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Sutton NM, Gutiérrez-Guzmán BE, Dannenberg H, Ascoli GA. A Continuous Attractor Model with Realistic Neural and Synaptic Properties Quantitatively Reproduces Grid Cell Physiology. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6059. [PMID: 38892248 PMCID: PMC11173171 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116059] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Computational simulations with data-driven physiological detail can foster a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in cognition. Here, we utilize the wealth of cellular properties from Hippocampome.org to study neural mechanisms of spatial coding with a spiking continuous attractor network model of medial entorhinal cortex circuit activity. The primary goal is to investigate if adding such realistic constraints could produce firing patterns similar to those measured in real neurons. Biological characteristics included in the work are excitability, connectivity, and synaptic signaling of neuron types defined primarily by their axonal and dendritic morphologies. We investigate the spiking dynamics in specific neuron types and the synaptic activities between groups of neurons. Modeling the rodent hippocampal formation keeps the simulations to a computationally reasonable scale while also anchoring the parameters and results to experimental measurements. Our model generates grid cell activity that well matches the spacing, size, and firing rates of grid fields recorded in live behaving animals from both published datasets and new experiments performed for this study. Our simulations also recreate different scales of those properties, e.g., small and large, as found along the dorsoventral axis of the medial entorhinal cortex. Computational exploration of neuronal and synaptic model parameters reveals that a broad range of neural properties produce grid fields in the simulation. These results demonstrate that the continuous attractor network model of grid cells is compatible with a spiking neural network implementation sourcing data-driven biophysical and anatomical parameters from Hippocampome.org. The software (version 1.0) is released as open source to enable broad community reuse and encourage novel applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nate M. Sutton
- Bioengineering Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; (N.M.S.); (B.E.G.-G.); (H.D.)
| | - Blanca E. Gutiérrez-Guzmán
- Bioengineering Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; (N.M.S.); (B.E.G.-G.); (H.D.)
| | - Holger Dannenberg
- Bioengineering Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; (N.M.S.); (B.E.G.-G.); (H.D.)
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Giorgio A. Ascoli
- Bioengineering Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; (N.M.S.); (B.E.G.-G.); (H.D.)
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
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Sutton N, Gutiérrez-Guzmán B, Dannenberg H, Ascoli GA. A Continuous Attractor Model with Realistic Neural and Synaptic Properties Quantitatively Reproduces Grid Cell Physiology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.29.591748. [PMID: 38746202 PMCID: PMC11092518 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.29.591748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Computational simulations with data-driven physiological detail can foster a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in cognition. Here, we utilize the wealth of cellular properties from Hippocampome.org to study neural mechanisms of spatial coding with a spiking continuous attractor network model of medial entorhinal cortex circuit activity. The primary goal was to investigate if adding such realistic constraints could produce firing patterns similar to those measured in real neurons. Biological characteristics included in the work are excitability, connectivity, and synaptic signaling of neuron types defined primarily by their axonal and dendritic morphologies. We investigate the spiking dynamics in specific neuron types and the synaptic activities between groups of neurons. Modeling the rodent hippocampal formation keeps the simulations to a computationally reasonable scale while also anchoring the parameters and results to experimental measurements. Our model generates grid cell activity that well matches the spacing, size, and firing rates of grid fields recorded in live behaving animals from both published datasets and new experiments performed for this study. Our simulations also recreate different scales of those properties, e.g., small and large, as found along the dorsoventral axis of the medial entorhinal cortex. Computational exploration of neuronal and synaptic model parameters reveals that a broad range of neural properties produce grid fields in the simulation. These results demonstrate that the continuous attractor network model of grid cells is compatible with a spiking neural network implementation sourcing data-driven biophysical and anatomical parameters from Hippocampome.org. The software is released as open source to enable broad community reuse and encourage novel applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nate Sutton
- Bioengineering Department, at George Mason University
| | | | - Holger Dannenberg
- Bioengineering Department, at George Mason University
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience at George Mason University
| | - Giorgio A. Ascoli
- Bioengineering Department, at George Mason University
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience at George Mason University
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3
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Qian P, Manubens-Gil L, Jiang S, Peng H. Non-homogenous axonal bouton distribution in whole-brain single-cell neuronal networks. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113871. [PMID: 38451816 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
We examined the distribution of pre-synaptic contacts in axons of mouse neurons and constructed whole-brain single-cell neuronal networks using an extensive dataset of 1,891 fully reconstructed neurons. We found that bouton locations were not homogeneous throughout the axon and among brain regions. As our algorithm was able to generate whole-brain single-cell connectivity matrices from full morphology reconstruction datasets, we further found that non-homogeneous bouton locations have a significant impact on network wiring, including degree distribution, triad census, and community structure. By perturbing neuronal morphology, we further explored the link between anatomical details and network topology. In our in silico exploration, we found that dendritic and axonal tree span would have the greatest impact on network wiring, followed by synaptic contact deletion. Our results suggest that neuroanatomical details must be carefully addressed in studies of whole-brain networks at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penghao Qian
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, SEU-ALLEN Joint Center, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China; School of Computer Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
| | - Linus Manubens-Gil
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, SEU-ALLEN Joint Center, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China.
