The extrinsic modulation of hippocampal theta depends on the coactivation of cholinergic and GABA-ergic medial septal inputs

Septal stimulation attenuates hippocampal seizure with subregion specificity

OBJECTIVE

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising approach for the treatment of epilepsy. However, the optimal target for DBS and underlying mechanisms are still not clear. Here, we compared the therapeutic effects of DBS on distinct septal subregions, aimed to find the precise targets of septal DBS and related mechanisms for the clinical treatment.

METHODS

Assisted by behavioral test, electroencephalography (EEG) recording and analyzing, selectively neuronal manipulation and immunohistochemistry, we assessed the effects of DBS on the three septal subregions in kainic acid (KA)-induced mouse seizure model.

RESULTS

DBS in the medial septum (MS) not only delayed generalized seizure (GS) development, but reduced the severity; DBS in the vertical diagonal band of Broca (VDB) only reduced the severity of GS, while DBS in the horizontal diagonal band of Broca (HDB) subregion showed no anti-seizure effect. Notably, DBS in the MS much more efficiently decreased abnormal activation of hippocampal neurons. EEG spectrum analysis indicated that DBS in the MS and VDB subregions mainly increased the basal hippocampal low-frequency (delta and theta) rhythm. Furthermore, ablation of cholinergic neurons in the MS and VDB subregions blocked the anti-seizure and EEG-modulating effects of septal DBS, suggesting the seizure-alleviating effect of DBS was dependent on local cholinergic neurons.

SIGNIFICANCE

DBS in the MS and VDB, rather than HDB, attenuates hippocampal seizure by activation of cholinergic neurons-augmented hippocampal delta/theta rhythm. This may be of great therapeutic significance for the clinical treatment of epilepsy with septal DBS.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

The optical target of deep brain stimulation in the septum is still not clear. This study demonstrated that stimulation in the medial septum and vertical diagonal band of Broca subregions, but not the horizontal diagonal band of Broca, could alleviate hippocampal seizure through cholinergic neurons-augmented hippocampal delta/theta rhythm. This study may shed light on the importance of precise regulation of deep brain stimulation therapy in treating epileptic seizures.

Huygens synchronization of medial septal pacemaker neurons generates hippocampal theta oscillation

Episodic learning and memory retrieval are dependent on hippocampal theta oscillation, thought to rely on the GABAergic network of the medial septum (MS). To test how this network achieves theta synchrony, we recorded MS neurons and hippocampal local field potential simultaneously in anesthetized and awake mice and rats. We show that MS pacemakers synchronize their individual rhythmicity frequencies, akin to coupled pendulum clocks as observed by Huygens. We optogenetically identified them as parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic neurons, while MS glutamatergic neurons provide tonic excitation sufficient to induce theta. In accordance, waxing and waning tonic excitation is sufficient to toggle between theta and non-theta states in a network model of single-compartment inhibitory pacemaker neurons. These results provide experimental and theoretical support to a frequency-synchronization mechanism for pacing hippocampal theta, which may serve as an inspirational prototype for synchronization processes in the central nervous system from Nematoda to Arthropoda to Chordate and Vertebrate phyla.

Modeling relationships between rhythmic processes and neuronal spike timing

Neurons are embedded in complex networks, where they participate in repetitive, coordinated interactions with other neurons. Neuronal spike timing is thus predictably constrained by a range of ionic currents that shape activity at both short (milliseconds) and longer (tens to hundreds of milliseconds) timescales, but we lack analytical tools to rigorously identify these relationships. Here, we innovate a modeling approach to test the relationship between oscillations in the local field potential (LFP) and neuronal spike timing. We use kernel density estimation to relate single neuron spike timing and the phase of LFP rhythms (in simulated and hippocampal CA1 neuronal spike trains). We then combine phase and short (3 ms) spike history information within a logistic regression framework ("phaseSH models"), and show that models that leverage refractory constraints and oscillatory phase information can effectively test whether-and the degree to which-rhythmic currents (as measured from the LFP) reliably explain variance in neuronal spike trains. This approach allows researchers to systematically test the relationship between oscillatory activity and neuronal spiking dynamics as they unfold over time and as they shift to adapt to distinct behavioral conditions.

Cholinergic Regulation of Hippocampal Theta Rhythm

Cholinergic regulation of hippocampal theta rhythm has been proposed as one of the central mechanisms underlying hippocampal functions including spatial memory encoding. However, cholinergic transmission has been traditionally associated with atropine-sensitive type II hippocampal theta oscillations that occur during alert immobility or in urethane-anesthetized animals. The role of cholinergic regulation of type I theta oscillations in behaving animals is much less clear. Recent studies strongly suggest that both cholinergic muscarinic and nicotinic receptors do actively regulate type I hippocampal theta oscillations and thus provide the cholinergic mechanism for theta-associated hippocampal learning. Septal cholinergic activation can regulate hippocampal circuit and theta expression either through direct septohippocampal cholinergic projections, or through septal glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, that can precisely entrain hippocampal theta rhythmicity.

