, and postnatal fetuses were used as FASD models. Four groups were used: a control group (non-treatment group) and three groups of FASD model rats that received one, two, or four doses of ethanol, respectively, during the embryonic period. Body weight was measured every other week until eight weeks of age. MRI and MRS were performed at 4 and 8 weeks of age. The volume of each brain region was measured using acquired T2-weighted images. At 4 weeks of age, body weight and cortex volume were significantly lower in the three FASD model groups (2.5 × 1: 304 ± 6 mm3, p < 0.05; 2.5 × 2: 302 ± 8 mm3, p < 0.01; 2.5 × 4: 305 ± 6 mm3, p < 0.05) than they were in the non-treatment group (non-treatment: 313 ± 6 mm3). The FASD model group that received four doses of alcohol (2.5 × 4: 0.72 ± 0.09, p < 0.05) had lower Taurine/Cr values than the non-treatment group did (non-treatment: 0.91 ± 0.15), an effect that continued at 8 weeks of age (non-treatment: 0.63 ± 0.09; 2.5 × 4: 0.52 ± 0.09, p < 0.05). This study is the first to assess brain metabolites and volume over time using MRI and MRS. Decreases in brain volume and taurine levels were observed at 4 and 8 weeks of age, suggesting that the effects of alcohol persisted beyond adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tensei Nakano
- Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka 560-0871, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Natsuyama
- Course of Medical Physics and Engineering, School of Allied Health Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Naoki Tsuji
- Course of Medical Physics and Engineering, School of Allied Health Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Nanami Katayama
- Course of Medical Physics and Engineering, School of Allied Health Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Junpei Ueda
- Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka 560-0871, Japan
| | - Shigeyoshi Saito
- Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka 560-0871, Japan
- Course of Medical Physics and Engineering, School of Allied Health Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Advanced Medical Technologies, National Cardiovascular and Cerebral Research Center, Suita, Osaka 564-8565, Japan
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15
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Huerga-Gómez I, Martini FJ, López-Bendito G. Building thalamic neuronal networks during mouse development. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1098913. [PMID: 36817644 PMCID: PMC9936079 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1098913] [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: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The thalamic nuclear complex contains excitatory projection neurons and inhibitory local neurons, the two cell types driving the main circuits in sensory nuclei. While excitatory neurons are born from progenitors that reside in the proliferative zone of the developing thalamus, inhibitory local neurons are born outside the thalamus and they migrate there during development. In addition to these cell types, which occupy most of the thalamus, there are two small thalamic regions where inhibitory neurons target extra-thalamic regions rather than neighboring neurons, the intergeniculate leaflet and the parahabenular nucleus. Like excitatory thalamic neurons, these inhibitory neurons are derived from progenitors residing in the developing thalamus. The assembly of these circuits follows fine-tuned genetic programs and it is coordinated by extrinsic factors that help the cells find their location, associate with thalamic partners, and establish connections with their corresponding extra-thalamic inputs and outputs. In this review, we bring together what is currently known about the development of the excitatory and inhibitory components of the thalamocortical sensory system, in particular focusing on the visual pathway and thalamic interneurons in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Huerga-Gómez
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain
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16
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Niu J, Zheng Z, Wang Z, Xu L, Meng Q, Zhang X, Kuang L, Wang S, Dong L, Qiu J, Jiao Q, Cao W. Thalamo-cortical inter-subject functional correlation during movie watching across the adult lifespan. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:984571. [PMID: 36213738 PMCID: PMC9534554 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.984571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of studies have shown that the functional interactions between the thalamus and cerebral cortices play an important role in cognitive function and are influenced by age. Previous studies have revealed age-related changes in the thalamo-cortical system within individuals, while neglecting differences between individuals. Here, we characterized inter-subject functional correlation (ISFC) between the thalamus and several cortical brain networks in 500 healthy participants aged 18–87 years old from the Cambridge Centre for Aging and Neuroscience (Cam-CAN) cohort using movie-watching state fMRI data. General linear models (GLM) were performed to assess age-related changes in ISFC of thalamo-cortical networks and the relationship between ISFC and fluid intelligence. We found significant age-related decreases in ISFC between the posterior thalamus (e.g., ventral posterior nucleus and pulvinar) and the attentional network, sensorimotor network, and visual network (FDR correction with p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the ISFC between the thalamus (mainly the mediodorsal nucleus and ventral thalamic nuclei) and higher-order cortical networks, including the default mode network, salience network and control network, showed complex changes with age. Furthermore, the altered ISFC of thalamo-cortical networks was positively correlated with decreased fluid intelligence (FDR correction with p < 0.05). Overall, our results provide further evidence that alterations in the functional integrity of the thalamo-cortical system might play an important role in cognitive decline during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Niu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai’an, China
- Department of Radiology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Science, Tai’an, China
| | - Zihao Zheng
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Sciences and Technology, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ziqi Wang
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Sciences and Technology, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Longchun Xu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai’an, China
| | - Qingmin Meng
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Taian Central Hospital, Tai’an, China
| | - Xiaotong Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Science, Tai’an, China
| | - Liangfeng Kuang
- Department of Radiology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Science, Tai’an, China
| | - Shigang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Science, Tai’an, China
| | - Li Dong
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Sciences and Technology, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Jianfeng Qiu
- Department of Radiology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Science, Tai’an, China
| | - Qing Jiao
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai’an, China
- Department of Radiology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Science, Tai’an, China
| | - Weifang Cao
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai’an, China
- Department of Radiology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Science, Tai’an, China
- *Correspondence: Weifang Cao,
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17
