1
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Wu MW, Kourdougli N, Portera-Cailliau C. Network state transitions during cortical development. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:535-552. [PMID: 38783147 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00824-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian cortical networks are active before synaptogenesis begins in earnest, before neuronal migration is complete, and well before an animal opens its eyes and begins to actively explore its surroundings. This early activity undergoes several transformations during development. The most important of these is a transition from episodic synchronous network events, which are necessary for patterning the neocortex into functionally related modules, to desynchronized activity that is computationally more powerful and efficient. Network desynchronization is perhaps the most dramatic and abrupt developmental event in an otherwise slow and gradual process of brain maturation. In this Review, we summarize what is known about the phenomenology of developmental synchronous activity in the rodent neocortex and speculate on the mechanisms that drive its eventual desynchronization. We argue that desynchronization of network activity is a fundamental step through which the cortex transitions from passive, bottom-up detection of sensory stimuli to active sensory processing with top-down modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle W Wu
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Interdepartmental Graduate Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nazim Kourdougli
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Portera-Cailliau
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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2
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Buchan MJ, Gothard G, Mahfooz K, van Rheede JJ, Avery SV, Vourvoukelis A, Demby A, Ellender TJ, Newey SE, Akerman CJ. Higher-order thalamocortical circuits are specified by embryonic cortical progenitor types in the mouse brain. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114157. [PMID: 38678557 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The sensory cortex receives synaptic inputs from both first-order and higher-order thalamic nuclei. First-order inputs relay simple stimulus properties from the periphery, whereas higher-order inputs relay more complex response properties, provide contextual feedback, and modulate plasticity. Here, we reveal that a cortical neuron's higher-order input is determined by the type of progenitor from which it is derived during embryonic development. Within layer 4 (L4) of the mouse primary somatosensory cortex, neurons derived from intermediate progenitors receive stronger higher-order thalamic input and exhibit greater higher-order sensory responses. These effects result from differences in dendritic morphology and levels of the transcription factor Lhx2, which are specified by the L4 neuron's progenitor type. When this mechanism is disrupted, cortical circuits exhibit altered higher-order responses and sensory-evoked plasticity. Therefore, by following distinct trajectories, progenitor types generate diversity in thalamocortical circuitry and may provide a general mechanism for differentially routing information through the cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gemma Gothard
- Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, OX1 3QT Oxford, UK
| | - Kashif Mahfooz
- Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, OX1 3QT Oxford, UK
| | | | - Sophie V Avery
- Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, OX1 3QT Oxford, UK
| | | | - Alexander Demby
- Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, OX1 3QT Oxford, UK
| | - Tommas J Ellender
- Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, OX1 3QT Oxford, UK; Experimental Neurobiology Unit, Universiteitsplein, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sarah E Newey
- Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, OX1 3QT Oxford, UK
| | - Colin J Akerman
- Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, OX1 3QT Oxford, UK.
