1
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Snyder MC, Qi KK, Yartsev MM. Neural representation of human experimenters in the bat hippocampus. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1675-1679. [PMID: 38956164 PMCID: PMC11374686 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01690-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Here we conducted wireless electrophysiological recording of hippocampal neurons from Egyptian fruit bats in the presence of human experimenters. In flying bats, many neurons modulated their activity depending on the identity of the human at the landing target. In stationary bats, many neurons carried significant spatial information about the position and identity of humans traversing the environment. Our results reveal that hippocampal activity is robustly modulated by the presence, movement and identity of human experimenters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin K Qi
- Biophysics Graduate Group, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael M Yartsev
- Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Biophysics Graduate Group, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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2
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Sofer Y, Zilkha N, Gimpel E, Wagner S, Chuartzman SG, Kimchi T. Sexually dimorphic oxytocin circuits drive intragroup social conflict and aggression in wild house mice. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1565-1573. [PMID: 38969756 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01685-5] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
In nature, both males and females engage in competitive aggressive interactions to resolve social conflicts, yet the behavioral principles guiding such interactions and their underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. Through circuit manipulations in wild mice, we unveil oxytocin-expressing (OT+) neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) as a neural hub governing behavior in dyadic and intragroup social conflicts, influencing the degree of behavioral sexual dimorphism. We demonstrate that OT+ PVN neurons are essential and sufficient in promoting aggression and dominance hierarchies, predominantly in females. Furthermore, pharmacogenetic activation of these neurons induces a change in the 'personality' traits of the mice within groups, in a sex-dependent manner. Finally, we identify an innervation from these OT neurons to the ventral tegmental area that drives dyadic aggression, in a sex-specific manner. Our data suggest that competitive aggression in naturalistic settings is mediated by a sexually dimorphic OT network connected with reward-related circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhak Sofer
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noga Zilkha
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Elena Gimpel
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, the Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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3
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Yu JH, Napoli JL, Lovett-Barron M. Understanding collective behavior through neurobiology. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 86:102866. [PMID: 38852986 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
A variety of organisms exhibit collective movement, including schooling fish and flocking birds, where coordinated behavior emerges from the interactions between group members. Despite the prevalence of collective movement in nature, little is known about the neural mechanisms producing each individual's behavior within the group. Here we discuss how a neurobiological approach can enrich our understanding of collective behavior by determining the mechanisms by which individuals interact. We provide examples of sensory systems for social communication during collective movement, highlight recent discoveries about neural systems for detecting the position and actions of social partners, and discuss opportunities for future research. Understanding the neurobiology of collective behavior can provide insight into how nervous systems function in a dynamic social world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo-Hsien Yu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. https://twitter.com/anitajhyu
| | - Julia L Napoli
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. https://twitter.com/juliadoingneuro
| | - Matthew Lovett-Barron
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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4
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Ding SS, Fox JL, Gordus A, Joshi A, Liao JC, Scholz M. Fantastic beasts and how to study them: rethinking experimental animal behavior. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb247003. [PMID: 38372042 PMCID: PMC10911175 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247003] [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: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Humans have been trying to understand animal behavior at least since recorded history. Recent rapid development of new technologies has allowed us to make significant progress in understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying behavior, a key goal of neuroethology. However, there is a tradeoff when studying animal behavior and its underlying biological mechanisms: common behavior protocols in the laboratory are designed to be replicable and controlled, but they often fail to encompass the variability and breadth of natural behavior. This Commentary proposes a framework of 10 key questions that aim to guide researchers in incorporating a rich natural context into their experimental design or in choosing a new animal study system. The 10 questions cover overarching experimental considerations that can provide a template for interspecies comparisons, enable us to develop studies in new model organisms and unlock new experiments in our quest to understand behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Serena Ding
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jessica L. Fox
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Andrew Gordus
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Abhilasha Joshi
- Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - James C. Liao
- Department of Biology, The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA
| | - Monika Scholz
- Max Planck Research Group Neural Information Flow, Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar, 53175 Bonn, Germany
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5
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Eisenberg T, Shein-Idelson M. ReptiLearn: An automated home cage system for behavioral experiments in reptiles without human intervention. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002411. [PMID: 38422162 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding behavior and its evolutionary underpinnings is crucial for unraveling the complexities of brain function. Traditional approaches strive to reduce behavioral complexity by designing short-term, highly constrained behavioral tasks with dichotomous choices in which animals respond to defined external perturbation. In contrast, natural behaviors evolve over multiple time scales during which actions are selected through bidirectional interactions with the environment and without human intervention. Recent technological advancements have opened up new possibilities for experimental designs that more closely mirror natural behaviors by replacing stringent experimental control with accurate multidimensional behavioral analysis. However, these approaches have been tailored to fit only a small number of species. This specificity limits the experimental opportunities offered by species diversity. Further, it hampers comparative analyses that are essential for extracting overarching behavioral principles and for examining behavior from an evolutionary perspective. To address this limitation, we developed ReptiLearn-a versatile, low-cost, Python-based solution, optimized for conducting automated long-term experiments in the home cage of reptiles, without human intervention. In addition, this system offers unique features such as precise temperature measurement and control, live prey reward dispensers, engagement with touch screens, and remote control through a user-friendly web interface. Finally, ReptiLearn incorporates low-latency closed-loop feedback allowing bidirectional interactions between animals and their environments. Thus, ReptiLearn provides a comprehensive solution for researchers studying behavior in ectotherms and beyond, bridging the gap between constrained laboratory settings and natural behavior in nonconventional model systems. We demonstrate the capabilities of ReptiLearn by automatically training the lizard Pogona vitticeps on a complex spatial learning task requiring association learning, displaced reward learning, and reversal learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Eisenberg
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry, and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Mark Shein-Idelson
- School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry, and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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6
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Forli A, Yartsev MM. Hippocampal representation during collective spatial behaviour in bats. Nature 2023; 621:796-803. [PMID: 37648869 PMCID: PMC10533399 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06478-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Social animals live and move through spaces shaped by the presence, motion and sensory cues of multiple other individuals1-6. Neural activity in the hippocampus is known to reflect spatial behaviour7-9 yet its study is lacking in such dynamic group settings, which are ubiquitous in natural environments. Here we studied hippocampal activity in groups of bats engaged in collective spatial behaviour. We find that, under spontaneous conditions, a robust spatial structure emerges at the group level whereby behaviour is anchored to specific locations, movement patterns and individual social preferences. Using wireless electrophysiological recordings from both stationary and flying bats, we find that many hippocampal neurons are tuned to key features of group dynamics. These include the presence or absence of a conspecific, but not typically of an object, at landing sites, shared spatial locations, individual identities and sensory signals that are broadcasted in the group setting. Finally, using wireless calcium imaging, we find that social responses are anatomically distributed and robustly represented at the population level. Combined, our findings reveal that hippocampal activity contains a rich representation of naturally emerging spatial behaviours in animal groups that could in turn support the complex feat of collective behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Forli
- Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael M Yartsev
- Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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7
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Sachdeva P, Bak JH, Livezey J, Kirst C, Frank L, Bhattacharyya S, Bouchard KE. Resolving Non-identifiability Mitigates Bias in Models of Neural Tuning and Functional Coupling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.11.548615. [PMID: 37503030 PMCID: PMC10370036 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.11.548615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