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Arjun McKinney A, Petrova R, Panagiotakos G. Calcium and activity-dependent signaling in the developing cerebral cortex. Development 2022; 149:dev198853. [PMID: 36102617 PMCID: PMC9578689 DOI: 10.1242/dev.198853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Calcium influx can be stimulated by various intra- and extracellular signals to set coordinated gene expression programs into motion. As such, the precise regulation of intracellular calcium represents a nexus between environmental cues and intrinsic genetic programs. Mounting genetic evidence points to a role for the deregulation of intracellular calcium signaling in neuropsychiatric disorders of developmental origin. These findings have prompted renewed enthusiasm for understanding the roles of calcium during normal and dysfunctional prenatal development. In this Review, we describe the fundamental mechanisms through which calcium is spatiotemporally regulated and directs early neurodevelopmental events. We also discuss unanswered questions about intracellular calcium regulation during the emergence of neurodevelopmental disease, and provide evidence that disruption of cell-specific calcium homeostasis and/or redeployment of developmental calcium signaling mechanisms may contribute to adult neurological disorders. We propose that understanding the normal developmental events that build the nervous system will rely on gaining insights into cell type-specific calcium signaling mechanisms. Such an understanding will enable therapeutic strategies targeting calcium-dependent mechanisms to mitigate disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpana Arjun McKinney
- Graduate Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ralitsa Petrova
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Georgia Panagiotakos
- Graduate Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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18
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Zhang P, Wan X, Ai K, Zheng W, Liu G, Wang J, Huang W, Fan F, Yao Z, Zhang J. Rich-club reorganization and related network disruptions are associated with the symptoms and severity in classic trigeminal neuralgia patients. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 36:103160. [PMID: 36037660 PMCID: PMC9434131 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alterations in white matter microstructure and functional activity have been demonstrated to be involved in the central nervous system mechanism of classic trigeminal neuralgia (CTN). However, the rich-club organization and related topological alterations in the CTN brain networks remain unclear. METHODS We simultaneously collected diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 29 patients with CTN (9 males, mean age = 54.59 years) and 34 matched healthy controls (HCs) (12 males, mean age = 54.97 years) to construct structural networks (SNs) and functional networks (FNs). Rich-club organization was determined separately based on each group's SN and different kinds of connections. For both network types, we calculated the basic connectivity properties (network density and strength) and topological properties (global/local/nodal efficiency and small worldness). Moreover, SN-FN coupling was obtained. The relationships between all those properties and clinical measures were evaluated. RESULTS Compared to their FN, the SN of CTN patients was disrupted more severely, including its topological properties (reduced network efficiency and small-worldness), and a decrease in network density and strength was observed. Patients showed reorganization of the rich-club architecture, wherein the nodes with decreased nodal efficiency in the SN were mainly non-hub regions, and the local connections were closely related to altered global efficiency and whole brain coupling. While the cortical-subcortical connections of feeder were found to be strengthened in the SN of patients, the coupling between networks increased in all types of connections. Finally, disease severity (duration, pain intensity, and affective alterations) was negatively correlated with coupling (rich-club, feeder, and whole brain) and network strength (the rich-club of the SN and local connections of the FN). A positive correlation was only found between pain intensity and the coupling of local connections. CONCLUSIONS The SN of patients with CTN may be more vulnerable. Accompanied by the reorganization of the rich-club, the less efficient network communication and the impaired functional dynamics were largely attributable to the dysfunction of non-hub regions. As compensation, the pain transmission pathway of feeder connections involving in pain processing and emotional regulation may strengthen. The local and feeder sub-networks may serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis or prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Zhang
- Second Clinical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xinyue Wan
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Kai Ai
- Philips, Healthcare, Xi’an 710000, China
| | - Weihao Zheng
- Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Guangyao Liu
- Second Clinical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Second Clinical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Wenjing Huang
- Second Clinical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Fengxian Fan
- Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhijun Yao
- Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,Corresponding authors at: Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China (Z. Yao). Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Cuiyingmen No.82, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730030, China (J. Zhang).
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China,Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Lanzhou 730030, China,Corresponding authors at: Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Wearable Computing, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, No. 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, China (Z. Yao). Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Cuiyingmen No.82, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730030, China (J. Zhang).
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19
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Brain organoids: the quest to decipher human-specific features of brain development. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 75:101955. [PMID: 35816938 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The development of the human brain occurs largely in utero over long periods of time and is thus experimentally inaccessible; therefore, tractable experimental models are needed. Human brain organoid have emerged as powerful model systems to investigate human-specific features of brain development. Focusing on the cerebral cortex, here, we discuss how brain, and more specifically cortical, organoid models have newly enabled discovery of aspects of progenitor biology and cortical-cell diversification that are unique to humans. We foresee that as advancements in organoid generation increase the complexity of these models, more complete replicas of the brain will empower future studies investigating higher-order aspects of brain biology, toward an understanding of the unique processing capabilities of the human brain.
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20
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Steiner L, Federspiel A, Slavova N, Wiest R, Grunt S, Steinlin M, Everts R. Cognitive outcome is related to functional thalamo-cortical connectivity after pediatric stroke. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac110. [PMID: 35611308 PMCID: PMC9122536 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The thalamus has complex connections with the cortex and is involved in various cognitive processes. Despite increasing interest in the thalamus and the underlying thalamo-cortical interaction, little is known about thalamo-cortical connections after pediatric arterial ischemic stroke. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate thalamo-cortical connections and their association with cognitive performance after arterial ischemic stroke.
