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Manrique HM, Friston KJ, Walker MJ. 'Snakes and ladders' in paleoanthropology: From cognitive surprise to skillfulness a million years ago. Phys Life Rev 2024; 49:40-70. [PMID: 38513522 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2024.01.004] [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: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
A paradigmatic account may suffice to explain behavioral evolution in early Homo. We propose a parsimonious account that (1) could explain a particular, frequently-encountered, archeological outcome of behavior in early Homo - namely, the fashioning of a Paleolithic stone 'handaxe' - from a biological theoretic perspective informed by the free energy principle (FEP); and that (2) regards instances of the outcome as postdictive or retrodictive, circumstantial corroboration. Our proposal considers humankind evolving as a self-organizing biological ecosystem at a geological time-scale. We offer a narrative treatment of this self-organization in terms of the FEP. Specifically, we indicate how 'cognitive surprises' could underwrite an evolving propensity in early Homo to express sporadic unorthodox or anomalous behavior. This co-evolutionary propensity has left us a legacy of Paleolithic artifacts that is reminiscent of a 'snakes and ladders' board game of appearances, disappearances, and reappearances of particular archeological traces of Paleolithic behavior. When detected in the Early and Middle Pleistocene record, anthropologists and archeologists often imagine evidence of unusual or novel behavior in terms of early humankind ascending the rungs of a figurative phylogenetic 'ladder' - as if these corresponded to progressive evolution of cognitive abilities that enabled incremental achievements of increasingly innovative technical prowess, culminating in the cognitive ascendancy of Homo sapiens. The conjecture overlooks a plausible likelihood that behavior by an individual who was atypical among her conspecifics could have been disregarded in a community of Hominina (for definition see Appendix 1) that failed to recognize, imagine, or articulate potential advantages of adopting hitherto unorthodox behavior. Such failure, as well as diverse fortuitous demographic accidents, would cause exceptional personal behavior to be ignored and hence unremembered. It could disappear by a pitfall, down a 'snake', as it were, in the figurative evolutionary board game; thereby causing a discontinuity in the evolution of human behavior that presents like an evolutionary puzzle. The puzzle discomforts some paleoanthropologists trained in the natural and life sciences. They often dismiss it, explaining it away with such self-justifying conjectures as that, maybe, separate paleospecies of Homo differentially possessed different cognitive abilities, which, supposedly, could account for the presence or absence in the Pleistocene archeological record of traces of this or that behavioral outcome or skill. We argue that an alternative perspective - that inherits from the FEP and an individual's 'active inference' about its surroundings and of its own responses - affords a prosaic, deflationary, and parsimonious way to account for appearances, disappearances, and reappearances of particular behavioral outcomes and skills of early humankind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Marín Manrique
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Ciudad Escolar, s/n, Teruel 44003, Spain
| | - Karl John Friston
- Imaging Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, and The Wellcome Centre for Human Imaging, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Michael John Walker
- Physical Anthropology, Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Universitario de Espinardo Edificio 20, Murcia 30100, Spain.
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2
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Nehme R, Pietiläinen O, Barrett LE. Genomic, molecular, and cellular divergence of the human brain. Trends Neurosci 2024:S0166-2236(24)00089-4. [PMID: 38897852 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
While many core biological processes are conserved across species, the human brain has evolved with unique capacities. Current understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that endow human traits as well as associated vulnerabilities remains limited. However, emerging data have illuminated species divergence in DNA elements and genome organization, in molecular, morphological, and functional features of conserved neural cell types, as well as temporal differences in brain development. Here, we summarize recent data on unique features of the human brain and their complex implications for the study and treatment of brain diseases. We also consider key outstanding questions in the field and discuss the technologies and foundational knowledge that will be required to accelerate understanding of human neurobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralda Nehme
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Olli Pietiläinen
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lindy E Barrett
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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3
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Leow KQ, Tonta MA, Lu J, Coleman HA, Parkington HC. Towards understanding sex differences in autism spectrum disorders. Brain Res 2024; 1833:148877. [PMID: 38513995 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148877] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social deficits, repetitive behaviours and lack of empathy. Its significant genetic heritability and potential comorbidities often lead to diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This review addresses the biological basis of ASD, focusing on the sex differences in gene expression and hormonal influences. ASD is more commonly diagnosed in males at a ratio of 4:1, indicating a potential oversight in female-specific ASD research and a risk of underdiagnosis in females. We consider how ASD manifests differently across sexes by exploring differential gene expression in female and male brains and consider how variations in steroid hormones influence ASD characteristics. Synaptic function, including excitation/inhibition ratio imbalance, is influenced by gene mutations and this is explored as a key factor in the cognitive and behavioural manifestations of ASD. We also discuss the role of micro RNAs (miRNAs) and highlight a novel mutation in miRNA-873, which affects a suite of key synaptic genes, neurexin, neuroligin, SHANK and post-synaptic density proteins, implicated in the pathology of ASD. Our review suggests that genetic predisposition, sex differences in brain gene expression, and hormonal factors significantly contribute to the presentation, identification and severity of ASD, necessitating sex-specific considerations in diagnosis and treatments. These findings advocate for personalized interventions to improve the outcomes for individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Q Leow
- Department of Physiology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mary A Tonta
- Department of Physiology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jing Lu
- Tianjin Institute of Infectious Disease, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Harold A Coleman
- Department of Physiology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Helena C Parkington
- Department of Physiology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
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4
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Taylor HP, Thung KH, Huynh KM, Lin W, Ahmad S, Yap PT. Functional Hierarchy of the Human Neocortex from Cradle to Grave. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.14.599109. [PMID: 38915694 PMCID: PMC11195193 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.14.599109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates that the organization of the human neocortex is underpinned by smooth spatial gradients of functional connectivity (FC). These gradients provide crucial in-sight into the relationship between the brain's topographic organization and the texture of human cognition. However, no studies to date have charted how intrinsic FC gradient architecture develops across the entire human lifespan. In this work, we model developmental trajectories of the three primary gradients of FC using a large, high-quality, and temporally-dense functional MRI dataset spanning from birth to 100 years of age. The gradient axes, denoted as sensorimotor-association (SA), visual-somatosensory (VS), and modulation-representation (MR), encode crucial hierarchical organizing principles of the brain in development and aging. By tracking their evolution throughout the human lifespan, we provide the first ever comprehensive low-dimensional normative reference of global FC hierarchical architecture. We observe significant age-related changes in global network features, with global markers of hierarchical organization increasing from birth to early adulthood and decreasing there-after. During infancy and early childhood, FC organization is shaped by primary sensory processing, dense short-range connectivity, and immature association and control hierarchies. Functional differentiation of transmodal systems supported by long-range coupling drives a convergence toward adult-like FC organization during late childhood, while adolescence and early adulthood are marked by the expansion and refinement of SA and MR hierarchies. While gradient topographies remain stable during late adulthood and aging, we observe decreases in global gradient measures of FC differentiation and complexity from 30 to 100 years. Examining cortical microstructure gradients alongside our functional gradients, we observed that structure-function gradient coupling undergoes differential lifespan trajectories across multiple gradient axes.
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5
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Barzó P, Szöts I, Tóth M, Csajbók ÉA, Molnár G, Tamás G. Electrophysiology and Morphology of Human Cortical Supragranular Pyramidal Cells in a Wide Age Range. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.13.598792. [PMID: 38915496 PMCID: PMC11195274 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.13.598792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
The basic excitatory neurons of the cerebral cortex, the pyramidal cells, are the most important signal integrators for the local circuit. They have quite characteristic morphological and electrophysiological properties that are known to be largely constant with age in the young and adult cortex. However, the brain undergoes several dynamic changes throughout life, such as in the phases of early development and cognitive decline in the aging brain. We set out to search for intrinsic cellular changes in supragranular pyramidal cells across a broad age range: from birth to 85 years of age and we found differences in several biophysical properties between defined age groups. During the first year of life, subthreshold and suprathreshold electrophysiological properties changed in a way that shows that pyramidal cells become less excitable with maturation, but also become temporarily more precise. According to our findings, the morphological features of the three-dimensional reconstructions from different life stages showed consistent morphological properties and systematic dendritic spine analysis of an infantile and an old pyramidal cell showed clear significant differences in the distribution of spine shapes. Overall, the changes that occur during development and aging may have lasting effects on the properties of pyramidal cells in the cerebral cortex. Understanding these changes is important to unravel the complex mechanisms underlying brain development, cognition and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Park S, Haak KV, Oldham S, Cho H, Byeon K, Park BY, Thomson P, Chen H, Gao W, Xu T, Valk S, Milham MP, Bernhardt B, Di Martino A, Hong SJ. A shifting role of thalamocortical connectivity in the emergence of cortical functional organization. Nat Neurosci 2024:10.1038/s41593-024-01679-3. [PMID: 38858608 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01679-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
The cortical patterning principle has been a long-standing question in neuroscience, yet how this translates to macroscale functional specialization in the human brain remains largely unknown. Here we examine age-dependent differences in resting-state thalamocortical connectivity to investigate its role in the emergence of large-scale functional networks during early life, using a primarily cross-sectional but also longitudinal approach. We show that thalamocortical connectivity during infancy reflects an early differentiation of sensorimotor networks and genetically influenced axonal projection. This pattern changes in childhood, when connectivity is established with the salience network, while decoupling externally and internally oriented functional systems. A developmental simulation using generative network models corroborated these findings, demonstrating that thalamic connectivity contributes to developing key features of the mature brain, such as functional segregation and the sensory-association axis, especially across 12-18 years of age. Our study suggests that the thalamus plays an important role in functional specialization during development, with potential implications for studying conditions with compromised internal and external processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinwon Park
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, Korea
- Autism Center, Child Mind Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Koen V Haak
- Department of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute, Radboud University, Radboud, The Netherlands
| | - Stuart Oldham
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hanbyul Cho
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, Korea
| | - Kyoungseob Byeon
- Center for Integrative Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bo-Yong Park
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, Korea
- Department of Data Science, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
| | | | - Haitao Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ting Xu
- Center for Integrative Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sofie Valk
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7), Brain and Behavior, Forschungszentrum, Juelich, Germany
| | - Michael P Milham
- Center for the Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Boris Bernhardt
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Seok-Jun Hong
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, Korea.
- Center for the Developing Brain, Child Mind Institute, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea.