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3
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Burman RJ, Diviney T, Călin A, Gothard G, Jouhanneau JSM, Poulet JFA, Sen A, Akerman CJ. Optogenetic Determination of Dynamic and Cell-Type-Specific Inhibitory Reversal Potentials. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1392232024. [PMID: 38604778 PMCID: PMC11097265 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1392-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The reversal potential refers to the membrane potential at which the net current flow through a channel reverses direction. The reversal potential is determined by transmembrane ion gradients and, in turn, determines how the channel's activity will affect the membrane potential. Traditional investigation into the reversal potential of inhibitory ligand-gated ion channels (EInh) has relied upon the activation of endogenous receptors, such as the GABA-A receptor (GABAAR). There are, however, challenges associated with activating endogenous receptors, including agonist delivery, isolating channel responses, and the effects of receptor saturation and desensitization. Here, we demonstrate the utility of using a light-gated anion channel, stGtACR2, to probe EInh in the rodent brain. Using mice of both sexes, we demonstrate that the properties of this optically activated channel make it a suitable proxy for studying GABAAR receptor-mediated inhibition. We validate this agonist-independent optogenetic strategy in vitro and in vivo and further show how it can accurately capture differences in EInh dynamics following manipulations of endogenous ion fluxes. This allows us to explore distinct resting EInh differences across genetically defined neuronal subpopulations. Using this approach to challenge ion homeostasis mechanisms in neurons, we uncover cell-specific EInh dynamics that are supported by the differential expression of endogenous ion handling mechanisms. Our findings therefore establish an effective optical strategy for revealing novel aspects of inhibitory reversal potentials and thereby expand the repertoire of optogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Burman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, United Kingdom
- Oxford Epilepsy Research Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Tara Diviney
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandru Călin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma Gothard
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Sébastien M Jouhanneau
- Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin 13125, Germany
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - James F A Poulet
- Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin 13125, Germany
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Arjune Sen
- Oxford Epilepsy Research Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Colin J Akerman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, United Kingdom
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4
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Hu G, Chen A, Ye J, Liu Q, Wang J, Fan C, Wang X, Huang M, Dai M, Shi X, Gu Y. A developmental critical period for ocular dominance plasticity of binocular neurons in mouse superior colliculus. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113667. [PMID: 38184852 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Detecting visual features in the environment is crucial for animals' survival. The superior colliculus (SC) is implicated in motion detection and processing, whereas how the SC integrates visual inputs from the two eyes remains unclear. Using in vivo electrophysiology, we show that mouse SC contains many binocular neurons that display robust ocular dominance (OD) plasticity in a critical period during early development, which is similar to, but not dependent on, the primary visual cortex. NR2A- and NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play an essential role in the regulation of SC plasticity. Blocking NMDA receptors can largely prevent the impairment of predatory hunting caused by monocular deprivation, indicating that maintaining the binocularity of SC neurons is required for efficient hunting behavior. Together, our studies reveal the existence and function of OD plasticity in SC, which broadens our understanding of the development of subcortical visual circuitry relating to motion detection and predatory hunting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanglei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Ailin Chen
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Jingjing Ye
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China; Medical College of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Jiafeng Wang
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Cunxiu Fan
- Jiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 800 Huangjiahuayuan Road, Shanghai 201803, China
| | - Xiaoqing Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Mengqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Menghan Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xuefeng Shi
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China; Medical College of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, China; Institute of Ophthalmology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300020, China.
| | - Yu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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5
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Burman RJ, Brodersen PJN, Raimondo JV, Sen A, Akerman CJ. Active cortical networks promote shunting fast synaptic inhibition in vivo. Neuron 2023; 111:3531-3540.e6. [PMID: 37659408 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Fast synaptic inhibition determines neuronal response properties in the mammalian brain and is mediated by chloride-permeable ionotropic GABA-A receptors (GABAARs). Despite their fundamental role, it is still not known how GABAARs signal in the intact brain. Here, we use in vivo gramicidin recordings to investigate synaptic GABAAR signaling in mouse cortical pyramidal neurons under conditions that preserve native transmembrane chloride gradients. In anesthetized cortex, synaptic GABAARs exert classic hyperpolarizing effects. In contrast, GABAAR-mediated synaptic signaling in awake cortex is found to be predominantly shunting. This is due to more depolarized GABAAR equilibrium potentials (EGABAAR), which are shown to result from the high levels of synaptic activity that characterize awake cortical networks. Synaptic EGABAAR observed in awake cortex facilitates the desynchronizing effects of inhibitory inputs upon local networks, which increases the flexibility of spiking responses to external inputs. Our findings therefore suggest that GABAAR signaling adapts to optimize cortical functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Burman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK; Oxford Epilepsy Research Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | | | - Joseph V Raimondo
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, Neuroscience Institute and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa
| | - Arjune Sen
- Oxford Epilepsy Research Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Colin J Akerman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK.