| | - Shengdian Jiang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, SEU-ALLEN Joint Center, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China; School of Computer Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
| | - Hanchuan Peng
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, SEU-ALLEN Joint Center, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Institute for Brain and Intelligence, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China.
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Wheeler DW, Kopsick JD, Sutton N, Tecuatl C, Komendantov AO, Nadella K, Ascoli GA. Hippocampome.org 2.0 is a knowledge base enabling data-driven spiking neural network simulations of rodent hippocampal circuits. eLife 2024; 12:RP90597. [PMID: 38345923 PMCID: PMC10942544 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90597] [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: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Hippocampome.org is a mature open-access knowledge base of the rodent hippocampal formation focusing on neuron types and their properties. Previously, Hippocampome.org v1.0 established a foundational classification system identifying 122 hippocampal neuron types based on their axonal and dendritic morphologies, main neurotransmitter, membrane biophysics, and molecular expression (Wheeler et al., 2015). Releases v1.1 through v1.12 furthered the aggregation of literature-mined data, including among others neuron counts, spiking patterns, synaptic physiology, in vivo firing phases, and connection probabilities. Those additional properties increased the online information content of this public resource over 100-fold, enabling numerous independent discoveries by the scientific community. Hippocampome.org v2.0, introduced here, besides incorporating over 50 new neuron types, now recenters its focus on extending the functionality to build real-scale, biologically detailed, data-driven computational simulations. In all cases, the freely downloadable model parameters are directly linked to the specific peer-reviewed empirical evidence from which they were derived. Possible research applications include quantitative, multiscale analyses of circuit connectivity and spiking neural network simulations of activity dynamics. These advances can help generate precise, experimentally testable hypotheses and shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying associative memory and spatial navigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diek W Wheeler
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
| | - Jeffrey D Kopsick
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Science, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
| | - Nate Sutton
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
| | - Carolina Tecuatl
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
| | - Alexander O Komendantov
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
| | - Kasturi Nadella
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
| | - Giorgio A Ascoli
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Science, George Mason UniversityFairfaxUnited States
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Wheeler DW, Kopsick JD, Sutton N, Tecuatl C, Komendantov AO, Nadella K, Ascoli GA. Hippocampome.org v2.0: a knowledge base enabling data-driven spiking neural network simulations of rodent hippocampal circuits. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.05.12.540597. [PMID: 37425693 PMCID: PMC10327012 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.12.540597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Hippocampome.org is a mature open-access knowledge base of the rodent hippocampal formation focusing on neuron types and their properties. Hippocampome.org v1.0 established a foundational classification system identifying 122 hippocampal neuron types based on their axonal and dendritic morphologies, main neurotransmitter, membrane biophysics, and molecular expression. Releases v1.1 through v1.12 furthered the aggregation of literature-mined data, including among others neuron counts, spiking patterns, synaptic physiology, in vivo firing phases, and connection probabilities. Those additional properties increased the online information content of this public resource over 100-fold, enabling numerous independent discoveries by the scientific community. Hippocampome.org v2.0, introduced here, besides incorporating over 50 new neuron types, now recenters its focus on extending the functionality to build real-scale, biologically detailed, data-driven computational simulations. In all cases, the freely downloadable model parameters are directly linked to the specific peer-reviewed empirical evidence from which they were derived. Possible research applications include quantitative, multiscale analyses of circuit connectivity and spiking neural network simulations of activity dynamics. These advances can help generate precise, experimentally testable hypotheses and shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying associative memory and spatial navigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diek W. Wheeler
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; College of Engineering and Computing; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Kopsick
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience; College of Science; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Nate Sutton
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; College of Engineering and Computing; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Carolina Tecuatl
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; College of Engineering and Computing; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Alexander O. Komendantov
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; College of Engineering and Computing; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Kasturi Nadella
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; College of Engineering and Computing; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Giorgio A. Ascoli
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience; College of Science; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Bioengineering Department and Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity; College of Engineering and Computing; George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