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea.
- Department of MetaBioHealth, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea.
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7
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Makowski C, Brown TT, Zhao W, Hagler Jr DJ, Parekh P, Garavan H, Nichols TE, Jernigan TL, Dale AM. Leveraging the adolescent brain cognitive development study to improve behavioral prediction from neuroimaging in smaller replication samples. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae223. [PMID: 38880786 PMCID: PMC11180541 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae223] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroimaging is a popular method to map brain structural and functional patterns to complex human traits. Recently published observations cast doubt upon these prospects, particularly for prediction of cognitive traits from structural and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We leverage baseline data from thousands of children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM Study to inform the replication sample size required with univariate and multivariate methods across different imaging modalities to detect reproducible brain-behavior associations. We demonstrate that by applying multivariate methods to high-dimensional brain imaging data, we can capture lower dimensional patterns of structural and functional brain architecture that correlate robustly with cognitive phenotypes and are reproducible with only 41 individuals in the replication sample for working memory-related functional MRI, and ~ 100 subjects for structural and resting state MRI. Even with 100 random re-samplings of 100 subjects in discovery, prediction can be adequately powered with 66 subjects in replication for multivariate prediction of cognition with working memory task functional MRI. These results point to an important role for neuroimaging in translational neurodevelopmental research and showcase how findings in large samples can inform reproducible brain-behavior associations in small sample sizes that are at the heart of many research programs and grants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Makowski
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Timothy T Brown
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA,, United States
| | - Weiqi Zhao
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Donald J Hagler Jr
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Pravesh Parekh
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Thomas E Nichols
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Terry L Jernigan
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Anders M Dale
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA,, United States
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8
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Xiong GJ, Sheng ZH. Presynaptic perspective: Axonal transport defects in neurodevelopmental disorders. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202401145. [PMID: 38568173 PMCID: PMC10988239 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202401145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Disruption of synapse assembly and maturation leads to a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders. Presynaptic proteins are largely synthesized in the soma, where they are packaged into precursor vesicles and transported into distal axons to ensure precise assembly and maintenance of presynapses. Due to their morphological features, neurons face challenges in the delivery of presynaptic cargos to nascent boutons. Thus, targeted axonal transport is vital to build functional synapses. A growing number of mutations in genes encoding the transport machinery have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. Emerging lines of evidence have started to uncover presynaptic mechanisms underlying axonal transport defects, thus broadening the view of neurodevelopmental disorders beyond postsynaptic mechanisms. In this review, we discuss presynaptic perspectives of neurodevelopmental disorders by focusing on impaired axonal transport and disturbed assembly and maintenance of presynapses. We also discuss potential strategies for restoring axonal transport as an early therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Jing Xiong
- Synaptic Function Section, The Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zu-Hang Sheng
- Synaptic Function Section, The Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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9
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Kaizuka T, Takumi T. Alteration of synaptic protein composition during developmental synapse maturation. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:2894-2914. [PMID: 38571321 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16304] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The postsynaptic density (PSD) is a collection of specialized proteins assembled beneath the postsynaptic membrane of dendritic spines. The PSD proteome comprises ~1000 proteins, including neurotransmitter receptors, scaffolding proteins and signalling enzymes. Many of these proteins have essential roles in synaptic function and plasticity. During brain development, changes are observed in synapse density and in the stability and shape of spines, reflecting the underlying molecular maturation of synapses. Synaptic protein composition changes in terms of protein abundance and the assembly of protein complexes, supercomplexes and the physical organization of the PSD. Here, we summarize the developmental alterations of postsynaptic protein composition during synapse maturation. We describe major PSD proteins involved in postsynaptic signalling that regulates synaptic plasticity and discuss the effect of altered expression of these proteins during development. We consider the abnormality of synaptic profiles and synaptic protein composition in the brain in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders. We also explain differences in synapse development between rodents and primates in terms of synaptic profiles and protein composition. Finally, we introduce recent findings related to synaptic diversity and nanoarchitecture and discuss their impact on future research. Synaptic protein composition can be considered a major determinant and marker of synapse maturation in normality and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Kaizuka
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Toru Takumi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
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10
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Ravindranath O, Perica MI, Parr AC, Ojha A, McKeon SD, Montano G, Ullendorff N, Luna B, Edmiston EK. Adolescent neurocognitive development and decision-making abilities regarding gender-affirming care. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2024; 67:101351. [PMID: 38383174 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101351] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, politicians and legislative bodies have cited neurodevelopmental literature to argue that brain immaturity undermines decision-making regarding gender-affirming care (GAC) in youth. Here, we review this literature as it applies to adolescents' ability to make decisions regarding GAC. The research shows that while adolescence is a time of peak risk-taking behavior that may lead to impulsive decisions, neurocognitive systems supporting adult-level decisions are available given deliberative processes that minimize influence of short-term rewards and peers. Since GAC decisions occur over an extended period and with support from adult caregivers and clinicians, adolescents can engage adult-level decision-making in this context. We also weigh the benefits of providing GAC access during adolescence and consider the significant costs of blocking or delaying GAC. Transgender and non-binary (TNB) adolescents face significant mental health challenges, many of which are mitigated by GAC access. Further, initiating the GAC process during adolescence, which we define as beginning at pubertal onset, leads to better long-term mental health outcomes than waiting until adulthood. Taken together, existing research indicates that many adolescents can make informed decisions regarding gender-affirming care, and that this care is critical for the well-being of TNB youth. We highlight relevant considerations for policy makers, researchers, and clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orma Ravindranath
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Maria I Perica
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ashley C Parr
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Amar Ojha
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shane D McKeon
- Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Gerald Montano
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Naomi Ullendorff
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Beatriz Luna
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - E Kale Edmiston
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, USA
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11
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Black T, Jenkins BW, Laprairie RB, Howland JG. Therapeutic potential of gamma entrainment using sensory stimulation for cognitive symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 161:105681. [PMID: 38641090 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105681] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder with significant morbidity. Treatment options that address the spectrum of symptoms are limited, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation (GENUS) is an emerging treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders that uses sensory stimulation to entrain impaired oscillatory network activity and restore brain function. Aberrant oscillatory activity often underlies the symptoms experienced by patients with schizophrenia. We propose that GENUS has therapeutic potential for schizophrenia. This paper reviews the current status of schizophrenia treatment and explores the use of sensory stimulation as an adjunctive treatment, specifically through gamma entrainment. Impaired gamma frequency entrainment is observed in patients, particularly in response to auditory and visual stimuli. Thus, sensory stimulation, such as music listening, may have therapeutic potential for individuals with schizophrenia. GENUS holds novel therapeutic potential to improve the lives of individuals with schizophrenia, but further research is required to determine the efficacy of GENUS, optimize its delivery and therapeutic window, and develop strategies for its implementation in specific patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tallan Black
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
| | - Bryan W Jenkins
- Division of Behavioral Biology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Robert B Laprairie
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - John G Howland
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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12
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Szakács H, Mutlu MC, Balestrieri G, Gombos F, Braun J, Kringelbach ML, Deco G, Kovács I. Navigating Pubertal Goldilocks: The Optimal Pace for Hierarchical Brain Organization. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308364. [PMID: 38489748 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Adolescence is a timed process with an onset, tempo, and duration. Nevertheless, the temporal dimension, especially the pace of maturation, remains an insufficiently studied aspect of developmental progression. The primary objective is to estimate the precise influence of pubertal maturational tempo on the configuration of associative brain regions. To this end, the connection between maturational stages and the level of hierarchical organization of large-scale brain networks in 12-13-year-old females is analyzed. Skeletal maturity is used as a proxy for pubertal progress. The degree of maturity is defined by the difference between bone age and chronological age. To assess the level of hierarchical organization in the brain, the temporal dynamic of closed eye resting state high-density electroencephalography (EEG) in the alpha frequency range is analyzed. Different levels of hierarchical order are captured by the measured asymmetry in the directionality of information flow between different regions. The calculated EEG-based entropy production of participant groups is then compared with accelerated, average, and decelerated maturity. Results indicate that an average maturational trajectory optimally aligns with cerebral hierarchical order, and both accelerated and decelerated timelines result in diminished cortical organization. This suggests that a "Goldilocks rule" of brain development is favoring a particular maturational tempo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Szakács
- Laboratory for Psychological Research, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1 Mikszáth Square, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
- Semmelweis University Doctoral School, Division of Mental Health Sciences, 26 Üllői road, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
| | - Murat Can Mutlu
- Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke University, 44 Leipziger Straße, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University, 44 Leipziger Straße, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Giulio Balestrieri
- Center for Brain and Cognition, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 25-27 Ramon Trias Fargas, Barcelona, 08005, Spain
| | - Ferenc Gombos
- Laboratory for Psychological Research, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, 1 Mikszáth Square, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
- HUN-REN-ELTE-PPKE Adolescent Development Research Group, 1 Mikszáth Kálmán Square, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
| | - Jochen Braun
- Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke University, 44 Leipziger Straße, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-von-Guericke University, 44 Leipziger Straße, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Morten L Kringelbach
- Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX3 9BX, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Nordre Ringgade 1, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Gustavo Deco
- Center for Brain and Cognition, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 25-27 Ramon Trias Fargas, Barcelona, 08005, Spain
- Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 122-140 Carrer de Tànger, Barcelona, 08018, Spain
- Institució Catalana de la Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 23 Passeig de Lluís Companys, Barcelona, 08010, Spain
| | - Ilona Kovács
- HUN-REN-ELTE-PPKE Adolescent Development Research Group, 1 Mikszáth Kálmán Square, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, 25-27 Kazinczy Street, Budapest, 1075, Hungary
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13
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Dear R, Wagstyl K, Seidlitz J, Markello RD, Arnatkevičiūtė A, Anderson KM, Bethlehem RAI, Raznahan A, Bullmore ET, Vértes PE. Cortical gene expression architecture links healthy neurodevelopment to the imaging, transcriptomics and genetics of autism and schizophrenia. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1075-1086. [PMID: 38649755 PMCID: PMC11156586 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01624-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Human brain organization involves the coordinated expression of thousands of genes. For example, the first principal component (C1) of cortical transcription identifies a hierarchy from sensorimotor to association regions. In this study, optimized processing of the Allen Human Brain Atlas revealed two new components of cortical gene expression architecture, C2 and C3, which are distinctively enriched for neuronal, metabolic and immune processes, specific cell types and cytoarchitectonics, and genetic variants associated with intelligence. Using additional datasets (PsychENCODE, Allen Cell Atlas and BrainSpan), we found that C1-C3 represent generalizable transcriptional programs that are coordinated within cells and differentially phased during fetal and postnatal development. Autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia were specifically associated with C1/C2 and C3, respectively, across neuroimaging, differential expression and genome-wide association studies. Evidence converged especially in support of C3 as a normative transcriptional program for adolescent brain development, which can lead to atypical supragranular cortical connectivity in people at high genetic risk for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Dear