Cav3 T-Type Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels and the Amyloidogenic Environment: Pathophysiology and Implications on Pharmacotherapy and Pharmacovigilance

Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) were reported to play a crucial role in neurotransmitter release, dendritic resonance phenomena and integration, and the regulation of gene expression. In the septohippocampal system, high- and low-voltage-activated (HVA, LVA) Ca2+ channels were shown to be involved in theta genesis, learning, and memory processes. In particular, HVA Cav2.3 R-type and LVA Cav3 T-type Ca2+ channels are expressed in the medial septum-diagonal band of Broca (MS-DBB), hippocampal interneurons, and pyramidal cells, and ablation of both channels was proven to severely modulate theta activity. Importantly, Cav3 Ca2+ channels contribute to rebound burst firing in septal interneurons. Consequently, functional impairment of T-type Ca2+ channels, e.g., in null mutant mouse models, caused tonic disinhibition of the septohippocampal pathway and subsequent enhancement of hippocampal theta activity. In addition, impairment of GABA A/B receptor transcription, trafficking, and membrane translocation was observed within the septohippocampal system. Given the recent findings that amyloid precursor protein (APP) forms complexes with GABA B receptors (GBRs), it is hypothesized that T-type Ca2+ current reduction, decrease in GABA receptors, and APP destabilization generate complex functional interdependence that can constitute a sophisticated proamyloidogenic environment, which could be of potential relevance in the etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The age-related downregulation of T-type Ca2+ channels in humans goes together with increased Aβ levels that could further inhibit T-type channels and aggravate the proamyloidogenic environment. The mechanistic model presented here sheds new light on recent reports about the potential risks of T-type Ca2+ channel blockers (CCBs) in dementia, as observed upon antiepileptic drug application in the elderly.

Lamotrigine Attenuates Neuronal Excitability, Depresses GABA Synaptic Inhibition, and Modulates Theta Rhythms in Rat Hippocampus

Theta oscillations generated in hippocampal (HPC) and cortical neuronal networks are involved in various aspects of brain function, including sensorimotor integration, movement planning, memory formation and attention. Disruptions of theta rhythms are present in individuals with brain disorders, including epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. Theta rhythm generation involves a specific interplay between cellular (ion channel) and network (synaptic) mechanisms. HCN channels are theta modulators, and several medications are known to enhance their activity. We investigated how different doses of lamotrigine (LTG), an HCN channel modulator, and antiepileptic and neuroprotective agent, would affect HPC theta rhythms in acute HPC slices (in vitro) and anaesthetized rats (in vivo). Whole-cell patch clamp recordings revealed that LTG decreased GABA_A-fast transmission in CA3 cells, in vitro. In addition, LTG directly depressed CA3 and CA1 pyramidal neuron excitability. These effects were partially blocked by ZD 7288, a selective HCN blocker, and are consistent with decreased excitability associated with antiepileptic actions. Lamotrigine depressed HPC theta oscillations in vitro, also consistent with its neuronal depressant effects. In contrast, it exerted an opposite, enhancing effect, on theta recorded in vivo. The contradictory in vivo and in vitro results indicate that LTG increases ascending theta activating medial septum/entorhinal synaptic inputs that over-power the depressant effects seen in HPC neurons. These results provide new insights into LTG actions and indicate an opportunity to develop more precise therapeutics for the treatment of dementias, memory disorders and epilepsy.

The Role of the Posterior Hypothalamus in the Modulation and Production of Rhythmic Theta Oscillations

Theta rhythm recorded as an extracellular synchronous field potential is generated in a number of brain sites including the hippocampus. The physiological occurrence of hippocampal theta rhythm is associated with the activation of a number of structures forming the ascending brainstem-hippocampal synchronizing pathway. Experimental evidence indicates that the supramammillary nucleus and posterior hypothalamic nuclei, considered as the posterior hypothalamic area, comprise a critical node of this ascending pathway. The posterior hypothalamic area plays an important role in movement control, place-learning, memory processing, emotion and arousal. In the light of multiplicity of functions of the posterior hypothalamic area and the influence of theta field oscillations on a number of neural processes, it is the authors' intent to summarize the data concerning the involvement of the supramammillary nucleus and posterior hypothalamic nuclei in the modulation of limbic theta rhythmicity as well as the ability of these brain structures to independently generate theta rhythmicity.

The Medial Septum as a Potential Target for Treating Brain Disorders Associated With Oscillopathies

The medial septum (MS), as part of the basal forebrain, supports many physiological functions, from sensorimotor integration to cognition. With often reciprocal connections with a broad set of peers at all major divisions of the brain, the MS orchestrates oscillatory neuronal activities throughout the brain. These oscillations are critical in generating sensory and emotional salience, locomotion, maintaining mood, supporting innate anxiety, and governing learning and memory. Accumulating evidence points out that the physiological oscillations under septal influence are frequently disrupted or altered in pathological conditions. Therefore, the MS may be a potential target for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders with abnormal oscillations (oscillopathies) to restore healthy patterns or erase undesired ones. Recent studies have revealed that the patterned stimulation of the MS alleviates symptoms of epilepsy. We discuss here that stimulus timing is a critical determinant of treatment efficacy on multiple time scales. On-demand stimulation may dramatically reduce side effects by not interfering with normal physiological functions. A precise pattern-matched stimulation through adaptive timing governed by the ongoing oscillations is essential to effectively terminate pathological oscillations. The time-targeted strategy for the MS stimulation may provide an effective way of treating multiple disorders including Alzheimer's disease, anxiety/fear, schizophrenia, and depression, as well as pain.

A Neural Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Hippocampal Theta Rhythms: Anatomy, Neurophysiology, and Function

This article describes a neural model of the anatomy, neurophysiology, and functions of intrinsic and extrinsic theta rhythms in the brains of multiple species. Topics include how theta rhythms were discovered; how theta rhythms organize brain information processing into temporal series of spatial patterns; how distinct theta rhythms occur within area CA1 of the hippocampus and between the septum and area CA3 of the hippocampus; what functions theta rhythms carry out in different brain regions, notably CA1-supported functions like learning, recognition, and memory that involve visual, cognitive, and emotional processes; how spatial navigation, adaptively timed learning, and category learning interact with hippocampal theta rhythms; how parallel cortical streams through the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) and the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) represent the end-points of the What cortical stream for perception and cognition and the Where cortical stream for spatial representation and action; how the neuromodulator acetylcholine interacts with the septo-hippocampal theta rhythm and modulates category learning; what functions are carried out by other brain rhythms, such as gamma and beta oscillations; and how gamma and beta oscillations interact with theta rhythms. Multiple experimental facts about theta rhythms are unified and functionally explained by this theoretical synthesis.