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Kopsick JD, Tecuatl C, Moradi K, Attili SM, Kashyap HJ, Xing J, Chen K, Krichmar JL, Ascoli GA. Robust Resting-State Dynamics in a Large-Scale Spiking Neural Network Model of Area CA3 in the Mouse Hippocampus. Cognit Comput 2023; 15:1190-1210. [PMID: 37663748 PMCID: PMC10473858 DOI: 10.1007/s12559-021-09954-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hippocampal area CA3 performs the critical auto-associative function underlying pattern completion in episodic memory. Without external inputs, the electrical activity of this neural circuit reflects the spontaneous spiking interplay among glutamatergic pyramidal neurons and GABAergic interneurons. However, the network mechanisms underlying these resting-state firing patterns are poorly understood. Leveraging the Hippocampome.org knowledge base, we developed a data-driven, large-scale spiking neural network (SNN) model of mouse CA3 with 8 neuron types, 90,000 neurons, 51 neuron-type specific connections, and 250,000,000 synapses. We instantiated the SNN in the CARLsim4 multi-GPU simulation environment using the Izhikevich and Tsodyks-Markram formalisms for neuronal and synaptic dynamics, respectively. We analyzed the resultant population activity upon transient activation. The SNN settled into stable oscillations with a biologically plausible grand-average firing frequency, which was robust relative to a wide range of transient activation. The diverse firing patterns of individual neuron types were consistent with existing knowledge of cell type-specific activity in vivo. Altered network structures that lacked neuron- or connection-type specificity were neither stable nor robust, highlighting the importance of neuron type circuitry. Additionally, external inputs reflecting dentate mossy fibers shifted the observed rhythms to the gamma band. We freely released the CARLsim4-Hippocampome framework on GitHub to test hippocampal hypotheses. Our SNN may be useful to investigate the circuit mechanisms underlying the computational functions of CA3. Moreover, our approach can be scaled to the whole hippocampal formation, which may contribute to elucidating how the unique neuronal architecture of this system subserves its crucial cognitive roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D. Kopsick
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Carolina Tecuatl
- Bioengineering Department, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Keivan Moradi
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Sarojini M. Attili
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Hirak J. Kashyap
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jinwei Xing
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kexin Chen
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey L. Krichmar
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Giorgio A. Ascoli
- Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Bioengineering Department, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
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Mysin I, Shubina L. Hippocampal non-theta state: The "Janus face" of information processing. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1134705. [PMID: 36960401 PMCID: PMC10027749 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1134705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The vast majority of studies on hippocampal rhythms have been conducted on animals or humans in situations where their attention was focused on external stimuli or solving cognitive tasks. These studies formed the basis for the idea that rhythmical activity coordinates the work of neurons during information processing. However, at rest, when attention is not directed to external stimuli, brain rhythms do not disappear, although the parameters of oscillatory activity change. What is the functional load of rhythmical activity at rest? Hippocampal oscillatory activity during rest is called the non-theta state, as opposed to the theta state, a characteristic activity during active behavior. We dedicate our review to discussing the present state of the art in the research of the non-theta state. The key provisions of the review are as follows: (1) the non-theta state has its own characteristics of oscillatory and neuronal activity; (2) hippocampal non-theta state is possibly caused and maintained by change of rhythmicity of medial septal input under the influence of raphe nuclei; (3) there is no consensus in the literature about cognitive functions of the non-theta-non-ripple state; and (4) the antagonistic relationship between theta and delta rhythms observed in rodents is not always observed in humans. Most attention is paid to the non-theta-non-ripple state, since this aspect of hippocampal activity has not been investigated properly and discussed in reviews.
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Neurodynamical Computing at the Information Boundaries of Intelligent Systems. Cognit Comput 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12559-022-10081-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
AbstractArtificial intelligence has not achieved defining features of biological intelligence despite models boasting more parameters than neurons in the human brain. In this perspective article, we synthesize historical approaches to understanding intelligent systems and argue that methodological and epistemic biases in these fields can be resolved by shifting away from cognitivist brain-as-computer theories and recognizing that brains exist within large, interdependent living systems. Integrating the dynamical systems view of cognition with the massive distributed feedback of perceptual control theory highlights a theoretical gap in our understanding of nonreductive neural mechanisms. Cell assemblies—properly conceived as reentrant dynamical flows and not merely as identified groups of neurons—may fill that gap by providing a minimal supraneuronal level of organization that establishes a neurodynamical base layer for computation. By considering information streams from physical embodiment and situational embedding, we discuss this computational base layer in terms of conserved oscillatory and structural properties of cortical-hippocampal networks. Our synthesis of embodied cognition, based in dynamical systems and perceptual control, aims to bypass the neurosymbolic stalemates that have arisen in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and computational neuroscience.