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6
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Peerboom C, de Kater S, Jonker N, Rieter MPJM, Wijne T, Wierenga CJ. Delaying the GABA Shift Indirectly Affects Membrane Properties in the Developing Hippocampus. J Neurosci 2023; 43:5483-5500. [PMID: 37438107 PMCID: PMC10376938 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0251-23.2023] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
During the first two postnatal weeks, intraneuronal chloride concentrations in rodents gradually decrease, causing a shift from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing GABA responses. The postnatal GABA shift is delayed in rodent models for neurodevelopmental disorders and in human patients, but the impact of a delayed GABA shift on the developing brain remains obscure. Here we examine the direct and indirect consequences of a delayed postnatal GABA shift on network development in organotypic hippocampal cultures made from 6- to 7-d-old mice by treating the cultures for 1 week with VU0463271, a specific inhibitor of the chloride exporter KCC2. We verified that VU treatment delayed the GABA shift and kept GABA signaling depolarizing until DIV9. We found that the structural and functional development of excitatory and inhibitory synapses at DIV9 was not affected after VU treatment. In line with previous studies, we observed that GABA signaling was already inhibitory in control and VU-treated postnatal slices. Surprisingly, 14 d after the VU treatment had ended (DIV21), we observed an increased frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal cells, while excitatory currents were not changed. Synapse numbers and release probability were unaffected. We found that dendrite-targeting interneurons in the stratum radiatum had an elevated resting membrane potential, while pyramidal cells were less excitable compared with control slices. Our results show that depolarizing GABA signaling does not promote synapse formation after P7, and suggest that postnatal intracellular chloride levels indirectly affect membrane properties in a cell-specific manner.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT During brain development, the action of neurotransmitter GABA shifts from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing. This shift is a thought to play a critical role in synapse formation. A delayed shift is common in rodent models for neurodevelopmental disorders and in human patients, but its consequences for synaptic development remain obscure. Here, we delayed the GABA shift by 1 week in organotypic hippocampal cultures and carefully examined the consequences for circuit development. We find that delaying the shift has no direct effects on synaptic development, but instead leads to indirect, cell type-specific changes in membrane properties. Our data call for careful assessment of alterations in cellular excitability in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlijn Peerboom
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Biology Department, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Sam de Kater
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Biology Department, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Nikki Jonker
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Biology Department, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Marijn P J M Rieter
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Biology Department, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Tessel Wijne
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Biology Department, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Corette J Wierenga
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Biology Department, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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7
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Pressey JC, de Saint-Rome M, Raveendran VA, Woodin MA. Chloride transporters controlling neuronal excitability. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1095-1135. [PMID: 36302178 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00025.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic inhibition plays a crucial role in regulating neuronal excitability, which is the foundation of nervous system function. This inhibition is largely mediated by the neurotransmitters GABA and glycine that activate Cl--permeable ion channels, which means that the strength of inhibition depends on the Cl- gradient across the membrane. In neurons, the Cl- gradient is primarily mediated by two secondarily active cation-chloride cotransporters (CCCs), NKCC1 and KCC2. CCC-mediated regulation of the neuronal Cl- gradient is critical for healthy brain function, as dysregulation of CCCs has emerged as a key mechanism underlying neurological disorders including epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and autism spectrum disorder. This review begins with an overview of neuronal chloride transporters before explaining the dependent relationship between these CCCs, Cl- regulation, and inhibitory synaptic transmission. We then discuss the evidence for how CCCs can be regulated, including by activity and their protein interactions, which underlie inhibitory synaptic plasticity. For readers who may be interested in conducting experiments on CCCs and neuronal excitability, we have included a section on techniques for estimating and recording intracellular Cl-, including their advantages and limitations. Although the focus of this review is on neurons, we also examine how Cl- is regulated in glial cells, which in turn regulate neuronal excitability through the tight relationship between this nonneuronal cell type and synapses. Finally, we discuss the relatively extensive and growing literature on how CCC-mediated neuronal excitability contributes to neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C Pressey