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | | | - Jakob Seidlitz
- Lifespan Brain Institute, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ross D Markello
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Aurina Arnatkevičiūtė
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Petra E Vértes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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14
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Liu J, Supekar K, El-Said D, de los Angeles C, Zhang Y, Chang H, Menon V. Neuroanatomical, transcriptomic, and molecular correlates of math ability and their prognostic value for predicting learning outcomes. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk7220. [PMID: 38820151 PMCID: PMC11141625 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk7220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Foundational mathematical abilities, acquired in early childhood, are essential for success in our technology-driven society. Yet, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying individual differences in children's mathematical abilities and learning outcomes remain largely unexplored. Leveraging one of the largest multicohort datasets from children at a pivotal stage of knowledge acquisition, we first establish a replicable mathematical ability-related imaging phenotype (MAIP). We then show that brain gene expression profiles enriched for candidate math ability-related genes, neuronal signaling, synaptic transmission, and voltage-gated potassium channel activity contributed to the MAIP. Furthermore, the similarity between MAIP gene expression signatures and brain structure, acquired before intervention, predicted learning outcomes in two independent math tutoring cohorts. These findings advance our knowledge of the interplay between neuroanatomical, transcriptomic, and molecular mechanisms underlying mathematical ability and reveal predictive biomarkers of learning. Our findings have implications for the development of personalized education and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Liu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kaustubh Supekar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dawlat El-Said
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Carlo de los Angeles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hyesang Chang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Vinod Menon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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15
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Knežević M. Temporal Course of Interference Control from Early to Late Young Adulthood: An ERP Study. Brain Sci 2024; 14:536. [PMID: 38928537 PMCID: PMC11202022 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14060536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we aimed to investigate the neural dynamics of interference control using event-related potentials (ERPs) to reveal time course of interference control from the beginning to the end of young adulthood. Three groups of participants aged 19-21, 23-27 and 28-44 performed a Stroop task. The results revealed age differences in both accuracy and ERP amplitudes during all aspects of interreference control processing that reflect selective attention (P2), conflict monitoring (N2), conflict evaluation (P3) and interference control (N450). Both younger groups made more errors on incongruent trials compared to participants in their early 30s. The presence of higher P2 and N2 amplitudes, diminished P3 and again higher N450 amplitudes in participants in their early 20s points to a shortage of available resources for top-down control at this age. These results are in accordance with structural and functional studies that show that development of the frontoparietal network, which underlies interference control, continues after adolescence. While brain mechanisms are still developing, the use of accompanying cognitive abilities is still not optimal. The findings that change in neural dynamics and related performance continues into early adulthood challenge current models of cognitive development and call for new directions in developmental theorizing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Knežević
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 242, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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16
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Steyn C, Mishi R, Fillmore S, Verhoog MB, More J, Rohlwink UK, Melvill R, Butler J, Enslin JMN, Jacobs M, Sauka-Spengler T, Greco M, Quiñones S, Dulla CG, Raimondo JV, Figaji A, Hockman D. Cell type-specific gene expression dynamics during human brain maturation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.29.560114. [PMID: 37808657 PMCID: PMC10557738 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.560114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The human brain undergoes protracted post-natal maturation, guided by dynamic changes in gene expression. Most studies exploring these processes have used bulk tissue analyses, which mask cell type-specific gene expression dynamics. Here, using single nucleus (sn)RNA-seq on temporal lobe tissue, including samples of African ancestry, we build a joint paediatric and adult atlas of 75 cell subtypes, which we verify with spatial transcriptomics. We explore the differences between paediatric and adult cell types, revealing the genes and pathways that change during brain maturation. Our results highlight excitatory neuron subtypes, including the LTK and FREM subtypes, that show elevated expression of genes associated with cognition and synaptic plasticity in paediatric tissue. The new resources we present here improve our understanding of the brain during its development and contribute to global efforts to build an inclusive brain cell map.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Steyn
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ruvimbo Mishi
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Stephanie Fillmore
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Matthijs B Verhoog
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jessica More
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ursula K Rohlwink
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Roger Melvill
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - James Butler
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Johannes M N Enslin
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Muazzam Jacobs
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology University of Cape Town
- National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa
| | - Tatjana Sauka-Spengler
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Maria Greco
- Single Cell Facility, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sadi Quiñones
- Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chris G Dulla
- Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph V Raimondo
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anthony Figaji
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dorit Hockman
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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17
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Lotter LD, Saberi A, Hansen JY, Misic B, Paquola C, Barker GJ, Bokde ALW, Desrivieres S, Flor H, Grigis A, Garavan H, Gowland P, Heinz A, Bruehl R, Martinot JL, Paillere ML, Artiges E, Papadopoulos Orfanos D, Paus T, Poustka L, Hohmann S, Froehner JH, Smolka MN, Vaidya N, Walter H, Whelan R, Schumann G, Nees F, Banaschewski T, Eickhoff SB, Dukart J. Regional patterns of human cortex development colocalize with underlying neurobiology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.05.05.539537. [PMID: 37205539 PMCID: PMC10187287 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.05.539537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Human brain morphology undergoes complex changes over the lifespan. Despite recent progress in tracking brain development via normative models, current knowledge of underlying biological mechanisms is highly limited. We demonstrate that human cerebral cortex development and aging trajectories unfold along patterns of molecular and cellular brain organization, traceable from population-level to individual developmental trajectories. During childhood and adolescence, cortex-wide spatial distributions of dopaminergic receptors, inhibitory neurons, glial cell populations, and brain-metabolic features explain up to 50% of variance associated with a lifespan model of regional cortical thickness trajectories. In contrast, modeled cortical change patterns during adulthood are best explained by cholinergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitter receptor and transporter distributions. These relationships are supported by developmental gene expression trajectories and translate to individual longitudinal data from over 8,000 adolescents, explaining up to 59% of developmental change at cohort- and 18% at single-subject level. Integrating neurobiological brain atlases with normative modeling and population neuroimaging provides a biologically meaningful path to understand brain development and aging in living humans.
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18
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Fatemi SH, Eschenlauer A, Aman J, Folsom TD, Chekouo T. Quantitative proteomics of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex reveals an early pattern of synaptic dysmaturation in children with idiopathic autism. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:161-171. [PMID: 38696595 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder with a rising prevalence and unknown etiology presenting with deficits in cognition and abnormal behavior. We hypothesized that the investigation of the synaptic component of prefrontal cortex may provide proteomic signatures that may identify the biological underpinnings of cognitive deficits in childhood ASD. Subcellular fractions of synaptosomes from prefrontal cortices of age-, brain area-, and postmortem-interval-matched samples from children and adults with idiopathic ASD vs. controls were subjected to HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. Analysis of data revealed the enrichment of ASD risk genes that participate in slow maturation of the postsynaptic density (PSD) structure and function during early brain development. Proteomic analysis revealed down regulation of PSD-related proteins including AMPA and NMDA receptors, GRM3, DLG4, olfactomedins, Shank1-3, Homer1, CaMK2α, NRXN1, NLGN2, Drebrin1, ARHGAP32, and Dock9 in children with autism (FDR-adjusted P < 0.05). In contrast, PSD-related alterations were less severe or unchanged in adult individuals with ASD. Network analyses revealed glutamate receptor abnormalities. Overall, the proteomic data support the concept that idiopathic autism is a synaptopathy involving PSD-related ASD risk genes. Interruption in evolutionarily conserved slow maturation of the PSD complex in prefrontal cortex may lead to the development of ASD in a susceptible individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hossein Fatemi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Arthur Eschenlauer
- Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, 599 Walter Library, 117 Pleasant Street, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Justin Aman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Timothy D Folsom
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Thierry Chekouo
- University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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19
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Zhou H, Gong L, Su C, Teng B, Xi W, Li X, Geng F, Hu Y. White matter integrity of right frontostriatal circuit predicts internet addiction severity among internet gamers. Addict Biol 2024; 29:e13399. [PMID: 38711213 PMCID: PMC11074389 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13399] [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: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Excessive use of the internet, which is a typical scenario of self-control failure, could lead to potential consequences such as anxiety, depression, and diminished academic performance. However, the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the structural basis of self-control and internet addiction. In a cohort of 96 internet gamers, we examined the relationships among grey matter volume and white matter integrity within the frontostriatal circuits and internet addiction severity, as well as self-control measures. The results showed a significant and negative correlation between dACC grey matter volume and internet addiction severity (p < 0.001), but not with self-control. Subsequent tractography from the dACC to the bilateral ventral striatum (VS) was conducted. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity of dACC-right VS pathway was negatively (p = 0.011) and positively (p = 0.020) correlated with internet addiction severity, respectively, and the FA was also positively correlated with self-control (p = 0.036). These associations were not observed for the dACC-left VS pathway. Further mediation analysis demonstrated a significant complete mediation effect of self-control on the relationship between FA of the dACC-right VS pathway and internet addiction severity. Our findings suggest that the dACC-right VS pathway is a critical neural substrate for both internet addiction and self-control. Deficits in this pathway may lead to impaired self-regulation over internet usage, exacerbating the severity of internet addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhou
- The State Key Lab of Brain‐Machine IntelligenceZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Liangyu Gong
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Conghui Su
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Binyu Teng
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Wan Xi
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xiumei Li
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Fengji Geng
- Department of Curriculum and Learning SciencesZhejiang University, Zijingang CampusHangzhouChina
| | - Yuzheng Hu
- The State Key Lab of Brain‐Machine IntelligenceZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- MOE Frontiers Science Center for Brain Science & Brain‐Machine IntegrationZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of MedicineHangzhou City UniversityHangzhouChina
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20
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Hoops D, Kyne RF, Salameh S, MacGowan D, Avramescu RG, Ewing E, He AT, Orsini T, Durand A, Popescu C, Zhao JM, Schatz KC, Li L, Carroll QE, Liu G, Paul MJ, Flores C. The scheduling of adolescence with Netrin-1 and UNC5C. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.01.19.521267. [PMID: 36711625 PMCID: PMC9882376 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.19.521267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine axons are the only axons known to grow during adolescence. Here, using rodent models, we examined how two proteins, Netrin-1 and its receptor, UNC5C, guide dopamine axons towards the prefrontal cortex and shape behaviour. We demonstrate in mice ( Mus musculus ) that dopamine axons reach the cortex through a transient gradient of Netrin-1 expressing cells - disrupting this gradient reroutes axons away from their target. Using a seasonal model (Siberian hamsters; Phodopus sungorus ) we find that mesocortical dopamine development can be regulated by a natural environmental cue (daylength) in a sexually dimorphic manner - delayed in males, but advanced in females. The timings of dopamine axon growth and UNC5C expression are always phase-locked. Adolescence is an ill-defined, transitional period; we pinpoint neurodevelopmental markers underlying this period.