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Attili SM, Moradi K, Wheeler DW, Ascoli GA. Quantification of neuron types in the rodent hippocampal formation by data mining and numerical optimization. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:1724-1741. [PMID: 35301768 PMCID: PMC10026515 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying the population sizes of distinct neuron types in different anatomical regions is an essential step towards establishing a brain cell census. Although estimates exist for the total neuronal populations in different species, the number and definition of each specific neuron type are still intensively investigated. Hippocampome.org is an open-source knowledge base with morphological, physiological and molecular information for 122 neuron types in the rodent hippocampal formation. While such framework identifies all known neuron types in this system, their relative abundances remain largely unknown. This work quantitatively estimates the counts of all Hippocampome.org neuron types by literature mining and numerical optimization. We report the number of neurons in each type identified by main neurotransmitter (glutamate or GABA) and axonal-dendritic patterns throughout 26 subregions and layers of the dentate gyrus, Ammon's horn, subiculum and entorhinal cortex. We produce by sensitivity analysis reliable numerical ranges for each type and summarize the amounts across broad neuronal families defined by biomarkers expression and firing dynamics. Study of density distributions indicates that the number of dendritic-targeting interneurons, but not of other neuronal classes, is independent of anatomical volumes. All extracted values, experimental evidence and related software code are released on Hippocampome.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarojini M. Attili
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Keivan Moradi
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Diek W. Wheeler
- Bioengineering Department and Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Giorgio A. Ascoli
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, & Plasticity, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Bioengineering Department and Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
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Venkadesh S, Van Horn JD. Integrative Models of Brain Structure and Dynamics: Concepts, Challenges, and Methods. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:752332. [PMID: 34776853 PMCID: PMC8585845 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.752332] [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: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The anatomical architecture of the brain constrains the dynamics of interactions between various regions. On a microscopic scale, neural plasticity regulates the connections between individual neurons. This microstructural adaptation facilitates coordinated dynamics of populations of neurons (mesoscopic scale) and brain regions (macroscopic scale). However, the mechanisms acting on multiple timescales that govern the reciprocal relationship between neural network structure and its intrinsic dynamics are not well understood. Studies empirically investigating such relationships on the whole-brain level rely on macroscopic measurements of structural and functional connectivity estimated from various neuroimaging modalities such as Diffusion-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI), Electroencephalography (EEG), Magnetoencephalography (MEG), and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). dMRI measures the anisotropy of water diffusion along axonal fibers, from which structural connections are estimated. EEG and MEG signals measure electrical activity and magnetic fields induced by the electrical activity, respectively, from various brain regions with a high temporal resolution (but limited spatial coverage), whereas fMRI measures regional activations indirectly via blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals with a high spatial resolution (but limited temporal resolution). There are several studies in the neuroimaging literature reporting statistical associations between macroscopic structural and functional connectivity. On the other hand, models of large-scale oscillatory dynamics conditioned on network structure (such as the one estimated from dMRI connectivity) provide a platform to probe into the structure-dynamics relationship at the mesoscopic level. Such investigations promise to uncover the theoretical underpinnings of the interplay between network structure and dynamics and could be complementary to the macroscopic level inquiries. In this article, we review theoretical and empirical studies that attempt to elucidate the coupling between brain structure and dynamics. Special attention is given to various clinically relevant dimensions of brain connectivity such as the topological features and neural synchronization, and their applicability for a given modality, spatial or temporal scale of analysis is discussed. Our review provides a summary of the progress made along this line of research and identifies challenges and promising future directions for multi-modal neuroimaging analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siva Venkadesh
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - John Darrell Van Horn
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,School of Data Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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11
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Sutton NM, Ascoli GA. Spiking Neural Networks and Hippocampal Function: A Web-Accessible Survey of Simulations, Modeling Methods, and Underlying Theories. COGN SYST RES 2021; 70:80-92. [PMID: 34504394 DOI: 10.1016/j.cogsys.2021.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Computational modeling has contributed to hippocampal research in a wide variety of ways and through a large diversity of approaches, reflecting the many advanced cognitive roles of this brain region. The intensively studied neuron type circuitry of the hippocampus is a particularly conducive substrate for spiking neural models. Here we present an online knowledge base of spiking neural network simulations of hippocampal functions. First, we overview theories involving the hippocampal formation in subjects such as spatial representation, learning, and memory. Then we describe an original literature mining process to organize published reports in various key aspects, including: (i) subject area (e.g., navigation, pattern completion, epilepsy); (ii) level of modeling detail (Hodgkin-Huxley, integrate-and-fire, etc.); and (iii) theoretical framework (attractor dynamics, oscillatory interference, self-organizing maps, and others). Moreover, every peer-reviewed publication is also annotated to indicate the specific neuron types represented in the network simulation, establishing a direct link with the Hippocampome.org portal. The web interface of the knowledge base enables dynamic content browsing and advanced searches, and consistently presents evidence supporting every annotation. Moreover, users are given access to several types of statistical reports about the collection, a selection of which is summarized in this paper. This open access resource thus provides an interactive platform to survey spiking neural network models of hippocampal functions, compare available computational methods, and foster ideas for suitable new directions of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nate M Sutton