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Miranda de Saint-Rome
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vineeth A Raveendran
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melanie A Woodin
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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8
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Kirmse K, Zhang C. Principles of GABAergic signaling in developing cortical network dynamics. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110568. [PMID: 35354036 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
GABAergic signaling provides inhibitory stabilization and spatiotemporally coordinates the firing of recurrently connected excitatory neurons in mature cortical circuits. Inhibition thus enables self-generated neuronal activity patterns that underlie various aspects of sensation and cognition. In this review, we aim to provide a conceptual framework describing how and when GABA-releasing interneurons acquire their network functions during development. Focusing on the developing visual neocortex and hippocampus in mice and rats in vivo, we hypothesize that at the onset of patterned activity, glutamatergic neurons are stable by themselves and inhibitory stabilization is not yet functional. We review important milestones in the development of GABAergic signaling and illustrate how the cell-type-specific strengthening of synaptic inhibition toward eye opening shapes cortical network dynamics and allows the developing cortex to progressively disengage from extra-cortical synaptic drive. We translate this framework to human cortical development and discuss clinical implications for the treatment of neonatal seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Knut Kirmse
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Chuanqiang Zhang
- Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
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9
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Non-linear GABA A receptors promote synaptic inhibition in developing neurons : Commentary on Lodge et al. (2021) Sparsification of AP firing in adult-born hippocampal granule cells via voltage-dependent α5-GABA A receptors. Cell Rep 37:109768. Pflugers Arch 2021; 474:181-183. [PMID: 34907453 PMCID: PMC8766374 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-021-02652-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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10
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Duménieu M, Marquèze-Pouey B, Russier M, Debanne D. Mechanisms of Plasticity in Subcortical Visual Areas. Cells 2021; 10:3162. [PMID: 34831385 PMCID: PMC8621502 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual plasticity is classically considered to occur essentially in the primary and secondary cortical areas. Subcortical visual areas such as the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) or the superior colliculus (SC) have long been held as basic structures responsible for a stable and defined function. In this model, the dLGN was considered as a relay of visual information travelling from the retina to cortical areas and the SC as a sensory integrator orienting body movements towards visual targets. However, recent findings suggest that both dLGN and SC neurons express functional plasticity, adding unexplored layers of complexity to their previously attributed functions. The existence of neuronal plasticity at the level of visual subcortical areas redefines our approach of the visual system. The aim of this paper is therefore to review the cellular and molecular mechanisms for activity-dependent plasticity of both synaptic transmission and cellular properties in subcortical visual areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dominique Debanne
- INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, UNIS, 13015 Marseille, France; (M.D.); (B.M.-P.); (M.R.)
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11
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A limited role of NKCC1 in telencephalic glutamatergic neurons for developing hippocampal network dynamics and behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2014784118. [PMID: 33782119 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014784118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
NKCC1 is the primary transporter mediating chloride uptake in immature principal neurons, but its role in the development of in vivo network dynamics and cognitive abilities remains unknown. Here, we address the function of NKCC1 in developing mice using electrophysiological, optical, and behavioral approaches. We report that NKCC1 deletion from telencephalic glutamatergic neurons decreases in vitro excitatory actions of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and impairs neuronal synchrony in neonatal hippocampal brain slices. In vivo, it has a minor impact on correlated spontaneous activity in the hippocampus and does not affect network activity in the intact visual cortex. Moreover, long-term effects of the developmental NKCC1 deletion on synaptic maturation, network dynamics, and behavioral performance are subtle. Our data reveal a neural network function of NKCC1 in hippocampal glutamatergic neurons in vivo, but challenge the hypothesis that NKCC1 is essential for major aspects of hippocampal development.