Twenty patients in the chronic phase after pediatric arterial ischemic stroke (≥ 2 years after diagnosis, diagnosed <16 years; aged 5–23 years, mean 15.1 years) and twenty healthy controls matched for age and sex were examined in a cross-sectional study design. Cognitive performance (selective attention, inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) was evaluated using standardized neuropsychological tests. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine functional thalamo-cortical connectivity. Lesion masks were integrated in the preprocessing pipeline to ensure that structurally damaged voxels did not influence functional connectivity analyses.
Cognitive performance (selective attention, inhibition and working memory) was significantly reduced in patients compared to controls. Network analyses revealed significantly lower thalamo-cortical connectivity for the motor, auditory, visual, default mode network, salience, left/right executive and dorsal attention network in patients compared to controls. Interestingly, analyses revealed as well higher thalamo-cortical connectivity in some subdivisions of the thalamus for the default mode network (medial nuclei), motor (lateral nuclei), dorsal attention (anterior nuclei), and the left executive network (posterior nuclei) in patients compared to controls. Increased and decreased thalamo-cortical connectivity strength within the same networks was, however, found in different thalamic sub-divisions. Thus, alterations in thalamo-cortical connectivity strength after pediatric stroke seem to point in both directions, with stronger as well as weaker thalamo-cortical connectivity in patients compared to controls. Multivariate linear regression, with lesion size and age as covariates, revealed significant correlations between cognitive performance (selective attention, inhibition, and working memory) and the strength of thalamo-cortical connectivity in the motor, auditory, visual, default mode network, posterior default mode network, salience, left/right executive, and dorsal attention network after childhood stroke.
Our data suggest that the interaction between different sub-nuclei of the thalamus and several cortical networks relates to post-stroke cognition. The variability in cognitive outcomes after pediatric stroke might partly be explained by functional thalamo-cortical connectivity strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Steiner
- Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Science, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Federspiel
- Psychiatric Neuroimaging Unit, Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nedelina Slavova
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Pediatric Radiology, University Children's Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roland Wiest
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Grunt
- Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maja Steinlin
- Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Regula Everts
- Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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21
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Cossart R, Garel S. Step by step: cells with multiple functions in cortical circuit assembly. Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; 23:395-410. [DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00585-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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22
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Cunningham JG, Scripter JD, Nti SA, Tucker ES. Early construction of the thalamocortical axon pathway requires c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling within the ventral forebrain. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:459-480. [PMID: 34494344 PMCID: PMC8891049 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thalamocortical connectivity is essential for normal brain function. This important pathway is established during development, when thalamic axons extend a long distance through the forebrain before reaching the cerebral cortex. In this study, we identify a novel role for the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway in guiding thalamocortical axons through intermediate target territories. RESULTS Complete genetic removal of JNK signaling from the Distal-less 5/6 (Dlx5/6) domain in mice prevents thalamocortical axons from crossing the diencephalon-telencephalon boundary (DTB) and the internal capsule fails to form. Ventral telencephalic cells critical for thalamocortical axon extensions including corridor and guidepost neurons are also disrupted. In addition, corticothalamic, striatonigral, and nigrostriatal axons fail to cross the DTB. Analyses of different JNK mutants demonstrate that thalamocortical axon pathfinding has a non-autonomous requirement for JNK signaling. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that JNK signaling within the Dlx5/6 territory enables the construction of major axonal pathways in the developing forebrain. Further exploration of this intermediate axon guidance territory is needed to uncover mechanisms of axonal pathfinding during normal brain development and to elucidate how this vital process may be compromised in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica G. Cunningham
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506,Neuroscience Graduate Program, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506,Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506
| | - James D. Scripter
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506,Neuroscience Graduate Program, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506,Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506
| | - Stephany A. Nti
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506,Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506
| | - Eric S. Tucker
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506,Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506
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23
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Tocco C, Bertacchi M, Studer M. Structural and Functional Aspects of the Neurodevelopmental Gene NR2F1: From Animal Models to Human Pathology. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:767965. [PMID: 34975398 PMCID: PMC8715095 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.767965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The assembly and maturation of the mammalian brain result from an intricate cascade of highly coordinated developmental events, such as cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Any impairment of this delicate multi-factorial process can lead to complex neurodevelopmental diseases, sharing common pathogenic mechanisms and molecular pathways resulting in multiple clinical signs. A recently described monogenic neurodevelopmental syndrome named Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf Optic Atrophy Syndrome (BBSOAS) is caused by NR2F1 haploinsufficiency. The NR2F1 gene, coding for a transcriptional regulator belonging to the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily, is known to play key roles in several brain developmental processes, from proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitors to migration and identity acquisition of neocortical neurons. In a clinical context, the disruption of these cellular processes could underlie the pathogenesis of several symptoms affecting BBSOAS patients, such as intellectual disability, visual impairment, epilepsy, and autistic traits. In this review, we will introduce NR2F1 protein structure, molecular functioning, and expression profile in the developing mouse brain. Then, we will focus on Nr2f1 several functions during cortical development, from neocortical area and cell-type specification to maturation of network activity, hippocampal development governing learning behaviors, assembly of the visual system, and finally establishment of cortico-spinal descending tracts regulating motor execution. Whenever possible, we will link experimental findings in animal or cellular models to corresponding features of the human pathology. Finally, we will highlight some of the unresolved questions on the diverse functions played by Nr2f1 during brain development, in order to propose future research directions. All in all, we believe that understanding BBSOAS mechanisms will contribute to further unveiling pathophysiological mechanisms shared by several neurodevelopmental disorders and eventually lead to effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Tocco