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21
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Walhovd KB, Krogsrud SK, Amlien IK, Sørensen Ø, Wang Y, Bråthen ACS, Overbye K, Kransberg J, Mowinckel AM, Magnussen F, Herud M, Håberg AK, Fjell AM, Vidal-Pineiro D. Fetal influence on the human brain through the lifespan. eLife 2024; 12:RP86812. [PMID: 38602745 PMCID: PMC11008813 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86812] [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] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Human fetal development has been associated with brain health at later stages. It is unknown whether growth in utero, as indexed by birth weight (BW), relates consistently to lifespan brain characteristics and changes, and to what extent these influences are of a genetic or environmental nature. Here we show remarkably stable and lifelong positive associations between BW and cortical surface area and volume across and within developmental, aging and lifespan longitudinal samples (N = 5794, 4-82 y of age, w/386 monozygotic twins, followed for up to 8.3 y w/12,088 brain MRIs). In contrast, no consistent effect of BW on brain changes was observed. Partly environmental effects were indicated by analysis of twin BW discordance. In conclusion, the influence of prenatal growth on cortical topography is stable and reliable through the lifespan. This early-life factor appears to influence the brain by association of brain reserve, rather than brain maintenance. Thus, fetal influences appear omnipresent in the spacetime of the human brain throughout the human lifespan. Optimizing fetal growth may increase brain reserve for life, also in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine B Walhovd
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
- Computational Radiology and Artificial Intelligence, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Stine K Krogsrud
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Inge K Amlien
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Øystein Sørensen
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Yunpeng Wang
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | | | - Knut Overbye
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Jonas Kransberg
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | | | - Fredrik Magnussen
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Martine Herud
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Asta K Håberg
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyOsloNorway
| | - Anders Martin Fjell
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
- Computational Radiology and Artificial Intelligence, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Didac Vidal-Pineiro
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of OsloOsloNorway
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22
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Sheridan SD, Horng JE, Yeh H, McCrea L, Wang J, Fu T, Perlis RH. Loss of Function in the Neurodevelopmental Disease and Schizophrenia-Associated Gene CYFIP1 in Human Microglia-like Cells Supports a Functional Role in Synaptic Engulfment. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:676-686. [PMID: 37573007 PMCID: PMC10874584 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The CYFIP1 gene, located in the neurodevelopmental risk locus 15q11.2, is highly expressed in microglia, but its role in human microglial function as it relates to neurodevelopment is not well understood. METHODS We generated multiple CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) knockouts of CYFIP1 in patient-derived models of microglia to characterize function and phenotype. Using microglia-like cells reprogrammed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, we quantified phagocytosis of synaptosomes (isolated and purified synaptic vesicles) from human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal cultures as an in vitro model of synaptic pruning. We repeated these analyses in human iPSC-derived microglia-like cells derived from 3 isogenic wild-type/knockout line pairs derived from 2 donors and further characterized microglial development and function through morphology and motility. RESULTS CYFIP1 knockout using orthogonal CRISPR constructs in multiple patient-derived cell lines was associated with a statistically significant decrease in synaptic vesicle phagocytosis in microglia-like cell models derived from both peripheral blood mononuclear cells and iPSCs. Morphology was also shifted toward a more ramified profile, and motility was significantly reduced. However, iPSC-CYFIP1 knockout lines retained the ability to differentiate to functional microglia. CONCLUSIONS The changes in microglial phenotype and function due to the loss of function of CYFIP1 observed in this study implicate a potential impact on processes such as synaptic pruning that may contribute to CYFIP1-related neurodevelopmental disorders. Investigating risk genes in a range of central nervous system cell types, not solely neurons, may be required to fully understand the way in which common and rare variants intersect to yield neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Sheridan
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joy E Horng
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hana Yeh
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Liam McCrea
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jennifer Wang
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ting Fu
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Roy H Perlis
- Center for Genomic Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Rinne N, Wikman P, Sahari E, Salmi J, Einarsdóttir E, Kere J, Alho K. Developmental dyslexia susceptibility genes DNAAF4, DCDC2, and NRSN1 are associated with brain function in fluently reading adolescents and young adults. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae144. [PMID: 38610086 PMCID: PMC11014888 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae144] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Reading skills and developmental dyslexia, characterized by difficulties in developing reading skills, have been associated with brain anomalies within the language network. Genetic factors contribute to developmental dyslexia risk, but the mechanisms by which these genes influence reading skills remain unclear. In this preregistered study (https://osf.io/7sehx), we explored if developmental dyslexia susceptibility genes DNAAF4, DCDC2, NRSN1, and KIAA0319 are associated with brain function in fluently reading adolescents and young adults. Functional MRI and task performance data were collected during tasks involving written and spoken sentence processing, and DNA sequence variants of developmental dyslexia susceptibility genes previously associated with brain structure anomalies were genotyped. The results revealed that variation in DNAAF4, DCDC2, and NRSN1 is associated with brain activity in key language regions: the left inferior frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, and intraparietal sulcus. Furthermore, NRSN1 was associated with task performance, but KIAA0319 did not yield any significant associations. Our findings suggest that individuals with a genetic predisposition to developmental dyslexia may partly employ compensatory neural and behavioral mechanisms to maintain typical task performance. Our study highlights the relevance of these developmental dyslexia susceptibility genes in language-related brain function, even in individuals without developmental dyslexia, providing valuable insights into the genetic factors influencing language processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nea Rinne
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Patrik Wikman
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elisa Sahari
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Assistentinkatu 7, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Juha Salmi
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Otakaari 3, Aalto University, (AALTO), P.O. BOX 00076, Espoo, Finland
| | - Elisabet Einarsdóttir
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, SE-171 21, Solna, Sweden
| | - Juha Kere
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, H7 Medicin, Huddinge, Sweden
- Folkhälsan Research Center, and Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program (STEMM), University of Helsinki, PL 63, Haartmaninkatu 8, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kimmo Alho
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Advanced Magnetic Imaging Centre, Aalto NeuroImaging, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
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24
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Luppi AI, Rosas FE, Noonan MP, Mediano PAM, Kringelbach ML, Carhart-Harris RL, Stamatakis EA, Vernon AC, Turkheimer FE. Oxygen and the Spark of Human Brain Evolution: Complex Interactions of Metabolism and Cortical Expansion across Development and Evolution. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:173-198. [PMID: 36476177 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221138032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Scientific theories on the functioning and dysfunction of the human brain require an understanding of its development-before and after birth and through maturation to adulthood-and its evolution. Here we bring together several accounts of human brain evolution by focusing on the central role of oxygen and brain metabolism. We argue that evolutionary expansion of human transmodal association cortices exceeded the capacity of oxygen delivery by the vascular system, which led these brain tissues to rely on nonoxidative glycolysis for additional energy supply. We draw a link between the resulting lower oxygen tension and its effect on cytoarchitecture, which we posit as a key driver of genetic developmental programs for the human brain-favoring lower intracortical myelination and the presence of biosynthetic materials for synapse turnover. Across biological and temporal scales, this protracted capacity for neural plasticity sets the conditions for cognitive flexibility and ongoing learning, supporting complex group dynamics and intergenerational learning that in turn enabled improved nutrition to fuel the metabolic costs of further cortical expansion. Our proposed model delineates explicit mechanistic links among metabolism, molecular and cellular brain heterogeneity, and behavior, which may lead toward a clearer understanding of brain development and its disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea I Luppi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Division of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
| | - Fernando E Rosas
- Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Science, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Complexity Science, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - MaryAnn P Noonan
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Pedro A M Mediano
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of Computing, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Morten L Kringelbach
- Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robin L Carhart-Harris
- Psychedelics Division-Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emmanuel A Stamatakis
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Division of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anthony C Vernon
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Federico E Turkheimer
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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25
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Onwordi EC, Whitehurst T, Shatalina E, Mansur A, Arumuham A, Osugo M, Marques TR, Jauhar S, Gupta S, Mehrotra R, Rabiner EA, Gunn RN, Natesan S, Howes OD. Synaptic Terminal Density Early in the Course of Schizophrenia: An In Vivo UCB-J Positron Emission Tomographic Imaging Study of SV2A. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:639-646. [PMID: 37330164 PMCID: PMC10923626 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The synaptic hypothesis is an influential theory of the pathoetiology of schizophrenia (SCZ), which is supported by the finding that there is lower uptake of the synaptic terminal density marker [11C]UCB-J in patients with chronic SCZ than in control participants. However, it is unclear whether these differences are present early in the illness. To address this, we investigated [11C]UCB-J volume of distribution (VT) in antipsychotic-naïve/free patients with SCZ who were recruited from first-episode services compared with healthy volunteers. METHODS Forty-two volunteers (SCZ n = 21, healthy volunteers n = 21) underwent [11C]UCB-J positron emission tomography to index [11C]UCB-J VT and distribution volume ratio in the anterior cingulate, frontal, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices; the temporal, parietal and occipital lobes; and the hippocampus, thalamus, and amygdala. Symptom severity was assessed in the SCZ group using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. RESULTS We found no significant effects of group on [11C]UCB-J VT or distribution volume ratio in most regions of interest (effect sizes from d = 0.0-0.7, p > .05), with two exceptions: we found lower distribution volume ratio in the temporal lobe (d = 0.7, uncorrected p < .05) and lower VT/fp in the anterior cingulate cortex in patients (d = 0.7, uncorrected p < .05). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score was negatively associated with [11C]UCB-J VT in the hippocampus in the SCZ group (r = -0.48, p = .03). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that large differences in synaptic terminal density are not present early in SCZ, although there may be more subtle effects. When taken together with previous evidence of lower [11C]UCB-J VT in patients with chronic illness, this may indicate synaptic density changes during the course of SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellis Chika Onwordi
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Psychiatric Imaging Group, Medical Research Council, London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Thomas Whitehurst
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Psychiatric Imaging Group, Medical Research Council, London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ekaterina Shatalina
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Psychiatric Imaging Group, Medical Research Council, London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ayla Mansur
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, The Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Invicro, Burlington Danes Building, London, United Kingdom
| | - Atheeshaan Arumuham
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Psychiatric Imaging Group, Medical Research Council, London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Osugo
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Psychiatric Imaging Group, Medical Research Council, London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tiago Reis Marques
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Psychiatric Imaging Group, Medical Research Council, London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sameer Jauhar
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Susham Gupta
- Early Detection and Early Intervention, East London National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ravi Mehrotra
- Early Intervention in Psychosis Team, West Middlesex University Hospital, West London National Health Service Trust, Isleworth, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eugenii A Rabiner
- Invicro, Burlington Danes Building, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roger N Gunn
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, The Commonwealth Building, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Invicro, Burlington Danes Building, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sridhar Natesan
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Psychiatric Imaging Group, Medical Research Council, London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver D Howes
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Psychiatric Imaging Group, Medical Research Council, London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
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26