In the brain, all neurons are driven by the activity of other neurons, some of which maybe simultaneously recorded, but most are not. As such, models of neuronal activity need to account for simultaneously recorded neurons and the influences of unmeasured neurons. This can be done through inclusion of model terms for observed external variables (e.g., tuning to stimuli) as well as terms for latent sources of variability. Determining the influence of groups of neurons on each other relative to other influences is important to understand brain functioning. The parameters of statistical models fit to data are commonly used to gain insight into the relative importance of those influences. Scientific interpretation of models hinge upon unbiased parameter estimates. However, evaluation of biased inference is rarely performed and sources of bias are poorly understood. Through extensive numerical study and analytic calculation, we show that common inference procedures and models are typically biased. We demonstrate that accurate parameter selection before estimation resolves model non-identifiability and mitigates bias. In diverse neurophysiology data sets, we found that contributions of coupling to other neurons are often overestimated while tuning to exogenous variables are underestimated in common methods. We explain heterogeneity in observed biases across data sets in terms of data statistics. Finally, counter to common intuition, we found that model non-identifiability contributes to bias, not variance, making it a particularly insidious form of statistical error. Together, our results identify the causes of statistical biases in common models of neural data, provide inference procedures to mitigate that bias, and reveal and explain the impact of those biases in diverse neural data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratik Sachdeva
- Physics Department, UC Berkeley
- Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, UC Berkeley
| | - Ji Hyun Bak
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, UC San Francisco
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
| | - Jesse Livezey
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
| | - Christoph Kirst
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, UC San Francisco
- Scientific Data Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
- Deptartment of Anatomy, UC San Francisco
| | - Loren Frank
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, UC San Francisco
- Departments of Physiology and Psychiatry, UC San Francisco
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
| | | | - Kristofer E. Bouchard
- Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, UC Berkeley
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, UC San Francisco
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
- Scientific Data Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley
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8
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Couto A, Young FJ, Atzeni D, Marty S, Melo-Flórez L, Hebberecht L, Monllor M, Neal C, Cicconardi F, McMillan WO, Montgomery SH. Rapid expansion and visual specialisation of learning and memory centres in the brains of Heliconiini butterflies. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4024. [PMID: 37419890 PMCID: PMC10328955 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39618-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in the abundance and diversity of neural cell types, and their connectivity, shape brain composition and provide the substrate for behavioral evolution. Although investment in sensory brain regions is understood to be largely driven by the relative ecological importance of particular sensory modalities, how selective pressures impact the elaboration of integrative brain centers has been more difficult to pinpoint. Here, we provide evidence of extensive, mosaic expansion of an integration brain center among closely related species, which is not explained by changes in sites of primary sensory input. By building new datasets of neural traits among a tribe of diverse Neotropical butterflies, the Heliconiini, we detected several major evolutionary expansions of the mushroom bodies, central brain structures pivotal for insect learning and memory. The genus Heliconius, which exhibits a unique dietary innovation, pollen-feeding, and derived foraging behaviors reliant on spatial memory, shows the most extreme enlargement. This expansion is primarily associated with increased visual processing areas and coincides with increased precision of visual processing, and enhanced long term memory. These results demonstrate that selection for behavioral innovation and enhanced cognitive ability occurred through expansion and localized specialization in integrative brain centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Couto
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fletcher J Young
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama
| | - Daniele Atzeni
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Life Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Simon Marty
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | - Laura Hebberecht
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama
| | | | - Chris Neal
- Wolfson Bioimaging Facility, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | | | - Stephen H Montgomery
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama.
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9
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Krama T, Munkevics M, Krams R, Grigorjeva T, Trakimas G, Jõers P, Popovs S, Zants K, Elferts D, Rantala MJ, Sledevskis E, Contreras-Garduño J, de Bivort BL, Krams IA. Development under predation risk increases serotonin-signaling, variability of turning behavior and survival in adult fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1189301. [PMID: 37304760 PMCID: PMC10248140 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1189301] [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: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of high-throughput behavioral assays, where numerous individual animals can be analyzed in various experimental conditions, has facilitated the study of animal personality. Previous research showed that isogenic Drosophila melanogaster flies exhibit striking individual non-heritable locomotor handedness. The variability of this trait, i.e., the predictability of left-right turn biases, varies across genotypes and under the influence of neural activity in specific circuits. This suggests that the brain can dynamically regulate the extent of animal personality. It has been recently shown that predators can induce changes in prey phenotypes via lethal or non-lethal effects affecting the serotonergic signaling system. In this study, we tested whether fruit flies grown with predators exhibit higher variability/lower predictability in their turning behavior and higher survival than those grown with no predators in their environment. We confirmed these predictions and found that both effects were blocked when flies were fed an inhibitor (αMW) of serotonin synthesis. The results of this study demonstrate a negative association between the unpredictability of turning behavior of fruit flies and the hunting success of their predators. We also show that the neurotransmitter serotonin controls predator-induced changes in the turning variability of fruit flies, regulating the dynamic control of behavioral predictability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Krama
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
- Chair of Plant Health, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Māris Munkevics
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
- Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ronalds Krams
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
- Chair of Plant Health, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tatjana Grigorjeva
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Giedrius Trakimas
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
- Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Priit Jõers
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sergejs Popovs
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Krists Zants
- Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Didzis Elferts
- Department of Botany and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Markus J. Rantala
- Department of Biology, Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Eriks Sledevskis
- Department of Technology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Jorge Contreras-Garduño
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Benjamin L. de Bivort
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Indrikis A. Krams
- Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
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10
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Zoabi S, Andreyanov M, Heinrich R, Ron S, Carmi I, Gutfreund Y, Berlin S. A custom-made AAV1 variant (AAV1-T593K) enables efficient transduction of Japanese quail neurons in vitro and in vivo. Commun Biol 2023; 6:337. [PMID: 36977781 PMCID: PMC10050006 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04712-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The widespread use of rodents in neuroscience has prompted the development of optimized viral variants for transduction of brain cells, in vivo. However, many of the viruses developed are less efficient in other model organisms, with birds being among the most resistant to transduction by current viral tools. Resultantly, the use of genetically-encoded tools and methods in avian species is markedly lower than in rodents; likely holding the field back. We sought to bridge this gap by developing custom viruses towards the transduction of brain cells of the Japanese quail. We first develop a protocol for culturing primary neurons and glia from quail embryos, followed by characterization of cultures via immunostaining, single cell mRNA sequencing, patch clamp electrophysiology and calcium imaging. We then leveraged the cultures for the rapid screening of various viruses, only to find that all yielded poor to no infection of cells in vitro. However, few infected neurons were obtained by AAV1 and AAV2. Scrutiny of the sequence of the AAV receptor found in quails led us to rationally design a custom-made AAV variant (AAV1-T593K; AAV1*) that exhibits improved transduction efficiencies in vitro and in vivo (14- and five-fold, respectively). Together, we present unique culturing method, transcriptomic profiles of quail's brain cells and a custom-tailored AAV1 for transduction of quail neurons in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaden Zoabi
- Department of Neuroscience, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Michael Andreyanov
- Department of Neuroscience, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ronit Heinrich
- Department of Neuroscience, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shaked Ron
- Department of Neuroscience, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ido Carmi
- Department of Neuroscience, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yoram Gutfreund
- Department of Neuroscience, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shai Berlin
- Department of Neuroscience, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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11