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, iBV, Nice, France
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24
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Luhmann HJ. Neurophysiology of the Developing Cerebral Cortex: What We Have Learned and What We Need to Know. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 15:814012. [PMID: 35046777 PMCID: PMC8761895 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.814012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This review article aims to give a brief summary on the novel technologies, the challenges, our current understanding, and the open questions in the field of the neurophysiology of the developing cerebral cortex in rodents. In the past, in vitro electrophysiological and calcium imaging studies on single neurons provided important insights into the function of cellular and subcellular mechanism during early postnatal development. In the past decade, neuronal activity in large cortical networks was recorded in pre- and neonatal rodents in vivo by the use of novel high-density multi-electrode arrays and genetically encoded calcium indicators. These studies demonstrated a surprisingly rich repertoire of spontaneous cortical and subcortical activity patterns, which are currently not completely understood in their functional roles in early development and their impact on cortical maturation. Technological progress in targeted genetic manipulations, optogenetics, and chemogenetics now allow the experimental manipulation of specific neuronal cell types to elucidate the function of early (transient) cortical circuits and their role in the generation of spontaneous and sensory evoked cortical activity patterns. Large-scale interactions between different cortical areas and subcortical regions, characterization of developmental shifts from synchronized to desynchronized activity patterns, identification of transient circuits and hub neurons, role of electrical activity in the control of glial cell differentiation and function are future key tasks to gain further insights into the neurophysiology of the developing cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko J. Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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25
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Pouchelon G, Dwivedi D, Bollmann Y, Agba CK, Xu Q, Mirow AMC, Kim S, Qiu Y, Sevier E, Ritola KD, Cossart R, Fishell G. The organization and development of cortical interneuron presynaptic circuits are area specific. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109993. [PMID: 34758329 PMCID: PMC8832360 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Parvalbumin and somatostatin inhibitory interneurons gate information flow in discrete cortical areas that compute sensory and cognitive functions. Despite the considerable differences between areas, individual interneuron subtypes are genetically invariant and are thought to form canonical circuits regardless of which area they are embedded in. Here, we investigate whether this is achieved through selective and systematic variations in their afferent connectivity during development. To this end, we examined the development of their inputs within distinct cortical areas. We find that interneuron afferents show little evidence of being globally stereotyped. Rather, each subtype displays characteristic regional connectivity and distinct developmental dynamics by which this connectivity is achieved. Moreover, afferents dynamically regulated during development are disrupted by early sensory deprivation and in a model of fragile X syndrome. These data provide a comprehensive map of interneuron afferents across cortical areas and reveal the logic by which these circuits are established during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Pouchelon
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Deepanjali Dwivedi
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Yannick Bollmann
- Aix Marseille University, INSERM, INMED, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Chimuanya K Agba
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Qing Xu
- Center for Genomics & Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Andrea M C Mirow
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sehyun Kim
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yanjie Qiu
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Elaine Sevier
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kimberly D Ritola
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Rosa Cossart
- Aix Marseille University, INSERM, INMED, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Gord Fishell
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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26
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Holden SS, Grandi FC, Aboubakr O, Higashikubo B, Cho FS, Chang AH, Forero AO, Morningstar AR, Mathur V, Kuhn LJ, Suri P, Sankaranarayanan S, Andrews-Zwilling Y, Tenner AJ, Luthi A, Aronica E, Ryan Corces M, Yednock T, Paz JT. Complement factor C1q mediates sleep spindle loss and epileptic spikes after mild brain injury. Science 2021; 373:eabj2685. [PMID: 34516796 PMCID: PMC8750918 DOI: 10.1126/science.abj2685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) acutely disrupts the cortex, most TBI-related disabilities reflect secondary injuries that accrue over time. The thalamus is a likely site of secondary damage because of its reciprocal connections with the cortex. Using a mouse model of mild TBI (mTBI), we found a chronic increase in C1q expression specifically in the corticothalamic system. Increased C1q expression colocalized with neuron loss and chronic inflammation and correlated with disruption in sleep spindles and emergence of epileptic activities. Blocking C1q counteracted these outcomes, suggesting that C1q is a disease modifier in mTBI. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing demonstrated that microglia are a source of thalamic C1q. The corticothalamic circuit could thus be a new target for treating TBI-related disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie S Holden
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
| | - Fiorella C Grandi
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
| | - Oumaima Aboubakr
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
| | - Bryan Higashikubo