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McKeon SD, Perica MI, Parr AC, Calabro FJ, Foran W, Hetherington H, Moon CH, Luna B. Aperiodic EEG and 7T MRSI evidence for maturation of E/I balance supporting the development of working memory through adolescence. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2024; 66:101373. [PMID: 38574406 PMCID: PMC11000172 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Adolescence has been hypothesized to be a critical period for the development of human association cortex and higher-order cognition. A defining feature of critical period development is a shift in the excitation: inhibition (E/I) balance of neural circuitry, however how changes in E/I may enhance cortical circuit function to support maturational improvements in cognitive capacities is not known. Harnessing ultra-high field 7 T MR spectroscopy and EEG in a large, longitudinal cohort of youth (N = 164, ages 10-32 years old, 347 neuroimaging sessions), we delineate biologically specific associations between age-related changes in excitatory glutamate and inhibitory GABA neurotransmitters and EEG-derived measures of aperiodic neural activity reflective of E/I balance in prefrontal association cortex. Specifically, we find that developmental increases in E/I balance reflected in glutamate:GABA balance are linked to changes in E/I balance assessed by the suppression of prefrontal aperiodic activity, which in turn facilitates robust improvements in working memory. These findings indicate a role for E/I-engendered changes in prefrontal signaling mechanisms in the maturation of cognitive maintenance. More broadly, this multi-modal imaging study provides evidence that human association cortex undergoes physiological changes consistent with critical period plasticity during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane D McKeon
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA; The Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Maria I Perica
- The Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ashley C Parr
- The Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Finnegan J Calabro
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA; The Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Will Foran
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hoby Hetherington
- Resonance Research Incorporated, Billerica, MA, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Chan-Hong Moon
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Beatriz Luna
- The Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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27
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Arellano JI, Duque A, Rakic P. A coming-of-age story: adult neurogenesis or adolescent neurogenesis in rodents? Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1383728. [PMID: 38505771 PMCID: PMC10948509 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1383728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
It is surprising that after more than a century using rodents for scientific research, there are no clear, consensual, or consistent definitions for when a mouse or a rat becomes adult. Specifically, in the field of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, where this concept is central, there is a trend to consider that puberty marks the start of adulthood and is not uncommon to find 30-day-old mice being described as adults. However, as others discussed earlier, this implies an important bias in the perceived importance of this trait because functional studies are normally done at very young ages, when neurogenesis is at its peak, disregarding middle aged and old animals that exhibit very little generation of new neurons. In this feature article we elaborate on those issues and argue that research on the postnatal development of mice and rats in the last 3 decades allows to establish an adolescence period that marks the transition to adulthood, as occurs in other mammals. Adolescence in both rat and mice ends around postnatal day 60 and therefore this age can be considered the onset of adulthood in both species. Nonetheless, to account for inter-individual, inter-strain differences in maturation and for possible delays due to environmental and social conditions, 3 months of age might be a safer option to consider mice and rats bona fide adults, as suggested by The Jackson Labs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon I. Arellano
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Alvaro Duque
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Pasko Rakic
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- Kavli Institute for Neuroscience at Yale, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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28
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Liu D, Jin Z, Wei H, Zhu C, Liu K, You P, Ju J, Xu J, Zhu W, Xu Q. Anti-SFT2D2 autoantibodies alter dendrite spine and cause psychotic behavior in mice. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 171:99-107. [PMID: 38262166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoimmunity plays an important role in schizophrenia (SCZ). Autoantibodies against SFT2D2 have been reported in patients with SCZ; however, the specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to describe an autoimmune model, namely, mice immunized against SFT2D2-peptides. METHODS ApoE-/- and WT mice (C57BL/6) were immunized four times (day 0, day 14, day 21, day 35) with SFT2D2 peptide or KLH via subcutaneous injection. Behavioral tests were conducted after the third immunization, and immunochemistry of brain tissue were performed after the sacrifice of the mice. RESULTS Active immunization with KLH-coupled SFT2D2-derived peptides in both WT and ApoE-/- (compromised blood-brain barrier) mice led to high circulating levels of anti-SFT2D2 IgG. While there was no detectable deficit in WT mice, impaired pre-pulse inhibition, motor impairments, and reduced cognition in ApoE-/- mice, without signs of anxiety and depression were observed. In addition, immunohistochemical assays demonstrated that activated microglia and astrocytes were increased but neuronal dendritic spine densities were decreased, accompanied by increased expression of complement molecule C4 across brain regions in ApoE-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS In model mice with compromised blood-brain barrier, endogenous anti-SFT2D2 IgG can activate glial cells and modulate synaptic plasticity, and induce a series of psychosis-like changes. These antibodies may reveal valuable therapeutic targets, which may improve the treatment strategies for a subgroup of SCZ patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duilin Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongman Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Caiyun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kejiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Pengsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahang Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jinming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wanwan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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29
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Norbom LB, Rokicki J, Eilertsen EM, Wiker T, Hanson J, Dahl A, Alnæs D, Fernández‐Cabello S, Beck D, Agartz I, Andreassen OA, Westlye LT, Tamnes CK. Parental education and income are linked to offspring cortical brain structure and psychopathology at 9-11 years. JCPP ADVANCES 2024; 4:e12220. [PMID: 38486948 PMCID: PMC10933599 DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background A child's socioeconomic environment can shape central aspects of their life, including vulnerability to mental disorders. Negative environmental influences in youth may interfere with the extensive and dynamic brain development occurring at this time. Indeed, there are numerous yet diverging reports of associations between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and child cortical brain morphometry. Most of these studies have used single metric- or unimodal analyses of standard cortical morphometry that downplay the probable scenario where numerous biological pathways in sum account for SES-related cortical differences in youth. Methods To comprehensively capture such variability, using data from 9758 children aged 8.9-11.1 years from the ABCD Study®, we employed linked independent component analysis (LICA) and fused vertex-wise cortical thickness, surface area, curvature and grey-/white-matter contrast (GWC). LICA revealed 70 uni- and multimodal components. We then assessed the linear relationships between parental education, parental income and each of the cortical components, controlling for age, sex, genetic ancestry, and family relatedness. We also assessed whether cortical structure moderated the negative relationships between parental SES and child general psychopathology. Results Parental education and income were both associated with larger surface area and higher GWC globally, in addition to local increases in surface area and to a lesser extent bidirectional GWC and cortical thickness patterns. The negative relation between parental income and child psychopathology were attenuated in children with a multimodal pattern of larger frontal- and smaller occipital surface area, and lower medial occipital thickness and GWC. Conclusion Structural brain MRI is sensitive to SES diversity in childhood, with GWC emerging as a particularly relevant marker together with surface area. In low-income families, having a more developed cortex across MRI metrics, appears beneficial for mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linn B. Norbom
- PROMENTA Research CenterDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- NORMENTInstitute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Jaroslav Rokicki
- NORMENTInstitute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Centre of Research and Education in Forensic PsychiatryOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Espen M. Eilertsen
- PROMENTA Research CenterDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Thea Wiker
- PROMENTA Research CenterDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- NORMENTInstitute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Psychiatric ResearchDiakonhjemmet HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Jamie Hanson
- Learning Research and Development Center University of PittsburghPennsylvaniaPittsburghUSA
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of PittsburghPennsylvaniaPittsburghUSA
| | - Andreas Dahl
- NORMENTInstitute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Dag Alnæs
- NORMENTInstitute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyPedagogy and LawKristiania University CollegeOsloNorway
| | | | - Dani Beck
- PROMENTA Research CenterDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- NORMENTInstitute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Psychiatric ResearchDiakonhjemmet HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Ingrid Agartz
- NORMENTInstitute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Psychiatric ResearchDiakonhjemmet HospitalOsloNorway
- K.G Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental DisordersUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Centre for Psychiatry ResearchDepartment of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care ServicesStockholmSweden
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- K.G Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental DisordersUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- NORMENTDivision of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Lars T. Westlye
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- K.G Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental DisordersUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- NORMENTDivision of Mental Health and AddictionOslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Christian K. Tamnes
- PROMENTA Research CenterDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- NORMENTInstitute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Psychiatric ResearchDiakonhjemmet HospitalOsloNorway
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30
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Snipes S, Krugliakova E, Jaramillo V, Volk C, Furrer M, Studler M, LeBourgeois M, Kurth S, Jenni OG, Huber R. Wake EEG oscillation dynamics reflect both sleep need and brain maturation across childhood and adolescence. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.24.581878. [PMID: 38463948 PMCID: PMC10925212 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.24.581878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
An objective measure of brain maturation is highly insightful for monitoring both typical and atypical development. Slow wave activity, recorded in the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG), reliably indexes changes in brain plasticity with age, as well as deficits related to developmental disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Unfortunately, measuring sleep EEG is resource-intensive and burdensome for participants. We therefore aimed to determine whether wake EEG could likewise index developmental changes in brain plasticity. We analyzed high-density wake EEG collected from 163 participants 3-25 years old, before and after a night of sleep. We compared two measures of oscillatory EEG activity, amplitudes and density, as well as two measures of aperiodic activity, intercepts and slopes. Furthermore, we compared these measures in patients with ADHD (8-17 y.o., N=58) to neurotypical controls. We found that wake oscillation amplitudes behaved the same as sleep slow wave activity: amplitudes decreased with age, decreased after sleep, and this overnight decrease decreased with age. Oscillation densities were also substantially age-dependent, decreasing overnight in children and increasing overnight in adolescents and adults. While both aperiodic intercepts and slopes decreased linearly with age, intercepts decreased overnight, and slopes increased overnight. Overall, our results indicate that wake oscillation amplitudes track both development and sleep need, and overnight changes in oscillation density reflect some yet-unknown shift in neural activity around puberty. No wake measure showed significant effects of ADHD, thus indicating that wake EEG measures, while easier to record, are not as sensitive as those during sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Snipes
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elena Krugliakova
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Donders Institute, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Valeria Jaramillo
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
- Surrey Sleep Research Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London and the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Carina Volk
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Furrer
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mirjam Studler
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Social Neuroscience and Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Monique LeBourgeois
- University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Integrative Physiology, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- In memoriam
| | - Salome Kurth
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oskar G Jenni
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reto Huber
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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31
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Arakelyan A, Avagyan S, Kurnosov A, Mkrtchyan T, Mkrtchyan G, Zakharyan R, Mayilyan KR, Binder H. Temporal changes of gene expression in health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 10:19. [PMID: 38368435 PMCID: PMC10874418 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-024-00443-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The molecular events underlying the development, manifestation, and course of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder span from embryonic life to advanced age. However, little is known about the early dynamics of gene expression in these disorders due to their relatively late manifestation. To address this, we conducted a secondary analysis of post-mortem prefrontal cortex datasets using bioinformatics and machine learning techniques to identify differentially expressed gene modules associated with aging and the diseases, determine their time-perturbation points, and assess enrichment with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) genes. Our findings revealed early, mid, and late deregulation of expression of functional gene modules involved in neurodevelopment, plasticity, homeostasis, and immune response. This supports the hypothesis that multiple hits throughout life contribute to disease manifestation rather than a single early-life event. Moreover, the time-perturbed functional gene modules were associated with genetic loci affecting gene expression, highlighting the role of genetic factors in gene expression dynamics and the development of disease phenotypes. Our findings emphasize the importance of investigating time-dependent perturbations in gene expression before the age of onset in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arsen Arakelyan
- Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia.