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12
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Peerboom C, Wierenga CJ. The postnatal GABA shift: A developmental perspective. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 124:179-192. [PMID: 33549742 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter that counterbalances excitation in the mature brain. The inhibitory action of GABA relies on the inflow of chloride ions (Cl-), which hyperpolarizes the neuron. In early development, GABA signaling induces outward Cl- currents and is depolarizing. The postnatal shift from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing GABA is a pivotal event in brain development and its timing affects brain function throughout life. Altered timing of the postnatal GABA shift is associated with several neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we argue that the postnatal shift from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing GABA represents the final shift in a sequence of GABA shifts, regulating proliferation, migration, differentiation, and finally plasticity of developing neurons. Each developmental GABA shift ensures that the instructive role of GABA matches the circumstances of the developing network. Sensory input may be a crucial factor in determining proper timing of the postnatal GABA shift. A developmental perspective is necessary to interpret the full consequences of a mismatch between connectivity, activity and GABA signaling during brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlijn Peerboom
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Corette J Wierenga
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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13
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Background choice and immobility as context dependent tadpole responses to perceived predation risk. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13577. [PMID: 32782286 PMCID: PMC7419541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70274-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The association of immobility and camouflage is widespread as a defensive mechanism in prey from varied taxa. However, many experiments assessing the reaction of prey to predator cues are conducted under artificial laboratory conditions. In a previous experiment we observed the tadpoles of Ololygon machadoi (Hylidae) to respond to predator visual and/or chemical cues by choosing backgrounds that improve their disruptive properties, but detected no associated reduction of movement. Here we experimentally demonstrate this response in the species' natural habitat, on backgrounds where the tadpoles are likely to achieve their best camouflage. We also tested whether previous experiences could influence both background choice and immobility in O. machadoi tadpoles. These novel experimental results suggest that a defensive behavior—i.e., reduction of movement—in these tadpoles is more strongly expressed under the natural conditions where they evolved, compared to laboratory conditions where prey and predator were brought into closer contact. Besides, previous experiences are likely to play an important role in expressed defensive responses.
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14
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Liu Z, Thakar A, Santoro SW, Pratt KG. Presenilin Regulates Retinotectal Synapse Formation through EphB2 Receptor Processing. Dev Neurobiol 2018; 78:1171-1190. [PMID: 30246932 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
As the catalytic component of γ-secretase, presenilin (PS) has long been studied in the context of Alzheimer's disease through cleaving the amyloid precursor protein. PS/γ-secretase, however, also cleaves a multitude of single-pass transmembrane proteins that are important during development, including Notch, the netrin receptor DCC, cadherins, drebrin-A, and the EphB2 receptor. Because transgenic PS-KO mice do not survive to birth, studies of this molecule during later embryonic or early postnatal stages of development have been carried out using cell cultures or conditional knock-out mice, respectively. As a result, the function of PS in synapse formation had not been well-addressed. Here, we study the role of PS in the developing Xenopus tadpole retinotectal circuit, an in-vivo model that allows for protein expression to be manipulated specifically during the peak of synapse formation between retinal ganglion cells and tectal neurons. We found that inhibiting PS in the postsynaptic tectal neurons impaired tadpole visual avoidance behavior. Whole cell recordings indicated weaker retinotectal synaptic transmission which was characterized by significant reductions in both NMDA receptor (NMDAR)- and AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated currents. We also found that expression of the C-tail fragment of the EphB2 receptor, which is normally cleaved by PS/γ-secretase and which has been shown to upregulate NMDARs at the synapse, rescued the reduced NMDAR-mediated responses. Our data determine that normal PS function is important for proper formation and strengthening of retinotectal synapses through cleaving the EphB2 receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Liu
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
| | - Amit Thakar
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
| | - Stephen W Santoro
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
| | - Kara G Pratt