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Grant RA, Ryan H, Breakell V. Demonstrating a measurement protocol for studying comparative whisker movements with implications for the evolution of behaviour. J Neurosci Methods 2023; 384:109752. [PMID: 36435328 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109752] [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: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studying natural, complex behaviours over a range of different species provides insights into the evolution of the brain and behaviour. Whisker movements reveal complex behaviours; however, there does not yet exist a protocol that is able to capture whisker movements and behaviours in a range of different species. NEW METHOD We develop a new protocol and make recommendations for measuring comparative whisker movements and behaviours. Using two set-ups - an enclosure camera set-up and a high-speed video set-up - we capture and measure the whisker movements of sixteen different captive mammal species from four different animal collections. RESULTS We demonstrate the ability to describe whisker movements and behaviours across a wide range of mammalian species. We describe whisker movements in European hedgehog, Cape porcupine, domestic rabbit, domestic ferret, weasel, European otter and red fox for the first time. We observe whisker movements in all the species we tested, although movement, positions and behaviours vary in a species-specific way. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) The high-speed video set-up is based on the protocols of previous studies. The addition of an enclosure video set-up is entirely new, and allows us to include more species, especially large and shy species that cannot be moved into a high-speed filming arena. CONCLUSIONS We make recommendations for comparative whisker behaviour studies, particularly incorporating individual and species-specific considerations. We believe that flexible, comparative behavioural protocols have wide-ranging applications, specifically to better understand links between the brain and complex behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn A Grant
- Department of Natural Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Hazel Ryan
- The Wildwood Trust, Herne Common, Kent, United Kingdom
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12
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Furman M. A neuro-journey across species. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:877. [PMID: 36384133 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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13
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Karigo T, Deutsch D. Flexibility of neural circuits regulating mating behaviors in mice and flies. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:949781. [PMID: 36426135 PMCID: PMC9679785 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.949781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mating is essential for the reproduction of animal species. As mating behaviors are high-risk and energy-consuming processes, it is critical for animals to make adaptive mating decisions. This includes not only finding a suitable mate, but also adapting mating behaviors to the animal's needs and environmental conditions. Internal needs include physical states (e.g., hunger) and emotional states (e.g., fear), while external conditions include both social cues (e.g., the existence of predators or rivals) and non-social factors (e.g., food availability). With recent advances in behavioral neuroscience, we are now beginning to understand the neural basis of mating behaviors, particularly in genetic model organisms such as mice and flies. However, how internal and external factors are integrated by the nervous system to enable adaptive mating-related decision-making in a state- and context-dependent manner is less well understood. In this article, we review recent knowledge regarding the neural basis of flexible mating behaviors from studies of flies and mice. By contrasting the knowledge derived from these two evolutionarily distant model organisms, we discuss potential conserved and divergent neural mechanisms involved in the control of flexible mating behaviors in invertebrate and vertebrate brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomomi Karigo
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States,The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Tomomi Karigo,
| | - David Deutsch
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel,David Deutsch,
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14
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Csillag A, Ádám Á, Zachar G. Avian models for brain mechanisms underlying altered social behavior in autism. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1032046. [PMID: 36388132 PMCID: PMC9650632 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1032046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The current review is an update on experimental approaches in which birds serve as model species for the investigation of typical failure symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The discussion is focused on deficiencies of social behavior, from social interactions of domestic chicks, based on visual and auditory cues, to vocal communication in songbirds. Two groups of pathogenetic/risk factors are discussed: 1) non-genetic (environmental/epigenetic) factors, exemplified by embryonic exposure to valproic acid (VPA), and 2) genetic factors, represented by a list of candidate genes and signaling pathways of diagnostic or predictive value in ASD patients. Given the similarities of birds as experimental models to humans (visual orientation, vocal learning, social cohesions), avian models usefully contribute toward the elucidation of the neural systems and developmental factors underlying ASD, improving the applicability of preclinical results obtained on laboratory rodents. Furthermore, they may predict potential susceptibility factors worthy of investigation (both by animal studies and by monitoring human babies at risk), with potential therapeutic consequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Csillag
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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15
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Flavell SW, Gogolla N, Lovett-Barron M, Zelikowsky M. The emergence and influence of internal states. Neuron 2022; 110:2545-2570. [PMID: 35643077 PMCID: PMC9391310 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Animal behavior is shaped by a variety of "internal states"-partially hidden variables that profoundly shape perception, cognition, and action. The neural basis of internal states, such as fear, arousal, hunger, motivation, aggression, and many others, is a prominent focus of research efforts across animal phyla. Internal states can be inferred from changes in behavior, physiology, and neural dynamics and are characterized by properties such as pleiotropy, persistence, scalability, generalizability, and valence. To date, it remains unclear how internal states and their properties are generated by nervous systems. Here, we review recent progress, which has been driven by advances in behavioral quantification, cellular manipulations, and neural population recordings. We synthesize research implicating defined subsets of state-inducing cell types, widespread changes in neural activity, and neuromodulation in the formation and updating of internal states. In addition to highlighting the significance of these findings, our review advocates for new approaches to clarify the underpinnings of internal brain states across the animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven W Flavell
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Nadine Gogolla
- Emotion Research Department, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany; Circuits for Emotion Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Matthew Lovett-Barron
- Division of Biological Sciences-Neurobiology Section, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Moriel Zelikowsky
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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16
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Visual neuroscience: A shrewd look at perceptual learning. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R839-R841. [PMID: 35944484 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A new study provides insight into the neuronal mechanisms that underlie visual learning in the tree shrew, revealing how improved coding for trained stimuli in visual cortex can negatively affect the perception of other stimuli.
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17
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Kashash Y, Smarsh G, Zilkha N, Yovel Y, Kimchi T. Alone, in the dark: The extraordinary neuroethology of the solitary blind mole rat. eLife 2022; 11:78295. [PMID: 35674717 PMCID: PMC9177142 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
On the social scale, the blind mole rat (BMR; Spalax ehrenbergi) is an extreme. It is exceedingly solitary, territorial, and aggressive. BMRs reside underground, in self-excavated tunnels that they rarely leave. They possess specialized sensory systems for social communication and navigation, which allow them to cope with the harsh environmental conditions underground. This review aims to present the blind mole rat as an ideal, novel neuroethological model for studying aggressive and solitary behaviors. We discuss the BMR's unique behavioral phenotype, particularly in the context of 'anti-social' behaviors, and review the available literature regarding its specialized sensory adaptations to the social and physical habitat. To date, the neurobiology of the blind mole rat remains mostly unknown and holds a promising avenue for scientific discovery. Unraveling the neural basis of the BMR's behavior, in comparison to that of social rodents, can shed important light on the underlying mechanisms of psychiatric disorders in humans, in which similar behaviors are displayed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Kashash
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Grace Smarsh
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.,School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Noga Zilkha
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yossi Yovel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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18
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Miller CT, Gire D, Hoke K, Huk AC, Kelley D, Leopold DA, Smear MC, Theunissen F, Yartsev M, Niell CM. Natural behavior is the language of the brain. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R482-R493. [PMID: 35609550 PMCID: PMC10082559 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The breadth and complexity of natural behaviors inspires awe. Understanding how our perceptions, actions, and internal thoughts arise from evolved circuits in the brain has motivated neuroscientists for generations. Researchers have traditionally approached this question by focusing on stereotyped behaviors, either natural or trained, in a limited number of model species. This approach has allowed for the isolation and systematic study of specific brain operations, which has greatly advanced our understanding of the circuits involved. At the same time, the emphasis on experimental reductionism has left most aspects of the natural behaviors that have shaped the evolution of the brain largely unexplored. However, emerging technologies and analytical tools make it possible to comprehensively link natural behaviors to neural activity across a broad range of ethological contexts and timescales, heralding new modes of neuroscience focused on natural behaviors. Here we describe a three-part roadmap that aims to leverage the wealth of behaviors in their naturally occurring distributions, linking their variance with that of underlying neural processes to understand how the brain is able to successfully navigate the everyday challenges of animals' social and ecological landscapes. To achieve this aim, experimenters must harness one challenge faced by all neurobiological systems, namely variability, in order to gain new insights into the language of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory T Miller
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Laboratory, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92039, USA.