- Armenian Bioinformatics Institute, Yerevan, Armenia.
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia.
| | | | | | - Tigran Mkrtchyan
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | | | - Roksana Zakharyan
- Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Karine R Mayilyan
- Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
- Department of Therapeutics, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Traditional Medicine, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Hans Binder
- Armenian Bioinformatics Institute, Yerevan, Armenia
- Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
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32
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Pöpplau JA, Schwarze T, Dorofeikova M, Pochinok I, Günther A, Marquardt A, Hanganu-Opatz IL. Reorganization of adolescent prefrontal cortex circuitry is required for mouse cognitive maturation. Neuron 2024; 112:421-440.e7. [PMID: 37979584 PMCID: PMC10855252 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.10.024] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Most cognitive functions involving the prefrontal cortex emerge during late development. Increasing evidence links this delayed maturation to the protracted timeline of prefrontal development, which likely does not reach full maturity before the end of adolescence. However, the underlying mechanisms that drive the emergence and fine-tuning of cognitive abilities during adolescence, caused by circuit wiring, are still unknown. Here, we continuously monitored prefrontal activity throughout the postnatal development of mice and showed that an initial activity increase was interrupted by an extensive microglia-mediated breakdown of activity, followed by the rewiring of circuit elements to achieve adult-like patterns and synchrony. Interfering with these processes during adolescence, but not adulthood, led to a long-lasting microglia-induced disruption of prefrontal activity and neuronal morphology and decreased cognitive abilities. These results identified a nonlinear reorganization of prefrontal circuits during adolescence and revealed its importance for adult network function and cognitive processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jastyn A Pöpplau
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Hamburg Center of Neuroscience (HCNS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Timo Schwarze
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Hamburg Center of Neuroscience (HCNS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mariia Dorofeikova
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Hamburg Center of Neuroscience (HCNS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Irina Pochinok
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Hamburg Center of Neuroscience (HCNS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne Günther
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Hamburg Center of Neuroscience (HCNS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Annette Marquardt
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Hamburg Center of Neuroscience (HCNS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ileana L Hanganu-Opatz
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Hamburg Center of Neuroscience (HCNS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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33
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Heuer SE, Nickerson EW, Howell GR, Bloss EB. Genetic context drives age-related disparities in synaptic maintenance and structure across cortical and hippocampal neuronal circuits. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e14033. [PMID: 38130024 PMCID: PMC10861192 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The disconnection of neuronal circuitry through synaptic loss is presumed to be a major driver of age-related cognitive decline. Age-related cognitive decline is heterogeneous, yet whether genetic mechanisms differentiate successful from unsuccessful cognitive decline through maintenance or vulnerability of synaptic connections remains unknown. Previous work using rodent and primate models leveraged various techniques to imply that age-related synaptic loss is widespread on pyramidal cells in prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuits but absent on those in area CA1 of the hippocampus. Here, we examined the effect of aging on synapses on projection neurons forming a hippocampal-cortico-thalamic circuit important for spatial working memory tasks from two genetically distinct mouse strains that exhibit susceptibility (C57BL/6J) or resistance (PWK/PhJ) to cognitive decline during aging. Across both strains, synapse density on CA1-to-PFC projection neurons appeared completely intact with age. In contrast, we found synapse loss on PFC-to-nucleus reuniens (RE) projection neurons from aged C57BL/6J but not PWK/PhJ mice. Moreover, synapses from aged PWK/PhJ mice but not from C57BL/6J exhibited altered morphologies that suggest increased efficiency to drive depolarization in the parent dendrite. Our findings suggest resistance to age-related cognitive decline results in part by age-related synaptic adaptations, and identification of these mechanisms in PWK/PhJ mice could uncover new therapeutic targets for promoting successful cognitive aging and extending human health span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Heuer
- The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaineUSA
- Tufts University Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Emily W. Nickerson
- The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaineUSA
- Tufts University Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Gareth R. Howell
- The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaineUSA
- Tufts University Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and EngineeringUniversity of MaineOronoMaineUSA
| | - Erik B. Bloss
- The Jackson LaboratoryBar HarborMaineUSA
- Tufts University Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and EngineeringUniversity of MaineOronoMaineUSA
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34
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Juraska JM. The last stage of development: The restructuring and plasticity of the cortex during adolescence especially at puberty. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22468. [PMID: 38351459 PMCID: PMC10868901 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
There is considerable evidence of reorganization in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence in humans, as well as in rodents, where the cellular basis can be explored. Studies from my laboratory in the rat medial prefrontal cortex are reviewed here. In general, growth predominates before puberty. Pruning mainly occurs at puberty and after with decreases in the number of synapses, dendrites, and neurons. Perineuronal nets, extracellular structures that control plasticity, are pruned peripubertally only in female rats, which may further open the adolescent prefrontal cortex to environmental influences. This is supported by our recent evidence that exposure to mild stress early, but not late, in adolescence decreases prepulse inhibition. Additionally, exposure to methamphetamine in females early in adolescence increases the number of a major class of inhibitory interneurons, parvalbumin neurons, while the opposite occurs late in adolescence. In females, even estrogen receptor beta mRNA decreases at puberty in the prefrontal cortex. Interestingly, rats of both sexes perform better after puberty on a test of cognitive flexibility in the water maze. Thus, evidence is accruing that adolescence is not a single entity but rather an ongoing set of processes, and environmental effects will differ depending on timing and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice M. Juraska
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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35
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Gao Z, Zhang J, Zhang X, Wang L, Huang Y, Yu J. A Retrospective Study of the Patient State Index During General Anesthesia in Infants and Young Children. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2024; 63:249-256. [PMID: 37042054 DOI: 10.1177/00099228231168475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
This study described electroencephalogram (EEG) parameters in children under general anesthesia, which could monitor patient-specific brain responses to anesthetics and assess the effects of anesthesia. The objective was to detect the patient state index (PSI) and associated factors. We analyzed EEG parameters in patients in the age range 1 to 36 months. Patients were stratified into 2 groups as those aged 1 to 12 months and 13 to 36 months. Sixty-two patients were involved. Spectral edge frequency (SEF), PSI, and blood pressure were lower, and burst suppression rate (BSR) and heart rate were higher in the 1 to 12 months group. The SEF was associated with PSI in both groups. Age and blood pressure were positively associated with PSI, and BSR was negatively related to PSI in children under 1 year of age. Blood pressure was not associated with PSI in the 13 to 36 months age group. We found that the PSI levels did not accurately assess the depth of anesthesia in children under 1 year of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengzheng Gao
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Liya Wang
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Huang
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
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36
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Sun H, Sun Q, Li Y, Zhang J, Xing H, Wang J. Mapping individual structural covariance network in development brain with dynamic time warping. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae039. [PMID: 38342688 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae039] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
A conspicuous property of brain development or maturity is coupled with coordinated or synchronized brain structural co-variation. However, there is still a lack of effective approach to map individual structural covariance network. Here, we developed a novel individual structural covariance network method using dynamic time warping algorithm and applied it to delineate developmental trajectories of topological organizations of structural covariance network from childhood to early adulthood with a large sample of 655 individuals from Human Connectome Project-Development dataset. We found that the individual structural covariance network exhibited small-worldness property and the network global topological characteristics including small-worldness, global efficiency, local efficiency, and modularity linearly increase with age while the shortest path length linearly decreases with age. The nodal topological properties including betweenness and degree increased with age in language and emotion regulation related brain areas, while it decreased with age mainly in visual cortex, sensorimotor area, and hippocampus. Moreover, the topological attributes of structural covariance network as features could predict the age of each individual. Taken together, our results demonstrate that dynamic time warping can effectively map individual structural covariance network to uncover the developmental trajectories of network topology, which may facilitate future investigations to establish the links of structural co-variations with respect to cognition and disease vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Sun
- College of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Qinyao Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 625014, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Jiang Zhang
- College of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Haoyang Xing
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- School of Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jiaojian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, China
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37
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Choi US, Shim SY, Cho HJ, Jeong H. Association between cortical thickness and cognitive ability in very preterm school-age children. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2424. [PMID: 38287104 PMCID: PMC10825161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52576-5] [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: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Very preterm children, born before 32 weeks of gestation, are at risk for impaired cognitive function, mediated by several risk factors. Cognitive impairment can be measured by various neurodevelopmental assessments and is closely associated with structural alterations of brain morphometry, such as cortical thickness. However, the association between structural alterations and high-order cognitive function remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the neurodevelopmental associations between brain structural changes and cognitive abilities in very preterm and full-term children. Cortical thickness was assessed in 37 very preterm and 24 full-term children aged 6 years. Cortical thickness analysis of structural T1-weighted images was performed using Advanced Normalization Tools. Associations between cortical thickness and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children were evaluated by regression analysis based on ordinary least square estimation. Compared with full-term children, very preterm children showed significant differences in cortical thickness, variously associated with cognitive abilities in several brain regions. Perceptual reasoning indices were broadly correlated with cortical thickness in very preterm and full-term children. These findings provide important insights into neurodevelopment and its association with cortical thickness, which may serve as a biomarker in predictive models for neurodevelopmental diagnosis of high-order cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uk-Su Choi
- Medical Device Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu, South Korea
| | - So-Yeon Shim
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Hye Jung Cho
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Hyejin Jeong
- Neuroscience Convergence Center, Institute of Green Manufacturing Technology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
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38