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
| | - Frances S Cho
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
| | - Andrew H Chang
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
| | | | - Allison R. Morningstar
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
| | - Vidhu Mathur
- Annexon Biosciences, South San Francisco CA 94080, USA
| | - Logan J Kuhn
- Annexon Biosciences, South San Francisco CA 94080, USA
| | - Poojan Suri
- Annexon Biosciences, South San Francisco CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | - Andrea J. Tenner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Anita Luthi
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of Neuropathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Heemstede, The Netherlands
| | - M. Ryan Corces
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
| | - Ted Yednock
- Annexon Biosciences, South San Francisco CA 94080, USA
| | - Jeanne T Paz
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
- The Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, and The Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
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27
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Martini FJ, Guillamón-Vivancos T, Moreno-Juan V, Valdeolmillos M, López-Bendito G. Spontaneous activity in developing thalamic and cortical sensory networks. Neuron 2021; 109:2519-2534. [PMID: 34293296 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Developing sensory circuits exhibit different patterns of spontaneous activity, patterns that are related to the construction and refinement of functional networks. During the development of different sensory modalities, spontaneous activity originates in the immature peripheral sensory structures and in the higher-order central structures, such as the thalamus and cortex. Certainly, the perinatal thalamus exhibits spontaneous calcium waves, a pattern of activity that is fundamental for the formation of sensory maps and for circuit plasticity. Here, we review our current understanding of the maturation of early (including embryonic) patterns of spontaneous activity and their influence on the assembly of thalamic and cortical sensory networks. Overall, the data currently available suggest similarities between the developmental trajectory of brain activity in experimental models and humans, which in the future may help to improve the early diagnosis of developmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Martini
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
| | - Teresa Guillamón-Vivancos
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Verónica Moreno-Juan
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Miguel Valdeolmillos
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain
| | - Guillermina López-Bendito
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
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28
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Chromatin remodeler Arid1a regulates subplate neuron identity and wiring of cortical connectivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2100686118. [PMID: 34011608 PMCID: PMC8166177 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2100686118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in chromatin remodeler gene ARID1A are a cause of Coffin-Siris syndrome, a developmental disorder characterized by dysgenesis of corpus callosum. Here, we characterize Arid1a function during cortical development and find unexpectedly selective roles for Arid1a in subplate neurons (SPNs). SPNs, strategically positioned at the interface of cortical gray and white matter, orchestrate multiple developmental processes indispensable for neural circuit wiring. We find that pancortical deletion of Arid1a leads to extensive mistargeting of intracortical axons and agenesis of corpus callosum. Sparse Arid1a deletion, however, does not autonomously misroute callosal axons, implicating noncell-autonomous Arid1a functions in axon guidance. Supporting this possibility, the ascending axons of thalamocortical neurons, which are not autonomously affected by cortical Arid1a deletion, are also disrupted in their pathfinding into cortex and innervation of whisker barrels. Coincident with these miswiring phenotypes, which are reminiscent of subplate ablation, we unbiasedly find a selective loss of SPN gene expression following Arid1a deletion. In addition, multiple characteristics of SPNs crucial to their wiring functions, including subplate organization, subplate axon-thalamocortical axon cofasciculation ("handshake"), and extracellular matrix, are severely disrupted. To empirically test Arid1a sufficiency in subplate, we generate a cortical plate deletion of Arid1a that spares SPNs. In this model, subplate Arid1a expression is sufficient for subplate organization, subplate axon-thalamocortical axon cofasciculation, and subplate extracellular matrix. Consistent with these wiring functions, subplate Arid1a sufficiently enables normal callosum formation, thalamocortical axon targeting, and whisker barrel development. Thus, Arid1a is a multifunctional regulator of subplate-dependent guidance mechanisms essential to cortical circuit wiring.
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29
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Steullet P. Thalamus-related anomalies as candidate mechanism-based biomarkers for psychosis. Schizophr Res 2020; 226:147-157. [PMID: 31147286 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Identification of reliable biomarkers of prognosis in subjects with high risk to psychosis is an essential step to improve care and treatment of this population of help-seekers. Longitudinal studies highlight some clinical criteria, cognitive deficits, patterns of gray matter alterations and profiles of blood metabolites that provide some levels of prediction regarding the conversion to psychosis. Further effort is warranted to validate these results and implement these types of approaches in clinical settings. Such biomarkers may however fall short in entangling the biological mechanisms underlying the disease progression, an essential step in the development of novel therapies. Circuit-based approaches, which map on well-identified cerebral functions, could meet these needs. Converging evidence indicates that thalamus abnormalities are central to schizophrenia pathophysiology, contributing to clinical symptoms, cognitive and sensory deficits. This review highlights the various thalamus-related anomalies reported in individuals with genetic risks and in the different phases of the disorder, from prodromal to chronic stages. Several anomalies are potent endophenotypes, while others exist in clinical high-risk subjects and worsen in those who convert to full psychosis. Aberrant functional coupling between thalamus and cortex, low glutamate content and readouts from resting EEG carry predictive values for transition to psychosis or functional outcome. In this context, thalamus-related anomalies represent a valuable entry point to tackle circuit-based alterations associated with the emergence of psychosis. This review also proposes that longitudinal surveys of neuroimaging, EEG readouts associated with circuits encompassing the mediodorsal, pulvinar in high-risk individuals could unveil biological mechanisms contributing to this psychiatric disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Steullet
- Center of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Site de Cery, 1008 Prilly-Lausanne, Switzerland.