| | - David Gire
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Guthrie Hall, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Kim Hoke
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, 1878 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Alexander C Huk
- Center for Perceptual Systems, Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 116 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Darcy Kelley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, 1212 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - David A Leopold
- Section of Cognitive Neurophysiology and Imaging, National Institute of Mental Health, 49 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Matthew C Smear
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1227 University Street, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Frederic Theunissen
- Department of Psychology, University of California Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael Yartsev
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, 306 Stanley Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Cristopher M Niell
- Department of Biology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 222 Huestis Hall, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
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19
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Zupanc GKH, Rössler W. Government funding of research beyond biomedicine: challenges and opportunities for neuroethology. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2022; 208:443-456. [PMID: 35536325 PMCID: PMC9123072 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-022-01552-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Curiosity-driven research is fundamental for neuroethology and depends crucially on governmental funding. Here, we highlight similarities and differences in funding of curiosity-driven research across countries by comparing two major funding agencies—the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States and the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG). We interviewed representatives from each of the two agencies, focusing on general funding trends, levels of young investigator support, career-life balance, and international collaborations. While our analysis revealed a negative trend in NSF funding of biological research, including curiosity-driven research, German researchers in these areas have benefited from a robust positive trend in DFG funding. The main reason for the decrease in curiosity-driven research in the US is that the NSF has only partially been able to compensate for the funding gap resulting from the National Institutes of Health restricting their support to biomedical research using select model organisms. Notwithstanding some differences in funding programs, particularly those relevant for scientists in the postdoctoral phase, both the NSF and DFG clearly support curiosity-driven research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolfgang Rössler
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
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20
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Spanagel R. Ten Points to Improve Reproducibility and Translation of Animal Research. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:869511. [PMID: 35530730 PMCID: PMC9070052 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.869511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Findings from animal experiments are often difficult to transfer to humans. In this perspective article I discuss two questions. First, why are the results of animal experiments often so difficult to transfer to humans? And second, what can be done to improve translation from animal experiments to humans? Translation failures are often the result of poor methodology. It is not merely the fact that low statistical power of basic and preclinical studies undermine a "real effect," but the accuracy with which data from animal studies are collected and described, and the resulting robustness of the data is generally very low and often does not allow translation to a much more heterogeneous human condition. Equally important is the fact that the vast majority of publications in the biomedical field in the last few decades have reported positive findings and have thus generated a knowledge bias. Further contributions to reproducibility and translation failures are discussed in this paper, and 10 points of recommendation to improve reproducibility and translation are outlined. These recommendations are: (i) prior to planning an actual study, a systematic review or potential preclinical meta-analysis should be considered. (ii) An a priori power calculation should be carried out. (iii) The experimental study protocol should be pre-registered. (iv) The execution of the study should be in accordance with the most recent ARRIVE guidelines. (v) When planning the study, the generalizability of the data to be collected should also be considered (e.g., sex or age differences). (vi) "Method-hopping" should be avoided, meaning that it is not necessary to use the most advanced technology but rather to have the applied methodology under control. (vii) National or international networks should be considered to carry out multicenter preclinical studies or to obtain convergent evidence. (viii) Animal models that capture DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria should be considered in the context of research on psychiatric disorders. (ix) Raw data of publication should be made publicly available and should be in accordance with the FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management. (x) Finally, negative findings should be published to counteract publication bias. The application of these 10 points of recommendation, especially for preclinical confirmatory studies but also to some degree for exploratory studies, will ultimately improve the reproducibility and translation of animal research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Spanagel
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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21
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Haynes EM, Ulland TK, Eliceiri KW. A Model of Discovery: The Role of Imaging Established and Emerging Non-mammalian Models in Neuroscience. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:867010. [PMID: 35493325 PMCID: PMC9046975 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.867010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents have been the dominant animal models in neurobiology and neurological disease research over the past 60 years. The prevalent use of rats and mice in neuroscience research has been driven by several key attributes including their organ physiology being more similar to humans, the availability of a broad variety of behavioral tests and genetic tools, and widely accessible reagents. However, despite the many advances in understanding neurobiology that have been achieved using rodent models, there remain key limitations in the questions that can be addressed in these and other mammalian models. In particular, in vivo imaging in mammals at the cell-resolution level remains technically difficult and demands large investments in time and cost. The simpler nervous systems of many non-mammalian models allow for precise mapping of circuits and even the whole brain with impressive subcellular resolution. The types of non-mammalian neuroscience models available spans vertebrates and non-vertebrates, so that an appropriate model for most cell biological questions in neurodegenerative disease likely exists. A push to diversify the models used in neuroscience research could help address current gaps in knowledge, complement existing rodent-based bodies of work, and bring new insight into our understanding of human disease. Moreover, there are inherent aspects of many non-mammalian models such as lifespan and tissue transparency that can make them specifically advantageous for neuroscience studies. Crispr/Cas9 gene editing and decreased cost of genome sequencing combined with advances in optical microscopy enhances the utility of new animal models to address specific questions. This review seeks to synthesize current knowledge of established and emerging non-mammalian model organisms with advances in cellular-resolution in vivo imaging techniques to suggest new approaches to understand neurodegeneration and neurobiological processes. We will summarize current tools and in vivo imaging approaches at the single cell scale that could help lead to increased consideration of non-mammalian models in neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Haynes
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, United States
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Tyler K. Ulland
- Department of Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kevin W. Eliceiri
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, United States
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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22
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Liberti WA, Schmid TA, Forli A, Snyder M, Yartsev MM. A stable hippocampal code in freely flying bats. Nature 2022; 604:98-103. [PMID: 35355012 PMCID: PMC10212506 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04560-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Neural activity in the hippocampus is known to reflect how animals move through an environment1,2. Although navigational behaviour may show considerable stability3-6, the tuning stability of individual hippocampal neurons remains unclear7-12. Here we used wireless calcium imaging to longitudinally monitor the activity of dorsal CA1 hippocampal neurons in freely flying bats performing highly reproducible flights in a familiar environment. We find that both the participation and the spatial selectivity of most neurons remain stable over days and weeks. We also find that apparent changes in tuning can be largely attributed to variations in the flight behaviour of the bats. Finally, we show that bats navigating in the same environment under different room lighting conditions (lights on versus lights off) exhibit substantial changes in flight behaviour that can give the illusion of neuronal instability. However, when similar flight paths are compared across conditions, the stability of the hippocampal code persists. Taken together, we show that the underlying hippocampal code is highly stable over days and across contexts if behaviour is taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tobias A Schmid
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Angelo Forli
- Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael M Yartsev
- Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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23
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Abstract
The nervous system is a product of evolution. That is, it was constructed through a long series of modifications, within the strong constraints of heredity, and continuously subjected to intense selection pressures. As a result, the organization and functions of the brain are shaped by its history. We believe that this fact, underappreciated in contemporary systems neuroscience, offers an invaluable aid for helping us resolve the brain's mysteries. Indeed, we think that the consideration of evolutionary history ought to take its place alongside other intellectual tools used to understand the brain, such as behavioural experiments, studies of anatomical structure and functional characterization based on recordings of neural activity. In this introduction, we argue for the importance of evolution by highlighting specific examples of ways that evolutionary theory can enhance neuroscience. The rest of the theme issue elaborates this point, emphasizing the conservative nature of neural evolution, the important consequences of specific transitions that occurred in our history, and the ways in which considerations of evolution can shed light on issues ranging from specific mechanisms to fundamental principles of brain organization. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cisek
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montréal, 2960 chemin de la tour, local 1107 Montréal, QC H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Benjamin Y Hayden
- Department of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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24
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Deep brain electrophysiology in freely moving sheep. Curr Biol 2022; 32:763-774.e4. [PMID: 35030329 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although rodents are arguably the easiest animals to use for studying brain function, relying on them as model species for translational research comes with its own set of limitations. Here, we propose sheep as a practical large animal species to use for in vivo brain function studies performed in naturalistic settings. We conducted proof-of-principle deep brain electrophysiological recording experiments using unrestrained sheep during behavioral testing. Recordings were made from cortex and hippocampus, both while sheep performed goal-directed behaviors (two-choice discrimination tasks) and across states of vigilance, including sleep. Hippocampal and cortical oscillatory rhythms were consistent with those seen in rodents and non-human primates, and included cortical alpha oscillations and hippocampal sharp wave ripple oscillations (∼150 Hz) during immobility and hippocampal theta oscillations (5-6 Hz) during locomotion. Recordings were conducted over a period of many months during which time the animals participated willingly in the experiments. Over 3,000 putative neurons were identified, including examples whose activity was modulated by task, speed of locomotion, spatial position, reward and vigilance states, and one whose firing rate was potentially modulated by the sight of the investigator. Together, these experiments demonstrate that sheep are excellent experimental animals to use for longitudinal studies requiring a large-brained mammal and/or large-scale recordings across distributed neuronal networks. Sheep could be used safely for studying not only neural encoding of decision-making and spatial-mapping in naturalistic environments outside the confines of the traditional laboratory but also the neural basis of both intra- and inter-species social interactions.