- Department of Bioengineering, 4400 University Drive, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030 (USA)
| | - Giorgio A Ascoli
- Department of Bioengineering, 4400 University Drive, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030 (USA).,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, 4400 University Drive, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030 (USA)
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12
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Sanchez-Aguilera A, Wheeler DW, Jurado-Parras T, Valero M, Nokia MS, Cid E, Fernandez-Lamo I, Sutton N, García-Rincón D, de la Prida LM, Ascoli GA. An update to Hippocampome.org by integrating single-cell phenotypes with circuit function in vivo. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001213. [PMID: 33956790 PMCID: PMC8130934 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding brain operation demands linking basic behavioral traits to cell-type specific dynamics of different brain-wide subcircuits. This requires a system to classify the basic operational modes of neurons and circuits. Single-cell phenotyping of firing behavior during ongoing oscillations in vivo has provided a large body of evidence on entorhinal-hippocampal function, but data are dispersed and diverse. Here, we mined literature to search for information regarding the phase-timing dynamics of over 100 hippocampal/entorhinal neuron types defined in Hippocampome.org. We identified missing and unresolved pieces of knowledge (e.g., the preferred theta phase for a specific neuron type) and complemented the dataset with our own new data. By confronting the effect of brain state and recording methods, we highlight the equivalences and differences across conditions and offer a number of novel observations. We show how a heuristic approach based on oscillatory features of morphologically identified neurons can aid in classifying extracellular recordings of single cells and discuss future opportunities and challenges towards integrating single-cell phenotypes with circuit function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diek W. Wheeler
- Bioengineering Department, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Virginia, United States of America
| | | | - Manuel Valero
- Instituto Cajal CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York, United States of America
| | - Miriam S. Nokia
- Instituto Cajal CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychology, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Nate Sutton
- Bioengineering Department, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Virginia, United States of America
| | | | | | - Giorgio A. Ascoli
- Bioengineering Department, Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LMP); (GAA)
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Kalil CDA, de Castro MCS, Silva D, Cortez CM. Applying Graph Theory and Mathematical-Computational Modelling to Study a Neurophysiological Circuit. OPEN JOURNAL OF MODELLING AND SIMULATION 2021; 09:159-171. [DOI: 10.4236/ojmsi.2021.92011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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14
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Comprehensive Estimates of Potential Synaptic Connections in Local Circuits of the Rodent Hippocampal Formation by Axonal-Dendritic Overlap. J Neurosci 2020; 41:1665-1683. [PMID: 33361464 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1193-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A quantitative description of the hippocampal formation synaptic architecture is essential for understanding the neural mechanisms of episodic memory. Yet the existing knowledge of connectivity statistics between different neuron types in the rodent hippocampus only captures a mere 5% of this circuitry. We present a systematic pipeline to produce first-approximation estimates for most of the missing information. Leveraging the www.Hippocampome.org knowledge base, we derive local connection parameters between distinct pairs of morphologically identified neuron types based on their axonal-dendritic overlap within every layer and subregion of the hippocampal formation. Specifically, we adapt modern image analysis technology to determine the parcel-specific neurite lengths of every neuron type from representative morphologic reconstructions obtained from either sex. We then compute the average number of synapses per neuron pair using relevant anatomic volumes from the mouse brain atlas and ultrastructurally established interaction distances. Hence, we estimate connection probabilities and number of contacts for >1900 neuron type pairs, increasing the available quantitative assessments more than 11-fold. Connectivity statistics thus remain unknown for only a minority of potential synapses in the hippocampal formation, including those involving long-range (23%) or perisomatic (6%) connections and neuron types without morphologic tracings (7%). The described approach also yields approximate measurements of synaptic distances from the soma along the dendritic and axonal paths, which may affect signal attenuation and delay. Overall, this dataset fills a substantial gap in quantitatively describing hippocampal circuits and provides useful model specifications for biologically realistic neural network simulations, until further direct experimental data become available.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The hippocampal formation is a crucial functional substrate for episodic memory and spatial representation. Characterizing the complex neuron type circuit of this brain region is thus important to understand the cellular mechanisms of learning and navigation. Here we present the first numerical estimates of connection probabilities, numbers of contacts per connected pair, and synaptic distances from the soma along the axonal and dendritic paths, for more than 1900 distinct neuron type pairs throughout the dentate gyrus, CA3, CA2, CA1, subiculum, and entorhinal cortex. This comprehensive dataset, publicly released online at www.Hippocampome.org, constitutes an unprecedented quantification of the majority of the local synaptic circuit for a prominent mammalian neural system and provides an essential foundation for data-driven, anatomically realistic neural network models.