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30
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Functional topography of the thalamo-cortical system during development and its relation to cognition. Neuroimage 2020; 223:117361. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
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31
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Erzurumlu RS, Gaspar P. How the Barrel Cortex Became a Working Model for Developmental Plasticity: A Historical Perspective. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6460-6473. [PMID: 32817388 PMCID: PMC7486654 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0582-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
For half a century now, the barrel cortex of common laboratory rodents has been an exceptionally useful model for studying the formation of topographically organized maps, neural patterning, and plasticity, both in development and in maturity. We present a historical perspective on how barrels were discovered, and how thereafter, they became a workhorse for developmental neuroscientists and for studies on brain plasticity and activity-dependent modeling of brain circuits. What is particularly remarkable about this sensory system is a cellular patterning that is induced by signals derived from the sensory receptors surrounding the snout whiskers and transmitted centrally to the brainstem (barrelettes), the thalamus (barreloids), and the neocortex (barrels). Injury to the sensory receptors shortly after birth leads to predictable pattern alterations at all levels of the system. Mouse genetics have increased our understanding of how barrels are constructed and revealed the interplay of the molecular programs that direct axon growth and cell specification, with activity-dependent mechanisms. There is an ever-rising interest in this sensory system as a neurobiological model to study development of somatotopy, patterning, and plasticity at both the morphologic and physiological levels. This article is part of a group of articles commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Society for Neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reha S Erzurumlu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Patricia Gaspar
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris Brain Institute, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France 75013
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32
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Yao B, Neggers SFW, Kahn RS, Thakkar KN. Altered thalamocortical structural connectivity in persons with schizophrenia and healthy siblings. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 28:102370. [PMID: 32798913 PMCID: PMC7451425 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Thalamo-prefrontal structural connectivity reduced in persons with schizophrenia. Similar reduction in thalamo-prefrontal connectivity in healthy siblings. Thalamo-motor structural connectivity increased in persons with schizophrenia. No alterations in thalamo-motor structural connectivity in healthy siblings.
Schizophrenia has long been framed as a disorder of altered brain connectivity, with dysfunction in thalamocortical circuity potentially playing a key role in the development of the illness phenotype, including psychotic symptomatology and cognitive impairments. There is emerging evidence for functional and structural hypoconnectivity between thalamus and prefrontal cortex in persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, as well as hyperconnectivity between thalamus and sensory and motor cortices. However, it is unclear whether thalamocortical dysconnectivity is a general marker of vulnerability to schizophrenia or a specific mechanism of schizophrenia pathophysiology. This study aimed to answer this question by using diffusion-weighted imaging to examine thalamocortical structural connectivity in 22 persons with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (SZ), 20 siblings of individuals with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SIB), and 44 healthy controls (HC) of either sex. Probabilistic tractography was used to quantify structural connectivity between thalamus and six cortical regions of interest. Thalamocortical structural connectivity was compared among the three groups using cross-thalamic and voxel-wise approaches. Thalamo-prefrontal structural connectivity was reduced in both SZ and SIB relative to HC, while SZ and SIB did not differ from each other. Thalamo-motor structural connectivity was increased in SZ relative to SIB and HC, while SIB and HC did not differ from each other. Hemispheric differences also emerged in thalamic connectivity with motor, posterior parietal, and temporal cortices across all groups. The results support the hypothesis that altered thalamo-prefrontal structural connectivity is a general marker of vulnerability to schizophrenia, whereas altered connectivity between thalamus and motor cortex is related to illness expression or illness-related secondary factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beier Yao
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | | | - René S Kahn
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katharine N Thakkar
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
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33
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Luhmann HJ, Sinning A. A comment on "The growth of cognition: Free energy minimization and the embryogenesis of cortical computation". Phys Life Rev 2020; 36:71-73. [PMID: 32682907 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Anne Sinning
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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34
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Kostović I. The enigmatic fetal subplate compartment forms an early tangential cortical nexus and provides the framework for construction of cortical connectivity. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 194:101883. [PMID: 32659318 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The most prominent transient compartment of the primate fetal cortex is the deep, cell-sparse, synapse-containing subplate compartment (SPC). The developmental role of the SPC and its extraordinary size in humans remain enigmatic. This paper evaluates evidence on the development and connectivity of the SPC and discusses its role in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. A synthesis of data shows that the subplate becomes a prominent compartment by its expansion from the deep cortical plate (CP), appearing well-delineated on MR scans and forming a tangential nexus across the hemisphere, consisting of an extracellular matrix, randomly distributed postmigratory neurons, multiple branches of thalamic and long corticocortical axons. The SPC generates early spontaneous non-synaptic and synaptic activity and mediates cortical response upon thalamic stimulation. The subplate nexus provides large-scale interareal connectivity possibly underlying fMR resting-state activity, before corticocortical pathways are established. In late fetal phase, when synapses appear within the CP, transient the SPC coexists with permanent circuitry. The histogenetic role of the SPC is to provide interactive milieu and capacity for guidance, sorting, "waiting" and target selection of thalamocortical and corticocortical pathways. The new evolutionary role of the SPC and its remnant white matter neurons is linked to the increasing number of associative pathways in the human neocortex. These roles attributed to the SPC are regulated using a spatiotemporal gene expression during critical periods, when pathogenic factors may disturb vulnerable circuitry of the SPC, causing neurodevelopmental cognitive circuitry disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivica Kostović