The Theta Rhythm of the Hippocampus: From Neuronal and Circuit Mechanisms to Behavior

This review focuses on the neuronal and circuit mechanisms involved in the generation of the theta (θ) rhythm and of its participation in behavior. Data have accumulated indicating that θ arises from interactions between medial septum-diagonal band of Broca (MS-DbB) and intra-hippocampal circuits. The intrinsic properties of MS-DbB and hippocampal neurons have also been shown to play a key role in θ generation. A growing number of studies suggest that θ may represent a timing mechanism to temporally organize movement sequences, memory encoding, or planned trajectories for spatial navigation. To accomplish those functions, θ and gamma (γ) oscillations interact during the awake state and REM sleep, which are considered to be critical for learning and memory processes. Further, we discuss that the loss of this interaction is at the base of various neurophatological conditions.

Enhanced hippocampal type II theta activity AND altered theta architecture in mice lacking the Cav3.2 T-type voltage-gated calcium channel

T-type Ca²⁺ channels are assumed to contribute to hippocampal theta oscillations. We used implantable video-EEG radiotelemetry and qPCR to unravel the role of Ca_v3.2 Ca²⁺ channels in hippocampal theta genesis. Frequency analysis of spontaneous long-term recordings in controls and Ca_v3.2^-/- mice revealed robust increase in relative power in the theta (4-8 Hz) and theta-alpha (4-12 Hz) ranges, which was most prominent during the inactive stages of the dark cycles. Urethane injection experiments also showed enhanced type II theta activity and altered theta architecture following Ca_v3.2 ablation. Next, gene candidates from hippocampal transcriptome analysis of control and Ca_v3.2^-/- mice were evaluated using qPCR. Dynein light chain Tctex-Type 1 (Dynlt1b) was significantly reduced in Ca_v3.2^-/- mice. Furthermore, a significant reduction of GABA A receptor δ subunits and GABA B1 receptor subunits was observed in the septohippocampal GABAergic system. Our results demonstrate that ablation of Ca_v3.2 significantly alters type II theta activity and theta architecture. Transcriptional changes in synaptic transporter proteins and GABA receptors might be functionally linked to the electrophysiological phenotype.

Frequency- and state-dependent effects of hippocampal neural disinhibition on hippocampal local field potential oscillations in anesthetized rats

Reduced inhibitory GABA function, so-called neural disinhibition, has been implicated in cognitive disorders, including schizophrenia and age-related cognitive decline. We previously showed in rats that hippocampal disinhibition by local microinfusion of the GABA-A receptor antagonist picrotoxin disrupted memory and attention and enhanced hippocampal multi-unit burst firing recorded around the infusion site under isoflurane anesthesia. Here, we analyzed the hippocampal local field potential (LFP) recorded alongside the multi-unit data. We predicted frequency-specific LFP changes, based on previous studies implicating GABA in hippocampal oscillations, with the weight of evidence suggesting that disinhibition would facilitate theta and disrupt gamma oscillations. Using a new semi-automated method based on the kurtosis of the LFP peak-amplitude distribution as well as on amplitude envelope thresholding, we separated three distinct hippocampal LFP states under isoflurane anesthesia: "burst" and "suppression" states-high-amplitude LFP spike bursts and the interspersed low-amplitudeperiods-and a medium-amplitude "continuous" state. The burst state showed greater overall power than suppression and continuous states and higher relative delta/theta power, but lower relative beta/gamma power. The burst state also showed reduced functional connectivity across the hippocampal recording area, especially around theta and beta frequencies. Overall neuronal firing was higher in the burst than the other two states, whereas the proportion of burst firing was higher in burst and continuous states than the suppression state. Disinhibition caused state- and frequency-dependent LFP changes, tending to increase power at lower frequencies (<20 Hz), but to decrease power and connectivity at higher frequencies (>20 Hz) in burst and suppression states. The disinhibition-induced enhancement of multi-unit bursting was also state-dependent, tending to be more pronounced in burst and suppression states than the continuous state. Overall, we characterized three distinct hippocampal LFP states in isoflurane-anesthetized rats. Disinhibition changed hippocampal LFP oscillations in a state- and frequency-dependent way. Moreover, the disinhibition-induced enhancement of multi-unit bursting was also LFP state-dependent.

The neural circuitry supporting successful spatial navigation despite variable movement speeds

Ants who have successfully navigated the long distance between their foraging spot and their nest dozens of times will drastically overshoot their destination if the size of their legs is doubled by the addition of stilts. This observation reflects a navigational strategy called path integration, a strategy also utilized by mammals. Path integration necessitates that animals keep track of their movement speed and use it to precisely and instantly modify where they think they are and where they want to go. Here we review the neural circuitry that has evolved to integrate speed and space. We start with the rate and temporal codes for speed in the hippocampus and work backwards towards the motor and sensory systems. We highlight the need for experiments designed to differentiate the respective contributions of motor efference copy versus sensory inputs. In particular, we discuss the importance of high-resolution tracking of the latency of speed-encoding as a precise way to disentangle the sensory versus motor computations that enable successful spatial navigation at very different speeds.