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15
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Kim DJ, Min BK. Rich-club in the brain's macrostructure: Insights from graph theoretical analysis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:1761-1773. [PMID: 32695269 PMCID: PMC7355726 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.06.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain is a complex network. Growing evidence supports the critical roles of a set of brain regions within the brain network, known as the brain’s cores or hubs. These regions require high energy cost but possess highly efficient neural information transfer in the brain’s network and are termed the rich-club. The rich-club of the brain network is essential as it directly regulates functional integration across multiple segregated regions and helps to optimize cognitive processes. Here, we review the recent advances in rich-club organization to address the fundamental roles of the rich-club in the brain and discuss how these core brain regions affect brain development and disorders. We describe the concepts of the rich-club behind network construction in the brain using graph theoretical analysis. We also highlight novel insights based on animal studies related to the rich-club and illustrate how human studies using neuroimaging techniques for brain development and psychiatric/neurological disorders may be relevant to the rich-club phenomenon in the brain network.
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Key Words
- AD, Alzheimer’s disease
- ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- ASD, autism spectrum disorder
- BD, bipolar disorder
- Brain connectivity
- Brain network
- DTI, diffusion tensor imaging
- EEG, electroencephalography
- Graph theory
- MDD, major depressive disorder
- MEG, magnetoencephalography
- MRI, magnetic resonance imaging
- Neuroimaging
- Rich-club
- TBI, traumatic brain injury
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae-Jin Kim
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Byoung-Kyong Min
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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16
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Ubeda-Bañon I, Saiz-Sanchez D, Flores-Cuadrado A, Rioja-Corroto E, Gonzalez-Rodriguez M, Villar-Conde S, Astillero-Lopez V, Cabello-de la Rosa JP, Gallardo-Alcañiz MJ, Vaamonde-Gamo J, Relea-Calatayud F, Gonzalez-Lopez L, Mohedano-Moriano A, Rabano A, Martinez-Marcos A. The human olfactory system in two proteinopathies: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Transl Neurodegener 2020; 9:22. [PMID: 32493457 PMCID: PMC7271529 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-020-00200-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders. Their etiologies are idiopathic, and treatments are symptomatic and orientated towards cognitive or motor deficits. Neuropathologically, both are proteinopathies with pathological aggregates (plaques of amyloid-β peptide and neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein in Alzheimer's disease, and Lewy bodies mostly composed of α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease). These deposits appear in the nervous system in a predictable and accumulative sequence with six neuropathological stages. Both disorders present a long prodromal period, characterized by preclinical signs including hyposmia. Interestingly, the olfactory system, particularly the anterior olfactory nucleus, is initially and preferentially affected by the pathology. Cerebral atrophy revealed by magnetic resonance imaging must be complemented by histological analyses to ascertain whether neuronal and/or glial loss or neuropil remodeling are responsible for volumetric changes. It has been proposed that these proteinopathies could act in a prion-like manner in which a misfolded protein would be able to force native proteins into pathogenic folding (seeding), which then propagates through neurons and glia (spreading). Existing data have been examined to establish why some neuronal populations are vulnerable while others are resistant to pathology and to what extent glia prevent and/or facilitate proteinopathy spreading. Connectomic approaches reveal a number of hubs in the olfactory system (anterior olfactory nucleus, olfactory entorhinal cortex and cortical amygdala) that are key interconnectors with the main hubs (the entorhinal-hippocampal-cortical and amygdala-dorsal motor vagal nucleus) of network dysfunction in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Ubeda-Bañon
- Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Daniel Saiz-Sanchez
- Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Alicia Flores-Cuadrado
- Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Ernesto Rioja-Corroto
- Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Melania Gonzalez-Rodriguez
- Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Sandra Villar-Conde
- Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Veronica Astillero-Lopez
- Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | | | | | - Julia Vaamonde-Gamo
- Neurology Service, Ciudad Real General University Hospital, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | | | - Lucia Gonzalez-Lopez
- Pathology Service, Ciudad Real General University Hospital, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | | | - Alberto Rabano
- Neuropathology Department and Tissue Bank, CIEN Foundation, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alino Martinez-Marcos
- Neuroplasticity and Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
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17
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Moradi K, Ascoli GA. A comprehensive knowledge base of synaptic electrophysiology in the rodent hippocampal formation. Hippocampus 2020; 30:314-331. [PMID: 31472001 DOI: 10.1101/632760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The cellular and synaptic architecture of the rodent hippocampus has been described in thousands of peer-reviewed publications. However, no human- or machine-readable public catalog of synaptic electrophysiology data exists for this or any other neural system. Harnessing state-of-the-art information technology, we have developed a cloud-based toolset for identifying empirical evidence from the scientific literature pertaining to synaptic electrophysiology, for extracting the experimental data of interest, and for linking each entry to relevant text or figure excerpts. Mining more than 1,200 published journal articles, we have identified eight different signal modalities quantified by 90 different methods to measure synaptic amplitude, kinetics, and plasticity in hippocampal neurons. We have designed a data structure that both reflects the differences and maintains the