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25
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Preuss TM, Wise SP. Evolution of prefrontal cortex. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:3-19. [PMID: 34363014 PMCID: PMC8617185 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01076-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Subdivisions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) evolved at different times. Agranular parts of the PFC emerged in early mammals, and rodents, primates, and other modern mammals share them by inheritance. These are limbic areas and include the agranular orbital cortex and agranular medial frontal cortex (areas 24, 32, and 25). Rodent research provides valuable insights into the structure, functions, and development of these shared areas, but it contributes less to parts of the PFC that are specific to primates, namely, the granular, isocortical PFC that dominates the frontal lobe in humans. The first granular PFC areas evolved either in early primates or in the last common ancestor of primates and tree shrews. Additional granular PFC areas emerged in the primate stem lineage, as represented by modern strepsirrhines. Other granular PFC areas evolved in simians, the group that includes apes, humans, and monkeys. In general, PFC accreted new areas along a roughly posterior to anterior trajectory during primate evolution. A major expansion of the granular PFC occurred in humans in concert with other association areas, with modifications of corticocortical connectivity and gene expression, although current evidence does not support the addition of a large number of new, human-specific PFC areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd M Preuss
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
| | - Steven P Wise
- Olschefskie Institute for the Neurobiology of Knowledge, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
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26
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Courtney A, Liegey J, Burke N, Hassett AR, Lowery M, Pickering M. Characterisation of geometric variance in the epithelial nerve net of the ctenophore Pleurobrachia pileus. J Comp Neurol 2021; 530:1438-1458. [PMID: 34933399 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Neuroscience lacks a diverse repertoire of model organisms, resulting in an incomplete understanding into the general principles of neural function. Ctenophores display many neurobiological and experimental features which make them a promising candidate to fill this gap. They possess a nerve net distributed across their body surface, in the epithelial layer. There is a long-held assumption that nerve nets are 'simple' and lack distinct organisational principles. We want to challenge this assumption and determine how stereotyped the structure of this network is. We estimated body surface area in Pleurobrachia pileus using custom Optical Projection Tomography and Light Sheet Morphometry imaging systems. Using an antibody against tyrosinated α-tubulin we visualised the nerve net in situ and quantified the geometric properties using an automated segmentation approach. We characterised organisational rules of the epithelial nerve net in animals of different sizes and at different regions of the body. We found that specific morphological features within the nerve net are largely unchanged during growth. These properties must be essential to the functionality of the nervous system and therefore are maintained during a change in body size. We have also established the principles of organisation of the network and showed that some of the geometric properties are variable across different parts of the body. This suggests that there may be different functions occurring in regions with different structural characteristics. This is the most comprehensive structural description of a ctenophore nerve net to date and demonstrates the amenability of P. pileus for whole organism network analysis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Courtney
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.,UCD Centre for Biomedical Engineering, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jérémy Liegey
- UCD Centre for Biomedical Engineering, University College Dublin, Ireland.,School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh Burke
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.,UCD Centre for Biomedical Engineering, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Amy R Hassett
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.,UCD Centre for Biomedical Engineering, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Madeleine Lowery
- UCD Centre for Biomedical Engineering, University College Dublin, Ireland.,School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mark Pickering
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.,UCD Centre for Biomedical Engineering, University College Dublin, Ireland
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27
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Kanaev IA. Evolutionary origin and the development of consciousness. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 133:104511. [PMID: 34942266 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.12.034] [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: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This review seeks to combine advances in anthropology and neuroscience to investigate the adaptive value of human consciousness. It uses an interdisciplinary perspective on the origin of consciousness to refute the most common fallacies in considering consciousness, particularly, disregarding the evolutionary origin of the subjective reality in looking for the neural correlates of consciousness and divorcing studies in neuroscience and behavioural sciences. Various explanations linked to consciousness in the field of neuroscience, supplemented with the theoretical explanation of an experience as an ongoing process of overlap between intrinsic neural dynamics and stimulation can be summarised as the stochastic dynamics of one's control system experienced by the individual in the form of subjective reality. This framework elaborates on the world-brain research program and lays foundation for the quantitative description of one's qualitative feelings and naturalistic science of consciousness. Furthermore, this study highlights the philosophical perspective of the inseparability between the physical correlates and the subjective reality contributing to the realistic ontology of conscious processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya A Kanaev
- School of Philosophy, Zhengzhou University, 100, Science Avenue, High Tech Zone, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China.
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28
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Kenney JW, Steadman PE, Young O, Shi MT, Polanco M, Dubaishi S, Covert K, Mueller T, Frankland PW. A 3D adult zebrafish brain atlas (AZBA) for the digital age. eLife 2021; 10:69988. [PMID: 34806976 PMCID: PMC8639146 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish have made significant contributions to our understanding of the vertebrate brain and the neural basis of behavior, earning a place as one of the most widely used model organisms in neuroscience. Their appeal arises from the marriage of low cost, early life transparency, and ease of genetic manipulation with a behavioral repertoire that becomes more sophisticated as animals transition from larvae to adults. To further enhance the use of adult zebrafish, we created the first fully segmented three-dimensional digital adult zebrafish brain atlas (AZBA). AZBA was built by combining tissue clearing, light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, and three-dimensional image registration of nuclear and antibody stains. These images were used to guide segmentation of the atlas into over 200 neuroanatomical regions comprising the entirety of the adult zebrafish brain. As an open source, online (azba.wayne.edu), updatable digital resource, AZBA will significantly enhance the use of adult zebrafish in furthering our understanding of vertebrate brain function in both health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin W Kenney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States.,Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Patrick E Steadman
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Olivia Young
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Meng Ting Shi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Maris Polanco
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Saba Dubaishi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Kristopher Covert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, United States
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, United States
| | - Paul W Frankland
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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29
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Le D, Sabry Z, Chandra A, Kristan WB, Collins EMS, Kristan WB. Planarian fragments behave as whole animals. Curr Biol 2021; 31:5111-5117.e4. [PMID: 34624209 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.09.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral responses of freshwater planarians have been studied for over a century.1 In recent decades, behavior has been used as a readout to study planarian development and regeneration,2-6 wound healing,7,8 molecular evolution,4,9,10 neurotoxicology,11-13 and learning and memory.14-17The planarian nervous system is among the simplest of the bilaterally symmetric animals,18 with an anterior brain attached to two ventral nerve cords interconnected by multiple commissures. We found that, in response to mechanical and near-UV stimulation, head stimulation produces turning, tail stimulation produces contraction, and trunk stimulation produces midbody elongation in the planarian Dugesia japonica. When cut into two or three pieces, the anterior end of each headless piece switched its behavior to turning instead of elongation; i.e., it responded as though it were the head. In addition, posterior ends of the head and midbody pieces sometimes produced contraction instead of elongation. Thus, each severed piece acts like an intact animal, with each midbody region having nearly complete behavioral capabilities. These observations show that each midbody region reads the global state of the organism and adapts its response to incoming signals from the remaining tissue. Selective lateral incisions showed that the changes in behavior are not due to nonselective pain responses and that the ventral nerve cords and cross-connectives are responsible for coordinating local behaviors. Our findings highlight a fast functional reorganization of the planarian nervous system that complements the slower repairs provided by regeneration. This reorganization provides needed behavioral responses for survival as regeneration proceeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Le
- Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ziad Sabry
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA
| | - Aarav Chandra
- The Bishop's School, 7607 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - William B Kristan
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, 333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos, CA 92096, USA
| | - Eva-Maria S Collins
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA; Department of Physics and Astronomy, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA; Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - William B Kristan
- Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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30
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Simpson JH, de Bivort BL. Orb weavers: Patterns in the movement sequences of spider web construction. Curr Biol 2021; 31:R1467-R1469. [PMID: 34813748 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.09.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative behavior analyses of spider movements - large and small - reveal repeated action sequences that define stages of web building.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie H Simpson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
| | - Benjamin L de Bivort
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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31
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Johnston TD. The pre-Darwinian history of the comparative method, 1555-1855. HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE LIFE SCIENCES 2021; 43:118. [PMID: 34782958 DOI: 10.1007/s40656-021-00474-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The comparative method, closely identified with Darwinian evolutionary biology, also has a long pre-Darwinian history. The method derives its scientific power from its ability to interpret comparative observations with reference to a theory of relatedness among the entities being compared (the comparates). Such scientifically powerful strong comparison is distinguished from weak comparison, which lacks such theoretical grounding. This paper examines the history of the strong comparison permitted by the comparative method from the early modern period to the threshold of the Darwinian revolution in the mid nineteenth century. It interprets the work of early pioneers such as Belon, Willis, Perrault, and Tyson from this methodological perspective, rather than focusing on their particular anatomical findings. Although these early writers made formative scientific contributions through their comparative investigations, the more theoretically grounded application of the comparative method by Geoffroy, Cuvier, and Owen was instrumental in laying the foundation for its later incorporation into Darwinian evolutionary theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy D Johnston
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27410, USA.