Topographical Visualization of the Reciprocal Projection between the Medial Septum and the Hippocampus in the 5XFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

It is widely known that the degeneration of neural circuits is prominent in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. The reciprocal connectivity of the medial septum (MS) and hippocampus, which constitutes the septo-hippocampo-septal (SHS) loop, is known to be associated with learning and memory. Despite the importance of the reciprocal projections between the MS and hippocampus in AD, the alteration of bidirectional connectivity between two structures has not yet been investigated at the mesoscale level. In this study, we adopted AD animal model, five familial AD mutations (5XFAD) mice, and anterograde and retrograde tracers, BDA and DiI, respectively, to visualize the pathology-related changes in topographical connectivity of the SHS loop in the 5XFAD brain. By comparing 4.5-month-old and 14-month-old 5XFAD mice, we successfully identified key circuit components of the SHS loop altered in 5XFAD brains. Remarkably, the SHS loop began to degenerate in 4.5-month-old 5XFAD mice before the onset of neuronal loss. The impairment of connectivity between the MS and hippocampus was accelerated in 14-month-old 5XFAD mice. These results demonstrate, for the first time, topographical evidence for the degradation of the interconnection between the MS and hippocampus at the mesoscale level in a mouse model of AD. Our results provide structural and functional insights into the interconnectivity of the MS and hippocampus, which will inform the use and development of various therapeutic approaches that target neural circuits for the treatment of AD.

Place cell firing cannot support navigation without intact septal circuits

Though it has been known for over half a century that interference with the normal activity of septohippocampal neurons can abolish hippocampal theta rhythmicity, a definitive answer to the question of its function has remained elusive. To clarify the role of septal circuits and theta in location-specific activity of place cells and spatial behavior, three drugs were delivered to the medial septum of rats: Tetracaine, a local anesthetic; muscimol, a GABA-A agonist; and gabazine, a GABA-A antagonist. All three drugs disrupted normal oscillatory activity in the hippocampus. However, tetracaine and muscimol both reduced spatial firing and interfered with the rat's ability to navigate to a hidden goal. After gabazine, location-specific firing was preserved in the absence of theta, but rats were unable to accurately locate the hidden goal. These results indicate that theta is unnecessary for location-specific firing of hippocampal cells, and that place cell activity cannot support accurate navigation when septal circuits are disrupted.

How rhythms of the sleeping brain tune memory and synaptic plasticity

Decades of neurobehavioral research has linked sleep-associated rhythms in various brain areas to improvements in cognitive performance. However, it remains unclear what synaptic changes might underlie sleep-dependent declarative memory consolidation and procedural task improvement, and why these same changes appear not to occur across a similar interval of wake. Here we describe recent research on how one specific feature of sleep-network rhythms characteristic of rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement-could drive synaptic strengthening or weakening in specific brain circuits. We provide an overview of how these rhythms could affect synaptic plasticity individually and in concert. We also present an overarching hypothesis for how all network rhythms occurring across the sleeping brain could aid in encoding new information in neural circuits.

From adagio to allegretto: The changing tempo of theta frequencies in epilepsy and its relation to interneuron function

Despite decades of research, our understanding of epilepsy, including how seizures are generated and propagate, is incomplete. However, there is growing recognition that epilepsy is more than just the occurrence of seizures, with patients often experiencing comorbid deficits in cognition that are poorly understood. In addition, the available therapies for treatment of epilepsy, from pharmaceutical treatment to surgical resection and seizure prevention devices, often exacerbate deficits in cognitive function. In this review, we discuss the hypothesis that seizure generation and cognitive deficits have a similar pathological source characterized by, but not limited to, deficits in theta oscillations and their influence on interneurons. We present a new framework that describes oscillatory states in epilepsy as alternating between hyper- and hypo-synchrony rather than solely the spontaneous transition to hyper-excitability characterized by the seizures. This framework suggests that as neural oscillations, specifically in the theta range, vary their tempo from a slowed almost adagio tempo during interictal periods to faster, more rhythmic allegretto tempo preictally, they impact the function of interneurons, modulating their ability to control seizures and their role in cognitive processing. This slow wave oscillatory framework may help explain why current therapies that work to reduce hyper-excitability do not completely eliminate seizures and often lead to exacerbated cognitive deficits.

Clinically indicated electrical stimulation strategies to treat patients with medically refractory epilepsy

Focal epilepsies represent approximately half of all diagnoses, and more than one-third of these patients are refractory to pharmacologic treatment. Although resection can result in seizure freedom, many patients do not meet surgical criteria, as seizures may be multifocal in origin or have a focus in an eloquent region of the brain. For these individuals, several U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved electrical stimulation paradigms serve as alternative options, including vagus nerve stimulation, responsive neurostimulation, and stimulation of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus. All of these are safe, flexible, and lead to progressive seizure control over time when used as an adjunctive therapy to antiepileptic drugs. Focal epilepsies frequently involve significant comorbidities such as cognitive decline. Similar to antiepilepsy medications and surgical resection, current stimulation targets and parameters have yet to address cognitive impairments directly, with patients reporting persistent comorbidities associated with focal epilepsy despite a significant reduction in the number of their seizures. Although low-frequency theta oscillations of the septohippocampal network are critical for modulating cellular activity and, in turn, cognitive processing, the coordination of neural excitability is also imperative for preventing seizures. In this review, we summarize current FDA-approved electrical stimulation paradigms and propose that theta oscillations of the medial septal nucleus represent a novel neuromodulation target for concurrent seizure reduction and cognitive improvement in epilepsy. Ultimately, further advancements in clinical neurostimulation strategies will allow for the efficient treatment of both seizures and comorbidities, thereby improving overall quality of life for patients with epilepsy.