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Scientific Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Salata 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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35
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Quintana-Urzainqui I, Hernández-Malmierca P, Clegg JM, Li Z, Kozić Z, Price DJ. The role of the diencephalon in the guidance of thalamocortical axons in mice. Development 2020; 147:dev.184523. [PMID: 32541009 PMCID: PMC7327999 DOI: 10.1242/dev.184523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Thalamocortical axons (TCAs) cross several tissues on their journey to the cortex. Mechanisms must be in place along the route to ensure they connect with their targets in an orderly fashion. The ventral telencephalon acts as an instructive tissue, but the importance of the diencephalon in TCA mapping is unknown. We report that disruption of diencephalic development by Pax6 deletion results in a thalamocortical projection containing mapping errors. We used conditional mutagenesis to test whether these errors are due to the disruption of pioneer projections from prethalamus to thalamus and found that, although this correlates with abnormal TCA fasciculation, it does not induce topographical errors. To test whether the thalamus contains navigational cues for TCAs, we used slice culture transplants and gene expression studies. We found the thalamic environment is instructive for TCA navigation and that the molecular cues netrin 1 and semaphorin 3a are likely to be involved. Our findings indicate that the correct topographic mapping of TCAs onto the cortex requires the order to be established from the earliest stages of their growth by molecular cues in the thalamus itself. Summary: The diencephalon plays a role in the correct organization of thalamocortical axons. The thalamic environment is instructive for their correct medial-lateral position, while prethalamic pioneer axons help to avoid premature fasciculation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pablo Hernández-Malmierca
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - James M Clegg
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Ziwen Li
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Zrinko Kozić
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - David J Price
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
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36
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Wilson SP, James SS, Whiteley DJ, Krubitzer LA. Limit cycle dynamics can guide the evolution of gene regulatory networks towards point attractors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16750. [PMID: 31727996 PMCID: PMC6856163 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53251-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental dynamics in Boolean models of gene networks self-organize, either into point attractors (stable repeating patterns of gene expression) or limit cycles (stable repeating sequences of patterns), depending on the network interactions specified by a genome of evolvable bits. Genome specifications for dynamics that can map specific gene expression patterns in early development onto specific point attractor patterns in later development are essentially impossible to discover by chance mutation alone, even for small networks. We show that selection for approximate mappings, dynamically maintained in the states comprising limit cycles, can accelerate evolution by at least an order of magnitude. These results suggest that self-organizing dynamics that occur within lifetimes can, in principle, guide natural selection across lifetimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart P Wilson
- Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| | - Sebastian S James
- Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J Whiteley
- Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Leah A Krubitzer
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States
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37
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Sigl-Glöckner J, Maier E, Takahashi N, Sachdev R, Larkum M, Brecht M. Effects of Sexual Experience and Puberty on Mouse Genital Cortex revealed by Chronic Imaging. Curr Biol 2019; 29:3588-3599.e4. [PMID: 31630949 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The topographic map in layer 4 of somatosensory cortex is usually specified early postnatally and stable thereafter. Genital cortex, however, undergoes a sex-hormone- and sexual-touch-dependent pubertal expansion. Here, we image pubertal development of genital cortex in Scnn1a-Tg3-Cre mice, where transgene expression has been shown to be restricted to layer 4 neurons with primary sensory cortex identity. Interestingly, during puberty, the number of Scnn1a+ neurons roughly doubled within genital cortex. The increase of Scnn1a+ neurons was gradual and rapidly advanced by initial sexual experience. Neurons that gained Scnn1a expression comprised stellate and pyramidal neurons in layer 4. Unlike during neonatal development, pyramids did not retract their apical dendrites during puberty. Calcium imaging revealed stronger genital-touch responses in Scnn1a+ neurons in males versus females and a developmental increase in responsiveness in females. The first sexual interaction is a unique physical experience that often creates long-lasting memories. We suggest such experience uniquely alters somatosensory body maps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Sigl-Glöckner
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstr. 13, Haus 6, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eduard Maier
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstr. 13, Haus 6, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Naoya Takahashi
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10437 Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Sachdev
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10437 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthew Larkum
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10437 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Brecht
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstr. 13, Haus 6, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
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De León Reyes NS, Mederos S, Varela I, Weiss LA, Perea G, Galazo MJ, Nieto M. Transient callosal projections of L4 neurons are eliminated for the acquisition of local connectivity. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4549. [PMID: 31591398 PMCID: PMC6779895 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12495-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Interhemispheric axons of the corpus callosum (CC) facilitate the higher order functions of the cerebral cortex. According to current views, callosal and non-callosal fates are determined early after a neuron's birth, and certain populations, such as cortical layer (L) 4 excitatory neurons of the primary somatosensory (S1) barrel, project only ipsilaterally. Using a novel axonal-retrotracing strategy and GFP-targeted visualization of Rorb+ neurons, we instead demonstrate that L4 neurons develop transient interhemispheric axons. Locally restricted L4 connectivity emerges when exuberant contralateral axons are refined in an area- and layer-specific manner during postnatal development. Surgical and genetic interventions of sensory circuits demonstrate that refinement rates depend on distinct inputs from sensory-specific thalamic nuclei. Reductions in input-dependent refinement result in mature functional interhemispheric hyperconnectivity, demonstrating the plasticity and bona fide callosal potential of L4 neurons. Thus, L4 neurons discard alternative interhemispheric circuits as instructed by thalamic input. This may ensure optimal wiring.