existing relations among experimental modalities. Moreover, we mapped every annotated experiment to identified potential connections, that is, specific pairs of presynaptic and postsynaptic neuron types. To this aim, we leveraged Hippocampome.org, an open-access knowledge base of morphologically, electrophysiologically, and molecularly characterized neuron types in the rodent hippocampal formation. Specifically, we have implemented a computational pipeline to systematically translate neuron type properties into formal queries in order to find all compatible potential connections. With this system, we have collected nearly 40,000 synaptic data entities covering 88% of the 3,120 potential connections in Hippocampome.org. Correcting membrane potentials with respect to liquid junction potentials significantly reduced the difference between theoretical and experimental reversal potentials, thereby enabling the accurate conversion of all synaptic amplitudes to conductance. This data set allows for large-scale hypothesis testing of the general rules governing synaptic signals. To illustrate these applications, we confirmed several expected correlations between synaptic measurements and their covariates while suggesting previously unreported ones. We release all data open-source at Hippocampome.org in order to further research across disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keivan Moradi
- Neuroscience Program, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
| | - Giorgio A Ascoli
- Neuroscience Program, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
- Bioengineering Department, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
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18
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Moradi K, Ascoli GA. A comprehensive knowledge base of synaptic electrophysiology in the rodent hippocampal formation. Hippocampus 2020; 30:314-331. [PMID: 31472001 PMCID: PMC7875289 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The cellular and synaptic architecture of the rodent hippocampus has been described in thousands of peer-reviewed publications. However, no human- or machine-readable public catalog of synaptic electrophysiology data exists for this or any other neural system. Harnessing state-of-the-art information technology, we have developed a cloud-based toolset for identifying empirical evidence from the scientific literature pertaining to synaptic electrophysiology, for extracting the experimental data of interest, and for linking each entry to relevant text or figure excerpts. Mining more than 1,200 published journal articles, we have identified eight different signal modalities quantified by 90 different methods to measure synaptic amplitude, kinetics, and plasticity in hippocampal neurons. We have designed a data structure that both reflects the differences and maintains the existing relations among experimental modalities. Moreover, we mapped every annotated experiment to identified potential connections, that is, specific pairs of presynaptic and postsynaptic neuron types. To this aim, we leveraged Hippocampome.org, an open-access knowledge base of morphologically, electrophysiologically, and molecularly characterized neuron types in the rodent hippocampal formation. Specifically, we have implemented a computational pipeline to systematically translate neuron type properties into formal queries in order to find all compatible potential connections. With this system, we have collected nearly 40,000 synaptic data entities covering 88% of the 3,120 potential connections in Hippocampome.org. Correcting membrane potentials with respect to liquid junction potentials significantly reduced the difference between theoretical and experimental reversal potentials, thereby enabling the accurate conversion of all synaptic amplitudes to conductance. This data set allows for large-scale hypothesis testing of the general rules governing synaptic signals. To illustrate these applications, we confirmed several expected correlations between synaptic measurements and their covariates while suggesting previously unreported ones. We release all data open-source at Hippocampome.org in order to further research across disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keivan Moradi
- Neuroscience Program, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (USA)
| | - Giorgio A. Ascoli
- Neuroscience Program, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (USA)
- Bioengineering Department, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (USA)
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19
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Komendantov AO, Venkadesh S, Rees CL, Wheeler DW, Hamilton DJ, Ascoli GA. Quantitative firing pattern phenotyping of hippocampal neuron types. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17915. [PMID: 31784578 PMCID: PMC6884469 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52611-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Systematically organizing the anatomical, molecular, and physiological properties of cortical neurons is important for understanding their computational functions. Hippocampome.org defines 122 neuron types in the rodent hippocampal formation based on their somatic, axonal, and dendritic locations, putative excitatory/inhibitory outputs, molecular marker expression, and biophysical properties. We augmented the electrophysiological data of this knowledge base by collecting, quantifying, and analyzing the firing responses to depolarizing current injections for every hippocampal neuron type from published experiments. We designed and implemented objective protocols to classify firing patterns based on 5 transients (delay, adapting spiking, rapidly adapting spiking, transient stuttering, and transient slow-wave bursting) and 4 steady states (non-adapting spiking, persistent stuttering, persistent slow-wave bursting, and silence). This automated approach revealed 9 unique (plus one spurious) families of firing pattern phenotypes while distinguishing potential new neuronal subtypes. Novel statistical associations emerged between firing responses and other electrophysiological properties, morphological features, and molecular marker expression. The firing pattern parameters, experimental conditions, spike times, references to the original empirical evidences, and analysis scripts are released open-source through Hippocampome.org for all neuron types, greatly enhancing the existing search and browse capabilities. This information, collated online in human- and machine-accessible form, will help design and interpret both experiments and model simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander O Komendantov
- Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 2A1, Fairfax, Virginia, 2230, USA.