Medial septal cholinergic mediation of hippocampal theta rhythm induced by vagal nerve stimulation

BACKGROUND

Electrical vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has been used for years to treat patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. This technique also remains under investigation as a specific treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Recently we discovered that VNS induced hippocampal formation (HPC) type II theta rhythm, which is involved in memory consolidation. In the present study, we have extended our previous observation and addressed the neuronal substrate and pharmacological profile of HPC type II theta rhythm induced by VNS in anesthetized rats.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were implanted with a VNS cuff electrode around the left vagus nerve, a tungsten microelectrode for recording the HPC field activity, and a medial septal (MS) cannula for the injection of a local anesthetic, procaine, and muscarinic agents. A direct, brief effect of VNS on the HPC field potential was evaluated before and after medial-septal drug injection.

RESULTS

Medial septal injection of local anesthetic, procaine, reversibly abolished VNS-induced HPC theta rhythm. With the use of cholinergic muscarinic agonist and antagonists, we demonstrated that medial septal M1 receptors are involved in the mediation of the VNS effect on HPC theta field potential.

CONCLUSION

The MS cholinergic M1 receptor mechanism integrates not only central inputs from the brainstem synchronizing pathway, which underlies the production of HPC type II theta rhythm, but also the input from the vagal afferents in the brain stem.

Disruption of medial septum and diagonal bands of Broca cholinergic projections to the ventral hippocampus disrupt auditory fear memory

In classical fear conditioning, a neutral conditioned stimulus (CS) is paired with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US), which leads to a fear memory. If the CS is repeatedly presented without the US after fear conditioning, the formation of an extinction memory occurs, which inhibits fear memory expression. A previous study has demonstrated that selective cholinergic lesions in the medial septum and vertical limb of the diagonal bands of Broca (MS/vDBB) prior to fear and extinction learning disrupt contextual fear memory discrimination and acquisition of extinction memory. MS/vDBB cholinergic neurons project to a number of substrates that are critical for fear and extinction memory. However, it is currently unknown which of these efferent projections are critical for contextual fear memory discrimination and extinction memory. To address this, we induced cholinergic lesions in efferent targets of MS/vDBB cholinergic neurons. These included the dorsal hippocampus (dHipp), ventral hippocampus (vHipp), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and in the mPFC and dHipp combined. None of these lesion groups exhibited deficits in contextual fear memory discrimination or extinction memory. However, vHipp cholinergic lesions disrupted auditory fear memory. Because MS/vDBB cholinergic neurons are the sole source of acetylcholine in the vHipp, these results suggest that MS/vDBB cholinergic input to the vHipp is critical for auditory fear memory. Taken together with previous findings, the results of this study suggest that MS/vDBB cholinergic neurons are critical for fear and extinction memory, though further research is needed to elucidate the role of MS/vDBB cholinergic neurons in these types of emotional memory.

A new perspective of the hippocampus in the origin of exercise-brain interactions

Exercising regularly is a highly effective strategy for maintaining cognitive health throughout the lifespan. Over the last 20 years, many molecular, physiological and structural changes have been documented in response to aerobic exercise training in humans and animals, particularly in the hippocampus. However, how exercise produces such neurological changes remains elusive. A recent line of investigation has suggested that muscle-derived circulating factors cross into the brain and may be the key agents driving enhancement in synaptic plasticity and hippocampal neurogenesis from aerobic exercise. Alternatively, or concurrently, the signals might originate from within the brain itself. Physical activity also produces instantaneous and robust neuronal activation of the hippocampal formation and the generation of theta oscillations which are closely correlated with the force of movements. The repeated acute activation of the hippocampus during physical movement is likely critical for inducing the long-term neuroadaptations from exercise. Here we review the evidence which establishes the association between physical movement and hippocampal neuronal activation and discuss implications for long-term benefits of physical activity on brain function.

Target selectivity of septal cholinergic neurons in the medial and lateral entorhinal cortex

Acetylcholine is a key modulator of hippocampal and entorhinal cortex (EC) function. The majority of cholinergic projections targeting these structures originate in the basal forebrain complex, specifically the medial septum. Many studies focused on the behavioral effects involving these projections, but there still is a paucity regarding their connectivity in the target area. Here we provide this missing link. By combining optogenetics with whole-cell recordings in superficial EC layers, we identified the synaptic target cells of septal cholinergic neurons. This level of analysis is an important step toward a better understanding of the modulatory action of acetylcholine in EC in vivo.

The entorhinal cortex (EC) plays a pivotal role in processing and conveying spatial information to the hippocampus. It has long been known that EC neurons are modulated by cholinergic input from the medial septum. However, little is known as to how synaptic release of acetylcholine affects the different cell types in EC. Here we combined optogenetics and patch-clamp recordings to study the effect of cholinergic axon stimulation on distinct neurons in EC. We found dense cholinergic innervations that terminate in layer I and II (LI and LII). Light-activated stimulation of septal cholinergic projections revealed differential responses in excitatory and inhibitory neurons in LI and LII of both medial and lateral EC. We observed depolarizing responses mediated by nicotinic and muscarinic receptors primarily in putative serotonin receptor (p5HT₃R)-expressing interneurons. Hyperpolarizing muscarinic receptor-mediated responses were found predominantly in excitatory cells. Additionally, some excitatory as well as a higher fraction of inhibitory neurons received mono- and/or polysynaptic GABAergic inputs, revealing that medial septum cholinergic neurons have the capacity to corelease GABA alongside acetylcholine. Notably, the synaptic effects of acetylcholine were similar in neurons of both medial and lateral EC. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that EC activity may be differentially modulated via the activation or the suppression of distinct subsets of LI and LII neurons by the septal cholinergic system.