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Xu P, Yu Y, Wu P. Role of microglia in brain development after viral infection. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1340308. [PMID: 38298216 PMCID: PMC10825034 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1340308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia are immune cells in the brain that originate from the yolk sac and enter the developing brain before birth. They play critical roles in brain development by supporting neural precursor proliferation, synaptic pruning, and circuit formation. However, microglia are also vulnerable to environmental factors, such as infection and stress that may alter their phenotype and function. Viral infection activates microglia to produce inflammatory cytokines and anti-viral responses that protect the brain from damage. However, excessive or prolonged microglial activation impairs brain development and leads to long-term consequences such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Moreover, certain viruses may attack microglia and deploy them as "Trojan horses" to infiltrate the brain. In this brief review, we describe the function of microglia during brain development and examine their roles after infection through microglia-neural crosstalk. We also identify limitations for current studies and highlight future investigated questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Xu
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Yongjia Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Ping Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
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39
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Getachew B, Hauser SR, Bennani S, El Kouhen N, Sari Y, Tizabi Y. Adolescent alcohol drinking interaction with the gut microbiome: implications for adult alcohol use disorder. ADVANCES IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESEARCH 2024; 4:11881. [PMID: 38322648 PMCID: PMC10846679 DOI: 10.3389/adar.2024.11881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Reciprocal communication between the gut microbiota and the brain, commonly referred to as the "gut-brain-axis" is crucial in maintaining overall physiological homeostasis. Gut microbiota development and brain maturation (neuronal connectivity and plasticity) appear to be synchronized and to follow the same timeline during childhood (immature), adolescence (expansion) and adulthood (completion). It is important to note that the mesolimbic reward circuitry develops early on, whereas the maturation of the inhibitory frontal cortical neurons is delayed. This imbalance can lead to increased acquirement of reward-seeking and risk-taking behaviors during adolescence, and consequently eventuate in heightened risk for substance abuse. Thus, there is high initiation of alcohol drinking in early adolescence that significantly increases the risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in adulthood. The underlying causes for heightened AUD risk are not well understood. It is suggested that alcohol-associated gut microbiota impairment during adolescence plays a key role in AUD neurodevelopment in adulthood. Furthermore, alcohol-induced dysregulation of microglia, either directly or indirectly through interaction with gut microbiota, may be a critical neuroinflammatory pathway leading to neurodevelopmental impairments and AUD. In this review article, we highlight the influence of adolescent alcohol drinking on gut microbiota, gut-brain axis and microglia, and eventual manifestation of AUD. Furthermore, novel therapeutic interventions via gut microbiota manipulations are discussed briefly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruk Getachew
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Sheketha R. Hauser
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Samia Bennani
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Nacer El Kouhen
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Youssef Sari
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
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40
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Ji H, Payette K, Speckert A, Tuura R, Grehten P, Kottke R, Ochseinbein-Kölble N, Hagmann C, Mazzone L, Meuli M, Padden B, Hackenberg A, Wille DA, Moehrlen U, Latal B, SPINA BIFIDA STUDY GROUP ZURICH, Jakab A. Thalamic connectivity topography in newborns with spina bifida: association with neurological functional level but not developmental outcome at 2 years. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad438. [PMID: 37991274 PMCID: PMC10793566 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad438] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Spina bifida affects spinal cord and cerebral development, leading to motor and cognitive delay. We investigated whether there are associations between thalamocortical connectivity topography, neurological function, and developmental outcomes in open spina bifida. Diffusion tensor MRI was used to assess thalamocortical connectivity in 44 newborns with open spina bifida who underwent prenatal surgical repair. We quantified the volume of clusters formed based on the strongest probabilistic connectivity to the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortex. Developmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley III Scales, while the functional level of the lesion was assessed by neurological examination at 2 years of age. Higher functional level was associated with smaller thalamo-parietal, while lower functional level was associated with smaller thalamo-temporal connectivity clusters (Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05). Lower functional levels were associated with weaker thalamic temporal connectivity, particularly in the ventrolateral and ventral anterior nuclei. No associations were found between thalamocortical connectivity and developmental outcomes. Our findings suggest that altered thalamocortical circuitry development in open spina bifida may contribute to impaired lower extremity function, impacting motor function and independent ambulation. We hypothesize that the neurologic function might not merely be caused by the spinal cord lesion, but further impacted by the disruption of cerebral neuronal circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ji
- Center for MR Research, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Kelly Payette
- Center for MR Research, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Anna Speckert
- Center for MR Research, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP), Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning (AdaBD), University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
| | - Ruth Tuura
- Center for MR Research, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Patrice Grehten
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Spina Bifida, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Raimund Kottke
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Spina Bifida, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Ochseinbein-Kölble
- Zurich Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia Hagmann
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Spina Bifida, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Luca Mazzone
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Spina Bifida, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Martin Meuli
- Zurich Center for Spina Bifida, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
| | - Beth Padden
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Spina Bifida, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Annette Hackenberg
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Spina Bifida, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - David-Alexander Wille
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Cantonal Hospital of Baden, Baden 5404, Switzerland
| | - Ueli Moehrlen
- Zurich Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Spina Bifida, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | - Beatrice Latal
- Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP), Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning (AdaBD), University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- Child Development Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
| | | | - Andras Jakab
- Center for MR Research, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8032, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- University Research Priority Program (URPP), Adaptive Brain Circuits in Development and Learning (AdaBD), University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
- University of Zurich, Zurich 8006, Switzerland
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41
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Lee J, Lee J. Discovering individual fingerprints in resting-state functional connectivity using deep neural networks. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26561. [PMID: 38096866 PMCID: PMC10789221 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26561] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-negligible idiosyncrasy due to interindividual differences is an ongoing issue in resting-state functional MRI (rfMRI) analysis. We show that a deep neural network (DNN) can be employed for individual identification by learning important features from the time-varying functional connectivity (FC) of rfMRI in the Human Connectome Project. We employed the trained DNN to identify individuals from an independent dataset acquired at our institution. The results revealed that the DNN could successfully identify 300 individuals with an error rate of 2.9% using 15 s time-window and 870 individuals with an error rate of 6.7%. A trained DNN with nonlinear hidden layers led to the proposal of the "fingerprint of FC" (fpFC) as representative edges of individual FC. The fpFCs for individuals exhibited commonly important and individual-specific edges across time-window lengths (from 5 min to 15 s). Furthermore, the utility of our model for another group of subjects was validated, supporting the feasibility of our technique in the context of transfer learning. In conclusion, our study offers an insight into the discovery of the intrinsic mode of the human brain using whole-brain resting-state FC and DNNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhyeon Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Jong‐Hwan Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive EngineeringKorea UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public HealthKorea UniversitySeoulSouth Korea
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBostonMassachusettsUSA
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42
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Abstract
Brain development in humans is achieved through precise spatiotemporal genetic control, the mechanisms of which remain largely elusive. Recently, integration of technological advances in human stem cell-based modelling with genome editing has emerged as a powerful platform to establish causative links between genotypes and phenotypes directly in the human system. Here, we review our current knowledge of complex genetic regulation of each key step of human brain development through the lens of evolutionary specialization and neurodevelopmental disorders and highlight the use of human stem cell-derived 2D cultures and 3D brain organoids to investigate human-enriched features and disease mechanisms. We also discuss opportunities and challenges of integrating new technologies to reveal the genetic architecture of human brain development and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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43
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Perrottelli A, Marzocchi FF, Caporusso E, Giordano GM, Giuliani L, Melillo A, Pezzella P, Bucci P, Mucci A, Galderisi S. Advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder through induced pluripotent stem cell models. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2024; 49:E109-E125. [PMID: 38490647 PMCID: PMC10950363 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.230112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder involves a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors that begins in the early stages of neurodevelopment. Recent advancements in the field of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer a promising tool for understanding the neurobiological alterations involved in these disorders and, potentially, for developing new treatment options. In this review, we summarize the results of iPSC-based research on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, showing disturbances in neurodevelopmental processes, imbalance in glutamatergic-GABAergic transmission and neuromorphological alterations. The limitations of the reviewed literature are also highlighted, particularly the methodological heterogeneity of the studies, the limited number of studies developing iPSC models of both diseases simultaneously, and the lack of in-depth clinical characterization of the included samples. Further studies are needed to advance knowledge on the common and disease-specific pathophysiological features of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and to promote the development of new treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Luigi Giuliani
- From the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Melillo
- From the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | | | - Paola Bucci
- From the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Armida Mucci
- From the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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44