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32
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Rose MC, Styr B, Schmid TA, Elie JE, Yartsev MM. Cortical representation of group social communication in bats. Science 2021; 374:eaba9584. [PMID: 34672724 PMCID: PMC8775406 DOI: 10.1126/science.aba9584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Social interactions occur in group settings and are mediated by communication signals that are exchanged between individuals, often using vocalizations. The neural representation of group social communication remains largely unexplored. We conducted simultaneous wireless electrophysiological recordings from the frontal cortices of groups of Egyptian fruit bats engaged in both spontaneous and task-induced vocal interactions. We found that the activity of single neurons distinguished between vocalizations produced by self and by others, as well as among specific individuals. Coordinated neural activity among group members exhibited stable bidirectional interbrain correlation patterns specific to spontaneous communicative interactions. Tracking social and spatial arrangements within a group revealed a relationship between social preferences and intra- and interbrain activity patterns. Combined, these findings reveal a dedicated neural repertoire for group social communication within and across the brains of freely communicating groups of bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maimon C. Rose
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Boaz Styr
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Tobias A. Schmid
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Julie E. Elie
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael M. Yartsev
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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33
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Leite-Almeida H, Sousa N. Editorial: New Insights Into Behavioral Pharmacology. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:754714. [PMID: 34630053 PMCID: PMC8498201 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.754714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Leite-Almeida
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,The Clinical Academic Center of Braga (2CA-Braga), Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.,The Clinical Academic Center of Braga (2CA-Braga), Braga, Portugal
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34
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Sakata JT, Catalano I, Woolley SC. Mechanisms, development, and comparative perspectives on experience-dependent plasticity in social behavior. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2021; 337:35-49. [PMID: 34516724 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Revealing the mechanisms underlying experience-dependent plasticity is a hallmark of behavioral neuroscience. While the study of social behavior has focused primarily on the neuroendocrine and neural control of social behaviors, the plasticity of these innate behaviors has received relatively less attention. Here, we review studies on mating-dependent changes to social behavior and neural circuitry across mammals, birds, and reptiles. We provide an overview of species similarities and differences in the effects of mating experiences on motivational and performative aspects of sexual behaviors, on sensory processing and preferences, and on the experience-dependent consolidation of sexual behavior. We also discuss recent insights into the neural mechanisms of and developmental influences on mating-dependent changes and outline promising approaches to investigate evolutionary parallels and divergences in experience-dependent plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon T Sakata
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabella Catalano
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sarah C Woolley
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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35
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Dotson NM, Yartsev MM. Nonlocal spatiotemporal representation in the hippocampus of freely flying bats. Science 2021; 373:242-247. [PMID: 34244418 DOI: 10.1126/science.abg1278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Navigation occurs through a continuum of space and time. The hippocampus is known to encode the immediate position of moving animals. However, active navigation, especially at high speeds, may require representing navigational information beyond the present moment. Using wireless electrophysiological recordings in freely flying bats, we demonstrate that neural activity in area CA1 predominantly encodes nonlocal spatial information up to meters away from the bat's present position. This spatiotemporal representation extends both forward and backward in time, with an emphasis on future locations, and is found during both random exploration and goal-directed navigation. The representation of position thus extends along a continuum, with each moment containing information about past, present, and future, and may provide a key mechanism for navigating along self-selected and remembered paths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Dotson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael M Yartsev
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. .,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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36
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Savier E, Sedigh-Sarvestani M, Wimmer R, Fitzpatrick D. A bright future for the tree shrew in neuroscience research: Summary from the inaugural Tree Shrew Users Meeting. Zool Res 2021; 42:478-481. [PMID: 34213094 PMCID: PMC8317191 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tree shrews (Tupaia spp.) have been used in neuroscience research since the 1960s due to their evolutionary proximity to primates. The use and interest in this animal model have recently increased, in part due to the adaptation of modern neuroscience tools in this species. These tools include quantitative behavioral assays, calcium imaging, optogenetics and transgenics. To facilitate the exchange and development of these new technologies and associated research findings, we organized the inaugural "Tree Shrew Users Meeting" which was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we review this meeting and discuss the history of tree shrews as an animal model in neuroscience research and summarize the current themes being investigated using this animal, as well as future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Savier
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-1738, USA. E-mail:
| | | | - Ralf Wimmer
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA
| | - David Fitzpatrick
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida 33458-2906, USA
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37
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Gignac PM, O'Brien HD, Sanchez J, Vazquez-Sanroman D. Multiscale imaging of the rat brain using an integrated diceCT and histology workflow. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:2153-2168. [PMID: 34173869 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02316-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Advancements in tissue visualization techniques have spurred significant gains in the biomedical sciences by enabling researchers to integrate their datasets across anatomical scales. Of particular import are techniques that enable the interpolation of multiple hierarchical scales in samples taken from the same individuals. In this study, we demonstrate that two-dimensional histology techniques can be employed on neural tissues following three-dimensional diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) without causing tissue degradation. This represents the first step toward a multiscale pipeline for brain visualization. We studied brains from adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats, comparing experimental (diceCT-stained then de-stained) to control (without diceCT) brains to examine neural tissues for immunolabeling integrity, compare somata sizes, and distinguish neurons from glial cells within the telencephalon and diencephalon. We hypothesized that if experimental and control samples do not differ significantly in morphological cell analysis, then brain tissues are robust to the chemical, temperature, and radiation environments required for these multiple, successive imaging protocols. Visualizations for experimental brains were first captured via micro-computed tomography scanning of isolated, iodine-infused specimens. Samples were then cleared of iodine, serially sectioned, and prepared again using immunofluorescent, fluorescent, and cresyl violet labeling, followed by imaging with confocal and light microscopy, respectively. Our results show that many neural targets are resilient to diceCT imaging and compatible with downstream histological staining as part of a low-cost, multiscale brain imaging pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Gignac
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, 74107, USA
| | - Haley D O'Brien
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, 74107, USA
| | - Jimena Sanchez
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Dolores Vazquez-Sanroman
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK, 74107, USA.