A neural model of normal and abnormal learning and memory consolidation: adaptively timed conditioning, hippocampus, amnesia, neurotrophins, and consciousness

How do the hippocampus and amygdala interact with thalamocortical systems to regulate cognitive and cognitive-emotional learning? Why do lesions of thalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and cortex have differential effects depending on the phase of learning when they occur? In particular, why is the hippocampus typically needed for trace conditioning, but not delay conditioning, and what do the exceptions reveal? Why do amygdala lesions made before or immediately after training decelerate conditioning while those made later do not? Why do thalamic or sensory cortical lesions degrade trace conditioning more than delay conditioning? Why do hippocampal lesions during trace conditioning experiments degrade recent but not temporally remote learning? Why do orbitofrontal cortical lesions degrade temporally remote but not recent or post-lesion learning? How is temporally graded amnesia caused by ablation of prefrontal cortex after memory consolidation? How are attention and consciousness linked during conditioning? How do neurotrophins, notably brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), influence memory formation and consolidation? Is there a common output path for learned performance? A neural model proposes a unified answer to these questions that overcome problems of alternative memory models.

Medial septal GABAergic projection neurons promote object exploration behavior and type 2 theta rhythm

Exploratory drive is one of the most fundamental emotions, of all organisms, that are evoked by novelty stimulation. Exploratory behavior plays a fundamental role in motivation, learning, and well-being of organisms. Diverse exploratory behaviors have been described, although their heterogeneity is not certain because of the lack of solid experimental evidence for their distinction. Here we present results demonstrating that different neural mechanisms underlie different exploratory behaviors. Localized Cav3.1 knockdown in the medial septum (MS) selectively enhanced object exploration, whereas the null mutant (KO) mice showed enhanced-object exploration as well as open-field exploration. In MS knockdown mice, only type 2 hippocampal theta rhythm was enhanced, whereas both type 1 and type 2 theta rhythm were enhanced in KO mice. This selective effect was accompanied by markedly increased excitability of septo-hippocampal GABAergic projection neurons in the MS lacking T-type Ca(2+) channels. Furthermore, optogenetic activation of the septo-hippocampal GABAergic pathway in WT mice also selectively enhanced object exploration behavior and type 2 theta rhythm, whereas inhibition of the same pathway decreased the behavior and the rhythm. These findings define object exploration distinguished from open-field exploration and reveal a critical role of T-type Ca(2+) channels in the medial septal GABAergic projection neurons in this behavior.

Making Waves in the Brain: What Are Oscillations, and Why Modulating Them Makes Sense for Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in persistent cognitive, behavioral and emotional deficits. However, the vast majority of patients are not chronically hospitalized; rather they have to manage their disabilities once they are discharged to home. Promoting recovery to pre-injury level is important from a patient care as well as a societal perspective. Electrical neuromodulation is one approach that has shown promise in alleviating symptoms associated with neurological disorders such as in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and epilepsy. Consistent with this perspective, both animal and clinical studies have revealed that TBI alters physiological oscillatory rhythms. More recently several studies demonstrated that low frequency stimulation improves cognitive outcome in models of TBI. Specifically, stimulation of the septohippocampal circuit in the theta frequency entrained oscillations and improved spatial learning following TBI. In order to evaluate the potential of electrical deep brain stimulation for clinical translation we review the basic neurophysiology of oscillations, their role in cognition and how they are changed post-TBI. Furthermore, we highlight several factors for future pre-clinical and clinical studies to consider, with the hope that it will promote a hypothesis driven approach to subsequent experimental designs and ultimately successful translation to improve outcome in patients with TBI.

Orexinergic theta rhythm in the rat hippocampal formation: In vitro and in vivo findings

Previous in vivo data suggested that orexin neuropeptides (ORX(A) and ORX(B) ) synthetized in hypothalamic neurons were involved in the mechanism of generation of the hippocampal formation theta rhythm. Surprisingly, this suggestion has never been directly proved by experiments using intraseptal or intrahippocampal administration of orexins. In this study, involving the use of in vitro hippocampal formation slices and in vivo model of anesthetized rat, we provide the first convergent electropharmacological evidence that in the presence of both ORX(A) and ORX(B) the hippocampal formation neuronal network is capable of producing oscillations in the theta band. This effect of orexin peptides was antagonized by selective blockers of orexin receptors (OX1 R and OX2 R), SB 334867 and TCS OX2 29, respectively. These results provide evidence for a novel, orexinergic mechanism responsible for the production of theta rhythm in the hippocampal formation neuronal network.

Harnessing the power of theta: natural manipulations of cognitive performance during hippocampal theta-contingent eyeblink conditioning

Neurobiological oscillations are regarded as essential to normal information processing, including coordination and timing of cells and assemblies within structures as well as in long feedback loops of distributed neural systems. The hippocampal theta rhythm is a 3–12 Hz oscillatory potential observed during cognitive processes ranging from spatial navigation to associative learning. The lower range, 3–7 Hz, can occur during immobility and depends upon the integrity of cholinergic forebrain systems. Several studies have shown that the amount of pre-training theta in the rabbit strongly predicts the acquisition rate of classical eyeblink conditioning and that impairment of this system substantially slows the rate of learning. Our lab has used a brain-computer interface (BCI) that delivers eyeblink conditioning trials contingent upon the explicit presence or absence of hippocampal theta. A behavioral benefit of theta-contingent training has been demonstrated in both delay and trace forms of the paradigm with a two- to four-fold increase in learning speed. This behavioral effect is accompanied by enhanced amplitude and synchrony of hippocampal local field potential (LFP)s, multi-unit excitation, and single-unit response patterns that depend on theta state. Additionally, training in the presence of hippocampal theta has led to increases in the salience of tone-induced unit firing patterns in the medial prefrontal cortex, followed by persistent multi-unit activity during the trace interval. In cerebellum, rhythmicity and precise synchrony of stimulus time-locked LFPs with those of hippocampus occur preferentially under the theta condition. Here we review these findings, integrate them into current models of hippocampal-dependent learning and suggest how improvement in our understanding of neurobiological oscillations is critical for theories of medial temporal lobe processes underlying intact and pathological learning.