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
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15
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Liu Z, Donnelly KB, Pratt KG. Preparations and Protocols for Whole Cell Patch Clamp Recording of Xenopus laevis Tectal Neurons. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 29608176 DOI: 10.3791/57465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Xenopus tadpole retinotectal circuit, comprised of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the eye which form synapses directly onto neurons in the optic tectum, is a popular model to study how neural circuits self-assemble. The ability to carry out whole cell patch clamp recordings from tectal neurons and to record RGC-evoked responses, either in vivo or using a whole brain preparation, has generated a large body of high-resolution data about the mechanisms underlying normal, and abnormal, circuit formation and function. Here we describe how to perform the in vivo preparation, the original whole brain preparation, and a more recently developed horizontal brain slice preparation for obtaining whole cell patch clamp recordings from tectal neurons. Each preparation has unique experimental advantages. The in vivo preparation enables the recording of the direct response of tectal neurons to visual stimuli projected onto the eye. The whole brain preparation allows for the RGC axons to be activated in a highly controlled manner, and the horizontal brain slice preparation allows recording from across all layers of the tectum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Liu
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming
| | - Katelynne B Donnelly
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming
| | - Kara G Pratt
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming;
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16
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Kirmse K, Hübner CA, Isbrandt D, Witte OW, Holthoff K. GABAergic Transmission during Brain Development: Multiple Effects at Multiple Stages. Neuroscientist 2017; 24:36-53. [PMID: 28378628 DOI: 10.1177/1073858417701382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, considerable progress has been achieved in deciphering the cellular and network functions of GABAergic transmission in the intact developing brain. First, in vivo studies in non-mammalian and mammalian species confirmed the long-held assumption that GABA acts as a mainly depolarizing neurotransmitter at early developmental stages. At the same time, GABAergic transmission was shown to spatiotemporally constrain spontaneous cortical activity, whereas firm evidence for GABAergic excitation in vivo is currently missing. Second, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that depolarizing GABA may contribute to the activity-dependent refinement of neural circuits. Third, alterations in GABA actions have been causally linked to developmental brain disorders and identified as potential targets of timed prophylactic interventions. In this article, we review these major recent findings and argue that both depolarizing and inhibitory GABA actions may be crucial for physiological brain maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Knut Kirmse
- 1 Hans-Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Dirk Isbrandt
- 3 Institute for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,4 German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Otto W Witte
- 1 Hans-Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Knut Holthoff
- 1 Hans-Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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17
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The Janus Face of Auditory Learning: How Life in Sound Shapes Everyday Communication. THE FREQUENCY-FOLLOWING RESPONSE 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-47944-6_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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18
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Raimondo JV, Richards BA, Woodin MA. Neuronal chloride and excitability - the big impact of small changes. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2016; 43:35-42. [PMID: 27992777 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Synaptic inhibition is a critical regulator of neuronal excitability, and in the mature brain the majority of synaptic inhibition is mediated by Cl--permeable GABAA receptors. Unlike other physiologically relevant ions, Cl- is dynamically regulated, and alterations in the Cl- gradient can have significant impact on neuronal excitability. Due to changes in the neuronal Cl- concentration, GABAergic transmission can bidirectionally regulate the induction of excitatory synaptic plasticity and gate the closing of the critical period for monocular deprivation in visual cortex. GABAergic circuitry can also provide a powerful restraining mechanism for the spread of excitation, however Cl- extrusion mechanisms can become overwhelmed and GABA can paradoxically contribute to pathological excitation such as the propagation of seizure activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph V Raimondo
- Division of Physiology, Department of Human Biology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Blake A Richards
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada; Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Melanie A Woodin
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada.