| | - Siva Venkadesh
- Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 2A1, Fairfax, Virginia, 2230, USA
| | - Christopher L Rees
- Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 2A1, Fairfax, Virginia, 2230, USA
| | - Diek W Wheeler
- Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 2A1, Fairfax, Virginia, 2230, USA
| | - David J Hamilton
- Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 2A1, Fairfax, Virginia, 2230, USA
| | - Giorgio A Ascoli
- Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 2A1, Fairfax, Virginia, 2230, USA.
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20
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Venkadesh S, Komendantov AO, Wheeler DW, Hamilton DJ, Ascoli GA. Simple models of quantitative firing phenotypes in hippocampal neurons: Comprehensive coverage of intrinsic diversity. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1007462. [PMID: 31658260 PMCID: PMC6837624 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Patterns of periodic voltage spikes elicited by a neuron help define its dynamical identity. Experimentally recorded spike trains from various neurons show qualitatively distinguishable features such as delayed spiking, spiking with or without frequency adaptation, and intrinsic bursting. Moreover, the input-dependent responses of a neuron not only show different quantitative features, such as higher spike frequency for a stronger input current injection, but can also exhibit qualitatively different responses, such as spiking and bursting under different input conditions, thus forming a complex phenotype of responses. In previous work, the comprehensive knowledge base of hippocampal neuron types Hippocampome.org systematically characterized various spike pattern phenotypes experimentally identified from 120 neuron types/subtypes. In this paper, we present a complete set of simple phenomenological models that quantitatively reproduce the diverse and complex phenotypes of hippocampal neurons. In addition to point-neuron models, we created compact multi-compartment models with up to four compartments, which will allow spatial segregation of synaptic integration in network simulations. Electrotonic compartmentalization observed in our compact multi-compartment models is qualitatively consistent with experimental observations. The models were created using an automated pipeline based on evolutionary algorithms. This work maps 120 neuron types/subtypes in the rodent hippocampus to a low-dimensional model space and adds another dimension to the knowledge accumulated in Hippocampome.org. Computationally efficient representations of intrinsic dynamics, along with other pieces of knowledge available in Hippocampome.org, provide a biologically realistic platform to explore the large-scale interactions of various neuron types at the mesoscopic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siva Venkadesh
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, and Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States of America
| | - Alexander O. Komendantov
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, and Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States of America
| | - Diek W. Wheeler
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, and Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States of America
| | - David J. Hamilton
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, and Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States of America
| | - Giorgio A. Ascoli
- Center for Neural Informatics, Structures, and Plasticity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States of America
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21
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Rees CL, Moradi K, Ascoli GA. Weighing the Evidence in Peters' Rule: Does Neuronal Morphology Predict Connectivity? Trends Neurosci 2016; 40:63-71. [PMID: 28041634 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Although the importance of network connectivity is increasingly recognized, identifying synapses remains challenging relative to the routine characterization of neuronal morphology. Thus, researchers frequently employ axon-dendrite colocations as proxies of potential connections. This putative equivalence, commonly referred to as Peters' rule, has been recently studied at multiple levels and scales, fueling passionate debates regarding its validity. Our critical literature review identifies three conceptually distinct but often confused applications: inferring neuron type circuitry, predicting synaptic contacts among individual cells, and estimating synapse numbers within neuron pairs. Paradoxically, at the originally proposed cell-type level, Peters' rule remains largely untested. Leveraging Hippocampome.org, we validate and refine the relationship between axonal-dendritic colocations and synaptic circuits, clarifying the interpretation of existing and forthcoming data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Rees
- Kransnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Keivan Moradi
- Kransnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Giorgio A Ascoli
- Kransnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.
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