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Affiliation(s)
- N S De León Reyes
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Darwin 3, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - S Mederos
- Instituto Cajal, CSIC. Av. Doctor Arce, 37, 28002, Madrid, Spain
| | - I Varela
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Darwin 3, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - L A Weiss
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Darwin 3, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - G Perea
- Instituto Cajal, CSIC. Av. Doctor Arce, 37, 28002, Madrid, Spain
| | - M J Galazo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, 6400 Freret Street, Percival Stern Hall suite 2000, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - M Nieto
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, Darwin 3, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
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A repeated molecular architecture across thalamic pathways. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:1925-1935. [PMID: 31527803 PMCID: PMC6819258 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0483-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The thalamus is the central communication hub of the forebrain and provides the cerebral cortex with inputs from sensory organs, subcortical systems and the cortex itself. Multiple thalamic regions send convergent information to each cortical region, but the organizational logic of thalamic projections has remained elusive. Through comprehensive transcriptional analyses of retrogradely labeled thalamic neurons in adult mice, we identify three major profiles of thalamic pathways. These profiles exist along a continuum that is repeated across all major projection systems, such as those for vision, motor control and cognition. The largest component of gene expression variation in the mouse thalamus is topographically organized, with features conserved in humans. Transcriptional differences between these thalamic neuronal identities are tied to cellular features that are critical for function, such as axonal morphology and membrane properties. Molecular profiling therefore reveals covariation in the properties of thalamic pathways serving all major input modalities and output targets, thus establishing a molecular framework for understanding the thalamus.
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Alzu’bi A, Homman-Ludiye J, Bourne JA, Clowry GJ. Thalamocortical Afferents Innervate the Cortical Subplate much Earlier in Development in Primate than in Rodent. Cereb Cortex 2019; 29:1706-1718. [PMID: 30668846 PMCID: PMC6418397 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The current model, based on rodent data, proposes that thalamocortical afferents (TCA) innervate the subplate towards the end of cortical neurogenesis. This implies that the laminar identity of cortical neurons is specified by intrinsic instructions rather than information of thalamic origin. In order to determine whether this mechanism is conserved in the primates, we examined the growth of thalamocortical (TCA) and corticofugal afferents in early human and monkey fetal development. In the human, TCA, identified by secretagogin, calbindin, and ROBO1 immunoreactivity, were observed in the internal capsule of the ventral telencephalon as early as 7-7.5 PCW, crossing the pallial/subpallial boundary (PSB) by 8 PCW before the calretinin immunoreactive corticofugal fibers do. Furthermore, TCA were observed to be passing through the intermediate zone and innervating the presubplate of the dorsolateral cortex, and already by 10-12 PCW TCAs were occupying much of the cortex. Observations at equivalent stages in the marmoset confirmed that this pattern is conserved across primates. Therefore, our results demonstrate that in primates, TCAs innervate the cortical presubplate at earlier stages than previously demonstrated by acetylcholinesterase histochemistry, suggesting that pioneer thalamic afferents may contribute to early cortical circuitry that can participate in defining cortical neuron phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Alzu’bi
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Jihane Homman-Ludiye
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - James A Bourne
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gavin J Clowry
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Halley AC, Krubitzer L. Not all cortical expansions are the same: the coevolution of the neocortex and the dorsal thalamus in mammals. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 56:78-86. [PMID: 30658218 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A central question in comparative neurobiology concerns how evolution has produced brains with expanded neocortices, composed of more areas with unique connectivity and functional properties. Some mammalian lineages, such as primates, exhibit exceptionally large cortices relative to the amount of sensory inputs from the dorsal thalamus, and this expansion is associated with a larger number of distinct cortical areas, composing a larger proportion of the cortical sheet. We propose a link between the organization of the neocortex and its expansion relative to the size of the dorsal thalamus, based on a combination of work in comparative neuroanatomy and experimental research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Halley
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Leah Krubitzer
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States.
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42
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Simi A, Studer M. Developmental genetic programs and activity-dependent mechanisms instruct neocortical area mapping. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 53:96-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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43
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Krubitzer LA, Prescott TJ. The Combinatorial Creature: Cortical Phenotypes within and across Lifetimes. Trends Neurosci 2018; 41:744-762. [PMID: 30274608 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The neocortex is one of the most distinctive structures of the mammalian brain, yet also one of the most varied in terms of both size and organization. Multiple processes have contributed to this variability, including evolutionary mechanisms (i.e., alterations in gene sequence) that alter the size, organization, and connections of neocortex, and activity dependent mechanisms that can also modify these same features. Thus, changes to the neocortex can occur over different time-scales, including within a single generation. This combination of genetic and activity dependent mechanisms that create a given cortical phenotype allows the mammalian neocortex to rapidly and flexibly adjust to different body and environmental contexts, and in humans permits culture to impact brain construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah A Krubitzer
- Center for Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Tony J Prescott
- Sheffield Robotics and Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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López-Bendito G. Development of the Thalamocortical Interactions: Past, Present and Future. Neuroscience 2018; 385:67-74. [PMID: 29932982 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
For the past two decades, we have advanced in our understanding of the mechanisms implicated in the formation of brain circuits. The connection between the cortex and thalamus has deserved much attention, as thalamocortical connectivity is crucial for sensory processing and motor learning. Classical dye tracing studies in wild-type and knockout mice initially helped to characterize the developmental progression of this connectivity and revealed key transcription factors involved. With the recent advances in technical tools to specifically label subsets of projecting neurons, knock-down genes individually and/or modify their activity, the field has gained further understanding on the rules operating in thalamocortical circuit formation and plasticity. In this review, I will summarize the most relevant discoveries that have been made in this field, from development to early plasticity processes covering three major aspects: axon guidance, thalamic influence on sensory cortical specification, and the role of spontaneous thalamic activity. I will emphasize how the implementation of new tools has helped the field to progress and what I consider to be open questions and the perspective for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermina López-Bendito
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
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