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38
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Weitekamp CA, Hofmann HA. Effects of air pollution exposure on social behavior: a synthesis and call for research. Environ Health 2021; 20:72. [PMID: 34187479 PMCID: PMC8243425 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00761-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing literature from both epidemiologic and experimental animal studies suggesting that exposure to air pollution can lead to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we suggest that effects of air pollutant exposure on the brain may be even broader, with the potential to affect social decision-making in general. METHODS We discuss how the neurobiological substrates of social behavior are vulnerable to air pollution, then briefly present studies that examine the effects of air pollutant exposure on social behavior-related outcomes. RESULTS Few experimental studies have investigated the effects of air pollution on social behavior and those that have focus on standard laboratory tests in rodent model systems. Nonetheless, there is sufficient evidence to support a critical need for more research. CONCLUSION For future research, we suggest a comparative approach that utilizes diverse model systems to probe the effects of air pollution on a wider range of social behaviors, brain regions, and neurochemical pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea A. Weitekamp
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC USA
| | - Hans A. Hofmann
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas At Austin, Austin, TX USA
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas At Austin, Austin, TX USA
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas At Austin, Austin, TX USA
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39
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Zilkha N, Sofer Y, Kashash Y, Kimchi T. The social network: Neural control of sex differences in reproductive behaviors, motivation, and response to social isolation. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 68:137-151. [PMID: 33910083 PMCID: PMC8528716 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Social animal species present a vast repertoire of social interactions when encountering conspecifics. Reproduction-related behaviors, such as mating, parental care, and aggression, are some of the most rewarding types of social interactions and are also the most sexually dimorphic ones. This review focuses on rodent species and summarizes recent advances in neuroscience research that link sexually dimorphic reproductive behaviors to sexual dimorphism in their underlying neuronal circuits. Specifically, we present a few possible mechanisms governing sexually-dimorphic behaviors, by hypothalamic and reward-related brain regions. Sex differences in the neural response to social isolation in adulthood are also discussed, as well as future directions for comparative studies with naturally solitary species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noga Zilkha
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yizhak Sofer
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yael Kashash
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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40
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Testard C, Tremblay S, Platt M. From the field to the lab and back: neuroethology of primate social behavior. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 68:76-83. [PMID: 33567386 PMCID: PMC8243779 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Social mammals with more numerous and stronger social relationships live longer, healthier lives. Despite the established importance of social relationships, our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms by which they are pursued, formed, and maintained in primates remains largely confined to highly controlled laboratory settings which do not allow natural, dynamic social interactions to unfold. In this review, we argue that the neurobiological study of primate social behavior would benefit from adopting a neuroethological approach, that is, a perspective grounded in natural, species-typical behavior, with careful selection of animal models according to the scientific question at hand. We highlight macaques and marmosets as key animal models for human social behavior and summarize recent findings in the social domain for both species. We then review pioneering studies of dynamic social behaviors in small animals, which can inspire studies in larger primates where the technological landscape is now ripe for an ethological overhaul.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Testard
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Sébastien Tremblay
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Psychology Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Marketing Department, The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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41
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Visual Neuroscience Methods for Marmosets: Efficient Receptive Field Mapping and Head-Free Eye Tracking. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0489-20.2021. [PMID: 33863782 PMCID: PMC8143020 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0489-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The marmoset has emerged as a promising primate model system, in particular for visual neuroscience. Many common experimental paradigms rely on head fixation and an extended period of eye fixation during the presentation of salient visual stimuli. Both of these behavioral requirements can be challenging for marmosets. Here, we present two methodological developments, each addressing one of these difficulties. First, we show that it is possible to use a standard eye-tracking system without head fixation to assess visual behavior in the marmoset. Eye-tracking quality from head-free animals is sufficient to obtain precise psychometric functions from a visual acuity task. Second, we introduce a novel method for efficient receptive field (RF) mapping that does not rely on moving stimuli but uses fast flashing annuli and wedges. We present data recorded during head-fixation in areas V1 and V6 and show that RF locations are readily obtained within a short period of recording time. Thus, the methodological advancements presented in this work will contribute to establish the marmoset as a valuable model in neuroscience.
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42
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Westwick RR, Rittschof CC. Insects Provide Unique Systems to Investigate How Early-Life Experience Alters the Brain and Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:660464. [PMID: 33967715 PMCID: PMC8097038 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.660464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-life experiences have strong and long-lasting consequences for behavior in a surprising diversity of animals. Determining which environmental inputs cause behavioral change, how this information becomes neurobiologically encoded, and the functional consequences of these changes remain fundamental puzzles relevant to diverse fields from evolutionary biology to the health sciences. Here we explore how insects provide unique opportunities for comparative study of developmental behavioral plasticity. Insects have sophisticated behavior and cognitive abilities, and they are frequently studied in their natural environments, which provides an ecological and adaptive perspective that is often more limited in lab-based vertebrate models. A range of cues, from relatively simple cues like temperature to complex social information, influence insect behavior. This variety provides experimentally tractable opportunities to study diverse neural plasticity mechanisms. Insects also have a wide range of neurodevelopmental trajectories while sharing many developmental plasticity mechanisms with vertebrates. In addition, some insects retain only subsets of their juvenile neuronal population in adulthood, narrowing the targets for detailed study of cellular plasticity mechanisms. Insects and vertebrates share many of the same knowledge gaps pertaining to developmental behavioral plasticity. Combined with the extensive study of insect behavior under natural conditions and their experimental tractability, insect systems may be uniquely qualified to address some of the biggest unanswered questions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca R Westwick
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Clare C Rittschof
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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43
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Lovett-Barron M. Learning-dependent neuronal activity across the larval zebrafish brain. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 67:42-49. [PMID: 32861055 PMCID: PMC7907282 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Learning changes the activity of neurons across multiple brain regions, but the significance of this distributed organization remains poorly understood, owing in part to the difficulty of observing brain-wide activity patterns in commonly used mammalian model systems. This review discusses the promise of using the small and optically accessible nervous system of larval zebrafish to study the brain-wide networks that encode experience. I discuss the opportunities and challenges of studying learning and memory in the larval zebrafish, the lessons learned from recent studies of brain-wide imaging during experience-dependent behavior, and the potential for using zebrafish neurotechnology to understand the physiological principles and behavioral significance of distributed memory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Lovett-Barron
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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44
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Cai L, Gutruf P. Soft, Wireless and subdermally implantable recording and neuromodulation tools. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 33607646 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abe805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Progress in understanding neuronal interaction and circuit behavior of the central and peripheral nervous system strongly relies on the advancement of tools that record and stimulate with high fidelity and specificity. Currently, devices used in exploratory research predominantly utilize cables or tethers to provide pathways for power supply, data communication, stimulus delivery and recording, which constrains the scope and use of such devices. In particular, the tethered connection, mechanical mismatch to surrounding soft tissues and bones frustrate the interface leading to irritation and limitation of motion of the subject, which in the case of fundamental and preclinical studies, impacts naturalistic behaviors of animals and precludes the use in experiments involving social interaction and ethologically relevant three-dimensional environments, limiting the use of current tools to mostly rodents and exclude species such as birds and fish. This review explores the current state-of-the-art in wireless, subdermally implantable tools that quantitively expand capabilities in analysis and perturbation of the central and peripheral nervous system by removing tethers and externalized features of implantable neuromodulation and recording tools. Specifically, the review explores power harvesting strategies, wireless communication schemes, and soft materials and mechanics that enable the creation of such devices and discuss their capabilities in the context of freely-behaving subjects. Highlights of this class of devices includes wireless battery-free and fully implantable operation with capabilities in cell specific recording, multimodal neural stimulation and electrical, optogenetic and pharmacological neuromodulation capabilities. We conclude with discussion on translation of such technologies which promises routes towards broad dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Cai
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, 1230 N Cherry Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, UNITED STATES
| | - Philipp Gutruf
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, 1230 N Cherry Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, UNITED STATES
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45
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Expanding evolutionary neuroscience: insights from comparing variation in behavior. Neuron 2021; 109:1084-1099. [PMID: 33609484 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Neuroscientists have long studied species with convenient biological features to discover how behavior emerges from conserved molecular, neural, and circuit level processes. With the advent of new tools, from viral vectors and gene editing to automated behavioral analyses, there has been a recent wave of interest in developing new, "nontraditional" model species. Here, we advocate for a complementary approach to model species development, that is, model clade development, as a way to integrate an evolutionary comparative approach with neurobiological and behavioral experiments. Capitalizing on natural behavioral variation in and investing in experimental tools for model clades will be a valuable strategy for the next generation of neuroscience discovery.