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19
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Pratt KG, Hiramoto M, Cline HT. An Evolutionarily Conserved Mechanism for Activity-Dependent Visual Circuit Development. Front Neural Circuits 2016; 10:79. [PMID: 27818623 PMCID: PMC5073143 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2016.00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural circuit development is an activity-dependent process. This activity can be spontaneous, such as the retinal waves that course across the mammalian embryonic retina, or it can be sensory-driven, such as the activation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by visual stimuli. Whichever the source, neural activity provides essential instruction to the developing circuit. Indeed, experimentally altering activity has been shown to impact circuit development and function in many different ways and in many different model systems. In this review, we contemplate the idea that retinal waves in amniotes, the animals that develop either in ovo or utero (namely reptiles, birds and mammals) could be an evolutionary adaptation to life on land, and that the anamniotes, animals whose development is entirely external (namely the aquatic amphibians and fish), do not display retinal waves, most likely because they simply don’t need them. We then review what is known about the function of both retinal waves and visual stimuli on their respective downstream targets, and predict that the experience-dependent development of the tadpole visual system is a blueprint of what will be found in future studies of the effects of spontaneous retinal waves on instructing development of retinorecipient targets such as the superior colliculus (SC) and the lateral geniculate nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara G Pratt
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Masaki Hiramoto
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience and The Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hollis T Cline
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience and The Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla, CA, USA
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20
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Functional and structural underpinnings of neuronal assembly formation in learning. Nat Neurosci 2016; 19:1553-1562. [PMID: 27749830 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Learning and memory are associated with the formation and modification of neuronal assemblies: populations of neurons that encode what has been learned and mediate memory retrieval upon recall. Functional studies of neuronal assemblies have progressed dramatically thanks to recent technological advances. Here we discuss how a focus on assembly formation and consolidation has provided a powerful conceptual framework to relate mechanistic studies of synaptic and circuit plasticity to behaviorally relevant aspects of learning and memory. Neurons are likely recruited to particular learning-related assemblies as a function of their relative excitabilities and synaptic activation, followed by selective strengthening of pre-existing synapses, formation of new connections and elimination of outcompeted synapses to ensure memory formation. Mechanistically, these processes involve linking transcription to circuit modification. They include the expression of immediate early genes and specific molecular and cellular events, supported by network-wide activities that are shaped and modulated by local inhibitory microcircuits.
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21
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Liu Z, Hamodi AS, Pratt KG. Early development and function of the Xenopus tadpole retinotectal circuit. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2016; 41:17-23. [PMID: 27475307 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The retinotectal circuit is the major component of the amphibian visual system. It is comprised of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the eye, which project their axons to the optic tectum and form synapses onto postsynaptic tectal neurons. The retinotectal circuit is relatively simple, and develops quickly: Xenopus tadpoles begin displaying retinotectal-dependent visual avoidance behaviors by approximately 7-8 days post-fertilization, early larval stage. In this review we first provide a summary of the dynamic development of the retinotectal circuit, including the microcircuitry formed by local tectal-tectal connections within the tectum. Second, we discuss the basic visual avoidance behavior generated specifically by this circuit, and how this behavior is being used as an assay to test visual system function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Liu
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, United States
| | - Ali S Hamodi
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, United States
| | - Kara G Pratt
- Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, United States.
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22
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Abstract
A complication for developmental plasticity mechanisms like spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) is that immature postsynaptic neurons may lack sufficient input to fire action potentials. In this issue, van Rheede et al. (2015) report an activity-dependent mechanism that converts non-spiking cells into spiking neurons, priming them for further plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Kesner
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Delphine Gobert
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Edward S Ruthazer
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.
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23
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Kraus N, White-Schwoch T. Unraveling the Biology of Auditory Learning: A Cognitive-Sensorimotor-Reward Framework. Trends Cogn Sci 2015; 19:642-654. [PMID: 26454481 PMCID: PMC4754986 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2015.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The auditory system is stunning in its capacity for change: a single neuron can modulate its tuning in minutes. Here we articulate a conceptual framework to understand the biology of auditory learning where an animal must engage cognitive, sensorimotor, and reward systems to spark neural remodeling. Central to our framework is a consideration of the auditory system as an integrated whole that interacts with other circuits to guide and refine life in sound. Despite our emphasis on the auditory system, these principles may apply across the nervous system. Understanding neuroplastic changes in both normal and impaired sensory systems guides strategies to improve everyday communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Kraus
- Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory and Department of Communication Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Travis White-Schwoch
- Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory and Department of Communication Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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