Diverse impact of neuronal activity at θ frequency on hippocampal long-term plasticity

Brain oscillatory activity is considered an essential aspect of brain function, and its frequency can vary from <1 Hz to >200 Hz, depending on the brain states and projection. Episodes of rhythmic activity accompany hippocampus-dependent learning and memory in vivo. Therefore, long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression, which are considered viable substrates of learning and memory, are often experimentally studied in paradigms of patterned high-frequency (>50 Hz) and low-frequency (<5 Hz) stimulation. However, the impact of intermediate frequencies on neuronal plasticity remains less well understood. In particular, hippocampal neurons are specifically tuned for activity at θ frequency (4-8 Hz); this band contributes significantly to electroencephalographic signals, and it is likely to be involved in shaping synaptic strength in hippocampal circuits. Here, we review in vitro and in vivo studies showing that variation of θ-activity duration may affect long-term modification of synaptic strength and neuronal excitability in the hippocampus. Such θ-pulse-induced neuronal plasticity 1) is long-lasting, 2) may be built on previously stabilized potentiation in the synapse, 3) may produce opposite changes in synaptic strength, and 4) requires complex molecular machinery. Apparently innocuous episodes of low-frequency synaptic activity may have a profound impact on network signaling, thereby contributing to information processing in the hippocampus and beyond. In addition, θ-pulse-induced LTP might be an advantageous protocol in studies of specific molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity.

The electrical coupling and the hippocampal formation theta rhythm in rats

Gap junctions (GJs) were discovered more than five decades ago, and since that time enormous strides have been made in understanding their structure and function. Despite the voluminous literature concerning the function of GJs, the involvement of these membrane structures in the central mechanisms underlying oscillations and synchrony in the neuronal network is still a matter of intensive debate. This review summarizes what is known concerning the involvement of GJs as electrical synapses in mechanisms underlying the generation of theta band oscillations. The first part of the chapter discusses the role of GJs in mechanisms of oscillations and synchrony. Following this, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experiments concerning the involvement of GJs in the generation of hippocampal formation theta in rats are reviewed.

Distributed circuits underlying anxiety

Anxiety is of paramount importance for animals, as it allows assessment of the environment while minimizing exposure to potential threats. Furthermore, anxiety disorders are highly prevalent. Consequently, the neural circuitry underlying anxiety has been a topic of great interest. In this mini review, we will discuss current views on anxiety circuits. We will focus on rodent anxiety paradigms, but we will also consider results from human neuroimaging and clinical studies. We briefly review studies demonstrating the central role that the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminals (BNST) play in modulating anxiety and present evidence showing how the bed nucleus uses different output pathways to influence specific features of anxiolysis. Lastly, we propose that several brain regions, such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the ventral hippocampus (vHPC), act in a coordinated fashion with the amygdala and BNST, forming a distributed network of interconnected structures that control anxiety both in rodents and humans.

Spike-wave discharges in adult Sprague-Dawley rats and their implications for animal models of temporal lobe epilepsy

Spike-wave discharges (SWDs) are thalamocortical oscillations that are often considered to be the EEG correlate of absence seizures. Genetic absence epilepsy rats of Strasbourg (GAERS) and Wistar Albino Glaxo rats from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) exhibit SWDs and are considered to be genetic animal models of absence epilepsy. However, it has been reported that other rat strains have SWDs, suggesting that SWDs may vary in their prevalence, but all rats have a predisposition for them. This is important because many of these rat strains are used to study temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), where it is assumed that there is no seizure-like activity in controls. In the course of other studies using the Sprague-Dawley rat, a common rat strain for animal models of TLE, we found that approximately 19% of 2- to 3-month-old naive female Sprague-Dawley rats exhibited SWDs spontaneously during periods of behavioral arrest, which continued for months. Males exhibited SWDs only after 3 months of age, consistent with previous reports (Buzsáki et al., 1990). Housing in atypical lighting during early life appeared to facilitate the incidence of SWDs. Spike-wave discharges were often accompanied by behaviors similar to stage 1-2 limbic seizures. Therefore, additional analyses were made to address the similarity. We observed that the frequency of SWDs was similar to that of hippocampal theta rhythm during exploration for a given animal, typically 7-8 Hz. Therefore, activity in the frequency of theta rhythm that occurs during frozen behavior may not reflect seizures necessarily. Hippocampal recordings exhibited high frequency oscillations (>250 Hz) during SWDs, suggesting that neuronal activity in the hippocampus occurs during SWDs, i.e., it is not a passive structure. The data also suggest that high frequency oscillations, if rhythmic, may reflect SWDs. We also confirmed that SWDs were present in a common animal model of TLE, the pilocarpine model, using female Sprague-Dawley rats. Therefore, damage and associated changes to thalamic, hippocampal, and cortical neurons do not prevent SWDs, at least in this animal model. The results suggest that it is possible that SWDs occur in rodent models of TLE and that investigators mistakenly assume that they are stage 1-2 limbic seizures. We discuss the implications of the results and ways to avoid the potential problems associated with SWDs in animal models of TLE.

A systematic review of the effects of NMDA receptor antagonists on oscillatory activity recorded in vivo

Distinct frequency bands can be differentiated from neuronal ensemble recordings, such as local field potentials or electrocorticogram recordings. Recent years have witnessed a rapid acceleration of research examining how N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists influence fundamental frequency bands in cortical and subcortical brain regions. Herein, we systematically review findings from in vivo studies with a focus on delta, theta, gamma and more recently identified high-frequency oscillations. We also discuss some of the current hypotheses that are considered to account for the actions of NMDAR antagonists on these frequency bands. The data emphasize a close relationship between altered oscillatory activity and NMDAR blockade, with both local and large-scale networks accounting for their effects. These findings may have fundamental implications for the psychotomimetic effects produced by NMDAR antagonists.