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Farris SM. The rise to dominance of genetic model organisms and the decline of curiosity-driven organismal research. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243088. [PMID: 33259560 PMCID: PMC7707607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Curiosity-driven, basic biological research "…performed without thought of practical ends…" establishes fundamental conceptual frameworks for future technological and medical breakthroughs. Traditionally, curiosity-driven research in biological sciences has utilized experimental organisms chosen for their tractability and suitability for studying the question of interest. This approach leverages the diversity of life to uncover working solutions (adaptations) to problems encountered by living things, and evolutionary context as to the extent to which these solutions may be generalized to other species. Despite the well-documented success of this approach, funding portfolios of United States granting agencies are increasingly filled with studies on a few species for which cutting-edge molecular tools are available (genetic model organisms). While this narrow focus may be justified for biomedically-focused funding bodies such as the National Institutes of Health, it is critical that robust federal support for curiosity-driven research using diverse experimental organisms be maintained by agencies such as the National Science Foundation. Using the disciplines of neurobiology and behavioral research as an example, this study finds that NSF grant awards have declined in association with a decrease in the proportion of grants funded for experimental, rather than genetic model organism research. The decline in use of experimental organisms in the literature mirrors but predates the shift grant funding. Today's dominance of genetic model organisms was thus initiated by researchers themselves and/or by publication peer review and editorial preferences, and was further reinforced by pressure from granting agencies, academic employers, and the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Farris
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
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Ranganathan R, Tomlinson AD, Lokesh R, Lin TH, Patel P. A tale of too many tasks: task fragmentation in motor learning and a call for model task paradigms. Exp Brain Res 2020; 239:1-19. [PMID: 33170341 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05908-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Motor learning encompasses a broad set of phenomena that requires a diverse set of experimental paradigms. However, excessive variation in tasks across studies creates fragmentation that can adversely affect the collective advancement of knowledge. Here, we show that motor learning studies tend toward extreme fragmentation in the choice of tasks, with almost no overlap between task paradigms across studies. We argue that this extreme level of task fragmentation poses serious theoretical and methodological barriers to advancing the field. To address these barriers, we propose the need for developing common 'model' task paradigms which could be widely used across labs. Combined with the open sharing of methods and data, we suggest that these model task paradigms could be an important step in increasing the robustness of the motor learning literature and facilitate the cumulative process of science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv Ranganathan
- Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, 308 W Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Aimee D Tomlinson
- Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, 308 W Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Rakshith Lokesh
- Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, 308 W Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Tzu-Hsiang Lin
- Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, 308 W Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Priya Patel
- Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, 308 W Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
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DeAngelis RS, Hofmann HA. Neural and molecular mechanisms underlying female mate choice decisions in vertebrates. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 223:223/17/jeb207324. [PMID: 32895328 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.207324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Female mate choice is a dynamic process that allows individuals to selectively mate with those of the opposite sex that display a preferred set of traits. Because in many species males compete with each other for fertilization opportunities, female mate choice can be a powerful agent of sexual selection, often resulting in highly conspicuous traits in males. Although the evolutionary causes and consequences of the ornamentation and behaviors displayed by males to attract mates have been well studied, embarrassingly little is known about the proximate neural mechanisms through which female choice occurs. In vertebrates, female mate choice is inherently a social behavior, and although much remains to be discovered about this process, recent evidence suggests the neural substrates and circuits underlying other fundamental social behaviors (such as pair bonding, aggression and parental care) are likely similarly recruited during mate choice. Notably, female mate choice is not static, as social and ecological environments can shape the brain and, consequently, behavior in specific ways. In this Review, we discuss how social and/or ecological influences mediate female choice and how this occurs within the brain. We then discuss our current understanding of the neural substrates underlying female mate choice, with a specific focus on those that also play a role in regulating other social behaviors. Finally, we propose several promising avenues for future research by highlighting novel model systems and new methodological approaches, which together will transform our understanding of the causes and consequences of female mate choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross S DeAngelis
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Hans A Hofmann
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA .,Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.,Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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49
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Boender AJ, Young LJ. Oxytocin, vasopressin and social behavior in the age of genome editing: A comparative perspective. Horm Behav 2020; 124:104780. [PMID: 32544402 PMCID: PMC7486992 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral neuroendocrinology has a rich history of using diverse model organisms to elucidate general principles and evolution of hormone-brain-behavior relationships. The oxytocin and vasopressin systems have been studied in many species, revealing their role in regulating social behaviors. Oxytocin and vasopressin receptors show remarkable species and individual differences in distribution in the brain that have been linked to diversity in social behaviors. New technologies allow for unprecedented interrogation of the genes and neural circuitry regulating behaviors, but these approaches often require transgenic models and are most often used in mice. Here we discuss seminal findings relating the oxytocin and vasopressin systems to social behavior with a focus on non-traditional animal models. We then evaluate the potential of using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to examine the roles of genes and enable circuit dissection, manipulation and activity monitoring of the oxytocin and vasopressin systems. We believe that it is essential to incorporate these genetic and circuit level techniques in comparative behavioral neuroendocrinology research to ensure that our field remains innovative and attractive for the next generation of investigators and funding agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjen J Boender
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Larry J Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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Huang L, Kebschull JM, Fürth D, Musall S, Kaufman MT, Churchland AK, Zador AM. BRICseq Bridges Brain-wide Interregional Connectivity to Neural Activity and Gene Expression in Single Animals. Cell 2020; 182:177-188.e27. [PMID: 32619423 PMCID: PMC7771207 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Comprehensive analysis of neuronal networks requires brain-wide measurement of connectivity, activity, and gene expression. Although high-throughput methods are available for mapping brain-wide activity and transcriptomes, comparable methods for mapping region-to-region connectivity remain slow and expensive because they require averaging across hundreds of brains. Here we describe BRICseq (brain-wide individual animal connectome sequencing), which leverages DNA barcoding and sequencing to map connectivity from single individuals in a few weeks and at low cost. Applying BRICseq to the mouse neocortex, we find that region-to-region connectivity provides a simple bridge relating transcriptome to activity: the spatial expression patterns of a few genes predict region-to-region connectivity, and connectivity predicts activity correlations. We also exploited BRICseq to map the mutant BTBR mouse brain, which lacks a corpus callosum, and recapitulated its known connectopathies. BRICseq allows individual laboratories to compare how age, sex, environment, genetics, and species affect neuronal wiring and to integrate these with functional activity and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longwen Huang
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Justus M Kebschull
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Daniel Fürth
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Simon Musall
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Matthew T Kaufman
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | | | - Anthony M Zador
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
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