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Wallace JL, Pollen AA. Human neuronal maturation comes of age: cellular mechanisms and species differences. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:7-29. [PMID: 37996703 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00760-3] [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: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The delayed and prolonged postmitotic maturation of human neurons, compared with neurons from other species, may contribute to human-specific cognitive abilities and neurological disorders. Here we review the mechanisms of neuronal maturation, applying lessons from model systems to understand the specific features of protracted human cortical maturation and species differences. We cover cell-intrinsic features of neuronal maturation, including transcriptional, epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms, as well as cell-extrinsic features, including the roles of activity and synapses, the actions of glial cells and the contribution of the extracellular matrix. We discuss evidence for species differences in biochemical reaction rates, the proposed existence of an epigenetic maturation clock and the contributions of both general and modular mechanisms to species-specific maturation timing. Finally, we suggest approaches to measure, improve and accelerate the maturation of human neurons in culture, examine crosstalk and interactions among these different aspects of maturation and propose conceptual models to guide future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenelle L Wallace
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Alex A Pollen
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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45
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Liuzzi L, Pine DS, Fox NA, Averbeck BB. Changes in Behavior and Neural Dynamics across Adolescent Development. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8723-8732. [PMID: 37848282 PMCID: PMC10727120 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0462-23.2023] [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: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescence is an important developmental period, during which substantial changes occur in brain function and behavior. Several aspects of executive function, including response inhibition, improve during this period. Correspondingly, structural imaging studies have documented consistent decreases in cortical and subcortical gray matter volume, and postmortem histologic studies have found substantial (∼40%) decreases in excitatory synapses in prefrontal cortex. Recent computational modeling work suggests that the change in synaptic density underlie improvements in task performance. These models also predict changes in neural dynamics related to the depth of attractor basins, where deeper basins can underlie better task performance. In this study, we analyzed task-related neural dynamics in a large cohort of longitudinally followed subjects (male and female) spanning early to late adolescence. We found that age correlated positively with behavioral performance in the Eriksen Flanker task. Older subjects were also characterized by deeper attractor basins around task related evoked EEG potentials during specific cognitive operations. Thus, consistent with computational models examining the effects of excitatory synaptic pruning, older adolescents showed stronger attractor dynamics during task performance.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT There are well-documented changes in brain and behavior during adolescent development. However, there are few mechanistic theories that link changes in the brain to changes in behavior. Here, we tested a hypothesis, put forward on the basis of computational modeling, that pruning of excitatory synapses in cortex during adolescence changes neural dynamics. We found, consistent with the hypothesis, that variability around event-related potentials shows faster decay dynamics in older adolescent subjects. The faster decay dynamics are consistent with the hypothesis that synaptic pruning during adolescent development leads to stronger attractor basins in task-related neural activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucrezia Liuzzi
- Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, MD
| | - Daniel S Pine
- Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, MD
| | - Nathan A Fox
- Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Bruno B Averbeck
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, MD
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46
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Fan G, Ma J, Ma R, Suo M, Chen Y, Zhang S, Zeng Y, Chen Y. Microglia Modulate Neurodevelopment in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17297. [PMID: 38139124 PMCID: PMC10743577 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) include various neurological disorders with high genetic heterogeneity, characterized by delayed or impaired cognition, communication, adaptive behavior, and psychomotor skills. These disorders result in significant morbidity for children, thus burdening families and healthcare/educational systems. However, there is a lack of early diagnosis and effective therapies. Therefore, a more connected approach is required to explore these disorders. Microglia, the primary phagocytic cells within the central nervous system, are crucial in regulating neuronal viability, influencing synaptic dynamics, and determining neurodevelopmental outcomes. Although the neurobiological basis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SZ) has attracted attention in recent decades, the role of microglia in ASD and SZ remains unclear and requires further discussion. In this review, the important and frequently multifaceted roles that microglia play during neurodevelopment are meticulously emphasized and potential microglial mechanisms that might be involved in conditions such as ASD and SZ are postulated. It is of utmost importance to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the interplay between microglia and neurons to design effective, targeted therapeutic strategies to mitigate the effects of NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yan Zeng
- Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Yushan Chen
- Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
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47
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Vivi E, Seeholzer LR, Nagumanova A, Di Benedetto B. Early Age- and Sex-Dependent Regulation of Astrocyte-Mediated Glutamatergic Synapse Elimination in the Rat Prefrontal Cortex: Establishing an Organotypic Brain Slice Culture Investigating Tool. Cells 2023; 12:2761. [PMID: 38067189 PMCID: PMC10705965 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical and pre-clinical studies of neuropsychiatric (NP) disorders show altered astrocyte properties and synaptic networks. These are refined during early postnatal developmental (PND) stages. Thus, investigating early brain maturational trajectories is essential to understand NP disorders. However, animal experiments are highly time-/resource-consuming, thereby calling for alternative methodological approaches. The function of MEGF10 in astrocyte-mediated synapse elimination (pruning) is crucial to refine neuronal networks during development and adulthood. To investigate the impact of MEGF10 during PND in the rat prefrontal cortex (PFC) and its putative role in brain disorders, we established and validated an organotypic brain slice culture (OBSC) system. Using Western blot, we characterized the expression of MEGF10 and the synaptic markers synaptophysin and PSD95 in the cortex of developing pups. We then combined immunofluorescent-immunohistochemistry with Imaris-supported 3D analysis to compare age- and sex-dependent astrocyte-mediated pruning within the PFC in pups and OBSCs. We thereby validated this system to investigate age-dependent astrocyte-mediated changes in pruning during PND. However, further optimizations are required to use OBSCs for revealing sex-dependent differences. In conclusion, OBSCs offer a valid alternative to study physiological astrocyte-mediated synaptic remodeling during PND and might be exploited to investigate the pathomechanisms of brain disorders with aberrant synaptic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Vivi
- Laboratory of Neuro-Glia Pharmacology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (E.V.); (L.R.S.); (A.N.)
| | - Lea R. Seeholzer
- Laboratory of Neuro-Glia Pharmacology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (E.V.); (L.R.S.); (A.N.)
| | - Anastasiia Nagumanova
- Laboratory of Neuro-Glia Pharmacology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (E.V.); (L.R.S.); (A.N.)
| | - Barbara Di Benedetto
- Laboratory of Neuro-Glia Pharmacology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (E.V.); (L.R.S.); (A.N.)
- Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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48
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Ji L, Yoon YB, Hendrix CL, Kennelly EC, Majbri A, Bhatia T, Taylor A, Thomason ME. Developmental coupling of brain iron and intrinsic activity in infants during the first 150 days. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 64:101326. [PMID: 37979299 PMCID: PMC10692666 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101326] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain iron is vital for core neurodevelopmental processes including myelination and neurotransmitter synthesis and, accordingly, iron accumulates in the brain with age. However, little is known about the association between brain iron and neural functioning and how they evolve with age in early infancy. This study investigated brain iron in 48 healthy infants (22 females) aged 64.00 ± 33.28 days by estimating R2 * relaxometry from multi-echo functional MRI (fMRI). Linked independent component analysis was performed to examine the association between iron deposition and spontaneous neural activity, as measured by the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) by interrogating shared component loadings across modalities. Further, findings were validated in an independent dataset (n = 45, 24 females, 77.93 ± 26.18 days). The analysis revealed developmental coupling between the global R2 * and ALFF within the default mode network (DMN). Furthermore, we observed that this coupling effect significantly increased with age (r = 0.78, p = 9.2e-11). Our results highlight the importance of iron-neural coupling during early development and suggest that the neural maturation of the DMN may correspond to growth in distributed brain iron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanxin Ji
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Youngwoo Bryan Yoon
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cassandra L Hendrix
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Amyn Majbri
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tanya Bhatia
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexis Taylor
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, USA
| | - Moriah E Thomason
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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49
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Miller J, Mills KL, Vuorre M, Orben A, Przybylski AK. Impact of digital screen media activity on functional brain organization in late childhood: Evidence from the ABCD study. Cortex 2023; 169:290-308. [PMID: 37976871 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.09.009] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The idea that the increased ubiquity of digital devices negatively impacts neurodevelopment is as compelling as it is disturbing. This study investigated this concern by systematically evaluating how different profiles of screen-based engagement related to functional brain organization in late childhood. We studied participants from a large and representative sample of young people participating in the first two years of the ABCD study (ages 9-12 years) to investigate the relations between self-reported use of various digital screen media activity (SMA) and functional brain organization. A series of generalized additive mixed models evaluated how these relationships related to functional outcomes associated with health and cognition. Of principal interest were two hypotheses: First, that functional brain organization (assessed through resting state functional connectivity MRI; rs-fcMRI) is related to digital screen engagement; and second, that children with higher rates of engagement will have functional brain organization profiles related to maladaptive functioning. Results did not support either of these predictions for SMA. Further, exploratory analyses predicting how screen media activity impacted neural trajectories showed no significant impact of SMA on neural maturation over a two-year period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Miller
- Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, UK.
| | | | - Matti Vuorre
- Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, UK; Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
| | - Amy Orben
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK
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50
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Kim JZ, Larsen B, Parkes L. Shaping dynamical neural computations using spatiotemporal constraints. ARXIV 2023:arXiv:2311.15572v1. [PMID: 38076517 PMCID: PMC10705584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Dynamics play a critical role in computation. The principled evolution of states over time enables both biological and artificial networks to represent and integrate information to make decisions. In the past few decades, significant multidisciplinary progress has been made in bridging the gap between how we understand biological versus artificial computation, including how insights gained from one can translate to the other. Research has revealed that neurobiology is a key determinant of brain network architecture, which gives rise to spatiotemporally constrained patterns of activity that underlie computation. Here, we discuss how neural systems use dynamics for computation, and claim that the biological constraints that shape brain networks may be leveraged to improve the implementation of artificial neural networks. To formalize this discussion, we consider a natural artificial analog of the brain that has been used extensively to model neural computation: the recurrent neural network (RNN). In both the brain and the RNN, we emphasize the common computational substrate atop which dynamics occur-the connectivity between neurons-and we explore the unique computational advantages offered by biophysical constraints such as resource efficiency, spatial embedding, and neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Z. Kim
- Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Bart Larsen
- Department of Pediatrics, Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota
| | - Linden Parkes
- Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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