Hydroalcoholic extract of Urtica circularis: a neuropharmacological profile

CONTEXT

The genus Urtica has been known since ancient times. It has known to be useful for the treatment of different human ailments.

OBJECTIVE

The present work evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of Urtica circularis (Hicken) Sorarú (Urticaceae). materials and method: The effect on central nervous system of U. circularis hydroalcoholic extract (from leaves and stems) administered by the intraperitoneal route in mice was evaluated by several tests: Pentobarbital- and midazolam-induced hypnosis, open field, hole board, elevated plus-maze and forced swimming. Phytochemical analysis was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

A total of 300 mg/kg i.p. of the extract produced a significant prolongation of pentobarbital- (40 mg/kg i.p.; 60.1 min versus 25.4 min) and midazolam- (50 mg/kg i.v.; 53.4 min versus 25.1 min) induced sleeping time. The extract's administration caused a marked reduction of the head-dipping response (DE50: 373 mg/kg i.p.) in the hole-board test. Urtica circularis extract (DE50: 46 mg/kg i.p.) reduced the spontaneous locomotor activity in the open field test. Flumazenil and atropine significantly antagonized the extract's effect on the locomotor activity. No motor coordination disturbance was observed in the rota rod test at any doses. In the forced swimming test, the extract did not produce any change in the immobility time and it had no significant effects in elevated plus maze test. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, vicenin-2, p-cumaric acid, ferulic acid, vitexin and isovitexin.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that U. circularis hydroalcoholic extract possesses sedative activity, facilitating GABAergic and cholinergic transmission.

GABA predicts inhibition of frequency-specific oscillations in schizophrenia

This study is the first to show a relationship between in-vivo brain gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) levels and auditory inhibitory electrophysiological measures in schizophrenia. Results revealed a strong association between GABA levels and gating of the theta-alpha and beta activities in schizophrenia.

Spatiotemporal coupling between hippocampal acetylcholine release and theta oscillations in vivo

Both acetylcholine (ACh) and theta oscillations are important for learning and memory, but the dynamic interaction between these two processes remains unclear. Recent advances in amperometry techniques have revealed phasic ACh releases in vivo. However, it is unknown whether phasic ACh release co-occurs with theta oscillations. We investigated this issue in the CA1 region of urethane-anesthetized male rats using amperometric and electrophysiological recordings. We found that ACh release was highly correlated with the appearance of both spontaneous and induced theta oscillations. Moreover, the maximal ACh release was observed around or slightly above the pyramidal layer. Interestingly, such release lagged behind theta initiation by 25-60 s. The slow ACh release profile was matched by the slow firing rate increase of a subset of medial-septal low-firing-rate neurons. Together, these results establish, for the first time, the in vivo coupling between phasic ACh release and theta oscillations on spatiotemporal scales much finer than previously known. These findings also suggest that phasic ACh is not required for theta initiation and may instead operate synergistically with theta oscillations to promote neural plasticity in the service of learning and memory.

Phospholipase C beta 4 in the medial septum controls cholinergic theta oscillations and anxiety behaviors

Anxiety is among the most prevalent and costly diseases of the CNS, but its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Although attenuated theta rhythms have been observed in human subjects with increased anxiety, no study has been done on the possible physiological link between these two manifestations. We found that the mutant mouse for phospholipase C beta 4 (PLC-beta 4(-/-)) showed attenuated theta rhythm and increased anxiety, presenting the first animal model for the human condition. PLC-beta 4 is abundantly expressed in the medial septum, a region implicated in anxiety behavior. RNA interference-mediated PLC-beta 4 knockdown in the medial septum produced a phenotype similar to that of PLC-beta 4(-/-) mice. Furthermore, increasing cholinergic signaling by administering an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor cured the anomalies in both cholinergic theta rhythm and anxiety behavior observed in PLC-beta 4(-/-) mice. These findings suggest that (1) PLC-beta 4 in the medial septum is involved in controlling cholinergic theta oscillation and (2) cholinergic theta rhythm plays a critical role in suppressing anxiety. We propose that defining the cholinergic theta rhythm profile may provide guidance in subtyping anxiety disorders in humans for more effective diagnosis and treatments.

Paradoxical sleep as a tool for understanding the hippocampal mechanisms of contextual memory

Existing data on the involvement of the hippocampus in contextual memory and the fact that contextual memory is impaired in dreams occurring during paradoxical sleep allowed us to suggest that one of the causes of this impairment consists of changes in the efficiency of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus due to increases (as compared with waking) in the concentrations of acetylcholine, dopamine, and cortisol, as well as the absence of serotonin and noradrenaline. Our previous analysis showed that in paradoxical sleep, long-term depression can be induced all components of the polysynaptic pathway through the hippocampal formation, while potentiation can occur at the inputs from the entorhinal cortex to hippocampal fields CA1 and CA3 and in the associative connections in field CA3. It is hypothesized that the correct functioning of episodic memory requires efficient transmission of signals in each component of the polysynaptic pathway through the hippocampus, allowing a neuronal representation of the context to be created within it. In the state of waking, reproduction of the context of an episode simultaneously activates the neuronal representation of the context remembered in the hippocampus and neuronal representations of the details of the episode remembered in those areas of the cortex in which they were processed. It follows from the proposed mechanism that any neurotransmitter or neuropeptide able to promote longterm potentiation in all components of the polysynaptic pathway through the hippocampus can improve episodic memory. As the consequences of the mechanism are consistent with experimental data, it can be used to seek agents improving episodic memory.